梦见爸爸

昨天做了个很奇怪的梦。
梦中迷迷糊糊的来到父亲工作的小贩摊位，看到爸爸如往常般面对着墙壁，起劲的在煮炒。我叫了几声爸爸，但都没得到回应。
我潜意识中还明瞭这只是梦境，不可能是真的，因为爸爸已经去世好几年了。为了求证，我伸手试图拍了拍爸爸的肩膀；原以为应该好像电影情节，我的手会透过爸爸的肩膀，摸不着。出乎意料的，我居然摸到了爸爸硬硬的肩膀，但他还是没有回过头来看我！
我顿时慌了！真的是爸爸回来了吗？为什么他不回头来看我呢？生气了吗？为什么生气呢？。。。接下来犹如电影场景突然换画，一切影像都消失得无影无踪。而我又仿佛掉进另外一个梦境去了！

已经好久没有梦见爸爸。

上一次梦见爸爸时，又是另外一种意境。在梦境中，我出现在一个寂静的小村落。青绿的草地铺盖着黄泥，稀疏的茅草屋分布在整个村落的几个角落，淡淡的轻烟弥漫整个空间。突然间发现爸爸独自朝村落的某一个方向走去。我匆忙的跟上去，问爸爸要往那里去；他只是看着我，没有回答我的问题。我再问他，需要我陪他一起步行过去吗，他只是嘴唇稍微掂开，发出无声的微笑，转过身子，继续向前走，渐渐消失在我眼前。。。（也就在这时候，我从梦中醒来！）

对于爸爸，总觉得有很多亏欠。很怀念陪他去吃夜宵的那段日子：中学时，先是他用摩托车载我；直到我考上驾车执照，家里拥有车后（已经是念大学的时候），便轮到我载他去夜宵。往往父亲都是在晚上11点后才回家。而我也会特地熬夜，等到他骑着摩多车回家，再询问他要不要去夜宵。其实我们彼此也没有多说什么话，只是为彼此添饭盛茶，而时间也慢慢的在彼此无形的关怀中流逝。

First camera

In my early childhood days, my family never owned any camera. The only photos that were captured were those of family or wedding photos. I still remember the old black and white family photo hanging on the wall in my parents bedroom, with my siblings and I crowding around my parents, wearing new dresses/clothes with hair meticulously combed. The photo was taken in a photo shop in town. The other occasions for photo taking was during prize presentation for being the top three students in classes during primary school years. All the students would line up in front of the camera, with headmaster on the extreme end, for the shot. Those photos were again in black and white only.

Family photo

Taken in Primary One

The first time I had a hands-on experience with camera was during Primary 5. For some unknown reason, my sister and I decided to rent a camera from a camera-cum-photography shop in town to try out photography (snapping pictures of ourselves). Needless to say, all of us (the siblings) were very excited. We had to learn how to operate the camera - "always remember to wind the handle after every shot"-  reminded the shop owner. Of course, he loaded the roll of film into the camera for us. We took 24 photos (as we only bought one roll of film) on that day. We took some photos at home, and cycled to a bungalow nearby for shots in the garden.

I bought my first camera (probably the first for the family too, I think) when I came to Singapore with my fellow classmates for the Asean Scholarship interview (after completing Form 5). I bought a simple / compact point and shoot Yashica camera then - nothing fanciful, but I was nevertheless thrill by the thoughts of owning a camera finally. But of course, I didn't make much use of it because the cost of purchasing rolls of films and developing the photos was quite daunting for penniless students. After I graduated and started to work, I bought a Fuji compact camera (took some snapshots of houseman canteen and houseman quarters), and subsequently a Canon DSLR camera (just in time for courtship and subsequently honeymoon). When the kids came along, I found that carrying the Canon DSLR camera with its lens was rather cumbersome, particularly when you had to attend to the kids and their belongings. I eventually settled for another compact Fuji Camera when I was studying in United States. The old Canon camera had been left rusting away in the store room since 1997.

Digital camera begins to rule the world in year 2000. I bought a compact Canon digital camera in year 2000. It worked for about 2-3 years, then the sliding cover for the lens started to cause problem (unable to close and open smoothly, despite replacement). I bought another Canon camera (which is still working to date),  followed by a Sony cybershot (for my daughter Chengyee, but it was damaged by sand particles during our trip to Kangaroo Island, Australia), a Fuji Prosumer camera (given to Cheng Yee) and a Sony Prosumer Camera (used by yours truly). For all intent and purposes, my current Sony camera has served its function very well. It can zoom up to 30x, and does not require any changes in lens. The thoughts of buying a higher end mirrorless camera flash through my minds several times; but ultimately I feel that I don't need a flashy camera to take good photos, but rather the energies to overcome the inertia of venturing outdoors for photography!

Glimpses of my neighbourhood

I have been staying in my new home for over 6 months. The surrounding of my new neighbourhood is rather tranquil and refreshing. The housing estate has been there for over 50 years (if I am not mistaken), but I am pleasantly surprised by how well the place is maintained. It even has bonsai-like plants decorating one corner of the estate!

The old housing estate

The condominium that I am staying is located along Geylang River. Jogging trails have been built along both sides of the river, for the convenience of the residents nearby.

The condominium I am staying in

My unit is facing the river; the jogging trail along the river bank

Seats along the jogging trail

Boat park along the river bank - for rangers to inspect/clear the river

The view from my balcony is a panacea for stressful mind...

The walkway leading to our condominium is rather picturesque.

Best of all, the famous hawker centre which serves sumptous and delicious foods and two Circle Line MRT stations are within walking distance from my place of residence.

Walking towards hawker centre

Enough said. What else can I complain?