It has been a rainy Sunday
here in Singapore. I like the rain and clouds on the Island for whilst it
doesn’t exactly cool the place down – the heat is a little less stifling and
more bearable.
As is normally the case now,
I awakened very early and did my usual volunteer cooking for the old and the
poor people – then I took some time just pottering around my tiny apartment
cleaning things up and readying myself for the coming working week. I don’t
really mind the vacuuming and mopping and wiping down of surfaces – but I have
put off the ironing of my shirts until this evening.
I don’t like ironing.
I then rode my bicycle over
to Starbucks where I had some toast with vegemite and a couple of double shot
vanilla lattes and I caught up on the local news. Reading the Straits Times is
entertaining and enlightening and whilst much of the real news is censored – it
gives me a snapshot of what is going on.
I read with great interest
that the emotional issue regarding Singaporeans has again reared its ugly head
and the Government is about to launch another campaign to try to do something
about it.
The Singaporean government
loves a good campaign.
So do I.
The emotional issue to which
I refer relates to findings from research that was conducted last year by
Gallup and was published in many newspapers around the world. The Gallup survey
found that, ‘only 36% of Singaporeans report feeling positive or negative
emotions on a daily basis’. This ranked the Island as ‘the most
emotionless society in the world’.
Gallup is not the sound of
horses running – that is gallop. Gallup is a market research company founded in
the 1930’s in the US by a bloke named George Gallup. George wanted to discover
what people thought about a variety of different things and he did this by
asking a lot of questions. I very much like the concept as I too also like to
talk to people about what they think about things and I ask a lot of questions.
Tragically – at least from my perspective – George made a fortune from his
questions – but many people just think I am
weird.
There is a fine line that
separates fortune from folly.
The Gallup report went viral
around the world and became a hot topic here in Singapore. Bloomberg published
some articles on the Gallup findings - which added to the fire. Bloomberg are
not a type of flowering hamburger – they are an American media company that
focus on the financial sector. One of the quotes from Bloomberg that I read
this morning – whilst sipping on my second coffee – stated that, ‘If
you measure Singapore by the traditional indicators, they look like one of the
best run countries in the world …. but if you look at everything that makes
life worth living, they’re not doing so well’
I looked around Starbucks
after I read this and the place was very crowded but there was not a great deal
of emotion being expressed. There were some smiles on a few people’s faces but
there was no weeping. I did notice a group of sweaty English tourists who
appeared to be moaning about the price of coffee but that was really the only
emotion I could notice.
Emotions are who we are. We
are formed by what we desire and we are shaped by what we experience.
Si vis amari, ama – if you wish to be loved – love.
The subject matter was of
great interest to me and I probed deeper into the publications online. The
questions put to people in the Gallup survey included “Did you feel well-rested
yesterday?” “Were you treated with respect all day yesterday?” and “Did you
smile or laugh a lot yesterday?”
Everyone around me at
Starbucks seemed to be immersed in serious conversations or engrossed in their
own little worlds and while I was literally bursting to ask some of them this
question set I decided to ride home and go and see my own happiness consultant
– the manager of my Building complex – the very strange but somehow endearing Mr.
Tan.
I departed to Starbucks on my
bicycle this morning through the rear gate of the complex to avoid the two
security guards of the complex in which I live – they are both Indian guys
named Raj. I try and avoid them because they insist on saluting me whenever
they see me – and I find it a bit uncomfortable and embarrassing now. I have
told them to please stop but they simply refuse. They are very nice men though
and I like them a lot.
I however returned through
the main front entrance to say hello – and because it is more convenient to access
Mr. Tan’s office.
At the security gatehouse I
dismounted my bicycle and was greeted by both Rajs. As is always the case, they
were beaming and they snapped into immediate and magnificent salutes.
“Good be morning and
gidday to you Mr. Peter”
one Raj said.
“Gidday morning Mr. Peter” said the other.
“At ease and good morning
to you both” I smiled.
As I have already mentioned -
but I will repeat - I really like these guys and I am delighted that they are
adopting the Australian that I am teaching them. I sometimes like to repeat
myself in my writing. I don’t know why.
