my innermost sanctum

lest we forget

the sacrifices made by those brave men and women who fought for our freedom.

and i still recall the old gentleman who manned a wee souvenir shop along the shambles in york. i entered this shop as i found it to be empty unlike the others before it. swamped with clueless bumbling tourist's.

ok, so i was one also. tourist that is. it was twilight then, but i was every bit as excited to have come across the shambles. and havin seen york minster loomin large.

as i stepped in, i smiled at said gent, turned to my left to peek at the usual touristy thingies, prices tend to be overtly inflated. and also tend to be made in china. and then the inevitable question: where i was from.

when i replied "wee islet", said gent immediately remarked, "i was there at changi prison.."

i was gobsmacked. there i was face to face with a wwII POW. and for no reason whatsoever i was trembling with excitement as one hardly comes across a British or ANZAC POW back home. and nothin beats hearing it straight from the horse's gob as opposed to history textbook's.

havin noticed my reaction, said gent continued that he was imprisoned at changi right till em evil japs' reluctant surrender. and he was in his 30's then. i was at a complete loss of word's, found myself mumbling incoherently instead, "thank you for helping us fight em evil jap's, sir."

i got panicked when i saw his blinkers watered but all the same i continued, "there's a brand new museum up at changi in memory of the POW's; and if you can make your way back there, please do so.."

he nodded in silence, and just then another clueless bumblin tourist stepped into the shop, so i quickly pointed to him that i wanted to purchase a wee porcelain display plate. of the shambles.

i didn't have any intention to buy anythin - see "overtly inflated", "made in china". i felt bad after chatting with the old chap, at least he made a sale given that there was hardly a soul before i came in.

it has been almost ten year's since, and every remembrance day thence i'd reflect upon the above episode. and wondering if the old gent is well.

i'm glad that i had the chance to wear the poppy whilst in primary school. we were all handed out a poppy each during the weekly assembly but we were too young to know the significance.

and it's an absolute disgrace that the wee islet press doesn't mention one bit about this day.

ingrate's.