Mishal Husain vs David Cameron

Just watched the interview that BBC Olympics Presenter Mishal Husain done with PM David Cameron, regarding funding for future Olympic games. (BBC ONE)

Possibly due to media conditioning, Ms. Husain has this morning, become one of the most annoying interviewers I've ever watched. She is negative, argumentative, disrespectful and interruptive. As a journalist myself, watching her interview the PM made me want to switch channels and get away from her annoying, incessant questions. Talking about funding and the government's plans is meant to be a boost to the sports industry, and if it's the current plan that's working, why not just follow up in the next few years with similar sports funding? I didn't agree that it should be a point to contest; I'm clearly not as argumentative as Ms. Husain, but shouldn't she shed a bit more positive light on the issue, rather than try to slate it? She should take some advice from the wonderful Claire Balding - knowledgeable, succinct, objective, clear and positive - a great example of what a good presenter should be!

The media in the UK definitely needs more positivity and a sense of understanding that negativity does not always produce sensational news; rather it may generate more disapproval and dislike of the ethics of the media.

A Letter to Sky News Online

Dear Editor-in-chief,

I have read this article regarding tiger sharks feeding, and am concerned with the perspective Miss Angela Barnes has taken for this article. (3:55pm UK, Friday September 03, 2010, Anglea Barnes, Sky News Online)

As you may already be aware, a feeding frenzy often carries a negative connotation. May I please ask what is the point of this article? Is it to scare people in letting them think sharks are vicious creatures by them eating their natural prey, or does this pose as a warning to the public to keep away from the area? The intentions in this article are grey.

As a journalist, photographer and scuba diving instructor myself, I think Miss Angela Barnes has also to regard the other side of the story - marine awareness - before frivolously using the term "feeding frenzy". I've noticed most of the shark-related articles on your website are regarding 'shark eats man'. If that's aimed to sensationalize your reports, how about considering more often to be environmental advocates in this increasingly-aware society and write about 'man eats shark'? (i.e. cruel and wasteful practice of harvesting shark's fin).

Sharks in general may be 'scary' due to much propaganda (JAWS & Hollywood), but how many of us really know about sharks? We witness the occasional shark attacks (purely unintentional, surfers mistaken for seals) and not really understand anything about shark protection in their natural environment. Remember, these magnificent creatures were put on this planet way before us human beings came trampling on their home, deciding that swimming in the waters they live in was a fun thing to do.

Do realize that your readers' mindsets are changing with the times and as your news channel spreads its wings overseas, maybe it's time for YOU to change YOUR perspectives too and avoid showcasing Australia as a "shark-killed-swimmers-that's-why-we're-wiping-them-out" society.

Thank you for your attention.


Regards,
Cheryl Fan Duerden
PADI Scuba Instructor (IDCS)
#493279
(Singapore)

Citizen of the World

Envision a time when early humans roamed. They walked around, naked, not knowing what clothes were, not knowing the material world. Their physical responses told them to find sustenance; their natural sense of defense warned them to find a place where they would be safe. Protected from the unknown. But there came a moment when basic needs to survive were fulfilled easily, as curiosity seeped in and humans ventured further out. Out of their comfort zones and into the big place we now call the world.

I used to think myself as a citizen of the world. I travelled far and wide to destinations unknown; as a photographer and journalist I captured the world through my lens and my mind, and the only other thing I needed was my passport.

A passport, an item seemingly small, may hold the key to our future. With a passport nowhere is too strange a place to stay in, albeit for a limited time. Eventually, one has to go back to his or her abode, as everyone belongs somewhere. But what if I wanted to belong someplace else with someone else? I then get scrutinized by the system that created this small travel document. I become an ordinary citizen.

Where do we have to go to live freely? I ask myself.

Only in my dreams I can go wherever I want. Only in my sleep I can choose not to wake up to reality. Only in my mind I can travel freely as a citizen of the world.

Black Necklace

I have a long black necklace.
It tangles so very often and I find myself trying to untangle it all the time.
It sometimes sits in a compartment in my bag
and as the bag gets tossed, moved and shifted,
so does the necklace.
But no matter what its surroundings do to it,
I still manage to save it from destruction.
All I do is put it in my confident hands,
although seeming irreversible and time-consuming,
the black necklace slowly,
strand by strand,
straightens and comes lose.
If you find your life in a mess,
look at the beginning and the end.
For the solutions you'll discover as you take your time,
will unconditionally provide a helping hand.

Chaos

Isn't it strange when one's depressed, the surroundings always seem messier than when one's happy?

