I am a classically-trained French chef. I have spent the last 11 years training and cooking in restaurants in France. I met my wife 5 years ago when she was on vacation in France, we fell in love and she lived with me in France. When we decided wanted to start a family, she expressed a desire to move back to her hometown in SG so we can be closer to her family. We have made the move as of last week.​

When we made the official move into our house, moving in some furniture from France and some bought furniture, we had a bunch of neighbors come out and help us. What was expected to take 4 or 5 hours of moving in and arranging and putting away ended up taking 2 hours as suddenly 15 people came over to help, with snacks and drinks and advice about the home and neighbourhood. I was so grateful and surprised at this kindness, so I offered to cook them all a grand meal 3 days later. Some turned the offer down because of their kids or schedule.

I ended up cooking a 4-course French dinner for 3 other couples. They all absolutely loved my entree of Gigot qui Pleure with a pan sauce, some even asking for seconds of it. I ended up making copies of the recipe for them as a final thank you since they loved it so much. When I gave them the recipes they looked absolutely shocked, they didn’t realize the pan sauce had red wine in it and they are not allowed to consume alcohol because of their religious reasons.

They ended up getting very angry at me, saying I am trying to corrupt them with alcohol and that I should respect other people’s beliefs and dietary restrictions. My wife is very upset and feels like I ruined our first chance at making friends in our new neighbourhood.​

People I have talked to about this have been very split about if I am wrong or not. Some say I should have studied up on the local dietary restrictions and modified my recipes to match, while others have said that as the people with the dietary restrictions, they should have mentioned them well before the preparation of the meal to make sure those restrictions are met, just like someone with an allergy would mention it.

Have I done wrong?

Drunk Man Sleeps at Tiong Bahru McDonald’s, Gently Escorted Away by Police

A visibly intoxicated man was found fast asleep at the Tiong Bahru Plaza McDonald’s recently, prompting staff and concerned patrons to alert the authorities. A video submitted by a bystander has since gone viral, showing Singapore police officers calmly waking the man and escorting him out of the fast-food outlet without incident.

The situation, while relatively minor in nature, drew significant attention online due to the contrast between the man’s inebriated state and the composed, measured response from the officers. The incident has sparked a wave of reactions on social media, ranging from praise for Singapore’s enforcement approach to cheeky banter and heated debates about taxes and public behaviour.

Commendations for Calm Police Response

Many netizens lauded the police for their professionalism and patience, applauding the fact that no force was used and that the man was treated with dignity despite his drunken state. Comments such as “Efficiency power la” and “Singapore Police is very efficient and minimum force or not at all” reflect the public’s appreciation for how local officers handle potentially volatile situations with restraint.

This incident stands in stark contrast to similar cases in countries where police interventions often escalate into confrontations. One user remarked, “Unlike America, where police brutality is one of the worst in the world, our SPF knows how to manage without drama.”

Divided Reactions Over Public Resources

Not all comments were supportive, however. Some users questioned whether the incident constituted a waste of public funds and resources. One wrote, “Waste taxpayers’ money…” — sparking a back-and-forth over whether foreign residents who pay GST (Goods and Services Tax) are contributing members of society or simply benefiting from local infrastructure.

This digression into tax contribution quickly spiralled, with several users defending Singapore’s system and suggesting that discontented foreigners “can always go back to your home country.” Others kept the tone lighter, simply joking about the man “eating too much pork and alcohol,” although some of these comments drew criticism for being culturally insensitive.

The Bigger Picture: Public Intoxication and Social Norms

Incidents like this highlight Singapore’s delicate balance between personal freedom and public order. While drinking is legal, public intoxication in spaces like malls and eateries can raise safety and health concerns. The man’s decision to sleep in a public restaurant, while seemingly harmless, placed staff in an uncomfortable position of having to deal with a potential liability.

Singapore’s zero-tolerance stance on public disorder and its efficient law enforcement are part of what makes the city-state globally respected. However, it also opens conversations on how society can better handle cases of intoxication—particularly in non-violent cases that stem more from vulnerability than from criminal intent.

Conclusion: A Teachable Moment on Public Conduct

At its core, the Tiong Bahru McDonald’s incident is a reminder of the standards of behaviour expected in public spaces, and how local authorities are trained to de-escalate rather than provoke. It also underscores the importance of maintaining respect in online discourse, as debates on social media continue to blur the line between humour and hostility.

