'Good Fren' and I made our way to a quiet corner of Ang Mo Kio yesterday morning. As we approached our destination, the memories come flooding back rapidly.

The paths under these trees. I have walked on them countless number of times under the sun and in the rain. Alone and with others. In school uniform and in girl guides uniform.

I had been informed a few weeks ago that St Nicks was holding a fun fair. Later I realised that this was one of a series of events to raise funds for a school rebuilding program which is to take place in Jan 09 for 24 months.

This is the 75th Anniversary!!
I remember the 50th Anniversary... I was in Primary One. I was very tiny then.

Back to yesterday's adventures...
'Good Fren' said that if the crowd was gonna be mainly female, he would drop me off and not join me! HEE HEE HEE...

The front carpark was bursting at the seams with activities and screaming girls on this contraption. There is something sickeningly hilarious about watching girls scream.


Out of the blue, 'Good Fren' announced that we were to embark on a search for chicken wings. HUH?! And he was right. The queue was freaking long, can?!

'Good Fren' then told me that he had his grandmother prepare fried chicken wings for his school's fun fair during his time.

Just beside the chicken wing stall, a familiar profile caught my attention. This is Miss Gwee, my Guider and Home Economics teacher.

She hasn't changed a single bit. The satay people were too slow to start, so she got onto it herself. This lady has spunk!!

I said hi and introduced 'Good Fren' to her. It felt rather... personal...

BM: Erm... Miss Gwee... This is my partner.
GF: Hello!
MG: Partner? Boyfriend?
BM: Erm... yeah... *awkward pause* He's also a Scout. From RI.
MG: *stunned*
BM: (To myself) Oh shite!! Miss Gwee must be thinking that I met this RI Scout during one of the campfires!! Better clarify!! (To Miss Gwee) No no!! I got to know him later on in life! Not through campfires!!
MG: *grins*

Fun fairs these days are slightly different. Apart from the usual hit and miss games, handicrafts, foods etc, a significant portion of the space is devoted to 'progressive games'. Moving to the lower concourse, one would find many many arcade machines and other games.

'Good Fren' said I could safely park him there, while I made my own rounds and while he thrashed the kids. =_=

The canteen was... a huge feeding fair!! It's freaking crowding!!

'Good Fren' kept saying he had been to the canteen coz his elder sister was from St Nicks.

I bought some food for us.
You see the coloured T-Shirts they are wearing?
I was from BLUE HOUSE!! WOO HOO!!!! =)))


While queuing up, I spotted this lady. I think she is 何老师.
Man... She looks the same after all these years?! Maybe the school is a huge youth fountain. Better than any creams or zaps one can find (or Ministry can ban) in the market.


I dun understand it, but I saw at least 2 father-themed stalls. I didn't see any mother-themed ones.

They are very endearing eh?! =)))
Guess this is a manifestation of why fathers have soft spots for their daughters.


A couple of 小妹妹s tried to sell us some stuff, but because I hadn't purchased the tickets, I couldn't buy from them. They politely bowed and ran off.
'Good Fren' was rather amused by the bowing.
Bowing is one of the unique features of St Nicks. It's a sign of courtesy. I found myself bowing to Miss Gwee after the short chat too.


The gymnasium was converted into a huge playground.


While loads of auntie stuff were on sale in the school hall. I think some of the stuff from the home economics room were on sale too. =))

I remember the mural hanging from the hall ceiling. I stared at it quite a bit during long and stuffy assemblies.

These dolls in the St Nicks uniform were on sale.
I refused to buy the brown-haired ones coz it is against the school rules to dye thy hair. =)))


To my disappointment, this doll is not wearing any shorts.
这样是不对的.

Shorts or no shorts, I think I will name her 陈美玲, a common-sounding name to remind me of the time I was in Saint Nicholas Girls' School.

On the school track, there was a 24-hour relay run going on. SNGS is trying to break a whole record. And by the time we got there, they have exceeded the existing record by at least 30%.


At the other end of the school, there was another gathering of screaming girls. They were strapped to a washing machine-like contraption and screaming their lungs out.
HEE HEE HEE...


OH NO!!! AN INTRUDER!!!

Oh... He's from Catholic High... A brother school... He is forgiven... =P

I thought this tiger slide is a little wrong coz one has to enter from its rear, slide down its body and emerge from its mouth.

But 'Good Fren' thought these mechanical horses were more obscene because the little girls had to gyrate on the back of the horses to make them move. =_=

Anyway...

The school has changed a lot since I took my last paper in 1992.


We didn't used to learn about Deng Xiao Ping and Hitler.

(However, they are still using the shearing scissors to prettify the edges of project papers. =)))

Everything feels tinier.

How come the 小红桥 is so small?!
Compare that with this...

I like the classrooms. SNGS was the first school to have classrooms with balconies. It probably contributed to the shaping of my permanent affinity for balconies.

I remember my upper primary class killing a couple of bougainvilleas because we were over enthusiastic about loosening the soil. Rumor has it that we poured coca cola into the pots. That's a myth, ok! We watered and dugged at them so much that the brown muddy mess was full of bubbles and so it resembled coca cola.

These corridors, I have walked and ran through them a million times. Sometimes, I think it is no longer possible to exist within an institution/organisation for more than a decade these days. Even if one wishes to, the entity may not last that long.


This bench... I slept on it a lot because I would get to school very early. (It's strange how one would get to school earlier if one stayed faraway.)
The classrooms are locked for safety and would only be opened around 7am. So, when I got to school, I would take a nap under the dark skies and with my school bag under my head. Sometimes, it would get rather cold, and I wouldn't be able to sleep. So I would sit facing the railings and have my legs dangling in the air. I love those pockets of time. I was truly alone with the school and we would be having a silent dialogue.

