So This is Christmas

Had a gig on Friday along Orchard
The tourism board was trying to add a festive mood to the place.
so there was a roadside stage where groups carolled and the emcee played games and all.

So i was just juggling for the crowd walking along Orchard.
I enjoyed it tremendously.
haven't practised for a while so i got tired quickly,
but i've always liked juggling for the general crowd.

And there're christmas carols for background music,
and that's always a good thing.

I took some photos with groups of tourists,
made friends with a very enthusiastic 2 year old,
and found the successor to the president of the Juggleress Fan Club.

there was this guy who was super hyped abt every trick i did,
and even pleaded for me to do more tricks when my time was up and i packed up.
He's a bit mentally handicapped i think,
so it's all very innocent,
but i was quite worried he'd start stalking me.

it was nice.
even bumped into my ex-colleague and his family.

"that's what happens to me at night. i transform into a clown, a bit like cinderella." i told him bashfully.

Can't believe i actually get paid to do this.
sweet. :)
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Today we had a carolling session at NUS.
5 juggler/ballonists actually turned up.
and in true free spirited juggling fashion,
all came "late" at their own timing, haha.

it was fine :)
i appreciated all their efforts to turn up,
some even after their gigs.

Christmas carols sound beautiful,
on guitars and acapella (almost acapella anyway).

there was really a spirit of christmas.

No patient cried on me this time,
(shepherd had one. i told her it's a moment to treasure)
but there was one memorable moment.

there was a severely handicapped lady in the children's ward,
and we almost missed her when we went bed to bed to check who we could sing to.

"i think we missed one, let's ask her, she's awake and couldn't call out to us. maybe she wants to listen to us." winnie and chi min pointed out.

and she did.
we sang to her as i made her a balloon flower
(i was praying that it wouldn't burst on me. the balloon flower is a challenge).

and just as we ended, the nurses put her on a stretcher as she was about to go home for the day.
"Leave the flower by the bedside. i will see it again when i come back tmrw morning." she told the nurse.

i hope the flower puts a smile on her face and hope in her heart.
it looks very pretty by the bed.

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the thing was good overall,
and over very quickly.

there was a little boy who wouldn't give back my orange singabola,
an 18 year old girl whom we had friendly chatter with,
a 1 year old baby girl who cried once we sang,
and a lady adult who really wanted my pink singabola (and i gave it to her).

we might do another one at SGH soon,
to fulfil a special request by someone whose mom is seriously ill.

i emailed the request to the CG,
and asked them during CG as well.
i expected (and will understand) for some to turn me down,
but they were all almost instantaneously agreeable.

all very kind.

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before i went home, mosey made me a beautiful balloon flower bracelet.
i intended to give it away on the way home,
to someone who would appreciate it a lot more
(i do find it pretty, but i see and make balloons all the time so i know others will appreciate it a lot more)

just as i was looking around for a kid to give to,
this auntie next to me on the mrt started asking me questions abt the balloon.

i gave it to her.
another satisfied beaming stranger. :)

balloons are amazing.
they cost almost nothing,
and they're worth nothing in the raw form.
but 30 seconds of simple twisting into a dog,
and you have something that makes pple smile.

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everyone should learn ballooning and give it away.
both the giver and receiver will be blessed,
and the medium is just a 10 cent piece of rubber.

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i had a wonderful birthday dinner with the family.
the restaurant had nice ambience but the food and service not quite up to the price of the buffet.

there was a mobile 4 piece band and we made them sing for mom,
so that was nice.
even though the drummer looked like he was falling asleep.

they went from table to table and almost everytime they had to sing a birthday song.
it was pretty funny, they look quite sian.

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have another gig tmrw.
i really should be sleeping.

i'm feeling the spirit of christmas.
it's the day Christ was born. :)
Our very own sheep without defect.
Our passover mark.

Be blessed all, and be compassionate.