I sometimes like to repeat
myself in my writing. I don’t know why.
Fuck – I did it again.
The two Rajs are Sikh Indian
chaps - so they are bearded and wear
beautiful turbans - and they are definitely not emotionless. I always find them
to be very happy and cheerful and I enjoy their company very much.
“We have not being seeing
you for much longness Mr. Peter have you being undertaking your worldliness of
traveling in a manner that is bonzer?”
a Raj asked.
“I have Raj” I responded.
“I have just returned from
a quick visit to Lahore in Pakistan”
Both Rajs immediately frowned
in what I assume was concern. They come from a region that is very close to the
Pakistan border and both men served in the Indian army. There is a great deal
of animosity between Pakistan and India and there is much bombing and shooting
of each other in this particular area.
“It is alright Raj – I was
in no danger and I do not think I have to go back any time soon”
“May I ask you a couple of
quick questions?” I
added.
“Most certainly Mr. Peter” a Raj responded.
“Did you feel well-rested
yesterday?”
“It was our off day Mr.
Peter and we were mosted rested”
a Raj replied.
Residents of Singapore refer
to their day of non-work as their ‘off day’. I always have a little internal
giggle when I hear this as to we Australians an ‘off day’ is a ‘bad day’. It is
when unpleasant shit happens and we feel – well off.
I digress.
“Were you treated with
respect all day yesterday Mr. Raj and Mr. Raj?”
This question bizarrely
triggered an immediate salute from one of the Rajs and I had to order him to
stand at ease. I hate doing this but it is the only way to make them stop.
“We are always being
respectful Mr. Peter”
“I know you are Raj – you
guys are the most respectful men that I know - but were you treated with
respect?”
“The Danelander man has
been calling us modderfokkers still Mr. Peter” the other Raj replied.
“But we are being respectfulness
of him at all times”
The Danelander man referred
to by the Raj is my insane Danish neighbour Jens. He is a story unto himself
and all that you need to know is that he is certifiably mad. I have reassured
the Rajs that he calls everyone modderfokkers and not to worry too much about
it.
“OK – did you two laugh or
smile a lot yesterday?”
“We are being smiling many
times on our off day Mr. Peter. We were in our temple and are always being smiling
there”
“I thought so” I said.
“Thanks Mr. Raj and Mr.
Raj. Do you know if Mr. Tan is in his office?”
“He is being there Mr.
Peter” replied a Raj.
This did not surprise me.
Despite it being Sunday Mr. Tan seems to always be at work. According to the
Gallup Poll on Global Emotions, Singapore’s more than five million residents
work on average 46.6 hours per week. This is the most for any country on the
planet. Despite these long hours – of which I too am a victim – only 2% of the
Island’s workforce describe themselves as being ‘engaged by their jobs’. The
global average is 11%.
That means on average 89% of
the employed people in the world are not engaged with their work.
It is no wonder there are so
many wars and conflicts and people shooting each other and blowing things up.
“Alright I will pop in and
see him then. Thanks very much my friends. I
will see you later”
I wheeled my bicycle up the
driveway and ignored the departure saluting of the security guards. I presume
and hope that once I am out of sight the Rajs eventually cease their
salutations.
I parked my bicycle in the
foyer of my apartment and I strolled to the Building Manager’s office. The door
was closed so I knocked and then I walked straight in. Mr. Tan was sitting
reclined in his office chair and he was trimming his nose hair with a small
pair of scissors. My sudden entry obviously surprised and alarmed him and he
squealed at my unexpected entry as the scissors jerked up into his nasal
cavity.
Blood started flowing.
“Jaysus Mr. Tan I am
sorry” I said – and I
rushed to his side.
“It is alright Mr. Peter” he replied – as he reached around to
open his desk drawers where he fumbled about and found a packet of tissues.
It was not all right.
Blood was streaming from his
right nostril.
