Tissue paper from afar

Two weekends ago, LS and I had dinner/supper at Gluttons' Bay after catching a theatre production at the Esplanade.

We were tucking into our char kway teow and hokkien mee (whose standard is not always consistent, in our opinion) when a guy appeared out of nowhere at our table. He looked our age, dressed like us - in t-shirt and jeans, that is.

Actually, i can't remember what he looks like. What i do remember is his unexpected request: 'Can i have a piece of tissue paper from you please?' Perfectly normal, nothing funny, you say. I agree, except that this guy wasn't seated next to us; he was seated faraway.

I admit i was surprised because i didn't notice him coming. But when he walked away and did not stop until he returned to his seat which was a good couple of tables away from us in the middle section (we were seated at the far end), i became curiously puzzled. LS and I started laughing and wondered why the hell did the guy approached us for just a piece of tissue paper instead of asking other patrons who were nearby his table. It just didn't seem very logical.

We could only guess that since my packet of tissue paper was (visible) on the table, he must have walked around to spot someone who definitely had tissue paper with him before venturing his request.

As i told LS, this must count as one of the 101 bizzare incidents in the year 2007 for me. She chuckled, and we continued digging into our food, still amazed at the unexpected request from a faraway 'neighbour'.

Crowded out

When it was reported some time ago that Spore is looking to acheiving 6.5million population in the future, i was sceptical and dismayed by the target our leaders seemed to have set. Yes, the infrastructure could be developed further, but i am not one convinced by hard facts. I only have to take the train everyday, try to get a movie ticket or walk in town to feel the overbearing number of people around sharing the same, limited space with me. And then i wonder how things could get any better as the population (with a larger proportion of foreigners) grows. Do our leaders, national planners and the like take public transport and dine at places where ordinary folk could only afford?

Each time i go to Johore I could literally feel the immense difference. I know the pasture always seems greener on the other side - this i readily concede, for when i find myself having to endure incredibly stinky toilets in Msia, I would think of the clean toilets in Spore. That's double standard, to be sure. But it doesn't stop me from appreciating the greener pasture - literally - of which our neighbour has abundance. Such joy it is to see - and feel - only unobstructed verdant landscapes that seem to have no end! Yet it is not a sense of overflowing enthusiasm and vibrant joy that one feels but rather, it's a state of being unaffected by negative vibes of overcrowding.

Of ippt and wedding

Took my ippt today, and i am happy with my results. In fact, i surprised myself by completing the 2.4km run in a shorter time compared to last year - and i had thought i would have done worse this year! Anyway, my timing was good enough, in my opinion, for a reservist man who doesn't run regularly. In order not to have to do my ippt in the coming in-camp, i had to 'persuade' myself to jog/run in preparation for today's ippt. Now that it's over, i have about a year's time to rot before i start to train for the next ippt.

I took my ippt with KC, who is going to shed his bachelor status in two week's time. He took the opportunity to pass me his wedding invitation card, which has a simple yet classy appearance. There's a photo of him and his wife-to-be inside the card. Which makes me wonder if it is de rigeur to include a photo of the bride and bridegroom in a wedding invitation card these days.

And so I found out more about his invitation, offered my assistance if he so needs. We also talked about work, how it's such a chore to have to do something which we don't enjoy. Anyway, he wasn't terribly excited about his wedding; in fact, he seemed tired, and besides, he did say that he can't wait for it to be over. Wedding's supposed to be a joyous occasion isn't it? But hearing from him, i think there are things beyond his control that made the affair less happy than it should have been. So he's not to be blamed after all.

I told him quite simply, that if and when i hold my wedding, it would be a simple affair that involves close friends, held in a cozy environment, free from all the shackles of tradition and familial obligations. It's going to be MY wedding, you know, not anyone else's.

Pay matters.

Yesterday in the ST it was reported that fresh grads joining the civil service are going to get higher starting salaries. Today, comparing our situation with the civil service, my colleagues and I were lamenting about our renumeration viz-a-viz the amount of work we had to do.

Not a very good sign, I must say.

Depreciation and Appreciation

We were at a petrol kiosk refueling the car. That's when I spotted ZM, an ex-secondary schoolmate of ours, who was in front of our car topping up petrol.

Adr called out his name, whereupon ZM expressed surprise and came over to say hi. Meanwhile, LS and I had stayed inside the car. I don't know ZM personally, so only Adr and LS did the talking.

"My, he has depreciated," LS remarked almost matter-of-factly after ZM left. "He was actually one of the better looking guys when we were in primary school."

"Depreciated. Wah, must you use this term on him?" Adr replied as he started the engine.

I was amused and can't help but ask, "So have we depreciated also?"

She chuckled before saying, "No, you guys have appreciated."

I must say that sounds positively reassuring.

Loss for words

Although I am able to access the internet everyday, it's been such a long time since i browsed the usual blogs and websites that i once visited every now and then. Not to mention paying to a visit to this blog. There was no dust to shake off, but it feels like I have chanced upon an old, abandoned diary. The past entries are still accessible, but one is hesistant to read them, as if they recorded shameful secrets that are best dusted down memory lane.

Perhaps it is as well that now is 2.30am. I didn't intend to stay up till this late. I certainly didn't intend to blog. Reading someone's blog, i was inspired to write something; but when i finally started typing away, words seem to elude me. Now's a good time to stop - and go to bed, i guess.