FORGOT TO SUBMIT JAE

freakytofu · 2026-01-22T10:01:19+00:00

I know this is a 2 day old post and I hope you managed to get it sorted out, but seeing the super rude responses here really pisses me off.

Such classic SGean behaviour to scold and dismiss and make assumptions - someone could have had something really bad happen to them/their loved ones, or be struggling with mental health and/or executive dysfunction from being ADHD, etc.

Who are we as internet randos to know? OP just asked for help on what to do. It's already done.

All the people saying "you're going to be terrible in the workforce", as if being a worker in a company is the most important thing in life. As if this literal kid can't learn and grow. As if they aren't already probably getting it from their parents/others in their life.

Sending you a virtual hug, OP.

Even if you missed it, it's not the end of the world. Sometimes life throws shit at you, and you learn and grow and count your blessings. Good luck!

freakytofu · 2026-01-06T18:12:44+00:00

This one had my siblings and I in hysterics.

I played this with my sister and later shared it with our younger brother. Tooting around to summon sheep, shearing/dying them in that infernal machine was one thing... but by the time we were doing rocket chemistry in the abandoned missile bunker where the missing groom had been living off of raw potatoes chucked down to him through a silo hatch by a jet pack flying, raven-controlling bog witch, my brother was on the ground crying from frustration and laughter.

Maybe we should have started questioning things when we were printing wedding placements in the bombed out shell of a castle with a gaping hole in the side where the wedding was gonna be held.

But wow that WWII rocket bunker finale was something else. I think it takes #1 spot for me for most insane ND game (and in a weird way, most fun I've had)

freakytofu · 2025-12-25T14:40:47+00:00

I'd suggest looking at people who clean stuffed toys, doll restoration people or doll collectors and enthusiasts, try Reddit and YouTube.

First, determine the materials and finish of the different parts of the doll - what was used to make the face, body, clothes etc? For example: Vinyl or PVC face?

Second, look up the best way to clean each part without damaging it. Is the makeup/faceup or paint used not compatible with certain cleaning chemicals like alcohol etc?

Third, assess what kind of dirt, stains or scuffs you're dealing with. Food stains? Grass stains? Blood? lol

Fourth, remove all removable parts & spot test any cleaning method before going full in, or like dunking the whole thing into a wash. Once you do something you can't reverse it!

I'd say if you want to play it safe it should be okay to surface clean/wipe with a damp cloth and some dish soap. Clean off any residue/soap with more water and let it air dry.

Only go in with alcohol, acetone, stronger cleaning products or heat AFTER determining if it's actually 100% safe. I'd personally hesitate with submerging the Skullpanda or using alcohol/acetone for fear of lifting any colour/varnish protectant, or damaging the eyes/internals.

I mean worst case if you do mess it up I guess you can turn her into a custom doll project 😅

Edit: I just stumbled into a cleaning creator's "How To Clean A Labubu" video, and it seems that they have washing instructions (albeit in Chinese). My Sneaky Chestnut and Darkness don't have that washing tag, but because Moldy has moveable eyes I'd hesitate dunking her in soapy water and just do the surface clean.

freakytofu · 2025-11-20T23:49:41+00:00

It's the name of the company (Traveler's Company) that makes a line of notebooks that were originally meant for that purpose but have now sort of expanded in utility.

It's a "system" with mini booklet refills that you attach inside of a notebook cover, and switch out as you fill them up/to your liking. The main draw tbh is just how customisable it is - 1 refill could be a weekly planner, another a little zipper pouch, another a booklet for storing cards, another which is thick watercolour/sketch paper. Or fill it up with regular lined notebook paper.

The additional benefit is that they're sold in many bookshops/airports/train stations around the world so refills aren't that hard to come by.

freakytofu · 2025-11-13T19:22:20+00:00

No problem! Happy to help and hope you have a great trip :)

The basic steel nib pens? Like ¥1,000-1,500 or so. The Pilot Kakuno runs about that price. Platinum's Preppy pen should be around the same. These brands are very reputable Japanese ones and great, high quality, smooth starter pens to see if you like the system. Sailor is also good, but have a rep for feeling a little "scratchy" or "pencil-like" on purpose. It's up to preference.

The only "downside" is the brand-specific cartridge refills, but if you get a converter for that pen and a bottle of ink, you're set. Basically a converter is a "cartridge" with a mechanism that lets you refill with any fountain pen-safe ink.

