(as they say, the road to hell is) Paved with Good Intentions

Singapore Dreaming is my favourite local film so far, hopefully the pioneer of many more worthy productions in our comparatively fledgling film industry.

This is the essay before the film, that was later published. It has been awhile since an address has hit me with such resonation, the other perhaps being Steve Jobs’ one at Stanford. Curiously, their case-in-points are almost similar.

On the other hand, this is might be the quintessential film on the lives of ordinary Singaporeans - HDB dwellers. No scholars, professionals, nor old money here. Folks who visit the Singapore Pools as faithfully if not moreso, than church or temple devotees. Yet this film is produced by 2 professionals who now call New York home & Dr. Woffles Wu, a top Singaporean plastic surgeon. I do wonder how they manage to hit the nail so sorely on its head, but I guess that is where all the correspondence with HDB-dwelling Singaporeans came in handy.

Miss Pac-Man

So we got a vacuum cleaner yesterday. I’ve almost forgotten how much I like to vacuum. Its almost like playing real life Pac-Man, with dust mites. Surprisingly enjoyable, i must say.

Dad’s Oatmeal

My dad caught a raging flu today, so bad he was Rudolph the red-nosed for most part. He was hungry, & so I tried a hand at oatmeal. Personally I dread oatmeal as breakfast, perhaps its the mushy consistency a la baby-food. My dad simply adores oatmeal (along with Teochew peanut candy, dark Toblerone, curry scissors rice, grapefruit… the list goes on), its his comfort food. Plus, you have to try very hard to fail at making oatmeal.

I once cooked oatmeal for him before I went to bed, & when he came home apparently it had gone so bad it “turned grey”. This time though, in his own words, it was so nice. To see an oatmeal aficionado enjoy an unassuming bowl of oatmeal, its a pleasant surprise. The recipe follows.

Uniquely Singapore

Overheard from a coffeeshop, the Singaporean way to order your cuppa…

Coffee with less sugar = Kopi Siu Dai

Coffee with even lesser sugar = Kopi Siu Siu Dai

Hot Chocolate/Milo = Tak Kiu (Football, in reference to the soccer lad on Milo tins)

Chinese Tea = Diao Yu (Fishing, as tea bags look similar to fishing rods)

Lemon Tea = Clementi (A pun on the name of a Western district in Singapore)

Most coffeeshop uncles & aunties(another unique trait of SE Asia, greeting all elders Uncle or Auntie) understand this, a coffeeshop code of sorts.

calm

On Sunday morning,

gingerly sifting through the newspapers,

to Astrud Gilberto.

Things You Learn

From watching Friends

1. Traffic policemen named Hanson & Petty love being flattered by obvious puns on their name.

2. Make sure your walls are thin. Or else life would be an absolute bore.

3. Do not count Mississippi-ly unless told to do so. Effectively, that means never.

4. Hiking in Europe will get you action every single time.

Things You Learn

From watching the Office.

1. Always, always type the right email address. Packing & Packer are not the same.

2. Be careful which Temp guy you choose to run your errands. You may have to call him Boss tomorrow.

3. Sausage-eating skills are essential in becoming Regional Manager. So is fire-walking. And carrying eggs in spoons while blindfolded.

4. If you hear strange noises at midnight on the Shrute family farm, do not investigate.

5. A beard, or the ability to sprout facial hair, gives you extra credibility at work.

Wonder if #5 applies to the fairer sex.

Things You Learn

From watching SATC

1. Do not put on any random firefighter’s overalls at the local fire station.

2. Twenty-somethings live in dumps & skimp on toilet paper.

3. Don’t marry a man who replies “Alrighty” after you propose. Avoid men who say Alrighty to everything.

She said

La famille.

An unfortunate coincidence of strangers flung together, not unlike the 3 other passengers that you are allocated to sit with in a train ride heading to Forever?

I hope not.

She said

A birthday cake bought, out of guilt, by the birthday girl, maketh not a Happy Birthday.