Tribute to STOPOVER...

Some time ago, I sent out an SOS signal for a friend whom had been jobless for more than 6 months.. I’m overwhelmed with the number of responses that came from you guys here.. Your gestures in lifting a hand to help my friend, who’s a total stranger to you, simply warms my heart.. Now I know that I’ve got so many nice friends out here that I can count on.. On behalf of my pal, I’d like to thank all of you whom had heeded to my SOS call.. THANK YOU..

Now.. its coming five years since KPNN was first launched and though STOP-OVER had been closed for more than 2 yrs now, KPNN is still bringing you the most happening news for the night-life.. the thing that kept me motivated to get this site going is none other than all of you guys here.. You’ve been terrific readers..

Judging from the visitors counter (almost 40,000), I can see that this site is rather popular to a very small community of Imps & Phantoms.. And from the amount of mails I get from every update, I'm glad that KPNN had made it as one of your regular reading sites.. I’m happy to know (from your emails) that most of you felt inspired by the real accounts of the PhAnToM.. many I know even cried (geez, I’m touched).. Also, many had been thrilled by the jokes & toons that you get in our email news broadcasts from time to time.. and some had even found my "Wine & Dine" Section a treat…

With such response, I’m motivated to keep this site alive (with or without STOP- OVER).. Yep.. Stop-Over is long gone and now only its legend lives on in the hearts of all its Imps & Phantoms.. and yes (if you really must know).. I really miss those days.. But it had been a place that brought all of us together and it was like a living room affair for many of us.. For many of us here, it was like second home.. For those who knows Stop-Over, they would had related well, the joy & laughter that it brought to us all.. For those whom had not witness the magic of Stop-Over, they could only read about its legend.. I dunno about the rest of you here.. but I had a great time at Stop-Over.. and more so to see it going down as a legend, with so many of you here still so supportive over it.. THANK YOU..

Now, I’d like to answer the 3 most FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) about Stop-Over since it closed..

QN 1: When will Stop-Over make a come-back?
That will depends when will the Phantom have enough money to stage a come-back. As you know, the Phantom is still recovering from the financial wounds of the closing of STOP-OVER.

QN 2: What happened to Stop-Over’s Pool Team and the rest?
Ever since Stop-Over closed, the pool team had been disbanded. Just some updates on some of them. A few of the players had since been seeded.. Heard that Kelvin did pretty well in 2001's 8-Ball & 9-Ball Tourneys and was seeded..

Ting too had been seeded (the last I heard.. No. 7).. rumours of her having retired are somewhat true as she plays less often these days.. and yes, she still hangs out with Anni.. and yes again... she’s still single and available.. she now hangs out at Roomful of Blues and very occasionally, Eastside..

Fabian is still sharking around but around the Serangoon Gdn area so avoid that place if you don’t wanna be sharked.. and yes, Fabian is still with Jolene.

Led?? He’s missing in action.. the last I heard from him was last year’s Chinese New Year.. some said he went to look for a bride in China and others said that he had been struck with a medical catastrophe.. but when I last heard from him, he was a bit down (physically & emotionally).. but I can’t confirm if the liver cancer rumour is true..

As for Jimmy, he had retired from the pool scene.. his heatlh is deterriorating and he no longer parties but still drinks at home..

Stephen & Jess had been divorced and for those who know about their story, yes.. it was a bitter divorce.. Jess had gone back to Taiwan but no news from Stephen if he’s still in Singapore or has he gone back to Malaysia..

Richard?? Well.. he went thru quite a lot after the accident that he had.. he’s now a changed man and certainly more spiritually motivated now.. he had finally found God’s grace and his life had taken a positive turn.. he now hangs out at Cherries at Upper Thomson Road..

As for Ben (whom had only been with us for one season), he is divorced as well.. El left for NZ with his kids.. but his life is taking shape again.. he hangs out at Eastside (yeah.. I bump into him quite often).. and so much for the pool team..

As for the rest, Peter Bontoi is now back at Il Piccolo at Crown Plaza.. The Landlord was desperate and offerred him quite a good deal to go back.. So if you've been dying for his pizzas and pastas, you can get them at the same old place now..

The three musketeers (Joe, Gordon & Jin).. haven't heard much from them.. All we know is, Gordon had broken off with Jean (Stop-Over's waitress) and he's now attached.. with whom and the details?? erm... you go ask him yourself.. don't want him to get angry with me again for being KP.. Jin is still in Australia studying.. and I have nothing on Joe..

The Chor-Dai-Di Clan?? Well, Derek had vanished.. Lionel left Auric and the last I heard, he was with a coffee supplier.. and yes, he's still with Irene.. Daniel, after his heart failure, he drinks less these days.. he now hangs out at Hasta la Vista near World Trade Centre.. Kay Man (the made in America guy), well.. the last I heard, he went thru a very rough patch with his family.. not much from him since..

Keat is in a bad shape.. his business failed and he lost his driving licence to drink driving.. but amidst all the misfortunes, something magical came out from it.. For one, his relationship with Jacqueline improved a great deal.. Jac's wonderful woman.. she stuck thru Keat's darkest moments and she changed Keat.. Keat no longer indulges in KTVs anymore.. still drinks but mellowed down a great deal.. can also see that he's more family orientated these days.. seldom stay out late anymore..

Dominic married Grace (finally).. he's now running his own business as well.. Debao also got married.. Fox is still hanging loose along with Tay.. Jason will soon be a father again.. and all of them occasionally hang out at Siam Supper Club.. John is the only odd one out.. he's a family man now (proud father of 2 oredi)..

QN 3: Whatever happened to those singers whom had performed at Stop-Over?
Chelsea Gibson.. After her stint at Stop-Over, she went back to Perth. There, she auditioned to host a variety show for a local TV station.. she got it and hosted a weekly variety show… Then she participated in the BARDOT talent search and made it all the way to the semi-finals.

Nick Kreig.. After performing at Stop-Over, he went back to Adelaide where he formed his own band (The Pipsters).. He wrote a few new songs but unfortunately, they didn’t really make it very big.. The last I heard, he went solo again and performed on a cruise ship..

Max Surin.. After his tour at Stop-Over, he teamed up with Rina (if you remember, our “sexy, dancing waitress”??).. Rina’s singing improved by leaps and bounds under Max’s guidance and had performed at Westin Stamford, Landmark Hotel and the last place I heard, Pinetree Club..
David.. He’s now playing at Paulaner Brahaus but will be soon be forming a band to play at Hard Rock Café.

Well, that was STOPOVER... the only haven for phantoms... truly a LEGEND....
(KPNN-Gossips)