People

While in the airport waiting for my flight, I noticed clusters of passengers busily texting on their mobile phones. A few were engrossed in their magazines and books. Some wore face masks hoping to protect themselves against the H1N1 virus. Most others were mask free.

I put on a facemask the other day when I went to the hospital to get my medication. I did so because the hospital is where viruses and other germs may be picked up. However I can tell you that it is not comfortable at all wearing a face mask. First of all, your hot breath when you exhale, tends to mist up your spectacles and inhaling is also restricted. You can't really take deep breaths.

Anyway I guess why passengers don face masks is the fear of the recycled air in the plane. What if someone on board is infected with the virus and did not wear a mask? That's why the whole load of passengers has to be quarantined if one passenger has been exposed to the H1N1.

Unfotunately it has been said that the mask is really no protection at all. It is used by the person who has flu to reduce the spreading of his germs to others. It is not a fact that people wearing masks will not catch the flu virus. Then there is another email circulating which says that two people with the virus recovered after taking the juice of 6 green apples and orange juice throughout the day during the period that they were stricken with the virus. I guess the most practical advice is still to keep one's hands clean and away from our face. No wonder hand sanitisers are out of stock in pharmacies and hypermarkets.

Coming back to the flight I was on, it was a full load heading for Kuala Lumpur. As usual when the plane landed, the passengers were eager to disembark. Some were already on their mobile phones even though they had been told not to do so until the plane door was open. Others were hauling their hand luggage out of the overhead compartments with hardly a thought for the person standing close by. Some luggage must have been very heavy to swing down hard, if you know what I mean. I've seen passengers being hit with the luggage even as the owner brought it out of the overhead locker.

There was this very fat woman who was half in and half out of her seat as passengers began filing past her to leave the plane. I heard her cursing "Bloody hell, can't even give me a chance to get out first..."

Obesity must be her name. I wonder how she squeezed into her seat as her two boys were also fat. I have come across fat people but they have always been cheerful people, not like this woman. Of course no one bothered to pay any attention to her. All were intent on getting out as quickly as possible. I wouldn't be surprised if she had used her bulk to push aside an unlucky passenger. Some of the ladies were really reed thin. After having been cooped up for a length of time, it's only natural that people want to get out as fast as possible. With leg room so restricted on board, the need to stretch one's legs becomes very urgent indeed.

Anyway the flight was not bad, it was on time although the landing was not as smooth as some of the others which I've experienced. The inflight food however can still be improved upon. All said and done, more and more people are taking to airtravel more frequently because the fares have come down and reunions with friends and family need not be few and far in between.

I'm looking forward to my granny club reunion this Saturday. I haven't seen some of friends since the time I left school!!! Surprises will be in store!

Sunset Orchestra at Jesselton Point, Kota Kinabalu

Last Saturday we went to see the Shan Tao High School orchestra band perform at Jesselton Point, Kota Kinabalu. This band was started by me when I was the principal of the school. We started off as a brass band initially and added more instruments when funds permitted.

We had to raise funds to purchase musical instruments as we did not get any financial help from the state education department for the band. The school management board helped by providing the means for a trainer to train the students. It has been twelve years since I retired and Saturday's performance showed that the school band had indeed come a long way.

Their repertoire was impressive and they staged an excellent performance on the jetty with the setting sun as the backdrop. We were impressed by the band's performance which also had dances incorporated into the evening programme.

My two grandchildren were spellbound. This is the first time they had ringside seats so to speak, and Chloe was very reluctant to leave her seat during the long intermission. She was afraid that her seat would be taken by someone by the time we returned from dinner.

It was a cool evening fanned by a strong sea breeze and the waves lapping gently beneath provided an ambience that complemented the music that flowed from the band. Some of the songs brought back memories of days gone by.

Indeed the band did the school proud and there was no one prouder than me. My students ( sigh...I still think of it as my school and my students even though I've left..) acquited themselves very well and that evening will remain with me for a long time to come.