For Singaporeans and residents alike, this event offers a simple yet poignant lesson: If you’re too drunk to go home, maybe skip the Macs—and definitely skip the drama.

Viral 7-Eleven Incident in Singapore Sparks Backlash Over Behaviour of Mainland Tourists

A viral video depicting a heated outburst by a Chinese customer at a 7-Eleven in Singapore has sparked intense debate and backlash online, especially across Chinese-speaking platforms like Xiaohongshu and Instagram. The individual had reportedly thrown a fit after discovering the convenience store did not provide hot water for instant noodles, a service not commonly offered at many retail outlets in Singapore.

While the scene might seem trivial, the incident quickly snowballed into a larger cultural flashpoint, reigniting long-standing frustrations over the behaviour of some foreign visitors and new immigrants in Singapore.

Netizens Slam “Entitlement Mentality”

Singaporean and overseas Chinese netizens flooded social media to express their disapproval of the woman’s conduct. Many criticised her for behaving as if Singapore’s retail service standards should mirror those in China, where hot water dispensers are commonly available in convenience stores.

Comments ranged from sarcastic quips—”Do you expect them to provide wine glasses and a sommelier too?”—to stinging rebukes like “giant babies, raised entitled” and “cry discrimination the moment things don’t go your way.”

Another user wrote, “You paid for a cup noodle, not the amenities of a restaurant,” while others remarked, “In Singapore, water is a precious resource. We buy it from Malaysia, and you want to waste it at 2am for noodles?”

Cultural Clash and Reputation Fallout

The debate quickly expanded beyond the initial video, becoming a flashpoint for broader sentiments about China’s international image. Numerous users pointed out that this wasn’t an isolated case: “Not all Chinese are like this—but somehow, every time something like this happens, it’s a Chinese national involved.”

Some netizens from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore commented that they now feel compelled to display their national flags or wear distinguishing badges while travelling, out of fear of being misidentified as Chinese nationals and treated with disdain.

There was also concern among some Chinese themselves, with one user pleading: “Do you not realise you’re making it harder for all of us? Stop embarrassing us overseas.”

High-Profile Reactions and National Image

One viral comment encapsulated the public sentiment: “The world doesn’t revolve around your preferences. Learn to adapt. Or don’t travel.” Some even questioned how such individuals were allowed permanent residency in Singapore in the first place, with suggestions that Singapore’s immigration standards need tightening to uphold social harmony and public decorum.

Others sarcastically mused, “No hot water? That’s backward? Didn’t know hot water was cutting-edge tech only China had.”

The overwhelming consensus across platforms? Personal entitlement has no place in a shared society—especially one as rule-based and resource-conscious as Singapore.

The Bigger Picture: Service Expectations vs. Local Norms

Incidents like this reflect a growing tension in global cities like Singapore, where cultural expectations often clash with local norms. Retail environments, especially in space-constrained cities, aren’t always designed to offer restaurant-like services.

With Singapore aiming to maintain a delicate social balance, it’s clear that future challenges will not only lie in policy, but in fostering mutual respect and cultural adaptability among newcomers.

Until then, netizens will likely keep voicing their frustrations, especially as such videos continue to go viral and affect public perception—not just of individuals, but of entire communities.

A Johor state assemblyman, Andrew Chen, has publicly called on the governments of Malaysia and Singapore to establish a unified regulatory framework for cross-border ride-hailing services, amid growing tension surrounding recent enforcement actions taken by Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA).

In a Facebook post dated 30 July, Chen highlighted the plight of Malaysian drivers, many of whom have been caught in the crosshairs of Singapore’s intensified crackdown on illegal chauffeur services. He claimed that the current enforcement regime has left many drivers “frustrated and struggling” as they attempt to earn a living through cross-border transport.

“Thousands of livelihoods at stake”

While acknowledging Singapore’s need to maintain traffic order and safety, Chen expressed concern that a “blanket ban” on unauthorised ride-hailing operations unfairly punishes hardworking Malaysians. He stressed that many of these drivers rely heavily on cross-border rides as their primary source of income, and the ripple effect of such restrictions also impacts their families.

