ROTTEN APPLE

Growing up, I used to wonder how it is like to have a sister who is very close to you. Someone who have your back and you have hers. Someone whom you can share tons of clothes, shoes and bags with. Someone whom you gave her your absolute trust and vice versa. Someone who is sensible and knows better when you don't. Someone who will help you out with parental obligations and never leave you to fight a lone battle.

I guess I will never know. 

There are many blogshops that are run by sisters. When I read their blogs, I sometimes think if only I have one, just one, reliable sister, how great things will be.

I grew up in a family of drama. There's always some sob story waiting to unfold. Something that digs all the inner strength & sanity out of me, leaving me drained and helpless. Just like the phrase, "一波未平，一波又起".

There were moments I asked myself just what was worth living for. But the thought of suicide was too harrowing. My parents were still around and I don't believe in 白頭人送黑頭人.

In my growing up years, I'm thankful that I have a pool of girlfriends whom I can count on to put up with me crying over the phone again and again. 天果然無絕人之路。It must have been tough on them though.

When I was looking for a husband, his family background actually becomes a very crucial criteria. I do not wish for my children to live in emotional turmoil.

Once in a while, I get an email/comment from a customer/reader who admire me for my determination in making Tian Fen Lan works. You know, if you grew up the way I did, you would too. For the first 20 years of my life, I have been telling myself that I can make things work, that my life can be stable and peaceful and that I can create happiness once I grow up,

If not for everyone, at least for myself. 

 

metta, 

欣雨 Xinyu

 
曾經經常埋怨，學佛之後，才明白什麽是宿福，什麽是宿業。

Snap snap snap!

One of my favourite things to do while planning a TFL shoot is...thinking about what cover shots to take. You know the cover shots that go to TFL Facebook page cover photo, profile pic and of course, the so-important homepage gigantic photo!

I used to be very lousy at doing up the homepage montage. I think I still am. So one of the best ways to make the site look good, I deduce, is by having a pretty photo, preferably taken out of the studio. That makes it tons easier to beautify everything. It's like magic! With a scenic background, the fall of the natural sunlight and everything looking more real out of the studio, it's like you can visualise better how the outfit/shoes/bag will look on you! Well, if dusk falls or if it rains, then it's back to googling for ways to touch up a photo until we can all drown happily in its prettiness.

I love outdoor shoots! But to drag many many bags along for outdoor shoots is no easy feat. Still, I look forward to many such opportunites to do so! I think I've finally found a photographer whom I can better afford for outdoor shoots! *fingers crossed*

After much post-processing

I had always been smitten with The Sartorialist and how the photographer captures real-life fashion. There's the high street fashion, daily wear kind of fashion and people of all occupations and ages. That, I feel, is what fashion is all about. Not about affording the most luxurious brands or only high street fashion, but about adapting clothes to your personal style and looking good and comfortable in it.

From Series 82, the photo above was a street-style shot the photographer captured upon my request. I love everything about the outfit! My model's ombre side braid, the scarf prints (I had always love such prints!), the pastel blazer, the shoes and of course the bags! I thought it was a very un-Singaporean kind of outfit, if you know what I mean. It is an outfit that I would wear to death! Think that was also the first time I put up a launch with a bag that comes in 2 sizes! So cuteeeee! The boys were saying that it was odd for the model to hold 2 bags together, but that was exactly my point! This shot was meant to be placed in the Facebook page as a preview of what was coming up next and I wanted customers to see that there are 2 sizes! 一目了然，you know!

But such simple-looking shots didn't come easy because the shot was done at a public place and it was really 人來人往! This short series of outdoor shots was done at around 630pm. Before that we were rushing some studio shots. Though the lighting is not fantastic, resulting in some blurriness, I'm still happy that we got some nice shots! Kudos to the team! =))

A series of shots done after the street shot, but didn't make it to the site! Thought I would do it some justice by showing them here! It was really getting dark then!

 I thought the fluffy hearts slippers my photographer worn was really cute!

Ever grateful to my photographer for accomodating all my ideas, no matter how impossible they sound at first!

It can takes about 20-30mins to get that one nice shot for the cover. For some reason, my photographer has a tendency to take portrait shots when I needed it landscape. Why, Jenny, why? Alright, actually lucky she did, or you girls won't be able to see how nice TFL shoes are! =))

The shop owner was very nice to allow us to snap away at her shopfront, with permission asked, of course!

I like the bell boy stand thing in the shop! Grand and unique! I had really liked this shot, but ahhh, where are the shoes?? No choice, as there wasn't enough space for us to capture a shot that can show off the beautiful Colour Splash Wedges. =(

It wasn't as easy to snap in front of the shop as I thought. For a while, we ended up catching all our reflections in the glass. But to save our face, thou shalt not show the photos, because we really look silly standing lifelessly under the hot sun. 