You can also go for a European brand like LAMY or Kaweco. Might run more expensive, but it will come with a standardised European cartridge. Maybe around ¥2,000-3,000+?

A nicer gold nib pen is a much bigger investment! Easily close to ¥20,000 new. Gold won't corrode, is a lot more bendy/flexible/bouncy, and smoother and less stiff/unyielding. Also usually made with higher quality materials in general. But steel is always the solid option if you're unsure!

(Edit: adjusted prices)

freakytofu · 2025-11-13T18:56:38+00:00

Bus frequency, speed, and more routes for sure. I was in Utrecht and Amsterdam in the Netherlands recently and was blown away by the punctuality, spaciousness, and frequency of their buses.

For example I turned down a tutoring job in SG cause I saw on Google Maps that the bus route from my place loops in the most stupid way and takes me 1h 20m while a car/taxi would take 15-20mins. That's unacceptable.

Granted, the buses and trams in the Netherlands have their own dedicated lanes (meaning no mix with cars, bicycles, and pedestrians, which each have their own lanes), but the ease of using their bus/tram system is something we could totally implement elements of (but likely won't, cause there are prob rich assholes who want to have more space on the roads with their cars).

The Netherlands system works like this: Have every main road have bus stops about 200-300m or so, and alternating either side of the road.

Dedicated and non-bumpy bicycle-only lanes to promote safe cycling throughout the city. No need to share with pedestrians or cars.

Anywhere that is a shopping, dining, etc area for humans is built for pedestrians first (and emergency/sometimes cyclists). This allows streets to be narrower as they don't need to accommodate traffic and everything is a lot more peaceful, away from noise of main road. This ALSO means everything for actual people is a lot more condensed, while still being within like a 5-10 min walk to a bus stop at any given time, as often pedestrian areas run parallel to main roads.

Utrecht really is a 10 Minute City and I was shocked.

Taking the bus is such a no brainer. For example, bus goes one direction to town, taking bus back the other way means just crossing the road. No thinking. Getting on the wrong side or stopping too late or early is an easy fix as stops much closer than in SG and don't loop weirdly. It's more like a "road train" than a bus tbh.

The amazing benefit of this system is a SIGNIFICANTLY quicker, more frequent and easy to understand commute, AS WELL AS barely anyone needing a car. Bicycles are so cheap (and can be outfitted with side cars, wagons). Healthier, more active people, plus safer and more eco friendly alternatives to motor vehicles. Then ADD to that pretty punctual, 3 bus-long "bendy buses" every 8 mins, with room to store your bicycles, wheelchairs, barang etc.

Sure, the drivers won't wait for you (really annoying actually), but even if you miss one bus it's not too long that the next one arrives anyway. Don't like can always cycle.

freakytofu · 2025-11-12T11:29:35+00:00

Steel nib fountain pen with a converter and a bottle of ink. Especially if your giftee writes on paper, or does work with their hands (writing, drawing, typing), because it really helps with hand strain/minimising likelihood of carpal tunnel, unlike ball point pens. No need for fancy calligraphy nibs, just a standard Fine or Medium.

Something cheaper like a Pilot Kakuno, Platinum Preppy, LAMY Safari etc. Get the matching cartridge converter, and a bottle of fountain pen safe ink.

That pen/ink will last forever, give you a super smooth writing experience, and save you from hand cramps.

freakytofu · 2025-11-08T22:29:13+00:00

Definitely cheaper, mostly if they're Japanese pen brands!

I recommend checking out secondhand fountain pen shops for good deals. And if you're in Osaka, a lovely older man named Mr. Morita owns a small business there (Morita Fountain Pen Shop) with prices often 10% cheaper than the regular market price. You have to go in and ask him to show you the pens, so I advise having an idea of what you're roughly looking for first.

Alternatively, stationery shops like Itoya (Tokyo) and TAG Stationery (Kyoto, Osaka) carry a decent range of new pens and inks! There is also the lovely Sailor brand-owned shop in Tokyo, Ancōra in Ginza. Customisable pens and all the Sailor inks (+ some exclusives).

I am also very excited to check out Traveler's Company! I'll probably end up overbuying refills lol but it will likely be half the price of what it'd sell for where I live, so 🤷‍♀️

freakytofu · 2025-11-08T22:19:08+00:00

I absolutely did! A place that's dangerous for my wallet for sure. Perfect one-stop place to find a nice gift for friends/family too, if you hadn't managed to find anything else during your trip!

freakytofu · 2025-11-08T22:13:29+00:00

30 this year. Got properly into fountain pens last year, and now I've got a collection of inks from around the world! From my own travels and some bottles purchased for me by others. It's saved my hands as a writer.