My room, four days ago, was total chaos. I left my suitcases strewn and belongings halfheartedly spilling out of their receptacles. Today marks day five and as I look around my room, it just seems a tad tidier than it was before.

When you start to pick yourself up from a fall, your mind naturally veers towards organised chaos. You rearrange your room so it actually looks live-able, and organisation is essential to rearrange your thoughts. I've realised that this sort of rearrangement helps to heal your mind, heart and soul, so when the time comes to fight and finish the game, you know your place in your world.

UK Border Causes Depression and Fear!!!

Talk about human rights. Talk about being a fair and democratic nation.
Why would the UK separate a couple in love at the border?

I was refused entry into the country because the Fiji Immigration department failed to stamp my passport correctly, and as I did not have the facilitation letter with me, this led to the presumption that I worked illegally in Fiji when me and my partner have proper work permits, paid tax to the government and were perfectly legit!

All I wanted was to spend a few months holidaying with him and his family, to see if I'd really like to live there and spend our future together there. He was going to set up his business and of course, I have to be there, I'm his girlfriend! We were booked on camping and caravan trips in Cornwall and Cotswolds as well, which has now all gone to waste. I am not a criminal, I am a bloody tourist!

Now officer #8461 of the UK Border at London-Heathrow Terminal 4, I hope you are reading this, and I hope you feel ashamed. You have ruined two persons future plans and put a standstill on our relationship by separating us. I have been slipping into depression and deep distress ever since that fateful 21st of June 2010. We have bright plans for the future and now it's all been upset because of your inability to discern right from wrong, genuine from false. You even refused to let me call my embassy, saying you'd already ruled the decision! What lies! I am a Singaporean and we are in the Commonwealth; is this what happens to us? When my boyfriend asked if I will get into the same situation again the next time I enter, you said, "It depends on the officer." So what you're saying is it's nothing to do with the case? It depends on whether the officer is in a good mood or not? What kind of double standards is that?

Now I'm getting all my forms sorted out with my ex-boss in Fiji for a new application which has no guarantee of being granted and I await the day I can rub my work permit in your face, debunking all claims that I had no documentation to prove I worked in Fiji. You said I was unemployed when I said I'm self-employed and freelance; that is utter disrespect for my job! You slandered me. No one would grant us an audience and we are being tossed around like toys, calling up the UK Border Agency from the UK only to discover they were not interested.

I fear the UK now when I used to love it so much. The dynamic multi-cultural cities, green fields and rich culture, beautiful coastline, awe-inspiring ancient monuments and architecture. Unfortunately you have given me a bad impression of the country and changed how I feel towards it. My mother has taught me not to hate. I have practiced well and am learning to cultivate myself in compassion, kindness and love.

But you are the first person in my life that I hate. #8461.

CITES... A DISGRACE TO THE ENVIRONMENT!

CITES... The Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, after a 2.5 year interval since their last meeting, has recently rejected bans on trade of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna and Polar Bears, as well as rejecting protection against these species of highly-endangered sharks - Hammerheads, Spiny Dogfish and Oceanic Whitetips - all of which are ferociously hunted by greedy, superstitious shark's fin traders and fishermen.

I thought CITES was supposed to regulate the ocean's health? How is that possible that they can allow the ocean's magnificent creatures be fished to DEATH?!! It is an utter disgrace to the environment and an insult to the true hearts of worldwide ambassadors to the ocean!

It is all about the money... It always has been. For example, Mitsubishi Corp in Japan are sending out more fishing fleets everyday, trying to fish the Bluefin Tuna to its death. Why? The underlying agenda is to keep these magnificent fish in cold storage till the day when there are NO MORE Bluefin Tuna in the ocean. Then everyone in the world will covet even a kilo of Bluefin Tuna meat at ridiculously insane prices. It will only benefit the corporation and the rich; the average person who will no longer be able to afford the expensive meat will only be left the choice to drool through a posh restaurant window. This mad cycle of vicious money is absolutely disgusting, yet is unstoppable due to the constant power struggle.

How can we actually help if our governments don't help us? How can we voice out and expect multi-national companies not to dismiss us by asking, "Who are you to speak?" Forget CITES. A greater movement is required, an awareness beyond the ordinary and a fierce mind to make sure words are spoken and heard. It is our choice at the end of the day to support or break.

If you are reading this, now is the time to think and ACT. Don't just sit in a nice fancy Chinese seafood restaurant or Japanese sushi parlour and eat IGNORANTLY. If you think your food choices won't affect anything, you are wrong. It is your moral integrity that makes a difference to saving or destroying the ocean and its magnificence.

