MFY

Enter the Dragon

2012-01-26T13:07:00.003+08:00

Woke up to the sound of mahjong tiles shuffling away. As I walked out of my room, I realised the sound was coming from my kitchen..........where I saw my relatives happily gambling away. Hahaha! Only things like that can happen during CNY!

As the year of the Water Dragon begins, I wish you all the best of luck and happiness. And health. And a peace of mind. And beauty. And wealth. And prosperity. And success.

Sorry I'm just rattling off the popular Chinese idioms (are they called idioms?) we use every Lunar New Year and translating them into English for you. LOL...

May your ang bao's be this big and fat too! :)

Yes, we Chinese are so hopeful that our well-wishes are longer than 5 Thai names put together.

This being my mummy's year, my only wish is to be more like her. Selfless, patient, loving, and full of faith. She's taught me so much and showed me miraculous love beyond my comprehension. I don't know what I would do without her.

I love you, Mummy!

A New Phase

2012-01-13T18:57:00.001+08:00

I hope 2012 is starting off well for most of you. :) I decided to have a new banner for MFY! Like the new look?

Very grateful for the help I got from a friend who kindly designed this banner for me. Do contact her at blythe.worx@gmail.com for enquiries on graphic design services.

Sorry for keeping this space totally untouched last month. It was a rough end to the year so I didn't allow myself to write while having my emotions scattered in places.

But not to worry, more updates to come! :) I know I still owe you guys the lowdown of Seoul (which mostly sucked by the way), so here's a promise that you'll see the good, the bad, and the ugly of Korea through my eyes very soon.

Thank you for keeping yourself glued here. ♥✗ Have a good Friday the 13th!

Bangs

2012-01-06T22:55:00.008+08:00

I can be a sucker for novelty. You may see me with a shaved head one day, but crazy Britney did that already. So, I chose bangs instead.

Chopped my locks off just so I was in time for my birthday. (It was a month ago, but better late than never...) Kudos to Fiona of Salon Vim for continuing to change yet not deform me. ♥✗

Hoodie from ♥ ClubCouture ♥

All Salon Vim stylists will be working everyday from 9 Jan through 21 Jan!
Kindly make your appointment early to avoid disappointment! :P
It will be a mad rush this CNY but you will be pleased to know there will not be any price increment! (yay!)

Salon Vim will be closed from 22 Jan to 26 Jan.

You can call 68847757 for enquiries or appointments. Thank you! :)

2011, worst year of my life

2012-01-02T22:06:00.012+08:00

And I hear that it is only gonna get worse... So why did I look forward to 2012 so much?

I'm not the person who says "new year new me *peace sign*". I've never been a believer of new years. Fiscal years, yes. Because they make factual sense.

Transitioning from 31st Dec to 1st of Jan is as mundane as emptying my bladder to me. Of course, I do find countdowns fun. Especially when it ends with a kiss at midnight. I know that's silly and extremely mundane. Maybe that's why I never had one before - too shallow that forces in my life won't allow that to happen. Hahahahaha.

Now why the change of attitude towards the new year?

For the simple reason that 2011 was downright horrid. Hence, I conveniently blamed it for the heap of bad luck and decided to believe that it wasn't my year - because the new one will be.

I have lost many things in 2011. Be it vices, virtues, or people. Then there was the part where I realised I let the wrong people in and made the wrong choices. Discouraging comments mounted on top and I grew to doubt myself more than ever. Too many ugly revelations, too much discouragement, too much poison. I second-guessed myself every subsequent step I took. But no matter how thumbed down I was, I never lost hope.

You may say call that a good thing but to be honest, I would get annoyed with myself for clinging on to that last frail bit of hope and forcing myself to keep going. What for when I've been proven wrong over and over again? Maybe I'm just everything wrong since I never saw things correctly. So why trust my own instincts?

Because this is Melissa Faith Yeo. I'm just confident/crazy/stubborn like that. Despite the mistakes I made. Especially because of the mistakes I made.

This year, I am getting what I want. I will be fearless and quit doubting myself no matter what I'm told.

Friends encouraged me by saying that things could only get better for me since it felt like rock bottom. I wish they were right but on the contrary, I KNOW things will only get harder. That really sucks. But what to do? Such is life. I can only prepare myself for all sorts of kicks and punches. Then finally see my hard work paying off. And instead of saying, "Boy, I can't wait for that to happen", I'm now saying, "It will happen".

Mother Monster said, "Never be afraid to be kicked in the teeth. Let the blood and the bruises define your legacy."

The roads are bumpy and all I have to rely on is blind faith. But that alone beats relying on poison.

The Pupil

2011-11-29T13:53:00.000+08:00

Will make my much talked about (only by me *haha*) appearance on The Pupil this coming episode! At last huh? :p Look out for it tonight which is also the season finale, so for those who follow the series, you know it's gonna get exciting!

See a hunk already? That pretty boy with Adrian and Rebecca is our famous Utt (yes, the MTV Utt) who makes a come back on the last ep of this season. Hence, don't forget to tune in tonight, 10pm on Channel 5. :)

Before I go on, I believe the view alone got you excited so here are more photos to quench your curiosity!

I wonder how it feels working in an office like this. Must be a freakin' power-trip being able to look down at the best of Singapore!

Even Rebecca and Adrian couldn't resist snapping a few shots.

I had such g-r-e-a-t fun filming this production!!! Sad it was very brief (only 2 days). The production knew welfare - to put it very simply. Everyone was super polite and got along so well. Get this - the crew hardly slept the night before the shoot I was on. The best part was acting with these three very talented people!

Melissa as Melanie.

I may look like a lawyer, but I play a plaintiff called Melanie Zee. She sues Utt for molestation. LOLOLOL! Yea, how can anyone sue that guy right? For molestation some more! Even better... my character's story is grounded on breast augmentation. So MFY. Hahahaha! Told you this ep is exciting! :p

Me and the darling makeup artist, Lili.

These photos aren't included in tonight's episode, but make a date with this threesome anyway! :)

Flying Seoul-O!

2011-11-24T07:34:00.011+08:00

Since I haven't touched the soil of northern Asia, I thought this called for a little adventure.

So one day, I sat down at my desk, did my necessary prep for Seoul, bought one of the cheapest tickets available and left after days (and days) of packing.

Sounds like I left all prepared right? I thought I was! But no, I wasn't. Not for many things - and certainly not the climate!

I knew it would be cold, so I brought my thickest clothes, coats, leg/arm warmers, gloves... I just didn't factor in this very huge and disturbingly prominent phenomenon called "global warming". Yea, heard of that? This irritant, known to be responsible for fucking up climate changes gave me a nice surprise by bringing winter forward! So yep, my adventure got a tad more exciting!

Was dreading my 2-hour transit, but I managed to sneak into a lounge at the airport! It was like... heaven!

After 1 week, I still can't decide if I like Seoul or not. That's bad right? I guess I had different expectations la.

