The only evidence I have of the last visit were photos taken then. I suspect I couldn't have been more than 10 years of age.
As the mini bus entered the holy grounds, men in blue with bright orange vests wielded their light sabres towards the right direction. 2 frozen gurkhas were spotted along the drive in. The carpet grass kept impeccable for a ready game of golf looked soft enough to cushion my sleepy body. As the bus bumped over the metal tracks at the entrance, a sudden sense of exhilaration overwhelmed me. I was at the Istana. Almost as if I'd never been there. And at the invitation of the President.
The first thing I noted after getting off the bus was the tentage. Oddly enough, the only photos I have of the event were the tentage. Taken for reference of my own use on 1 October. Did not think of snapping any for memories sake or evidence of being present.
I could have been in Hollywood or something. Celebs never quite impressed me as much as the people who safeguarded the nation of my birth. Directors of this association and that board were mingling with strangers I'd never seen. MPs started streaming in unannounced, followed by the Cabinet ministers. By the time the SAF Drama and Music Vocal Ensemble shorties ended their string of acapellas, the VVIPs were still not in sight.
The birthday cake was huge by normal standards. Easily half a metre in length, with buildings on it which was supposed to form the city landscape of Singapore I think. Throngs of people were trying to snap pictures of it and with it. On such an occasion, even a cake can become a star. Midway through the frenzy of photo-taking, a chef and his assistant appeared out of nowhere to remove one of the buildings and touch up the cake, under the directions of what looks like an admin or liaison officer. There must obviously have been a geographical flaw in it.
A regurgitation of names and salutations shifted everyone's focus towards the flight of stairs leading down to the crowd. The VVIPs - Prez and missus, PM and missus, SM and missus, and MM (the absence of his missus significantly apparent) were made to stand abreast on the stairs facing the crowd to hear Joi Chua and Hady Mirza belt out the theme song for the year. The arrangement felt strangely bewildering to me. Then the cake was pushed in front of them for the birthday song. Still facing the crowd. Another strange occurrence.
As the emcee announced the commencement of the function, the guests immediately split into 2 camps. One moved towards the VVIPs moving down the stairs, the other swiftly made up the queue for the food line. I hung around the group that PM had to make a bee-line for to network with, with the slightest hope to shake his hand and for him to remember me for the wedding invitation that he couldn't take up. Alas, being the timid fan who have no wish to tussle with the other grassroots there for his attention, I remained behind the crowd, just hoping.
Similarly when Grace Fu was right in front of me, when George Yeo strode past to take his leave, when Khaw Boon Wan was just a 10m dash away, I had the impulse to repeat a stance from a time in my younger days. Sprint up behind them, tap the person on the shoulder, and go "I like you very much. Can I shake your hand?"
What an embarrassment I'd have been. So, no more of such impulse. Just gazing is good enough for me.
The only evidence that I was really there...
From left: Calefare 1, calefare 2, Joi Chua, Mrs Lam, Dr Lam Pin Min
Yeo Cheow Tong? Is that guy still around? I thought he worked for the Riadys?
ReplyDeleteyou're right! i meant george yeo. wrong yeo :)
ReplyDeleteThere's a big difference between George Yeo and Yeo Cheow Tong. Glad to hear it was George Yeo you were writing about. I really enjoy your blog. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteMy book: Escape from Paradise