ALAMAK, WHY ME!

Everyone of us has a story to tell. Having gone through half a century of living and working and being in and out of love, we certainly have encounter an experience that left a lasting impression.
We often wonder how we survive a certain situation in life which left us thinking and thanking providence that we are safe.

There are incidents in my life that left me thinking hard, was it a stroke of fate or lack of attention on my part?

Readers are encourage here to share their life stories.

Here are an excerpt of my life I want to share with you. I know that whenever we reveal a part of our life,
we put ourselves in a vulnerable position for others to judge us. Do we succumbed to such critical remarks or we stand firm in the belief that nothing will affect us as long as our conscience are sincere.
Some are ready to capitalise on the slightest mistake make which turn them into a monstrous rumour monger. Other take delight knowing that we commit a grave offence.

I have come to a stage of my life where I am past caring. Each step on our journey of life brings
us nearer to meet our Maker. Not many of us may live long enough to write our biography. Here is
such an opportunity. I believe story can be shared to bring out the intricacies and beauty of life.
Can we know joy without going through pain or happiness without sorrows. Most of us are well brought
up in life having parent that ensure that we are loved and are given an education that set them for
life, what about those that are deprived?

My story:

‘When I was in Secondary School, I remembered an incident that till today I wonder why I did it. It
was the school sport day, I was a venture scout. We were supposed to put up a show where some of us
have to walk on an omega bridge which is  made of rope suspended about six foot from the
ground, another rope is suspended above our head. I have a part to play and that is to fall off the
bridge. As I fell off, the St. John Brigade rush forward to attend to me, the nurses were concern and enquire for my well being. A stretcher was make from two poles and a scout shirt act as the canvass. I was carried to the tent where I stood up and walk away without a scratch.

This act was enacted to show the preparedness of Boy Scout. How did I survive the fall, well, I was
able to break my fall because since young my dad took me for judo class, I think I have a blue belt
but my older sister the brown belt. Why did I shared this, it because if I fell wrongly, I may be paralyze for life!’

SHC platform is for us to meet new friend and to get better acquainted. Usually better rapport
are achieved in meeting or smaller group. Doing it here on the post is another ball game, can it
achieve some form of understanding and care among member?

Now you know a part of my life and what make me tickle, do I bite? Would you dare to share your most
unforgettable and memorable moments in your life here?

There are more incidents to share, my next installment:
How I try to ‘commit suicide’ when I did a bungee jump’

Dan

21 thoughts on “ALAMAK, WHY ME!”

  1. Hi Dan

    This thread is intriguing as in, do you seriously think members will share their most unforgettable and memorable moments in their lives here?

    I mean, your story is reeli mild though I am waiting for your next installment with the bungee jump. I can imagine the heart-stopping state as you leapt off.

    What I am trying to say is, will anyone want to share, for instance, their first time, kekekekeee, losing their cherry, that is. That would be memorable, rite, whether or not it was awesome or icky.

    Then again, there are other absolutely cool moments that, you know, one would bring to his/her grave.

    Let’s see if any member wanna share something mild, intense, disgusting, whatever.

  2. My story is not as dramatic as Dan’s. But I want to share with you an episode which happened when I was in primary school.

    This incident occured during a school assembly. My teacher who was a lady picked me to look after her handbag when she went away to attend to other matters. Being a boy, I was shy to let other fellow classmates to see that I had a lady’s belonging with me. So I put it at a distance away. When my teacher came back, she understood the situation entirely. She just smiled which said everythng.

    Alamak, why me. Can anyone offer an explanation.

  3. Geraldine, Robert,

    Thanks for breaking the ice, well it true that not many would share a certain but memorable part of their life on the post. I am hoping that some may catch on and relate their experiences.

    Whenever I am in a pensive mood, I do reflect on past happenings to pull me through. It takes some gut to share but then again we never know the kind of impact it has on others.

    Indeed my initial story is not so touching, therefore it may not warrant other to tell their story. But I believe as we go along more will come forward.

    Look out for my next story on the bungee jump.

    Dan

  4. Robert #2,

    I am stump for an answer, why did you put it a distance away. Is it because you are shy and the teacher muat be pretty and you have taken a liking for her. You are much too young then to even feel embarassed!

    Dan

  5. Dan #4

    I was shy and did not want to be caught with a lady’s handbag in my possession. You are stump but not out, you have to strive harder for an answer to “WHY ME”.

    Robert

  6. Hi Dan, allow me to relate a story about an old friend who enjoys playing with animals….

    There was a time when on its own accord,
    from far below it would spring;
    but now he has to search the bushes,
    to look for that shameful thing.

    It used to be proud and rude,
    the way it gave him fun;
    for every morning he stood,
    it would salute him and greet the sun.

    Now whether it is hot or cold,
    he sees a limping creature,
    hangs its little head,
    to watch him wriggle his toes.

  7. Daniel, that seems easy to guess but then again it may mean something else. What trick are you playing, it can’t be that little brother dangling all over the places?

