It’s back… with a vengeance.
PSI reading blows past the 100 mark.
If only we could get some breeze… The most outer edge of the storm Megi could help. But the unpredictable nature of such storms brings another bucket of problems.
Oh well, we’ll all just have to adapt and grow a set of filters.
It was pasta night at home and we had cravings for vongole.
This went particular well with a bottle of sauvignon blanc!
If it wasn’t for the kids, some nice red chillies would have done wonders to bring out the flavours of the clams. Nonetheless, it was thoroughly enjoyed.
The lucky prize - A Limited edition Michael Owen series watch
Some things happen inexplicably.
Like how when Cal is with me, we always seem to get a good parking spot (always!) and how the lift always arrives just so promptly.
So it shouldn’t have been too much of a surprise when we had a chance for a lucky draw after purchasing a Tissot watch that she pulled one of the 3 top prizes out of the box; which was yet another Tissot watch.
That was so cool. I think we were all stunned.
Year 2009 would surely be remembered as the year when I had to change 2 addresses in a matter of months.
The first change was when the folks decided to sell the family home in favour of something smaller. There was also the matter of a cash-strapped business, which was, like many businesses affected by the global slowdown. The family business hadn’t been particularly healthy even before then, so you can imagine what the ailing economy did to it.
The 2nd change occurred when our company made the decision to avoid leasing highly volatile properties within the central business district and settled on a eco-friendly new building way outside the city – in fact it is closer to the airport. The only benefit is that it is a stone’s throw away from my home.
The old office premises was housed within Hitachi Tower, a 37 floor skyscraper.
This building was to be my work place for a good 14 years.
What was rather surprising to me was that I thought nothing of the move to the new premises until the last days.
Only then did I feel the melancholy set in. After all the excitement, the packing, the sussing out of the new location – after all the fuss had died down – you realise that a piece of history would created and that Hitachi Tower would be no more.
You see, although our company was not the anchor tenant, we had the naming rights to the building. That was the deal worked out with the landlords.
Now that we have moved out of the building, there is no reason for the landlords to retain the name Hitachi Tower.
I guess the move out of the old premises brought to the surface a buried resentment I had harboured when dad sold the family home.
Although, I haven’t stayed with the folks for 16 years (except for the once a year visits), having a family home gave me a sense of belonging- especially since I was working abroad.
Our old home was renovated not too long ago – 5 years by my reckoning is still ‘new’. Dad was all about setting up the house to cater for his grand kids and all. So sometimes I do wonder if I should have made the move to come home before now. Well, I guess it is all too late for that now. Although I wasn’t there when the folks moved out, I felt some guilt at not having helped with the moving. I could tell it was a very telling time for my brother and my mom. They were strung out and at each other every other day.
On the other hand, I am thankful for not being there, as the sentimental side of me would not have taken the move too well.
As I write this passage, I look at my sleeping babes and wonder what their hearts felt when they heard the news of their grand dad selling the big house they loved to play around in once a year. I know I spoke of this once to the younger of the two and at 7 years old, her optimistic reply was “Well, surely there will still be a place to explore”.
I do know that for the 1st time since I left to work abroad, I have this dread to return to Perth. I particularly know that it would be very painful for me to drive by the house which I once called my home.
I have a gripe.
In the academically centred locale of United Square, where it’s densely populated with tuition centres and language schools, space is a premium.
I don’t think any other shopping mall has a higher number of young students per sq. meter than this place.
And where there are young children, there will be parents. So, where do you think the parents hang out whilst the kids are in their classes?
Camped out at Macs that’s where. It’s the next cheapest alternative to the food court; the latter being a real smell magnet. Mostly you leave the food court smelling like a Chinese kitchen if you camp there for 90 minutes.
Besides Macs has comfy chairs and latte.
My gripe is this… think of the folks (and kids) who really were there to get that Happy Meal and fillet o’ fish.
I can’t believe a cup of latte would take 90 minutes to consume. And do you really need a table that seats 5 – when there is just you and your newspaper?
Duh!
Dimbulah is a well known by coffee lovers and around Raffles Place it is a comforting place to hang out, if not for their excellent coffee, then just to escape the rat race of the business district.
It’s where I go get my cup of Joe in the mornings. It’s also a good place to go to if you are short of time for lunch and need a quick bite. No issues of long queues there.
I’d say they serve safe, wholesome foods; tuna sandwiches, muffins, wraps and hearty soups. But then about a week ago I noticed something quite daring – a new item they call Seafood Laksa pie.