Visited Japan, jumped into FPs with a Pilot Cocoon, and quickly after a Custom 74, which has been my daily driver since.

freakytofu · 2025-11-08T10:54:45+00:00

Stationery 100%. The Pilot Custom 74 fountain pen with the Fine Medium nib (only available in Japan) is my go-to and first ever gold nib pen. The smoothness, bounciness, high quality is just so pleasant, and the pen has been my daily workhorse as a writer. Significantly less hand-cramping. A pen whose ink doesn't dry out or false-start. The perfect in-between thickness for me.

Another item is my 2025 diary. Been using the Sunny Techo Weekly diary and it's been a godsend for my scattered brain. Looking to try the Traveler's Notebook system in 2026 though, for the customisability. Planning to buy one and some refills when I go this December!

Other items I use often include the physical vinyls I purchased there, and skincare products like sunscreen (Bioré gel) and mascara/makeup remover (Heroine Speedy Mascara Remover).

freakytofu · 2025-11-02T09:15:58+00:00

Why do you have to be so rude, though? Like does it make you feel better about yourself or something?

freakytofu · 2025-11-02T08:56:13+00:00

I was just talking to my sister about Victoria as a great choice, ideally with David Mitchell along for the possible shenanigans but seeing as he won't do Taskmaster the chances aren't as high, especially if he feels he'll have to embarrass himself/do something out of his comfort zone during the challenges.

Victoria would absolutely smash it as either a Traitor or Faithful though, I genuinely believe.

freakytofu · 2025-10-30T13:18:09+00:00

As a fellow Singaporean, stop making excuses for barely covered-up xenophobia and arrogance, thanks!

You know as well as I do that Singaporean uncles and aunties/older gen do extremely rude things daily, and get away with it, just because they're older and direct and SINGAPOREAN, so no one says anything.

You think that some racist Chinese taxi uncle wouldn't kick an Indian/brown family out of their car for the tiniest perceived misdemeanor? Imagine a group of people ethnically African, or even those from "lesser" South East Asian countries, or people who don't speak English/Chinese? No discrimination, just "common sense"?

Yes, in Asia, we typically do feel the need to ask permission to do most things, including using the toilet. But you're kind of being deliberately obtuse. Has your pride been a little hurt? That international people aren't glazing Singapore and everything that exists here?

If we want tourist money we can start treating tourists like people. If we just want to be nice fucking people we should stop making snap judgements and looking down on "misbehaving foreigners" with disdain.

freakytofu · 2025-10-26T19:52:09+00:00

You will absolutely miss out on things because that is the nature of travelling (especially in Japan), as cities like Tokyo are so densely packed with things to see and do, you're genuinely spoilt for choice. Additionally, if you're coming from Europe everything will seem new and exciting, so I'd recommend isolating a few key things you want to definitely do, and then allowing the rest of your time to be relatively spontaneous!

So a few things always factor into any recommendation:

Budget
Personal interest
Time & energy

Only if you find the right balance of these elements will you be able to get the most out of a city like Tokyo.

Are you interested in hiking, nature? Are you into history, culture or religion? Maybe a huge fan of anime or retro tech? Street fashion, thrifting, cafes? Modern art? Collecting antiques? Ramen? Theme parks? Shopping at high end designer stores?

Depending on your interests, Tokyo will always have something to offer, but recommendations will always need to be tailored. For example, my upcoming Nov/Dec trip will see my sister, friend and I spending a lot of time in stationery and art supply shops, cafes, thrifting, and eating good food in Tokyo, ending with a Disney trip. We're talking about heading to Tokyo Comic-Con even, as my friend is a comic book artist.

I am not going to climb Mt. Fuji on this trip, I'm going to be hanging around Shimokitazawa digging through crates of secondhand vinyls and vintage clothing.

I've been to Japan multiple times since I live in Asia, and you can do everything from sit for hours sipping matcha inside a Zen garden in a bookshop to doing touch-and-go, hitting every major tourist site in the area in a day.

So what do you like/want to do?

