Thankfully, It is Over!

XXXXX Results for XXXXX of XXXXXX

The XXXXX and exhibition for the XXXXX for XXXXX started on Thursday XXXXX and ended on Monday XXXXX.

2. A total of XXXXX% of the eligible voters voted "Yes" for the XXXXX. This is less than the required XXXXX% "Yes" votes needed for the XXXXX works to proceed.

3. Accordingly, XXXXX will not implement the XXXXX for XXXXX.

-- extracted from XXXXX homepage

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The weather that Thursday evening was very dramatic and memorable. I was on long leave then and had been staying home as an unpaid full-time house-maid.

The day had started bright and sunny. And it had remained so until about 5pm. As the sun began to set, dark clouds had gathered over the Big Tent that had been erected.

The Big Tent was brightly lit and lively music drifted from it. The whole place was bustling with excited organisers and guests. They had even assembled the lion dance troupe to welcome the VIP.

The Function at the Big Tent was scheduled to start at 8pm.

Shortly before 8pm, I stood at the balcony overlooking the Big Tent and said a silent prayer to the Heavens. Then I waited, staring at the Big Tent with a helpless and forlorn look.

Suddenly, there were gusts of extra-strong winds which sent the branches of the trees around the Big Tent swaying like nobody's business! The winds, though no hurricane, threatened to peel off the Big Tent's canvass roof too - I could hear the canvass flapping so loudly in the busting currents! The distinctive intermittent banging of some people's doors swept shut by the strong winds could also be heard clearly in the distance.

Then, just as the clock struck 8, raindrops started to fall. And that sent many guests scurrying away from alfresco seats at the Big Tent.

I cannot remember if the lion danced or not, but the VIP arrived and his speech proceeded as planned. I could hear it faintly from the balcony amidst the splattering rain.

The speech did not last very long. And neither did the rain. In fact, everything was over quite quickly - the rain, the speech and the Function. And thankfully, our anxiety.