That's also around the time when the classical music tape on replay would come on. I could even memorise the sequence of the pieces.

This part of the spectator stand in front of the flag poles brings back much fond memories. The NPCC had the honour of flying the national and school flags during assembly. I always wondered why the Girl Guides couldn't do it. =_=

You see the gap between the wooden panels and the concrete steps? The gap at acted as a post box for this girl I liked and me. =))) We would place our letters in the gap at the X row for each other. It was so sweet.
Almost 2 decades later, I found her on Facebook. She looks the same. =))

Father Nicholas Barre has been sitting here since I can remember. I spent much time with him. Trying to peel off some of his tiny copper squares while waiting for my dad to pick me up after school. I must have listened to his founding story a million times. I hope they will keep him.


'Good Fren' asked if these are the school motto. Strictly speaking, they are not. The official school motto is Simple in Virtue, Steadfast in Duty. 德纯义坚 .

The above is what I call the former principal, Mrs Hwang-Lee Poh See's vision for every St Nicholas Girl. It is her definition of a modern woman.

Regardless whether it's because I had spent 11 years under her care, I fully agree with the first principles of her vision though my own rendition may not be conventional.

If one studies her vision, it is apparent that the woman does not exist alone. Instead, she is part of a family (which suggests the presence of other members). She is an intelligent and feminine partner/team player.

None of those feminist-egoistic "I can be just as good as, if not better than, a man" bullshite.

I will miss this school very dearly.


These tiles. They have remained unchanged in the school canteen for more than the past 2 decades. I hope to keep a few pieces of them for posterity.

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

Found this video.
The St Nicks House Cheerleaders! =))

If one were to count, I wonder how many teenage girls, including myself, have danced on that track in front of the specs stand.
ROCK ON, 小妹妹s!

Stage 4, in my opinion, is the best and the worst stage.

It is the best stage because one does not have to deal with doubt in the other party anymore. The fundamentals have been sorted out, and the two are working together to achieve common goals. In Stage 4, one needs the other. This is because 2 lives have become one. The whole has become the greater than the sum of its parts in most, if not all, aspects. However, one should not confuse the feeling of 'need' in Stage 3 vs that of Stage 4. The difference is whether one has tackled the Stage 3 questions completely. Unfortunately, this is something no one outside of the relationship can tell with certainty. Hence, one can pretend to be in Stage 4 due to various reasons, e.g. ego, impatience etc.

It is also the worst stage because one has spent much time and energy to get here. Yet because love has no recourse, one has much to lose. Because one has spent mortal time to get to Stage 4, one also starts to realise the impending involuntary termination of this relationship. If you feel that sickening stirring at the pit of your stomach, you are absolutely feeling the gravity of the situation in Stage 4.

One makes his journey because one is sold the myth of 'together forever'. The myth of an eternity. However, the value of love is not gleaned from eternity. In fact, it is the opposite. The value of love stems from its transience. While I have come to understand the dynamics of love, I have yet to be able to embrace Stage 4 completely. However, I believe that one's ability to fully answer all questions, especially those in Stage 0, prepares the soul for Stage 4.



Yes, this love if you want it, don't sound like no sonnet.

Stage 3 is likely to be the longest and/or last stage for many. This is where the euphoria wears off and cracks start to show. With rationality awakening from its drowsiness, one starts to weigh the pros and cons like an expert.

Stage 3 symptoms are easy to recognise. Arguments are a clear sign. Some choose to persist in silence, e.g. not returning calls. Making excuses etc. Hot and cold.

Practically speaking, if one has been honest to oneself in Stages 0 and 1, one should not feel side-tracked by the Stage 3 symptoms. Instead, one ought to stay focused, keep cool and help the other party clear his/her head by initiating honest and open discussions about any doubts, insecurities etc. One will be surprised by the absurdity of miscommunication, and the generosity of the human heart.


The last thing anyone should do is to sugarcoat and/or avoid the awkward issues. Of course, it's definitely a huge advantage if one has had much practice on tackling sensitive topics. But let's face it... If you had such relevant experience, you wouldn't be reading this series of entries. Regardless, I believe that sincerity can make up for loads, including lack of experience.

So, after a few sincere tries (it has to be a few tries because sometimes things don't work out because of bad timing), if the other party is convinced, then do spend some time rejoicing. At this point, it's possible for Stage 2-like feelings/dynamics to resurface. Soak in it. It's unlikely to get any easier in the later stages.

It is not uncommon to find many stuck at Stage 3 emotionally, but continue to make progress legally and/or materially, e.g. get married, have kids, booking a HDB flat etc. One must learn to distinguish between 'Form' and 'Substance'. Putting together a wedding is 'Form'. Getting banged up and giving birth to a child is 'Form'. 'Substance' is 2 people leading 1 life. It is possible for 2 people to get married, have kids, stay under the same roof for decades, and yet live separate lives. You don't even need to be divorced/separated. Is your spouse a partner or a room mate? Is your spouse a partner or merely the other parent of your child(ren)? Do you want to be with her or can't imagine life without her?

Stage 2 is probably the most exhilarating phase of the relationship. The sweet sms, the smile at the end of a date, the first touch, the first kiss etc. So exhilarating that some insist on lingering at Stage 2 only. This is executed through the constant changing of partners.

The best bit of Stage 2 is the discovery of a new person. His likes and dislikes. His idiosyncrasies. The way she puts her hair behind her ear. Everyone feels younger at Stage 2. Everything seems acceptable at this stage. Hope is the theme of the day.

There are no questions to be asked effectively at this stage. To be honest and practical, it is impossible to be rational at this stage. So, let's not kid ourselves, eh?