Join in this campaign now:
On Monday, the 29th of March 2010, we will be sending emails to CITES at info@cites.org, to tell them how disappointed we are that they as a governing body, have failed to react to these horrendous acts of fishing destruction, yielding to the pressure of Japanese and Chinese measures of stepping up their powerful fishing industries. Who will speak for us if our governments don't help us? Now is the time to voice out, people. Please help us and help the sharks, join in this movement! We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Save them and we save ourselves.

Abuse

On a hot summer's dawn, we were woken up at 5.30 in the morning with loud yelling from next door. It slowly registered in my mind that it was Ratu (Chief) shouting at the top of his voice in Fijian. He sounded really angry and we decided to - with a baseball bat - check out the commotion.

We sat just outside the dive centre's back door and tried to listen, though not understanding a single word. Suddenly someone screamed, a female voice. I couldn't make out if that was Livvy (Ratu's wife) or Buna (Ratu's daughter), but the scream was a definite cry of pain. My hands wrapped tightly around the baseball bat and in my head I was forming images of dodging Ratu's blows (if he dared to hit me or Justin should we confront him), and thinking of how I could whack him in the head if he did.

Of course, there was nothing we could've done about it, as he was a powerful man and that was his personal family affair. However, knowing his history of violence, we were worried for whoever was receiving those punches.

The commotion stopped. Two figures walked past their garden and it was too dark to make out who exactly was hurt.

It's a shame that in the Fijian culture, domestic abuse is a common thing. Women's opinions are just not regarded and these women are subjected to abuse whenever the men feel like it. Of course nowadays, hardly anybody does that anymore, but remnants of the past still linger. For traditionalists, it is difficult to shake off that violent streak.

May Buddha bless the victims of domestic abuse.

Leftie

It's been sometime since I've written... And of all days I have to choose today.

Had a freak accident yesterday when my right thumb got caught in between one toppling concrete block and another. It was really really painful! Tears were pouring out of my eyes uncontrollably. Now with a blood clot in the left side of my thumbnail, I'm learning to be ambidextrous.

The toughest is trying to button with your left. And writing of course; it made my usually neat handwriting look like a kindergarten scrawl. I tried to neaten my eyebrows yesterday and just gripping the tweezers in between my fingers was such agony. Tying my hair into a ponytail was just too painful. Hitting the spacebar on my QWERTY keyboard was almost impossible if I didn't do it sideways. Simple everyday tasks just seem so difficult now. Although being left-handed, I found, wasn't that hard after all (if you use the rest of the four fingers on your right hand effectively).

But I'm determined. Ambidexterity, here I come.

A New Island... Kadavu

Hi readers, I'm back after a one-month long hiatus from blogging...

The farewell I mentioned in my last post had officially happened on the 23rd of August... It was indeed sweet sorrow. Judy, Alena, Atu, Toma, Iliasa, Rebecca, the dive staff, etc. Had to shed some tears to be exact.

Kadavu welcomed me with open arms and so did Justin. It was nice to be reunited after so long... To date, we've had blue sky sunshine and calm seas to howling gusts and choppy swells. The staff here are really hardworking and always responsible in their duties. We have an excellent chef, Kuini, and Molly bakes the nicest homemade bread and scones. We have ever-smiley Pita, who waits at the tables. We have cool and honest Tulala, who is a superb boat captain, and his wife Rogo, our front office manager who's smart, resourceful and good with managing the staff. Velisi is wonderful at housekeeping and the rooms always look clean and tidy and presentable. Our dive crew Maika and Lakai (Divemasters) are rather good with guests but still need alot of polishing when it comes to punctuality and protocol. Overall, everyone's lovely here.

There is a nice veggie garden (two, in fact) behind the kitchen and we are more or less self-sustainable when it comes to greens and fruit. We have lovely Kadavu papaya (Paw paw) and fresh bananas and pineapples. The supply ferry comes once every week on Wednesdays and we get our kitchen and dive supplies. There is a little grocery store 10-15mins away from the resort and accessible by boat, where we can find anything from paperclips to Coca Cola.

It had been raining for 30 hours non-stop two days back, and that was absolutely dreadful. We could not go out diving; all we could do was sit in the restaurant and read a book or play some board games. Satellite internet was down in that duration as well, so that didn't help. Thankfully, now we have sunshine!! Just makes you realise what you miss when you don't have it (apart from the mosquitoes).

That's it for now, gonna go for our lovely lunch prepared by Kuini. Till the next post...

