Oh! Singapore's Own "Sakura"

 

What lovely flowers that remind us of cherry blossoms! But these are the pretty pink flowers of the Mempat trees.

 

Due to the strong wind and heavy rain, the petals of "Singapore Sakura" drop to the ground in abundance.

Just as I came out of the Little India MRT station, I was extremely happy to see so many pink flowers in full bloom along Race Course Road. The lovely pink flowers remind me of the cherry blossoms in Japan. I regretted for not having my camera with me.

The next day, I brought along my camera and as it was starting to rain, I noticed that many of the petals had fallen to the ground. Although the weather was quite gloomy and misty, I was determined to snap some shots. Hence I quickly took some shots of the lovely flowers before the trees became "botak" or bald or bereft of the beautiful blooms.

Perhaps the Authorities should grow more Mempat trees so that even if the flowers do not stay long on the trees, the momentary beauty of the flowers will be etched in our memory. In Singapore, it is difficult for flowers to bloom luxuriantly as they do in countries where the climate is cooler. Orchids and bougainvilleas thrive very well in Singapore. I hope we can also have many trees like Flame of the Forest and Mempat trees, and that more flowering plants be grown in the city so that we can be always remembered as the "Garden City of Asia." Singapore will not only be a green city but a colorful one as well. :-)

Gan Cao

The Blind Busker is a Champion !

 

Mr. Soh Chuan Guan often plays the keyboard and sometimes sings as well.

 

Though blind, he is also a champion blood donor!

I always enjoy listening to street buskers, especially when they play and sing well.

One of them is my favourite - Mr. Soh Chuan Guan who has been blind from birth. He plays the keyboard and of late is also singing along with the cd player. You can find him stationed near the entrance of the Outram MRT Station.

Mr.Soh is quite obliging. He would often play the songs I requested him to play, and I admire his huge repertoire of songs in English, Chinese and Malay.

Mr. Soh is also a champion blood donor as can be seen from the photo which he proudly displays infront of his keyboard. I feel an affinity with him because I am also a champion blood donor, except that I have my eyesight. I am touched that Mr. Soh would take the trouble to go to the blood bank every three months, and
being blind, has to reach there by taxi. Yet, so many people with good health and no handicap have not even bothered to donate blood.

I am also quite touched by Mr. Soh's good friend, who prefers to remain anonymous. He would take Mr. Soh to the Outram MRT station and would stay with him the whole day. He would sit a few metres away from the busker and quietly watch over him probably to see that no one robs his blind friend. He sometimes would read the newspapers to while his time, and sometimes he would talk to the storekeeper from whom he buys drinks for himself and Mr. Soh. Mr. Soh told me that he is his neighbour and is a retired bachelor. What a faithful friend. To me, he is also
a champion - many of these people are like unsung heroes in our nation. They do so much for others but always remain anonymous.

I hope that when my readers pass by Outram MRT station, they will take a few minutes to listen to Mr. Soh's rendition on the keyboard. He is very amiable and will cheer up when you talk to him. You can also request him to play your favourite piece.

"What is this life, if full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare."

I guess if Joshua Bell, the world famous violinist, were to ever busk in our little island, I would definitely stand and listen to his violin performance, and save myself a few hundred dollars for a seat in the Concert Hall at the Esplanade! :-) Of late, I have learnt that no matter how busy I am, I must always find time to stand and stare.


Gan Cao

The Puppies Have G - R - O - W - N !

 

From left to right : Papa Bobby, Mama Bibi, Brian, Brandon, BM and Ern Ern.

 

The 6 puppies born 6 months ago. Two of the pups, Juno and Angel have been
adopted by our kind neighbour, Aunty Helen

I have never had the experience of watching just-born puppies growing up to their present size. Hence, when Bibi was about to give birth, we were all excited as we waited while Dr. James Tan was performing the Cesarean for Bibi. It was the first birth for Bibi, and Dr. Tan was worried that should she have natural birth, not all the puppies would survive.

Hey presto! There were the cute six tiny pups lined up in a row on a piece of towel. They looked so innocent and fragile. The brown patches against the white looked dark, but we were told the colour would lighten up as the puppies grew older.

Irin gave away two female puppies to Aunty Helen and one male and one female pup to her god sister, Carol. She kept two male puppies, Brian and Brandon. Irin shared that Brian is the more flamboyant of the two. He would bark back at you, should you scold him! While Bibi dotes on her pups with her motherly instinct, Bobby was aloof and often tried to bite the two puppies. Now that the puppies have grown, they are able to fight back. Bobby had lost two teeth because of Brian's retaliation, and now the father is keeping a safe distance from his pups!

Helen shared her dogs are very intelligent, especially Juno who is well built. Unlike Ern Ern who is ladylike and dainty, Juno and Angel are big and tomboyish!
The puppies love to eat durians, apples and mangoes! Mind you, only good apples and fruits. Irin shared how her dogs would spit out the apples if the quality was not good.

Although I did not adopt any of Irin's puppies, I am like a "godma" to the puppies, and often buy them food and sometimes help to pay for taxi fares or veterinary fees.
My schedule does not permit me to own a pet, but I enjoy playing with the dogs or taking Bobby for his walk sometimes. My two wonderful neighbours deserve a little help and together we are like one big family consisting of two legged and four legged wonderful creation of God!

Gan Cao