Car on Water

More news from my favourite city, Venice....

Bernd Weise, of the Amphicar Club Berlin, pilots his 1961 Amphicar down the Grand Canal,
past the Rialto bridge at rear, in Venice, May 28, 2009. The German-built amphibious car,
which uses a Triumph Herald engine, is capable of over 110 kph ( 70mph ) by road and 8 knots on water. Its driver needs a regular driving licence and a boat licence.

 I would love to be in this car. Just imagine the shock on the faces of the people around when I decide to plonk my car into the water. Maybe some kind soul might jump in to try to rescue me. And then the surprise will turn to relief when they realize I'm not trying to kill myself.

Chocolatey Wedding Invite

This couple in India are truly creative. I wonder how the choc inside tastes? Will it melt in the mail? We dunno, but we sure hope the guests don't throw it away thinking it's some cheap freebie.

Mr Eyeball

Members of the Japanese performance group "Medaman-Medaman" wearing large eyeballs
walk around the Roppongi Hills shopping mall in Tokyo on April 26, 2009.
Shoppers in the area enjoyed various street performances on this sunny spring day
as Japan's annual week-long "Golden Week" holiday began

obituaries. death. exhumations.

I read in the papers regarding a grave exhumation at a Muslim cemetery. Staying in Singapore means that land is scarce and that scarcity means even those who are supposed to rest in peace can only do so for 30 years before they have to move house.

The Malay journalist wrote that when her grandmother's grave was exhumed, the workers found her remains, with her brain intact. Speak of brain power. They attributed it to the consistent nicotine intake, or perhaps even meditation. 

Apparently, no machines were used. All the work was done by hand and spade out of  respect for the dead. The poor workers had to dig their hands into muddy waters to look for charred ribs, and broken skulls. What a job! And apparently men's bones were better preserved than women's.

So that led me to a few thoughts:

Firstly, the frivolous: We women better get more calcium intake for all its worth. Not only do we prevent osteoporosis, we also leave behind more for the living to mourn when our turn comes to be exhumed.

And maybe I would want to be cremated instead of being buried. I mean, imagine the stress of your children and their children having to see their mom/granny after 30 years in the grave, unclothed and with insides exposed and stringy hair. I wouldn't enjoy that. Not to mean the emotional upheaval of having to go through the whole funereal process again, saying goodbye for the second time.

Secondly, when I flipped over to the obituaries, I saw pictures of the deceased at different ages. Some were really young. Like 34. Some lived to a ripe old age with listings of their descendants in loving memory of them. Quite a few of them survived to their 50s. I think reading the obituaries has a very sobering effect on most people. It challenged me to think of my life and filled my thoughts with questions. Whether I would be happy to leave the earth yet. Whether I had accomplished enough. Whether I should have children. What kind of legacy I wanted to leave. When is my turn to go. Who will mourn me.

I guess, every now and then, it is really a good thing to flip the pages of obituaries and reflect on what life and death has to offer. It did me some good.

New (ugly) Neighbours

I have the misfortune of untidy new neighbours hailing from mainland China. They've rented the opposite unit a floor above, giving them a bird's eye view of everything I do in my living room and bedroom if the curtains are drawn open. 

Just look at the photos above...never knew the balcony could double up as a storeroom? Now you do! All the big pieces of sofa and mattresses, strollers or even a baby cot that you don't know where to put? There, perfect for the balcony.  The railings also serve to dry big sheets. 

 And wait, don't forget that shared spaces like the stairs can also be used to hang your laundry. I mean, why waste the space? The neighbours wouldn't mind, right? After all, after paying a million bucks to buy a unit in a quiet serene condo, all you need are such considerate and thoughtful neighbours right next door. And what fire hazard? Just how likely is a fire to break out at home? Who cares if the stairs are blocked? The lifts are always available.

This family talks in loud tones (typically Chinese), and has two young children with strong vocal cords wailing their hearts out every now and then to remind me of their existence I suppose. 