I thought it was an exciting city that rivals that of neighbour capital, Tokyo. Also because of my Korean friends and those I interacted with before, I thought that people here were gentle, helpful, polite... What you see on TV, basically.

There are good things about this place, but when it gets crappy, things are just downright crappy. Seoul is intense. Extreme. Cold. OK I knew I was in for the cold, so I shouldn't be complaining.

It doesn't help that I don't like Korean food. Hey I don't know about you, but kimchi and MFY never got along. 9/10 chances I will get the runs.

A huge chunk of whether I like a city or not depends on its people and people here are... kinda weird! They are either unbelievably rude or ridiculously nice!

I have to give it to them that despite the language barrier, their service staff are generally friendly. But normal people, especially the older generation, can shock you with disgusting habits. Pushing is one.

I don't know about the culture here, but judging from the number of times I got pushed around, I'm just surprised I haven't been pick-pocketed! And yes, guys here push girls too. Gross huh! One guy shoved me in the chest with his elbow to make his way out of the subway... People here just don't respect personal space. Giving way is not a practice - so is apologising. They walk right into you, cross right in front of you, walk slowly in front of you - and it's alright to them.

So don't be surprised when I tell you it's a norm that people chew louder than they fart and cough without covering their mouths. Some asshole coughed in my hair too. No apologies or remorse after. He just rushed off like every other Korean here. Yes, it's hard to believe that this place is the neighbour of Japan. The impression I got from Seoul was that it is just a preview of China. *minus 1000 political points for MFY like she cares OK?

It's a rude shock, really. The other day, an old man stood between the outer train doors when he didn't make it in time to get in the train. So the train couldn't move and he stood there shouting at the train driver to open the door. A warden came to pull him out, but he fought the warden off with his walking stick. Hahaha! Drama huh?

Dude! Speaking of drama, I witnessed a woman breaking into hysterics the day I got here. I told you this place is intense!

But yesterday, I was walking down a precariously steep slope in my high-heeled boots alone and was on the verge of tipping over. A girl saw and she came running up to me to help. She didn't only make sure I didn't fall, she held BOTH my hands to walk me down. Best of all, I could see that she was freezing and couldn't wait to get home! The poor lady didn't even have leggings on, but she stopped to help regardless! ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

I was so touched, I kept smiling to myself after that. Warmed my ♥ so much that I immediately forgot half of the rude imbeciles I bumped into (literally) the past week here. I bless her with good sex for the rest of her life.

Anyway, enough of text. Onto photos now.

View of Sinchon from the studio apartment I'm putting up at.

Sorry, but this is the most of my room you'll get to see. Cos well see, I live erm... pretty simple here.

Yea, it's a holiday, but I don't call this an "adventure" for nothing you know.

I'm staying with a friend who uses a knife to cut his nails. Get the picture?

Day 1: In the midst of zipping from point A to B. If this were the movie In Time, I would be A-class ghetto!

First few days were pretty hectic (in the context of getting used to Seoul's weather). Getting settled down, buying necessities, familiarizing myself with the neighbourhood, getting to know people etc. All part of the game plan.

Wanna know what's the other part? Staying away from clubbing.

This was not a chore at all in Singapore, but whenever I'm at some place foreign, I make it a point to check out their night life. Feels like a waste, but I don't wanna waste hours sleeping in or nursing a hangover after a rough night and miss out on the chance to explore Seoul.

When I just got here, the weather was pretty merciful hence the skirt.

Shopping at COEX. Only managed to cover what I heard was a quarter as this place is gigantic.

Put this up just for kicks. The 1st day I travelled around on my own and felt smart. Lol...

Exploring Gangnam all by myself. :)

Sunset along the Han River. Took these shots while on the subway. Artistic, yes? ^.^

If there's one thing to love about Seoul, it has to be the subway system. Subway lines are easy to pick up and they run everywhere. Just throw me in any part of the city and I can find my way back myself.

A day never goes by without me taking shots of myself when I'm on my own. This is also what happens when I have a camera to pass time with.

Put the last photo up on ♥ Instagram ♥. I'm so hooked onto it since I got my iPhone! Follow me @Melissafaithyeo :)

Nam Dae Mun market. A must-visit for bargain hunters like me......... if you don't mind the excessive crowd of senior citizens here.

As with all good bargains, you just "gotta find lor". Meaning comb and explore the area + don't buy on impulse. Patience is virtue - for the pocket at least.

But maybe I should buy one of these instead of just posing with them? Hahaha!

I was pretty lukewarm on the shopping bit, but that was until I came to ♥ Hongdae ♥!!!

So glad I finally found a place I like! And as I said, service staff are commendable here. So unlike Bangkok where things are dirt cheap, but you get half-assed goods and services most of the time, Seoul has shopping catered towards quality. And the vain! :D

The initial plan was to head to Daegu after a week in Seoul for Thanksgiving, but I'm bailing out to explore the rest of Seoul. I may be undecided about this city, but at least it is keeping my curiousity as aroused as Day 1.

I better get out more before the weather gets worse then. :p

♥ my sponsors!

2011-11-13T16:20:00.003+08:00

Thank you Salon Vim, Fabulous Group and ClubCouture for making me pretty for my TNP interview. ♥ :)

Proud to be wearing my new favourite summer dress sponsored by ♥ ClubCouture ♥

The silk chiffon's so soft, even I can't keep my hands off myself! :p

Salon Vim extended their generosity by giving me these presents!

The holy trinity from Loreal Professional...because my sponsor cares about my hair even when I'm out of the salon. :)

Tip: When buying hair masks, always look for the magic word "fiberceutic".

This baby is equivalent to "Botox for your hair" as according to this article I read.

Salon Vim is located at 313 Somerset, #04-07. Follow them on Facebook for their latest promos and giveaways!

The one-month countdown to my birthday started at midnight, so Imma take these as super early birthday presents!

I have a warped perspective, I know... :p

My Stranded friends

2011-11-11T01:17:00.003+08:00

"Destination Unknown" is none other than this infamous place known as Tanjung Pinang, an island of Indonesia.

If only it was as cool as "Destination Unknown" sounded. Honestly, I found it very third-world. It stank all day round. The environment was so dirty, even our hotel rooms were dirty.

Tanjung Pinang became my home for 2 weeks in June while filming the current-airing kid's drama, Stranded. This is a story about a bunch of kids being stranded on a mysterious island after their boat capsized during a thunderstorm. I play their 19-year-old camp counsellor, Huimin.

The braids did take 10 years off my age, no? :p

Now that I'm reminded of our hotel, boy... Was it bad! Sadly, we had to make do with the circumstances and regard the hotel as our haven. Because it came down to this - we either recuperate in our rooms after a long day's shoot under the sun on a third-world deserted island, or we sleep on the boat and in between scenes.

Hygiene was seriously lacking at this place, so I'm all the more proud we survived!

