Taxi Fare incurred last week:
Friday:
$10.20 (PLW to KHS to PLW) +
$8.60 (PLW to TP) +
$7.60 (PLW to TP) +
$11.20 (TP to KHS to PLW)
= $30.00
Saturday:
$7.80 (PLW to Bras Basah) +
$8.20 (SMU to Katong) +
$12.80 (TP to PLW)
= $17.80
Sunday: $8.00 (PLW to United Square)
Grand total: $55.80
Bus fare and MRT fare not included.
Also not quantifiable: sweat and pain from walking non-stop, rushing about as well as being first trapped by and then drenched in the thunderstorm that lasted from Friday through Sunday. Not to mention the agony of lugging all bags from one place to another, muscle aching or otherwise.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
DSA - School Preference Stage
The deadline for opting for the DSA offers is, by now, over. What a relief!
It had been quite a mentally draining exercise pondering over the questions: Which is the better route? The more-familiar A-level route or the less-familiar IB Diploma route? Will WY thrive and excel in the IB programme? Or will it be better that he sticks to the mainstream A-level drilling and mugging regime? What will WY be happiest doing and where will he learn most effectively? Can and will SOTA deliver? Is its academic programme rigorous enough to get WY into the university?
.................
I spoke to WY extensively about his preferences. He said he likes the idea of pursuing music and does not mind that he will have to work and practise very hard on the piano, but he does not want to do just only that. He wants to also study subjects like Science, Mathematics, History, Geography etc like the other secondary students. In fact, he is looking forward to studying such things as Literature and Geography.
So, I probed and asked and probed and asked. It's tiring and I must have sounded ultra long-winded, but eventually, we came to a decision.
To sum up, WY wants something interesting (he wants to learn composing music!) and challenging (like studying the academic subjects) but does not mind being different from his classmates (based on what WY knows, no one else in his school has tried for SOTA).
In his words, he is ok with going to SOTA although he would also like to see if his results would qualify him for other places like HCI or DHS. (I know at least one of his closer friends is going to either HCI or DHS.)
So, we worked out our strategy, made our choice and now only await the final results.
It had been quite a mentally draining exercise pondering over the questions: Which is the better route? The more-familiar A-level route or the less-familiar IB Diploma route? Will WY thrive and excel in the IB programme? Or will it be better that he sticks to the mainstream A-level drilling and mugging regime? What will WY be happiest doing and where will he learn most effectively? Can and will SOTA deliver? Is its academic programme rigorous enough to get WY into the university?
.................
I spoke to WY extensively about his preferences. He said he likes the idea of pursuing music and does not mind that he will have to work and practise very hard on the piano, but he does not want to do just only that. He wants to also study subjects like Science, Mathematics, History, Geography etc like the other secondary students. In fact, he is looking forward to studying such things as Literature and Geography.
So, I probed and asked and probed and asked. It's tiring and I must have sounded ultra long-winded, but eventually, we came to a decision.
To sum up, WY wants something interesting (he wants to learn composing music!) and challenging (like studying the academic subjects) but does not mind being different from his classmates (based on what WY knows, no one else in his school has tried for SOTA).
In his words, he is ok with going to SOTA although he would also like to see if his results would qualify him for other places like HCI or DHS. (I know at least one of his closer friends is going to either HCI or DHS.)
So, we worked out our strategy, made our choice and now only await the final results.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
PSLE - Finally Over!
Last week and earlier this week, WY sat for his PSLE.
According to him, the language and Science papers were ok and not too tough, but the Maths paper was a killer. There were several questions which he didn't know how to do at first but managed to figure something out eventually (not sure if answers were correct or not?); there was also one question which he couldn't complete on time.
That the PSLE Maths paper was incredibly difficult is not new; almost every other year, we would hear in the news how some parents would cry foul over such 'unexpected' toughness in the Maths problems. Then, such complaint would inevitably progressed into an argument of sorts as to whether the education system here is 'healthy' etc. What absolute watse of time such ranting always is!
I looked at the Maths question posted on some online forum and found, to my dismay, that I don't seem to be able to work it out myself! Perhaps, if I tried harder using whatever mathematical concepts and skills that remain with me today, I might be able to find a solution somehow. But then, I didn't try harder.