This is the second time that
I have inadvertently caused – or contributed to an injury to Mr. Tan. We
previously head butted each other when Mr. Tan leaned over me whilst I was
dozing by the pool. It was a few weeks back and the incident resulted in an
injury that caused some minor bruising to my forehead but hospitalized the
Building Manager.
It was a most unfortunate and
a quite accidental event that I will not elaborate further on here.
I stood patting Mr. Tan on
the shoulder while he remained seated and he wadded his nose with tissues. He
wanted to stand but I had to gently restrain him. Patting him was as much as I
could do and while I had a compelling desire to say ‘there there’ to him I did
not.
“Is everything OK Mr.
Peter?” Mr. Tan
enquired.
This is a question that he
asks often of me. Mr. Tan is a fairly constant worrier and I think that this is
an emotion that I most associate him with.
He is an excellent Building
Manager.
“Everything is quite OK
thank you Mr. Tan. I just thought I would drop by and ask you a couple of questions
but they can wait until another time. I am so sorry that I barged in and
startled you”
“It is quite all right Mr.
Peter please ask me the questions”
Mr. Tan is such a polite and
well-mannered man – he really is very endearing.
“No really Mr. Tan they
can wait until another time”
I was quite concerned at the
amount of blood that was coming from the Building Manager’s nose.
“Should we take you to the
doctor?” I asked.
“It is fine thank you Mr.
Peter – I have just nicked the inside of my nose”
He had now stuffed a rolled
tissue up his nostril and it was impeding his voice. Had I not been so
concerned it may well have been a comical sight.
“Please ask me your
question Mr. Peter” Mr.
Tan repeated.
“Have the painters been
disturbing your peace? Is Mr. Jens again drunk by the pool? Are there more
cockroaches in your apartment?”
he asked with no small degree of anxiety.
These were all very relevant
questions from Mr. Tan and are a testament to his proficiency as a Building
Manager. There are painters currently at the complex. They are painting the
outside of the building but they have not disturbed me in any way - primarily
because I have been away. I also did find Jens collapsed in a drunken state by
the pool the other morning and I once sighted a random cockroach in my
apartment. The drunken and unconscious Jens is a common sight and is rarely a
problem for me – and even though I do not like cockroaches – I have only ever
seen one. However I raised the matter at the Owners and Tenants Committee – and
fumigation of all common areas has already been completed.
“No I have no problems at
all with the Painters, Jens or cockroaches Mr. Tan, I was merely interested in
your opinion on a survey of the emotions of Singaporeans that I have just read
about. But it really can wait until another time”
“Emotions Mr. Peter?”
“Emotions Mr. Tan” I repeated.
“What are your questions
Mr. Peter?”
The blood flow seemed to have
subsided a bit now.
“Please take a seat Mr.
Peter”
He gestured to a chair on the
opposite side of his desk and I stopped patting him on the shoulder and sat
down.
“Well Mr. Tan I am curious
to know a couple of things from your perspective. First off did you feel
well-rested yesterday?”
There was a bit of a pause of
deliberation.
“No I am not well rested
Mr. Peter. The painting is causing many problems with the residents and for me”
“I am sorry to hear that
Mr. Tan – how about respect then? Were you treated with respect all day
yesterday?”
There was another pause.
“Mostly not I am afraid Mr.
Peter. Some residents have complained about the painters and Mr. Jens swore at
me many times yesterday”
“I am again sorry to hear
that Mr. Tan but we both know that Jens is a crazy fucker and he swears at
everybody. You must not take it personally nor take him seriously. I think it
is a Danish thing”
Mr. Tan nodded a grave
affirmation and he replaced the blood soaked tissue wad with another. The
bleeding had seemed to diminish and I was quite disgusted by the sight but
given I was the root cause I pushed away my revulsion.
“ Do you recall if you
smiled or laughed a lot yesterday Mr. Tan?”
There was a much longer
deliberative pause this time and I could see the Building Manager mentally
running through his yesterday.
“No I did not Mr. Peter” he eventually replied.
I suspected that would be his
answer. In my now long association with Mr. Tan I cannot recall him smiling
much – or if ever.