I was told not to expect a 5-star hotel, but what I wasn't told was that the hotel didn't even have ONE star to begin with. Hence, I travelled with no toiletries except my toothbrush. *pats myself on the back*

The only toiletries provided were toilet rolls and these bottles of green soap liquid. "Kryptonite", a fellow actor called it. When he found out I was using Kryptonite to shower because no one briefed me about the hotel's "conditions", he said I had "testicular fortitude". Hahaha! That was when I found out no one else used that ugly green goo besides me!

Luckily that happened only one the first day. Poor hair, poor skin... little did I know this was just the beginning!

Since I'm on the topic of showering, don't you hate how water runs cold halfway while you are enjoying a warm shower? Yep! That happened E.V.E.R.Y.T.I.M.E. Even after the technicians "fixed" it.

Anywhere that could have dust had dust. Our sinks, mirrors, toilet bowls... Anywhere that could have stains had stains. Bedsheets, toilet bowls, sinks, blankets, bathroom floor. Anywhere that could have rust had rust. Yes, our shower head included! I'm just glad I didn't find algae on mine!

The Internet connection was consistent with the hotel's image. 'Nuff said. I also heard that the hotel owner switches it off when he leaves work and switches it back on only when he comes in, so after 10/11pm, it was impossible for us to connect with the rest of the world.

Our towels and laundry sometimes came back damp and warm, as though the hotel's dryer broke down halfway. Sometimes, I don't get towels because they "ran out of towels". The staff even took the liberty to write our room numbers on our clothes! Now I keep seeing "114" on my t-shirts, bras, panties, shorts! -.- Some of my socks went missing too. I believe that's because they found no space to write my room number on them without making it look too obvious. -.-

The flask for boiling water looked like it was older than me. All of us just resorted to drinking the mineral water from the production room for the whole time we were there.

You know what's the icing on the cake? Don't mean to sound cliche, but the hotel was very spooky. Go see what some of my co-actors have to say about it...

You would think I came back to Singapore happier than I did as compared to every single one of my other trips. Damn straight I did! But what you don't know is that I also went through this whole experience way happier than I thought!

Because of them. :)

Let me introduce the main cast of Stranded and my beloved new-found friends! It's funny how we are all of different ages, but we clicked so well!

Jermaine Leong. She's half my age!

Shelia Tan. Super talented, hardworking girl.

Shawn Tok, our superstar.

Jeremy Chui, the most endearing one of all!

Sebastian Sim, our big brother.

We missed each other so much after returning to Singapore. Hahaha! I guess that was our only regret for returning. We were tight. So tight that Jermaine and I took a dump in the woods together. Filming in a third-world setting did have its perks after all! :)

Follow me on Facebook where I will be posting our behind-the-scenes photos! Stranded airs every Sunday on channel 8 at 11pm.

Imma rule the world with my big glasses and backpack!

Catch the latest ep on xinmsn where I played a very nerdy Huimin again! :p

MIS.UN.DER.STOOD

2011-11-05T15:17:00.028+08:00

This should be my middle name.

I hope your week didn't end the shameful way mine did. Burdened, bitter, bullied. That was how I felt when my week ended.

I always say this and I will say it again: Don't give me drama unless you are paying me to be in one. But people ~~never listen~~ do not care and never will.

I thought I had a decent Friday. Even though weekends and weekdays don't make a difference to me, I wanted to enjoy this long weekend like the rest of my friends.

I woke up so happy yesterday. In fact, I woke up the best way - laughing. I was gonna meet a friend, head for an awesome dinner after, and end the night early again. Mummy even bought my usual favourites for lunch.

Just as I was leaving home, a text came in. And that did it. My whole day was spoilt.

I wish I didn't give the sender (of that text) this power over me, but hey, looks like I did! What she said was enough to bring my spirits down.

I won't divulge what went down mainly because I will get sued. No really, that was the very threat in her text. But here's the point of this post - I did not deserve any of that at all. So why? Why me?

Did I do what I was accused of? No.

Did someone communicated something I said wrongly? Yes. That person even admitted so and briefly apologised.
Was I backstabbed? Maybe!

Did the person who sent me the text already have a prejudice against me? I believe so.

Did I tell the person she was wrong in judging me the way she did? Yes, but that got more hate texts sent my way.

In short, this was a miscommunication gone very wrong.

On one hand, someone neglected to convey a message properly - although I don't know if it was essential in the first place. As in, I don't know how it was needed for the work to get done. I won't be surprised if the context of their conversation was plain gossip.

On the other hand, the person who got offended already haboured ill feelings towards me. Since our last few phone conversations ended with her shouting at me, I believe that's more than a sign right? (OK Mel, time to stop sounding so tentative.) That is EXACTLY how you treat a person you do not like!

All this boil down to one thing: Pettiness. Unnecessary? I say very!

When I was young, I couldn't wait to become an adult. One of the reasons were simply because I would be away from childishness. But I learnt the hard way that one can never run away from childishness when there's so much hate in this world.

Hate. Some people love to feel it.

Hate is so amazing because it drives people to do the most ridiculous things while making them think they are perfectly justified in doing so.

And people usually feel hate because of jealousy. This is one poison I'd love to kill............ But the sad thing is, life won't make sense anymore if no one feels hate or jealousy. So I can't avoid this. I just have to suck it up!

But you know what can be avoided? Crazy people and miscommunication! This is how I am so misunderstood!

When I'm misunderstood, I feel like I'm threading on thin ice. I hate that feeling! On one hand, I knew I did nothing wrong. On the other, I couldn't sound too defensive or I'll look guilty. Then again, when you are trying to reason with a person who simply hates you, it makes more sense to argue with a drunk one.

And that's where I got stuck because I felt like there was nothing I could do. Helplessness................ yet another feeling I hate. So that was how my Friday ended. Going to bed feeling helpless coupled with fear and bitterness - all over a miscommunication and a person blinded with hate.

I thought I have been doing a great job in staying away from crazy people. I hardly go out anymore! But all it took was for me to step into an event on Thursday, and Friday met its fate.

I don't mind people with issues. EVERYONE has issues. It's only normal. Only abnormal people don't have issues - or so they think...

But what sets a normal person aside from a crazy one is that the latter thinks he/she has the right to burden others with his/her issues without considering the consequences of his/her actions.

On another note... You know when people say "oh sorry, it was just a miscommunication", it feels like they are not a wee bit sincere or do not see a big deal out of it. That fucking infuriates the shit out of me. Yes, it is not a big deal when you are comparing it to global warming and wars! Due to yesterday's "miscommunication", there were horrible consequences that I had to bear. And for what? Why me? So why miscommunicate in the first place? Because you don't have the ability to communicate properly? Should I then assume and accept that you have no common EQ and sense? Most of all, why get yourself involved?

Miscommunication occurs also when people have noises in their head. I believe that played a big part in yesterday's drama too. People with noises in their head have this special ability to make trouble out of thin air, and that was how I became so misunderstood.

So was this misunderstanding intentional? I honestly think so. It is most of the time anyway.

