Over the past few days, our show has been going stronger, the pacing faster, and energy higher than when we first started. That despite Melissa's falling sick and losing her voice...

And the feedback from the audience has been pretty objective and constructive as well, which is giving us a lot of encouragement...

With the show up and running, we have not been too complacent, and are still working hard on making "Laura's Star" an even tighter and snappier show for our kid audience...

And then, of course, we would reward ourselves with food!

Here are some random photos that I took when we were not performing...

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Omigosh, how time flies. It seems ages ago when we first started rehearsals for "Laura's Star" and when Tina and Nicola first touched down on our balmy shores. Now, we are down to performing our last three shows!

Here are some more photos moments I have captured today. May these provide many fond memories for all of us when this show is over and we've all moved on...

(As Colourful as Laura's Quilt...)

As we were waiting for the audience to enter and fill their seats, I took more pics. Some of the kids even brought along the "Laura's Star" illustrated book that our play was based on!

[break=Where's Sarah?]

Nicola's friend Sarah was seated near the top right of this pic...[/break]

Nicola's UK friend, Sarah, flew in specially from her teaching job in Bangkok to catch up with her and to watch our show!

[break=Friends Reunited and Up Close...]

[/break]

And here's some more snapshots I took during the waiting hours in between shows...

[break=More Snapshots on Stage...]

We brought the beach and the beautiful shells and starfishes onto our stage...[/break]

All three shows today were pretty successful, and were very well received by our audience members. Some of the kids even lingered on and asked for our autographs on the show poster! So cute leh...

Brian, our producer, was happy with what we've done with the show since he last saw it during our rehearsals and first few performances... 

Three more shows to go...

I am soooooo going to miss all this when it, inevitably, ends...

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It's amazing how much effort and time you've given to each production and then suddenly you realise... it's ended!

Our final three shows on Sunday were really all high energy and perspiration, and despite a few minor hiccups here and there (only WE would know), and one almost major one (I almost got killed or maimed by a car during lunch - someone go buy 4227 please!), we gave the audience a good time and definitely their money's worth...

Now that the stage sets have been struck down and the wings emptied, what's left are mere memories... and photos!

Here are more photos I took at the theatre in between and after shows...

(More Memories, More Photos...)

Edric and Star Jr.

Stay on for our post-production dinner photos!

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Show's over! Stage's struck and all cleared! After transporting all the props back to Brian's place, we were all famished! Well, at least I certainly am!

It's time for a celebration dinner... at the Secret Recipe restaurant at Siglap area!

(CLICK HERE FOR YUMMY FOOD PHOTOS...)

Wish Tina, our director, could join us! And speaking of her, Tina had informed us that our UK trip this December will not go through as planned. Oh well, hope there'll be another chance for us to perform there at a later date!

By the time this entry gets posted, Melissa would be on her way to Malacca for her holiday, and everyone else will move on their own different directions once again...

Cest La Vie!

But the world being so small, I certainly won't rule out the chance that we'll get to work together again!

THANK YOU, GUYS! WILL MISS ALL OF YOU!!!

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Haha I bet you thought that my "Laura's Star" entries would finally end together with the show! But here's one more for posterity...

It's the day after our last show, and I'd arranged to meet Nicola to pass her a CD of all the photos we've taken during these past few weeks, and also to bring her to Sim Lim Square to shop for a digital camera for her boyfriend. (Hi James, if you're reading this! )

But not before we indulged in a favourite local snack: the Popiah, aka Springroll...

Nicola and her vegetarian-and-spiceless version of the Popiah

Right after this simple lunch, we popped over to Sim Lim Square, one of the popular places for anything to do with technology (guess that's why I'm hardly ever there, duh!)...

Surprisingly, after checking out a few shops, we discovered the camera prices here are pretty much comparable to those in the UK. They do offer a free 512mb memory card here though, wonder if it's the same overseas...

Anyway, Nicola didn't leave empty handed after all. She got a S$1 handphone strap for her camera!

Soon enough, it was time to say goodbye...

Here are some parting shots before Nicola left to visit the Zoo, and I to the gym...

Nicola will be flying back to UK on Wednesday night, unless Brian's correct and it's really Tuesday... hehe...