Just so you know, I'm not the only one that have wacky ideas. =D That was my photographer's suggestion. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the colours came out! Thank you, Jenny! Kudos to Fran for being so pro to lie on this forsaken bench! When asked to, Fran was like, oh sure, and bam, she laid on the bench! I think I hadn't even answer Jenny if I wish to try out this idea! And really Fran, your face where got look big in the photos??

This was for collection 85, if I remembered correctly. There was this very pretty floral fishtail dress, that I thought would be best showcased in a real-life scenario. The let-the-skirt-tail-fly-in-the-air kind of feel. So my model was to walk across the road, towards the photographer, smiling and with the skirt tail flying. 

I thought it was easy. You should see my photographer's face when I suggested the idea. She knew better. Haha!

This was like the most decent photo after 10 tries. Xuan is so patient to keep crossing the road and smiling! We wasted quite a bit of time waiting for Mr Green man for Xuan to start crossing the road. Xuan came up with the brilliant idea to cross half-way and U-turn back! This shot was captured once she U-turned half-way. Now why didn't we think of that??

One of us thought it would make a better photo, if Jenny was to take the photo 45 degrees across from Xuan. So we ran to the other side of the road but it turned out even more impossible. 

Too many pedestrians and too many vehicles crossing into the photo! But 人漂亮就是漂亮! Xuan definitely still stands out in the photo!

This shoot was for the National Day week and I had wanted to bring a Singapore scarf my in-laws got from the NDP preview goodie bag, but I FORGOT!! So we made do with the national flag. 

Ideas come to me randomly. 

This was one of the latest ever we had our shoot. It started from 8pm till 11pm, but one of the best things about photoshoots is having a team that won't compromise on photo quality and yet fun to work with. Times flies during a photoshoot!

Xuan looking like a doll, with the floral dress, hot pink clutch and big wide eyes. A patriotic doll. =D

We had to move away the mirror and cupboard, so that we could get a full length shot, landscape style. I thought the black satin curtains makes a great backdrop for the contrast of colours! It was an impromptu idea at 10pm!

Sometimes (actually, very often) I'm so caught up with the idea of having a nice cover shot that I underestimate the difficulty in getting a shot right. Like in this case, it took us 20 tries before a suitable shot was captured!

More failed shots! Xuan was supposed to do a shout-out happily kind of expression, with one leg raised. In some shots, we got the model's expression right, but the flag went down on us or went in the wrong direction. No crescent, no stars! Flag, why you no cooperate??

I remembered it was nearing 11pm, and I got a bit anxious when we couldn't nail the right shot. It was like a oh no, should I fuss over a right photo and hold everyone back or just make do with whatever shots we got. Thankfully, the girls were really cooperative and the last shot was IT! Thank you, Jenny! Thank you, Xuan!

One good thing about blogging is it reminds me that I have nice people around to help make TFL work! No, it's not about buying them with money. It doesn't work that way. It does take a bit of luck (and fervent praying, haha!) to get the right team together and I'm grateful for the models & the photographers I've met! 

You can check out TFL Series 89 album on TFL Facebook Page to see it! I love that shot!

Coming up for next launch! The white skater dress is such a lovely & comfy piece! See! Under sunlight, it is not sheer at all! Xuan & Jenny were so nice to agree to my wacky idea of Xuan standing on the road for the cover shot! I like the curve of the sidewalk , the rustic-ness of the road, the upward sloping of the highway and the big strong trees, almost forming a canopy over the vehicles.

At 5pm when traffic was getting heavy, it was no easy feat! I was doing 把風看車! But the girls are getting more and more adept at this! It took us only 18 tries! I really think that was lucky! You gals are angels! =DD

I look forward to having more fun with such cover shots! And when my budget (and energy) permits, I hope to do some outdoor shoots too! 

Thank you for all your loves, my dear customers! The 2nd half of 2012 is going to bring about a lot of new growth opportunities for Tian Fen Lan. I'm a bit nervous, honestly. Because doing it all alone also mean I got to bear all the good and bad of whatever decision I make, with no one to tell me how to. (The Husband makes a lousy advisor, shh, don't say I say.)

That aside, I'm really thankful that for the people who email TFL, giving me the chance to grow TFL! I don't know how you get to know of TFL and why you think TFL can make it (because sometimes I don't during my PMS moments.), but really, thank you thank you thank you! =))

I want to keep improving TFL, better photos, better operation system, better quality stuff, prettier bags, prettier clothes & shoes. And yes, I want TFL to grow bigger too! It is always so heartwarming to see new customers telling me they are introduced to TFL by their sisters/aunties/nieces/colleagues/friends. Thank you so much for sharing, girls!