Let the hormones, pheromones and serotonin take over at this stage. Tease oneself with harmless bouts of jealousy. Like the rubbing of a bruise. Watch the change in its colour and soreness. Indulge in its high... while it lasts.

Once you have adequately prepared yourself, the next step is to place yourself in the market.
The first question of Stage 1 does not suggest a deliberate performance. Instead, it appeals for... once again... reflexivity.


Regardless how well one has answered the questions in Stage 0, the answers remain invisible to the next person who walks past. Even if one is prepared to give shiteloads, the other party needs to know it. Hence, 'marketing' or communication with another is crucial. And this comes ... again... with practice. Inexperience inevitably contributes towards clumsiness e.g. the look of desperation. When in doubt, be honest.

The scope of this question also includes the physical presentation of oneself. Am I scruffy? Do I need a bath/haircut/shave? Do I come across as healthy (beautiful in the evolutionary manner)? Am I aware of my involuntary jerks/squints/licking of lips/sneaky eye darting? Once again, it will be useful to seek the opinion of a close one.

The following step may sound too obvious, but one will be surprised at how some have overlooked it.


One of the worst places to start looking is the most convenient place, i.e. the nightspot. A more prudent space would be in a sedate social context, preferably under sunlight or florescent light e.g. in an enrichment class, through a (trustworthy) friend, at work (though this may get messy if both have not gone through Stage 0 diligently) etc.

Also, it is a lousy idea to recycle your social circle, i.e. to look in the same places again and again. "Maybe that guy (who is still single) is ok afterall." As mentioned earlier, there are so many singles out there. One need not recycle. Seriously.

So, one is now prepared, and suddenly spots a potential in the room. The pulse quickens and the deranged butterflies flutter in the stomach. Look directly and smile. Make eye contact... a few times... Check for non-negative reactions. Then approach the subject.

Sounds difficult?
Then practise. Practice gives rise to confidence. Confidence is more attractive and sustainable than physical beauty.

Something strange is happening.
I have single male friends and single female friends. While they yearn to find a partner for themselves, they don't seem to be interested in one another. It's so strange.

How can so many people be so wrong for you?

Hence, I have been thinking about The Love Problematique.

Finding a partner and sustaining a meaningful relationship is a multiple-step process. At each stage, one requires time, energy and reflexivity. Luck, as in all Life's successes, is essential, but by now, one ought to be conscious that it is beyond his control. So avoid romanticising serendipitous love. Start learning how to orchestrate your own and respect the dynamics of such personal human interactions.

Let's try this together...

Stage 0 - Preparing Oneself for Love

The first question to ask is NOT what I want of the other person. The first question ought to be


And there are many answers to this question.
One may think his life will be more meaningful when he lives it with/for another. One may think Love is the necessary step to setting up a family, which in turn because one likes children/ one's parents likes the idea etc. One may also think that seeking Love is merely 'natural' and 'normal'. Just look around.

Regardless of the answers, it is crucial for one to ask this question because the reason(s) cited guides one in the search. Of course, the reason may also change over time, i.e. as a person is exposed to different episodes in life. There is no need to feel guilty about a change in reason. The key is to be perfectly honest with oneself.


No one is perfect. No one. Neither from one's own perspective, nor from another's. The act of asking Stage 0 - Q2 is a sign of willingness to explore responsibility.

This question can also be re-phrased in various ways to help with the reflection process. "What went wrong in my previous relationship?" "What are my shortcomings/strengths?" "What can I give to this person?" These are really tough questions because we like to think that we are right... at least most of the time. And if dealing with our faults was so easy, we would done it long ago.

It is always more fruitful to seek the opinion of others. You just can't see all 360-degrees of yourself. However, even when one has mustered all courage to find someone who knows the former well enough to give useful feedback, it is almost impossible to find someone who knows how to give feedback without leaving out too much through the polite/paiseh filter and/or without having to kick you so hard in the teeth that you lose all confidence. It takes practice to give feedback in a useful form.

By the time one is done with the 2 abovementioned questions, exhaustion must have taken over. Take a rest, then go over what has been laid out again. Sometimes, one may glean something new through the old. Repeat until one is perfectly honest with oneself. (Yes. Honesty takes practice too.) This may takes days. It may also take years. There is no point in 'cheating' in this process because it defeats the sole objective of seeking meaningful love.
..................................................

So, you have 24 hours till the publishing of Stage 1.
You may wish to leave your answers to the questions in the Comments Section so that you can share your progress with everyone.

Do you wonder about what people are doing when they are at home? At an unconscious/conscious level, take reference from what you think they are doing, and adjust your own life accordingly?

I've been rather busy for the longest time and to be honest, this is the first weekend in months that I have nothing to do. (Except to meet up with my mother later.) The void is awkward. The wait is restless. What has happened to that list of stuff I made out during the busy period? There were so many things I had wanted to do when I am 'less busy'? I am less busy now!

I've had the pleasure of meeting many different types of people and finding out about their lives to varying degrees. Of course, most people usually only let you in on the nice bits and/or those lousy bits because they would derive pleasure from your facial disgust and gushing empathy. This is not sick. It is merely human. Even the loneliest being needs affirmation that his loneliness is of value to someone else. Everyone tries to be different by going through the same motion. Sometimes, I cannot help but watch in awe of the phenomenon. It has been a long time since I last asked myself whether it's alright not to participate since everyone is in it. I have become the audience.

The question now is: What am I looking for?