Anyway, farewell for now, and hope you have somemore fun before you leave Singapore, gal!

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I found it fitting (not to mention, corny) to watch the remake of 1976's "The Omen" today, on the 06/06/06...

It's a rather faithful remake, but updated for our modern times of course...

One of my favourite actresses, Julia Stiles, was in it (which was one of the MAIN reason why I'm watching this too), and hers was such a tragic role. This sorta describes the role of "mother" in general, but to actually raise the Devil's child? ...

It was apt casting Mia Farrow in this movie, which is pretty similar in idea to her starring role in another horror film, "Rosemary's Baby". She's creepy here alright...

Liev Schreiber, though obviously not as debonair as Gregory Peck, was believable as the politician who's torn apart by duty as a father and duty as the only person who could get rid of the Antichrist...

And the latter was played by a little boy who's not really cute and not really creepy enough. He was just like any ordinary child you might find around you, but has more tantrums. In short, a thorough brat...

Expectedly, if you've seen the original show, this film has several gory and disturbing scenes indeed, but I shall let you find out for yourself. To me, this story has more to do with dealing with people who might be potentially evil... 

I quite enjoyed this show, if I could just forgive those noisy packs of schoolgirls around me screaming at the slightest hint of horror, or the elderly couple who decided to put their barefeet feet up on the back of the seats in front of them...

Anyway, personally, I feel that the Devil exists in all of us, in various disguises and forms that we've taken for granted, but waiting for the right moments to peek out and wreck havoc...

In the same respect, I feel that God exists in all of us too, and when we accept that and accept Him in ourselves, we could then find true Salvation...

Amen...

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Fuzhou Oyster Cake



Mdm Hoon and her sister, with their freshly fried oyster cakes

The simple yet sinfully delicious Oyster Cake (called "Teng Biang" or "Diye Biang" in Hock Chew) is a traditional Fuzhou street food...

It is often filled with pork, parsley, peanuts and of course, fresh oysters, and deep-fried to perfection. For those who don't take pork or oysters, you could request a plain version, or have prawns added to your cake, and have it fried on the spot. Each oyster cake costs around $2, but is very filling and satisfying...

My family and relatives, who are mostly of the Hock Chew dialect group (from Fuzhou, China), have been faithful followers of this particular stall at Maxwell Market Food Centre for years and years, dating back to when it was just a street hawker along one of the Chinatown lanes. My Eldest Auntie would often buy these savoury snacks by the dozens and distribute among the families...

When I brought my Dad back to his hometown in Fuzhou in late 2004, I indulged in these irresistable snacks at a roadside shop almost everyday. Of course, at the rate I was eating, I also had to drink plenty of water and cooling herbal drinks to prevent getting a sore throat...

I even told my Dad about my intention to eventually set up my own Fuzhou Delicacies Shop someday and he was all for it. It's a pity Dad didn't live long enough to see me realise this dream, but I am giving myself another couple of years to let it happen...

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Barely into my first week after wrapping "Laura's Star", I'm gonna be involved in a huge production this weekend!

If you happen to be free this Saturday and Sunday, do drop by the Empress Place area between 2pm to 9.30pm and experience the colourful Peranakan culture and activities. Best thing is... it's mostly FREE!!!

The Main Wayang Company presents 

(Part of the Singapore Arts Festival 2006 - Asian Showcase)

Dates: Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th June 2006

Venue: Empress Place - Asian Civilisations Museum & The Arts House

Time: 2pm to 9.30pm

MUST COME!!!

Two whole days of family fun-filled activities and interactive shows, including...

Our uniquely 'Singapore Baba Wedding' procession with Seronee Musicians!

'Kebaya, Kueh & Hi-Tea Comedy!', 'Baba Nyonya Riverside (Lap Chye) Parade', Embroidery and Beaded Slippers Demonstrations...

PLUS!

Children's interactive games, 'Cherita Dulu Kala' and hands-on making of 'Kueh Chang' and 'Kueh Ee' snacks!

And don't miss our 'Joget Party!' with The Baba Band, The Main Wayang Singers and Dancers!

CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROGRAMME DETAILS!!!

