The Stolen Child

“I know ! You like her.”

“Who?”

“Miss Tan. You like Miss Tan!” Boon Ming hissed into his ears. Wings was aghast.

“No I don’t!”

“Sure you don’t. You were staring at her. You sure look like you like her,” he giggled.

“I don’t,” Wings said fiercely. Boon Ming was unconvinced. He smiled magnanimously.

“Don’t worry. You’re my buddy and patrolmate so I won’t tell anyone. Alright, man, now we’ve got a secret!”

“We don’t!”

“I thought you didn’t want anybody to know.”

“It’s not true idiot! There’s no secret when something isn’t true.”

“You don’t trust me. And I thought we were brother Scouts. Scout’s Law number one says a scout is to be trusted. You can trust me and I practise keeping the Law.”

“Fat fool” Wings was exasperated. How on earth could he possible tell Boon Ming the real story behind his stare.

“That hurt,” Boon Ming sniffled indignantly. “But like true brother Scout, I won’t take revenge. Your secret safe with me.”

“Boon Ming! I don’t like her! I hate her!”

Excerpt from Colin Cheong’s “The Stolen Child”

Just finished reading the book, my second from Colin Cheong’s collection. Love the way he weaves a simple tale around common believable characters and draws us into re-living those familiar episodes of our childhood.

Heart on Sleeve, Red’s the Colour

It’s Singapore’s birthday again. Another year, another over-the-top celebration. The TV doesn’t stop reminding you of the important date. It is one birthday that the celebrant is not too shy to reveal her age. It’s forty two. It’s all over the many banners fronting the HDB estates, complemented by the many flags hanging down living room windows. It is one day, besides the lunar New Year, where people find reason to wear red.

Are Singaporean’s really a bunch of patriotic people? Or is all this due to the success of the nationalistic propaganda machinery’s campaign at tugging heartstrings? From the National Day Songs to the Live Telecast of the NDP, nobody is left untouched by the National Day effect.

Having spent previous National Day holidays taking photos around town, there was no such endeavour from me this year. Just enjoying the break from the comfort of my home. I did watch the live telecast on TV and must admit the view of the celebrations at Marina Bay looked quite impressive on TV. I remembered watching the Singapore NDP celebrations on TV while growing up in Muar. It was quite a spectacle back then. I guessed I had always wish that Malaysia’s National Day celebrations would one day emulate Singapore’s grand party, but somehow every 31^st August morning, a hopeful me would wake up to unspectacular march pasts and bring speeches on RTM (Radio Televisyen Malaysia).

Anyway, to Singapore - Happy Birthday!

Rhains in Manchester

Here's the latest Man Utd signing ... 9 year old Rhain Davis. (Just bear with the good old club songs in the background.)


Can't wait for him to grow up. On second thought, let's not rush him into the glitzy world of pro football.
" ... and the Reds go marching on ..."

Oooh Fishies ...

Here's what I have been up to. After some prompting by Jeff and Yin, including a visit to an aquarium shop in Muar, we started our fish tank about a week ago. And just last weekend, we got ourselves 10 Neon Tetras to be the pioneer batch of inhabitants.

Here are more shots.

Weekend trip to the capital city

Causeway Bridge walk. 2:30am Puduraya. Indomee Goreng supper @ SS2. Nonya food lunch at the Curve. Sour kidney beans episode. Sales at Padini. Full Car Park at Westin. Box of chocolates wedding favour. Pauline and Kian Hoe enters. Say cheese! Hellos and goodbyes. Photo Editing at 3am. Breakfast at Hong Kee Dim Sum. Pudu again. Back in the Lion City.

Well that basically sums up the weeknd we spent in KL. Thanks to our friends in KL for taking good care of us!