I had skipped dinner earlier, so that I wouldn't throw up from the nerves but hunger got the better of me. I ate a quick dinner and downed some beer.

Before I knew it, it was my turn. Mr Tan introduced me to the audience.

I went up to the stage holding a microphone, and was relieved that many of the guests were engrossed with their food.

Some looked amused as they heard me muster an introductory line that said nothing more than it was "my first time auctioneering and I hope for some support".

I gingerly called out the starting price for two bottles of red wine. "One hundred," I said meekly in Mandarin.

To my surprise, no one booed or threw their bowls at me.

The bids began, and they came fast and furious. One guest called for $188, an auspicious figure.

About two other guests made bids, both with figures ending with '8'.

A third or fourth guest put in their bids, bringing up the figure to $388. I was visibly relieved and tried to push my luck, asking the audience for a $488.

No one took the bait, a sign that I had run out of beginner's luck.

I decided to fold, feeling quite satisfied with the figure of $388, which I felt was 10 times the amount I would shell out for the same items in a retail store.

I quickly left the stage for the safety of the holding area beneath. I was later told that the bids for the same item I sold usually hit just $200.

Not bad for a first-time auctioneer.

This article was first published in The New Paper.