Night Safari

Sorry for not maintaining this blog for so long. It’s been way crazy since my last entry. The kids, school, homefront, workfront etc. Anywhoo…

Recently got a chance to head to the Night Safari; must admit that it’s been ages since I last went there. It was a special invite for the Gold 90FM crew so off we went like Noah’s animals 2-by-2 onto the tram after some pre-dinner drinks and snacks for The Gourmet Safari. A dinner tour of the night safari is how best to describe it!

With sweat trickling down our cleavages (because it was just THAT warm) we traipsed to the waiting tram and settled nicely into the plush pseudo Safari printed seats. Out came the cool refreshments and we were off! Slowly making our way through the lush surroundings, it really did feel like we were going through the jungles of Africa and more. After all in the dark ALL jungles are the same aren’t they? DARK!

As the tram rolled on, the food and drinks kept pouring out…lobster bisque with huge chunks of lobster meat (yummy!), the main course of steak for me, and a lovely chocolate something (all I could remember) as the dessert! And of course the drinks kept flowing; beer to cool down on such a warm humid night.

Dinner was even more fun because I had my partner-in-crime Hamish as my dinner companion. And we were joined by a dear friend Lena and Yasmine (ex-Gold presenter). A table full of sharp witted people who added their extra commentatry to the whole experience.

At the end of dinner, we made our way to the Creatures Of The Night Show. Interesting, rambuqtious is how I’d describe it. I won’t spoil it for you. You try it for yourself!

Thank You For The Lesson

This week a fellow radio person passed away. Deborah De Souza. She was as lovely on air as she was in person. She fought bravely but lost her battle with cancer. Many of her ex-colleagues are still reeling from the loss. But when news of her death broke, an immediate feeling came over me. That life truly is too short to be spent feeling angry, depressed or plotting the ruins of another person.

Deborah was only 37. That’s a year older than me. In those 37 years, from what I read, she cherished her life and those around her. Even when she was diagnosed with the cancer, she never once stopped to wallow in self pity. Instead she held her head high and went with life with as much vigour and zest that most of us can only dream of doing.

So as she looks down on all of us from that majestic radio studio in the sky, I want to say “thank you” to a wonderful woman who has made me reasses my life and my priorities. The studio lights have turned on and phones are buzzing your studio now Deborah!

Behind The Scene With The Gold Breakfast Show

After 10 years apart, Hamish Brown and I have reunited on a new breakfast show on Gold 90FM. I went on to have 2 kids and other mornings shows as did he…well minus the kids at least! Getting back together with him on radio was like slipping an old t-shirt on. Familiar and so comfy!

Mornings are great with Hammy (my pet name for him) because he’s accomodating. And he knows that I’ll give in to him as well. And which other radio partner gets up at 430am to prepare breakfast for him?

Here’s a sneak peak at what we do when we’re not dishing out the breakfast show…EATING or relaxing in a corner! Got to keep the energy level up in the morning so it’s cheese, sandwiches, coffee…basically whatever we can find around the studio! We’re not fussy! *Grin

We take turns to “relax in the corner”; depending on who’s manning the panels for the week. But here’s a peek at the cosy corner. And the wall of fame too. See the illustrious wall of Gold 90FM DJs?

More behind the scenes coming up. Keep checking back!

Keep In Touch…NOT!

I have lost count of the number of times I’ve heard people say “keep in touch”. Maybe it’s just me, but when I say it I try to mean it. So that means, I’ll give them a ring, drop them an sms or even chat on msn if they’re connected. But these same people who’ve promised to “keep in touch” seldom do. A friend told me that I shouldn’t be bothered. “Waste of time keeping in touch with them too if you asked me,” was her cynical reply followed by a shrug. I guess we all “grow out” of each other. But thankfully enough I’ve got a circle that really mean it when they ask to stay in contact.

The Return Of Ham & Mags!

I am happy to announce that Irreverence Central has returned!

After a decade, Hamish Brown and myself are a radio couple again! We parted ways in 2000 and have had a string of radio partners on different stations. We’ve always kept in touch and share the same wicked sense of humour (which is scary).

Knowing that I was going to be waking up Singapore with my “brother” has made me excited to wake up at 4am all over again. I still miss Hossan but I know he’s keeping the craziness going on the Morning Jam.

Today was the first day after 10 years but it was almost like we’d never parted ways. We cracked jokes on and off air and it was heartwarming to know that people still remembered our combination. Sure we’re a decade older and definitely pudgier (truth must be told) but the desire to have fun on air was still there!

Please give us a try on Gold 90FM; tell your friends about the Gold Breakfast Show with Maggie & Hamish. Think of us as that comfy, big tee shirt that you love wearing at home because of the familiar smell and texture. Be hearing from you soon!

Where’s The Fire?