Whatever it is, it looks clear that if this is the type of questions that they pose in the PSLE, the authorities are obviously expecting our 12-year-olds to be calculating at at least the Sec 2 level of our yesteryears (our time). How else could anyone expect the children to be able to apply algebra and simultaneous equations etc, all at one go, to solve this one (out of 18) questions?!
I really hope WY has done well enough to get a decent score. Not only for Maths but all papers. I am not speculating how many 'A's or 'A*'s he will get, but I hope that whatever the results may be, he will remain optimistic and motivated on his learning journey. The PSLE is but only the 1st stop; there are many more to go.
*****************
The current 'headache' for R and myself is the question: SOTA or not?
We have an appointment with the school this Friday for a discussion - we want to know better of its IB Diploma curriculum and assessment schemes etc. Also the music education aspect of schooling there.
Hopefully, we find some answers there and can decide wisely whether or not to proceed with SOTA at end October (decision must be made by then because this is a DSA process!).
According to him, the language and Science papers were ok and not too tough, but the Maths paper was a killer. There were several questions which he didn't know how to do at first but managed to figure something out eventually (not sure if answers were correct or not?); there was also one question which he couldn't complete on time.
That the PSLE Maths paper was incredibly difficult is not new; almost every other year, we would hear in the news how some parents would cry foul over such 'unexpected' toughness in the Maths problems. Then, such complaint would inevitably progressed into an argument of sorts as to whether the education system here is 'healthy' etc. What absolute watse of time such ranting always is!
I looked at the Maths question posted on some online forum and found, to my dismay, that I don't seem to be able to work it out myself! Perhaps, if I tried harder using whatever mathematical concepts and skills that remain with me today, I might be able to find a solution somehow. But then, I didn't try harder.
Whatever it is, it looks clear that if this is the type of questions that they pose in the PSLE, the authorities are obviously expecting our 12-year-olds to be calculating at at least the Sec 2 level of our yesteryears (our time). How else could anyone expect the children to be able to apply algebra and simultaneous equations etc, all at one go, to solve this one (out of 18) questions?!
