Chaos on the MRT

The Friday planned walk with Heather, along the northern reaches of the rail trail, had to be abandoned when I found myself on the yellow platform at Serangoon just after 8 am in a crush of people that was quite disturbing. The usual 4 min train interval was delayed by 15 minutes but in that time people just kept pouring onto the platform via the 4 escalators. It got to the point where people had nowhere to step off and the crush was falling over each other. Amid screams and squeals the MRT staff stopped people getting on the escalators and eventually halted them altogether, but it was all pretty frightening. It was hot and crowded with many people looking distressed. I opted to escape to street level. When I tried to call Heather to let her know, the phones were blocked. We think this was an action by the company to stop panic and bad press, I don't think it worked. I didn't have the where-with-all to take a picture in the crowd but this is an image from the paper at another station down the line where the same thing was happening. 

We had a cool drink and then headed out locally through the Black and White homes of Woodleigh Gardens and Bidadari where Heather saw her first woodpecker, a Common Goldenback. 

Meanwhile Eric and Peter had made it up to the summit of Bukit Timah and back without any of the drama on the trains that we had experienced. Peter has been doing quite a bit of relief teaching lately, and that included work at Punggol this week where a number of staff have been off. 
Saturday was National Day, many businesses were closed for the day but not MAE. At Kovan we all wore 'I love Sg' t-shirts which the kids appreciated. In the evening we watched some of the parade on tv while we had dinner. Next year will be the 50th celebration so it will be huge. 

After work on Sunday we all planned to meet at our hawkers for end of the week celebrations but it was a small turn-up. Heather was off sick and ended up being admitted to hospital. Kathy went to her place to be on hand if she came home or needed anything. Richard turned up briefly but then went on to the night club. 

It was a good thing not to be too late as we made another quick assault on the BT summit on Monday morning; just the 2 of us, Peter and June. The 4 of us make up the Everest Base Camp contingent from Sg for December to be joined by Crispy and his mate Divey. Deposits were due this week and we booked our flights.  We have begun initial sketches for the new t-shirt logo design.

It had to be a non-stop walk this week as we then had to have time to get to High Tea at the Goodwood Park Hotel by 2pm.  It is a heritage hotel, housed in a uniquely designed building dating back to 1900, celebrating the opulence of a colonial era. The MAE social club organised a group booking at L’Espresso Cafe which offered a sumptuous buffet spread of dainty sandwiches, cold delicatessen, hot savouries, exquisite pastries, chocolate fountain and of course, freshly baked scones. Our afternoon was set once we had a couple of pots of fine tea.

Heather was still in hospital so I went to visit her and took along a small panacotta. Unfortunately she is on a restricted diet so I had to eat it! Things you do. Seems her diet is grey! Mostly soup broth, white rice and tofu in grey gravy. But she can still manage a smile. Good think Michael is due back later today.

After my bedside visit I joined the rest of the revelers at Sque Bar at Clarke Quay where they were celebrating Michael Canaway's birthday. How is it I always take such complimentary pics of others and then they snap ones like this of me? I just thought the label was good Mum, I wasn't drinking it!

The walking group's activity for this week was postponed to Tuesday because of High Tea and it was planned as a bike ride at east Coast Park. Only Peter, June and I made it, Eric felt a sleep-in was going to be more beneficial for him. It was a nice overcast morning, even a little drizzle, so a pleasant ride.