The troubled tummy has given way to a runny running nose for the past 2 days. I've been sniffing quite a bit. My Indian colleague suggests teh halia, so I asked him if I had Earl Grey and Fruit Juice (Orange, Apple, Carrot and Ginger), whether that would count as Teh Halia. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Someone was explaining to me last night that the human being is capable was a wide spectrum of behaviour. Hence, that explains the difference in behaviour of the same person in different contexts, e.g. online and offline. This 'elasticity' of behaviour got me thinking. Since I am more or less the same on and off-line. Does that mean I am relatively 'inelastic'?

He then pointed out that it may mean that I am similarly elastic within most, if not all, contexts, instead of displaying differing degrees of elasticity across contexts.

It's a really cool concept eh?

Angry smsed me today coz he sees no blog updates. I have been ill for the past few days. It started with a recurring throat-ear infection on Monday. That afternoon, some workers were gluing some carpet to the office floor for the entire afternoon. The air was full of vaporised glue. Breathing was a pain. When I got in the car that evening, 'Good Fren' thought I had been glue-sniffing during office hours. He could smell the glue off me! It's that bad!!

That night, after dinner, I began to feel unwell. 'Good Fren' thought I had indigestion and went to grab a bottle of ENO from the shop. While he was away, I vomited in the living room. Thrice. I couldn't even make it to the toilet even though the apartment is so damn small. The puke was quite gross and voluminous. You know those plastic containers the Cold Storage people sell strawberries in? I puked an entire container of puke... Must be like... 1 litre? It's pinkish coz of the strawberries. Most of the volume came from the seafood hor fun I had for dinner.

I thought I was gonna feel better after puking, but I was so wrong. It just went downhill from there. I went to the room for a rest and that's when the stomach cramps came along. Well... well... well... As if the puking wasn't bad enough eh? I think I was groaning when 'Good Fren' got really worried and wanted to bring me to the A&E or something. But I couldn't move. The thought of moving was so tiring. 'Good Fren' then tried to ameliorate the situation by giving me my favourite foot massage. I was hoping I would fall asleep, but I did not. After a while, the second puking session started. I must have filled up a quarter of the Cold Storage plastic bag. What did all this puke come from?!! It's a lot of puke from one person, okay!!!

Okay, some time in there, 'Good Fren' called Angry to seek advice. I cannot remember when coz I was busy winching, groaning and puking.

I think I also took some paracetamol because a fever came on. GREAT TIMING!!

By then, I was too tired to winch, groan or puke. I fell asleep.

So... Here I am with a massive headache, a runny nose, and this pain in my throat that runs up to my right ear. =_=

Anyway...

During the Perth trip, a particular comment from Mooiness made an impression in my mind. He said that obesity in Perth was linked to social class. Because those in the lower class could not afford good (lean) cuts of meat, they would usually go for cheaper options such as processed/minced meats which had all sorts of stuff (e.g. fats) in them.

Back in Singapore, this recent letter to the papers claims that the author's daughter has problems losing weight and is severely obese. The proposed solution was to ban unhealthy food.


It's kind of simple to pick up 2 seemingly related phenomena and link them together. My daughter is obese because of all those unhealthy foods on sale. And I have even sent my kid for counselling, ok! And it's not working!! So, please stop them from selling those damned unhealthy foods!

Wow... that's a simple conclusion to make.

What ever happened to the complex decision making process which the rational human being undertakes to ensure a better outcome for himself? Is this person saying that both he and his daughter are incapable of doing that? Or perhaps they are but there are some forces greater than themselves (like those Mooiness has pointed out about Perth) forcing them to pick out those cheaper, fattier food options at the food courts and supermarkets?


Fans of individual rights/freedom and sorts ought to get pissed at such a suggestion because the nature of it is to limit choice. *gasp* Unthinkable!! How can anyone tell someone how to live his life?!
This is a great example of how freedom fails. In this case, the free wants to be restricted.


Back to the problem at hand... There are many factors contributing to a little girl's obesity. I think the availability of fatty unhealthy food is a small factor. I bet if I ate too much of potatoes and vegetables, I would be obese too. What about a sedentary lifestyle? Genetic disposition? Lack of self discipline? These apply equally to all.

Back to Mooiness' comment... I wonder if the Singaporean Obesity problem is linked to poverty?

[Btw, it so happens that Angry blogged about the same letter to the forum! Psychic?!! Nah... Singapore has a dearth of news lah!]

'Good Fren' and I have been busy since we got back. Hence, the lack of blog entries. =)))

After my facial at Saturday noon, I met up with my mother at Raffles City for lunch. It has been a long time since I last saw her under the sun. (Usually indoors mah...) This is the first time that I realise that she is an elderly.

Everytime I think of my mother, the image that pops in my mind is of her in a dress, with her sling handbag and a document bag, and going to or just back from school. (She used to be a teacher/principal.) It's really weird to see her these days in casual clothes and grey hair. On and off, when I look at myself in the mirror, I think I look like her.

We had a nice chat over lunch. She then said she wanted to buy a handbag from Robinson's. One that is smaller than the one she was carrying so that she cannot put as much stuff in it. I was like... Erm... How about just take out some stuff from the bag?! Wrong ah? Hor... she simply wants a new bag lah... And it seemed she had oredi found one while waiting for me to turn up for lunch.

Wah lau... the black one she was eyeing was like... so boring lor!! So I persuaded her to go for a soft brown leather one instead. Had to throw in the sweetener of me buying it for her so that she would choose it.

After deciding on the bag, she moved towards this really ugly Ah Mah slipper! (One, not a pair, coz it's on display.) I was like... "MUMMY!!! It's so ugly!!!" Then quickly shoved a more... erm... 'modern' shoe into her hand. I tried to suggest something else... a little sportier... but I guess I shouldn't push my luck too much. She was quite happy with the modern shoes. "They are brown... Match the bag," she said happily in Mandarin.