I really hope WY has done well enough to get a decent score. Not only for Maths but all papers. I am not speculating how many 'A's or 'A*'s he will get, but I hope that whatever the results may be, he will remain optimistic and motivated on his learning journey. The PSLE is but only the 1st stop; there are many more to go.
*****************
The current 'headache' for R and myself is the question: SOTA or not?
We have an appointment with the school this Friday for a discussion - we want to know better of its IB Diploma curriculum and assessment schemes etc. Also the music education aspect of schooling there.
Hopefully, we find some answers there and can decide wisely whether or not to proceed with SOTA at end October (decision must be made by then because this is a DSA process!).
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
中秋节2009
今年，M 和我一起到WF 的学校参加一个下午的庆祝中秋、儿童节的活动。
其实，我知道庆祝活动肯定进行得有点儿‘乱’，也会用上好一些时间，所以，M 一定会觉得不耐烦、觉得她在浪费时间。可是，因为我这段时间没有上班，所以我想参加今年的这个活动，看一看、体会体会WF 在学校里是怎么样庆祝这日子的。
最终，M 接受了WF 的邀请，同意到学校里参加这个‘三代同堂’的庆祝活动。
当天，为了方便，M 和我乘坐德士到学校。我们抵达了一会儿，由老师们呈现的表演节目就开始了。她们又跳又唱，还表演杂技，逗得那些小一、小二的学生乐得不得了。尤其是当同学们看到平日严肃无比的老师们，在一项预先录制好了的录影片中，随着音乐跳啊跳的，大家都笑到‘肚子痛’！
表演完毕后，学生们都排队回到课室。 家长们，则到礼堂外面的走廊，享用茶点。说到茶点，校方真是用心良苦； 他们安排了一些高年级的学长，分发切好了的月饼和柚子给我们。这些同学们，也把杯子递给我们，让我们自己去装热腾腾的中国茶。
M 和我一边吃，一边看看WF 是不是从课室里跑出来了。因为，正当我们吃、喝着，休息的铃声就响了。我们东张西望，一直没见着WF 。于是，M 和我把杯子、碟子放好后，便再一次进到礼堂，找位子坐下，准备做灯笼。
我到礼堂外领取做灯笼的材料。原来，学校也准备了一袋礼包，送给学生们的‘阿公、阿麽’！里面有小月饼，零食，还有两瓶燕窝呢！还蛮细心的，不是吗？
制作灯笼，的确不容易。尤其是和M 一起做，心里的压力更是极大！
老师分了一张纸给我们，上面写着灯笼的制作过程、步骤。M 一看也不看，就只坐在我的正对面，看我七手八脚地把材料翻了又翻，看了又看，不知从哪里先做起！
最后，我们还是东看看、西瞧瞧，一边‘偷看’旁边的人怎么做，一边试着根据那张纸的图，把红纸折折、剪剪，又贴贴的，做得我手忙脚乱！ 还好，老师把礼堂里的冷气开了，我才没有满头大汗！
过了一会儿，WF 也来参加灯笼的制作。我们让WF 用浆糊，把灯笼的一部分材料粘好；这儿数数、那儿粘粘的，把这个小瓜也弄得挺忙的。这时，M 也开始指挥WF 了。
我想，这就是‘三代合力’的一幕吧。 我乘机把这一幕拍了下来。在我们隔壁的一组人，也有样学样，开始拍起照来！
就这样一剪、一贴、一钉的，我们好不容易地终于完成了灯笼！这时，WF 也需要回到课室了。所以，我催着他和M，一起拿着刚出炉的灯笼，拍照留念！因为匆忙得很，手也抖了抖，照片不是很清楚。
在回家的路途中，M 一直唠唠叨叨地说，以后再也不参加这种活动了。 她嫌费时、费力，花时间又‘麻烦’，还说灯笼要的话，买一个就有了！咳，说得我听了都厌烦！
我想，这一次的经验，是难得的。我回到公司上班后，也大概不会特地请假到学校，跟孩子一起来这样制作灯笼。所以，虽然我们的灯笼不是很好看，我还是觉得挺骄傲的。（在制作的过程中，我还因为钉错了灯笼的一部分，必须把材料拆了，重新再做两回，真是考耐力哦！！）
这个灯笼，在中秋节晚上也派上了用场！你看，这不是蛮美的照片吗？！
咦，这么多的月饼，怎么吃得完？！
请别误会，它们有一些是我们买的，有一些则是别人送给CP 的。我们只是把那天晚上，家里所有的月饼，一起拿来合照而已！（还有其他的月饼，早在前一个星期，就和YP 他们大家一起吃完了！还有，我忘了摆上柚子！啊！。。。。）
拍照过后，我们一边吃，一边谈到学校制作灯笼的事儿。 大家最后的结论是：灯笼，亲手做的珍贵，可是，买的更方便！
哈哈哈哈哈，大家笑着把3、4个月饼吞到肚子里去。R, WY 和我还喝了茶润喉 － M 和WF 只喝水，因为M 怕喝茶，会睡不着觉！
即使那天晚上的月亮不是很圆、不是很亮，我们的中秋夜，还算过得不错。
其实，我知道庆祝活动肯定进行得有点儿‘乱’，也会用上好一些时间，所以，M 一定会觉得不耐烦、觉得她在浪费时间。可是，因为我这段时间没有上班，所以我想参加今年的这个活动，看一看、体会体会WF 在学校里是怎么样庆祝这日子的。
最终，M 接受了WF 的邀请，同意到学校里参加这个‘三代同堂’的庆祝活动。
当天，为了方便，M 和我乘坐德士到学校。我们抵达了一会儿，由老师们呈现的表演节目就开始了。她们又跳又唱，还表演杂技，逗得那些小一、小二的学生乐得不得了。尤其是当同学们看到平日严肃无比的老师们，在一项预先录制好了的录影片中，随着音乐跳啊跳的，大家都笑到‘肚子痛’！
表演完毕后，学生们都排队回到课室。 家长们，则到礼堂外面的走廊，享用茶点。说到茶点，校方真是用心良苦； 他们安排了一些高年级的学长，分发切好了的月饼和柚子给我们。这些同学们，也把杯子递给我们，让我们自己去装热腾腾的中国茶。
M 和我一边吃，一边看看WF 是不是从课室里跑出来了。因为，正当我们吃、喝着，休息的铃声就响了。我们东张西望，一直没见着WF 。于是，M 和我把杯子、碟子放好后，便再一次进到礼堂，找位子坐下，准备做灯笼。
