IMAGINATION

Wouldn't work be so much more fun if you imagine that your office is right in the middle of a rainforest?

A TUMBLE, AND ANGELS TO THE RESCUE

Poor old Dad, he took a serious tumble today.

Mum and Dad had gone out to lunch.  They were making their way home when he fell.  He didn't know how it happened, he mumbled repeatedly.  Needless to say, Mum was in a state of panic.  Fortunately, three good Samaritans - Daniel, Jaime and Mark -  descended out of nowhere and lent a helping hand.

According to Mum, Dad could not get up after the fall.  Mark, who was on his way to lunch, came upon them and immediately piggy-backed Dad to the nearest clinic. Daniel and Jaime called me using their mobile phone.  They were kind enough to hang around until I arrived.  Dad was referred by the doctor to the A&E at TTSH.  My hands were shaking and couldn't even call a cab properly so Jaime had to call one for us.  

I couldn't thank Daniel and Jaime enough.  Jaime said they were on their way to have ice cream.  Normally they would park by the side of the road but today Jaime thought they ought to drive into the car park (where they witness Dad took a tumble) so maybe it was meant to be.

On my way home from the hospital tonight I was still thinking about Daniel and Jaime and about what she said. When this is all over, I thought to myself, I shall thank them properly - over ice cream.  Just as I was about to cross the street to my apartment block, two boys (who looked like they were 8 and 10) approached and asked if I would help with their school fees.  What were they selling?  Ice cream.  Is this another one of your jokes, God?

The ice cream were $12 a box.  I opened my purse and there were exactly $12 in notes lying inside. So maybe it was meant to be.

There were hundreds of patients at the A&E today.  We waited several hours with Dad to get his X-ray and CT scan done.  And then it was another few hours' of waiting to get him admitted.  After that another couple of hours to get him settled into the hospital bed and made sure he had something to eat.  We get to speak to the doctor tomorrow at around 10:30AM.  It was a long day but I don't think my life is half bad, really.  Thanks to an understanding boss, the sweetest coworkers, and of course - three perfect strangers who offered their timely assistance unconditionally.

猫 ｜ 鸽

猫之报恩(?)

离办公室不远的地铁站外有三只猫。从它们从出生的时候就住在那片草地上了。在附近上班或居住的爱猫族每天为它们带好吃的，把它们喂得胖嘟嘟。:-)

我每晚下班都乘地铁，经过空地总要数一数确定有三只。好多年了，已成习惯。猫儿多半几年回躺在大树下，似是数着匆匆赶着回家的行人。

某晚又经空地，见大树下坐者一男一女悄悄细语，一只猫躺在他们的脚下，其余两只不知所踪。

连接好几天都没有其它两只猫的踪影。有一晚突发奇想: 那一男一女其实是猫的化身，他们要向爱猫的人类报恩了!

PECKTRIFYING

我不是很喜欢鸽。偏偏在住家附近就有好多“好心人”每天扔面包皮，白饭之类的。一大群鸽子来袭，是挺可怕的一件事!

MY PIECE OF RAINFOREST

I'm so lucky that my desk is parked right next to this amazing view.

The sun came through the trees into my office window today.  Ignore the traffic below and I could well be in the middle of a rainforest. 

WHAT IF GOD WAS ONE OF US?

What if God was one of us
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus trying to make his way home?

There are times when I can't help but believe that God exists. Or it could be one of his angels hanging around to lend a helping hand. Like that time when I was in a supermarket picking out tomatoes and a stranger came up to me, thrust one of those perforated plastic bags my way saying, “Here, this is for you. I got it for you.” Before I could say anything he had quietly glided away, pushing his shopping cart.

Or that afternoon when raindrops started to fall just as I stepped off the kerb.  Out of nowhere, a Japanese lady appeared with a large umbrella.  She gestured, offering to shelter me.  Did I hold her arm or did she link hers in mine?  What was the color of the umbrella?  Did she even speak to me? I don't remember any of that.  All I remember was the sun was still shining even as the rain hit harder on our umbrella.  After we ran across the road safely, she gave a sunny me smile before diving into the rain to head back to the other side of the street.

There are days when God is out for a bit of fun. Some months ago my colleagues and I were in the MRT. “Did you hear about the fire that happened in AA building yesterday?” one asked. “I used to work in the same building, you know?”

