The week started in the usual way with us both getting to work in plenty of time for the 2pm Staff Mtg on Wednesday and then 3 x 90 min classes for the evening. On the way home we dropped by our usual hawkers stall for dinner and found our florist greeting us warmly and gesturing for us to join him and his friend for a drink. We have never exchanged more than a "Hello" and a 'Those look lovely, I'll take 3 stems, how much?" before this. But Gary and his mate were obviously very pleased to share their table, discuss all manner of things and insist on paying for all the rounds of drinks. They kept refilling mine even when I insisted I couldn't squeeze in another drop and in the end I had to return my glass for it to stop. You just can't say no, they don't believe you! Turns out Gary (Anglicized name) owns his florist business which was handed down from his father. He rents his shop on the void deck (ground floor) of the HDB which we walk passed many times a week on the way to the shopping centre or train. He has split the shop into 2 and the second half he sub-rents to the fruit stall holder. While he insists he is not a rich man he was certainly flashing the cash in front of us this night. He is 62 and has no intention of retiring as he says he would have no way to fill his day if he didn't work, delivering flowers all over the island. That's why he was here on this evening, he had done a late delivery and instead of the family holding dinner for him, he just called in at the hawkers stalls after parking his truck. Thank goodness his usual routine is to go home or we might have to find another location to dine. His insistence on paying for everything made us feel very uncomfortable. His mate works for Honeywell, an American technology company where he has worked for many years. He starts his day with a brisk walk at 4:30 am every morning and finishes up at the workplace for breakfast. He is looking forward to retirement as he resents the fact that the company pay the US expats here at a much higher rate than the local Singaporeans for the same work. Can't say we could disagree with him. Then they got onto politics and we were a little uncomfortable about that discussion too as they were scathingly remarking on the ridiculously large wages the politicians take home each month. You get into politics here to become instantly rich it seems, but it is best not to be overheard speaking in a derogatory manner about the government. All up it was an interesting evening but exhausting as we needed to do a lot of interpreting as the conversation unfolded. Slept very soundly after all that beer and spent brainpower.
On Thursday we caught up with Villa and Graham for coffee near their hotel in Orchard Rd. The last time we saw them would have been Dad's funeral. They looked very relaxed and had lots of interesting anecdotes to share about the weeks spent with their daughter Peta and her young family in Laden, Holland. Including weekends in Sorento and Antwerp. How would it be to have so many travel options every weekend? So many decisions! We took them on the MRT to Chinatown for change from the shopping culture of Orchard Rd and had a dim sum lunch before we had to head to work. We trust they found their way back to the hotel safely.
Its funny how meetings like this dredge up memories of childhood. I'll never forget, though a long time ago I did forgive them, for how left-out I felt when I was not invited to their wedding. At the time I was very upset that Col's mate Peter Jonson took up the last seat in the car to drive to Sydney. Mind you, it probably saved me from being car sick out the window again (which is another childhood memory I can't forget). Worst of all was I had to stay at Grandma Northby's in Yarra Glen and she made me share her bed rather than make up the spare one. It took me a long time to get over it but I can't blame Graham for that bit.
On Fri Eric went back to get results from some tests he had earlier after a very severe heartburn incident which at the time we both worried might have been a heart attack. It was quite upsetting at the time but as the initial results cleared him of heart attack and the weeks went by with no further trouble we both relaxed. The results on Friday confirm he does have some partial blockages but a very slim chance that this is going to be the cause of him leaving his fortune to surviving members of the family. It is quite confronting to see such images and have the evidence spelt out in detail, but truth is the rest of us are probably walking around with similar conditions and we don't even know it as we haven't had the tests. He has vowed to look after himself and not leave the fortune to us earlier than anticipated.
On Monday we had the option of a social day with the MAE workmates on a round trip to St John's and Kuso Islands. This 'Big Day Out' replaced 'The Great Race' which has been the trademark social event of the business for many years until now when it died through lack of interest. I'm sure the Crisps remember it with fondness and will be disappointed to hear of its demise but today they have other events on their minds. They have become grandparents again, in fact twice in one day. First a baby born in Sydney and then just a few hours later another in Perth. Not sure how successful the day was as we didn't join in through lack of interest! St Johns was once a penal and then later an immigration quarantine settlement but none of that remains today from what we could read. To join the group you get up early, take a ferry with all your food and refreshments and laze around for the whole day without air con. We didn't feel like another early morning so instead we had a sleep in and then went to the movies with friends Carolyn and Margaret (both teachers from Geelong). We saw The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, which we loved (Mum, if you haven't seen it you must) and then shared dinner back at New Everest Restaurant in Little India. Our book club is about to review The Elegance of the Hedgehog (which I struggled through but then couldn't put down) and I see it is coming to the theatre on Thursday so perhaps I'll be back soon.
On Tue we went to the Changi Museum dedicated to all those who suffered during WWII. There are many photographs, letters, artworks and personal artefacts on display and an excellent audio guide to bring it all together. It was a very moving experience. Most of those who have signed in we noticed were Australian, paying respect to all those unfortunate Aussie POWs, but there were also a tremendous number of civilians interned there as well.
The museum and chapel are now located near the Tanah Merah MRT, which in turn is quite close to the condo where Carolyn and Margaret live, so we caught up with them for a beer by the Pasir Ris Pond in the afternoon. You can go fishing here for $40 if you are so inclined. But we weren't.
They had been online during the afternoon and taken up the offer of cheap flights to Penang for a weekend in October. So we came home and did the same thing. Next we'll look up the rates at the Red Rock Hotel where we all stayed last time. Who would have imagined the Smiths could end up there again, this time perhaps with the Ashes!
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