From My Inbox - "DB1688" writes

I believe it is the desire of most bloggers to receive compliments about their blogs. I got an email on 27 Aug 09 which is quoted below. The nice surprise really made my day although I seriously don't think I deserve all the accolades. Thank you, DB1688. Now can I also claim that my blogging reach extends around the globe too?

Hi Victor,

Kudos for creating and maintaining a most wonderful blog. It has brought back many heart warming memories of my childhood in Singapore. For some reason, perhaps due to middle age crisis, I have been reminiscing a lot about my childhood. Have been perusing the web for nostalgic Singapore web/blog sites. You are a very gifted writer as I find your writing skill and humor the most entertaining. Do you write professionally?

I have a lot of catching up to do, having read most of your recent posts, I have started to go all the way back to your first post in May 2005. Based on what I have read so far I think I am slightly younger than you are. Nevertheless, I feel we are the same generation having grown up in Singapore in the 60's and 70's. Love reading about and seeing pictures of Singapore from days gone by when life was simple. Oh, and I also enjoy reading about your favorite topic. :) Hehehe.

I was born in Singapore in 1960 and my family migrated to the US (Boston) in 1972. In the mid 1960's, my family moved into the brand new public housing apartments on Lower Delta Road. Our unit looked directly out onto the Delta Circus/Roundabout (or rotary as we called it here in the US.) I attended Delta West Primary School from 1 to 6. (Did not sit for the secondary school entrance exam as the day my classmates took the exam was the day I left Singapore.)

It's sad so many sentimental places I knew from my childhood no longer exist as Singapore has undergone an extensive transformation in the span of one generation. It has been many, many years since I have been in Singapore.

I am very happy to have discovered your blog and will follow it faithfully. Hope we can correspond via e-mail and share our memories. I don't know if I have time to blog as I work full time and have 4 young kids.

Warmest regards,
DB1688

After reading the email, I smiled broadly like this:

Fun Guy With Funny E-mail Address To Match

Today, I received an email from Chun See:

"Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 18:24:33 +0800
From: Lam C S
Subject: Chris
To: Victor

Victor,

What is Chris' email? Is he Chris Sim or Chris Soon? I have a Chris Soon in my address book.

Chun See"

My reply to Chun See is as follows:

"Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 22:45:39 +0800
From: Victor
Subject: Chris
To: C S Lam
cc: Chris

Hi Chun See,

'Chris Sim' is correct. Chris is aware of this error but believe it or not, an IT-savvy him does not know how to correct it. So you can say "it Sims like the mistake will not be corrected anytime Soon."

You are See, 'Sim' is Chris' surname while 'Soon' is his name. As to how someone can ever be confused between his own surname and his name, I think only Chris Sim is capable of that.

Muahahaha.

Victor."