Dreams

It was such a vivid and real dream of you. I stopped outside Bowen Secondary and walked over to your void deck, which turned out to be the void deck a few blocks away from where I used to teach. And you still had your golden iphone cover. I wonder if this should be classified as a bad dream or a good one?

Eulogy

To the family of Prof Anthony Chin:

My name is Weixiang. I was Anthony's student in NUS. I took two modules under him when I was in NUS Anthony was a brilliant man, who was also warm and friendly and extremely generous with his time. We nicknamed him the 'Transport Guru after his specialty - Transport Economics. We kept in touch even after the conclusion of the two modules.  We would drive out to the Duck Rice stall at South Buona Vista Road. I was in the University Football team then, and spent a large part of my time on the sport but he would always advise me to put more thought into what I wanted to do after I graduate.  He told me about how he would drive into Malaysia and how his family was very important to him. He loved Pinot Noir and would invite me to wine tasting sessions with him and a few other students. 

After I graduated, we would still chat occasionally on MSN. I remember a conversation I had with him in my 3rd year as a teacher. I told him that while I found teaching to be meaningful and fulfilling, I still felt a sense of restlessness and wanted to see more of the world. I told him I wanted to pursue my long time dream of being a Photographer. He told me I was still young and encouraged me to try and not to be afraid to fail.

We lost touch after that. But whenever I had the occasion to return to NUS, I would think of him. I finally decided to leave teaching and become a photographer at the end of last year. I wanted to present him with a copy of my first photo-book at the start of this year, but somehow it always slipped my mind and I am truly sorry I never did.

This news has really been a shock to me and I am sure many others  also mourn the loss of a truly remarkable teacher and friend. I believe Anthony lived a fulfilling life and he will be sorely missed by many.

I hope that what I have written will help you to remember him. Please accept my deepest condolences for your loss.

Lim Weixiang

11/08/2014

Sunset.

After a day of rain, the glow of the setting sun over Bishan was magnificent to behold turning everything golden and silhouetting all the residential blocks, the half complete Sky Vue, and in my car I had to suppress my itch to stop and photograph. As I drove on I was reminded that light, its quality can affect how we feel and this sunset made me think about a future abandoned, it reminded me of another summer when we were driving lazily into the sunset somewhere between Yosemite and Las Vegas.

Precious things.

Was at Travis yesterday and this was the song which left the deepest impression.

"Precious things never last...."