Hence, when you have a bad day and go, "Why must they make life difficult for me?" It's simply because they want to bring you down. They will take whatever you say out of context, twist facts in their favour, cloud judgements with hate messages. They will make the ground you stand on so shaky, you feel like you're left with no other choice but to run. Like I said, it's like threading on thin ice.

I don't know why I get dragged into fights or have trouble created for me too many times. Maybe people do see my entertainment value! Hahaha...

My friends keep telling me that I'm just a very misunderstood being. They say it's not fair, because "haters" simply want to make their interpretation based on rumours before facts. My sense of humour gets twisted and I become a liar/bitch/horrible person/The Apocalypse etc. Yep, too true.

One thing's for sure - it's them, not me. They are the ones with issues to burden others with.

ANYTHING I do is wrong as long as they can find some little loop hole to pick on. If not, they will make something up. Shit can fly my way any time even when I'm purely minding my own business (which was the case for this incident).

This whole thing taught me I can't assume people have the normal amount of intelligence despite the jobs they have. Never joke with them, treat them as equals, assume they get your sense of humour or assume they understand the simple English coming out of your mouth. People are stupid, Mel!

(Isn't it strange then, that when time calls for ass-covering, they become so smart all of a sudden and pull out more tricks in the book than you can think of?)

I realised I just have to play it safe, assume everyone is stupid so multiple explanations are critical, and get down to business and business ONLY.

No point in being friendly and having a nice conversation with someone who is not my friend, because a conversation with a non-friend can turn out to be a harmful weapon and friendliness can be taken as a weakness.

(Sigh......... I only have to do this in Singapore!)

I know I didn't do anything wrong. My conscience is clear. So hate me all you want, bring me down with all your might but I won't budge. Too bad for you, I won't let you think for a second that you can make me look guilty.

Fall with grace

2011-10-29T15:30:00.006+08:00

Lose yourself at ClubCouture's craziest spree before it's too late!

Fashion takes a new turn this fall. Spinning a fresh identity for itself, expect to see a rebellious edge trending.

Unlike traditional solemn colours and warm tones, fall in 2011 embraces a colour eruption. We aren't carbon copies of autumn leaves anymore. We walk the talk of fashion.

Get all set to paint the town whatever colour you want this season! Here are three trends to fall in love with:

Vintage; head accessories; deep tones.

{Back to Basics}

Frocks, prints, and lace... The classic vintage look makes a big comeback!

Going vintage does not necessarily mean sacrificing your youthfulness. This pink lace floral dress proves exactly that.

This eccentric, quirky style is a very acquired taste in Singapore. But fashion, as highlighted by this season, is identity. And beauty remains where it should be - in the eye of the beholder.

Another vintage option: This very chic sheer lace cardigan.

{Fall Head First}

Having your hair styled is only half the work done. The best thing about this time of the year is that we can crown up anyway we want!

For the less daring, I say start simple with ClubCouture's black bow hairband. Can't go wrong with this sweet headpiece!

{Go all out and tone it down}

Solid colours made their presence since the start of the year and have stayed ever since. Only this time, deeper tones are spotted in sheer material.

Evidently, lace is not the only popular fabric of the season. This amazingly multi-dimensional dress can be found here.

ClubCouture has packed its fall collection with peekaboo lace and sexy chiffon numbers. Check it out, especially if you're a fan of black and red! :)

Nerdy Melly

2011-10-27T23:58:00.003+08:00

The good ol' days...

Acting as a kid certainly made me miss the innocence I had back then.

Playing a nerd for my very first drama series, Stranded, was sure an experience to remember. Look at the smile it put on my face! :p

Before.

After!

Tank top from ClubCouture.

After completing my day of filming, I headed for the premier of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in this. Was I successful in keeping the geek vibe? :p Anyway, back to the story...

At the artsy Raffles Design Institute.

Wearing my girly dress from ClubCouture. Also the dress I wore on my first date with a special dude. :p

It was a very windy day and all I prayed was for my skirt to stay down.

So here I was, reenacting a flashback from a day at school. My character, 17 year-old Huimin just received her exam results. And obviously, she faired badly.

But how did this happen?!?!

I might have tasted ice-cream for more than 20 years of my life, but never through my nostrils!

Bet you didn't see anything like that at all in this episode! (Too bad, this hilarious scene was omitted. We had so much fun doing it!)

It all started from a very innocent little treat...

And BAM! There we go!

My mum taught me to share the good stuff.

Can't say his mum didn't!

The day ended with me washing ice-cream off my hair, face, and body in the school's bathroom. Too bad you won't get to see the fruit of our efforts, but I'm glad the crew managed to take some shots while we were at it!

I didn't dare count the takes we had to go through. All I could think of was, "Time to get DIRTYYYY".

Make a date with us every Sunday at 11am on Channel 8'

Stranded' is a drama/adventure series inspired by classic stories like "Lord of the Flies" and modern TV dramas like "Lost". The series takes viewers on an adventure in time frames where story lines switch between the past and present and are told through the techniques of flashbacks. We learn more about the characters and the situations that they are currently in. And inspired by reality formats like "Survivor", we put our characters in circumstances where they will need their wits about them to survive.

Catch-up on xin.msn if you missed out on the earlier eps. :)

I did it, Mummy!!!

2011-10-18T02:10:00.000+08:00

Every

parent's

nightmare.

Every

parent's

dream

come

true.

I can't say this enough: I DID IT!

Besides funerals, I'm not one on attending ceremonies. I either think it's no big deal, or that we'll get over it after a week. For one, I didn't bother attending my diploma graduation ceremony. But this was one that I refused to miss! In fact, I didn't expect myself to have been so enthusiastic over it.

It was "a big deal". Looking at it in the Asian way alone - my dad forked out heaps for my school fees!

So despite having to wake up at an ungodly hour in the morning, just to walk up on stage for less than a minute and then sit through long-winded speeches for 3 hours, I told myself I must attend my own convocation. It was finally time to feel proud of myself for all that sweat, tears, and sacrifices!

*Disclaimer: I'm in no way endorsing this school.

Spot my name? :)

Me in this robe and square hat was such an utterly surreal sight, it was hard to believe THAT was me in it the whole time... It dawned on me - I paid my dues, and this day was finally here!

Till today, I remember Mummy proudly putting on my uniform for me on my first day of primary school. She was so happy...

On the day of my convocation, she was happily tugging at my gown whenever we took a photo. Maybe she's gone senile already... :p Hahahaha.

Met a reader through the midst of this happy occasion too. Congrats, Carol! :)

Since there weren't any strict regulations on footwear, I wore boots. Wanted to wear blinding white knee-high boots, but Mummy rejected to that flat out. LOL!

The best classmates one can ever ask for! Thank you for biting the bullet with me!

As our valedictorian said, "Put your paws up, because we fearlessly did it!"

I don't intend to use this to get a job. I already have one. This is for me and my parents.

Thank you Mummy and Pa for putting me through this! It was fun at times, painful at times - but the challenge was fulfilling because it made me a stronger person. Thanks for believing that I can study despite what others think, and supporting me whenever I needed support. I'm glad I managed to do you proud. I love you both! :)

Destination Unknown

2011-10-16T17:18:00.000+08:00

Filming a kid's drama sent me on an adventure to a very perculiar place 4 months ago. A place very different from Singapore.

