36@Wala Wala

If you look at either side of this post you will see pictures and video of my party at Wala Wala. Suffice to say I thoroughly enjoyed myself, more so because I managed to stay upright till the end of the night.

On an earlier date with some friends, after a nice home cooked meal, they popped out a cake for me. I almost singed my eyebrows trying to blow out all the candles...

Next time 1 candle can liao, okay?

My better half had planned thursday night around a "Rockstar" theme and gave out KISS masks that she lovingly made by hand. We had fun walking around in it and taking many many photos. The Gene Simmons one was the crowd favourite, no surprise there.

Geriatric Gene Simmons on the left

I was prepared to be subjected to the Waterfall treatment, a birthday staple amongst us, but was not ready for the 2nd one, as can be seen from the video. There can ever only be ONE waterfall per birthday...

Nice T-shirt, very apt ain't it?

My own birthday treat? An upgrade to a Flickr pro account, and carting back a foldy back from Japan.

Pwhaaa!!!

Thanks to all that showed up, and those who sms-ed me birthday wishes.

Now excuse me while I go feel the burn from all *pant that *pant cycling *pant ...

Gone paperless

2 years ago I was all gungho about being involved in club activities. It was refreshing, challenging, and gave me a sense of belonging. The energy within the committee was electric. Though not smooth all the time, the clubs are managed well enough.

As with most of what I do though, I got bored. The meetings, the logistics, the paperwork. Oh the paperwork!! I have taken on more than I can chew. Productivity on my part came to a halt. It was not doing both clubs any good for me to stay on.

And so I stepped down. It is a win-win. I can continue to like what the clubs are doing for members, and still maintain a casual, civil relationship with the exco.

I shall stick to organizing random ctivities on the fly with the motley crew I hang with. More fun in that.

And look, no paperwork!!

$trong currency

After the last outing to Drama Centre, I was really hoping that the night out to Esplanade turns out much better.

And it did indeed.

I remember I was in a cab when some Mandarin radio station deejay was interviewing one of the cast members, Emma Yong, who did her Chinese best in that interview, haltingly. My ears perked up when I heard that Singapore's queen of drag, Kumar and my boyhood Asia Bagus host, Najip Ali, are part of the ensemble in this production!

Helmed by Selena Tan of Dim Sum Dollies fame, $ingDollar promised much right from the 1st night it opened. One only has to have a feel of the programme for this musical to see that it is bank-rolled a well sponsored one, even if it doesn't make much ticket sales, which I highly doubt.

$ingDollar does well to engage the audience; with a familar setting (Geylang) , the standard stereotypes (most Bhangladeshis are muslims and CAN eat beef, as explained by Kumar's character as, what else, the foreign labourer) , and scores of ditties that poke fun at anything and everything local-centric. All this was played out with an actual live band behind, and the sets look great.

I especially enjoyed the Micheal Jackson 'tribute' which they worked in, with men who were until recently held in high regard but landed in deep shite taking their turns doing their MJ thang. Heck they even managed to work a disgraced monk into the number!

Brilliant.

The trio of Selena, Emma and Pam are good, dimsumdollying their way around. Kumar was the funny one, ad-libbing his way through at some parts. Najip Ali is the better dancer, Hossan Leong the better singer. Lim Kay Siu is the veteren, whilst Sebastian Tan... well let's just say I am not streching my neck out for his Broadway Beng production coming soon.

The musical is the a great sum of all the above talents, and worth wearing something smarter than bermudas and flip flops for.

4/5 stars!

P.S. What's with the local audience being so stingy with a standing ovation, har?!

Shooting Blanks

It has been a while since I watched any theatre/play/musical. So I was hyped up about watching "Own Time Own Target", a play centering around National Service.

I didn't understand though, how it had to be 2 hours or more for something that has National Service as a backdrop. It's been done before and seriously, there are only those few jokes you can tell about NS before it gets old.

The play made up of 2 halves, each with its own storyline (hence, Own Time Own Target?).

Part 1 was ok, with the actors taking a stab at a recent security lapse that happened locally. It did illicit some snide guffaws from me, but that was it.

Part 2 began promisingly, with the familiar backdrop of the 1st fourteen days in BMT. I could identify with the charactors portrayed, especially the Seargent (NOT the one whose only line was "CHEEEEEEBYE") who reminded me of my own whilst on Tekong.

Smiling Tiger we used to call him...

Part 2 was excruciatingly long, and too pink even for a neutral like me. By the umpteenth ditty the performers put on I was looking at my watch, wondering when all the farce was gonna end.

And how I bolted outta that exit door.

P.S. The night did end nicely, with us cheonging all the way down to Wala Wala for the last set. Now THAT is a show!!

PP..PUI!!

via Lancerlord