我到礼堂外领取做灯笼的材料。原来，学校也准备了一袋礼包，送给学生们的‘阿公、阿麽’！里面有小月饼，零食，还有两瓶燕窝呢！还蛮细心的，不是吗？
制作灯笼，的确不容易。尤其是和M 一起做，心里的压力更是极大！
老师分了一张纸给我们，上面写着灯笼的制作过程、步骤。M 一看也不看，就只坐在我的正对面，看我七手八脚地把材料翻了又翻，看了又看，不知从哪里先做起！
最后，我们还是东看看、西瞧瞧，一边‘偷看’旁边的人怎么做，一边试着根据那张纸的图，把红纸折折、剪剪，又贴贴的，做得我手忙脚乱！ 还好，老师把礼堂里的冷气开了，我才没有满头大汗！
过了一会儿，WF 也来参加灯笼的制作。我们让WF 用浆糊，把灯笼的一部分材料粘好；这儿数数、那儿粘粘的，把这个小瓜也弄得挺忙的。这时，M 也开始指挥WF 了。
我想，这就是‘三代合力’的一幕吧。 我乘机把这一幕拍了下来。在我们隔壁的一组人，也有样学样，开始拍起照来！
就这样一剪、一贴、一钉的，我们好不容易地终于完成了灯笼！这时，WF 也需要回到课室了。所以，我催着他和M，一起拿着刚出炉的灯笼，拍照留念！因为匆忙得很，手也抖了抖，照片不是很清楚。在回家的路途中，M 一直唠唠叨叨地说，以后再也不参加这种活动了。 她嫌费时、费力，花时间又‘麻烦’，还说灯笼要的话，买一个就有了！咳，说得我听了都厌烦！
我想，这一次的经验，是难得的。我回到公司上班后，也大概不会特地请假到学校，跟孩子一起来这样制作灯笼。所以，虽然我们的灯笼不是很好看，我还是觉得挺骄傲的。（在制作的过程中，我还因为钉错了灯笼的一部分，必须把材料拆了，重新再做两回，真是考耐力哦！！）
这个灯笼，在中秋节晚上也派上了用场！你看，这不是蛮美的照片吗？！
咦，这么多的月饼，怎么吃得完？！
请别误会，它们有一些是我们买的，有一些则是别人送给CP 的。我们只是把那天晚上，家里所有的月饼，一起拿来合照而已！（还有其他的月饼，早在前一个星期，就和YP 他们大家一起吃完了！还有，我忘了摆上柚子！啊！。。。。）
拍照过后，我们一边吃，一边谈到学校制作灯笼的事儿。 大家最后的结论是：灯笼，亲手做的珍贵，可是，买的更方便！
哈哈哈哈哈，大家笑着把3、4个月饼吞到肚子里去。R, WY 和我还喝了茶润喉 － M 和WF 只喝水，因为M 怕喝茶，会睡不着觉！
即使那天晚上的月亮不是很圆、不是很亮，我们的中秋夜，还算过得不错。
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Renovations Upstairs!
Last week, one man and a woman came to our place, requesting to view our kitchen and toilet ceilings. They claimed to be the contractors for the unit upstairs, and said that they wanted to see the condition of our ceilings and take photos of them.
As I was in the showers, M didn't just open the door for them. She told them to come again 20 minutes later. They did.
When I answered their knock on our door, I told them that I do not agree to their taking photos although I would not mind letting them view the ceilings. The woman, who was the more 'diplomatic' one, claimed that they would file the photos with HDB so that it would facilitate investigations if any issue should arise from the renovation works that they are going to carry out in the unit above ours.
I told her off, asking her from where there has come such a 'ruling' or regulation. She quickly said sheepishly that there isn't any. These people are really one kind, they probably think they can casually mention 'HDB' and scare me into letting them take photos! Not only did her trick not pull off, I even told her that digital photography these days is so powerful, I wouldn't be sure what will be done to enhance or remove from the photos.
So, after a brief look (the man kept harphing on the brown spot in the kitchen toilet ceiling and the brown stain just at the mouth of the sewerage pipe in the kitchen ceiling, both of which had been around for some time now), they left. But not before I told them off when they tried, once again, to 'scare' me by telling me that the unit is now owned by a new owner (who has engaged them) and so the brown spots should not be regarded as having been caused by them.
