Serangoon Snippets: What goes around comes around

Lorenzo Quinn, an Italian sculptor and the son of the famous actor Anthony Quinn, named this piece 'What comes around goes around' and it seems really apt this week as we reflect on our blessings and good fortune. When he created this piece, which we found while walking through the Barrage on Friday, he explained it as 'Life is like a mirror where everything we do is reflected back onto us. We might not be able to recognise it and at times that image is hidden, it may even take years and at times it may not even be during our lifetime, but it all comes around'.

Someone must have been very good in the past and we are now benefiting. We are in good health, which we take for granted everyday, just complaining about sore feet or having eaten too much from time to time. We've just enjoyed a trip home to celebrate a wedding, where we were able to catch up with most of the family and they are all happy. Our own family unit in Darwin are brimming with good news too.

Meanwhile, our good friend and trekking buddy June, is whiling away the days in hospital wondering what the outlook will be after all the examinations and tests she has been undergoing for the last week since her brain aneurysm. One thing is for sure; she will have to pull out of the trek to Everest Base Camp this year. We are all disappointed about that but it could have been so much worse.

She has a host of good friends here who are all wishing her the best and whatever the prognosis it will be better than if she hadn't been keeping fit by walking all those kilometres. After our walk we went in search of The Australian Women's Weekly' because I know she always tries to get a copy at the airport. We found one in Holland Village and Peter took it in to her on his next visit. Not sure she is even up to looking at the pictures yet, but I hope it cheers her to know it is there when she feels she is ready. She's a good woman, her fortunes will change for the better.

It has been parent Teacher Mtgs this week so we have all done a lot of talking. On top of that the two of us have also done a lot of walking, so much so that I find myself hobbling at times so am going to cut it back a bit next week. On Thursday we returned to the pagoda in Chinese Gardens and wound our way up and down to exhaustion. It was after that exercise that I went out looking for the magazine for June. Having no luck at Dhoby Ghaut I then got on the MRT only to discover 4 stations later that I was travelling in the wrong direction and going to be perilously later for work! My first time ever. Made it by a hair's breadth (Eric has another alternative description which includes a piece of a bee's anatomy). On Friday we discovered that you can walk from the new stadium to the barrage, but it is quite a long way if you start right back at Tai Seng!

With the MAE Annual Dinner on Monday night we had a final dance rehearsal at Kovan after work on the Saturday night and then a good number went over to Bliss for dinner.

It was June's birthday on Sunday so after work a number of us went to visit her. Fortunately the staff are very accommodating and since she is in ICU, there is no restriction on the visiting hours. We didn't stay long but sang Happy Birthday and shared some cake. She was looking much more chipper than the last time we saw her thank goodness.

And then it was Monday again. A very depleted group, just 4 of us, walked through Bishan and Ang Mo Kio Parks. After an early lunch we went home for a swim and final run-through of the dance steps before attending the Annual Dinner which this year has a Bollywood theme.

On our way to Little India, Bernard the florist in the HDB, insisted on a photograph. I was thinking he would use his beautiful flowers as the background but instead he chose the fruit stall next door. It was a fun evening and by far the most colourful Annual Dinner we have ever attended! The dance was a blast, I think the audience were pretty amazed at our talent to tell you the truth.

Peter with Renee looking resplendent

Peter and Leonie Evendon

Robert and Maria who will be joining me at Kovan next year, and below the Cheng family.

The Bollywood Dance Troupe

After the event a number of us returned to the hospital where June was presented with her watch for 5 years service and we gave her another private rendition of the dance, all be it a very quiet version, which the staff also enjoyed.

We managed to back up once again the next morning, as we have for the previous 2 years, to join a noisy throng for the Melbourne Cup Chandon brunch. This year we were unable to secure tickets to the ANZA function at the track, so instead joined the Aussies at the Boomerang Bistro and Bar in Roberson Quay by the river. On the way to meeting the taxi on Serangoon Rd I called into the Pools Shop to try to put a bet on. Problem was I had no idea what race number the Cup was and they couldn't tell me. I took a guess and backed a horse in the 6th race only to discover later I should have opted for the seventh. Not to worry, that number didn't bring home the field in either event. It was a lovely setting, almost as colourful as the night before, so the complimentary Chandon shades were appreciated.