At brunch (I like Red Star!! Next time go Wah Lok!! =))) today, she was carrying the new bag and wearing her new shoes. She also announced that she was so happy with them that she couldn't sleep last night.

I thought I was weird.
Old people are weirder.

GREAT NEWS!!!
We managed to retrieve our pics from the formatted SD card!!! WOO HOO!!!

Now... Just have to find some time to upload them... =_=

ROOOOAAAAAARRRRRRRRRR!!!
Blinkymummy is STOOOPEEEED!!!
I lost all my pics from Day 1!!!! Coz I accidentally pressed the 'FORMAT' button, while trying to reduce the size of the pics taken with my DSLR!!!
ROOOOAAAAAARRRRRRRRRR!!!

But I made it up by taking loads of pics for Day 2. =P

Today is our last day in Perth.
Woke to up Marcus' mummy doing chores, then in 15 minutes, Marcus was preparing Snoops' food. Part dry - Part wet. Snoops didn't even bother to harass me this morning, coz food was more important. =_=
(Btw, Snoops likes to lick 'Good Fren's legs. HAHA!!)

On the itinerary is Dim Sum for lunch, then off to some yuppie shite places in Fremantle. Think I will make 'Good Fren' lug the luggage around again coz I reckon we are gonna BUY BUY BUY!!

Random thoughts: The yuppie/atas houses I have seen in Perth so far are really really gorgeous. We kept wondering whether it's possible for us to own one. We were surprised that in a city with loads of Asians, especially Chinese, private tuition is not a big thing?! How is this possible?!
.........................................................

Slavedriver Mooiness allowed us to sleep in on Day 3. In fact, we slept in so much that we were behind schedule for an hour again!!
Think we got to Yummy BBQ only around 12.30pm.


A short queue has formed outside this little dim sum shop. We didn't take pics of them, but there were 3 very sick-looking fishes swimming/floating in the fish tank. We ain't gonna order no fish, man!!


After queuing for about 20 minutes, we got our seats and I went YAY!!! The waiter and some patrons stared at me... But I was wearing my almighty Tourism hat + Tourist persona so it was forgivable.

Food turned out to be quite... Yummy!! =)))
Not bad at all...

After lunch, we got into Mooiness' Ah Beng Car and headed to Raffles Hotel!!


These houses facing the water are... once again... atas... =))) Check out this house with 兵马俑 on the balcony! HAHA!


Actually, the objective was not to see atas houses, but to get to Fremantle Market which was super crowded on a Sunday morning!


Mooiness says this Jap Noodles stall is popular


But not as crazily popular as its neighbour, i.e. the Crepes stall!! I could hardly see the stall because of the people queuing up!!


I like the spices stall on the right. The smells probably stimulate production of endorphins or something. I stood there for a while to take it all in.


Of course, no respectable market would be without its selection of fresh fruits and vegetables!


Outside the market, the sky was clear blue and cloudless. It's a beautiful day!!


While Mooiness went in search of an ATM, we killed time by taking pics of ourselves. HAHA!! This is my 2nd Singapore Tourism hat. I think it's cute! Like those carpark summon aunties!


We saw this near the Fremantle Market. It's a petition against the exporting of coal from Perth because, while it brings in more money, it contaminates the area.

I asked Mooiness if I could sign it, but I guess a tourist's say ain't that valid.

After a short drive, we arrived at the most energetic area in Perth. At least, that's what I think.


These houses are simple yet stylish. I like the way they seem rather light, as opposed to extensive use of concrete and huge kiasu columns.


So where were we?!


We were at Cottosloe, the most stretch of the beach in Perth!!


The energy embracing you with the wind is amazing, even Blinkymummy aka Miss "I dun like the sun" felt invigorated.

And it happened that there was an installation art exhibition at the beach too.



These wooden beings are my favourite. Here you can see this lady relating to them.


Coz they are my fav, here's another pic of them. =)))


Mooiness brought us the famous Cott where I could feel charged hormones raging under the people watching tent!


There were many many people, just hanging around the tent.



'Good Fren' commented earlier that Australian people had rather nice features and skin. Mooiness and I thought this boy was Nordic or something, until we heard his accent. Good-looking eh?!

Apart from the obese, Australians generally look healthier. Mooiness reckons it's because of the outdoor-ish lifestyle, e.g. going to the beach, fishing etc.

Of course, when there is sun, sea and youth... Alcohol has got to be consumed!


Mooiness' theory on this Salvation Army lady's strategy is that because people feel guilty when reminded of the less fortunate whilst enjoying themselves, that they would be more willing to give.


After 2 drinks and too much sun, I went,


So we went for some chips in this very ColBar looking shop.


Mooiness wearing off his beer and daiquiri.


As we made our way to the car, I waved at the people on the roof. Another thing I kept doing during the trip. Waving at strangers.

Of course, they waved back!! WOO HOOO!!! =)))

By this time, I was so damn tired oredi... I needed a nap desperately!! So I did. In Mooiness car... All the way home...

Once we got home, I took a cold shower and went to bed. *SNORE*

A couple of hours later... I was awoken by the sounds of extra human beings and great smells in the house. I rubbed my eyes and stumbled out of the room. Only to find Mooiness' cousin, Reucas , and brother, Marvin, cooking up a feast!

So, I conveniently declared,


Meanwhile, I tried to take pics of Snoop but he's just too hyper to stay still. So I had to use flash!

Can you see the chick? Mooiness' cousin. Chiobu leh! Used to stay in Singapore for a while. Another chick cousin is coming to Singapore soon too!!

EH?!! I thought we were having pasta?!
LAMB?!! THIS IS MUCH MUCH BETTER!!!

Our meal... With wine from the vineyards...


Heh Heh Heh...

