What I want, no, need for Christmas

1. BENJAMIN KHENG

Actor and singer of indie folk band The Sam Willows, 24, single

What I want: "I would love a thoughtful selection of novels. I'm a big fan of crime writers such as Dennis Lehane and Jeffery Deaver and, recently, I've been getting into local writers such as playwright Alfian Sa'at. I've been a little too busy and haven't prioritised time to go sourcing for a good read, but once I have a great story in front of me, I'm sure I'll make time for it. You need to feed the soul once in a while."

What I need: "I am in need of two things. One is new recording gear for my makeshift home studio - I'm looking for a few new MIDI controllers which operate software sounds, effectively acting as the mouthpiece to any sound in the world. The other is an awesome holiday to some remote part of the world such as the Swiss Alps or Nepal. Again, I haven't gotten around to these things due to a lack of time, but I've made a concerted effort to clear the schedule in the next few months."

What I'll get: "My bandmate Jon (Jonathan Chua) will probably end up getting me our favourite PlayStation 4 game, a basketball game called NBA 2K15. It's an awesome gift, but also very bad for me because I then would have to buy a PlayStation 4."

2. DR JIAJIA

Chua Jin Sen, alias Dr Jiajia, eight, primary school student and YouTube personality

What I want: "I want to go for an overseas trip where I can play with snow. I would like to go to Canada. I've never seen snow, I like cold weather and it would be a different experience for me.

What I need: I am a slow reader, so I need a machine or something that can speed up my reading. At school, I need a lot of time to do my work, so if my reading speed improves, studying will be easier and I will have more time to do other things.

What I'll get: I think I will get Lego toys because everyone knows I have been a Lego fan since young. Maybe I'll get a Nerf gun. It's most likely that my parents and big brother will give me these gifts."

3. TAO LI

National swimmer, 25, single

What I want: "I don't lack anything, so there's nothing I want. I will be happy with any gift.

"I'm back in my hometown in Hubei, China. I will be celebrating Christmas with my friends by going out and we will also be exchanging gifts with one another."

What I need: "I need a pair of boots because it's getting chilly here in China now. I don't own a pair. Besides getting me through this wintry season, the boots will keep my feet warm, especially when I go to colder countries overseas to compete."

What I'll get: "I don't know, I could get anything. I received a small Christmas tree from a friend last year that came complete with baubles and ornaments and lights. I did tell a good friend that I need boots. Maybe she will get them for me." 

4. AMANDA LEE KOE

Singapore Literature Prize-winning author, 27, single

What I want: "I would like to get some air plants, succulents and Japanese moss stones, a Balthus art print, a couple of cool light fixtures and some Agent Provocateur lingerie. The plants, the print and the lights are for home improvement. I suppose lingerie is so self-explanatory it's almost cheesy."

What I need: "I need a plethora of books about Italian composer Puccini and Sufism and a collection of films featuring the first Chinese American movie star, Anna May Wong, and German American actress Marlene Dietrich, as I am piecing together personal work that involves all these elements. It sounds madly disparate now but it shall have to come together. These would be research-as-presents."

What I'll get: "I'm not huge on Christmas because gift-giving is sweeter when it isn't tagged to the pressure or impetus of an occasion. Last month, my film-maker partner was in Thailand doing location-scouting and I'd offhandedly mentioned the aesthetic of a white cotton dress in relation to someone else. When we rendezvoused in Singapore, I was presented with a perfect loose white cotton dress, a limp-pressed flower as thin as a palimpsest and two sachets of Ovaltine sweets which can no longer be found here. There was no occasion for any of them but I thought it was the sweetest thing."

5. WONG LI-LIN

Fitness entrepreneur, 41, and mother of two children aged 10 and 81/2

What I want: "I want to spend Christmas with my children. I won't be able to do so this year, as they will be in Los Angeles, California, with their father. (Her ex-husband, Allan Wu, has family in the United States.)

"This is the third Christmas in a row without them. Hopefully, next Christmas will be my turn."

What I need: "I don't need anything. I've been travelling a lot this year so I don't need a holiday. I feel that I'm complete. I have enough in my life at the moment, forging on with my career and spending time with my children.

"I would love to see my children's smiles on Christmas day, though. They get so excited about Christmas."

What I'll get: "I may get a new laptop from my friends. My current laptop is four years old and my friends have made repeated comments about its slow performance, although I usually just tell them, 'It still works.'

"Perhaps I will receive some books too. I like reading history and business books. I used to finish a few a week although I'm too busy to do that anymore."

6. CHUA ENLAI

Actor, 35, single

What I want: "A new car. My car has been a great chariot over the past 91/2 years. It's not exactly the most pristine, but it's been hardy and reliable. I'm going to miss it! So yes, I'm shopping now. Can I pay for one with my cash card?"

What I need: "A bot that will answer e-mails. I'm an e-mail hoarder. I may read them but I never get around to answering them. Same with Facebook messages. You know how many unread e-mails I have? About 78,427 or something like that. People complain I'm a cyberspace karung guni man."

What I'll get: "A porcelain horse head. Serious. This made its way into my life several years ago at a Christmas party, where everyone had to bring a $20 gift.

"It's the most hideous horse one has ever seen, with scary eyes. I re-gifted it last year, as part of another party's Evil Santa gift exchange.

"Whoever was the last person to get his/her name drawn from the bowl got this horse as a trophy or bonus gift."

This article was first published on December 21, 2014.
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