SHENTONISTA

“I suffer from a condition called Uveitis (inflammation in the eyes) which caused me to become fully blind in my left eye and partially blind in my right. I fell into depression when I first started to lose my vision, but after a year I decided to get up and try again, and I’m now a professional para athlete, facilitator, and guide.”

“At first, my profession was music, while my hobby was repairing guitars. Later on, my hobby became my profession, and my profession became my hobby.” When you think of Brash Basah Complex, the first thing that comes to mind would likely be art shops, print shops, or bookstores, but dig a little deeper, and walk a little further, and you might just find Guitar Workshop, a small gem of a guitar repair store tucked away in a corner of the building. In our third and final #ShentonistaSpotlights Grandparents' Day special, we’re introducing Francis Poh, owner of Guitar Workshop, and a veteran in the local music scene.

“My wife always says that this shop is my first love, and that she is my second. But I can’t help it, I just love being in the shop and running this business!” Peninsula Plaza might now be a shell of its former days as the go-to hangout spot for youths in the early 1970s, but if you take the time to stroll through its aisles and step into an old shop or two, you’ll find a warm community waiting to welcome you with their wares and stories of the past. Here, we’re introducing Johnny of Peninsula’s Trend Fashion, a shop where treasures and gems abound.

“Fate, unlike fengshui, cannot be changed. What’s meant to be yours will be yours, and what isn’t meant to be will never be.” Behind International Plaza’s go-to breakfast spot, Miko Cake House, is a couple that’s been quietly running the scenes and feeding the hungry corporate folk with their homely food for decades. Though Mr and Mrs Lee have been here for 46 years, the history behind their business goes back even further than that.

“Sunscreen is a must-have in my skincare routine and I use it religiously. A lot of people leave sunscreen out, but not only does it block UV rays, it also shields us from the blue light emitted from our laptop and phone screens, which can be detrimental to both our skin and eyes.”

“As a 23-year-old, I’ve been told many times not to worry about rushing into a career since I’m still young, so I decided to heed this advice and put a pause on work to do some solo travelling around Asia for a year. Indonesia, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh, and Taipei are what’s on my list so far.”

“My parents are moving back to Thailand for good, while I’m still working in Singapore, so I’ll finally be living that independent girl life! I’m really excited, but also super anxious about having to deal with insects, especially geckos. The mere thought of them gives me goosebumps!”

"I wake up at 7AM everyday when I travel because I want to try everything and make the most out of each day. Most of my family and friends don’t feel the same though, so I usually enjoy sightseeing and exploring on my own in the early mornings.”

"My husband and I adopted two Singapore Specials and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done! Dogs don’t live for as long as we do, so I’m mindful of making every moment with them count. We’re now trying for a (human) kid to expand our little family. It hasn’t been easy but we’re staying hopeful!”

“I fell while attempting a rollerblading trick so my pinky has to be in a brace for 16 weeks. Sadly, my wife will kill me if I step foot into a skate park until then, but I’m only three weeks in and already getting so restless! I’m excused from all housework for now though, so that’s a blessing in disguise.”

“I’m working on living from day to day right now because we often forget to be present and in the moment. Many a times, we get so caught up with waiting for the next ‘big thing’ that we don’t realise that we are actually experiencing the ‘big thing’ that we were previously anticipating.”

“Children nowadays are becoming global citizens, and they should be prepared to adapt to wherever work and life takes them. My son is now studying in New Zealand, and although it’s not easy for us to be apart from him, my husband and I will support him wherever he plans to go in the future.”