Maybe it was Thomas

Went for a brisk walk this evening, up the street towards my old Pre-U centre. I've been up that way several times before but only at night.

This time was different in one significant way. This time, I saw a cat on the walkway that looked very much like Thomas. For those who don't know, Thomas was my cat that went missing almost a year ago. Aside from being of the same colour as him, this cat made lots of eye contact and meowed a helluva lot when it saw Jac, Nic and myself. It even came up to us when it saw us. There were other people on the walkway that had just passed it but I noticed they didn't get the same reaction. Jac did ask the same question that popped into my mind... "Is this Thomas??" Well, Jac and Nic carried on ahead after a while but with it's constant meowing, I felt really bad about ignoring it. I mean... it looked A LOT like Thomas, kept brushing against my leg, followed me quite a bit (meowing all the way with constant eye contact)... that I kept wondering whether it WAS him. I've really missed him all this time and it really sounded like it was really familiar with me. After all, Thomas used to talk to us a lot when he was with us. When I stooped to pat it, I noticed the tail was crooked (could've been born that way, could've damaged it somehow... hurt by humans, hurt in a fight...) and it didn't have any bolas (could've been doctored, could be a female...). I have to admit... I was really tempted to bring it home with me. Realistically though, with my finances being what it is right now, I don't think I'd be able to look after him anymore. In any case, if it was him (I'm still wondering), then he may already belong to someone. He doesn't have that blue collar he had on him the day he left. After a year, I'd imagine SOMEONE would've taken it off him by now. And if he was a stray, I think he's doing okay. I mean... he's not thin (he's quite stocky, actually) and he didn't look like he's been having a hard life.

If it's him, at least it answers the question that's been coming to mind once in awhile when I think of him. That being..."Is he okay?" If it IS him, then thank goodness he is.

The Dog Whisperer

Watched a couple of episodes of The Dog Whisperer and have been trying to train this boy. So far... it hasn't been as easy as the video says it is. He's stubborn and fighting all the way. The irony is... we always figured that he growls and snaps at me 'cos I'm 'top dog' and he's afraid of me. Now it turns out that I'm NOT top dog and he thinks he's better than me. Bloody hell.

Training has been a bit tough and I've been bitten several times so far. Kena blood all. Nevertheless, I've decided I'm NOT gonna give up. I WILL be top dog. Even if I end up looking battered and bruised.

Another nice one. In MY books, that is... 

Team France 2

For some reason I can't seem to upload pix the conventional way so I have to do so via picasa. 

Team France Fireworks

 

The Fugly Singaporean / Team France Fireworks

Yesterday, we went for the final Fireworks Festival presentation by Team France. Supposed to be the best but I personally loved the New Caledonia one better.

Since we had the tripods, were planning on taking photos and didn't want the views of the back of peoples' heads, we trooped down early to chope our spot. We were there from as early as 16:00hrs and camped out to the right of the Merlion just by the steps. A pretty good area just by the fence so... no one to block our way.

Well, the crowds started pulling in from around 7-ish. There was this couple (very fugly Singaporeans) who came in very late... around 8-ish. Naturally, they couldn't get very near the front. Now. Bear in mind that most people had their mats out and were sitting down. Well... they just bloody barged their way to the middle and just STOOD there. Right in front of some kids. Naturally the parents were upset and told them to move away or sit somewhere. And u know what they did? The bloody woman raised her voice and told them to get US to sit down (referring to us as the photographers wiv the tripods). Naturally they meant us cos there were only a few of us in the front wiv tripods. Lucky for us, the others in the crowd just told them off and didn't indicate that they blamed us or expected US to sit down. One of the guys... a Malay teenager, raised his voice too and told her off saying "They're PHOTOGRAPHERS. Have you ever seen photographers take pictures with tripods sitting down??" Kudos to him. I mean... if you're such a loser, you deserve not to get a good view. Besides, we were there from 16:00hrs, you just stroll in a few minutes before and expect a perfect view? And why ask us to sit down? The fireworks were gonna be up in the air, not in the sea for goodness sake! Either way, they spoiled the mood for some of us. But... aside from Cheryl, Jac and another photographer, the rest of us just sat down. Didn't matter to me cos I was just shooting videos. And this crowd was different from the previous day when everyone stood up and rushed to the front. This lot all remained seated.

Times like these, I just hate some Singaporeans. Call themselves 'educated' but all that shows is this "ME ME ME!" attitude. Some people deserve to kena whack big time!

Team New Caledonia

Comparing the presentations by Teams Italy, Singapore and New Caledonia, I have to say that I love the one by New Caledonia best. It was awesome with more colours and pretty different from what we've seen so far. The theme? Nature. And we can at least see where the them lies, cos the bursts form designs like trees and stuff.

It's said that Team France is promising to be better than all the rest. They're promising 'something special' for us. If that means it'll top New Caledonia, then I can't wait! It's a damn shame the lens was a bit streaky and I didn't notice it beforehand. Oh well... we learn.

Team Singapore

With fireworks presentations from Teams Italy, Singapore, New Caledonia and France, I'm real excited cos that's 4 opportunities to practice taking shots of fireworks. A colleague did ask what the differences between the lot were and truth be told, I can't tell the difference between the ones I've seen so far. Like she asked.. "Did the Italian one twist up like a pizza?" Hmmm... if that were the case, then in typical Singaporean style, I guess we'd cram as many different types in the 15 minutes allotted, right? Kiasu, what. Right?

As far as I'm concerned, fireworks is fireworks. The more sparklies there are, the happier I am. Took quite a bit of video footage and some shots but not all pix passed and some videos were too big to upload to youtube so... this is the best I could do. For those of you who missed it, this is for you.

And oh. Let me just say... "YOU MISSED A GOOD SHOW!"

Happy National Day.