I Got The Flu

Being down with the flu in a heatwave of dry heat during the hottest season of the year isn't funny. 

The light's glaring, the heat's strangling, and yet you're huddled on the sofa with your body aching here and there. 

It's frigging uncomfortable. 

I know how it is when I'm ill. 

Phlegm and night time coughs disrupt my regular sleep causing me to get remarkably tired and fatigued in the day time. 

If one can sleep that off in a cool, dim room, that's fine. 

But sometimes you don't wish to rest in the room and so make do in the hall with furry little cushions, a bottle of iced green tea at the side, curtains over the windows, and morning winds. 

Ventilation and winds are important when you're down with a fever.

Doesn't matter if you feel cold- you need the breezes- they cool your body down and help you perspire. 

Yes, you get all sweaty and sticky and icky, but perspiration is critical. 

I didn't pay attention to it last year. 

Because I was too lazy to shower (again)

And so, as a result- despite the effervescence and the Vitamin C supplements I was taking- the virus didn't go away. 

Not just that- I got a severe case of water retention- because I kept on drinking tap water when I should have been drinking fluids like green tea or coconut water. 

Everything escalated- and a month later after the flu I was down with the worst inflammation ever- bursting out in rashes and crusted skin and swollen joints and red spots all over my legs, feet and hands. 

I was determined this time not to have a repeat of the same again. 

So out in the hall I sat, feeling the breeze, perspiring as much as I could for the virus (and the toxins) to sweat themselves out. 

The most difficult thing about having a fever are the aches and body pains. 

Not to mention the fatigue, of course.

Thing with body aches is that you never know which part of the body it is that will get affected. 

You also never know when it will ache. 

Some days it is the left hip. 

Some days it is the right. 

There were days when the lymph nodes behind my ears hurt terribly. 

There were days when they seemed fine.

The right lymph node behind my ear throbbed quite painfully the last couple of days, especially whenever I coughed, and sneezed. 

Another thing I did differently this time was to take paracetamol. 

No more slowly letting the body heal by itself. 

No more complete natural therapy. 

Telok Ayer Street

The post-lunch walk this afternoon had brought us from the shop houses of South Bridge Road to the shop houses of Far East Square to the (business) side of Telok Ayer Street.

Thereafter the route being either a walk down to Boat Quay/Fullerton or Telok Ayer/Tanjong Pagar, I chose the latter.

It seemed a more picturesque route to talk. 

Across Cross Street we went, passing by the Downtown Line MRT entrance before turning into the shop houses of Telok Ayer Street. 

I was a little surprised to find the area busier than I thought it would be.

See, there had been a time when Telok Ayer, Amoy and Club Street were quiet on weekends daytime. 

Not so anymore. 

It's now rather lively. 

Cafes are open, shutters are rolled up, and there're deliveries being made. 

There're also a good deal of people walking around. 

I, however, didn't take that many pictures. 

Especially since Thian Hock Keng temple was having a festival event and I didn't think it nice to take pictures with the crowd milling around. 

You could feel the anticipation in the air.

Not only were there devotees offering prayers at the main entrance, directly opposite, a huge tent had been erected and (from the looks of the lighting crew doing their setup) there was going to be some sort of a performance there.

We didn't stop to see what it was nor ask anybody what was going on.

We simply carried on, making our way through Telok Ayer Street to Amoy Street to the newly renovated Amoy Street Food Center, and finally, the little corner park that leads to Maxwell Road and Tanjong Pagar opposite.

Newspaper Rounds

In an earlier blog about Miss Brown, I wrote about how she liked to sit at the back boot of her Hyundai MPV and read her daily newspapers all spread out in front of her. 

If there were two things she did (almost) every day, it would be listening to the radio, and reading the newspaper. 

She always turned on to the radio in the car.

And she was never without a newspaper whether in the driver's seat, the passenger seat, or the boot. 

The newspaper was also always with her in her bag long after she stopped driving. 

She would take it out whilst waiting for us to arrive.

She would also read it from time to time during meal times. 

If she carried a small bag, the newspaper would be folded into quarters and stuffed inside.

In short, she was hardly without the newspaper.

At first i thought she read the papers so fervently because the articles (and the formal, classical language) reminded her of her textbooks when she studied in school.

But later I realized- it wasn't just the news or the articles or even the style of writing that appealed to her- but the fact that newspapers were an integral part of her life.

She didn't just subscribe to have them sent to her door every morning, or go to the table vendor (by the roadside) to buy the evening Chinese daily. 

