Out to lighten the mood here

IF you're ever at Toast Box in Katong 112, you might spot local author Felix Cheong sitting in the corner by the window, hunched over a few sheets of paper and possibly giggling to himself.

It's his favourite writing haunt, reveals the 48-year-old. And if he isn't busy writing, then he's probably there to get inspiration the old-fashioned way: by observing people around him and eavesdropping on their conversations.

That's exactly what he did last year while working on his latest book: Singapore Siu Dai: The SG Conversation in a Cup. The book is a collection of 50 short stories satirising daily life in Singapore, like the woes of taking public transport, our kiasu behaviour, and obsession with Hello Kitty plushies, peppere…