Chen’s statement comes at a time when cross-border commuting is gaining renewed attention, particularly with recent bilateral meetings discussing ways to improve transport connectivity between Singapore and Johor Bahru.

Call for collaborative regulation

Labeling cross-border mobility as the “lifeblood” of Malaysia-Singapore relations, Chen urged both governments to move away from unilateral enforcement and towards cooperative regulation. He proposed the development of a “legitimate and fair operational framework”—one that can accommodate the realities of both Malaysian and Singaporean drivers, while still upholding the safety and convenience of passengers.

According to Chen, such a framework should:

• Protect commuter safety,
• Respect Singapore’s domestic transport regulations,
• Recognise Malaysian drivers’ economic needs, and
• Provide a viable, legal pathway for cross-border ride-hailing operations.

LTA maintains strict stance on unauthorised services

Currently, Singapore maintains a firm position on unlicensed ride-hailing services, especially those originating from Malaysia. Only a limited number of licensed taxis under the Cross Border Taxi Scheme (CBTS) are permitted to operate between the two countries, and even then, only within strictly designated pick-up and drop-off points.

Despite growing demand for greater ride flexibility, Singapore has no intention of fully liberalising cross-border point-to-point transport, citing the need to safeguard local taxi and private-hire drivers.

Future remains uncertain

As cross-border travel resumes and expands post-pandemic, the pressure to modernise existing agreements continues to mount. Chen’s remarks reflect broader frustrations among Malaysians who view Singapore’s transport policies as increasingly restrictive, especially for those working in the gig economy.

Whether both governments will be able to forge a new, mutually beneficial system remains to be seen. For now, the call for collaboration has been made—loud and clear.

Singapore Clarifies Cross-Border Ride-Hailing Position Amid Malaysian Reports

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has issued a statement to clarify Singapore’s position on cross-border point-to-point transport, following Malaysian media reports suggesting that Singapore is considering the introduction of cross-border e-hailing services.

While discussions on cross-border transport took place between Singapore and Malaysian officials on 1 August 2025, the LTA stressed that no agreement has been made regarding the launch of ride-hailing services operating between the two countries. Instead, the talks focused on exploring ways to enhance commuter experience, with e-hailing being one of several suggestions discussed.

Current Cross-Border Taxi Scheme Remains in Place

At present, the only sanctioned arrangement is the Cross Border Taxi Scheme (CBTS), a reciprocal system that allows up to 200 licensed taxis from each country to operate cross-border trips. However, these taxis are restricted to picking up and dropping off passengers at fixed locations: Singapore taxis at Larkin Sentral in Johor Bahru, and Malaysian taxis at Ban San Street Terminal in Singapore.

Interestingly, the current taxi quota has not been fully taken up. To improve convenience for cross-border travellers, the LTA is looking to encourage full utilisation of the CBTS fleet and is even considering increasing the number of designated pick-up and drop-off points. Another potential upgrade is the integration of booking via ride-hailing platforms, though this would only apply to licensed taxis under the CBTS framework.

Changes Will Prioritise Local Driver Interests

In response to concerns about liberalising the market, the LTA made it clear that any changes to the current cross-border arrangements must safeguard the livelihoods of Singapore’s taxi and private-hire drivers. They reiterated that Singapore has no intention of fully opening up its point-to-point transport sector to cross-border e-hailing.

Any adjustment to CBTS policies will also require mutual agreement between both Singapore and Malaysia, underlining the complexity of such cross-border negotiations.

Proposal to Start Cross-Border Bus Services Earlier

Another request from the Malaysian side involved starting cross-border bus operations from Johor Bahru as early as 4:00am, in response to growing early-morning demand. The LTA is currently reviewing this proposal. Key factors under consideration include whether early buses can synchronise with the first wave of Singapore’s MRT and local bus services.

Additionally, authorities are exploring the possibility of private bus operators offering earlier trips at premium fares, potentially easing congestion during the peak cross-border rush.

Looking Ahead

Singapore’s cross-border transport arrangements are clearly evolving, but any significant changes — especially those involving ride-hailing — will be approached with caution. Commuters hoping for more flexible travel options can look forward to gradual improvements, but a full-scale e-hailing cross-border system is not on the immediate horizon.

With both nations recognising the rising demand for smoother cross-border commuting, discussions are expected to continue — but always with an emphasis on fairness, security, and regulatory control.