    Dan

  8. Hi DanH, AndrewY,

    I like to compliment both of you for being good icebreakers. While I may not have participated in your jokes and riddles, because I am half a square, you have my full support. You have excited the hearts and minds of a number of SilverHairs with your jokes and riddles.

    I also hope that more SHCians will test the minds and wits of other SilverHairs, so that we can delay dementia and other mental degeneration.

    And, to fellow SHCians, do participate, and test your brains too. Dont limit yourselves.

    Terence Seah

  9. Hardly anyone would dare to venture an incident that is both interesting and exciting in their life. How am going to get more of you to contribute, to take the leap of faith, knowing that you have nothing to lose but more to gain?

    The story I said I would share, here goes.

    In the year 1988, I have just return to Singapore after spending six months in Sydney in a town known at Penrith which is near the Blue Mountain. I stayed with my eldest sister in her house. So accomodation was free and I even took up a job as a partime waiter paying A$300 per week in a steak house run by a Singaporean called Jack. That was good money then. The afternoon was free from 3.00-6.00pm.

    Usually I would visit a shop which sell chess books. at each visit I would purchase a chess book. By the time I decided to go back to Singapore, I have already spend A$600 on chess books.

    I came back to Singapore to renew my visa intending to go back to Australia. After much thought I change my mind as I could not find an Aussie mate. All my friend are here and I decide to stay put. I joined a Single group known as the Friendly Connection where I meet many friend.

    One of the activities planned was a trip to Batam Waterfront where I did the Bungee Jump. It was about the height of a 10 storey HDB flat situated next to the sea. We were in a group of about seven of us. I was still a bachelor boy at the age of 43 and still hunting high and low for my missing rib.

    My life was at a low with not much to look forward. Am I destined to live a lonely life. In our group there was that someone that caught my sttention. I have nothing to show and not a penny to my name.

    Now this may be a great opportunity to capture her attenton. I decided to go for it and got hook up for that life defying experience. The crane took me up, when I reach the top, I began to feel fearful and ask myself whether this is worth the challenge to get her attention.

    Can I back out now, no, that would mean a loss of face. The man was up there with me. He said, am I ready, do you want to utter a word of prayer? There is no turning back, I got ready for the jump. Here I go perhap to a new life! I jumped but hold my breath instead of shouting out loud, I was suspended in midair and I survived to tell my story.

    The incredible thing is this girl that I have my eye on also want to attempt and went up for the jump. Wow, that make two of us daring to go from the whole group. She went up to take the plunge like me, Up there she also hesitated but eventually took the jump. What an experience that was.

    We were both given a Certificate of Courage which cost us S$49. I was so broke that she even have to pay for me. Well, what happen eventually, did we hook up? I wont tell!
    Tell me, do you believe that this is a true story, or am I bordering into fiction?

    Dan

  10. Hi Daniel Chan (no.6): Are you from the NUS Faculty of Engg (EEE) graduating class 198X? Very familiar from the way you write. Does YMY ring a bell? Never mind yes or no. I hope to meet you at Han’s café today. Let me buy you a drink. I should recognise you unless you have transformed beyond recognition (sorry just joking).

  11. Dan #7 – It is a story about an old man and his dog. The dog was later injured in an accident and the man felt sad. Sorry if it excited you to think otherwise.

    WinstonYang #10 – HA ha YMY I remember you. It has been a long long time my friend. I am not able to attend the meeting tonight – giving home tuition to supplement my meagre income (sigh). See u on FaceBook or Twitter to talk more.

  12. Thanks Daniel,
    Not many venture an answer to your story, could be most prefer not to put on their thinking cap. Like me, I have to go easy too as most of my hair are quitting on me.

    I would have thought with so many member among us, there should be a wealth of story or experiences to share. Either we prefer to remain in our comfort zone or our lives is just not challenging to share.

    I may have to take a different approach to get member to open up and to share their innermost thought, or desire, or some non essential or trivia in their life.

    Let me now brood over an apt heading for my next post, ………. coming soon!

    Dan

  13. Hi Dan,
    When I read #2 by Robert Ong, alot of memories of my primary school days starts gushing back.
    I attended a neighbourhood primary school back then. My Pri 1 teacher was a Mrs Lim. Whenever her pupils did badly in their school work, she will punish them by either throwing their exercise books out of the classroom or she will queue them up and make them put their fists on her desk and she would hit their knuckers with a ruler. When I told my father about it and he made a trip to the principal’s office to complain, I soon became very unpopular with her. One day, I just turned around to talk to my friend, and she came from behind and hit me on my back between my shoulders with her bare palm so hard that I tremble so much that I couldn’t talk. After that incident, I dare not complain to my father anymore on any issue.
    Two years later in primary 3, there was an Indian girl in my class. My school is predominantly Chinese in both the teacher and student populations.My teacher was one Miss Amy Phua. For some reason, my teacher decides to pick on my Indian friend all the time and every day. She would make her stand in front of the class and beat her with a ruler until it breaks into 2. As far as I remember, my Indian friend was thrashed everyday for no apparent reason. I dared not complain to my father anymore after what happened in primary 1. When I went on to primary 4, I did not see my Indian friend anymore.
    While all these incidents still haunt me till this day, I always wonder how Mrs Lim and Miss Amy Phua live with that in their conscience, if they have any.
    I was lucky to finish my education but I am sad to say some of my lower primary school friends never even made it to upper primary.