Parting is such sweet......

Farewells... Why are they so hard?

I was singing with the band of Matamanoa last night and as they strummed, I knew how I would feel in 4 weeks time.

I will be so sad to leave them all, especially Toma & Atu, Alena and Ala. They are all such sweet people. And Toma and Atu are bloody good musicians too.

I hope they don't sing for me / make me sing with them before I leave... (My efforts to resist will be futile I know...)

So FAREWELL, I wait for you with bated breath.

PLEASE HELP BAN SHARK'S FIN MOONCAKES!

Please take a look at this article and help us campaign to put a stop to this! Spread this around far and wide please!
http://www.soshiok.com/articles/13332

Friends, please help boycott this horrible Shark's Fin Mooncakes served in Pine Court Restaurant in Meritus Mandarin Singapore!

Here are the hotel's email addresses, please write to them and show them your disgust! Insist that they stop this ridiculous action immediately!

Investor Relations:
Tel: (65) 6831 6379
Fax: (65) 6880 2420
Email: investorrelations@oue.com.sg
Business Development:
Tel: (65) 6831 6375
Fax: (65) 6831 6129
Email: businessdevelopment@meritus-hotels.com
Media Relations:
Tel: (65) 6831 6053
Fax: (65) 6235 6688
Email: mediarelations@meritus-hotels.com


Regards,
Cheryl Fan
PADI Scuba Instructor (IDCS) / Marine Campaigner

Here Fishy Fishy Fish!

I'm not sure if I can ever eat fish again.

I remember the time when I stopped eating pork, because I'd watched a documentary showing how pigs were slaughtered, and I also thought they were rather cute (cartoon pigs). So for about 7 years I hadn't eaten pork.

I detest lamb because of the smell, I don't eat beef in huge chunks (steak) and mutton is just a no no. The only meats then left to eat are white meat -chicken and fish- so I honestly don't have much to choose from.

Shockingly, I've been cutting down on fish in the past year. Maybe it was due to working in Ambon, Indonesia, where witnessing the local fishermen pulling in the catch was a daily ritual. On top of that, we had to go diving after and see fish again (at least they were alive). We had fish everyday for lunch and dinner too. I think by the end of it, I got quite sick of the smell, sight and taste of 'dead' fishy fish.

Nowadays, I only eat fish that's cooked in batter (fish 'n' chips), or non-fishy fish dishes... Fish cooked with the scales on makes me cringe, and fish that taste too fishy makes me nauseous.

I might as well turn vegetarian.

The Meaning of Imperfection

I have come to the conclusion that Singaporeans are really uptight and impatient.

That is not a sweeping remark because I truly have been observing them for a long time (almost all my life). They just want things done fast, are brash and rude most of the time and are always afraid to lose out on something. They can't relax and take their time and just bloody chill out!

I am saying this because I used to be like that... my family, friends, loved ones, are all catering to the societal need to be 'quick'. It's already driven into them like a nail into wood. Someone once told me they thought Singaporeans were always trying to find the quickest way to do something, i.e. shortcut. This in turn led to him believing Singaporeans are pretty lazy. But they aren't, cos' they work hard too! So why is this strange erratic evolution happening in this country?

I think the recession may be a good thing. People getting laid off is a good thing. I don't mean to make it sound so evil, but taking time off is really something Singaporeans have to learn. It's not just about chasing the latest handbag or shoe trends in town, clubbing non-stop over the weekend and getting the latest mobile phone! Being away and around the world has taught me that there are far more beautiful things in life - understanding different cultures, empathizing with people, sharing the beauty of nature and the ocean with someone special - these things are what I've achieved so far and counting.

Singaporeans need to get out more, to see how much more there is out there, not this 'reality' here. Living in the perfect world here has led people to become rigid and robotic, and this is not what life is all about. It's not about arguing who should pay for dinner, not about running in high heels to a Coach handbag sale, not about flashing the trendiest car. The 'perfect' world does not allow people to see imperfections; that there can be whales being attacked, sharks being finned, rainforests catching fire, plastic bags floating about in estuaries.

I believe once people get out more, they will appreciate better the imperfections of the world. The imperfections that we can do something for to make a difference. And then it will all be beautiful again.

King of Pop's Death A Tragic Loss

I arrive in Singapore from London on the A380, jet-lagged, unpacked and woke up in the morning to read on Yahoo! News that Michael Jackson has passed away. The jet-lag did not help to clear the hazy mist in my head, but I've somehow let the information sink in the past 5 minutes, by checking on various websites like MSN and perezhilton. Yes, Michael has died.

