Swiss privilege

I was doing boarding two nights ago for a Europe-bound flight.
Among the first to board were two men friends in economy class.
Both had Swiss passports and their individual boarding pass in their hands. As I signaled them to proceed, one of them asked, "So how come they asked the Swiss to board first???"
I couldn't understand his question. I told him to repeat.
He said, "Ya, they made the announcement asking Swiss passengers to board first."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

I AM SURE THEY MEANT SUITES.

Reminds me of the joke "Who is Kevin Khoo?"

My new chopper

About half an hour ago something loud and pulsing was emanating from somewhere. But don't know where.

Living here, there are many weird sounds (including a strange knocking sound every damn day from I don't know where too) that I haven't been able to identify.

Anyway this loud sound seemed quite close. Markus was taking a nap so I woke him up.
To be honest it sounded like a helicopter. I never knew HDB blocks have helipad (we are staying at the top floor, incidentally).

Then it got louder and faster. Wah. Helicopter landing already.

Markus was still stoned and tried to listen and identify it. I asked again. He still didn't know. Then it struck me.
I jumped out of bed and ran for the kitchen!
THE NEW WASHING MACHINE!!!!!!

When I got there my MIL was already holding on to the washing machine as it vibrated like crazy. It looked like it was about to take off.....

My FIL/MIL immediately turned off the power to the washing machine.

The same thing happened just this afternoon, on its maiden wash, though not as bsd (because I only spun my clothes at 400). It was loud and it moved further and further away from its original place. I managed to finish the full washing cycle despite that. We thought the plastic cups it was standing on wasn't stable so my FIL changed it to bricks. )It's in the bathroom so the in-laws decided to put it up at a height.)

Tonight there was another small load of laundry to do so we decided to try it at 1000 spin speed, totally forgetting what had happened  in the afternoon.

So anyway back to where we were when everyone had gathered in the bathroom - my FIL concluded the machine probably can't sit at a height so he removed the bricks. We turned on the power again and the machine remembered where it last stopped. 5 more minutes to go. Markus said we can go back to the room while we wait but I thought since it's just 5 minutes, why not wait.

Thankfully we did.

As the machine got into momentum again for its final spin, it got crazy loud again and shook so hard. It looked like the motor powering the washer is a Rolls Royce Trent. Madness.

Must return this tomorrow.

DXB

First time at this hotel.
It is so fancy it has its own ice-skating rink!

Yesterday I heard about one of my favorite Captains being involved in a serious road acccident in Malaysia. His right arm was so badly injured that it had to be amputated. It's incredibly shocking to know that I won't be flying with him anymore... and it just upsets me that such a thing can happen to such a nice person. He's always jovial and easy-going. But I'm sure even this will not be easy for him.

And hours later, came news that a senior colleague of mine had a stroke.

This is barely two weeks after the headline-grabbing news of a colleague's death overseas.

This is goodbye

 Junction of Everitt Road and Koon Seng Road. 

Today is my last day renting the room I was living in for the last 5.5 years.
I will miss this neighbourhood very much.
From seeing tourists come by with their cameras and tourist guide books for the conservation houses to the Peranakan food to the handsome dogs that people walk daily.... and most of all, the peace..... all these I will miss from the heartlands.

Thankful that for most of my time here in Singapore in the last 8.5 years, I've had the opportunity to live and experience life here.

Closing another chapter in life. 

1 of 5

Le sigh.

We will be patient. We will wait.

Damn droshophilas

I had many an encounter with Drisophila melanogaster during my uni days. They were the most common thing to be bred in labs. This fly is probably the only thing that isn't a bacteria whose scientific name every science student knows.

They're back to haunt me again.
Because this house is always well-stocked with fruits, these damn drosophilas are breeding fast and they're everywhere. Once my standby is over tonight, Imma go buy some apple cider vinegar and make traps.