SCHMOOZEVILLE

yesterday was a major schmoozefest for me.

i held a press conference with the MCYS for SHINE, ministers dr vivian balakrishnan and dr maliki osman attended.

i gave opening remarks, but had the co-chair respond to questions.

then we schmoozed our way into the twelve o'clock hour.

so it was back to the office for some rush work and interview-chasing before heading off to yet another event - UTAC's movie day.

yes, desiree and i went to catch The Da Vinci Code, courtesy of UTAC.

(the new cathay's biggest cinema is really gorgeous...=))

bumped into vernon, ex-colleague from newsradio, and his wife and they looked rather...odd.

first of all, they don't look like a couple because they don't even look like they like each other much.

she looked like she was gonna chomp him down and he seemed afraid of introducing her.

and when he finally did introduce her, she just nodded.

EEKS!

i really do have a lot to write about but it's time to run, and blog about SCRAPS. =)

no, i mean it. scraps.youth.sg.

come join me.

SingTel FY06 Earnings

i spoke to a member of the lee family today.

uhhuh...SingTel's Group CEO, Lee Hsien Yang.

i did not speak to him in the boardroom, or in the interview.

i spoke with him on the way down in a lift.

it's amazing to see how many reporters scutter to get his attention during the media briefing, but clam shut and stare at the elevator counter all the way down to the ground level while standing right next to him.

this ST Money guy (whom i first met years ago at a forum...i didn't quite like him then already) stood right next to lee, folded his arms and looked everywhere but at him.

i was standing to the other side of lee.

after a while of observing lee fidgeting with his phone and acknowledging singtel staff (who all avoided looking at him as well) who trickled into the lift on our way down, i asked...

"Mr Lee, you look tired. Had a hectic morning?"

and so started our small talk for a couple of minutes down the lift, and on our way to his interview sessions with Bloomberg and CNBC.

i realize some people might be afraid of talking to him, or such people in general.

it's true they seem absolutely unapproachable.

but surely there's no harm in trying?

what's the worst that could happen?

that he answers "yes" or "no".

of course, that'd be your cue to stop talking.

but don't let your presumptions stop you from making the first move.

be bold and take that first step, and maybe you'll get something more than a closed answer.

"Yes, I've got media interviews and analysts interviews back to back all day."

i'm glad i said hi first.

=).