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.

STGCC 2010

This year Singapore Toys, Games and Comics Convention STGCC is from 10th till 12th of December. Instead of Play Imaginative organising it, it is held by Reed Exhibitions. The charges was about $15 per day or $25 for 3 days pass. Well, there are more guests invited this year, with past years guest Shin from Devilrobots, Tan Eng Huat from Marvel and local artist Sonny Liew. Lots of new guest like David Llyod from V for Vendetta, Phil Ortiz from Simpsons, Simone Legno from Tokidoki, Mori Chack from Gloomy Bear and many others like Giuseppe Camuncoli, Matt Fraction, Leinil Francis Yu, Ivan Brandon, Esad Ribic, Gail Simone, Alex Maleev, C.B. Cebulski and others. Quite a long list I would say.

I went on the first day for the whole day, perhaps it was a Friday the crowd was not that huge and you had space to move and walk about, there is no preview day this time round. On a sidenote, last year was a free event and if you pay $5 for a guide, you will get lots of freebies from giveaways. Sales for tickets of the event was more orderly, where the ticket sales was held on level 1 of Suntec City and the event itself on level 4. Much more orderly and there was many booths to maintain the order. Well start with some pictures of I took. Took more toy photos this round lol since it is also a toy event ha.

Simpsons with a guy in Pikachu costume with his stormtrooper turned behind his head. He did it on purpose btw lol.. Devilrobots Evilrob

Designer Toys

Gloomy Bear Joe Ledbetter Carebears keychain Toyntoys display of some Megahouse items

501st Star Wars Lego Hoth battle display

AT AT

Snowspeeder and Rebel troopers

Hangar scene with Chewie fixing Millenium Falcon

X Wing and the crew of pilots

U Toys display of a 12" Einstein figure 12" Bruce Lee
The Hot Toys Ironman boxart can acutally combine and together..

Alter K-on figures

Goodsmile Saber & the newly released super movable Nendroid Saber Saber Lily

The next big thing now is Black Rock Shooter with Dead Master by Goodsmile Figma, Nendroid and PVC of the different BRS

Action City Booth

Batman Kubrick

Hot Toys Ironman Mark V & VI busts

Hot Toys Mark I, II, III and Gun Metal version Poor photo of Mark III vs War Machine

Custom works, with a Iron Patriot look alike Falconer Predator another poor shot of the not so exclusive Guardian Predator upcoming Hot Toys DX figure -- Bruce Lee Some cool designer toys sold at a booth, really dig the black shiny one but didnt get it in the end

Some toys at a booth which I dont really know what it is. Helliger Holdings

An interesting poster which I took randomly. There was this whole lane of artist works by different artists and their different works from sketches to models to prints to books.. Play Arts Kai Black Label Collection Vol 2: Pupa

think these are really cool articulated mecha which the Pupa is a new AI boss weapon in Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker

Play Arts Kai Black Label Collection Vol.2: Chrysalis

Play Arts Kai Black Label Collection Vol.2: Basilisk

Halo figures by Square Enix

Metal Gear Solid Snake by Square Enix Square Enix Devil May Cry Dante and Nero To-Fu & Gloomy Bear collaboration Interesting toys from Otaku House

I think the white skeleton Simpsons looks good Domo Kun in all colours and sizes ha.. pictures of people now..

Starting with a lady inside a glass window asking people to help fill in a survey..Poor thing.. Group of ladies in different costumes

One of the cosplay contestants Detroit Metal City Krasuer, check out the light up guitar! Another group of ladies in different costumes. Think the 2nd one on top looks quite sweet lol..

BRS cosplay, 1 with a big gun another with a big sword..

Sengoku Basara Sanada Yukimura cosplay, pretty good I must say.. 1 of the best I've seen that day..

off the stage

A really friendly lady cosplaying as a San Guo character with 董卓flag

Naruto's Sakura some fluffy and big character sexy and pretty Princess Leia cosplayer! K-on Cute cosplayer as someone which I dont know.

Well now for other stuff at STGCC. Shin and Mori Chack signing the item Hoots from STGCC

B-Wing, only piece I saw

Extra Kuji Shenlong

Extra Optimus & Jetfire pack

POP Strong World Sanji & Brook but they are wrapped up

POP Strong World Nami Ending version

To-fu Gloomy Bear which I queued an hour for to get signed by both Shin and Mori Chack back of the face front

Mori Chack signature on its bodyShin's signature on top of the head My only sketch I got this year sadly.. By Simone Legno from Tokidoki

Well I find this year's STGCC not that bad but I find the crowd is lesser due to the fact you must pay. Better for people who are more interested in the event but definitely not so for the booths owners. However I find that is just a small amount to pay for as that is not a very big amount. We can ask for bigger names to come down but definitely need to start off on a smaller scale. The artists that are brought in are quite a handful this time round and there is many different things happening at the same time, thus one might be queueing for an autograph here while missing out another or missing out on a certain event. But for Friday and Saturday most of the artists were still around except for Sunday which most were not around anymore. There were quite interesting stuff like you could get Simpsonized by Phil Ortiz at a price however, of $50. There were some pretty good deals like discounted PVCs, Hot Toys Terminator figures and some old figures from Spawn, Star Wars and etc. However I find the this year's convention lack of certain stuff compared to last year when we had Hasbro's booth displaying different items like GI Joe and Transformers and Star Wars items. There was no exclusives at all unlike some of the SDCC exclusives. Well I guess there is always room for improvement but what thing that is offered there are always people who are in support of it as well as against it. This is more of a event more for designer toys and comics and art stuff, not an event which a toy collector would go and try to find heavily discounted items, which I think alot of people are looking out for. Overall I still find it not too bad. Will look forward to next year's event again.