Our only form of transport was by boat, we woke up early enough to see the sunrise and other random things like sea creatures mating, and wrapped by sundown because that's when complete darkness fell. This is just to put it in a nutshell.

It wasn't the best place to be in, especially if you're there for work. But since we were there for 2 weeks, it was only wise to make the best out of the situation. So despite the icky experiences (that you might have already known of through my tweets), I do have beautiful memories of that place. Here are just some I captured...

Now, do you know where your MFY was at? :p

P.S. More to come!

Vote for your favourite dress 2011!

2011-10-11T18:51:00.000+08:00

This is the time of the year where I, as a ClubCouture ambassador, design my dream dress and ask you guys donate your kind votes my way!

Thanks for making my very first design a success! I decided on a more whimsical feel this time.

Please vote for my design by joining the ClubCouture page on Facebook, then "like" on this photo.

You stand a chance of owning this dress designed by me for free! All you have to do is to click on the "like" button for my design. Too easy right?

Voting ends 17th of October.

Click away now, because ClubCouture will award 1 lucky voter of each design the very dress they voted for! :)

Almost, Manila

2011-10-09T16:00:00.000+08:00

We had our last run in Singapore for Almost, Maine last night. Big thanks to our sponsors and SevenInch (at Clarke Quay) for being such a good host!

And of course, the wonderful audience who expressed in many ways on how much they enjoyed watching the show. Thank you for paying off all that hard work! Now I know what my fellow actors mean by "theatre is a whole new experience". I love doing theatre, and I hope to do it again soon! :)

This experience brought back fond memories of the time we spent in Manila during our first leg of the show. We weren't there for a holiday, but it was better than one.

We might have been busy in Manila, but we didn't lose sight of the beauties the city had to offer!

I managed to catch some during our rushed car rides from point A to point B.

Pavan Singh doing his blue steel. LOL!

Despite having a tight schedule, we made it a point to check out the complicated night life there. And the girls... :p

Oh oops! That's just me! Hahahaha!

Yep, you read that right... "Midget oil wrestling"...

When I took this photo, I stuck my hand out of the car and our stage manager who's Pinoy told me to never do that again because someone may snatch my camera from me. Wow... We are very sheltered in Singapore eh? :/

I want candy!

This is of lesser value than our 1 cent!

Every day after breakfast, our co-director would physically train us by the hotel's pool side to prepare us for our performance. It's a Grotowski technique on "vanquishing the body". Nevermind if you didn't get that... Basically it is a series of workouts we do to push our physical tolerance. It was hot and insane, and it doesn't help that there was a pool right beside us. See, being an actor isn't easy!

After that hard work we all get rewarded with the delights of FOOD! :D

Bizu was our official food sponsor. We first visited the one at St. Luke's Medical Centre, which was very much like a mall...

Looks gross, but it was delicioussss. :p

Happy time = camwhore!

We also visited Bizu at the other branch in Greenbelt, which I thought was way prettier!

An honourable photo with Ziggy, my roomie's lil friend.

This was where we had our wrap party after our closing night!

So grateful we had skillful and pleasant drivers to bring us around the mad traffic in Manila! Edgar here is one of them.

I can't forget how well we were treated over here by both the company (The Mechanicals) and the locals. I grew to like Filipinos even more because of this trip. They are just very friendly and polite in general! Even our drivers who had to brave crazy traffic situations every day were great to us!

Thanks again for being such a pleasant host, Philippines. :) You made my work trip more unforgettable than a holiday!

The Mechanicals

2011-10-04T12:29:00.000+08:00

The Mechanicals Theatre Company presents Almost, Maine, an American play about love written by John Cariani. Set in the fictional, whimsical town of Almost in Maine, USA, the snowy locale serves as the setting on an evening when the rare northern lights appear. 19 characters are played by 9 actors in 9 stories about love and its many faces: relationships that are awkward, that test your faith, and that make you crazy, as well as those that simply make you appreciate the value of friendship.

Adapted for its more intimate, non-conventional venue (Se7en1nch, Clarke Quay), the production aims to create a unique audience experience.

Directed by Lauren Go (Artistic Director, The Mechanicals Theatre Company / Tufts University, USA) & Kevin Lagrange (Lasalle College of the Arts, Singapore).

Starring Melissa Faith Yeo, Mario Chan, Jean Toh, Pavan J Singh, Lauren Go, RH Hidalgo, Jamie Shawn Tan, Crenshaw Yeo, and Kluane Saunders.

Show runs from October 5 to 8 with a Saturday matinee at Se7en1nch, Clarke Quay. Tickets available with SISTIC.

The Mechanicals spent most of the time in Manila in this club rehearsing. It was dark, stuffy, and warm. Sometimes, we couldn't wait for showtime, just so there will be ventilation.

We either sat in the sun to get light, or hid in the dark to keep as cool as possible. But I knew I wasn't there for a holiday and the only way to get through it is to make the best out of it.

Luckily for me, I had my cast to count on. I remembered how frustrated and helpless I felt not being able to cram in a good study session during my breaks when finals were only 1 week away. Apart from using my long breaks during rehearsals to study for finals (which usually proved futile in that environment), I distracted myself with my fellow castmates. Or this.

I managed to get used to the rehearsing space after 2 days. And when food arrived............................... :D It was a bonus! :p (Our food sponsor, Bizu, fed us SO well!)

Then when showtime came, the club was an entirely different place...

Not that I want to sound cliche, but hard work does pay off! I remembered us having a very active audience on the first and last days. I also remembered us receiving very heartwarming compliments and returning to the hotel happy. Then wanting to do it all over again.

That was partly how I looked forward to rehearsing in a not-so-nice environment. And though visiting the Philippines wasn't meant to be a holiday, meeting the friendly locals made this trip very, very memorable.

And of course, receiving flowers at the end of the day was icing on the cake!

All smiles after the show. Kluane, Rachelle and Shierly, our stage managers, + yours truly.

Thanks for the flowers and the great time, Mrs. Goh! :)

Get your tickets via SISTIC now! :)

MFY to the Philippines

2011-09-30T11:59:00.000+08:00

Remember that happy little stint I had in the Philippines? :)

In May, a play called Almost, Maine got me packing and jet-setting off to Manila, where its first leg took place. So once again, I was up in the air...

Me with fellow ex-Strasberg student, Jamie Shawn Tan.

"Feels like 39"... Don't we dread the fine print?

This place greeted us with crazy weather and traffic. But people were all smiles and nothing but friendly! Thanks for the warm welcome, Manila! :) (Literally and non-literally la... :p)

One of our drivers, Edgar. Driving is a tough skill on the crazy roads of Manila - nothing like Singapore.

It was no holiday for us. We got there and we got busy, busy, busy. Straight after landing, we had at hotel break of only half an hour. After which was rehearsal at Seventh High, the club where we performed at.