All events here are FREE to the public (unless otherwise stated)...

Here's a map of the event...

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Woke up super early this morning and got to the National Stadium just in time for our tap dance item rehearsal...

Only Richard, Danny and the small angmoh boy (oops, forgot his name!) from our team were there early, the rest came later. Besides Emily, who is in China, we're almost at full strength today!!

I'd missed the first stadium rehearsal the previous week due to "Laura's Star", and I haven't been to the stadium for ages and ages...

To think that I used to take part in mass display items during my school days, now it's pretty heartening to see so many youngsters and school kids sweating it out in the mass display contingents. They might disagree though, hehe. Ah, sweet youth...

(Above pics taken with my Nokia N70 phone camera, and edited on Photoshop 7.0)

After the 1 hour rehearsal, and getting our routine and blocking right together with the supporting contingent from Nan Hua Secondary School, we called it a very early day...

Jon sent me and Siow Wei to the nearest McDonald's outlet where I had a Big Breakfast Meal and Siow Wei an Egg McMuffin Meal. Feels good to be up early for breakfast, sometimes... hehe...

Gonna rest a bit at home first before heading to Empress Place for the Baba Nyonya HIStory & HERitage show this evening!

Come if you can!!! 

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For those who missed the Peranakan party and procession, here are the shots...

Me in Baju Lok Chuan

(PHOTOS GALORE BEHIND THIS LINK...)

Thank you, those who were there yesterday to support! Anyone wishing to catch the above performances and activities, do come down this afternoon!

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After the Peranakan activities last night, some of us in the Main Wayang Minstrels, cabbed over to East Coast Park where we had a couple of drinks at the BFD pub...

It was terribly crowded with soccer fans (who neglected the above-average band playing in the background), but thankfully the waiters managed to squeeze out a table for us...

Top Row L-R: Marcel, Carol, Jasmine and Edric

After a bottle of Tiger Beer, I left them and hopped over to the nearby chalets to meet the Livejournal bloggers!

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Day Two started off with heavy rains and a rare flooding around my area, but everything dried off soon enough, and the series of events turned out even more successful than the previous day's!

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

(MORE COLOURFUL PHOTOS BEHIND THIS LINK...)

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After two whole days of shows and constant activity, we were all drained of energy...

So it was fitting that some of us felt in need of a "recharge" at the nearest pub, The Penny Black, at Boat Quay...

Middle Row L-R: Carol, Marcel, Jasmine and Edric

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Watched the latest teenybopper flick "She's The Man" yesterday and found it rather refreshing and entertaining throughout...

(More Inside...)

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On Wednesday and Thursday, 14th and 15th June 2006, I was involved in my eighth short film project, "Kissing A Fool"...

The story is about two men facing their relationship problems and the choices they had to make. It's written by Chai Yee-Wei and Selena Sheik, directed by Yee-Wei, and stars Yours Truly, Joe Phua, Vanessa Tan and Gillian Tan...

The production team included Steven Liew as Director of Photography and Leon as Production Manager, with Yee-Jian, Tian Long and Jason helping out as Crew...

Thankfully, there were just a few locations, namely Moon River Cafe at Stamford House, Unit Q2 at East Coast Chalet, as well as Kandahar Road...

And here are the photos taken with my camera during our shoot...

(CLICK HERE FOR MORE BEHIND-THE-SCENES PHOTOS...)

Cast of "Kissing A Fool"

More photos in the coming entries...

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As evident from the previous set of photos, our cast and crew in this short film production had a good time...

It helped that Yee-Wei had given us ample time allowance for the shoot, so that we were always ahead of schedule...

It also helped that everyone were good-natured and knew how to make the most of the shooting period and waiting times. Moreover, Gillian (ever the Energizer bunny), supplied us with her cornucopia of jokes, and kept us entertained no end...

Joe and I were like brothers... (kidding, that's my opening line on that "drink-driving" ad lah!) We've never worked together before, but we do have several interesting things and friends in common...

And if the gorgeous Vanessa looks familiar, that's because she was one of the finalists in this year's Miss Singapore Universe contest. And with her high-flying job on SQ flights, she's all Singapore Girl alright!

