Nostalgic journey

After sending my car to the workshop this morning, I decided to take the 45-minute walk back to the office. I have done it several times before... it gives me an opportunity to walk through my old neighbourhood, the one that the kids spent their childhood.

Contrary to what many will think, I have nothing but good memories of those years (it's wonderful how my mind can filter out bad and bitter memories). Our apartment was big and always bright and breezy. I spent many lazy afternoons reading on the couch while the kids played with Lego blocks and toy dinosaurs. I was always baking cookies in the kitchen, often delighting the kids by baking their deformed creations in the oven.

Of course, how can I forget the many birthday parties for the boys and their friends, including the cherubic Korean kids next door? Or their first day at pre-school? Or spending hours with the kids in the pool and the spacious yard below... riding bikes or hunting for spiders and caterpillars amongst the bushes.

Today, the neighbourhood looks familiar even though many old buildings have been replaced by spanking new ones. Our old apartment block has already been redeveloped into hundreds of smaller apartments. I was intrigued by the changes around me....

This is where our 7-storey apartment block used to stand.

The old swimming pool is replaced by a huge one surrounded by tall buildings. No more privacy!

One thing that remains unchanged is this little house next door. I remember the little girl Nurul who used to attend the same daycare center as YK. I wonder if she still lives here with her grandparents?

Soon, ominous dark clouds started moving in as I walked down memory lane. Lightning was flashing in the distance yet I was determined to continue walking to the old daycare centre up the hill. That's where YK spent his formative years since he was barely 2 years old. Alas, the daycare centre is no longer there. In its place is a new house.

The daycare centre was torn down and rebuilt into that tall building in the background.

It began to drizzle as I quickened my pace. In the end, I had to abort my walk and run to the bus stop far away. I should know that I can't control the weather or outrun the rain.

I ran past a school ...

...and the row of shophouses. The old MuayThai school where I used to learn Thai boxing is now a Montessori school.

Finally I arrived at the bus-stop and it started pouring!


I boarded the bus in the pouring rain and alighted 2 stops later....


So happy to arrive at the office, safe and dry.

Looks like I made the right decision to give up walking or I'd be drenched (and sorry)...