細水長流

Amidst packing to migrate, I took a break to attend 戲劇合 “噓．．．与社區有約” [Drama Box's "Shh... a date with the community"], a public theatre performance last weekend. Click here for information about the censorship on the original production planned.

I enjoyed the performance. The Forum Theatre segment got the audience involved in thinking of and presenting alternative solutions. IMHO, it is an excellent stimulus for thinking deeper about issues. Perhaps with more such community stimuli, Singapore may someday develop into a truly cosmopolitan city -- not one with only a cosmopolitan facade that hides its parochial attitudes.

At the sing-along session, the oldies reminded me of songs that I learnt during schooldays. One particular song “細水長流”* made me all misty-eyed.


* Note: “細水長流” literally means "small streams of water flows continuously" and refers figuratively to "friendship runs deeply". The English equivalent of the above song would be "Those were the days". Ahh, another memory filled song for me.

The Little Prince

Re-read The Little Prince [Le Petit Prince] by Antoine de Saint-Exupery before giving it away. I love the story for its observations about human behaviour. There are several parallels in my life too. E.g. The narrator who gave up drawing at a young age. E.g. The little prince's feelings as he was about to leave his planet.

He believed that he would never want to return. But on this last morning all these familiar tasks* seemed very precious to him.

*Note: The "familiar tasks" refer to cleaning his home planet and putting it in order.

Packing memories

I spent the day packing, but only managed to clear 1 drawer (49.5cm L x 35cm W x 35.5cm H) of stuff. The problem with packing is the memories. Of who I was, my old interests/hobbies, my old habits, etc. Of people whom I encountered in life... there must be thousands of them by now. And some who walked-in and stayed.

It's hard to describe the feeling. Perhaps this song by 张艾嘉 - “飞向异乡的747” [Sylvia Chang - “747 to an alien land”] comes close.