As good as it gets

I've been thinking how I should describe our first SUKA (Singapore UK Association) event. I'll try to be succinct so here goes:

'We met a whole lotta other Singaporeans on Saturday. Organised by STB, the event was a jazz cruise down River Thames. Finding it somewhat Bri'ish, I decided to localise it in my mind and imagined us 'dayung sampan-ing' down the murky Singapore River instead. As a show of patriotism, we turned up in the designated dress code. Guess?

model citizens!

I was sure none of us would be caught dead in the same hues back home. But here, safe under the blanket of obscurity, we let loose and showed how innately Singaporean we truly are. Repressed kiasu-ism broke loose from their restraints, and there was a mini scramble for the FREE NDP goodybags. We met the High Commissioner, tried to outbeat a cackly brood of Singaporean tai-tais in trivia questions - Name 3 movies 'Singapore' was mentioned??! Wah lau eh. We shot dagger looks at the luckydip winner who won an economy flight home on SIA. We clinked glasses, sang 'Happy Birthday, Singapore' and stuffed ourselves silly with bday cake. But the BIGGEST letdown? Not being able to makan local delicacies. Side dishes of kueh and measly currypuffs didn't quite cut it. Was it a 'Uniquely Singapore' event? Not quite.'

our little patriot