After the meal... We rested, took another shower, watched some tv, said goodbye and Mooiness sent us to the airport at 11.30pm.

The next day, we woke up to a voice announcing our touchdown in Singapore in 10 minutes. Once we got off the plane and got on the cab, it's back to Gan Cheong Land... Oh... So familiar?! =)))
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Mooiness... This has got to the best trip 'Good Fren' and I have had so far. Your folks and you have been the most friendly hosts! Thank you for everything!!! We enjoyed ourselves very very much!!

Mooiness is a slave driver!
For Day 2, we were meant to leave the house by 8am!! Though I managed to wake up by 8am, I blame the sleeping like a pig 'Good Fren' for the delay. Think we only managed to get to McDees for breakfast at 9am! Late by 1 whole hour!!

After a relatively short drive, we arrived in Swan Valley. The sky was threatening to rain all the while, but it held up.
This is one of the larger wineries, Sandalford. That is also where I pressed 'FORMAT' on my DSLR and deleted all my pics from Day 1. =_=


Tour groups packed the retail area for wine tasting.

Parts of the winery had this sour smell of wine. 'Good Fren' didn't think much of it, but I was getting high on the vapor. =P

Care for a romantic outdoor wedding at a vineyard?!
*fainted*


If weddings are not your cuppa/glassa (ho ho!), pose with a glass (slightly) full of wine.


While I was trying to give instructions to Mooiness and 'Good Fren' on the picture composition, the vineyard staff went,"So where do I stand? Here?!" =)))

We brought these 2 bottles back. Had to stuff them in the suitcase, and wrapped with loads of clothes and stuff.

Who says I is small compared to the tractor?!!


Like that leh?! I is big big big!!

(Btw, the top was bought on Day 1. I only brought 1 top for going-out change and 1 t-shirt for sleep. Hence, I had to buy something. Hee Hee Hee...)

Next stop/door, Conifer Estate... A boutique winery.


The drive in was short but exciting!!


Most of the wines here are named after fishes.
The wine brand? Fish Tail!!


Bought 2 more bottles and the shop keeper offered to take a pic of us. This pic is nice, but a closer look reveals a shocking moment. *gasp*

Public display of affection?!! Tsk Tsk Tsk...

After 2 wineries, we were actually ahead of schedule!! Mooiness had overestimated the attention span of 2 Singaporean urbanites.
ENOUGH OF THE SUBURBS OREDI!! LET'S GO!!!

On our way to see some atas housing (one of my many requests), someone fell asleep quietly in the back seat.


These houses at East Perth really remind me of Robertson Quay. I like!!!


Mooiness said people who can afford these houses probably worked a lot more, e.g. than 10 hours a day.
Erm... Isn't that like... NORMAL in Singapore?!!!!

After jumping and continuously exclaiming aloud how much I liked the area, Mooiness rolled us into his Ah Beng car and we were headed for a yuppie lunch at Subiaco.
And I kept saying my newfound pet phrase,


Until Mooiness said I was over-using it. HAHA!!!

On our way there, Mooiness pointed out a chiobu at the traffic light. But because I was too slow... I only managed to get her hood. Sorry guys... She was cute! Asian!


The streets gone more urban. These little buildings are similar those I saw a couple of years ago in Sydney and Melbourne.


Finally, we got to the Subiaco Hotel which is... not a hotel. Huh?!


Mooiness found a parking lot. And here you get a fuzzy glimpse of his Ah Beng Nissan Skyline which says MOOI on the plates. He even has those big-ass speakers and this ridiculous subwoofer thing in the boot. (So big that he had to use his folks' car to send us to airport at the end of the trip!) So you get the idea...


Mooiness brought us to this atas restaurant for lunch. It's really lovely!!


These lights are DIYed and I got slighted for taking pics of them by one of the waitresses!

Mooiness had some seafood/fish thing with truffles, 'Good Fren' had the veal, and I ordered the risotto and went for an extra order of CHEESE!!!
All were yummy, especially the cheese. Comforting...

Btw, if you have noticed my hat, it's 'Singapore' tourism product which I got at the SPC petrol station opposite Gallery Hotel a couple of nights before the trip. In fact, I bought 2 Singapore Tourism hats. You will see the other one in Day 3. =)))


After lunch, we walked around the area a little.


For a city with a population of 1.5 million, they sure have many bookstores. Here's one of the many I saw over the 3 days.
Can you spot the old lady store keeper amidst the books? I imagine this is what I will be doing when I get to her age.


We got back into the car and drove to (Mooiness!! What's the name??), where we saw another bookstore.


More chio houses!! YEAH!! IT'S PRETTY FLASH!!! =)))


Mooiness informed us that the train system is built on trust that the commuter will pay without having someone watching/erection of gantry. *GASP* Is that even possible?!


Check this out! These houses look like a set in the Truman Show!


We finally made it to South Perth, where this is a huge park and some really nice residences with a wonderful view of the Perth city line. In Perth, we saw so much sky. It's something I'm not very used to because the Singaporean Sky is usually significantly framed by buildings and street lamps, and not so blue.


Very leisurely...



When I was trying to arrange the 2 boys for this pic, Mooiness said,"FASTER!!! I look stupid!!!"

HAHAHAHAAH!!! Funny what!!

On our way home, Mooiness acceded to another of my weird requests, i.e. to go to Freedom. So, we found our tired little selves at Garden City, waiting for a quick shot of caffeine.


I expected an IKEA-sized store but Freedom turned out to be rather small. The range is something between IKEA and IWANNAGOHOME, with overlaps. Price is as such too.


Great place to get inspired.

After a quick of Freedom (no further pics of Garden City, coz digicam batt went flat), we went home for a short nap.

