Saturday, December 25, 2010
It's a quiet Christmas eve for me this year considering that I've got no plans or dates to spend the night with. However, nothing beats devoting this quality time to my parents. Brought them out for a simple dinner at IMM before we returned home and that was it. It was freaking crowded and it took us half an hour before we could find a parking lot. Since parking was free for the first 3 hours, the ugly side of Singaporeans start to surface and that was evident from the way they anyhow park their vehicles and causing major inconveniences to the rest. Restaurants were packed and people were still doing their last minute shopping. I guess that's life in Singapore, fast and hectic. It's up to individuals like us to slow it down.
Daniel Ong paid tribute to Singaporeans who continue to work and play their part in keeping the nation running. It's very apt that he did it during his segment because it was leaning towards the time where people are getting ready to knock off and heading home to be with their loved ones. He mentioned the likes of the taxi uncles. petrol kiosk attendants, bus and train drivers etc. The list is unlimited but let me add a few into it - doctors, nurses, security officers, immigration officers and sales personnel working in the 24 hours industry etc. BD mentioned how he felt nostalgic (despite the fact that NS was 4 years ago) about putting on his policeman uniform and patrolling the streets of town. Instead, he spent his 2010 editing photographs he had taken earlier in the day. Similarly, we don't miss the duties but it sure was a different way of spending Christmas eve.
I do it every year and 2010 is no different. This post is also dedicated to the security force of FDS who sacrifice their public holidays (like we have a choice) in protecting the nation's assets. Without us, the F-16 and KC-135 cannot take off. On a more serious note, I hope they will all grow up to be mentally stronger. It's never nice to lose your public holidays but somebody's got to do the job. One of my most memorable duties was doing the 10pm to 1am slot one Christmas eve and once the clock hit 12, my partner and I comms our sergeant and shouted Merry Christmas to him. He appeared surprised and we probably expected some sort of punishment for misusing the radio. However, he comms back to wish us Merry Christmas. Like us, we are all a bunch of soldiers suffering together.
It's off to soccer soon and nothing beats spending Christmas day exercising. Happy Yuletide everybody!
