My quest to master the art of driving hasn’t been bumpier. After mounting multiple kerbs, striking poles, getting horned by the drivers behind and accidentally horning others. I’ve never anticipated a more eventful lesson.
1) I spent half the lesson cooped up in the heat of an oven. The air-con wasn’t really doing what it should---It was on full blast emitting HOT air. This is a great DIY model to demonstrate the greenhouse effect but it’s definitely not the right time! Obviously, I couldn’t concentrate and all I heard was the instructor blabbering on how I shouldn’t make wide turns and how the steering wheel appeared heavy to me.
2) Then, he thought it was time to send the car for servicing. Oh phew, why couldn’t he have thought of that earlier?! Motivated by the idea of ending my predicament, I quickly made my way to the servicing bay but to my horror, the technician wasn’t around! Help!
3) Next, the car staged a revolt by stalling at the exit of the driving centre. It simply refused to budge. Fortunately, the engine roared alive after the instructor attempted to restart the engine for countless times. I didn’t know kicking tires could help.
4) Here came the climax---The bonnet of the car started billowing smoke!!! Ahaha!! Ok…the billowing part only came after the technician (back from lunch) placed a wet towel on the hot engine. Woah, look at the choking steam and smoke! It sounded like sizzling hot sausages on the BBQ pit. I spent the next 20-30min watching on and fanning myself before removing my stuff from the car and moving on to another car with a fully functioning air con.
5) My bad day did not just end there. Looking forward to a nice, cool drink and a refreshing hot bath at home, I was utterly disappointed that the water supply had been cut off for maintenance! Arghhh!!
6) Worst of all, I didn’t manage to get a refund for the time wasted! It was as if expecting a piping hot BBQ lunch but all I got was a whiff of smoke…*chokes* from a car engine.
Hehe *cheeky grin*, the plight of that car was certainly not my fault, no no no not mine. I may be in a state of denial but I choose to believe that my appalling skills are limited to maneuvering the car. Other things like smoke and crackling noises are totally beyond my control.
Leaving footsteps on earth. 2:12 pm <3
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Be strong, my childhood friend!
Thursday, 18 June 2009
I haven’t visited Bobby for ages. The last time I stroked his soft fur was 5 years ago when I had loads of time to spare. Bobby is the doggie companion of my neighbour in the opposite block. Yes, Bobby was the one that chased me from the living room to the kitchen, leaving me with no other choice but to seek refuge in the toilet. He was the one that pounced on my shoulders and glared at me face-to-face. He scratched my ankle, but I think he did that by accident---he was just too excited. Nevertheless, Bobby was also the one that laid his head on my lap to watch tv and eat ice cream (vanilla flavour, hello kitty brand) with me. We played games like hide and seek and “shake my paw paw” game. Bobby seriously enjoyed belly rubs.
Now, the once active and playful Bobby is ill and reduced to a bag of bones. His hind leg has lost its function. He can’t even limp around, let alone relieve itself without support.
Today, I watched Bobby’s two owners jointly lifting him up to bring him to the park (carpark I mean, that’s the nearest park) to pee. Once he was done, he was scooped up and carried home immediately. Imagine no more games, no more walks, and after half a lifetime of tailing people from room to room (his favourite hobby), he could only let his eyes follow his owners around the house and let out an occasional, feeble bark.
Rainbow had already lost his battle against bone cancer---he was put to sleep. Nicole, Rainbow’s son, is gone too. I hope that Bobby wouldn’t have to suffer too much. May he live with dignity until it’s his time to go.
Leaving footsteps on earth. 8:38 pm <3
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The Origins
Monday, 15 June 2009
Long before your ancestor’s time, legend has it that there lived a goddess whose duty was to work hand in hand with the tu di gong earth deity to ensure peace aboveground and underground. Pieces of her soul reside in every leaf bin dotting the surface of the earth.
Unfortunately, the frequent occurrence of droughts and floods roused the goddess from her deep slumber. Angered by the chaos, she demanded for its cause to be investigated. Careful not to incur her wrath, bugs, colonies of termites and worker ants scurried to dig tunnels in every nook and cranny. They whispered, gossiped and set ears on every wall.
Finally, they made a powerpoint presentation of their analysis which only had 2 words---Human Beings. The goddess’s failing memory did not help, so she propped out her textbook on primate history, only to be overwhelmed with disbelief----mortals had always been good dwellers and hardly misbehaved. The goddess refused to accept that these human beings were the real culprits behind these foolish acts.
Fuming mad, the goddess was determined to witness things with her own eyes. “Leaf bins on earth unite!” she bellowed. Lightning flashed, threatening to split the sky…thunder rumbled as if she’s never taken her dinner before and….
“POP!goes the weasel” she magically emerged from an ordinary-looking leaf bin in a quiet corner of a school, tasked with a mission to track the activities of human beings...
To be continued…
PS: Dear reader, you are taking a peek at her confidential reports!Please proceed with caution, the goddess is watching. Do remember, bugs, termites and ants and anything that respires work for her too.
