X'mas gathering

Had a early X'mas gathering at Plaza Singapura with my friends. we were supposed to meet at 1330h but at 1430h there were only 3 of us out of 6 people who were expected to be there. zZZ and they only arrived at 1445h. Not the 1st time being more than an hour late! The next time must inform them of the timing an hour earlier ahead of the scheduled time. While waiting we were choosing the dining place and normally I had no specific preferences and since two of them had babies, one of the Mama wanted a more spacious seating area with some cushion seatin or something. Well I actually just had dinner at Manhattan Fish Market the day before so I didnt really want to go there again but Mama No. 1 just ignored my choice! Argh.. Total disregard of my choice, irritating! Same as the other time when Mama No.1 was pregnant, we went to eat and I didnt want to eat Seoul Garden but she insisted on it. Well that time she was pregnant so I gave in to her but now again! So no more third time!

Enough of ranting, after we ordered our food for a long time, and I had platter for 2 with my friend again zZZ, the other 3 then slowly strode in. Mama No. 2 also came with her baby in a pram. It was the first time we went out with them with their babies. Baby 1 was 7 months old and Baby 2 was 9 months old, both boys. Quite troublesome with a baby alone I would say. You have to feed the baby or take care of him or her while you try to eat or pacify the baby when the baby cries suddenly, so if without the husband or anyone else around it would be quite a hassle to try to handle everything alone. Mama No.2's sister was getting married soon in Jan and she was there to distribute her wedding invitation cards. I guess our age is really the marriage age especially for gals. Stirs back unhappy memories again. Mama No.1 looks succummbed to her orderly life which I find she chose to pursue. things were moving systematically and progressively. Mama No.2 was all excited about being Mama and cant wait to have another one again and she revealed to us that she already foudn out she was pregnant when she met us last year September but didnt tell us.

For a moment the topics were on marriage, partners and babies which I didnt really wana engage in. Overall it was a pretty fun gathering except actions of one, Ms Naive which kinda spoiled the overall experience. There wasnt really as much conversations I guess due to her. She has this naive thinking about alot of things in life, in marriage and others. I just find that she is viewing the world through her little window and thinks how perfect things are and dreams of the ideal life to come. Probably she really hopes her Prince Charming will ride on a white steed with a carriage and marry her to live happily ever after. Her speeches of how Mama No.2's husband helped to look after the baby and take care of the baby and mentioned something like she thinks that I would probably fail in this kind of roles and such. But she speaks too softly and I cant really make out her conversations and I was kinda cant really be bothered with her comments. Changing a baby's diapers makes a good husband? No I dont think so. There are just so many aspects to it which she overlooks. Marriage is also a lifelong process which is hard to say even 10 or 20 years down the road. Too many people I feel do not have the right idea of marriage and jump into it without serious considerations of the many facets of marriage resulting in the high divorce rates nowadays, but well..

Well before we called it a day, we had our gift exchange. I think its always quite interesting to see what people got for one another and the element of surprise of what one will get. I got this bottle of wine lol which was quite appropriate for me I guess.

Erm the most shocking was this gift given by Mama No.1 which was this Porcupine coin back which had a back or body shaped like a durian! lol.. Most of us were lost for words and stunned for a moment especially when the 1st layer of wrapping was unwrapped, the 2nd layer was wrapped in those paper which contained 1 rim photocopying paper lol. Mama No. 2 even mentioned "Wa this is epic! Must take a photo of it!" And the 'durian' went to Mama No.1's best friend lol. After we called it a day, Mama No.1's best friend was heading to Downtown East for a BBQ so we left together. We went around shopping for a gift for her niece for some time before finally deciding on a furry bagpack. Along the way she complained of the 'durian' and wondered what she was going to do with it and I really had a good laugh. Guess Mama No.1 didnt expect her best friend to get it. And we came to a conclusion, Ms Naive has got to be left out of the gathering next time. She does not seem to be appreciative of the effort put into organising such gathering and event blatantly commented that if we left her out next time its ok. It was really hard to even contact her which she did not reply sms or calls. So happened I bumped into her exactly a week ago and I asked if she wanted to join us which she agreed to and she didnt reply any calls or sms till the day itself saying she will be late. Overall the atmosphere would have been better I suppose? So sorry mate, you are out of the circle of trust. Well the next time round the Mamas suggested going their place instead which probably would not have been a bad idea. I wanted to suggest it but didnt know if they would mind but since they proposed why not? Next gathering then I guess, hopefully 2 more others will be able to turn up.