Here are more photos of the antics we got up to during the shoot...

Above L-R: Gillian, Vanessa, Joe and Edric

(PHOTOS GALORE BEHIND THIS LINK...)

More photos coming up next...

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After completing the first day's shoot, everyone else left while Yee-Wei, Leon and I camped over at the chalet. We had another early morning shoot the next day, and I didn't want to risk waking up late for it...

Being perpertually nocturnal, I haven't seen an actual sunrise for years. I'm glad I did that day...

Sunrise at East Coast Chalet

Despite a cloudy, drizzly start, Day 2 of "Kissing A Fool" gave us ample sunshine and a clear blue sky, perfect for our final scenes indeed...

Filming "Kissing A Fool" at Beach Road and Kandahar Road

(POST-SHOOT FOOD AND DRINKS PHOTOS BEHIND THIS LINK...)

Looking forward to seeing the final edit of this film!

Another thing I felt throughout this production... it really does pay to pray for a blessed and smooth-sailing film shoot beforehand... :D

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Here are a couple of photos I took on Saturday, 17th June 2006, along The Esplanade towards the Merlion. Looks like someone's getting a face lift...

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OMG, I just realised the movie showing on TV right now, "Tortilla Soup", is a Western remake of Ang Lee's "Eat Drink Man Woman"!

 vs.

While the latter was set in Taiwan and featured some yummilicious Asian restaurant cuisine,  "Tortilla Soup" was based in L.A. and showcased some equally appetising Mexican fare...

Both share the same plot about an ageing chef who've lost his sense of taste but not his zest for life, as well as his three beautiful but vastly different daughters...

I totally loved "Eat Drink Man Woman" when it was first shown at the theatres, for there were parts of each character's personalities I could identify with...

And I could certainly feel for all that delicious looking food created in both movies! :D

Anyway, these films (as well as "Rice Rhapsody" somehow always remind me of my family and my relationship with my late Dad...

You see, Dad used to own a coffee shop where The Caribbean at Keppel Bay condominiums is located now, selling Chicken Rice. It was the best Chicken Rice I have ever tasted by far...

Here are some interesting quotes I found on the Net from both shows...

"Eat Drink Man Woman" (1994):

Chu: Eat, drink, man, woman. Basic human desires. Can't avoid them. All my life, that's all I've ever done. It pisses me off. Is that all their is to life?

Chu: Raising daughters is like cooking a meal. You lose your appetite by the time you're finished.

"Tortilla Soup" (2001):

Carmen Naranjo: Do you know why we clink glasses before drinking?...It's so that all the five senses are involved. We touch the glass. We smell the drink. We see its color. We taste it. Hearing is the only sense that doesn't participate unless we create it.

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One of the perks of my job (what job?) is most times I get to laze around at home and have lunch in front of the TV. Another perk is that lunchtime TV has always been filled with yummilicious cooking shows and other fun programmes like these...

David Rocco's Dolce Vita

(MORE HERE...)

Jamie's Great Italian Escape 

[break=MORE HERE...]

Then comes Jamie Oliver's new cooking series "Jamie's Great Italian Escape", serving up more Italian foods while travelling through various cities in Italy...

He puts his recipes to the acid test by offering the native Italians his English-style cooking on the streets. Witness how the Italians were offended by his adding herbs or cream to their fresh fish, though he managed to win them over in the end with his sincerity, earnestness and truly good food...

More scenic views of the Sicilian islands! Wish Oliver would speak clearer and mumble less though (yeah, my turn to pick on a British's accent, what a twist!)[/break]

The lunch hour on local TV also features one of my all time favourite shows...

Ambush Makeover

[break=MORE HERE...]

Every morning, two unsuspecting fashion disasters get "ambushed" by a team of celebrity Style Agents from "Ambush Makeover", and with the help of hairstylists, makeup artistes as well as clothing stores, these fashion victims get transformed from head to toe into whole new persons...

It's wonderful to see how a little change here and there in your hair and colouring, your dressing and perhaps a little make up, could make an ugly duckling look fashionable and stylish, all in a few hours' time and effort...

As the popular saying goes, "there are no ugly people, only lazy people"...

