Mua Chee and Wa Chee

it's one of those days again. when you look out of the window. the sky's just perfect, the perfect tinge of blue, and the perfect combination of differently-shaped clouds.

there! there's a strip of sandy coast along the lagoon; and again one that gracefully bends over the skyscraper like a massive brontosaurus; ah yes one that resembles the printed A4 paper that the printer churns out industriously - a full 62 sheets of paper in a day, oh no! one that approximates a - is that for real? - sigma notation sign, oh gosh, the questions about math portfolio are starting to rain down upon me.

and in the distance. one like mua chee (: which is pretty much anything. because mua chee can look like anything. wrapped in peanuty-sugary goodness. exciting (:

mua chee and wah chee. how many memories have come as a result of these two chees?

(meanwhile the printer has stopped. and the math portfolio is out. joy! thanks God (: )

loving mua chee was a past-time from way back when. it was love at first sight - first taste perhaps - softness mixed with crunchy peanuts - and appealing my horribly evil sweet tooth (which applies for most things except chocolate haha). no one expected that wok of oil and sticky mass of white to taste so brilliant (:

Queensway shopping center. one of the few ol' faithfuls that still sell this treat (:. somehow it became a place of my childhood - where my nai(3) ma(1), literally milk mum, took me to sell newspapers and magazines. and i would be a really good boy. i suppose. i was always quite a good boy, and i always got my mua chee as a result. wonderful.

otherwise. mua chee was a rare sight, appearing only in those transient and passing pasar malams, sadly; and i would always wish that those pasar malams would set up and never leave - the familiar glow of the pasar malam at night was something i could never forget.

and three years back, upon arriving at Causeway Point, where the new Fairfield Preaching Point would be established, i recall stumbling upon this little quaint store in Cold Storage, the aunty had a familiar wok positioned in front of her. and it was love at first sight - again, with mua chee, and not the aunty (oh gosh i'm so poetic today). Every week, without fail, i would go down and visit, and gradually i learnt more about this aunty, and we did grow a little close i guess, there was at least some recognition - you know, like the school bao aunty and I (:

and one day. she just disappeared. into nothingness. i remembered the wave of disappointment that swept across my heart - and it wasn't just the loss of mua chee, but the loss of someone i actually knew. and emptiness ensued - like those many many times - empty like the wok that stood before me. no more.

and more recently. mua chee has come back to haunt me. and well well. a blessing and a delight. ah well three mua chees in a week. and the fourth was delivered at least to make someone happy (: - and full i guess - how can one have mua chee for dinner? gosh.

and i believe. many memories are yet to come.

and how about wah chee? this little stall positioned a stone's throw away from home. a place of communion and fellowship, a place where love abound since last December. a place for hope and ministry. and place where friendships were forged (:

In the words of Wesley - wah chee isn't a place - it's a concept. post BB, post school is greeted with a 'wah chee', not a visit to wah chee. and anyone new to BB is often initiated with that maiden trip down to our dear stall. wow. the many memories there.

and the late nights. and nights under the stars. where i lay many times with friends and simply chatted the day ahead - where our testimonies were shared, where we built each other up. I thank God, he's been so great. so great. (and now i shall go spend time with Him)

and there we met. and there perhaps, we shall part some day.

some day. i wish it wouldn't come.

but well.