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It was Koh Yan Yan's recollection of feeling lonely as a teenager during one Christmas that won her the grand prize in AsiaOne's 'My Favourite Christmas Memory' contest.
Her entry described how she had used the holiday season as an excuse to ask her parents - who were often overseas on business trips - if they would be home to spend the season with her. She thought she would be in for another lonely Christmas as her parents told her it was a waste of time and they would not make it back home in time.
Her entry won her more than $900 worth of goodies this Christmas season. Her prize consisted of an ice-cream cake from Swensen's, a hamper from Whitebait & Kale, jewellery from Sookee Jewellery, fragrances from P&G and a pair of Crocs, with its latest Autumn/Winter line of Mammoth shoes.
Her story had a happy ending too, as her parents got the hint and hurried back to spend the holidays with the family.
Ms Koh, now 23 and a bank associate officer, came across the contest while she was surfing the Internet for suggestions of places to visit for Christmas dinner with her family. She decided to pay a visit to AsiaOne's Wine, Dine and Unwind, for its comprehensive range of restaurant reviews in order to get some inspiration. She usually visits the site two to three times a week as she likes to try out different dining experiences and will cull inspiration from Wine, Dine and Unwind. She said of her Christmas feasting plans: "I had a buffet this year."
And although her parents still travel frequently, she does not miss them so badly, now that she has grown older. However, she said: "It's my sister's turn to feel lonely. She's only 12 this year."
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