RIP Lee Kuan Yew

Returning to Singapore we have seen an amazing outpouring of love and respect for the late Lee Kuan Yew (LKY). When his body was lying in state at Parliament house people queued for hours just to get a few seconds' glimpse. As the days passed, we heard that the length of wait time in the queue was growing from 2 hrs, to 5 hrs, to 8 hours. It was open 24 hrs and buses and trains operated the same. Bernard, our friendly florist went at 5am midweek when he hoped the numbers might have dwindled. By 11pm Friday night, when the wait time was over 10 hrs the State Funeral Organising Committee announced a temporary closure of the queue. The route from Parliament House to the National University, where the State Funeral was to be held on Sunday, was lined with people, some camping out overnight which would have been quite uncomfortable, especially since it rained in the morning. At 4pm we held a 1 minute silence in our classes before dismissing the children. After work I went to visit the Aljunied Community Site at the Kovan Hub, one of 18 set up around the country. There was a huge LED screen that had televised the funeral and tables laden with tributes. 

Even if you don't agree with all his policies, you have to admit that Ex PM LKY certainly achieved a lot for his country. He has long been the face behind the Singapore movement, the unifying force behind the growing pains that Singapore went through as the country emerged from an ex-British Colony and over the wreckage of WW11. Praise for his achievements have swamped the television and newspapers all week. If you don't agree with everything being said it is probably best just to keep quiet about it. A 17-year-old teenager, who made insensitive remarks about Christianity and criticised LKY's political career in an eight-minute YouTube video, was arrested on Sunday. He also challenged Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to sue him which has long been a tactic used by the Government to shut down dissension. We are in Singapore after all. 

Arrangements are being put in place for this year's Great Race. Between our two branches we have submitted 2 teams, they were drawn out of a hat and Eric and I will be participating for the first time, on the same team. Since it was the first week back at work, I joined many others at Walla Walla in Holland Village to hear about everyone's holidays. People had been to islands off Thailand, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Italy.... and Australia or New Zealand of course. The Kiwis were a bit shy to turn up since the thrashing the Aussies gave them in the cricket. Eric has struggled with a cold all week so he missed it (most unusual). 

Went for my first walk with the Monday group yesterday from Bishan Park to Ang Mo Kio via Lower Peirce Res. I managed the walk OK but after sitting down for lunch I was a bit stiff and sore getting going again. And not just my knees! Thats what you get for doing nothing for 3 months. 

Still, it was a good hit out and I enjoyed being back among some trees and the chatter. Apart from Robert, it was an all-girls walk this week. Peter was off doing a walk across the island from west to east and Eric had a Dr's appointment he couldn't change (he emerged with good results). I think Peter estimated his walk would take him 10 hrs but he finally finished at 9:30pm, more than 14 hrs. He won't be talking me into that!

In the evening we met up with Bev and had dinner at Viet Express in China Square. We have walked through here before and more recently Eric was here a couple of weeks ago to collect something and figured we should return one evening to try it out. 

We ate a simple meal at Viet Express, a quiet restaurant. In fact the whole place was very quiet as it mostly serves the lunchtime crowd in this business district.

There were a number of interesting public artworks in the arcade.

Reading a wall panel I learnt that this area was where the Samsui women chose to live. They started arriving in Sg in large numbers in the mid-1930s and many found work as general labourers in the construction industry. They wore distinctive red headdresses and often lived together in shared housing, being thrifty and resilient individuals who sent their savings home to family in China. This is an image Eric took outside the nearby ERA building on another visit.

On Tuesday morning we read in the news that Essendon players have been cleared by ASADA. What does this mean now? Will the club be compensated? Will Caroline Wilson write a retraction for her 2 years of damning columns? Has it come about because Hird withdrew his case? Has a deal been done? Eric thinks I'm a cynic, do you agree?

In the afternoon I went to see The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel despite the critics' poor rating. I had a good laugh and enjoyed the dancing. It bought back fun memories of our London Thumakda dance lessons for the last Annual Dinner. Meanwhile, Eric held a social club meeting at Sque in Clarke Quay where we met up afterwards. 

We only get the Friday of Easter off so will just enjoy the day in Sg. Perhaps a bbq with friends, no tennis tournaments for my knees yet, as we have held in the past.