Gotten my 1st X'mas card this year from my dear friend who never fails to give us a card everytime. Ha she was complaining to me about Ms Naive getting her exchange present which she specially prepared for us, hoping that one of us will get it as most of us were borned in the year of the Rat, but sadly ended up with Ms Naive who was 1 year younger than us. On a sidenote, my friend's handwriting I realised is pretty good lol. Thanks for a card..

Pictures of some purchases before I try to upload older ones..

Picked up Ban Presto Memories of Merry Vol 2's Going Merry, a recolour version of Vol 1

Capcom's Monster Hunter Rathalos Really huge box..

Overdued POP Strong World Chopper

Along with POP Strong World Franky, really love this one for his stomach being able to open and put Cola bottles in lol..Big box n big figure as well..Cant imagine Jinge and White Beard.. Picked up these after Alvin got them too as it looks quite nicely done with pretty good details and articulation. More worth than Star Wars 3.75" I would say..

Jump Fiesta One Piece Previews

Recently was Jump Fiesta which reveal some of the upcoming One Piece items like POP, Figuarts Zero, SH Figuarts and others. I must say Ban Presto items are really well priced and of really good quality. POP looks great but price is not that cheap. Well some pictures of the figures shown.

Ban Dai SH Figuarts Sanji

other than Luffy released with the blown up fist gimmick, I find the other Ace and Nami released pretty bad as the sculpt looks bad, but Sanji dun look so bad from this pic, especially the flaming foot effect

Ban Dai Figuarts Zero Strong World Shanks and Ace, Im not a supporter of Figuarts Zero line, thinking the line lacks details to the sculpt.. Figuarts Zero Trafalgar Law Figuarts Zero Chopper, feel that the face looks abit funny Ban Presto DX Brotherhood figures upclose..think the face sculpt and flames effect look great!DX DX Girls Snap Collection 1 Vivi & NamiGrandline Children -- young Sabo, Luffy & Ace

the uncoloured prototypes DX Marines figures

Super DX Ace seems to have a newer version with a less shiny body and flames on his hands

POP Vista coloured! Instead of releasing the other Admirals or Shichibukai we get White Beard's other captains instead zzZ

POP Strong World Shanks

looks great but never appear in the OVA so I dun understand why is he released though he looks great

upclose pic of his face

POP Strong World Ace uncoloured

POP Perona coloured love the ghost beside it as well as the colour of Perona

Was kind of hoping Megahouse would complete the Admirals and Shichibukai rather than releasing other characters but well being a sucker for OP stuff especially POP I most prob would get all of them.

One Piece Log Box Vol 2

Was actually trying to tell myself not to collect any more new line for One Piece and kind of manage to stay away for the log box line until pics of Vol 2 was released with the Marine Ford line. zzZZ.. This looks too good to resist. Especially the combined set of the Shichibukai, which you can form from the extra pieces of the set of 6. These are diorama scenes from the Marine Ford Arc when White Beard leads all his crew to wage war with the Marines to try to save Ace.

White Beard trying to stop Aokiji Luffy hitting his grandpa Garb when going up trying to save and unlock Ace

PX-0 eliminating the pirates

Marco trying to stop Aokiji

Smoker blocking LuffyShichibukai without Crocodile and Black Beard and Jinbe

EOY 2010

This year's EOY was held at Republic Poly, Woodlands zzZ.. Well headed there in the noon after I went CSC in the morning. My friend had a booth over there to promote his stuff so other than going over with my friend to take a look at the cosplay, went over there to support my friend in a way as well. Tickets were $16! Quite expensive I must say. The school looked really nice I must say. Especially the small fountain or pool area. So took some pictures of the school.

