Tony's stash of textual information

When I rented a bed in a flat in Sengkang (not a room itself, but a bed in a room that I had to share with an incendiary older man who always seemed to sigh without even uttering a word) my landlady's fiance adopted a baby cat.

I watched it grow in size. It dashed around the cluttered place at 2 AM. Was it awake because I was awake, or the other way around? Or maybe it had its own life, and I was a mere witness; it would be self-absorbed of me, in a delusional way – egotistical – to think that its life revolved around my existence. No, no, my existence was no matter – she had a life entirely separate from mine. And I was the helpless little barely-intact ship that had gotten swept up in the maelstrom of her existence.

It was L.H. who started the ball rolling.

Hi guys, just a conversation starter prompted by a friend who is very involved in community organisation: – What are people’s thoughts around the topic of mutual aid and charity? – What do these terms mean to you, and how are they different? – How do they show up in your life, if at all? – What questions emerge from this brief reflection?

Let me answer briefly.

What are people’s thoughts around the topic of mutual aid and charity?

I think people do want to help others – who may not be related by blood to them – they just don't know how. (and, indeed, who to help). but my own experience has been that when I was in severe desperate need, the right help came at the right time.

“charity” seems like a tainted word in Singapore – incentivised by tax deductions and appearances on Lists of Honoured Donors -

“mutual aid” was something new to me, I only learnt about it during Covid times – but burn-out became a real thing – the organisers were burnt out – I wasn't an organiser, just a participant in my own small way – but my phone was ringing at strange hours with desperate, gut-wrenchingly worded requests for food and cash – it seemed I was slipping into an endless ocean of endless suffering.

I had to limit my own involvement in mutual aid, for my own peace-of-mind.

I have benefitted from the labours of poets and poetesses from decades past – and centuries past – and I have no way of expressing my gratitude except to “pay it forward” (as the younger set says) – I have received freely and now I give freely.

In no particular order, I list poems that have helped me at pivotal moments in my life.

Hey Google. What is the proper way to handle a stray dog? Especially in areas where there is no Internet-connection to ask Google.

I first encountered stray dogs in the southern end of the Taiwanese mainland, after hearing a rumour that fires spout from the ground there (see Wikipedia.)

(That was in the year 2013 A.D.)

It was late at night. The inn-keeper told me, “Don't go there, so late at night. There will be ghosts,” he said. Which was the best encouragement for an adventurous young thrill-seeker – like my young foolish self – to rush there, right away.

under Chatham House Rules, the goings-on may be revealed, but not the identity of individuals, nor their respective affliations.

This morning was such a hustle-and-bustle. I thought I was going to be late. The train had taken longer than usual to arrive – it was normal for this part of the woods, but I had forgotten. (I realise now: how blessed I am, to live in a more efficient, and more timely, region.)

Every conference has an important facility that one must hunt down: the toilet, which one is obliged, by social contract, to rush desperately towards

For my mother, and her long-term supporter, who happens to be my father.

I first started volunteering with Homeless Hearts of Singapore (HHOS, for short), in late 2022. I had read an article in Channel NewsAsia, about this organisation. I looked up their website, and filled in a registration form, and then received a call from Derek shortly.

A few months ago, I met a few pianists at public pianos. Then, I saw that the National Library Board was offering a free-of-charge venue to stage a music performance.