Chimp found dead in reservoir

Rhamba drowned in the nearby reservoir whilst fleeing from capture. Apparently she had been harassed in her enclosure and escaped despite the electric wires and other barriers. She was shot with tranquillisers in the stomach and staggered to the reservoir where she then drowned.

Well... they say hindsight is 20/20. In this case I think the zoo could have handled the matter better. Rhamba was a tame chimpanzee used for photography and appearances at zoo events. There were keepers who have worked with Rhamba since she was just a baby whom she would have entrusted her very life to. That was how close the bond between her and her keepers was. That she had to die so tragically is sad.

I could not fully express everything that she and I have been through over the years.
When I first joined the zoo I was often delegated to do my most favourite activity of all; Snake Photography!! It so happened that the Chimpanzee Photography mound was just next to mine. So very often I would take the opportunity to sneak over there when there were no crowds at my side. Chimpanzees are extremely intelligent creatures. Rhamba, and her companion Ganga, were no exception. Watching them playing was little different from watching little babies doing likewise. Their favourite keeper was Wahid. Watching the 3 of them going at it was hilarious.
The 2 chimps would playfully roll around,play hide-and-seek or find great amusement in even simple things like sticks or towels. I have a couple of pics taken with Ganga and Rhamba. Sometimes all we have are memories...

To Rhamba...you are in a better place now.....

The Bomb

My mum calls my car 'the Bomb'. I guess it is because it is getting on in years and ever so often it does something unexpected just to get attention. Just today I sent Sunny (that is the name Joyce and I gave it) to the Tan Chong Service Centre at Toa Payoh. Which by coincidence or design, is a few blocks away from where Rachelle stays. Not to mention Carolyn and Alison in nearby Bishan...

It turns out that Sunny's shock absorbers were giving problems and hence the knocking sounds for the last few days. So I got her fixed. She will be ready tomorrow afternoon.

On the way back from the workshop, I was thinking. Thinking about how much we have spent on Sunny for repairs and maintanaince since acquired her. I think it comes out to a rather tidy sum. The repairs today costs total $900 before discount. The repairs we piad for after her accident with the lorry amounted to $3500. There are also the numerous other repairs, checks and all we did over the years. I guess it might have actually been more wothwhile scrapping Sunny and buying a new one or a second hand model instead.

But I am a sentimental fool....*sigh*

Rachelle in the woodwork

I was supposed to meet Rachelle for pie before Tuesday but she has not been feeling too good the last couple of days. It is that time of month again and all the discomfort and pain that comes together with it. But we will meet.....I promise.

On a sidenote, I really appreciated her call earlier whilst I was at the car workshop. It really made the waiting a lot more pleasant!! *silly grin*

Something about Carrie.

I just had an online chat with Carolyn. We were just chatting the usual stuff. You know 'have you had dinner?', 'how has your day been?'....when suddenly the asked me THE question! She asked me if I liked her. So I answered 'Yes'. Then she asked if I liked her more than just a friend. Unwilling to give a straight answer, I said ,"that it was still too early to say but I really think that you are very special...". I then asked her the same question and she answered positively!!! Woo-pee-doo!!

The main problem me and Carolyn face I think is our opposite working hours. She works from 9 pm till 7.30 am. My working hours are 8.30 am to 5.30 pm. So far we have only met up on her off days. Another issue is that she is moving house so she is gonna be busy for the next few weeks with packing, moving and unpacking.

I told her that if were really serious about this then maybe we can just make time in our schedules to squeeze one another in. That makes our time spent together even more precious ... *silly grin*