Brochure and ticket for EOY 2010

Random shots of the school How I wish this was my apartment lol.. The fountain section which looked really nice but kinda waste of space.. Well took some pictures of these expensive dolls

A different kind of Miku lol.. (notice the Stormtrooper helmet in the background?) Well there were lots of cosplay going on obviously so I just walked around, in and out, up and down and took some photos here and there.

Started with Naruto's Tsunade and Orochimaru, think Orochimaru should do a making or casting seal pose, would look greatCode Geass Euphemia Haseo from hack//G.U, nicely done costume! A shot of the people wearing the Green diamond on their heads, like in the game Sims lol.. Misa Misa from Death Note Near from Death Note as well Vocaloid One Piece Ace random shot quite cool purple and white suit which I cant recognise Recognise from STGCC but still do not know what characters lol This is 1 really good cosplay which again I do not really recognise, really like the pose and the whole costume overall with the makeup.. Poor dragon in all trapped inside the hot and stuffy costume.. 2 lovely ladies posing at the stairs from Granado Espada if Im not wrong but the costume looks great as well. I've got a thing for wings and feathers.. Ouran High, pity the guy carrying the girl around, the toughest role to cosplay, having to carry someone on top of you lol ..But probably he enjoys it ha.. Bleach Hollow Halibel Santa Gals?! Guy wearing V for Vendetta mask lol.. From 3..till 4.. The girl in pink skirt looks really cute lol. I would patronise whichever cafe or restaurant she worked at everyday! lol..

Chobits?

Nice costume too!

Very nice costume done as well..

Naruto's Sexy No Jitsu! One Piece Luffy and Nami. She is really busty like the Nami! Hot! *nose bleeds

SWAT team?

Left 4 Dead Hunter.. *Crouching waiting to leap! I really love these 3 gals pose and expression!

Blood +?

Hollow Ichigo from Bleach which I saw at STGCC as well.. Pretty nice background to pose and take photos I find..

under the trees in the shade..ha

Yugi-Oh!

hmm dont really know what charac but gave me abit of Perona feel Luffy from One Piece, looks not bad..

with the coat! King of Pirates! I think it looks really good with the coat and at that moment the wind was kind of blowing, so it was really cool and suddenly many people rushed over to take photo lol..

another shot of them but with an additional characterA sexy devil..oOO I'll gladly go to hell if so.. lol..

Ichigo from Bleach and Misaki Ayuzawa from Maid Sama

Bleach's Captain & Vice Captains, oh and ex-Captains

Card Captor Sakura? Poor photo without flash.. A pretty cute girl actually..

eh Kamina?

Time skip Zoro, Luffy and Nami

Chobits

Damsel in distress look..check out how long the dresses are.. Lady holding a sketch of her promoting for the booth..

some mass dance at the moment Beyblade Mariah and Lee

Cute pose!

Pikachu girls!

Alois Trancy from Kuroshitsuji

My favourite cosplayer for the day.. think its Megurine Luka in samarai outfit. Regardless I love the expression and pose..

Overall quite a fun day walking around, looking and taking photos. It was really hot outside in the evening. There was no food sold there except 7-11 which closed after awhile and only a stall which sold those wrap. I probably think it specially came back on Sunday that day to do business which basically was the only best available choice and probably earned what it can earn in a week lol. For my friend and I we did not go into the other events like the concert stuff and all so probably the $16 is not really utilised much as such many may find it not worth while at all.

To think about it, its really fun having the same group of people sharing the same interest and doing the same stuff. Would love to try cosplaying 1 day but the thought of having to make the costumes, time, money, space and effort makes me have second thoughts for it. But its those which is the fun of it I guess. Notice many cross dressers which I cant really understand why.. But I find if a person wants to cosplay a character he or she should choose a character more suitable for himself or herself. I think it is important to bring out the 'soul' and characteristics of the character you are cosplaying. A tall person should perhaps cosplay a tall lanky character for example the Luffy with cloak above brings out the character. He definitely wont be suitable to cosplay as Franky for that build unless he buffs up. Well regardless its my opinion. Ultimately its the enjoyment one gains from the whole activity. Till next year then..