The last few days have been damn hectic...Every second seemed to be filled with some kind of activity....I barely had time to exhale.

Anyway, my dad's month long vacation is coming to an end. I realised that I have not been making a decent effort to bond with him during his break. I'm afraid to say that I am guilty of neglecting my parent. Hence, I resolved to spend two days with him before he returns to the drudgery of work.

Screw the RAG practices. Screw work. Screw salsa...Oh, and take a break from affairs of the heart at the same time.

Day One went well enough. I took my dad out for a spin to Seletar Airport and Marina Bay.

Seletar Airport struck me as being grey and desolate... yet the area around the hangers and runways held strong rustic charm. The quaint neighbourhood along the peripheries of the airpost boundary was extremely serene and tranquil. It reminded me of Singapore in the late 1960s. I did not live in that era, but have imbibed enough of its cultural essences from my parents' photo albums. The names of the little lanes that intersect the area are extremely Anglicised. I was laughing non-stop at old-fashioned English street names like HAY MARKET and BAY WATER RD...Somehow, the street names were so culturally out-of-place that they seemed stupid.

At Marina Bay, the scenery was quite different. It was just grass and a bit of sea...I drove to the pier and we watched some Malay boys fly kites for awhile...I was beginning to get bored until my eye fell upon a a parked car that was vigorously swaying from side to side. It's so ironic that some Singaporeans are so shy about sex (maybe pretend one...) while others are having so much FUN in pubic...erm, I mean public.

On day two, I was supposed to take my dad to the beach. Unfortunately, I overslept and he decided to proceed without me. Needless to say, I had a guilt attack when I woke up. I failed to keep my promise to take my dad to the beach.

"Was he paddling morosely in the shallows even as I slept? Staring enviously at the happy families at the beach?"

"Did he feel lonely and neglected?"

" Was he mistaken as a homeless tramp? Alone and with no kith or kin in this cold and cruel world?"

Questions like this haunted me even as I watched Scooby Doo while I waited for his impending return.

Upon his return, I launched into a dramatic display of affection in order to ameliorate the situation. My warm gestures were met with some half-hearted grunts...

Luckily, the situation improved by lunchtime. I took my dad to church and we made a small donation. I thanked God for all the happy things that have been happening in my life recently. Of course, I hoped that he would make my father feel more sanguine as the day progressed.

We had lunch with my mum at Shashlik. Personally, I have a vendetta against the grouchy and grumpy wait staff there. However, I offered no protests because I believed that it would have been more prudent to exercise some verbal restraint. Lunch was not that bad, actually. The Borsch was piquant, with dense flavours and a smooth finish. The Oxtail stew that I had was robust and flavourful. The flakes of tender meat literally fell off the bones.

Unfortunately, a perfect dining experience was marred by the face of the waiter who served us. His expression was even more sour than the sour cream in our Borsch.

After lunch, I left for assignment. Today's assignment was the Daphne Khoo interview at Dome. A new photog was covering the thing today, so I had to meet him earlier to tie down the details.

I must say that this new guy is quite pro. He knows his stuff as well as Paul.

However, it was the photog's assistant who left an indelible impression in my mind. Usually, society in general sees assistants as subservient effetes who have no style and zero input (in terms of opinions, ideas etc.) This particular assistant seems to have alot of ideas and is super-enthu when it comes to "chute pattern" time...In addition, the PA's bohemian-metrosexual get-up really made a BIG impact. His style is a unique blend of Andy Warhol, Willy Wonka and Jack Sparrow...In fact, he reminds me of Santino from Project Runway 2. Honestly, I think the spotlight was on him the whole time. It was his idea to have the photo shoot at HOME CLUB during the launch of West Grand Boulevard's latest album. Initially, we just wanted to get it over and done with at noisy, crowded Orchard Rd. Ker is so lucky to have such a great PA...

Anybody wants to be my PA? Haha...I need someone to follow me to the launch party next Friday. Free cover and drinks to the party, but you must look as stylo as Ker's PA ok! The good thing is, you don't have to do anything...cause I intend to go there and just pretend to do work!

Just joking lar...haha

Anyway, the interview went really well. Daphne is THE dream interviewee. She was very responsive and warm. At the same time, she's not like some girls who simply cannot stop going on and on about themselves (we all know who lar, I don't say you oso know lo)....And she paid for our drinks. It was really, really sweet of her.

Moving to my new living quarters is no mean feat. I am deeply appreciative that two Angels were helping me buy furniture from IKEA even as I was on assignment. Thanks Mum. Thanks Dad.

I promise to study hard and be a good son from now on. Oh, and I promise to take very, very, very good care of our car too!