When we got to Seventh High, we were told right away that we missed Bruno Mars and Justin Bieber just by a few days. Yea, we totally felt bummed. Hahaha...

I'll be so sad if you spend more time observing the silhouette than me... :( LOL! Anyway, skirt and necklace by ClubCouture.

After rehearsal, we made a beeline to radio station, Wave 891.fm for our promo.

Our director, Lauren Go.

DJ Nathan J Marquez aka Nathan Jeezay.

3 DJs in total in one little room! How fun... :)

The female cast of Almost, Maine came in first. From the left, Jean Toh; Kluane Saunders; R.H.; me; and our stage managers Rachelle and Shierly.

The cast of Almost, Maine aka The Mechanicals. All ready for showtime!

Ticket-Inn

2011-09-25T00:27:00.000+08:00

It's the end of the week and I'm reflecting on the days that went by. It's also the weekend of the very-glorified Formula 1, but I'm staying home.

Since after coming back from NYC, I've become an anti-social shut-in. I just didn't think that part of me would become... permanent? Honestly, I was more excited than ever on attending F1 parties this year since school is OVER... (OK, I'm getting somewhere with this!)

There was one particular day of the week where I wanted to avoid the world for the sake of my sanity. Just as I was switching off both my phones, Mummy called.

The relief I felt was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more soothing than having boiled bird's nest for breakfast. My mummy was surprised at how excited I sounded. Even I was.

Simply put: I have become afraid of people. Or rather, making new friends. ESPECIALLY GIRLS!

You gotta agree with me that we live in a crazy world. I lost faith in people and I'm done with widening my social circle. I cut people off more than I make new friends. Only pussies need more than a handful of friends. (WOAHHHH... Easy on the negativity already, MFY?) :p

All this boil down to one very psycho girlfriend. Sorry - psycho EX-girlfriend. And dammit, I thought only boys have this problem! I should have known when she has Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan for role models and her permanent show du jour is Gossip Girl. I. Should. Have. Known.

So I thought hey, maybe I should change the kind of friends I make. You know, the non-psycho, harmless sort...

So......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

I guess this one's a good change for a start?

Looks harmless enough right?

I was very proud of my progression already, so this called for a FEAST! :D

I took this little baby out on an eat-out at Tomo Izayaka. So much food! Can you totally sense our joy?

OK, maybe Baby thinks I'm psycho... :/

So how did a hermit like me end up at this restaurant, enjoying glorious food?

Gotta thank Ticket-Inn for the recommendation AND for paying part of my bill!

Ticket-Inn is a mobile deals platform available on iPhone, iPad, and iTouch. This application offers a wide selection of the neatest bargains in town, on-the-go!

Ever wished you don't have to go through the hassle of cutting or printing out coupons to enjoy a special offer? Or looking up different sources of promotions to have dinner? Then get acquainted with this free Apple application!

Read on to know more about the perks of Ticket-Inn. :)

Don't be alarmed if a error message pops up to alert you if your GPS isn't on! :) It's only so that the application can suggest a promotion just in case you choose to go somewhere in your 1KM radius. Otherwise, Ticket-Inn works normally (as in my case).

Selecting an activity and using a coupon is easier than physically cutting out one! Just follow these steps:

1. Slide your bottom bar to use your selected offer. I don't know about Baby but I'm a sashimi fan, so Tomo Izakaya's coupon was ideal for me!

2. Select "YES" only when you're about to use the coupon, or one token will go to waste.

3. Flash the password to enjoy your offer and you're good to go!

If you fancy doing something a little more chic than splurging on a glutton diet like I did, head on to the main menu to select your favourite activity.

I know these specials got me excited!

Hello, ladies! :D

*BUMMER* There weren't any coupons for La Senza, but I added the promotion to my wallet anyway. The wallet functions just as your "bookmark" or "favourites" tab on your computer would. Yep, it is that straight-forward!

Just in case you get so carried away in the midst of all that discounts, this application also features a useful dashboard.

I'm definitely not a tech-savvy person, but Ticket-Inn was darn simple to play around with! :p Just like most Apple applications, you become addicted once you get the hang of it.

Make Ticket-Inn your new application, like how I made Baby my new friend! :)

Salon Vim, the salon with a heart

2011-09-20T23:46:00.000+08:00

Here's officially introducing my hair sponsor, Salon Vim by Chez Vous.

I first knew about them when Kaykay brought me to their hair show at 313 Somerset a few months ago. And for someone who has been to and modelled for hair shows, this particular one impressed me. A lot.

Salon Vim was on a Lady Gaga roll, and I was S-O-L-D. (Anything done with the inspiration of Lady Gaga moves me.)

Apart from the salon's creativity and workmanship, I'm also amazed at how it takes the extra step to be socially responsible.

Salon Vim's campaign "Touching Lives With a Heart For the People" is all about giving it back and shows us how we can pass on an act of kindness.

Here's their kind message and how you can be involved:

"The world goes around in a cycle and one thing leads to another. A kind act will continue to go around in the world changing lives. Do you have a friend who you wish to help?

Let us know.

Salon Vim would like to be the changing point of her life – giving her the confidence she always wished to have.

Here’s how you can help

1. Post a photo of you and your dearest friend.

2. Tell us why you would like to help your friend. (eg, have she always wished to visit a hair salon

but do not have the money to do so? Does she have very low confidence?

3. Tell us how we can change her life because it is the driving point behind this project.

4. Post your entries on Salon Vim's Facebook page or email vimsalon@yahoo.com.sg with the subject ‘Touching Lives With A Heart For The People’

How to win & what will you get

This time round, no votes are required to help you win this contest.

Salon Vim will choose the winning entry whose plight touches us the most.

You and your friend will be able to get a complete hair makeover free of charge.

No monies involved and definitely no gimmicks.

So start typing away, tell us and help us touch lives with a heart for everyone."

Love your eyes

2011-09-12T15:11:00.000+08:00

"When a woman is talking to you, listen to what she says with her eyes." - Victor Hugo

Knowing that I have only one pair of eyes, I'm fussy with the things I put on/in them. It's not like I can go for an "eye job" when something goes wrong. I just lose my eyes - as simple as that.

As you might have already guessed, I get very iffy about wearing cheap contact lens sold online. Sometimes, I just don't wear them at all (as in this photo). I'm on the hunt for a good brand of coloured contact lenses though. By good, I mean approved by the HSA and prettier than those we find at the optician's. Care to drop any suggestions?

As for lash extensions, I only trust Fabulous Group to do them for me.

Want lashes like mine? Call Mae at +65 83117491 or email mae.chen@ymail.com. :)

Fabulous Group imports their tools for lash extensions from Korea and they are 100% medically approved.

I was further reassured when I learnt that their beautician, Mae, is a very hygienic and meticulous person. Too bad she's too shy for photos... :p She won't be too shy to answer your emails, so don't worry! :)

Here's a comparison between my real lashes and extensions during my first visit.

