CIty Tour

Today marked the end of my hospitalisation leave. Had been to office last few days but knocked off in the afternoon. Decided to take the day off today to get the car serviced. The appointment is at 1:00 pm.

Watched France beat Portugal and went back to sleep and woke up at 7:30 am. Cleaned up the place a little and sent Joram to TP. Had breakfast with Joram and it is nice to hear that he is getting along fine with his course. We parted. He to his lectures. Me to find a quiet spot to take time out. Found a spot overlooking the wide expanse of foilage. The weather was cool with the drizzling rain.

Read two chapters of Prayer by Richard Foster. The book had been a blessing as I learnt a lot of the different forms of prayers. If you are looking for new planes to conquer. Try Richard Foster's Celebration of Discipline and Prayer. These two books will change the way you walk with God.

10:30 am. Decided to go early for the car service and maybe can get it back fast. There was no queue, unfortunately, the service adviser said 'come back at 5:30 pm'. What, why so long? Anyway, got the shuttle and decided to go to Bugis to get some pictures of durians and the old buildings for Block 13 story. Got to Aljunied station at 11:15 am. What, a dollar deposit for a single trip? Well, whatever.

This was where the city tour began. I got six hours to kill. How about watching Superman?. Alone? And the movie is two and the half hours. No. Decided to go shopping first.

Gateway from Bugis Junction second floor. Picked up a Converse T for Joram.

Finished Bugis and went to the new National Library. The place is s p a c i o u s. Good for taking a nap too.



You should go to the study lounge. I had coffee there. 60 cents at the vending machine. Just couldn't resist sitting down and enjoy the cosy lounge.

Walked over to Sim Lim Square and took a look at OG and got myself a pants. Then it was a walk down to SMU. Dropped by Gnee Hong to look at some chairs. They got a range of designer chairs at affordable prices and is worth taking a look if you are looking for something fresh. They are beside Hotel 81.

Had 'wanton mee' for lunch and couldn't resist ordering the 'ice kacang'. 'One 'ice kacang' with only red beans. No milk, please'. The lady drizzled three syrups on it - green, dark brown and red. Took a scoop of the green ice shaving - yum. It was melon flavour. The dark brown was 'gula melaka' and red - rose syrup. It tasted perfect because my nose is working. How wonderful it is to get your sense back after all these years. Enjoying the ice shaving, I recalled the awful and overpowering clove smoke as two guys were puffing away at the walkway. The traffic smog was offensive. The fragrance at NLB toilet was refreshing. The durians at Bugis tempting. The good and the bad of having my sense back. Did you notice that the smokers are moving into the walkway now?

Took a walk at SMU and NAFA. Boy! Education right in the city centre. Hip but costly cos you got TCC almost every corner. At SMU, NAFA, Bugis Junction, Funai Centre .........

Who is that grand lady in the background? It is the grand National Museum in pure white having a make over.

Walked over to Raffles City, then through CityLink Mall to Esplande. Watched an artist doing her creation at CityLink. Then to Funai Centre. My legs were giving way. Decided to go back to Asia Motors to collect the car.

I'm looking forward to work cos sitting at home for the last ten days were no joke. Retirement is gonna be a problem cos you must have something to do.

Work. Here I come.

....... and before long, I will be lamenting that I need a break.

What an irony!