The legendary pop icon suffered from a fatal cardiac arrest in his home on the 25th of June 2009. Though shrouded in mystery and controversy, his life and music had been a remarkable journey, taking him to the realms of Elvis and The Beatles. Now that MJ is no longer, his shattered fans will always hold his music close to their hearts like a legacy. Despite him having gone through lots of physical amendments and isolation, no one can deny that he is a great artiste.

Tributes to you MJ and may you rest in peace.

Aquatic Army Alert!

I recently made friends with Jeff Shaw, who saw the Facebook cause that I was campaigning for, 'Say NO to shark's fin soup' http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=686127577&ref=profile#/group.php?gid=60660282914&ref=ts

Jeff joined our cause without hesitation and sent me a thank you note and a link to his cause. Oceanic Defense: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oceanic-Defense/205136110234?ref=mf
Oceanic Defense aims to be the aquatic army of the century!

Like us, you can also do your part to support these causes to protect our ocean life. Oceanic Defense's Website's official launch date is Monday the 29th of June at 12.00am PST. http://www.oceanicdefense.org

华人展开大屠杀丢尽自己的脸！

若您看得懂中文，请继续读下去。若您爱吃鱼翅羹，您更要读下去！

中国人为什么要吃鱼翅？据传说，中国人认为鱼翅羹是一种繁荣的象征，说这道海鲜对身体有益。富贵家族开始不惜大笔金钱来请亲戚朋友吃一顿，鱼翅羹连在婚宴也开始被端上桌。一代接一代，鲨鱼的命运就从此往地域甾。

现在时代已变，人们的教育水平提升、逐渐能分辨道理是非。我们看电视都晓得地球水温持续上升，若不保护，气候变化必然发生。加上海鲜市场发达、人们贪得无厌，差不多要把整个海洋的鱼儿捕光，这已造成严重的后果。鱼儿数量减少，生物链失去平衡导致多种鱼类面临绝种。

我们虽活在现代，古老习俗依然徘徊在时代间！中国、台湾、香港，凡是有华人的地方都有鱼翅的需求，因此都有罪。就因愚痴的古代人开始吃鱼翅羹，今天的华人就盲目跟随这无理而不道德的传统，造成鱼翅需求量大升，各国就因此大量非法捕鱼提供给中国市场，现在全球鲨鱼数目已减少到百分之九十！

无辜的鲨鱼被捞上船，只有脊鳍被砍掉接着把残废的鱼身丢回海里惨死。若换成是把你四肢砍断留你在一旁奄奄一息，你会怎么想呢？况且，当人类移走食物链的一个主要元素，海洋必有严重的变化，最终也会影响人类！现代医学家发现鱼翅本身根本毫无任何营养价值，营养其实来自用来煮汤的调味料及药材！你若认为鱼翅羹有营养你可要小心，由于鲨鱼是海洋上阶层的肉食动物，被发现含有过量的水银，吃多了也会导致死亡。若您还有那么一点的理智就请别‘自杀’，避免吃鱼翅！http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2UKgLsOhRM

若您正在筹备婚礼，不端鱼翅羹这小小决定就掌握在您手中。若您作一个正确的选择，您将会避免鲨鱼因您的婚宴被屠杀，您将献一份力拯救它们！

请别让世界把我们华人看成是无改进和无理，在这样愚蠢下去我们将真成为冷血动物！鱼翅 = 愚痴。

请记得，没有买卖，就没有杀害。人类活在这世上短短几十年，让我们的存在更有意义吧。今天就让我们齐心保卫这美丽的地球和生物吧！

Blood, Sweat and Takeaways

If any of you actually watched the BBC programme 'Blood, Sweat and Takeaways', you can't deny that it's a bloody good programme.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00kmtb1/Blood_Sweat_and_Takeaways_Tuna/

Basically, 6 Brits who come from posh, pampered, well-taken-care-of lives were sent to Asia to find out where their supermarket food comes from. In the first episode they were taken to Indonesia and had to work in a tuna factory. There, they were welcomed to the brutal truth of how difficult it is for workers to process tuna for the benefit of the world's tuna consumer market. Gutting, skinning, chopping were some of the monotonous tasks they had to do, standing for 8 hours everyday in line with the factory's guidelines. At the end of the day if they were successful, they were each paid a meagre wage of £2 a day. They had to also live with these workers and experience the shabby conditions of reality.