"Now, you must be aware that when the new owner bought over the unit, everything about it becomes inherited by him. Any defect whatever, will now be his responsibility!" I told that man, who then shut up.
On Saturday, R and I brought the boys for their usual lessons. M told us later that another couple, this time, the new owners, came and asked to see our ceiling (again!). M correctly declined to let them in.
R and I agreed that we are under no obligation to let anyone to come in to see anything, anymore. And we are both getting very suspicious of this group of 'new owner' stuff. Are they trying to find some excuses to excuse themselves from being reponsible for any damage that they may cause to our ceilings in the course of their renovation works?!!!! Crazy people!
I have decided that I will not hesitate to humiliate them for their stupidity should they come again. And definitely, I will look to HDB should any damage be caused to our ceilings, brown spot existing or otherwise.
As I type now, workers above us are hecking and hammering and drilling away. What a din this is! Fortunately, WY has supplementary lessons today and so will be back only later. Meanwhile, M and I are just trying not to hear the noise........
As I was in the showers, M didn't just open the door for them. She told them to come again 20 minutes later. They did.
When I answered their knock on our door, I told them that I do not agree to their taking photos although I would not mind letting them view the ceilings. The woman, who was the more 'diplomatic' one, claimed that they would file the photos with HDB so that it would facilitate investigations if any issue should arise from the renovation works that they are going to carry out in the unit above ours.
I told her off, asking her from where there has come such a 'ruling' or regulation. She quickly said sheepishly that there isn't any. These people are really one kind, they probably think they can casually mention 'HDB' and scare me into letting them take photos! Not only did her trick not pull off, I even told her that digital photography these days is so powerful, I wouldn't be sure what will be done to enhance or remove from the photos.
So, after a brief look (the man kept harphing on the brown spot in the kitchen toilet ceiling and the brown stain just at the mouth of the sewerage pipe in the kitchen ceiling, both of which had been around for some time now), they left. But not before I told them off when they tried, once again, to 'scare' me by telling me that the unit is now owned by a new owner (who has engaged them) and so the brown spots should not be regarded as having been caused by them.
"Now, you must be aware that when the new owner bought over the unit, everything about it becomes inherited by him. Any defect whatever, will now be his responsibility!" I told that man, who then shut up.
On Saturday, R and I brought the boys for their usual lessons. M told us later that another couple, this time, the new owners, came and asked to see our ceiling (again!). M correctly declined to let them in.
R and I agreed that we are under no obligation to let anyone to come in to see anything, anymore. And we are both getting very suspicious of this group of 'new owner' stuff. Are they trying to find some excuses to excuse themselves from being reponsible for any damage that they may cause to our ceilings in the course of their renovation works?!!!! Crazy people!
I have decided that I will not hesitate to humiliate them for their stupidity should they come again. And definitely, I will look to HDB should any damage be caused to our ceilings, brown spot existing or otherwise.
As I type now, workers above us are hecking and hammering and drilling away. What a din this is! Fortunately, WY has supplementary lessons today and so will be back only later. Meanwhile, M and I are just trying not to hear the noise........
Eve of Hari Raya Puasa 2009
Last Saturday, we had dinner at Long Beach Seafood Restaurant at Kallang. This was YP/BK's treat. CP could not join us, however, because she suddenly came down with a very bad sore throat and flu.
This was my first visit to the place, which had undergone renovations a few years ago. The place looked quite good, considering that its location is really quite 'off' any 'shopable' area. (Its closest neighbours are the McDonald's and KFC.) I especially like the chandelier that was hanging over our table. A bit 'retro' look, right?BK and YP ordered many dishes, including one big black pepper crab and a gigantic butter crab. Dinner went on fine until the chicken came. YP had ordered a salt-baked chicken. So it came encrusted in salt crystals.
After the waitress cracked it open at a counter nearby, she brought the chicken to our table. With a knife and fork, she tried very hard to cut the chicken open. She even asked her colleague later to get her a pair of scissors. Either way, she failed. Then, a senior captain took over the cutting job. He, too, was unsuccessful. At this time, M and I went to the toilet. By the time we returned to the table, the chicken and staff were gone.
