I have word from Aunty Agnes that the temperature in Perth has dipped to minus 2.5 deg C yesterday! Goodness gracious! I pity the flyboys who have to get up at 6am to unlock the aircraft for the day's flying. Their fingers would definitely be numb in the biting cold.
Over here in Brisbane, temperature in the day is about 20 deg C. It is nice and warm and we don't need to wear jackets here, unlike back in Perth. At night the temperature is about 10 deg C but we have heater air-conditioners in the house so it keeps the house warm.
Yesterday we planned to visit Brisbane city since we haven't had the chance to check it out yet and the off day ought to be put to good use. Spirits were high after the good lunch of roasted ham and tomato sandwiches, washed down with Bundaberg sarsaparilla.
Barely after leaving our house, we suffered a tyre puncture when we pulled onto the motorway. We didn't know what the rattling noise was due to, and as it got louder we decided to pull over to the side of the motorway and take a look. The tyre was as flat as the road and we were lucky that the rims weren't damaged by the raw driving.
The last time I changed a tyre was many years' back and I couldn't remember whether it was unscrewing the nuts before jacking or vice versa. We pooled our knowledge and found that you should loosen the nuts first before you jack up the car. And to work we went. We brought out the spare tyre and the tools lying on the side.
Alas! The wrench/spanner couldn't fit the nuts! Who the hell would put tools that won't work on the car inside?!!
Thus we waited by the side of the road and wait for our other car to come back as we figured we could use their tools. It was weird for three Chinese dudes to be standing by the side of an Aussie motorway. Cars tooted us, some punk even shouted something as his car whizzed by. I couldn't catch what he was shouting but I reckoned it is something racist. I'm pretty used to theincreasing racism here in Eastern Aussie anyway so I wasn't bothered. But it sure is getting bad and Julia Gillard's new government had better check it before they lose our precious tourism dollars.
Our other car came back after some time as they had got lost to find a couple of exits to turn back on the motorway. Unfortunately they didn't have the tools too. While we were cracking our heads for a solution, a car pulled over. You cannot believe it when I tell you that it is our Saudi neighbour staying next door! He said he saw us by the road as he drove past, then he figured out that we needed help and turned back to see if he could lend a hand. What are the odds of that! He had the tools and we changed the tyre in no time.
I reflected that in a foreign land, it doesn't matter if you are Indian, Middle Eastern, Asian or whatever. Some of the locals may despise and look down on us just because we aren't of the same race but its alright. I am sure not all locals are like that anyway. I feel heartened to see a fellow human being staying in the same foreign land helping each other out. And I am pretty sure that if our roles were reversed and I was driving past them, I would be sure to turn back to stop and help. Singaporeans back home should think about this the next time they 'tsk' a China worker.
So in the end, we didn't go to Brisbane city but we spent the dayogling bikinis playing frisbee at Noosa Beach. Sure warms the spirits and numb fingers and other body parts too if I may add.
Over here in Brisbane, temperature in the day is about 20 deg C. It is nice and warm and we don't need to wear jackets here, unlike back in Perth. At night the temperature is about 10 deg C but we have heater air-conditioners in the house so it keeps the house warm.
Yesterday we planned to visit Brisbane city since we haven't had the chance to check it out yet and the off day ought to be put to good use. Spirits were high after the good lunch of roasted ham and tomato sandwiches, washed down with Bundaberg sarsaparilla.
Barely after leaving our house, we suffered a tyre puncture when we pulled onto the motorway. We didn't know what the rattling noise was due to, and as it got louder we decided to pull over to the side of the motorway and take a look. The tyre was as flat as the road and we were lucky that the rims weren't damaged by the raw driving.
The last time I changed a tyre was many years' back and I couldn't remember whether it was unscrewing the nuts before jacking or vice versa. We pooled our knowledge and found that you should loosen the nuts first before you jack up the car. And to work we went. We brought out the spare tyre and the tools lying on the side.
Alas! The wrench/spanner couldn't fit the nuts! Who the hell would put tools that won't work on the car inside?!!
Thus we waited by the side of the road and wait for our other car to come back as we figured we could use their tools. It was weird for three Chinese dudes to be standing by the side of an Aussie motorway. Cars tooted us, some punk even shouted something as his car whizzed by. I couldn't catch what he was shouting but I reckoned it is something racist. I'm pretty used to the
Our other car came back after some time as they had
I reflected that in a foreign land, it doesn't matter if you are Indian, Middle Eastern, Asian or whatever. Some of the locals may despise and look down on us just because we aren't of the same race but its alright. I am sure not all locals are like that anyway. I feel heartened to see a fellow human being staying in the same foreign land helping each other out. And I am pretty sure that if our roles were reversed and I was driving past them, I would be sure to turn back to stop and help. Singaporeans back home should think about this the next time they 'tsk' a China worker.
So in the end, we didn't go to Brisbane city but we spent the day
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