Every entertainer has a version of this story – the amazing home party turned cleaning nightmare.
During Christmas 3 years back, Chris Wong, 34, was struck with a brilliant idea while planning for a party – he’d make it snow indoors with bean bag fillers! Having had a lightbulb moment, Chris Googled for bean bag suppliers and rushed down. 'It was cheap and took only 1 minute to release on the living room floor. I felt like the smartest person on earth!', Chris said.
Having only started on the decor the very morning of the party, Chris was more than happy with the results. Chris proudly invited his guests in, careful not to let the swirling snow escape front the front doors. His guests were delighted! They made snow angels on the floor and had snow fights with each other. His house looked magical. It was the best white Christmas party in town.
'The best thing about hosting a party is when you can really tell that your friends are having fun. I could tell that I'd done a great job with that because the ladies were literally squealing.'
The next morning, hung over, and nursing a bad headache, Chris shuffled to the toilet and released a stream of – Styrofoam beans. Bleary eyed and confused, he went to the kitchen for some water – beans. Catching the drift, he peered under his bed covers – more beans. 'That was the point when I realised - oh no, it's going to be a long day.'
To make matters worse, there were several spots of beans mixed with unidentified substances in the kitchen. Chris' hangover was not making the situation any more palatable.
4 hours of vacuuming and 3 new vacuum bags later, the house finally looked decent. 'I had spent more time cleaning up the mess than I had spent on buying and releasing the beans. Overnight, I went from the smartest person on earth to the stupidest', Chris said.
Tired and still very hung over, he heaved himself onto the couch. Poof – more beans.
'Those silly little beans managed to find their way into every crack, even my neighbour’s house!' said Chris. They didn't just wander to the neighbour's and disappear. They would continue to make appearances in Chris' place up till 6 months later.
'When I think about that experience, I always say, it was never meant to snow in Singapore.'
