Believe it or not, I was fined for jaywalking today. It's so ludicrous that I still have a hard time believing that it actually happened. I was on my way to have my haircut at Toni & Guy Academy this morning. As I was in the Bugis area, I decided to pray at Kwan Yin Temple first before the haircut. As I was approaching the junction (the one near the cinema, where you have to cross two traffic lights), I saw policemen. I paid no notice, thinking that they were there attending a case. At the first crossing, everything was fine since there was traffic and I had to wait for the green man to cross. At the second crossing, there was no traffic, so I crossed while it was red man. Upon crossing, the policeman pulled me to one side to a Malay policewoman. I was still confused, thinking they needed my help or something. The policewoman immediately asked for my IC. She told me I have been caught for jaywalking. I was thinking to myself, "Ok, so now what?" Initially, I thought I will be given a warning letter since it was my first offence. She told me that I will be fined. A letter will be sent to my residence in 2 weeks time and I have to pay a fine of $20. She continued copying my details into her little notebook while I absorbed the news. When I finally realised what was happening, my defence mechanism kicked in and I appealed. I said I was in a rush and didn't notice what was happening when I crossed the road. She curtly replied that if I was in a rush, I should plan my time properly in future. When I further said that it was my first time and if she could be lenient, she said no because there has been a rise in jaywalking accidents and they have to be very strict now.
Her little notebook was full of names. Think they have been stationed there since a few hours ago, catching jaywalking pedestrians and fulfiling their monthly quota. Her little white notebook reminded me of The Hitchhiker in Henry Sugar and Eight More where Roald Dahl was caught speeding and booked. The traffic police also had a white notebook where he copied Roald Dahl's details. Luckily for Roald Dahl, his hitchhiker was a master pickpocket and he pickpocketed the police's notebook. Obviously, I had no such luck so I patiently await the fine letter.
My day got worse after the hair cut. The student hairdresser at Toni & Guy cut my hair too short. I specifically told her that I don't mind having short hair but I must not look boyish because I like to wear skirts.
Now, I look like a tom-boy with my cropped hair. My whole head is very round now because she only concentrated on reducing my hair volume by doing a round layer but totally ignored the beauty element of the cut. Argh. All I can do now is to wear my shades on my head so it draws attention away from the cropped hair.
min on Friday, February 25, 2005
