The Trumpeter

I go to a small neighbourhood saloon that occupies half a shop space to have my hair permed twice a year because the hairdresser listens to my requests and does not overrule me with the so-called professional suggestions like most others do. It is a small set up which depends on loyal customers to survive. For almost every visit (even though it is only twice a year) I would meet this aunty who was there for a wash and blow dry. From her conversation with the hairdresser I deduce her family owns a retail business and her children are very successful in their own field. Every conversation that I eves dropped was inadvertently a showing off of family wealth and status. On my last visit however her trumpet blowing attained another new decibel.

It started with her mundane suggestion to the hairdresser to purchase a unit at Tembusu which is condominium development in our area. She said it would be so convenient for the hairdresser to live close to where she works. The hairdresser just muttered 好好. Our trumpeter than announced that she has bought a unit for investment and for renting out. (Yawn - basic boasting, nothing exciting, I thought to myself)

The subject then drifted to citizenship when the hairdresser said she has acquired Singapore citizenship after many years of waiting. She said it was so difficult to get. Our aunty then argued saying it wasn't that difficult and that her son-in-law almost rejected the offer to be a Spore citizen. Son-in-law is a foreign talent and works in a bank. She beamed when both the hairdresser and her assistant declared it was obviously easy for him since he is so highly qualified. (Gosh- I can't read my book when this irritating woman is around)

Then, the hairdresser talked about PM and Goh Chok Tong's walkabout at the hawker centre in our neighbourhood. Apparently the hairdresser shook hands with them. She said that it brought her luck and she touched 4D that very day. She declared that shaking hands with politicians is very 旺 (brings luck). At this point, I put down my book and listened intently. Our aunty didn't fail us. She chided the hair dresser for not taking a selfie. She described how another daughter of hers took a picture when LKY presented her the door key (presumably for a Pinnacle flat). The picture was blown up, framed and displayed in the flat. Since then her son-in-law's business has blossomed and expanded. 真的很旺, 真的很旺, she exclaimed.

Sometimes I wonder whether talent in trumpet blowing is acquired or inborn as it seems to come so naturally with some people. As for me, the only thrill is when I have the opportunity to show off to people who have either looked down on me or who are proud and arrogant. I don't show off to just anyone, if I do I would have refuted both my hairdresser and the aunty's nonsense of being 旺 when you touch a politician. I would have declared Ng Eng Hen deliberately touched me and I have never been blessed with 旺ness. (of course I wouldn't tell them he was a breast surgeon before he entered politics!)

Money most well spent

In a fit of madness way back December 2014 I paid up for a 2-night stay-cation package at Swissotel just to watch the SG50 celebration at the padang from the comfort of a hotel room. The booking was done in a spur of the moment without consulting my family as I envisaged lots of discouragement over the cost. I later received comments on how  the same money could have been put to better use. Over the next few months I assuaged my guilt of being a spendthrift by justifying how I was otherwise a very very frugal person (eg. haven't bought a single luxury bag all my life, etc etc).

The package allowed for an additional 7 guests in the room for the fireworks display but not to stay overnight. So I had to carefully select my guests one week before. Top on the list was my mother-in-law and then I had to decide between my other in laws, family friends, children's friends etc. As more people wanted to join in I felt less guilty and more excited.

The first thought that hit you when you entered the room and looked out was how close the padang appeared from the balcony. All the guests' first exclamation was the panoramic view it offered. As we checked in the day before National Day we could even enjoy the short firework preview in the evening and the black knight aerial display in the afternoon, leaving amazing trails in the skies.

Gosh I had never felt so excited and happy for a long long time. In the morning they were testing the systems. Later I could literally hear the commandments over the sound system bringing in the contingents. Very often the instructions made me chuckle. Then I looked down and saw the floats and tanks rolling in to take their position. Later in the afternoon the spectators were fast filing in.

When the celebration started we turned the TV loud and could witness from afar what was shown on TV, like the arrival of the president etc. When the celebration started and was in full swing, me, the usually ungrateful and disloyal citizen, was unabashedly singing the Singapore songs with my guests and waving the small Spore flags. From the balcony I saw thousands and thousands of people in every inch and pocket of the river front and bayfront area. I looked up at the helicopters bearing the huge Spore flag and the formations formed by the roaring fighter jets. I looked down and I saw the spectators, waves of red and white at the padang. I casted my eyes a little afar and all the buildings were blinking in jubilation. After one out of many 360 degree scans I asked quietly what I had done to deserve all these.

Then the fireworks came on and the skies were alive with National Fervour awashed with the feeling of hope and happiness.

If decades ago I was the sad and scared child returning to the strange Singapore (after being 10 years away), I was a very happy, excited and contented child watching the fireworks and parade some 45 years later.

Money much much more than well spent!!!