THE END OF AN ERA...

So, leaving behind Mr. Kipling when I left the UK was kind of like the end of an era after working on the brand for five years. However, the era has well and truly come to an end now with the redesign of the packaging. But credit where credit is due, JKR have done and a great job and I look forward to seeing all the packs on shelf when I get back to visit the UK in May.

Meanwhile here in Asia I am very lucky to be working in some completely different categories to cake! Lot's of alcohol and beauty brands. Hopefully I will be able to share some new launches soon. Watch this space! 

ME, MYSELF AND MY...

I was really pleased to hear this week that a piece of packaging that I had worked on whist at 1HQ had won a Bronze Packaging DBA Award. Great news! I was actually served a "Me, Myself and My" pack whilst on my way home from the UK in December on board and Emirates flight.


"En Route offers premium bakery products to the Travel Catering market. With the economic downturn impacting airline catering budgets, En Route wanted to create a product range for the industry that would offer an appealing ready-to-eat snack rather than the usual meal tray.

In response, 1HQ created the Me, Myself & My brand – a nod to the insight that, once settled on board their flight, passengers enter a self-contained bubble. 1HQ used a bold, confident logotype and strong, simple visuals and colours to reflect the brand’s distinctive personality, create impact and help with easy product identification. The packaging also featured games and puzzles to extend brand interaction and as a means of alleviating in-flight boredom.

The brand achieved over six times its already ambitious sales target. It can now be found on major airlines including long and short-haul British Airways, Ryanair, BMI and Emirates flights. Sales soared by 330% and En Route have built a reputation as the point of reference for premium bakery in the market" 

For more, please head to http://www.effectivedesign.org.uk/packaging/me_myself.php

AMANDA'S ADVENTURE...

It was so lovely to have Amanda visit at the end of January and for her to finally get to see where I live now. We had a jam filled fortnight and managed to do and see plenty of things. As it was Chinese New Year whilst she was here it was the perfect opportunity to experience Asia during the most important festival in the Chinese calendar...

The decorations in China Town this year revolved around the theme of the dragon as the coming year is the year of the "water dragon". Every evening I walk home along the outskirts of China Town and was wowed by the most striking decoration ... a huge red dragon that drifts along the main road. Probably viewed better from above I managed to get some great shots from some of the better vantage points lower down. Visiting during Chinese New Year the atmosphere was great, everyone in high spirits and brightly illuminated. Although part of the market was closed (we turned up a little late) we were still able to get some fantastic pictures painted, by a very talented local man for the special little ones Tommy and Jack. I hope that this will be a reminder to Tommy that his Aunty Karen lives in Asia. Even more special as it was hand painted on Chinese New Year 2012.

We also managed to get to Universal Studios. Despite already having gone last year, this year there were more rides open including "Transformers : The Ride". It was incredible! A hyper-realistic 3D ride which has you racing through the city and hanging on for dear life. I've never really been a massive Transformers fan but can honestly say that this blew my mind!

So, what else did we get up to? Singapore Slings at Raffles, Tapas at Chjimes, Brunch at The Swissotel, drunken drinks at Tanjong Beach Club, birthday pancakes at Steve's, bike riding on Pulau Ubin, local food tasting at Glutton's Bay, drinks at 1-Altitude, a fantastic evening watching Wicked followed by drinks at Ku De Ta, "Surf and Turf" at Hot Stones, the hottest Indian ever in Little India, an adventure wandering around Mustafa's and of course and a fab week in Bali! I hope Amanda enjoyed her stay!

WICKED...

Another incredible show at Marina Bay Sands recently, Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz. I had heard so many good reviews of Wicked and the show lived up to all of them! "Long before Dorothy dropped in, two other girls meet in the Land of Oz. One, born with emerald green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. Wicked tells the story of how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good". http://wickedthemusical.com.sg

Wicked is a visual feast! With flying monkeys, a huge mechanical dragon, incredible costumes and floating bubbles, the set is award-winning. The music and lyrics by Stephan Schwartz are powerful and the show entertains from start to finish trying to determine the answer to the question posed as the show opens, "Are people born wicked or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?". Towards the end of the first Act I actually found myself close to tears when Elphaba (The Wicked Witch) discovers her inner strength and sings "Defying Gravity" whilst floating in mid-air. Wicked is actually quite a thought-provoking musical. It also provides an insight into how the Scarecrow, TinMan and Lion all end up in the Wizard of Oz, and you will get to learn why Dorothy and Toto were sent to the Land of Oz. Wicked is an epic musical...I'm very tempted to book again!