Newton Circus, Singapore, 2008

I had the opportunity to revisit an old haunt during my childhood days, Newton Circus, two nights ago. I knew that the haunt had been renovated recently, more or less, but as to what extent I did not know. Newton Circus had been renovated once during my years in polytechnic, if I remember correctly, and the atmosphere had not changed much aside from the distance between cars and the front stalls. Driving the family car with my nan, hankering for some good local food, I was in for a surprise and shock.

Finding a parking spot was not difficult because it was about ten o'clock at night, supper time. However, it was difficult finding a spot near the stalls. Oh well. I was pleasantly surprised to find that there was a path for the physically challenged and the wheelchair bound to access the place. I was also impressed with the new layout of the open concept as well as the ease of accessibility for those in wheelchairs. The layout of the hawker stalls had definitely changed, but I was happy as long as I managed to get some of my old favourites. Walking around the Circus of stalls with my nan, I began to feel that something was not quite right.

Looking around again, I noticed that there were a lot of stalls selling the same thing. BBQ chicken wings, seafood stalls, satay, sugarcane juice, etc. There seemed to be a fair bit of repetition. Ah well, never mind, at least more convenient depending on where the customers sit. Managing to find my nan's favourite oyster omelette stall, we ordered one with and one without chilli. Service was as usual, good, for singaporean standards, based on from before I went to Australia for my studies. The stall was run by the same auntie I had seen more than four years ago. On we went, to find more food. I fancied some teochew fish porridge to go with the greasy omelette, so both of us went to the stall. What a nightmare! I'm never going back to that stall ever again!

The lady boss (I gathered) of the establishment was very rude to my nan, despite ordering two bowls, waiving off an old lady's simple requests. One should always make time to hear the words of an older person. It did not stop there. The lady boss arrived with our two bowls of porridge, which incidentally tested quite bland, and began to hurry my nan for payment because she claimed that she was rushed for time as there were more orders to be delivered. I understand that one has to rush when delivering orders of food, but that is still no excuse to hurry an elderly lady, and be rude about it too. What further infuriated me was that when I went back to the fish porridge stall to get a container to takeaway the porridge that could not be finished, I found the lady boss sitting on her bum doing nothing! (I also had to pay fifty cents for the container and hear her tell me that it was going to cost me, also in a rude manner.) That is why if I ever want to have fish porridge, I'd rather have it in Geylang. I will never patronise this stall again. Here I thought that these aunties and uncles would be nice to someone older than them, but the people at this stall proved me wrong. I am just griping about this particular stall. There are many other kind and courteous stall holders in Newton Circus and I would like to let them know they are a credit to their age group.

More to post later on. Chinese New Year Reunion dinner time!!! :) *wrings hands in glee at all the New Year goodies!*