In the second episode, they were taken to a prawn farming village in another part of Indonesia. They were thrown into working extremes as they hauled heavy clayey rocks to form barriers along the prawn ponds; to prevent the tide and rain from taking the preciously-bred prawns out to sea. It was really tough and a reality check for most of them, how much effort it takes to actually cater enough food to the Western world.

In the third episode, they went over to Thailand to witness the back-breaking process of cultivating rice in the fields. The twist was that they had to also pay their own rent and whatever little wage they earned they had to also use to buy their own food. That was really really tough for them as they did not perform up to standards and had half their wages docked on the first day. They went hungry for a couple of days, just eating bananas and bread. It was truly painful to see how tough it was for them, let alone the local people who work so hard and still struggle 'at the bottom of the food chain'.

In the fourth and final episode, the Brits moved from the rice fields into the heart of Thailand - Bangkok - where they experienced being in the biggest slums in the city. The locals who had to move over because of the rice season ending in the villages, engaged in dismembering fish parts for factory sale. Of course the group got involved in the work, albeit after a guilty conscience of leaving one member behind to do the work and them spending a night at a 4-star hotel instead. After that they were brought to the chicken factory that processes a whopping 145,000 chickens a day through hanging, killing, skinning, gutting, etc. The group had an opportunity to get their hands busy as well.

When night fell, they visited the red light district in Bangkok, and got a shock at how many women have been forced into the trade, for the sole reason of supporting their families who live in the villages. Nobody wants to be there really.

Then to make things more exciting, an American man butted his fat nose into the conversation they were having with a local woman, and without knowing what the programme was about and what the Brits were doing, called them all "phonies" in all his self-righteousness. It was shocking to see how shallow the American was without even empathising with or understanding first what it was all about. No offence, but it is ALWAYS the Americans isn't it, sad to say. They live in a well where they can only see their patch of blue sky, and should really get some common sense into their frikin heads, to be more aware of the world around them before they start shouting their nonsense and looking like an asshole to the world.

I must say this has been a truly enlightening programme. I'm glad I had the chance to watch it and be more aware of fair trade and how the food industry affects everything. If there was a chance to make better the lives of these workers, we should and we would!

My Secret Wish

I have something to confess.

I've always wanted to be a celebrity. Someone famous that fans can look up to. Having no worries about money cos' it's always ridiculously flowing in non-stop. Free to walk into the most expensive boutique and sweep half the items off the shelves. Having people come up to me to chat with me and ask for autographs. Investing in the most prestigious property on the market, maybe even buy an island of my own. Someone that everyone loves.

Well, if I were a celebrity, I'd like to be a singer. Not a too famous one, that'll be over the top for my hectic schedule. Imagine if I were a singer, I'd be going around recording studios, stages, events, concerts, etc. in my limousine, asking my PA (personal assistant) to grab me Starbucks every now and then. And at the end of the evening if I don't have to dine with some other celeb, I'd be thronging the shops buying everything I love.

Or maybe even a less stressful job like a designer. Celebrity designer. Hmm, that sounds inviting. I'd design shoes and bags. Or jewellery. I'd go to Paris Fashion Week or London Fashion Week and parade down the catwalk with my gorgeous models after the show. I'd be chatting to editor-in-chiefs of Vogue, Marie Claire, Harpers' Bazaar; clinking champagne glasses with Jimmy Choo, Christian Louboutin, Manolo Blahnik, Gucci, Marc Jacobs, Miuccia Prada, Vivienne Westwood, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, etc etc... LUSH.

One day. In my next life maybe.

In The Era of Robots

In these modern times, the world has so much to thank for. Technology that helps accelerate production, efficiency and even push the human brain to more extremes. That results in higher development that sprouts with a purpose to do good for the planet.

After watching the latest episode of 'Apprentice' (I know I do watch too much TV), Sir Alan Sugar and his trusted associates came to a conclusion after a series of back-breaking interviews, that Kate is a little too 'robotic'. Now let me define that. In that grueling interview sequence where all the finalists had to go through tough criticism and controversial questions from the associates, Kate was the perfect composure with perfectly strung answers and facial expressions.

I thought to myself, hey, I would ace any interview too! What's wrong with giving the perfect answers if that's what you really meant? I think the key to this portrayal is to mean it. Body language, facial expressions and tone all have to be in compliance with the words that are flowing out of your mouth. Maybe Kate wasn't convincing enough. Maybe she showed too little emotion.

If a person has a great personality and a good sense of humour, he or she should well be honoured and worshipped. I think I've got a strange sense of humour, and I'm not very good with children of a certain age category. I just can't bring myself to communicate fluently with them; does that categorize me as being 'robotic'? Surely being a foreigner in a different land, I would be inclined to try my hardest?