Oops! Lazy people... sounds like me alright! Muahahaha! [/break]

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This entry is dedicated to another one of my all-time favourite traditional Fuzhou dishes...

Fuzhou Red Wine Chicken Mee Sua

(MORE PHOTOS WITHIN...)

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On Thursday, Lawrence and I decided to check out the yummy food and shopping places in our neighbouring Johor Bahru...

Suffice to say, we ate lots, shopped non-stop, ate more, witness a death scene, ate and ate some more...

Here's the evidence, just follow the running Green Man...

(PICS GALORE BEHIND THIS LINK...)

Stay tuned for Part 2 of our JB food and shopping adventure!

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In my previous entry, I mentioned more food. And that's what this JB trip was all about!

I was tempted by the inexpensive Dim Sums at Nanting Restaurant at City Square, and insisted we keep some room in our tummies for them...

Me having a moment to myself at Nanting Restaurant

(MORE FOOD PHOTOS BEHIND THIS LINK...)

More photos of more food coming up next...

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After spending quite a few hours eating and shopping at City Square, we spent the rest of the afternoon over at the ancient Holiday Plaza...

The shops there didn't seem to have changed much since I was last there some years ago. And the familiar herbal aroma of Cha Ye Dan (Tea Eggs) still permeated throughout the building...

Somehow, I just didn't feel like taking any photos there...

Oh well, dinner time soon arrived and we crossed the road and walked over to the nearby Goh Zah Lang Taiwanese Porridge Restaurant for our next food installment...

(THE COMPLETE DINNER WITHIN THIS LINK...)

With a full stomach each, Lawrence and I took a cab back to City Square for some factory outlet shopping at FOS, and after that, more desserts at the ever-popular Secret Recipe...

Watch out for more photos of that in my next and maybe final entry of this JB food adventure!

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Okay okay, although we've only spent about 9 hours in Johor Bahru, I've managed to get my tummy bloated to the equivalent of a 3-month-old pregnancy, and snapped enough pics for a 4-part JB series on my blog...

Also I'm doing a lot of free unauthorised advertising for these food places. Maybe someday I'll get paid for it (not "just desserts"! LOL)...

In any case, I'm enjoying it all while it lasts. Here are the remaining photos of our trip...

(CLICK HERE TO SEE THE REST OF OUR JB TRIP...)

Lawrence and I could hardly walk any more after all that good food in us, and the mall was about to close for the day anyway, so we finally made our way back to Singapore...

That's the time we began our bus journey back across the Causeway...

All in all, it was a very fruitful and enjoyable trip indeed! Thanks, Lawrence, for being such a terrific and patient guide, and for bearing with all my photo taking! :D

Looking forward to my next Johor Bahru adventure already! Who's coming along?

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After all that eating in Johor Bahru on Thursday, I met up with Lawrence and Dominic the next day and ate some more...

We found ourselves at the new and very empty Peranakan-styled Kopi-Pang Cafe along Killiney Road...

Kopi-Pang Cafe at Killiney Road

(More Pics Within...)

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My current act is a group tap dance item for the finale of this year's National Day Parade, and we've been rehearsing since mid-March...

Led and choreographed by Richard Chia, Singapore's tap dance extraordinaire and seasoned stage performer, our tap group consisted of 8 other performers including Dan Kwok, James Dickinson, Jonathan Lum, Scott Lei, Ben Xiao, Emily, Guek Siow Wei and myself...

A couple of days back, on Wednesday, part of our team performed a segment of our item for the NDP 2006 Media Briefing, along with the other groups and their representatives, as a sort of preview to the actual show...

Inset L-R: Edric, Richard, Dan, James and Jonathan

And... it's showtime!

(MORE ON THE NDP 2006 MEDIA BRIEF INSIDE THIS LINK...)

This will be my 3rd or 4th time performing for the NDP, having participated before in some mass displays during my school days. But from the looks of it, all in all I think this year's National Day Parade will be a very special event indeed!

For those interested in tickets, unfortunately I only have 3 complimentary tickets to the NDP 2006 Family Show on the 8th July, and I will probably pass them to my family members first of all...

More updates coming up as we get there...

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