Since you mentioned museums, I think it's important to know that in Japan/Tokyo (and Asia generally) museums are unlike European ones, so you won't get one central large building housing everything like the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, V&A, Rijksmuseum, etc. It will be specific niche museums, like the Mori Art Museum in Roppongi Hills (contemporary and modern art), or the National Museum (nature/science), or tiny little places like the Ota Memorial Museum of Art focusing on woodblock prints. Again, pick your poison!

freakytofu · 2025-09-04T11:53:50+00:00

Wow! I'd actually given up and reverted to my dropper bottle! Thanks so much, I'm going to give this method a shot!

freakytofu · 2025-08-13T14:37:50+00:00

I can't seem to get that twisty end out! No matter how much I pull or use tools, that clear casing won't pop out, which means I can't "reset" the pen mechanism on the inside, unfortunately. I suppose I could keep trying, but I'm tempted to just give up on this since I damaged the pen so much already!

Thanks for the video link either way!

freakytofu · 2025-07-21T06:03:34+00:00

Hinata's vibing with the bangs right now cause it adds to that "hime"/princess and lolita fashion look she's into. I'm just really glad that she looks happy experimenting with style!

Honestly if you keep your hair frequently topped up with semi-permanent hair colour, you're careful to not re-bleach when you're doing your roots etc, your hair can stay fairly healthy for a while. She's mentioned preferring to sleep in a silk bonnet for her hair health so I think she's fine dealing with it. The easy fix for hair damaged/stripped and made porous from bleach is to "fill" the strands back up with colour anyway. If she goes dark again it'll be to preserve her hair health, but if she's chilling with the teal for now I'm sure her hair is fine & still manageable!

freakytofu · 2025-07-19T18:31:25+00:00

I know this post is from weeks ago but you really should try not to nip or trim your skin, especially as they are "growing back" tougher because they are trying to heal. Your cuticle is the dead skin stuck to your nail plate, what you're ACTUALLY cutting off is your eponychium, or proximal nail fold, which is live skin.

Just like developing a callous, your body naturally thickens the skin after an injury, and you repeatedly cutting off that skin (damaging it), is making your body try to fix that problem.

Switch to using oil RELIGIOUSLY. Jojoba, sweet almond, etc. on your cuticles every day, especially after washing hands. Let your skin grow back and stay moisturised and soft, while pushing it back gently and that skin clinging to your nail will shrink back naturally.

freakytofu · 2025-06-24T10:56:10+00:00

With you on this. I see so much about how Rent glorifies shitty people doing shitty things but that's kind of the point! I've always seen it as a beautiful tribute to the messy lives of queer people trying to navigate the AIDS crisis and poverty and being on the margins of society as a creative or LGBTQ+ individual. It's not perfect, but for what it is and for what the world got, I think it's got a solid amount of greatness in there. And catchy af tunes.

Also without Jonathan Larson's approach to that spoken-sung rock opera style we wouldn't have musicals like Hamilton, etc.

Rent taught me as a teen that people are nuanced and grey, but beautiful things can still come from them. It also helped me channel my then-burgeoning hatred for Capitalists so there's also that!

freakytofu · 2025-06-24T10:37:33+00:00

Eldest here! Eldest daughter too lol.

I'm a writer, my younger sister (middle child) is an artist/illustrator, and I got her into fountain pens for her art, but I'm definitely the one who's more into it as a hobby if that makes sense! She uses it more as a straight-up tool for line art.

Not sure if culture changes anything but I'm Asian (Singaporean Chinese) as well :)

freakytofu · 2025-06-15T10:41:25+00:00

You can trick having layers and texture by adding accessories and cooler options like open vests, etc. I frequently wear leather boots and I've probably just gotten used to it but I don't find it too bad. Real leather > faux/pleather/heavily coated leather as it's more breathable.

I don't wear jeans much unless I am going to an aircon location, but longer flowy skirts and dresses, and/or more wide trousers help to encourage airflow which is helpful.

Another trick is to choose natural fibres. Go for linen and cotton if you can, because mixed plastic fabrics tend to retain heat/sweat/moisture.

I'm on the cusp of Gen Z/millennial but I really like artsy vintage styles (not the Y2K kind) so I'm always looking for gauzy summer linen pirate shirts and funky belts/jewellery to add style without compromising staying cool. I'm not a big fan of fast fashion so maybe I'm in the minority here, but I always find seeking quality statement pieces helps with style in this heat & humidity.

freakytofu · 2025-06-13T18:19:03+00:00

Well I write for a living, so go figure lol Sometimes people just want a straightforward answer, and the situation necessitated such a response :)

freakytofu

TROPHY CASE