To our amusement, YP and the rest updated us that it turned out that the chicken had not been thoroughly cooked! It was still raw, hence the struggle to cut it open! So it had been sent back to the kitchen. What a joke this was, hor - they should have known better than to play-play with the chief inspector of the cookhouses/canteens of the nation's army! Haha....
By then, it was alomst time to leave for our bowling. We had booked the lanes from 8pm and couldn't afford to wait for the chicken. So, notwithstanding all the reassurances of the manager and another waitress that the chicken would be ready 'very soon', we cancelled that chicken item and left the restaurant.
The bowling centre was relatively quiet by the time we got there. After everyone had changed into their shoes, we started our games. The boys occupied one lane while YP, R and I took the other. BK declined to bowl, preferring to sit and chat with M. Later, BK also went shopping for some wine - M later told me that he bought 6 bottles!
The bowling went on ok. About half of the time, I had gutter balls. But I finally got the hang of how my ball would usually roll, so I managed to make some adjustments later.
YP bowled very well. Most of her balls went straight, in the centre of the lane. Like me, R fared badly that night. I think he had more gutters than strikes or spares.
The boys were full of cheers and jeers (camouflaged as cheers, of course) throughout their game. I think WS did quite well. WP kept dropping his ball onto the lane, which then almost always ended up in the gutter. That night, WY didn't bowl well. Somehow, WF also did poorly.
But everyone had fun. Even M had fun watching our balls go into the longkang, poking fun at us, especially me. When our 2-hour booking ended, WP told me, "Sa Yi, this is fun, leh! Next time we must come again!"
I think we will do so after everyone's exams are over. And that will mean sometime in mid-November or so.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Your Story vs Mine
Last Saturday, we went to Kallang Leisure Park for lunch. Its underground carpark was almost filled to its brim and about 6-7 cars ahead of us were queueing to go into the carpark.
As the boys and I were getting rather hungry (they had had CL lessons in the morning), we decided to park at the surface carpark instead. What a waste of time it would be, we thought, to wait in the queue in the hot, hot sun. Afterall, there were plenty of carpark lots in the surface carpark just next to the building.
So, R turned into the surface carpark. We eventually ended up following a black Honda (was it Steam?) and a silver car (I cannot remember what car that was) into this particular lane where there were some trees providing shade to some lots. Very soon, the Black Honda got itself a lot in the shade and reversed into it.
The silver car right behind him waited, of course, till the black Honda was done. Then it lingered a while before moving off again. We waited patiently behind the silver car. R noted that the parking lot next to the black Honda was also under the shade. So R decided that once the silver car was gone, he would take the shady lot next to the black Honda.
Soon enough, the silver car went off. Then, R engaged his reverse gear and was moving back when he realised that the space in the shady lot was in fact quite 'small' and it would be quite a squeeze to park there.
Just then, suddenly, I saw to my horror, a red car reversing right into our front! I started to yell but it was too late. R, who was looking back across his shoulder, turned to see what the commotion was. The red car had struck us on our right corner!!!!
The red car stopped, of course, and immediately went forward again. Then out came its driver. He was a middle-aged man, whose first words were," Aiyoh, so bad, ah? I didn't see you; I just saw a car go by, didn't see you. You also didn't see me, right?"
F*** him! What audacity to say such 'I didn't see you, you also didn't see me' bullshit! The truth is: You revsersed into us!!!! You, Bloody A**hole!
Our car sustained a half-foot long scratch on our front bumper and bad scratches on the front corner of the right headlights cover. The right corner of the bumper looks like its paint has been chiselled/scrapped off! Luckily, there was no dent or broken parts.
R's exchange with the driver took some time. R took some photos of both cars and their respective positions (note: the a**hole had already moved his car forward the minute he hit us!). The bloody a**hole's wife copied R immediately, and went busy shooting photos using her handphone. Then, after exchanging particulars, the a**hole drove off. And we chose another lot and parked there.
Lunch didn't taste so good that day, but the boys cheered up later because they got to play a game of bowling at the bowling centre. I also placed a booking for a bowling session with CP, YP and the gang the following week - I had promised WS and WP that I will bring them bowling one of these days, when we previously told them about WF's party at the bowling centre.
