Chicken Run

Today Lyn, Hasli and I were enlisted to help cull chickens at Neo Tiew. Over 5,000 healthy chicken were culled all in the name of 'preparedness'. We had to report to Choa Chu Kang MRT by 7 am. Good gosh! 7am?

I fetched Hasli at 6 then raced to fetch Lyn. Lucky guys!! We made it to Choa Chu Kang Just before 7. There was some initial confusion at to the meeting point. Some waited at the bus stop. Others waited at the MRT. We spied a crowd near the HDB blocks and true enough it was the designated meeting point. Hasli had to take his customary toilet breakie so he got separated from me and Lyn.

From CCK we were transported to VPHC at Lim Chu Kang via coach. There we were made to fill in forms...queue...walk to the next point...queue...walk...queue...u know how it goes. Queues show orderliness. Queues indicate purpose. By the end I was all kitted up with boots, socks, aprons and all manner of protective gear. Some where along the way Lyn got sent back home and Hasli got left behind. Lyn had left all her personal effects in the boot of my car so I have no idea how she made it back home. I tried calling her at the office, at home and even her sis but to no avail. I assume all is well with her.

Anyhow we were then transported to the chicken farm. Awaiting us there was a throng of reporters, SCDF, Police and lots of unhappy chickens. I got my picture taken so many times. I even had the priviledge of appearing on the news. From now on call me 'Leon the Butcher of Lim Chu Kang'.

The entire culling exercise was to test methods and methodically test the safety aspects and aspect safely tests respectively. It was hot and tiring work. We had to take compulsory breaks and lunch just so that we could go through the motions of what happens during an actual Avian Influenza outbreak. We readily ate and drank (cos we lost so much bodily fluids) then.

Around about 2.30 we had completed the entire exercise then it was time to get starkers! We were all required to undergo de-contamination procedures before being let off. The SCDF had kindly constructed tent-like structures to serve as the decontamination chambers,changing rooms and bathing areas. Too bad they had divided it into male and female facilities. No payoff this time.

After the necessary, we were then herded onto the bus to CCK MRT.

Me and Hasli then adjourned to Jalan Kayu to 'sample' some of the famous prata there. I ordered 3 kosong prata, 1 ice-cream prata and a milo dinosaur. Hasli being the conservative foodie ordered 1 egg prata, 1 kosong prata and 1 teh halia. *yawn*

After the feast, we drove to Punggol to take a look at the beach or rather lack thereof. They had closed off the jetty at Punggol End for security reasons. So no sea or sand for us loafers.

I then sent Hasli to the Yishun library as he had to return his overdue library book. I returned home to discover to my horror that I had been captured on tv during the culling. Not only that my good pal Yew Kwang was also featured. Bwaahaahaaa!!

I tried calling Maybel out for a movie but she had to work late (again). She suggested Friday but I do not think I will be free as I had already made plans with Joyce that day.