My partner (35m) and I (31f) have an argument and I am not sure if I am at fault. My MIL who is from Malaysia (50-something) wants to visit after she has been in our home for a week.

After she left I made it clear that next time she will be staying elsewhere but my partner disagrees now.

There is a nice hotel just not far away where we usually place our overnight guests. I am also willing to pay for it. I don’t mind her visiting and having her over, doing things with her, taking her out. But I do not want her living here.

When MIL visited in April I was still working from home 100%. She said she would leave after breakfast, and explore during the day until my partner would be home from work. What really happened was that she was home all day, rummaging around and:

• she cleaned my already clean house
• did my laundry including underwear
• took everything out of my cabinets and put it back in in a “more practical” order
• bought things she felt “missing” in our household (a 2nd air fryer?!)  and acted like a generous saint
• was digging my plants
• came into my home office every 30 minutes to ask something or bring tea even after I told her to stop bc I need to work.

All of that also repeatedly after being asked not to.

In the evenings we decided about dinner the next day and make reservations or I bought groceries to cook a meal we decided on together. On the next day she would always randomly start to cook completely different meals without asking anyone first ignoring the fact we made other plans and ignoring the fact I dislike meat by cooking the most meaty dishes imaginable. Saying “I thought it would be better if I cooked anyways and I don’t mind.”

In the evening they would always fight. She had a nasty divorce from FIL 4 years ago which took a toll on her mental health. I am really sorry that this happened to her but she can’t get over it and won’t seek professional help. Instead she’s crying to my partner about it for 4 years now. When he tries to argue about getting therapy she will get angry and in the end they will scream and she will cry.

When attention was not on her she’d make comments like “I know I am just a burden to you but 2 more days and you’ll be rid of me” and stuff.

I don’t want her to live here again. My partner says I am cold-hearted and because I have such a bad relationship to my own family I can’t understand it.

We met in September, been basically inseparable ever since. He made it official on valentine. We had a rough start but he promised he would work on his issues and so far he has been absolutely amazing.

I have these doubts about his honesty even though he hasn’t given me reason to. In fact, he does many small things that should, in theory, show me that he is committed and honest about his feelings for me.

One of the things he does that I appreciate the most is that he calls me whenever he can squeeze in any time between jobs, even when he’s with other people. He also says some pretty damn sweet and romantic things about/to me in front of/to his friends, which is a big one for me because of the type of person he is—aside from his incredible sense of humor (he is the funniest person I’ve ever met), he is a pretty serious, straight to the point, get to work, no time to screw around and no BS kinda guy so

Whenever he expresses his love, appreciation, and adoration the way he does, as often as he does, it’s always kind of a surprise to me. Plus, there’s the fact that he spends most of his non-working hours with me and spends every night at my place. That counts for something, right? Lol.

So far my doubts and suspicions have always been proven wrong and I end up feeling like a total idiot. A few days ago I made a comment that suggested I have the suspicion that he’s only in it for the “special”, and he later admitted he was pretty hurt by that.

Why can’t I fully enjoy my relationship and this love that I am lucky enough to have found?

This is honestly what I’ve been waiting for my whole life. I have always wanted a man who isn’t afraid to show how much he cherishes me, who says the most beautiful things, who constantly compliments me and shows me his desire for me, who is so considerate of what I might want and need even when we’re not together, whose actions clearly show that he thinks of me throughout the day, who acts like an old school gentleman… sometimes he doesn’t even let me put my own shoes on for fucks sake. I feel like I hit the jackpot, and the fact that he talks about forever, and that he wants to spend the rest of his life with me, and how I am the last and only woman he ever needs… it all feels so so perfect.

So I’m afraid my own trust issues will lead me to remain very skeptical, like I’ll want to keep myself at a “small” distance at all times, which could easily ruin everything eventually. How do I get over that?! How do you get rid of your trust issues?

So I recently moved to study overseas and recently found out my 16 year old sister did something that I’m pretty upset about. So my family had a party for me before I left and near the end I noticed that my Nintendo Switch and it’s games were gone.

I found it in my sister’s room and packed it and went to sleep to get ready to go to the airport. The flight and everything else went fine and while I was unpacking my stuff I noticed I couldn’t find my Nintendo Switch or any of its games. I was really confused as I distinctly remembered putting it in my suitcase. I called my Mom and she explained that my sister had taken the games and my Switch in the middle of the night and hid it so she could have them.

