While passing by during preparations for the 2015 National Day Parade rehearsal, Aunty came across several colourful SG50 floats and performers waiting for their turn.
The parade featured around a dozen floats celebrating familiar Singapore icons and memories, with hundreds of performers taking part.
Aunty hadn't planned to photograph anything that day, but these cheerful displays were simply too tempting to ignore!
A Surprise Encounter with SG50 Floats
Aunty: “Eh, what's going on here? I was only passing by!”
Float: “Surprise, Aunty! Since you're here, why not take a few photos?”
What started as an ordinary journey turned into an unexpected photo stop. These colourful National Day decorations were too interesting for Aunty to simply walk past without taking a closer look!
The Dragon That Brought Back Memories
Aunty: “Hello, Mr Dragon! Remember my Ah Boy?”
Dragon: “How could I forget? That little fellow climbed up and refused to come down!”
During Ah Boy's childhood, Aunty often visited Toa Payoh for shopping and makan, as her sister-in-law lived there. Once, Ah Boy climbed up the playground slide and refused to come down! Seeing this familiar dragon design again brought back that amusing little memory.
During Aunty's childhood, playgrounds were much simpler — wooden swings, metal slides that could practically roast your backside under the afternoon sun, roundabouts that needed someone to push, and good old seesaws!
Nothing fancy, but those simple playgrounds gave children hours of fun. By Ah Boy's time, colourful playgrounds like the famous dragon at Toa Payoh had become part of the neighbourhood scene.
Two Big Arrivals in 1981
Aunty: “Hello, Changi Airport! You and my Ah Boy are the same age!”
Control Tower: “Wah, Aunty! Then we've both been watching the years fly by!”
Singapore Changi Airport began operations in 1981, the same year Ah Boy was born. Before that, Paya Lebar Airport served as Singapore's main civilian airport.
Aunty never travelled through Paya Lebar Airport as a passenger, although she did visit it once during a school excursion. Who would have thought that, years later, a little model of Changi's control tower would bring back memories of both airports — and Ah Boy's arrival!
Ah Boy ah... “You and Changi Airport are vintage 1981 models!”
Ice Kachang, Anyone?
Aunty: “Uncle, ice kachang don't want red beans, but everything else more, can?”
Stall Uncle: “Aiyoh, girl! You ordering ice kachang or inventing your own dessert?”
During her secondary school days, Aunty and a classmate would walk all the way from their school along Stevens Road to Zion Road Food Centre on Saturday afternoons after band practice.
Why walk so far? To save their bus fares for a bowl of ice kachang, of course!
Aunty would pester the stall uncle for ice kachang without red beans, but with extra helpings of everything else.
Her classmate would tease her, “Where got people order ice kachang like that? Just like ordering prawn noodles without prawns!”
Then, with a cheeky grin, he would turn to the stall uncle and announce, “Uncle! Ice kachang, HOT one!”
After that long walk, every spoonful of ice kachang tasted like gold. Those simple Saturday afternoons were filled with laughter, silly jokes and sweet memories.
And that cheeky classmate who used to order “hot ice kachang”? He's still Aunty's friend today! From walking together after Saturday band practice to enjoying dinners and concerts all these years later, the friendship has lasted through the decades.
The ice kachang may have melted long ago, but the friendship certainly hasn't!
Hehe... That's Me Loh!
Aunty: “Hello, Sotong! Why you look so familiar? Like looking into a mirror!”
Sotong: “Aiyoh, Aunty! Don't pretend lah! We're from the same family!”
Sense of direction? BLUR! Using the handphone? BLUR! Remembering appointment dates? Better check the handphone again!
But when someone asks Aunty to do some work? Suddenly, her blurness reaches expert level. Act blur, live longer! Hahahahaha!
Of all the SG50 floats, this cheeky sotong seemed to understand Aunty best. Even the big round spectacles looked ready to inspect her next silly mistake!
Handsome Trishaw Pullers... Must Kachak!
AIYOH! Just now BLUR LIKE SOTONG, suddenly see handsome young men and eyesight becomes 6/6 PERFECT VISION!!!
No need spectacles, no need eye specialist! Handsome men are Aunty's miracle cure!
Aunty: “Wah, handsome young men! Can I take your photo?”
Trishaw Pullers: “Come on, Aunty! Give us your best shot!”
These young performers were busy with their trishaws when Aunty spotted them. She didn't dare go too close for fear of being chased away, but to her delight, they waved cheerfully at her!
Forget the sweetness of the ice kachang! Suddenly, Aunty was no longer blur like sotong. Even her short-sightedness disappeared! Her eyesight had miraculously become crystal clear.
One look at the handsome young men and Aunty's camera went KACHAK!
Thank you for those friendly waves, young men. Best wishes to all of you!
No comments:
Post a Comment