I walked in Fabulous Hawaiian Spa with modest paste-on falsies...

and walked out with thick, extended lashes.

All ready to head out without makeup right after the treatment.

Aftercare tips from Mae of Fabulous Group:

1. Clean both upper and bottom eyelids with cotton buds.

2. Do not run the shower over the eyes when showering.

3. Do not rub, pull at or scratch the lashes.

I'd add another tip in and advise you to use a sponge when washing your face. However, I tried washing my face the normal way and the splashes didn't affect the lashes as I think they would.

Another advice is to head back to Fabulous Group every one and a half weeks for a touch-up.

Lash touch-ups at Fabulous Aesthetics. My favourite place!

Here's the answer to a nagging question some of you may have: Lash extensions at Fabulous Group is pain-free! :D

I have had bad experiences at places where their lash glue has an over-powering smell and stings my eyes, and unless I keep fanning them for the next hour or so, I won't dare open my eyes. Does this sound familiar to you too?

That is why I requested for Mae to use what she calls the "sensitive glue". It's less adhesive strength, but great for those whose eyes are sensitive to foreign materials. It reacted well on me, so during my visit for touch-ups, Mae suggested using the "stronger glue" for the lashes to last longer.

Surprisingly, I felt no stinging pain or suffocation too!

And I love how this particular beauty treatment doesn't require any down-time. :)

Call Fabulous Aesthetics at 64658465 to make your appointment.

Alternatively, you may send your enquiries to Mae at mae.chen@ymail.com or 83117491.

Horrible Experience at Yunnam

2011-09-07T15:41:00.000+08:00

Bad service is rampant in Singapore. I can't say how annoying this is, much less contradicting.

OK, someone please explain to me - Isn't Singapore striving to be a first-world, cosmopolitan, advanced city?

Why then does it still have an endless supply of backward values, narrow-minded beliefs, and the worst I have to deal with - people lacking manners? What's with the third-world behaviour?

I notice it's the mannerisms of older generation of my race that usually disgusts me. Sometimes, as much as I know they 'made' us and some of Singapore, I can't wait for them to - putting it nicely - not be here anymore. I'm just talking about the rude, backward ones - not all, so don't get totally offended. (Only that there are too many of them rude ones around that they make most of those who fall into that certain age group and category.)

Hence, I must say that I love it when I see people put in an effort to be polite, especially when they do fall into that very profile.

Of course I choose to avoid ill-mannered people, but interacting with them is inevitable. Meeting them at work is one thing... I'm flabbergasted when rude people front reputable organisations!

Recently, I had a very bad yet typical experience with a typical Singaporean 'aunty'. Chinese, age - in her 50s, works at Yunnam Hair Care. I tried voicing out my unhappiness to her after my treatment, but that didn't help.

Eventually, I wrote an email to the customer service of Yunnam and CC-ed an 'Eileen' as instructed. I have no idea who this Eileen is, but when I asked for someone of corporate level to attention my feedback to, that was the name (and email) I was given.

Here's the whole account of what happened - word for word.

Dear Eileen,

I was introduced to Yunnam by Groupon where I purchased a voucher for 4 visits.

When I made my appointment over the phone, I was informed that my appointment would take 1.5 hours.

I booked my appointment on 24th June, 430pm at the Ang Mo Kio Jubilee branch.

I have to admit that I arrived 15 minutes late for my appointment, but neither did the counter staff or the therapist voiced out that I was too late for my appointment and had to reschedule, so I assumed that everything was OK.

But what appalled me was the behaviour of your therapist, Jean. She was very unhappy the whole time, but kept quiet as if thinking I owe it to her to guess and figure out how I should appease her.

Unfriendly "greeting"

When I first stepped in, I saw that Jean was chatting with another colleague at the counter. They merely stared at me from the corner of their eyes when I walked in, giving a very unpleasant vibe, hence I didn't dare to approach them to ask about my appointment.

The only person who greeted me was the counter receptionist, who was the only pleasant person around then.

I know greeting customers is the job scope of your counter receptionist, but I do not understand why Jean and her fellow colleague couldn't even be friendly to a customer and looked at me as though I was not welcomed.

Is that the case for late-comers or all Yunnam customers in general?

I thought I was being too sensitive, but the cold treatment carried on for the whole of the session.

Consultation

First, Jean tried to sell me your package, but went on explaining it so quickly, expecting me to catch the technical terms, that I couldn't understand her.

She briefly told me that there would be 2 applications over 2 sessions or I can split it up to 1 applications over 4 sessions. She did not elaborate what "applications" meant and expected me to know!

How am I suppose to know when I am but one of your many clueless customers, going to Yunnam to find out what I need? She didn't tell me what will go on during those "applications" and what she will be applying. She didn't even tell me what those applications were for.

Before I could fully understand that, she was already asking me if I wanted to purchase the ampoules. Again, she didn't tell me what the ampoules are, what they do for my hair, and how they work.

When I asked questions to clarify my doubts, she would show impatience by hesitating to answer me and sighing. So finally, I told her to do whatever that is best for my condition.

Also, how does she expect me to sign up for a package BEFORE my trial, when like I said before, I was clueless on how Yunnam's treatments work - let alone how it will work for me?!

I did not have any idea on what Yunnam's procedures are as she did not brief me i.e. what is going to happen in one session, what kind of ingredients will be used at which stage etc. All she did was gave me a breakdown of the programme and told me how I needed to commit to it.

Jean had this attitude where she expected me to know since I was paying Yunnam a visit.

Then she dropped it on me that the session may take 1.5 to 2 hours, whereas I was told the session would only take 1.5 hours over the phone. I told her I can only stay for 1.5 hours and she did not heed to my needs.

To make matters worse, I recalled her wasting time by making me wait a lot in the room so the treatment took more than 2 hours.

Before the treatment

Your counter staff brought me into the room and I didn't know where Jean went. I had no clue what she was up to since she was giving me the silent treatment (for I don't know what!), so I started doing my makeup in the room.

Then she reappeared while I was doing my makeup halfway and asked if I was ready. I said, "Please give me 5 minutes" as I needed to touch up my makeup. And she went off again.

The treatment

Jean never told me what she was going to do. It seemed like she thought she did not have to tell me what I needed to anticipate.

I felt like her dog - when she wanted to wash my hair, she just did so, when she wanted me to go for a rinse, she ORDERED me to step out, when she wanted me to wait for her in the consultation room, she just pointed to it, expecting me to sit and wait for her inside.

DOESN'T SHE KNOW HOW TO SAY "PLEASE"? Excuse me, but I don't owe her anything and I'm a paying customer, so why should I justify to be treated with respect???

And because I did not know what to anticipate, I was a bit alarmed when I felt my scalp smarting from the grass medication. Moreover, she was not around when that happened, so I did not know if I needed to alert her.

Isn't a Yunnam therapist suppose to be caring and cautious? Well, Jean was not a wee bit concerned!