“Really?" I answered in surprise. "I used to work in AA building too!”  As she went on to tell us about what she had read about the fire,  I suddenly noticed him - a boy leaning beside the train door, a pair of white earphones stuck in his ears.  Printed on the front of his T-shirt was this:

This picture is from http://www.pixpow.com/tag/building-in-fire/

Coincidence, or God's sense of humour?

WANTED: HITMAN

Awoke at 5AM.  Badly needed to pee.  Sat on the toilet bowl, still half asleep. Then out of the corner of my eye I saw it! Rubbing its feelers together gleefully and grinning at me from the towel rail in the vilest manner. I was suddenly awake as fear gripped me and I told myself, "Quick! Finish peeing and get out before it comes any closer!"

Even at five in the morning I was able to plot my next moves: flush, wash hands, (no, don’t even bother to switch off the bathroom lights!) then make a dash for the safety of my bedroom. Close the door and all will be well. The darn roach must have read my mind because it lifted its wings just as I starting running.  Before I could shut the bedroom door fully it already followed me inside! I gave a terrified yelp and leapt outside! At that very moment, my mother appeared in the darkened hallway and, by the faint light emitting from the bathroom, watched the animation without amusement.  “It’s only an insect," she observed.  “It’s a COCKROACH!“ I squealed, "And it’s in my bedroom!” 

She switched on the bedroom lights and surveyed. My mother is courageous in the face of evil. “It isn’t here anymore.”

Convinced that the vile creature is still well concealed and lying in wait, I quickly gathered my pillows and went to sleep in my parents’ room. :)

I need an exterminator! 我要请杀手!

How do cockroaches make their way up to my 35th floor apartment?  My globetrotting French boss has a theory about this.  "You know they don't fly direct, don't you?" speaking like a true frequent flyer.  "They make stopovers.  First they fly to the 6th floor, rest, then up to the 15th floor, then 20th floor, etc .."  He is probably not wrong.

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屈原卖粽

五五端午节。雨。 屈原为何投江自尽？因被朝廷冷落而患了忧郁症吧？ 如果屈原地下有知，看到今天的粽子五花八门，里面包的是鲍鱼和海参，粽子商机那么旺，会想: 当年何必投江？ 辞了政去卖粽子也很好啊！

THE LITTLE SHOP OF DESIRES

Today marks my 7th year with the company I work for.  Not many employees stay more than 5 years in an ad agency. What can I say, I'm a rare breed.

Just recently my very nice French boss presented me with a cheque for $1000 which was meant to be my 5-year long-service award. However, an unwritten company policy (I wonder which 笨蛋approved it) dictates that the employee would receive her 5-year award only at the end of her 6th year (duh!)

If you have $1000 to spare, what single item would you splurge it on? Desire posts this question as she lures me into her charming little shop. Here's a woman truly after my own heart. Every object that I’ve ever dreamed of owning is here!

A gorgeous bracelet catches my eye. I want to try it on but it sits regally on the upper-most shelf that is way beyond my reach.

Oh look, the Ferragamo bag that I like! And isn't that the camera I’ve wanted for some time? There they lay on a tall shelf, side by side, beckoning me. Surely if I stand on tip toes, with fingers outstretched, I would be able to attain them! Alas no, I’m still a little short.

So many fabulous things, too little cash! I was fishing for my credit cards when Reality steps in. He grabs my arm and drags me roughly aside.

“Hey!” I protest. “You hurt me!”

“I do that sometimes,” he admits but offers no apology.

“What do you want?” I hiss, folding my arms across my chest. He reminds me that the Bvlgari B-Zero bracelet, Ferragamo tote and Canon 500D will all have to wait. He is right, of course. I know I need to face him squarely.

With Reality in check, I begin to lower my sights to focus on the objects that are truly accessible. He finally allows me to walk away with this:

KitchenAid KSM150 Mixer in Apple Green. Usual price: S$899. Available at TANGS for S$699 and a further 10% reduction during the promo period. Free delivery. Citibank cardholders earn 12% rebate on the card.

He keeps me grounded, this Reality. At times I’m grateful that he's by my side. Desire ignores me completely now. I watch and she seduces another wide-eyed customer with her dazzling smile. I tell Reality that Desire resembles Temptation very much in looks. He nods.

“Cousins,” he grins, and marches me out of Desire's lair.