Not just am I forgoing my privacy, it irks me that it's being compromised to untidy, inconsiderate people with no inkling of good taste. Looks like the curtains are going to be drawn a lot more often now. Not just to protect my family from peering eyes, but also to prevent eyesore.

Why you should never become a pro ping pong player

These pictures of Asian professional table tennis athletes are reason enough not to play professionally. Most look slightly crossed eyed with the small white ball in their faces!

Audi Fashion Festival - Ashley Isham

Singapore-bred, London based fashion designer back in his homeland to display his new collection. I am rather disappointed with the collection. Maybe Isham has been too busy of late. The dresses lacked thought and appeared to me as hastily put together. Scroll down to see why...
Looks like something from the Devil Wears Prada, and not in a good sense. I thought the proportions are poor, with the hips and tummy being emphasized. The black stockings underneath the slit is just too stark and the leather gloves are a clash with the gold brooch.
I think this jacket is much much better. The textured woolen material, coupled with the ribbon and silver thread on the left breast is so classy!
This dress looks almost good. But the choice of grey floral prints just ruins the look, like some curtain or something our "ah sohs" will purchase from the wet market.
Again, a flop for me. The belt is so wrong, cutting up the model's body into two. The layering of the mermaid skirt didn't work. An ordinary woman wearing this gown will gain 3 kgs instantly on her hips, not to mention the suggestive inverted V cut.
I like this dress, except for the colour. Why brown, Ashley!!!??
This black and red ensemble works better. Very dramatic entrance guaranteed if you wear this.
Again, that belt ruins the dress.
Sadly the dress lacks fluidity.

Audi Fashion Festival - Christian Lacroix Couture

Amazing designs from Lacroix featuring plenty of elaborate embroidery, tutu, chiffon, netting, and my favourite element, the printed lace stockings. Love the silhouette of the short red puffed skirt with the champagne gold bustier top. The model looks a bit elvish though haha

Passion By the Beach by Classifieds

Tiger's fren Cookie trying the Ball-Catching Segment

Sit-Stay Segment

Tiger's new friend checking him out

Scary huge dog almost my size!

I don't know how classified came up with such an X-rated name for a pets event at East Coast Park but well, this is the Straits Times we're talking about...journalists feeding the whole of Singapore with up-to-the-moment, gahmen-coloured news. Apparently, I'm so late in posting this up. This happened on 5th April 2009, exactly one month ago. I had a very valid reason to be late, having just moved house.

The event was a really wet, rainy one. But there was a gi-normous tent to house all of us. It got rather misty with all these Cool-Mist fans blowing. There were some activities like Doggy Weddings, Ball-Catching going on, and stalls were set up selling pet-related stuff.

Anywayz, Tiger participated in the Fatal Distraction (another X-rated name by these testorone-driven journalists) segment. This involves total obedience to sit and not move. It was rather poorly organized. There were about 40 dogs participating, but the judges had not thought up how they were going to test the pooches, whether they had to sit or down stay, whether to use the bubble gun on all rounds, etc.

Anyway, Tiger being the best pooch (in my humble and biased opinion), passed every round up to the pre-finals, even when the owners (includes me) had to hide backstage. He gamely sat stay and even resisted some yummy Bak Gwah (pork jerky) the MC (dog trainer Patrick Wong) used to tempt them. So I was really surprised when they disqualified Tiger.

Apparently, they promoted the dog who ate the jerky to the finals, but disqualified Tiger cos he turned his head to look at the golden retriever beside him, who had decided to down stay. Come on, if the person beside you was 3 times your size and he decided to break the rules and move, YOU would turn your head to have a look! Tiger didn't move away at all from his position. 3 judges and all of them blind! 

That dog went on to win 3rd prize! I was so indignant and really pissed off with the error of judgement. Last week when we went to doggy school, the dog trainer confirmed that the judges made a mistake. So Tiger was a real good boy...better luck next time babe.