She actually had been a distributor. 

Now, I don't know much about newspaper distribution (and her family- for some reason- don't like questions too many about that season) but from what I've heard thus far, it seems like a lot of dedication, and a lot of work.

To begin with, one had to be early risers. 

This meant getting up at the graveyard hour of 3am(?) 4am(?) to collect the papers from the printing house (Times printers?) and bring them to the central distribution area where they would then be sorted into sets for distribution to the individual households.

I don't know whether they had others to help distribute the papers.

I think they did. 

But sometimes those people weren't available or there wasn't enough manpower so they did it themselves. 

From what I hear, it was quite exhausting. 

One needs a good deal of stamina to walk down 20 flights of stairs armed with stacks of newspapers in your arms. 

Not every floor had lifts during those days, and even though you could take lifts to the nearest floors, it was apparently much faster to walk down the stairs. 

This- according to the family- wasn't the most challenging part.

The most challenging part were the collection of subscription fees. 

See, newspapers are often delivered to the homes before dawn at a time when no one is awake. 

Which means they can only collect the fees during the course of the day (if there's someone at home) or in the evening (if the person is out at work and only home after dark) 

It was exhausting running from house to house to house, I was told. 

But they persisted. 

For quite a number of years Miss Brown and her husband persisted. 

Woke up early, went to the printers, got the papers, sorted them out, sent them to the distribution team, or distributed themselves, then went around collecting the fees- before starting it all over again the next day.

It wasn't all pure career and discipline that kept Miss Brown in the line for over ten years, however.

There was a lot of (self) motivation on her part to keep the distribution business going too.

It might have been the friends and business partners whom she interacted with. 

It might have been the availability of access to (not just) newspapers but a host of other printed material like women's magazines, entertainment magazines, and cooking magazines. 

Miss Brown particularly loved the cooking magazines. 

I know- amongst some of her most precious belongings are carefully cut recipes that have been carefully curated from all the magazines she's read over the years. 

It's not just one or two recipes,

They fill up a couple of A4 sized boxes. 

It might also have been the (desired) association she got with the newspaper publisher. 

Sort of like a dream which she'd always wished to have (since school days) and now finally had. 

Because there was a dark green backpack- gifted to her by the publishing house- which she kept in good condition and which she used for many years- whenever she wanted to carry a backpack out.

And then there's this picture. 

From her personal collection.

I think that's her in the foreground looking at the material on the table.

I don't know who took the picture. 

It might be her husband who'd gone along with her to the publishing house when they held a showcase event for their newspaper distributors. 

We don't know for sure which year this picture was taken. 

But- seeing the interest she had, and seeing the jubilant smile on her face (in other pictures), one can tell that, yes, it was a proud occasion, and one which she deeply cherished. 

(Old) Tofu Street

There was an errand we needed to get done at Hong Kong Street that day. 

So we got that done, and after it was finished, we decided we'd switch up from our usual Central Clarke Quay hangout and go towards South Bridge Road instead. 

We contemplated going onto Circular.

But there was little on that road to be had for lunch on a weekend afternoon, so we decided to head down towards the South Bridge Road side of Chinatown instead. 

Past that building I call One George-something, past a narrow five foot way and we came upon this section that is today called Far East Square. 

I'm not very, very familiar with this place- I'm better with the opposite side of South Bridge Road where Hong Lim stands- but there're a good deal of shop houses here, there're a fair bit of eateries (even on a Sunday) and- I thought- more things to see. 

So we settled for a quick lunch of Taiwanese lu rou fan at this eatery in a shop house right along the main road. 

Let's just say that the bowl was big, the rice was fluffy, I liked the cucumbers, and the salted popcorn chicken was really good. 

There being no plans after that, we decided we'd head towards China Street and Telok Ayer Street that side.

No particular reason, other than the fact that I've always been intrigued by this side of the road. 

See, it's not a part of Chinatown that's' oft spoken, as in, you won't find it much in the walking tour itinerary and the only areas that get recommended are probably Club Street, and Amoy Street that side.

But both Club and Amoy sit on the opposite side of Cross Street, whereas the part I'm interested in spans from Pickering Street (Upper Pickering Street?) to Cross Street and from South Bridge Road to Telok Ayer Street. 

It might look pretty and modern- what with plant pots at strategic points, whitewashed walls, and refurbished window shutters on the upper floors- but this section holds a great deal of history, and if you look past the furniture, the alfresco seating areas, the chalk-written boards advertising happy hour beers, you might be able to sense what this place used to be. 