2 hours later, Mooiness was pushing his Ah Beng Car with 2 hungry people in it towards Ethnic Town. Another pet phrase of the trip,


These little buildings would be worthy of conservation status if they were in Singapore.


We were having dinner with Father and Mother Ooi at this Vietnamese restaurant!!


Here you see Father Ooi holding the themos full of Chinese tea.


Between 'Good Fren' and me, we had 4 drinks. 3 were mine?! =))

The wine was a Fish Tail from the vineyard earlier that day! YUMMY!!


After the enjoyable dinner, Mooiness drove us out of Ethnic Town. Huh?? I thought we were gonna spend the rest of the night in that area, i.e. check out the chionging scene?


Nope... Not before we visit the ultra modern and beautiful Kings Park!!


Check out the view of Perth City!!!
This little viewing niche was designed to frame the view perfectly.


I like the way the trees are lit in various colours. Makes the long corridor of trees the centre of attraction.

We saw many people all sprawled out on the grass and enjoying the cool evening with their families. Also, there were Hen Night groups, a wedding etc. An old fireman truck drove past, making loads of noise with the bell and probably drunk people. Mooiness said the truck was for rent! Cool.

After spending some time exploring the park, its trees, the atas apartments along side the park etc, we made our way back to Ethnic Town for alcoholic relief.

Mooiness brought us to Brass Monkey (which demanded for ID and so we had to bring our passports around).


Amidst loads of wines, we found something familiar!!

Tiger, being a foreign beer, is really rather expensive there!! From exotic Southeast Asia mah!!

After the beer, we embarked on a walkabout within Ethnic Town, and came to a portion which was exceedingly littered. Hence, we were in the Chinese bit of Ethnic Town. =_=

I've been to quite a few Chinatowns in different bits of the world, and in the general, they tend to be dirtier and messier when compared with the rest of the respective cities. I wonder why...

These are Singaporean restaurants in it.



It's quite convenient that the chionging places are together with the ethnic enclaves because the latter provided late night eats. This part of Perth is unusually bustling.

Check out the queue outside the Library!


This is where Mooiness likes to frequent. We didn't go in though.

Didn't manage to take a pic, but there was this bus with loads of rowdy and drunk people jumping and shouting in it that went round and round within this area. The bus, I guess, is part of the scene.

Whenever many people come together, there is always law and order enforcement presence.


Mooiness tells us that this vehicle belongs to the aboriginal volunteers who patrol the area at night to keep young aborigines off the streets and out of trouble.
Cool concept!


By then, we were so damn tired. Been walking and walking for many many hours. Aching legs demanded to be horizontal. So we headed home.

A great day with lots to see.
We felt tired, but satisfied.

'Good Fren' and I had a really busy day. Modern life requires loads of maintenance. Physical, mental and emotional.

Most importantly, we went for the IT Show 2008!!
There were so many people that I have to think that there are either many people on leave and/or skiving!!

Met a really earnest salesboy at the Apple booth. Go look for him. He's kind of serious about his knowledge of computers and wears braces. We like him very much.

Within half an hour, you cannot imagine the number of laptop brochures we collected before proceeding to Starbucks for a final decision-making session.
We were down to the Macbook Pro and ThinkPad X61.
The head was spinning with the caffeine overdose.

In the end...


The ThinkPad X61 won us over with its weight and size, or the lack of.

I seriously think we got it because (i) it's not a Mac, and (ii) I used to use a ThinkPad in the Civil Service. Despite the weight back then, it had been reliable and tough tough tough. Plus I like the feel of the cover... It's rough rough rough!!

The Macbook Pro, despite its ultra chio-ness, lost out because (i) we oredi have the iMac, and (ii) it's too damn heavy.

Oh Oh... Something farnee happened while we were at the Apple booth. Some guy removed the 'security chain' from the Macbook Air and caused the alarms to go off!! 'Good Fren' and I were like... Nice Try!! =)))
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Btw, 'Good Fren' and I are headed for Perth later today to visit Mooiness for a short weekend trip. I know it sounds rather crazy to take a 6-hour flight to Perth for 3D3N as if we were going to Bangkok or Hong Kong. But seriously, we do not have the luxury of time for extended periods of travel.

I can't wait to see Mooiness!!
We will be staying with him and he has our little trip all planned out to the minute details, i.e. down to the minutes!!! He's absolutely responsible as a host!!!

'Good Fren' says I can bring the ThinkPad to Perth.
Ohhhh... Very exciting!!!

Lah Lah Lah!!!

It's been such a great day so far.

Today must be the first day since his escape that Mas Selamat is not on the front paper of the Straits Times.

Went to Holland V and looked up Jonathan for a haircut. Hair was getting rather long (reaching waist) and heavy. Told Jonathan I had to take leave to get my hair cut by him coz he's just too hot these days. =)))

Jonathan was updating me on the latest in the scene. It has been such a long time since I've been out. He mentioned that at some private yacht party, he made a song request, i.e. Personal Jesus by Depeche Mode. (Personally (pun totally intended), I prefer Marilyn Manson's rendition.) The boy, spinning his Hip Hip, stared at him blankly.

Shucks... Are we getting old or what? We are probably freaking retro!

After the 'happening' update and flipping through ultra sleek and glossy magazines, I transformed back to my OBASAN identity and headed for Cold Storage to buy groceries.

I feel so much better at the supermarket. I know where the trolleys and fresh meats are. Much more familiar than with Zouk. =_=

Having some BIRU and headbanging to Gackt's Mizerable while chopping up the vegetables and gutting the dead pomfret may just be one of the most enjoyable moments yet.


I'm off to fetch 'Good Fren' from work.