What on earth was that?! As a self-proclaimed foodie, I certainly have never heard of such a concoction.
I had to try this. So even though I already had my lunch of claypot yam rice, I bagged the pie for 3 pm… you know, tea break.
3 pm came and went and it wasn’t till I got home at half six that I reheated the pie in the oven. The aroma was clearly… laksa. That’s promising. Then, the first bite. Woah! It’s like laksa all in pastry! The laksa ingrediants went surprising well with their pie pastry. There were little prawns, fish cake and surprise, surprise… even a quail’s egg! My missus came by and asked for a sample. Even she, a red-blooded peranakan, nodded in approval. Only comment was “bit salty”. I disagreed.
It was good enough that I had another one this evening.
I have a precocious 10 year old daughter who gave us a huge headache during her pre-school days. My wife & I felt that she was a liitle too dreamy and lacked responsibility. Little did werealise that we had fallen for the typical parent syndrome – the one where high expectations were heaped upon the eldest child. After witnessing so many other parents pressure the eldest (and having gone through the same myself) we made ourseleves promise not to do the same to our eldest . And here we are yet again at the very situation we swore not to be in.
So, for a time, our poor girl was being berated for this and that, for losing her things in school or just being forgetful. Now at the age of 10, she has somewhat outgrown some of those unwanted traits.
A couple of days ago, whilst doing a little spring cleaning, my wife came across a note. It was prayer for my daughter, though none of us can recall ever writing it. It was probably written at some point during the frustrating days. This was what was penned.
Dear God,
You are my greates teacher. I am {name}, who come to you because you have so much wisdom.
Teach me to be more careful and help me look after the things in my care.
Help mom and dad to be good parents, to understand that I will make mistakes.
But I must obey God’s teaching and my parents’ teaching.
Bless my family with patience and kindness, so that we may become a loving family.
Help me Father to understand the law of life and to live by them always.
I know if I listen, you will bless me with happiness. But when I sometimes don’t, you will be there
to remind me.
Amen.
My last trip to India was in June 2008, after which my visa expired and I thought that that was that. No more trips over there for me.
Afterall, the visa costs an astounding $465 for Aussies!
Nonetheless the company saw fit to pursue opportunities there and off I went.
The place never changes. Well, on the surface it might appear so. Like the newly refurbished airport.
Once outside, the incredible traffic welcomes me once more. For 1st timers, I guess it would be quite a frightening experience. What with honking and lane changing; where a road marked for 2 lanes takes 3 or 4 cars abrest! Truly incredible drivers these Indians. I glanced across at my 2 colleagues who were 1st timers to Delhi and noticed that they were hanging on grimly. I had to chuckle. Me? I usually try not to look when the driver changes lanes or makes a turn.
While I’m giving out advice to my colleagues, I might as well share it.
1. Don’t drink the water from the tap. It does bad things to your stomach.
2. Brush your teeth with bottled water or boiled water.
3. Don’t take ice with your soft drinks
4. Unless you are absolutely sure; avoid raw vegetables / salads.
5. Ok the next few are for departure from Delhi.
- Have your printed e-ticket with you before entering the airport. The security at the entrance will scrutinize every line on it.
- Due to above, it’s generally a good idea to get to the airport at least 2.5 hours before your flight time.
- On checking in with your airline, make sure you obtain baggage tags for all your carry-on bags, be it handbags, plastic bags or cabin bags. You will see why below.
- Upon clearing customs, and having your belongings inspected, make sure each and every baggage tag receive a stamp ( ah, now you know why you got to have the tag. If there’s no tag, then no stamp. )
What is the consequence of not having the tag stamped? Their security will inspect the tags once more just before letting you through the gate.
No stamp means you will be forced to run back to customs to have your item(s) scrutinized, get the stamp then run back to the gate. There’s no arguing with the security detail at the gate.
Hopefully, if you remember these simple tips, your stay in India should be rather pleasent.
The whole idea of social netwoking offers tremendous oppotunities to extend communications with friends & family.
I know I’ve neglected updating my blog for sometime; having reverted to writing in my organic ‘real paper’ diary.
However, at the behest of the missus (she cannot read my handwriting I reckon) I will once more start up the entries here.
I guess it’s also more convenient for me now having this nifty fun device! The iPhone is a fantastic tool. It’s hard to imagine myself – a PC person all my life – having an Apple device. But I have no regrets. It’s no wonder Apple has such a huge following. The device is simply ingenious. Ok, end the drooling.
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