Meet Kate

I am here in Singapore for the Chinese New Year break. What an experience we had trying to leave the country. We left PJ at 4.45am, thinking that we would be in time for the check in for our 7.30am Air Asia flight. To my horror, the departure notice board had our flight on “closed” and there were huge signs stating that passengers on international flights had to check in 3 hours earlier!!  Was it not to be 2 hours? Nevertheless, we joined the long queue to have our bags scanned and weaved our way, trolley and all, through the crowds to our “closed” counter. There was a long line. I asked the last person in the queue “Singapore”.

“No.”

My 10 year old daughter and 82 year old mother were told to stay put while I frantically searched for our counter. Security staff were of little help. They told me to look at the counter signs, but none were flashing our flight number. And yes, they were good in stopping me from going out through entrances. Finally I found an Air Asia staff whom I had to speak across the barriers and he directed me to another counter at the other end of the airport. Back I rushed to anxious mum and child, and we made our way again through the crowds to the counter where a paper notice of our flight number was put up. Incidentally only 27 passengers had checked in by then. The rest must still be looking for the counter.
The agony did not end here. Our departure hall was somewhat makeshift. Warned to enter earlier to avoid the immigration rush, we decided to skip our McDonald’s breakfast and enter. There were 2 departure halls, no food nor washroom facilities. We were not allowed to leave the hall. There I suffered until we boarded, and for the first time, I rushed to the loo even before getting my seat. There were several others in the same agony. We must all have missed the huge sign they claimed to have put up, stating the lack of facilities in the departure hall.
Now I understand why so many brickbats have been thrown about in the dailies on the LCCT facilities. It was not that bad when I last went to Manado October last year.
The journey itself was fine, and the plane not packed to the brim. Perhaps the other passengers thought they missed their flight too. We reached my aunt’s by 9am. The relief was great as we initially thought that our holiday was over.

Now about Kate. This is my cousin’s miniature Maltesse, who looks a like a better groomed miniature version of Macio. Possibly 1/8 her size! Maybe Mae has some Maltese in her too, in addition to the Cocker and Poodle bits? She is one year old, all white and furry and definitely portable. The children sweep her up in one hand, place her on their shoulder or cuddle her to bits. Imagine doing this to Summer, who incidentally is growing bigger each day. One packet of Alpo puppy food does not even last a week.

Summer is slowly finding her voice. If she is let out in the morning and wants to come back in, there will be this weird noise at the gate. If chipmunks could bark, maybe they would sound like her. Mum in her defence calls it musical. I call it a tuneless screech and wail.

Are Summer and Mae getting along? Hmm… I suppose the tolerance level is higher on the touch-me-not Mae. And perhaps Summer is learning that the old one just does not want to play with her?

I will miss the two scamps for the next few days, and will be entertained instead by a very minute ladylike pooch.

Add comment January 24, 2009