Loads of people have asked me similar questions w.r.t. the recent short story named "Next Stop, Raffles Place Interchange". I shall address them and more here.


Qn#1: What inspired you to create these characters and the story line?

The creation of the story consists of 3 main steps.

(A) The 3 characters are summaries of many people I've met and/or incidents I've heard of.

(B) I then framed the story in a space. I chose Raffles Place (especially the underground shops as part of Raffles Place MRT station) as a frame because (i) my undergrad dissertation was a study of those shops in Yr 1999, and (ii) I still have not fully gotten used to working in Raffles Place after 5 months, i.e. many facets of Raffles Place still amaze me on a daily basis.

(C) Weaving the story with a time period of 1 week. Initially, I had wanted to use the Valentine's Day week but I decided that it would be too cheesy. So I went for a nondescript week. I totally forgot that this week was a leap year week, i.e. with 29 Feb. Also, I didn't expect this week to be so happening, i.e. with haze, detainee's escape etc.


Qn#2: What's up with your fascination with Raffles Place?

When I was younger... *ahem*... and had to come up with a topic for my final year dissertation, I attempted to explore the possibility of an underground traffic system and city beneath the CBD, namely Raffles Place, liberating the ground of vehicular traffic and hence freeing up more land for other uses, such as green, more buildings etc. My assigned supervisor told me that's not within the scope of an undergrad's dissertation. So I ended up studying the underground shops at Raffles Place MRT station. I must have interviewed every single shop keeper.

(Part of the abovementioned underground system/city appeared in the My Singapore series.)

Now that I am older... *ahem*... I see that the marble-cladded high GPRs (Gross Plot Ratios), endless streams of luxury vehicles and purposeful-looking people present a picture of prosperity in a flurry. But if you look closely, any large shiny organisation consists of a small percentage of those who make shiteloads and the significantly larger portion of those who do not, but still try to keep up with appearances because they believe they are part of Raffles Place. The fact that this phenomenon keeps repeating itself for decades and centuries in various forms is fascinating, don't you think?


Qn#3: Were these entries written long before the publishing date?

Apart from the first entry, i.e. Monday, all entries were written on the day of publishing. In fact, they were written after I got home from work on those days, usually within an hour or so.


Qn#4: Why 3 females? Why not more characters and of different genders?

Mostly, the limit on the number and gender of the characters is (i) to avoid complexity (I cannot handle lah... Not an experienced writer) and (ii) for comparison purposes. In any case, the more colourful beings one would notice in Raffles Place are the females. Like peacocks on display in a huge day safari. Sometimes, I feel like taking pics of them. (You know I carry my camera with me everywhere everyday, right?)

The Raffles Place males, like the Public Service males in general, look homogeneous from a distance of more than 1m. One can only differentiate a Raffles Place male from another at close range, where details of a tailored shirt, cuff links and probably the cut/amount of hair are highly visible. Or perhaps my lasiked eyes are starting to fail me?


Qn#5: Pregnancy seems to be the common theme. Why?

Actually, pregnancy was just a convenient 'tool' to string the 3 females together. Other 'life variables' were presented also in varying degrees, e.g. marital status, social status (education, profession etc) etc. The key objective was to peel at the conventional constructs attached to these variables. E.g. Pregnant = Happy Event, Marriage = Bliss etc.


Qn#6: Are you writing this because you are pregnant?

Har?! No!! What's up with that?


Qn#7: Which character most resembles you?

I knew this question was coming!
These 3 characters are summaries of what/who I have come to know of. There are bits and pieces of most females in them. The predicaments may not be common to all females, but the ways these 3 characters reacted to them are familiar.

E.g. Shirley's simple-mindedness and devotion to her husband and family. The discrepancy in the expectations of the relationship between Su Lyn and her 'boyfriend'. Selene's obsession with 'Perfection' as demonstrated through what she thought of and was trying to do with herself (appearance, status, career etc), resulting in her caustic disapproval of her husband whom she had just gotten married to. These are very common traits.


Qn#8: Which character do you most empathize with?

This is a tough question.
While Selene and Su Lyn have partners (sort of), the former married someone she is not majorly satisfied with, while the latter's partner behaves more like a fuck buddy. At the same time, some may romanticise Shirley's simple-mindedness and devotion to husband/family and assume that Shirley is thus happier than the other 2 females.

Seriously, I have no answer to this question. However, I like to state that I do not wish for anyone to be like any of these 3 females.


Qn#9: Were there any 'deleted scenes'?

Yes. As mentioned earlier, I had originally planned for the story to unfold in the Valentine's Day week. That's Deletion #1.

Deletion #2 - I was going for a huge show down between Su Lyn and her boyfriend, but I decided that his silence was more damning, and it worked coz quite a few readers have expressed their disgust with him. He even got to me... I would re-read the last line on his sms, and exclaim to 'Good Fren',"Baby!! Su Lyn's boyfriend is damn cheebye!" =))

Deletion #3 - I thought Su Lyn could have a miscarriage within the week. But that would require either an exaggeration of physiology or a freak accident during the argument with her boyfriend. Scrap that. I settled for a question mark on how Su Lyn was gonna deal with the pregnancy.

Deletion #4 - Shirley's son was supposed to be hospitalised in Kluang, but I thought that was too much for a story taking place in Raffles Place. And while it provided drama ala mediacorp-style (throw in the stoic doctor coming out of the ER, removing the mask and saying,"我们已经尽力了..."), it would not have helped with character development, i.e. in synchrony with the other 2 females. So, Ah Boy was safe.


Qn#10: Are you going to expand on this story or start on other stories?

I wanna do a gay story. Also, probably a Singaporean 'HomeBoyz' story. These take time. Need to meet more people, make more observations etc.