All quiet on the Eastern front

Weekends at the Orange is a whole new world altogether. It is a very surreal experience, almost ethereal in a very moodily atmospheric fashion. From having to sign in at the guardhouse to treading the empty aisles of vacant cubicles, it seems to pervade one's consciousness with the feeling that the apocalypse is nigh, or rather, that the precious time of rest and relaxation is slowly fading away.

But of course it's not all gloom and doom, as there is a certain tranquility and placid air about the whole place, which isn't present from Monday to Friday.

On days like this, the Orange envelops us with soft quiet whispers and genteel semblance, and we bear witness to its form with temperance and humility...

Occupational hazard

Feeling crabby

Last nite, ML stayed back late for the 1st time to work on the PriSci manuscripts because RC came down with a bad flu and so 'The Tie' needed someone to edit RC's chapters. Just like Neo in the Matrix, ML became "the chosen one". It was a seminal eye-opener into the hardworking world of editors who burn the midnight oil at the Orange.

I have a feeling that when one engages in nocturnal activities of the editorial kind for long enough, the comfort of philosophical and pseudo-intellectual banter with Taxi drivers and the appreciation of the gaudy neon lights of the Katong KTVs will become embedded in one's DNA.

Anyhow, the highlight of the evening was of course at 6.03pm, when GK, NN and ML decided to grab a bite from the kopitiam for dinner, as they were staying back to work. While ordering our food, GK had one of his usual flashes of "Eureka!" - he spotted a tank of woefully looking crabs with their pincers tied and all trussed up like POWS, languishing pitifully and awaiting their fate to end up on the dining tables and to be digested as someone's chilli/pepper crab meal.

GK pointed them out to us and wisely said, "Look, we are just like those crabs, all tied up and trapped in the tank."

Ahh, just like a beautiful sad Greek tragedy.

NN: "Mmm, I'm craving for those chilli crabs
I had in Bangkok recently."

Crab in tank: " Whaddaya smilin' at?!"

GK: "We are but crabs in a tank..."

Just walk away...

FP got sick of the Orange. And she quit. Now she's Orange-sick. :'(

As she digs through archives of old photos, videos and memories... she discovers this gem - a video put together by DT (remember her??)

Turn up the volume and get nostalgic...

Boxing Day '06

Everyone is still recovering from the intense 2 weeks that have just passed - Friday Faze X'mas edition, MN's farewell tributes, serial birthday celebrations, intricate Bangra dance moves, failed attempted mass suicides, and overdue manuscripts that eat into weekends and public holidays.

The atmosphere in the hamster cage is relatively quiet today, with many on leave, and even more having left (escaped) the cage for good. The heavens are pouring down rain endlessly today - a celestial expression of tears to express MN's departure from the Orange. Without much options to stretch our legs and tastebuds beyond Robert's fine cooking, what else is there for an editor to do but...

Watch the falling rain and ponder about the meaning of life...

"talk cock"...

...dream of winning in May

Friday Faze Christmas Edition

It was the Friday Faze to faze all Friday Fazes. The significance of the event could not be underestimated. Not only was it the Christmas Edition of Friday Faze, it was also MN's last day in the Orange Building. Never again would the stars yield such a constellation. It was an occasion to be cherished and embellished in our hearts...

BB is almost the spitting image of his little son

NT tries out his Dr. Evil look.

The party planners. BB tries to act cute (again)

BB still at it...

Ahhhh...he gives up at last

Wrapping the presents. It looks more delicate than brain surgery.

ML and RC getting some 'fresh air'.

NT can't decide whether to be Santa Claus or a mugger out on Christmas Eve. Muggers don't wear soft toys on their middle fingers, NT!

The three essentials of every office Christmas party - Santa cap, disco ball and radio

Decorations up and good to go

Stonehenge built out of canned drinks

The rather un-Christmassy food

The Christmas log cake

ES and MN discuss plans to get inside the Christmas Loghouse and steal the Cradle of Life without getting cream all over them

This one's for you J fans out there

People stream in...soon the place will be packed. But wait...what's wrong with this picture? Oh, yeaaaaah....where's ML's camera? :D

Everyone is in a Christmas mood

MV, RC and II make up an interesting trio

Is BH secretly learning the Art of Paparazzin' from ML?

NT gets the ball rolling. Unbelievably, IL has brought manuscripts to the party...what's the point?

NT tries to get the crowd's attention with his Snoop Dog impression

We can see who's most impressed by that. Watch out, NT...they're coming for you!

Ah, yes. The mandatory speech by GM LGH.

Everyone seems to be listening to him intently...

Except for the people who know how to have fun! Too bad for S.Wee though, he's too nervous about LGH's speech and starts biting his nails. Ain't that a gal thing?

They're all thinking, "C'mon you bloody bugger, finish up that speech so we can get the real fun started!"

At last he cuts the cake

And GK is royally sabo-ed by the other Friday Fazers into presenting MN with her farewell gift.

MN delivers an emotionally charged farewell speech

The fun and games begin with "Who am I?". It's always good to see the bosses in a fluster for a change. Although with HH, you would've probably seen her in a fluster everyday anyway.

II tries not to laugh too hard at his boss's feeble attempts

HH stoops to AN's level

The crowd are amused

MN gives HH some tips

It is II's turn and boy is he in trouble as the name on the sticker stuck to his forehead is that of his boss!

"Wah lau eh you all sabo me!"

EK roars in approval at AAR's simulated striptease. Gosh, this isn't a gay club, take your act elsewhere!

Having satisfied EK, AAR calms down...and prepares to sing

"Look at me, I'm SEXYYYY!!!"

EO's thinking "Where's my knight in shining armour to save me?" The aforementioned knight in shining armour is nowhere in sight.

He remains out of sight and EO has to extricate herself...which she does with remarkable skill and speed

CL scratches her head in bewilderment

But flanked by the two Santa helpers, she does well

CC shows off his Elvis Presley-esque crooning skills

Absolutely brilliant...encore!!

We should really have gotten IL to sing instead, would have been worth a bucket of laughs....but AN did a fantastic job, kudos to her.

JC's secret identity is captured on camera...she's actually a vampiress! Check out those eyes :O

EO receives her prize from LGH

SM wins the most Christmassy outfit award for men...

while CN walks off with the women's prize

MN inspects her farewell goodies

When will I see that smile again?

The MN groupies crowd around with their eyes on the prizes

Wouldn't some of us (not me larrrr) give an arm or a leg to sit at the same table as these lovelies?

The Friday Faze planners

Striking a different pose

MN gets another gift from GK; I'm pretty she would have wanted EK to be doing it instead :p

MN views her poster. From what I gather, she was "disgusted" and so was BT. But too bad, it's laminated some more, cannot give excuse that spill water and damage the poster so must throw away...hahaha

MN grins and bears it

The party was a smashing success. What a force - the Sixpack and GFPT combined can sweep all before their path. What a pity that it (probably) can't happen again

For everyone else, it was a great way to let their hair down and have some good clean fun. For MN, it was a fitting end to a fabulous four years in the Orange building.

Thanks for the memories...