skribeworks

Today marks the fifth anniversary of my return to Singapore. A few years ago, I had some medical issues, and I had to return to Australia. It was supposed to be for only a short period, but there were complications with my treatment and I ended up staying there for way too long. So, it was a joy to finally return.

Singapore almost changes before your eyes. There are major works everywhere across the island, and it’s been like that at least since I first came here as a child in the early 70s.

On Friday, I managed to have some quality time with the entire family again. We cycled down to the nearest public swimming pool, a distance of just over two kilometres.

In Perth, I’d cover that in about 5-10 minutes, especially if it was located along one of the many cycle paths. However, in Singapore it takes us almost half-an-hour. All the paths are shared, which means we need to deal with loads of pedestrians, most that have no situation awareness or (seemingly) any will to live. They often just step out from nowhere, or turn sharply – usually without looking. So we tend to ride much slower in Singapore than I ever did in Perth.

What is The Glyphs?

The Glyphs is a multiple-choice game where you control the fate (and demise) of a gong farmer, as they explore the sewers beneath the Ancient City. Just choose an option from the poll below, and the most popular option will decide what happens next. I’ll put out one of these every week.

New here? Check out Part 1.

Ere even before Thúlornar and her husband, Ghótenór, slept the dreamless sleep, The Onghaor were aware they were being watched from afar.  Beings of light, tall creatures with angular features, observed them whenever they neared the forest.  It is said that sometimes these beings even visited their encampments when The Onghaor were asleep, for they left behind their long footprints.

It was Ghótenór who named them, for he often wandered on hunting trips near the forest, and many times he claimed to have seen them as he lurked unseen.  He called them elfs, which means white beast but also means being of light, for he deemed them stupid and unable to talk, despite looking very much like Men, but with alabaster skin and snow-white hair.

Often while I’m out cycling, I see something that catches my eye. Something I want to photograph. However, I don’t often bring my camera with me. Mainly because the weather can change from sunshine to downpour very quickly. I don’t trust my backpack to keep every drop out.

Gánc (ga:nk)* – vulgar

Noun:

1. Faeces.
2. A place to excrete. A toilet.

Verb:

1. A shortened form of gáncen (ga:nken) meaning to defecate.

Last Saturday, we watched Godzilla Minus One, which is currently showing on Netflix (at least In Singapore). For me, It’s just like every other Godzilla movie, except it’s set immediately after World War 2, which is unique as far as I know.

That said, I enjoyed most of it, but one thing that caught my interest was how the film-makers treated the desolation of Japan from World War 2 and their characters’ reactions to it.

Lera (lIɣa) – meaning lovely. Possibly from the Old Davan verb likkan, meaning to lick.

Lera is a conflicted character. She lies on the precipice, between abject failure and monumental success. This often gets in the way of her knowing right from wrong, which in turns causes her great anxiety when she discovers that she has made the wrong choice – especially when it regards her friends.

Although Lera’s very early years are shrouded in mystery (which she only discusses with her closest friends), we know that she was raised in the Convent at Mafield. Under the guidance of Sisters Elean and Sinda, there she learnt to become a Sister of Insight, a follower of the teachings of Ulæ.

Family moments are far more ephemeral than we sometimes realise. While childhood stretches on (especially the school years), it barely lasts a couple of decades. To a kid that’s practically forever, but to an adult, it’s a blink of an eye, over way too fast.

I mention this because it’s becoming harder to arrange those moments where we spend time doing something, or going somewhere, as a family. It used to be that any of us (kids included) would spontaneously announce that we’d be going out for a walk, or to do a playground-crawl, or just head out for a meal, and we’d all just drop whatever we were doing and leave immediately. There was no hesitation or even complaints. Sadly, those days are long over.

What is The Glyphs?

The Glyphs is a multiple-choice game where you control the fate (and demise) of a gong farmer, as they explore the sewers beneath the Ancient City.

Just choose an option from the poll below, and the most popular option will decide what happens next. I’ll put out one of these every week.

Part 1 has been decided. Check out what happens in Part Two of The Glyphs.