Sis as usual after confirming a time, will change (not her fault, I know..but still..). Anyways, from initially 5pm, the plan was changed to 6pm. I know they'll arrive late as usual, so I decided 2 leave house @ 5.30pm. I had a bad migraine since I woke up. 2hrs b4 leaving, I popped a panadol & sleep, hoping 2 sleep the migraine off, but.. Oh well, I was hoping I cld make bro drive instead, unfortunately we (kids) hav dis hereditary IQ disease of being able 2 come up wif brilliant impromptu excuses 2 evade driving "Da..I dunno the place..I didn't bring my glasses.." *wink* So I drove nevertheless, a slow drive.
Unfortunately, the traffic lights decided 2 play catching wif me. So I had 2 stop at every traffic light along the journey! But it's ok, it's cool. By 5.55pm, I was juz abt 2 hit the ECP only! The moment I was on the ECP, I drove like a maniac (till mom had 2 warn me "it's ok, dun rush"..but when I glanced @ the speedometer, I was juz @ 90km/h!!). My sms beeped, I think sis & bro-in-law muz've reached 1st, coz I tol her whoever reaches 1st, giv a tinkle. As luck wld hav it, the moment I exit Rochor Rd & proceeded 2wards a jammed stretch of road towards Beach Rd, the moment I managed 2 painstakingly take the extreme left lane (2 make a left as we go downhill), car in front of me went 2 the 2nd lane (where I was), and tadaaa - There was a Merc wif hazard lights on, wif a lady driver inside on her mobile! Now we noe y the jam, y all those who selfishly didn't wanna giv way 4 ppl 2 get 2 the left lane but the moment dey were further in front, dey changed back 2 the lane dey came from! And der I was, stuck downhill, wif no space 2 go left or rite as there were vehicles close behind me! I tol mom 2 call sis 2 forewarn dem dat we'll be late (guess wat, dey also hadn't reached yet!! Dat was almost 6.08pm!!). So I patiently hand signalled dem to move to the right. 1 by 1 dey did. Then 1 bus was smart enuf not 2 move 2 near me, so I got the space 2 reverse (fooohhh!!! I dun recall learning - theory nor practical - how to reverse on a downhill slope, so dat was challenging!!). Once I've space 2 filter 2 my right, the nxt hurdle is 2 get at least 1 courteous driver on the nxt lane on my right 2 giv way 2 me so I can filter!!!! I thank d bus driver for blocking the nxt lane by inching 4ward as tho he wanna filter, but didn't, only so I cld move 1st since no 1 was giving me way! My colleague Roshni was so right -> DRIVING IN S'PORE IS SO STRESSFUL! I cleared dat hurdle, awrite. Proceeded 2 turn left, den as I enter the stupidly-steeply-slopy carpark, a long stretch of cars was awaiting. And den, as the car in front of me (I was oso such a duh, coz I was 2 close 2 it!) started rolling back (poor clutch balancing)..my mom @ the back seat was freaking!! Since d car didn't seem 2 stop rolling (tho it was a slow speed. every inch & every second was crucial!) I had 2 honk so dat he'd realise he was rolling b/wards! I tol mom "it's ok Ma, it happens, sometimes I may be in such situations too..the car muz be manual & he/she muz be as bad wif clutch-balancing as I am, so it's really awrite." We went all the way 2 Level 7 to park!!!
We proceeded 2 Sofra Turkish Cafe & Rest & got seated [reservations made :>)] while waiting 4 sis & bro-in-law. Dey came abt 15mins after us. By den, we oredi decided on our orders. We all came up wif a strategy of taking different food, so we can test-taste as many food on the menu as possible. I repeated my Chicken&Cheese Pide, bro had Lamb Oven Kofte (which was yummy, will hav dat the nxt time I go!). Mom, sis & bro-in-law had Chicken Doner Rice & Lamb Doner Rice respectively. Desserts, I had Rice Pudding, bro had Asure (mixed fruits) & sis & bro-in-law had Dessert Plate (combination of 3 desserts - Pumpkin, Balaklava & Dried Fig). Oh yeah, how can I 4get, we snapped some pics too (Dad played us out, so mom snapped a pic wif Mr Dino instead!) Der u go..my complete family! Heehee. We tot of catching a movie, but all the timings were after 9pm..it was only 8pm, duh..so we called it a day & headed 4 home instead!!
Another hurdle on the road, my car was stuck like earlier coz der car in front of me stopped @ the right turning box & the driver was seen arguing wif the police & army on duty. We were wondering if the U-Turn is blocked der 4 some reason, or was it an accident. After 10mins, I checked wif the army on duty if the commotion in front of me was an accident or an argument over not being able to U-Turn. The army confirmed can't U-Turn, so dat meant I cant U-Turn 2 Middle Rd, (road closure due 2 National Day rehearsal ?) so I cant go by my normal route (ECP), so I had 2 take a left & go via Guilemard Rg. Agn, no complaints, stupid as I am, I juz turned left, & we try 2 find an alternative route via Guilemard Rd. Nerve-wrecking, coz I'm bad wif direction & I'm night-blind, but we didn't get lost & found PIE (Changi Airport). Reached home safe & sound arnd 9pm, only 2 hav Mom point out dat 2day was the 1st day in my life, I didn't lose my cool on the road!!! I was patient & positive wif all the hurdles. I nvr got angry wif any drivers & I was so accomodating. Hmmm...I wonder if the car-signs really worked 2 calm me down knowing dat if any1 honks, my new car-signs "I'm Always Right!" & "Honk your brains out..It wont take too long!" wld giv the honkers my exact sentiments, so I dun even need 2 react!!
I began pondering abt mom's observation..&..I realised I turned 29 for a reason. The best b'day gift I got was from Allah - patience. Btr late than nvr..I gained patience at age 29!? Yes, I noticed, I'm calmer, more patient & no longer brash w.e.f 25 Jun 2005! Finally! Insyallah, I hope dis patience remain wif me til eternity. THANK YOU ALLAH..4 a gift I nvr imagined!
THANK U ALL..4 the wishes, gifts, prayers & thoughts!
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