Thursday, August 13, 2009
It's been ages since I blogged. Yes, after the 'ages', I'm finally back in Singapore for my long awaited 3 months summer holiday. Didn't realise how much I missed home until I am finally home. Loves the feeling of being back home. The realistic feel of it...finally was no more just a dream. I remembered while I was in UK, I would dreamt that I am back in Singapore, my very own room, sleeping on my very own bed, hugging my dearest bolster. Goodness. You will never imagine that you can miss something that simple that much. So, in short, ya, I do misses home very much and am really glad to be back home.
Although I am finally happily back home, just as I thought I could start enjoying my holiday in a relaxing manner...then came a sequence of events. First, H1N1. Because of this, our initial plan of going to KL was postponed one week after. Meeting up with friends and relatives was slightly affected too due to the 'quarantine order' imposed onto me by some. Though the customs officer has personally told me that people coming for the UK are not on HQO (Home quarantine Order) at that point of time. Oh well, what can I say. Just play safe I guess. And so my KL trip was postponed.
Finally, a week later, I went to KL to visit my grandparents. And great. The first stop in KL after 9 months was the hospital. My uncle and auntie suspected my grandfather was suffering from a stroke, hence rushed him to the hospital. The stroke was mild as I, fortunately, managed to talk to my grandpa for a while. That was the last time I heard his voice. Initially, the doctor sent him home as it was not a very serious stroke. We too then went back to Singapore the next morning.
A few days later, my grandfather was admitted to the hospital again. Due to the stroke, he contracted pneumonia. My mother then went to KL, leaving me to take care of the house. Well, those were the days, that I put my culinary skills to use (finally). Not exactly fantastic I would say, edible's the word. Shortly after, the doctors in KL claimed there were nothing they could do and the best was to send my grandfather home. The news, brought tears to my mum...as in other words, what the doctors meant was that to wait till Death claims him. She called us, and we went to KL, to see my grandfather for the one last time. He was there lying on the bed in his room, breathing hard. You can see how his chest thrusted upward as he took in each breathe. The entire family was present at his bedside, accompanying him on his last journey of life. We took pictures, we hugged him, kissed him, talked to him. He cried as we called him, tears rolled down his cheek even though he could not open his eyes. His condition seemed stable on the next day too. Hence, we decided to leave KL on Sunday as kids have school whilst the adults have work.
Hence, on Sunday, we all left.
On Monday morning, he passed away peacefully.
We went KL to attend his funeral.
It's hard to accept the loss of someone so dear. I remembered talking to him on the phone while I was eating my catered dinner in Southampton, walking around in the Louvre in Paris, resting at the ski resort in Argentiere.. He kept asking when I'm coming back to see him. I remembered the day he was at the hospital where I held his hand and told him I'm back. The smile on his face was unforgettable.
Before I left for the UK, he said to me that he was afraid that he was unable to live that long to see me come back. At that time, shocked by what he said, I told him 'Touch wood! You will definitely lead a long life..long enough to see me not only next year, to see me graduate..you will live for very long, so don't worry.'
Life's really unpredicatable.
After my grandpa's funeral, my grandmother came to Singapore for two weeks. For these two weeks, we were busy. Though tired, I was really glad she came out as I got to spend more time with her before I fly back to the UK. Losing one grandparent was enough to teach me to treasure my other 2 grandparents even more.
And great, now, when the storm is finally residing...I am down with this stupid tonsillitis which is hurting my throat like mad. And the consultation fees on public holidays is ridiculous.
8am to 12pm: $26
12pm to 6pm: $31
Why does the time has to do with the consultation fees. Do not give me the obvious answer of making money. It is unethical to raise the consultation fees in this manner. The consultation fees on a public holiday is already higher to start with, as compared to a normal non-public holiday ($18). Since, there is already an increment, I don't see the need to increase it further due to timing between morning and afternoon. Ridiculous. I literary can hear every patient complain about the cost they are paying after they collected their medicine.
Oh well, what to do..they are the only 24 hr clinic in Yishun. Monopoly I guess. but still unethical.
So what am I doing now?
I'm now resting at home, hoping my tonsillitis will go away after taking the antibiotics, eating lots of lozenges to numb the soreness. And maybe, due to boredom, I suddenly had the urge to blog what happen during my precious 3 months holiday, which seems to be ending soon...in around 1 month time..goodness.
He passed away the next day morning.
