As expected, petrol prices have shot up due to the ongoing Middle East conflicts. I'm trying to ration the number of driving trips, eat less outside, consolidate online purchases and spend more prudently. It was a surprise then, when my wife informed that certain air tickets around year end were still going at good early bird prices. Did demand for overseas travel drop that much? I can understand if it's regarding flights to and from the volatile regions. Within a day, I managed to snag tickets from Singapore to Sapporo (with one transfer) and Tokyo to Singapore for $580 each. There was no additional fuel surcharge indicated so probably got lucky there.
After years of inaction and inertia, a dinner date was set in Katong with three secondary school friends. I had no idea how they looked like now even in this age of social media. Good thing they were still recognizable as I arrived earliest. Interestingly, all of them were working for various banks in different areas. One was in payments, another in events and the last was doing product launch. We spoke like the old days, without inhibition and casual. Everyone has a family member who either is suffering from cancer or severely impaired due to age. Since we're of the same age, it's easy to relate how our lives have evolved even if the trajectory differs. The reason we came together boils down to a friendship forged many years ago. It was also to remember a classmate who, two months ago, slept and never woke again. No visible cause, no sign and no word left behind. I was at the wake and saddened to see his mother, a broken lady who lost her only son. He was the first among forty friends to fall. My heart aches whenever I think of him. Don't wait, go reconnect with people you love or once shared a fond memory with.
I was a proud parent after attending the graduation ceremony of my eldest son. He had completed a Diploma in banking and finance from SIM University. Being one of the youngest in the cohort, he held his own and in the process, I saw his development from being extremely shy to now having some friends to hang out with. Academically, there was not much to fret as he comfortably attained GPA 3 out of 4. He also found motivation to build up physically, from a failing 2.4km runner to being an average one now. Next, he heads to the army where as a Pes B soldier, there will be more challenges ahead. I await to hear the stories about this phase of life.
Tip: Fleur de Clinet 2013, cassis with a little tobacco, easy and light, nose was underhit
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