I am tired. Very tired. I think my body is starting to rebel against flying. I'm starting to develop back problems and the discomfort is depriving me from my sleep during the flight. It was a long flight back. I managed to watch 4 movies, which is a bad sign because I am usually "lights-out before take-off" sort of traveller. Now I am already starting to dread my flight back to SA.
There was this middle-aged Singaporean man seated one away from me. He was reading this Chinese (Singapore) newspaper and for most of the time, I was in 'ignore' mode. Chinese newspaper just don't gel with me.
At one point, I don't know what made me turn my head to the left, and suddenly, there it was, this huge half-page orbituary of my grandmother! I was so shocked! What are the odds of having someone reading a local-Singapore newspaper sitting next to you AND to turn your head that one time only to have the orbituary of your grandmother staring right to your face.... uncanny!
So I asked to borrow the newspapers just so that I could have a look at the orbituary. I could not understand those funny squiggles called Chinese characters, but I managed to identify my own name. I gave up trying to comprehend what was written and I thanked the guy for the newspapers as returned it back to him.
I was not surprised that it was a good half-page orbituary. I was more surprised it is not a full-page spread. I mean, hello? We are talking about my relatives here? Conspicuous means a form of 'grand' respect. But hey! I only got to see the Chinese version remember? I learnt later when I arrived home, there was another 1/2 page spread in the English version and additional 2 x 1/2 pages of condolences by the uncles' companies. I think it was first and fourth uncle?
I learnt something else as well.... the cost of printing orbituaries! Hmmm... let's see... SIN$7,000 for 1/2 page in Chinese newspaper.
SIN$11,000 for 1/2 page & $23,000 for full-page, both for English newspapers.
And we thought death is cheap?
And it was back to movie, and more movies, twitching quite violently to find a comfort position for my back, and more movies and twitching... all the way back to Singapore.
0650 hours : Good morning Singapore!
I'm back at this sickeningly humid country. I could feel the unfamiliar layer of invisible humid membrane the moment I stepped out of the airport. My lard was (and still is) melting and I was certain that someone could (and still can) do a stir-fry from the oil accumulating on my face. I couldn't breathe. I felt like I was going to die from humidity.
God I hate Singapore's weather.
Either gag me or shoot me, but it will be me and my incessant complains of the heat and humidity for the next few days to come.
Weather complains a side.
First thing first, to pay my first respects to grandma. Quite strange, really. How do I say it? Ok... so I saw her body lying in the coffin. She looked peaceful. It was like.... she was just having another nap on a dreadfully hot day. It was like... fact : grandma's dead. Fiction : She is having a nap. I suspect in a funny sort of way, the impact of her death has yet to hit the family. It seemed more like a family reunion party rather than a funeral. Never mind there are over 150 wreaths surrounding the two houses and the fact that her body is laying in the coffin, it was food and wine party as the night progressed. Peace before storm syndrome? I think the hard reality will hit tomorrow....
ME and Jo dropped by the wake and it was so nice to see them again! I did the disappearing act of going for supper and we had a nice chat at a nearby food centre. I indulged in my favourite oyster omelette and egg prata, and it was so nice seeing them again. It did feel kind of strange seeing them here in Singapore but it was really great to see them both again.
It is past 2 a.m. now and definitely in the zone. Lack of sleep, a party-funeral, bad stomach and hot weather is a bad combination for the one who is jet-lagged. I doubt I make much sense in this blog having typed it at 2 different time of the day. Maybe reality will hit later if things start making sense....
Someone remind me.... but what am I here for?