After sending WY and WF to class after the bowling, R and I went to the Nissan workshop to get some advice about the scratches. The discussion with the service staff was rather lengthy (the man was so long-winded!), but conclusion was that he would help us file a report with our insurer (to pre-empt any claim by that a**hole driver of the offending car) and get the mechanic to 'touch-up' the bumper scratch. As for the headlights cover scratch, we will just leave it for now.
The car has, by now, been touched up already. I have yet to see it, though. So I really don't know how well the 'pimple cream' (as R calls it) works for the scratch.
I felt quite helpless when I discussed with R that the a**hole driver of the red car should really be made to pay for 'proper' rectification works to our bumper and headlights cover. But R says that this will be futile because the a**hole is sure to contend that it was more of us bumping into him than he reversing into us.
So, what good is this 'Your Story vs Mine' thing? Even though we know for a fact that ours is The Truth. Got no evidence, so Lies = Truth anyway?! Fed-up!
(This thing makes me wonder why I chose to be a lawyer. And still remain one.... sian, ah!)
As the boys and I were getting rather hungry (they had had CL lessons in the morning), we decided to park at the surface carpark instead. What a waste of time it would be, we thought, to wait in the queue in the hot, hot sun. Afterall, there were plenty of carpark lots in the surface carpark just next to the building.
So, R turned into the surface carpark. We eventually ended up following a black Honda (was it Steam?) and a silver car (I cannot remember what car that was) into this particular lane where there were some trees providing shade to some lots. Very soon, the Black Honda got itself a lot in the shade and reversed into it.
The silver car right behind him waited, of course, till the black Honda was done. Then it lingered a while before moving off again. We waited patiently behind the silver car. R noted that the parking lot next to the black Honda was also under the shade. So R decided that once the silver car was gone, he would take the shady lot next to the black Honda.
Soon enough, the silver car went off. Then, R engaged his reverse gear and was moving back when he realised that the space in the shady lot was in fact quite 'small' and it would be quite a squeeze to park there.
Just then, suddenly, I saw to my horror, a red car reversing right into our front! I started to yell but it was too late. R, who was looking back across his shoulder, turned to see what the commotion was. The red car had struck us on our right corner!!!!
The red car stopped, of course, and immediately went forward again. Then out came its driver. He was a middle-aged man, whose first words were," Aiyoh, so bad, ah? I didn't see you; I just saw a car go by, didn't see you. You also didn't see me, right?"
F*** him! What audacity to say such 'I didn't see you, you also didn't see me' bullshit! The truth is: You revsersed into us!!!! You, Bloody A**hole!
Our car sustained a half-foot long scratch on our front bumper and bad scratches on the front corner of the right headlights cover. The right corner of the bumper looks like its paint has been chiselled/scrapped off! Luckily, there was no dent or broken parts.
R's exchange with the driver took some time. R took some photos of both cars and their respective positions (note: the a**hole had already moved his car forward the minute he hit us!). The bloody a**hole's wife copied R immediately, and went busy shooting photos using her handphone. Then, after exchanging particulars, the a**hole drove off. And we chose another lot and parked there.
Lunch didn't taste so good that day, but the boys cheered up later because they got to play a game of bowling at the bowling centre. I also placed a booking for a bowling session with CP, YP and the gang the following week - I had promised WS and WP that I will bring them bowling one of these days, when we previously told them about WF's party at the bowling centre.
After sending WY and WF to class after the bowling, R and I went to the Nissan workshop to get some advice about the scratches. The discussion with the service staff was rather lengthy (the man was so long-winded!), but conclusion was that he would help us file a report with our insurer (to pre-empt any claim by that a**hole driver of the offending car) and get the mechanic to 'touch-up' the bumper scratch. As for the headlights cover scratch, we will just leave it for now.
The car has, by now, been touched up already. I have yet to see it, though. So I really don't know how well the 'pimple cream' (as R calls it) works for the scratch.
I felt quite helpless when I discussed with R that the a**hole driver of the red car should really be made to pay for 'proper' rectification works to our bumper and headlights cover. But R says that this will be futile because the a**hole is sure to contend that it was more of us bumping into him than he reversing into us.
So, what good is this 'Your Story vs Mine' thing? Even though we know for a fact that ours is The Truth. Got no evidence, so Lies = Truth anyway?! Fed-up!
(This thing makes me wonder why I chose to be a lawyer. And still remain one.... sian, ah!)
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