Admittedly, it's hard. 

Especially since the authorities (and private property owners) have done a fantastic job of revitalizing this place. 

I decided to just walk, and take pictures of whatever I could see.

If it were a (planted) tree casting a short silhouette over the skyscraper behind, so be it. 

If it were umbrellas part of the route leading to the buildings behind on China Street, so be it. 

Perhaps there might be a glass-paneled steeple in the frame of the Great Eastern Life Building (on Pickering Street) behind. 

If it were, then it would be. 

Today I wasn't here to try and eliminate everything before me in the name of history and stories of history. 

There were enough boards describing the history of the area- I think there was one about Nankin Row, there was one about the Samsui women, and (possibly) a little mention of Tofu Street that- as my grandfather told me- what is present-day Tew Chew Street. 

I wasn't here to take away (in my mind) the commercialization of the place. 

I was here just as a passer-by. heading from a Sunday afternoon lunch- to the Manulife building and Prudential building on China Street and Telok Ayer Street.

Wallpaper on the Walls

It was decided that we'd (finally) do up the wallpaper for the hall. 

He'd been wanting to do it for a long time.

Don't ask me why.

Maybe there are some impressions to get out of the way. 

Maybe there are some spaces that should be removed, repaired, and restored. 

It isn't that we've left it alone since those days.

We have been doing it gradually, step by step, over the years.

It's been mostly a bit here, a bit there, that sort of thing. 

The first major change was probably when we fixed up the aircon and painted the walls. The second major change would probably be the furniture, replacing the two seater grey IKEA sofa with a new cream colored sofa set, a cabinet, a furry carpet, a new dining table, and a couple of dining chairs.

This addition of wallpaper would be the newest, and possibly, the very last. 

I must say that the hall looks really good. 

At first i'd been afraid that the hall would be gloomy.

But I'd completely forgotten that we had floor to ceiling windows, that those windows were consistently open whenever we were at home (even when it rained- especially when it rained) and that the curtains were drawn most of the time.

Somehow the look became very well put together.

Very stylish, almost elegant even. 

I thought airy, sunny rooms were in vogue. 

Turned out to be otherwise.

Perhaps I've been familiar with photographs of bright, sunny rooms with golden rays of sunshine streaming beautifully through the glass. 

Perhaps I'm still holding (uselessly) to the memory of those cozy, homely bedrooms in Channel Road Inn over in Los Angeles.

It's time to see things differently. 

It's time to adjust to what the reality is here. 

We're not a country of 5 degrees celsius- with blue skies and sunshine.

Neither are we a country of winter months and summer weeks.

We're a country of 36 degrees celsius- with overcast pale white skies, high humidity, (sometimes) stifling heat- and of course, glaring sunshine.  

The hall's become more color-coded, more restful, and like a line from a comic which I read not too long ago- black doesnt mean depressive, instead it embraces all the other colors and complements them.

Seeing the hall as it is now, seeing how the colors now shine against the darker background of the walls, yep, I gotta admit, indeed, it's true. 

Peace Center

Lunch this afternoon had been over at Isshin Machi at the mall right next to SOTA. 

And because there was no particular place we wanted to go, we decided to just head down towards Tekka and Little India instead.

To get to Little India from that mall (whatever its name is called these days) one has to pass by Parklane Shopping Center, and Peace Center. 

I've taken pictures of Peace Center several times before but no harm taking them again. :)

See, this place is one of those iconic shopping centers (now known as strata malls) that- from the moment you step through the glass doors- bring you back to the time when they were first built.

It's a very unique feeling. 

Some will call it a time warp. 

I however like to see it as vintage. 

Because, to me, that's what it is. 

Time does not stop here. 

But it does have spaces here and there that seem to hold time firmly in its grasp. 

Maybe that's what makes this place fascinating. 

Especially when you consider that it does take a determined amount of effort to keep the place functioning for tenants, customers, and people who walk in. 

Peace Center is a living, albeit quieter place. 

I won't say it's thriving but I won't say it's passe gone case either. 

The lifts work. 

So do the escalators. 

Sure, I may hesitate a little before using the toilets but hey the toilet work, the sink does not overflow and the taps still have running water. 

The thing that strikes me most about Peace Center is how it has successfully retained the feels of the 70s and 80s, albeit a little wear and tear of 40-plus over years.