    Alot of other things I witness that abusive teachers did are:
    a) making students buy food for them during recess time knowing fully well that the students may not have enough time to eat

    b)making students carry books and running errands for them, bluffing them that they are teacher’s pet

    c) cleaning the blackboard and sweeping the classroom for them.

    d)verbally abusing the students

    In the 60’s, when most of us are rather docile, only the teacher, the innocent child and God knows whether the teacher has abused her authority. Although these teachers were lucky to get away scot-free, I hope that such teachers are punished by retribution.

  14. Hi Dan,
    When I read #2 by Robert Ong, alot of memories of my primary school days starts gushing back.
    I attended a neighbourhood primary school back then. My Pri 1 teacher was a Mrs Lim. Whenever her pupils did badly in their school work, she will punish them by either throwing their exercise books out of the classroom or she will line them up and make them put their fists on her desk and she would hit their knuckers with a ruler. When I told my father about it and he made a trip to the principal’s office to complain, I soon became very unpopular with her. One day, I just turned around to talk to my friend, and she came from behind and hit me on my back between my shoulders with her bare palm so hard that I tremble so much that I couldn’t talk. After that incident, I dare not complain to my father anymore on any issue.
    Two years later in primary 3, there was an Indian girl in my class. My school is predominantly Chinese in both the teacher and student populations.My teacher was one Miss Amy Phua. For some reason, my teacher decides to pick on my Indian friend all the time and every day. She would make her stand in front of the class and beat her with a ruler until it breaks into 2. As far as I remember, my Indian friend was thrashed everyday for no apparent reason. I dared not complain to my father anymore after what happened in primary 1. When I went on to primary 4, I did not see my Indian friend anymore.
    While all these incidents still haunt me till this day, I always wonder how Mrs Lim and Miss Amy Phua live with that in their conscience, if they have any.
    I was lucky to finish my education but I am sad to say some of my lower primary school friends never even made it to upper primary.

    Alot of other things I witness that abusive teachers did were:
    a) making students buy food for them during recess time knowing fully well that the students may not have enough time to eat

    b)making students carry books and running errands for them, bluffing them that they are teacher’s pet

    c) cleaning the blackboard and sweeping the classroom for them.

    d)verbally abusing the students

    In the 60’s, when most of us are rather docile, only the teacher, the innocent child and God knows whether the teacher has abused her authority. Although these teachers were lucky to get away scot-free, I hope that such teachers are punished by retribution.

  15. Thanks Wendy for sharing, your description is so vivid. Up to now you are still vindictive that the person in question should be punished.

    Have to let go and let those who sow to the wind reap the whirlwind.

    Now i am tempted to come up with another post. Am still mulling whether to start with “Funny familair forgotten feelings” or ‘Dead men tells no tales” or “Those were the days” or “Desperate Dan – my story”. Watch out!

    Dan

  16. Hi Wendy #13

    I am sorry that my narration of my story in primary school has triggered off the recollection of your bitter memories of your schooling days.
    These had happened several decades ago. Do you think you should forget and forgive, move on and hope for better life experiences in the future?

    By the way, Dan’s post is “ALAMAK, WHY ME!”. But you seem to convey the impression that most primary teachers were out to find fault with most pupils and were exceeding their authorities to deliver the punishment.

    I am sure that some teachers are kind and not overbearing.
    As for me, my encouter with the teacher in my story was memorable and is to be cherished. Alamak,why me! Out of thirty odd pupils, I was the chosen one.
    Cheers
    Robert Ong

  17. Hi Robert,

    What matters here is that fellow member willing to share a part of their life and story here. We are open to any form of discussion and tales.

    Would it be a wonderful situation if we can have member openly bare their souls and idiosyncrasies here. What about having story-tellers? I for one feels that collectively there is much to relate about our lives, our adventures and peculiarities here.

    My next post on “Funny familiar forgotten feelings” is still under incubation. I need to be in a melancholy mood to bare my soul.

    Dan

  18. Hi DanielC #18,

    I like the youtube song. Very meaningful.

    And, for fellow members, if you put up an URL link on this forum, please do not be surprised that your comment goes into moderation. This is the standard procedure for all URL links published in the club’s forum.

    Terence Seah

  19. Hello Daniel,

    I like the song but pity I can’t understand fully though I’m a Hokien. The singer is young and pretty and alamak, I now wonder where my ching chun has gone to. sigh…….

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