I wonder how you girls start sharing, like, "Eh, you know this shop that sells bags?" or "Waaaah, where did you get your bag/shoes/dress from?? 很美!! Tell me NOW!!" =D

This really takes the cake, when asked on how the customer knows of TFL!

Awww.....so sweeeet!!! Thank you, Rong Xuan!!! =DDD 

I'm truly flattered! I'm unsure if TFL is that known, judging from the FB likes on TFL Page, but this is really a great encouragement! I hope more customers will 'like' TFL for it to cross the 1,000 mark soon on TFL Page! Maybe I need to put more nice updates on TFL FB page!

Ending off this post with a back view of Xuan's gorgeous tresses! You should see it in real life! The hair that has both my photographer & I admiring! Clumsy me can never tong my hair like that!

Happy Sunday, my dear readers! I'm gonna work like mad to grow TFL!! *muacks muacks*

Metta,

欣雨 Xinyu

看臉色 @ SingPost Paya Lebar

SingPost staff are not known for being warm and friendly on first contact, unless they know you better. Maybe the staff at Changi Airport are slightly better but that's about it. Of all the Post Offices that I have done parcel posting at, my least favourite is the SingPost HQ at Paya Lebar.

At SingPost HQ, there's only one dedicated counter for postage services, besides the SpeedPost counter. Now the problem is many blogshops do parcel posting at the HQ. So we are talking about easily 50 or more parcels most of the time. On top of that, there are also organizations who do bulk mailing at that same counter. Bulk mailing like 300 letters. All registered, no less. And of course, there are mailing from random customers. So many a times, there's always a queue at this counter. Other counters provide postage services together with other services, and the queues are even longer.

I'm okay with queuing. I don't expect people to give way to me, just because they are going to take a longer time than me. The ridiculous thing is posting at this Paya Lebar branch also require us, the customers, to sometimes  看臉色 from the staff.

The Post Office closes at 9pm on normal weekdays. Last week, I reached the PO at 845pm. The lady in charge of the Postage counter told me to try to come earlier next time and not to come in the last 5-10 minutes.

I was slightly surprised by the remark. Was that to knock off work earlier or a SingPost rule I wasn't aware of? Or another reason I should know?

Yesterday, I reached the Post Office at 855pm. No, ladies, I wasn't trying to make things difficult. But earlier in the day, I was battling the emails, did restocking, parcel packing and took a train with trolly in toll to the Post Office because at peak hours, the train is much more efficient than a cab!

The same counter staff recognised me and rolled her eyes at me, with a 'tsk'.

Guess what I did? I actually apologised and said I came as soon as I could once I was done with my work. Why am I apologising when I was there before the official closing time? It wasn't like I bang on closed doors and beg to be let in. And if your branch is still open, do you have the right to tell customers off this way?

She was serving another guy who was mailing at least a hundred parcels. It was balant that she wasn't happy, with the loud way she threw the parcels on the floor.

A female SingPost staff: "See lah, ask you come earlier! You come so late make her angry!"


Male customer: "I also don't want to come so late! But there are many parcels to pack!"

And my transaction only took 10 minutes. In all honesty, even if I have reached earlier, I would probably be queuing for even longer. Past record was up to 35 minutes, when I was there around 7-830pm. On the contrary, going later also mean shorter queues.

If we can, of course we would go earlier! Do you know it's such a huge burden off the mind once posting for the day is done?! We all wish for our customers to receive their parcels on time and safely so that they will be happy to come shop with us again! It's not fair if you expect us to pack less just so we can be there earlier to....queue.

I'm gonna write in to SingPost to ask if there's such a rule of customers should not come at 855pm or even 845pm, when closing time is 9pm. If there's such a unreasonable rule, all of us should be aware of it, instead of getting reprimanded this way.

Hello, we are not kids.

On a sidenote, I'm gonna make sure my parcels are not passed to this particular staff over the counter. Would rather drop the normal mailing parcels in the postbox myself. Just in case, you know.

我顧客的郵包不是給你拿來閙小孩子脾氣的。

When I was leaving, the poor male customer was buying stamps from the SAM machine for his 3 sacks of parcels. If I remember correctly, we can only buy up to S$30 worth of stamps in one transaction on SAM. I wonder how many times he would need to perform the transaction and why he couldn't didn't get the stamps from the counter.

Metta,

欣雨 Xinyu


沒有人在刁難你，你又爲何要爲難你自己呢?

My 1st smartphone!

Hello gals! 

Lost my hp last Fri on a cab for the umpteen time and decided that was it. The final straw! It's time to get a smartphone proper and change that unlucky number which I have been using for 14 years! Think that about marks the history of mobilephones in Singapore. Once upon a time, I used to own a Motorola pager!

That mobile number has seen me lost 5 handphones, including the one last Friday and that was a spare phone of someone's else! Urrrgh! Would you believe me if I said I once lost my Blackberry which was a spare phone kept in my drawers? I had no idea where it went!