He is a very serious dude.
We chatted for a while about
some mundane things and I hung around until the nosebleed abated.
I then bid Mr. Tan a fond
farewell and I shook his clammy little hand and apologized once again for
startling him whilst he had scissors up his nose.
I have now returned to the
sanctuary of my apartment to think about all this and to write it all down.
It has triggered some
reflection and introspection.
I feel relief that there is
no hatred in my life and gratitude at the many fortunes that have fallen my
way. I feel great pride in my children and I feel unfathomable joy in
witnessing the adults that they have become. There is remorse of course for
many things that cannot be undone – but we all have that.
Vonnegut wrote, “Of all
the words of mice and men, the saddest are ‘what might have been’”
Nice one Kurt.
The world is a lesser place
without you.
I guess the overriding
emotion though is love. Boundless and unconditional love for my family
and the closest of my friends – and this is the one thing that over washes all
other emotions.
It is the main thing.
It is the everything.
Speaking of love
my beautiful and delightful and most favourite niece Georgina sent me an SMS late
the other night that said “Hi Uncle Peter
– I demand you write a blog about me – that is all”. I replied, “Sure Princess, give me a day or two to come
up with something appropriate xx”. I received a follow up a yesterday
saying, “Where’s my blog?”
Here it is baby.
Well sort of.
Yes - because you
demanded it and who am I to deny my very favourite niece? I love and adore you and I am conveniently
committed to write an “L” post - as I am in an alphabet challenge that I am
compelled to complete.
Conveniently,
compelled, committed, and complete – all in a challenge. I should have done
this as ‘C’.
I have discovered
that it is indeed a bit of a challenge writing to order and to churn out
something every day.
Georgie is the
only daughter of my younger brother Richard and she is beautiful and bold and
she is fiery and feisty. She turns eighteen very soon and it breaks my heart
that I wont be there to celebrate this occasion with her. Know that I want to
be George - and my heart bursts with pride that you have grown up to be such a gorgeous
young lady. Your potential is enormous and my love for you is infinite. It is
boundless and deep. It is eternal and divine.
You make my heart
sing.
You really do.
Georgie is high
energy and she wears her heart on her sleeve. She is certainly emotional. She
is all drama and flair and I think that she will one day be an actress on the
stage or in film. She will be whatever she wants to be. I just want her happy. I
love that she speaks her mind and she loves her family.
I love that she
loves me.
Georgie and my
Totty are best friends and I love that too. They have been close since they
were babies and they still see each other at least once a week. They have a
special bond as cousins.
I love a lot
about Georgie. I love that she cares about things and people and she
demonstrates her emotions – often in a loud and boisterous fashion. When she
enters a room heads turn. This is not just because she is so pretty but it is
because she announces her presence in a ‘here-I-am’ sort of a way. I love that
she swears like a trooper and that she wont hesitate in calling a fucker a
fucker. She gets this I think from my brother and me.
We like saying
‘fuck’ and ‘fucking’ and ‘fuckers’ and I like writing the words too.
Once again I don’t
really know why.
I just do.
Love is a
powerful and wonderful emotion that I reserve for the special people in my
life. I love my family of course and my close circle of friends. It is not
something that I give freely or that I expect to receive lightly – nor it is
something that is easily earned. In this take-away, throw-away and give-away
world that we live in love seems to be something that is disposable. Call me
old fashioned but it is too important for that.
Call me anything
you like.
I don’t give a
fuck.
I say to you George continue
to be bold and don’t afraid to be reckless. We all err and make mistakes so
don’t fear the unknown. Don't be swayed by the opinions of others and continue to speak your mind loudly and brashly. Live your life to the fullest sweetheart and just be
who you are.
You are wonderful.
You are heavenly.
I say again that I love you.
I love you.
I am not really sure how I
feel about this entire emotion thing and the Gallup poll regarding
Singaporeans. I know many who are kind and friendly and giving people and I
consider myself most fortunate to have them as my friends.
However I do feel quite
emotionally drained now and the dread of ironing is still upon me.
I think I will have a nap.
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