Overload

Had a lot to download this week.

First I received a 'gift'. Well, I don't know whether I should call it a gift per se, but I like to see it that way. It took me by surprise. It was sealed in a company envelope, I thought it was work related. When I opened it ..................

WTF? What's this?


It's actually a write up, in a form of a thesis, but written in a way that is addressed to me i.e. referring to "you" and "me" in a dialogue sense, in a way when I read it, I actually thought he is just sitting beside me talking to me!!

For once, I felt honoured that someone had written an article like that, just for me!! I would say its a good read. Luckily for the writer, we are not working in US, or else there is definitely cause for sexual harrassment charges for the analogies he's written. Need I say more? Whatever it is, I thank him for sharing his ideas with me.

............................................

I had been accompanying my "Ang" whenever he gets his haircut. Not that I'm interested in how his haircut will turn out (anyway he has been having that crew cut eversince I don't know when), just that the place is full of nostalgia.

My 'Ang' has been going to the same barber for .......let me see.....probably........16 years!!!????

See...... can feel the nostalgia liao?

Oh....don't see them small small barber shop, occupying only half of a shop space. They are big timers there OK? They got regulars like my 'Ang' who grew up in Farrer Court, they got the regular Ah Peks who lives around the vicinty, they got the regular big 'tao kay' who come in their big car, they got the family man who come with their offspring in tow, at the same time have their haricut - Father & Son, they even got Ang Moh!!! And everytime the bell rings when the door swings, they would definitely know who they are and acknowledge them, its like their friend.

I had only been visiting them for about 2 years. Everytime I sit on that upholstered bench waiting for my 'Ang', I listened to their conversation with their regulars. They talked about their parents, their children, where have they moved to, how much they paid for that condo, which vacation they took, what they worked as.......so much so that there was once that my 'Ang' has to respond to an emergency call and that the haircut was half done, the barber knew he had to quicken his snips. He even told my 'Ang' to come back and get the hair properly done after his emergency call. This was how well they know their customers.

They had seen my 'Ang' go to school, went to Army, graduate from NUS, found a job, got a girlfriend, then a wife.......They have increased their price from $5 to $9........but their service remains the same, their shopfront remains the same......see the row of posters pasted on the wall? I bet they must be there at least a decade or two.

It's difficult to find places like these now. With en bloc development, town redevelopment, a lot has bite the dust. Even their nearest neighbour, Farrer Court, couldn't resist the billion dollar deal swinging in front of them.

I hope to bring my offspring there one day........

Family Day

My S-I-L planned for a picnic yesterday at East Coast. The kids were all excited but we were met with all obstacles!! We is 'Sway'.

First, there was this Trialthalon going on in the morning and part of the service roads were closed. It re-opened at 2pm. So, we planned to reach there at 2pm.

Then, came the pouring and the thunder. Were all stucked at home until everyone was getting lethargic. So, decided to go ahead, thinking probably the eastern part of Singapore is dry.

Reached East Coast. Still raining. Tummies were rumbling and we couldn't tahan anymore. What to do? Eat in the car lor. So, in Carpark C2, 3 cars were parked alongside and munching away the food prepared.

Then I is 'hand like leg, leg like hand', my food ended up like that!!

By the time I cleared up, the rain stopped so the kids were happily looking forward to their cycling!! Frankly, I came for the picnic and thought I would just lie around the beach and relax. But the ground were so wet, even with the ground sheet, its still soaked. So, the picnic became a cycling trip. All of us, including my parents-in-law, 2 SIL, 2 BIL, 3 kids and my 'Ang' went cycling. 11 bicycles altogether.

Wah Roaz.... I can't even recall when was the last time I cycled. I didn't even planned to sweat that day!! Turn out that our family entourage became the road bully at East Coast.

By the time we rested, my backside is already numb!!


3 generations, an outing, laughter......and aches for me.

Values

Had a few episodes of dealing with the youngsters recently. Somehow, I'm amazed at how they see the value of money nowadays.

I had to work hard at earning my own keeps. No matter how much or little I make, it comes with my own 'sweat and blood!'

I was approached to be an investor for a venture. After listening to this young chap selling his 'idea', I had a few questions for him. Of course I have to, right? To understand in depth his business concept and the probable returns. And for what he said, killed the whole discussion apart.

"This amount is nothing to you what. You earn so much. Can't you just help me out here?"

This completely blew the deal off. Whether I'm rich or not is not the onus in deciding whether I should invest. Yes, it does determine my ability to invest. But he needs to justify business sense to me! What he is telling me is that I can afford to lose this amount of money and I should help him for the sake of ……? …….helping him!!!??? What ludicrous thought!! He simply sees my money as easy money!! Where are his values?

I can continue to grumble as much as I can….. and look at this beautiful world…..

PS: I'm not rich as the young chap thought to be.