As in, if you wanted to know how it was like to step into a shopping center or an office building during the 70s and 80s, Peace Center would be it. 

Every time I come here I wonder what sort of shops there were during those days.

What did the shops here use to be like?

What services did they offer?

What did they sell?

Were there salons and beauty parlours? 

Were there barbers?

Were there electronic shops and shoe shops and shops selling watches and leather goods?

Sometimes I'm quite tempted to ask the lady of this shop if she has any stories to tell, but paisei lar. 

She's running a business in men's shirts and suits, and I am neither a customer nor a potential one. 

Of course I could also ask the owner of the second hand book store, (where I might possibly get a book), but I'd be disturbing him and I don't fancy doing that either.

Moreover, it isnt' just the retail I'm interested in. 

There's also the crowd. 

Who were they?

What did they come here for? 

What were they dressed like? 

And, how often were they here?

I'd like to know if there were lots of shoppers.

I'd like to know if they used the lifts or the escalators or the stairs.

It would be cool to know if the ladies dropped in to the stores on weekends or after a day of work in the offices upstairs. 

Did they make an outing of it and come here with friends? 

Or did they come here on dates with their boyfriends and girlfriends? 

There're a zillion worth of questions one wants to ask. 

But you don't know from where (or who) those answers you should obtain.

Perhaps in due time there'll be a heritage gallery or something.  

Maybe the new developers will (like Golden Mile Center) have to keep the facade.

Maybe they don't. 

We don't know.

One thing for sure- they'll change the interiors.

Some things will have to go. 

But, until then, until that day comes, this is what we've got, this is what we used to have. 

And as of today, we still have the opportunity to know how Peace Center used to be.

Her Beauty Parlour

There's an address written at the back of this photograph. 

It's written in ballpoint pen of dark blue.

I don't know who wrote it. 

But the handwriting- and the description of "99 ONAN ROAD"- in capital letters looks to be that of Miss Brown. 

And I wouldn't be surprised if it were indeed written by her. 

There is much of Miss Brown that I do not know- I don't ask impertinent questions- but one thing I do know is that she used to run a beauty salon, and that beauty salon used to be at 99 Onan Road. 

She hasn't forgotten the address. 

Neither has she forgotten the area. 

I suppose it must mean something to her that she's retained memory of the area after so long. 

But, I'm not sure. 

We don't have many stories of how her days were like when she ran the salon. 

She doesn't talk very much about them- even when we ask. 

Maybe it's her way being nonchalant about it. 

I don't know. 

We just know that she opened it every day from a certain hour to a certain hour and attended to customers both regular and new.

She doesn't talk about her customers- almost none seem to have made any impression on her- so we can only assume they were mostly housewives who lived in the area, or 'working women'. 

What strikes me most about this description isn't so much about the role but where they came from and how they got there. 

What was Onan Road like in the 60s? 

Besides these shophouses, were there anything else there? 

The flats of Haig Road would not have been there, so what was there? 

Were it from the homes there that the ladies came from? 

Also, Joo Chiat Road, Upper Changi Road... what were they like back then?

Geylang Serai was possibly not called Geylang Serai back then so how was it really like?

Miss Brown's mention of the 'working women' interest me. 

Not because of their occupation or where they worked, but because it's not frequent that we hear of them in the Onan Road vicinity in those years. 

Makes me wonder if they stayed nearby and if there were entertainment places in the area even back then.

They're the only customers that Miss Brown mentions. 

Maybe because they dropped in often, and maybe because they paid well.  

We've no idea whether she did their facials and their makeup.

(Yes, Miss Brown was trained in that) 

But we're pretty sure she did their hair. 

It was around the late 50s and early 60s that her salon and beauty parlour was there. 

i wonder what sort of hairstyles she did for them at that time.

It would have to be pretty vogue, I should assume. 

After all women of that time did want to look pretty when they went to style their hair. 

 

I wonder if Miss Brown remembers how to do those styles. 

I think she does. 

Maybe a little bit of prompt, but I think she does. 

There are things you don't forget- no matter how much time has passed. 

It doesn't even matter if the world around you has changed. 

The roots- they stay the same.

Sure, the hair spray might be different.. 

The quality of hair spray might be better even.

But like how some brands don't change- Shiseido, for instance- which Miss Brown remembers using during her days of beauty classes- and which we still have today- there're some skills that remain innate deep in our memory. 

It's a skill, an ability. 

Albeit she might have- with a slightly different memory.