It all started with a dryer.
Our new home comes with a brand new washer-dryer. 7kg washer and 5kg dryer. Obviously, that isn’t going to work for a multitude of reasons. And since our awesome interior designer has managed to relocate our washer-dryer into the service bathroom, my wife and I have bought a dedicated dryer and have it stacked onto our washer-dryer.
Buying our dryer turns out to be a bit of a drama. The one we are using in our current home is a Bosch vented dryer. It has been a fantastic purchase. The clothes come out cupboard dry, nicely ‘ironed’ except work shirts of course. We wanted to buy a Bosch condenser dryer for our new home. But we were persuaded by the salesman to buy an Electrolux condenser dryer instead. It is cheaper and just as good – so said the salesman. At first, we bought an Electrolux. Then I checked the online reviews and was horrified by how bad it was. We quickly returned and happily paying extra for a Bosch. I hope that is a wise purchase. In any case, if someone tries very hard to sell you something – ahem … like the Samsung dryer in our last visit) – something fishy must be going on.
As it turns out, the team who delivers the dryer is not the same team who stacks the dryer on top of the washer-dryer. And the appointment for stacking was today between 1pm to 4pm. Since I am going to take leave today, why not … have my car serviced … have my teeth looked into by my dentist … have my balcony door looked into (again) …
This morning, it rained. Naturally and because today was a Monday, my wife didn’t want to get out of bed. By the time I dropped her to the office, it was 9.15am. My appointment with the car servicing company was at 9.30am. My next appointment with my dentist was at 10.30am. Though I was 10 minutes late, I was able to conclude my business at around 10am. Consider the fact that there was a customer making a huge complaint because he had waited too long, I was lucky.
As I stepped out of the service center ready to fast walk to the nearest train station 10 minutes away, a man stopped me asking me if I was heading to the station. He was a shuttle driver taking customers from the service center to the station. As far as I remember, the bus schedule is only twice an hour. So today was my lucky day. Next to the shuttle stood a woman with a tattoo on her back. I recognized her as a customer. I was wondering why the driver did not offer her a ride. Maybe he had.
From Queenstown to Tanjong Pagar, it was a four-station ride. I dashed into the plaza and as always, I got lost. The dentist is located somewhere on the second floor. I passed by a Thai restaurant that I didn’t notice before. There was a Thai woman having a meal outside and she smiled at me. She may work there, may even be the owner. I wish the locals are as friendly.
My dentist limped towards me as I entered the clinic. And he seems to have aged quite a bit. The last time I saw him was 18 months ago. The last time we have met, he has moved to Penang, Malaysia. We have chatted. He has sold off his apartment in Malaysia just before the market crashed, made a bit of money, and bought an apartment in New Zealand instead. My dentist really doesn’t want to retire in Singapore. Perhaps in New Zealand, he seldom meets people. We had such a good chat, look long lost friends.
My appointment with the team who stacked my dryer on top of my washer-dryer had been brought forward. So, after my dentist appointment, I rushed to my new home, which fortunately was only 2 stations away. The perk of living near the city center eh?
And of course, I have left my umbrella at the dentist’s office. I seldom bring an umbrella as I often drive. And that was not the only time I have forgotten to bring it along with me today.
In my new home, the carpenter and I presume his apprentice was working hard. It was rather noisy and dusty. The technicians arrived and have installed the bracket to the dryer. It was much simpler than I thought.
Woohoo! I am done for the day!
I ventured out looking for food, far. Then I remembered I still have one more appointment with the condo team to fix my balcony doors.
Ugh.
So I ran back to my new home – literally – and was 10 minutes late. The balcony doors were fixed in some unorthodox ways (that involved banging the doors hard onto a wooden rod … a couple of times). I doubt it was a permanent fix. But there was it for today.
Because it was 2.10pm – what’s up with all the 10-minute blocks today?! – I have decided to have Korean food opposite my new home.
I was still having my beer when the cashier politely approached me at 3.10pm (no kidding, it was really 3.10pm) informing me that the restaurant was now closed. I downed my beer in one gulp and left. I felt being kicked out from the restaurant. But I guess the staffs would not get paid the overtime caused by one single customer taking his time enjoying his beer. The reviews at HungryGoWhere are spot on though. Service is pretty bad and the soup dish is so-so. A lot of tofu and onions. Not enough soup.
I was exhausted, still am. But it was a productive day.