I had 6 mobile phones under that number and this is the only phone that survived out of the pack.

The Husband calls it the Bandage Phone. All who have seen me using this remember me and my phone. Because it's not often you see a phone twined with a rubber band. #Iamthejokeoftheday

I dropped the phone so many times on the floor that the battery got bloated and the battery cover is unable to shut close. The battery starts to drain out real fast and finally, the phone died a heroic death and all went blank after the final fall. Nokia phones are really hardy. I used it for 4 years!

I still keep the phone for memories' sake. It's my first white phone and the first phone that didn't got misplaced/lost. Totally deserve a space in my drawer just for that!

I had really wanted to wait till Oct for Iphone5. =(

Wasn't able to launch without a phone too, because I won't be able to access my UOB a/c and there's quite a number of customers who do bank transfer via UOB. 

I was at Starhub PS close to 9am on Sunday. I reckon that would save us a lot of time in queuing and squashing about with others.

To get a Iphone 4S 16GB would cost me S$248, while a Samsung Galaxy Note would cost me S$228. The only time I have forked out money for a phone was about 8 years ago, when I fell in love with a Samsung red flip phone. That red matches my SQ red nail polish! It was gorgeous! Ever since I lost it, I told myself I'm only going for S$0 phone from then on. No point throwing away my money!

The thing is, good smartphones are never S$0 and those were the days when phones are merely for calling and messaging.

I tweeted about my dilemma about choosing between Iphone 4S and Samsung Galaxy Note. A very sweet customer emailed me giving me suggestions and a live email exchange ensued.  We were both awake at 4am on a Sunday. Hahahaha! Thank you, Sandy, for your recommendations! If not for you, I won't know Note comes in Pink too!

I was all set on getting a Note when I saw that Samsung Galaxy SII was going for S$68 with contract. That's so much cheaper! There and then, I wondered if I really needed a Note. Yes, it would be useful if I need to reply urgent emails! Peering and tapping on small screens are very exhausting. The Husband and the Starhub staff walked with me to check out the dummies and I was like asking everyone for opinions. I'm very bad at making big decisions like this. =(

Not sure how I got convinced but I got a Note in the end and am still feeling the heartache of spending more than S$200, instead of S$68 even though it wasn't my money. Sandy was right. I wasn't used to the bigger size. But it's really very slim and light for its size. Brother says it is good for me because a bigger phone will be harder to lose. Another plus point is it's easier to fish out from my disorganized bag too! 

The Husband is more excited about the phone than me. I can't feel the excitement yet though. It's just a phone, isn't it? He was bugging me to set up all my social a/cs on the phone but I worry that if I lose it, some stranger is going to have access to my personal Twitter/Facebook a/cs and TFL Gmail (horror of all horrors!)! So no, I will only log in when I need to use it. 

One function that I really like is the S-note function! This phone comes with a stylus and it's so useful for scribbling notes on the go! I can scribble pages of them if I want! I am using it to write my daily affirmations because it's more environmentally friendly and I'm often in too much of a rush to sit down at my table for the writings!

The 8mp camera is a plus point too! I finally have a more 象樣 camera! My Sony camera was only a 6mp and I can't hold it still enough to take good photos. This also means customers can look forward to me posting more TFL photos on Instagram/Facebook!

Display wise, I prefers Iphone/Ipad. The screen is more comfortable to look at but Samsung has designed its phones very well. Note is very intuitive! For e.g. if I'm on the phone with someone and I need to press a key, all I have to do bring down the phone from my ear and the screen will light up! And Samsung really have the nicest-sounding melodies for its ringtones! p.s. I have used Panasonic, LG, Samsung, Nokia & Motorola mobile phones.

I have sent invoices with the Husband's Iphone and Ipad previously and its copy-and-paste function is able to do it with the right formatting as seen in TFL invoices. So I thought this would be a norm. But the first time I tried sending an invoice with my Note, I was really disappointed that the Note can't copy the formatting i.e. no paragraphing, no bolding, no underlining etc. All the pasted text would be in one chunk of paragraph and look very disorganized. Why, Samsung, why??? If I knew that would happen, I would have gone for Iphone 4S. =((


The Husband said there might be a miraculous app that will solve this problem for me. I doubt so but still gonna look into it one day!

The Husband has been bugging me with ways to protect my phone. But I like my phone plain and simple. No fanciful casing/covers, just protective films. And he's like, oh what if your phone break when it gets drop, what if it get scratched, what if this and what if that... The irony is that his Iphone doesn't have a casing either. Double standard. Pffft!

And yay to a new auspicious mobile number! I hope that erases all my bad luck with phones and bring me more good news of prosperity for Tian Fen Lan!! Huat ah!! (I think only a Chinese will say this, haha!)

Metta,
欣雨 Xinyu