I am truly very intrigued why people are still interested by this whole Edison Chen scandal. Just today, I picked up a tabloid paper where the reporter decided to hone in on the local celebs who had “brushes” with Edison. Some said it was merely “hi-bye” while others claimed he propositioned them.

And as I read the 2 page article, I applauded these women for having the strength in character to turn him down. “Clever, Good, Ok pat on the back!” What about the women who said “yes” to his proposals? They said yes, did the deed and it’s really none of our business actually. Their choice, they live with it.

So let’s move on already. Why is there STILL this fixation with Edison? It’s like serving yesterday’s dinner after reheating it a million times. There is nothing new to this story. He took photos, the photos got circulated, he admitted to doing it and now he’s paying the price.

Ermmm…that pretty much sums it all up, yes?

Think there are more important things at hand now. Like keeping our eyes peeled for someone else who’s dominating the daily headlines. And leave the whole I-Saw-Edison’s-Lala to rest ok?

PRONOUNCE PRONOUNCE PRONOUNCE :(

Eversince I stopped working, I’ve had the chance to watch more TV and to take in the media in all it’s forms and platforms. And the deduction?

OMG!!! Can someone take some of these people and put them back to school to teach them PROPER pronounciation?
I was folding my clothes infront of the television at 1130am today. The presenter was a pleasant looking girl. Not bad on the eyes. But when she started her news I felt my skin crawling, my eyes watering and goosebumps forming down the back of my neck!

“…if he was sported…” WHAT? I’m pretty sure she wanted to say “spotted” but that fluff was so glaring, I fell over backwards from the pain! ARGHHHHH.

When can we all learn that it’s ok NOT to have an accent. Speak naturally and for goodness sake LEARN PROPER PRONOUNCIATION before anything!

Call me a snob, but I prefer good pronounciation over anything. As in pre-nun-see-a-tion…

Who Wears These???

My mum and I spent some quality mother-daughter time today. And so we did what most mothers and daughters would do when they want to bond. Go buy material to make dresses…NOT! But yeah, we did. Mum was headed to visit my aunt in Sarawak and she wanted to pick up some material to bring over to the tailor there. Cheaper workmanship cost.

As mum lost herself amongst the bales of cloth, I wandered around the huge store. I hadn’t realised there were SO many different types of material. Then again who could blame me? The last time I had to pick up material was in the late 80s when I was getting ready for my home economics exam.

Cotton, polyester, shimmery material etc etc (borrowing the king’s phrase from THE KING AND I) lined wall to wall.

AND THEN I STOPPED DEAD IN MY TRACKS!

Wondering to myself as my eyes skimmed past each shelf and bale – WHO THE HECK WILL BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO PUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS ON?

Get a load of this…“eh mun, we be hungin’ around all day with some rum mun!”

And to bring out the WILD *roarrrr* animal in all of us, try putting this on!

Mum finally found what she was looking for. As for me…I think I’ll stick to buying my clothes off the racks. Looking for material is a little too shocking an experience for a mere plebian like myself.

Chicken Wars

I have always taken the easy route when it comes to chicken. I buy the pre-cut pieces. For the simple reason; I have no idea how to chop the chook into smaller pieces. Ok, stupid entry for a blog you might say, but hey to me THAT is an issue. What cook doesn’t know how to chop poultry?

So today I decided to overcome my fear. I actually bought a whole chicken and proceeded to cut it down to size! After the customary “thanks for getting your throat slit” to the chicken and the “sorry my hand is going up your butt”, I started the process with my cleaver.

If you are opposed to chickens being cut up, please proceed NO further.

If you made it here, it shows you’re okay with chicken parts and innards flying all over. Ok. So like after 5 minutes of flipping the chicken on it’s back and on its side, I finally went from this…

To this…

Yay! I did it! The family will now have chicken curry tonight as opposed to a WHOLE chicken cooked in curry.

I wish I were 4 again!

*Sigh* I wish I were in kindie again. Life is simpler. More honest. Things get way too complicated when you get older. Don’t you agree (as we get older) we tend to overexplain things. We find reasons to dislike or find fault.I watch my 4 year old, Jillian and she doesn’t seem to have a care in the world. Disaster strikes only when we’ve run out of sweets and she can’t find her smelly pillow! Other than that nothing’s a problem!

Here’s an example of how life can be explained simply. We’ve got a tank full of fish and little prawns. We came home to find one of the prawns crawling around on the living room floor. As I wondered out loud how this little crustacean managed to leap from the tank onto my floor (which is like a 30m drop for a little tyke like that), Jillian had a simpler explanation.

“The prawn was tired and wanted to lie on the floor to suck thumb and sleep,” she noted wisely. Of course, this was exactly how she acts when she’s tired. Smelly pillow in hand, thumb in her mouth and off she goes to la-la land!

Case closed! Mystery of the jumping prawn solved according to Inspector Jillian Metta Lau!