Robotic or not, I still think I'm very creative, sporty and passionate about the arts. I don't care how I may come across to my inner Cheryl because I've got so much to live for. It's tiring to be constantly conscious of how others view you. So stop and move on.

Big Brother Or Me

Watched the launch of Big Brother UK today... All there is to say about it is "awkward, awkward, awkward!" Where did the producers find these people? They are just about the strangest group of misfits I've ever seen bunched up together! Not to be sarcastic or anything, but I'm sure the show can do better than that. Unless TV ratings have plummeted drastically, we'll never know. With the crowd booing the contestants' entrances into the house, we have come to a conclusion that we couldn't give two hoots about continuing the series.

On the other hand, I've just uploaded my latest photo gallery onto my website; this is the link to it http://cherylfan.com/gallery/portraits/A%20Silent%20Look/index.htm. It is basically new experimental self-portraits that peeks into the life of me. I personally think that's more interesting than Big Brother... :P

Big Brother or me? Me of course!

Britain's Got Talent... Yes!

My fav fav fav act DIVERSITY won!!!
Their dance routine tonight was 'flawless' (no pun intended haha). Even Simon had to avoid saying that word in an interview, instead using 'immaculate'. Most importantly Diversity beat hyped-to-win contestant Susan Boyle. Shockingly, coming in third was Julian Smith???? That didn't quite make sense then, we were hoping for at least Shaheen or Hollie. Hmm. He must have many friends. Hollie Steel won my heart back again with her pitch-perfect and confident performance. Oh and Stavros Flatley was hilarious! Especially when he was catching his breath after his act and asked his wife in the audience if she pressed the record button before she left the house. Wahahaha... The Queen would laugh her crown off if they won!

Lastly, did anybody see Amanda kiss Simon at the end of the interview on 'Britain's Got More Talent'? And she did it twice! Must be that bubbly champagne...

Tonight's show was absolutely brilliant!

Britain's Got... Rigged?

Just watched 'Britain's Got Talent' on itv1... I unfortunately missed the first half of the programme because I forgot the time.

Apparently when I switched on the tv, there was something about Hollie Steel fumbling on her performance and will be given a chance to sing again when she composes her nerves. Well damn I missed it! News At Ten's gonna show it again thankfully. A second chance? Since when have shows started giving in to sweet little girls who cry? (No offence Simon, I really like you and I think you can do whatever you want cos' you're the boss), but is it really fair to the other contestants?

I was gobsmacked when I watched the coolest 12-year-old on earth Aiden Davis (he did say he was 12 when Simon asked him again); there is no doubt he would get into the finals. How could a little boy of 12 move like that? He is good, however the infinite visual screen behind him did add to the overall effect...

I watched Hollie Steel on her second attempt, shaky but apparently better than her first. Crying crying crying... Well, she's hoping for the 'sympathy vote' maybe? Get a grip girl! Where is your emotional strength? Look at Aiden (whose about the same age as you)!

DCD Seniors danced their hearts out and I thought they were ok. Then, this freaky 'are you man or woman' performance by Greg Pritchard almost made me faint. That was the strangest thing I've ever seen on tv, with his strangely-high falsetto and flowing cape that took up the entire stage. Simon said that it was like watching a horror movie. Echo that!

And when the results came through I could not believe my ears and eyes when Mr. Horror Movie Greg got in! The power of money most probably took over the phonelines. Whose? I do not know. When it's down to Hollie Steel and Greg Pritchard, I must say the choice is clear as day isn't it? Simon will definitely not choose Greg so Hollie's definitely gonna get through!

There is a fine line between shedding tears of joy and accomplishment, and veering on the "I'm so young and tiny and petrified like a rabbit in headlights so everybody should vote for me because I'm so brave and I'm the bravest 10-year-old girl in the world..." Another good (bad) example is Susan Boyle, who's been cracking under the tremendous pressure of fame, having had 100 million hits on Youtube and now shouting "f*** off" to strangers. Which brings to a point that not all contestants can handle the pressure of winning, press, critics and the public; they just get the better of them. Maybe there should be a minimum (and maximum) age requirement... Which reminds me of that break-dancing old man Fred Bowers last night who finished his performance with a bleeding arm!!! Britain's Got Talent is stressful.

For the sake of entertainment, what would YOU sacrifice?

Booty...

