22nd March 2003 - I don't like the smell of napalm in the morning. I've never even smelled it, having never been to war. The smell of freshly mown lawn mixed with two-stroke oil will do for me. At least, it seems to inspire me in the same way that napalm inspires Robert Duvall's character in Apocalypse Now. Maybe if he'd gotten off his arse and mowed his lawn once in a while, he wouldn't feel the need to thunder around Vietnam in a Wagner-blaring chopper. I attacked the lawn yesterday, a 'shock and awe' operation that left no blade of grass untouched. I even stopped to 'search and destroy' weeds around the trees - the mulch and newspaper made it very easy - and now everything looks neat. Right now, I'd be shirtier than usual if someone tried to cross my lawn coming after me or one of my housemates. I'd have a few weapons of mass destruction ready for them just for violating my sacred garden. It's such a pity that trespass seems to be justifiable if the trespasser wields power. They should mix their own two-stroke, and work their own turfs - no doubt so overgrown with litter and mess that they seek distractions - rather than worry about other people's lawns. Then when they're finished, I'll put them to work on mine. That'd learn 'em.
12th March 2003 - We held the Lion Dance durian night on Saturday after training. It's the end of durian season and there were only five left at Thuan Phat Oriental Mart. I asked if we could get a special price for cleaning out their stock and the shoplady started laughing at us. Then all the other shoppers started laughing at us, so we paid up quickly and beat it. Grandma came over to eat durians. She busily tucked them away while the rest of us debated loudly about the quality of each fruit. Quiet, ninja-like, she ate, until we realised the durian levels were getting low. I guess you don't survive a Japanese occupation without above-average street smarts. Chew turned up at the door. I got worried that my father had taken her for a walk and collapsed somewhere along the way. But it turned out that he'd left the side gate open and she'd decided to gatecrash us because she was bored at home. She tried to bite Jon when we took her back. It's her way of saying "The party's over already?!"
5th March 2003 - The constant rain has brought the lawn to life! Even the back garden no longer looks like the surface of Mars. I think I'll let it grow a bit before mowing it down. Construction next door is progressing nicely. Those new housing trust seniors' units will make nice windbreaks; if not ugly ones. I thought it was impossible for new buildings to look crusty, but I have underestimated the power of designs done by committees. Anyway, no longer will our carport roof lift up in the strong winds and slam back down with an almighty 'clang', as if the devil himself had landed on our roof...
Monday 24th Feb 2003 - It just rained last Thursday and the garden looks terrific. Amazing what a little water can do. Jin held a massive party on Saturday night. It was her and Jenny's birthdays, plus Jenny had just come back, and Rhey recently moved in. Something I gotta do again: eat sashimi while I've got the munchies.