My Mom didn’t know until it was too late and took the game and her phone from her for a week as punishment. I am fuming. The Switch was given to me by a friend and all the games were either gifts or I paid for them and now my Mom thinks it’s completely ok to let my sister take something that is mine.

When I told her this she said I was being melodramatic and territorial and to let my sister have it. The next week my sister called me and was being a snotface about the whole thing saying stuff like “How does it feel to know you have to ask me to play games now? I’m going to sell it to buy vape”.

I told her that she is an entitled brat and told her “I’m not surprised you still don’t have a friend” My sister was shocked and hung up the phone. She has been having trouble making friends for a while now and told me I’m a jerk. I’ll admit I went too far but I don’t disagree with calling her out on doing that.

My sister has never done anything like this and my siblings and parents are telling me I’m a bad brother and telling me to apologize and let her keep it. I’m conflicted and need to know if I’m wrong because I feel bad and need to know if I’m the entitled brat.

My entire family isn’t letting me talk to her until I say it belongs to her.

So my parents recognized that she steal it but thinks that stealing is right for her just because she is under 18. I am really tempted to tell my mom that she is vaping.

Should I?

In my husband’s will there is a letter addressed to his mistress

Me (45) and my husband (42) had been married for 16 years. Not the best marriage. I worked day shift while he worked night shifts.

He cheated on me 2 times, but I always forgave him because it was in both cases a single encounter and when I found out snooping through his phone the text had stopped weeks before. (He had the habit to not delete any chat).

I wasn’t really active in the last year of our marriage cause I wanted kids before but he didn’t, stating that he still wanted to live child free and have fun without the responsibilities that comes with a child.

After I turned 39, my doctor confirmed that I couldn’t have children anymore, so I reduce our intimate life to one time every two months.

Four years ago, he cheated on me for the third time, but this time it was different. He met this girl extremely younger than him (she was almost 19 at the time, he was 38) whom I’ll call Lana (fake name).

They have been together for one year, when Lana realized that he was lying and the number he constantly received calls from wasn’t actually his sister like he said but was me, his wife.

So she memorized my number and one day she called me and told me what was going between them two. We also met one week after and she showed me all the text between them as proof, stating that she didn’t know he was married and that she had immediately cut contacts with him.

Those messages were particularly hurtful to read, because unlike those with the other two women, this wasn’t only physical but strongly emotional too.

He kept telling her how much he loved her, kept telling her that there was a ring coming for her and the most devastating, apparently he tried multiple times to get her pregnant but she didn’t want to be mum at 19.

After I confronted my husband with all the proofs, he broke down and admitted the affair, but unlike the other two where he cried and begged, this time he seemed way less remorseful.

I told him that I was willing to forgive him again but this time we had to do couple counseling. Two days after suddenly looks at me and tells me that he loves me, but loves her more and wants to separate and try to get her back since she had cut him out.

At that point I let all out and said many bad things to him and lay on the floor crying and screaming, in disbelief, asking myself how could I have wasted all these years and telling him I should have left him the first time I found out about his affair.

Angry as I was, I called my family and told them everything. Word spread quickly, as the next day he received a call from his family that made him come back to his senses.

He came clean, apologized with me and agreed to couple counseling. The next year seemed to go better, especially our intimate life. But I could still sense he wasn’t fully happy even though he told me the opposite.

One year and a half ago he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. I’m not gonna spare all the details, but this has been the worst year of my life. Seeing him this weak and sick had me crushed. He died one month ago and I’m devastated.

Last week there was a meeting to discuss his will. He left me and his sisters everything. Then the lawyer pulled out a letter titled “to the love of my life”, so I ask to handle it to me as I guessed it was directed to me.

But instead they told me that the letter was directed to Lana. My heart sank, I left the room and went to cry like a baby. After 10 minutes I composed myself and got back into the room.

I asked to give it to me so that I could call her and give It to her myself but, my husband had specifically request to organize a meeting with Lana to make sure she received the letter since he was sure that if I was the one who had to contact and give her the letter, she would have never received it (and he was right).

I don’t know what to do. I would like to ask to be present but at the same time I know that whatever is in that letter will hurt me deeply and right now I’m already devastated.