Jean also carelessly applied the medication and some dripped onto my face. I told her to be careful, but she did not apologise for her mistake. Instead, she told me to lift my head higher as though it was my fault!

I finally found out - by myself, no less - that an application meant that she would apply the grass medication on my scalp and sitting under the steamer it for awhile. Was that so hard to explain in plain simple talking??

She did not even tell me how long I'd have to sit under the steamer and walked out of the room. Even after the steamer went off, Jean was still nowhere to be found.

After 5 minutes, I had to walk out of the room and ask her colleague on her whereabouts! Jean finally reappeared after 10 minutes.

This happened for the 2nd application too. Is this the kind of professionalism you trained your therapists to portray?

The whole session in actuality took MORE than 2 hours. I was there at 445pm, and left at 7pm very, very abruptly.

I couldn't afford to stay for a follow-up examination of my scalp at the end of the treatment.

Post-treatment

Jean asked me how I found the session. I told her that it would have been better if there weren't delays in between the applications.

I went on to elaborating that I was told that the session was supposed to take only 1.5 hours, but it already ate into my 2nd hour. Jean got offended and defensive, which led her to throwing out all sorts of excuses for her delays.

She even resorted to blaming me!

1) She said accused me of being 30 minutes late when I was only 15 minutes late.

2) She accused me of lengthening the session by choosing to do "2 applications". Her exact words, "Because you chose 2 applications. So have to be 2 hours what." - HOW WAS I SUPPOSE TO KNOW WHEN I WASN'T WARNED IN THE FIRST PLACE?

3) She accused me of delaying by doing my makeup before we started. "You need to do your makeup, so I went to the toilet." - Perhaps she could have done so before I stepped in, instead of gossiping with her colleague? In this case, she can't blame me for being late right?

By this time, I had to cancel an errand and was late for my following appointment. As a result, I couldn't stay to complete the scalp analysis.

So in a nutshell, your therapist wouldn't stop blaming me for her mistakes, performed her job with bad mannerisms, and acted like she was MY boss.

Honestly, I don't care why Jean was being so impolite! I didn't even expect for Jean to make small talk with me. All I wanted was a bit of respect.

Jean's behaviour was extremely unnecessary and uncalled for. If she was having a bad day, she should not have made it my problem. If she does not like working, she should just quit!

Your therapists should be trained to add these words in their dictionaries: "please", "thank you", and "I'm sorry"! I'm disgusted that a very established organisation like Yunnam can't even count on its therapists to carry its name well!

I wish I didn't have to put it all out here. This incident is simply ugly, and I wanted to settle it privately (especially considering how Yunnam painstakingly built its brand over the years).

Plus I don't wanna seem like I'm jumping on the bandwagon by bitching about yet another organisation's bad service practices on social media. But see, it's tiring to constantly put up with bad service in Singapore.

Moreover, I sent this email on July 3rd. It is now September 7th, and I haven't heard from them.

Do the math you'd know that it's been a long 2 months since my email. Not a single person from Yunnam has bothered to reply despite knowing my email address, phone number, and even home address.

Shorthanded or just negligent? I wonder what they do with the money they make.

24/7 Urban Life

2011-09-05T15:43:00.000+08:00

Woot! Got some connection, finally! Sorry for making you stare at two old, not so handsome men trying to not tear each other's necks out. Speaking of which, I'm friggin disappointed with the election results. SO that's the face I have to see wherever I go now? Urgh!

Has he sworn in yet? I couldn't bear to keep up after I knew he won. I just... lost faith! OK, on to less depressing news... Here's what's keeping me busy!

Filming aside, half of last week was spent moving into an apartment in the city. You might have already heard me saying so too many times on Twitter and even caught glimpses of the pad. After creating so much hype about this sweet new place (although only temporary), I decided to show you guys around!

The venue for when I switch on my "bum" mode.

This pad came with a little watch dog! :) (Not the boy. That's my brother.)

Perfect. Just what I need for my movie evenings.

The view right next to where I do my work (if any). :p

What I see just as dusk arrives...

Not the best yet, but therapeutic enough in my opinion!

When I'm not a fan of the sun... which is 90% of the time.

The view on the other side. Can you see MBS?

Hope to catch some fireworks soon...

When I stick my head out of my window, this pool just makes me wanna jump 20+ floors down!

My pink bathroom!

The best part of the apartment where I get to do my number 1. hobby! :p

And my other hobby. Haha.

This kitchen counter makes my next favourite place. :p LOL... Love the Batman poster.

I'm staying on my own until the original home's done with renovations. Not like we needed any - it's one of those HDB "upgrades". I believe we opted out, but life in an HDB is all about uniformity and the majority. Pfft! (So if the majority is from a certain mainland, we all can't cook curry anymore is it?)

On the bright side, I can't be more grateful to move in here. Staying in the city reduced my travelling headaches by half! Not forgetting that I'm out of the ghetto! The neighbours here do not smoke near my door step, nor litter, nor spit. So this breath of fresh air is greatly appreciated.

Like I said, it's temporary. (Too bad Mel!) But this short stint here is enough to motivate me to get one for my own!

Face to Face, My Lovely Foe

2011-08-20T17:53:00.000+08:00

Because drinking is such a rare commodity these days, Mummy gets really excited when I come home flushed. She'll be like, "You drank just now right?" *points and grins*

Funny how she never nags at me for being intoxicated...though I'm glad she knows I'll always be in control no matter what the occasion may be.

Now that I got all anti-social, and outgrew the whole clubbing-get-drunk lifestyle, my Mummy actually asks why I'm spending my nights in. Hahaha! She's just waiting for a catch I assume...

Just to be clear - it's not like I gave up my vices to become an angel. That will never be the case. I'm too in love with myself and my vices that we are one entity. I'm just very over the clubbing phase.

Anyway, was having A beer at a friend's place with a couple of others last night. One of my impromptu hang out moments with the very grounded people in my life, one of them being the founder of The Online Citizen. Inevitably, the topic of presidency elections came up and he decided to show me an interesting video taken during a forum organised by the TOC the night before.

Upon watching this, these were the questions that popped up:

1) How can someone who gave a long-winded, very irrelevant answer but was eager enough when it came to shaming his opponent, expect to become our president?

2) Do we really want to pay someone $4 million when he cannot interpret a simple question, but interrupt?

3) Wah $4 million! - OK this isn't a question.

I know for sure that a snooty accent is enough to turn me off, but since I gotta be objective here, I am just gonna stand on the grounds on who deserves this much annual income. Yep, I'm being Singaporean indeed.

I do not care about how highly educated a candidate is. But I do care how rich he is! The richer he is, the more I ask - why should he be president? How will his posh background help in understanding the masses?

I want to root for someone who knows his people and can relate to them. Someone who is grounded and regards the job of a president as a duty and not a high and mighty title. Someone who will not abuse the perks of the job, but share it with his people.

Anyway, I learnt a new Hokkien term!

Looks like the cameras could not get much footage... All I see is a blur of flags waving.

TOC will be airing the first part of its full 45-minute video at 6pm on its website today.