We were at the car boot sale today... Loads and loads of people browsing. ONLY BROWSING, no buying!! Terrible how the recession has hit even the tightest of belts. It's ludicrous to see how someone could pick up an item that's 1.50 and stare adoringly at it for a LOOONG time, and put it back down again instead of bagging it! How much lower can an item that already costs 1.50 go?

The strangest thing that we sold today was a Homer Simpson's Breakfast-in-bed tray that went for 3 pounds... I guess you just got to catch the right audience for the right item. Very random really.

Tomorrow we're going to hit the car boot one more time. Hopefully there will be a lot more strange people around to buy our strange things.

Pulling The Purse-Strings...

With the credit crunch a.k.a. recession, everyone's cutting back on spending. The usual household necessities and toiletries spending are now closely-watched by many women around the world. Dust-covered calculators are whipped out of the closet and every shopping trip is pulled back on reins.

That's why people go to eBay... If you go to eBay and see what people are selling, you'll be amazed at how cheap and how many useful everyday items there are for sale. You can get anything from electric toothbrushes to face powder or perfume. And I'm not talking about 2nd hand stuff; everything's new, sealed, boxed, etc. It is such an ease shopping on eBay cos' firstly, you definitely pay less than if you shopped in town, you can 'watch' items and not buy them (like window shopping), and the thrill of outbidding another person is absolutely addictive. You can do it anywhere, anytime, as long as you have an internet connection and a computer.

On the contrary, because things are so cheap on eBay, people tend to shop more for sure. It's like gambling, when you buy lottery tickets at $1 every week and not win a thing. When you're addicted to eBay, you don't really feel the $0.99's add up until you've bought probably a hundred items.

eBay, my brave friend! Just remember to bail out at the right moment!

South Pacific

Yet another breath-taking BBC episode of 'South Pacific' yesterday...

New Guinea was covered, followed by Solomon, Fiji, Tonga and Hawaii... Absolutely stunning places, I just don't know where to start gushing. The aerial views of these remote and isolated islands displayed some of the planet's finest white sands, contrasted with the turquoise shallow reefs, like crushed pieces of diamond shimmering in the lush sunshine, gradually becoming a deeper blue.

I can't wait to go there... To live on an island of paradise.
One day. Let's hope it's sooner than later.

My Life Would Suck Without You... Really?

The first song that stuck in my head this morning when I woke up was Kelly Clarkson's new single, "My Life Would Suck Without You".

At first when my brother passed me the music video, I wasn't feeling refreshed. The usual relationship scenario, boy and girl happy together, then boy and girl fight and alot of Kelly 'hair flicking grabbing mic stand' action... And then the title stuck out like a sore thumb, or rather, like sheep on a green field cos' they look like pieces of scrunched up paper thrown about. First thought: Has an American Idol champion any need to resort to naming her song "My Life Would Suck Without You"? The American-ness was too obvious. Who else in the world would call their song that? And the album cover, literal isn't it? Imagination is dead.

However I must say, the tune's pretty catchy after some time (That's why it was randomly stuck in my head this morning.)

Kelly really needs to hire a new lyricist.

Sooner Than Later

I knew it... I knew I just couldn't resist typing in something before the end of the day... (It's 315pm in the UK now).

While my friends and family are getting ready to tuck into their covers and fly away to dreamland, I'm sitting here after a rather heavy lunch of baked potato and tuna mayonnaise, fingers flying across the keyboard. I'm sitting!!! Goodness gracious. I need to exercise more...

While it's windy outside, we're hiding in the warmth of the house. Rented two videos from the Blockbuster store: Reservoir Dogs and 21 Grams... Heard they were quite good so we shall see.

Justin's looking to buy a new mobile phone cos' his current one's crap. He can only speak to people through the loudspeaker so when he does have a conversation on the streets, he looks like a looney talking to himself... So alike those fancy bluetooth headsets you hook over your ear that make you gesture and laugh to yourself. Well, I'm sure Beckham doesn't need the extra attention.

The house cordless phones were acting strange today. All of us including Justin's parents, were trying to figure out why both handsets couldn't work and were emitting a strange beeping sound. And then 'clever' me found the phone line falling out of the phone base socket! And I saved them £38 from buying a new pair of cordless phones. I should look into a second career.

The Beginning... Finally!

This is the first entry... After so many attempts at resisting the flowery, pretty templates and invitations from people, including my brother's Over The Edge page, I finally gave in to the temptation to blatantly speak on the world wide web. A late bloomer, but better late than never no doubt.

Here I am in the cyberspace of blogmania...
Stay tuned for more... I hope.