Yesterday, around 5.45pm, I was flagged by an elderly Englishman along Boundary Road, junction of Upper Paya Lebar Road. He wanted to go to PICCADILLY CIRCUS on his own but lost his way around and needed help. I told him I know how to get him there, and jokingly suggested that he would need to buy an air ticket first. Straightaway he knew I was pulling a fast one and exclaimed excitedly "You know where it is? Thank goodness, nobody I asked had the slightest clue to what I was talking about!". He told me he lived in Singapore many, many years ago, during the sixties when he was an ex-British Serviceman doing a year's duty and lived in Seletar Airbase. (I believe many Singaporeans are unaware that there exist such a place except for the famous and well known one in London.) "God Bless You!" he said.
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This English gentleman, now a tourist, wants to relive his days when he lived here but was shocked to find great changes everywhere, totally unlike the peaceful, quiet and serene surroundings that he experienced in the past. Suddenly he looked excitedly at the entrance and exclaimed, "It's still there, the facade, but no Guards!". He could not sit still and spied at every corner. Indeed, you could feel just pure nostalgia.
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Finally past the entrance and inside, his voice quavered loudly, "Oh my God, its like yesterday, my beloved PICCADILLY CIRCUS!!" and turning to me he said, "I love Singapore, thank you, thank you, you have made my dreams come true my man!" I quickly replied "The pleasure is all mine". He insisted to alight by the side of the road, the metered fare was showing $12.40 and he pushed $20.00 into my hands. "For you my friend, for you and thank you again". He said he wants to walk by himself and be filled with past memories and bade me farewell. I watched him slowly walking away along Edgeware Road and that's when I started taking the above snaps. I felt very happy having his company and sharing his joy as I began to drive off.
