Nice meeting you again, Sir (the long and rambling post)

As the whole world (or at least my circle of friends) would have known by now, Saturday was a really special day because of one person. Yes. The clandestine planning on the part of Otterman had come to fruition. Sir David Attenborough - right here in sunny Singapore!

He's here to film a segment of his next documentary, Life in Cold Blood and the Sungei Buloh Mangroves is a set location. The week prior to his arrival, I had gone to Otterman volunteering to help coordinate his grad student meet and greet. A tea session was whittled down to an opportunistic window because the BBC film crew only had two days to complete their objectives in Singapore and time was a premium. My job was to find out which of the grad students were interested to meeting this amazing man and provide them with details as and when they came in from Otterman. I even told Otterman that I'm the perfect candidate for the job since I've met him before and would be better composed this time round. As in all things, those were famous last words.

I had wanted to buy him a cup of tea (cos I inquired half in jest with Otterman if the job of being his personal tea lady in Singapore is vacant), but completely forgot that when the call to CP informing all waiting at the cafeteria that filming has wrapped up and we could go in to the boardwalk. I misplaced my gold marker - specially bought from Kinokuniya and spent 5 frantic minutes looking for it before finding it and running to meet him.

Sir David was visibly tired but he was really nice and obliging, signing books, taking pictures and smiling. We all took turns to shake hands with him and when my turn came, otterman chimed in with 'that's the tongue tied student'. Perhaps he told Sir David about my meeting with him last year. Well.. it is all true. I couldn't open my mouth to utter a world to him last year when I really wanted to tell him what an inspiration he was- and still is to me when I was growing up, watching him travelling around the world in his khaki suit and telling me about the wonders of our planet. I don't think he remembers anything, because he probably met thousands of people on his tour last year, but it was really nice to see him try to recollect when it could have happened.


Me: Remember me?!?! I was fan number 1284086 at the NHM queue last year?!?! The girl with the red jacket and face? Tongue tied? Spluttering with a quivering lower lip?
Sir David: Hmm.. who is this person?



Then his face broke out into a smile. I don't think he remembers me per se, just that he had indeed been signing at the museum. But it was nice all the same.

I was better composed this time, but still didn't know what to say around him. I had brought along my copy of The Life of Birds and the DVD box set of his Life Collection to be signed. I had wanted to print out my photograph taken with him last year to be signed by him, but decided that would be too creepy. I'm just happy I got to meet him again, and in Singapore no less! What are the chances.

More pictures...

Group photo with the NUS crowd

I couldn't stop smiling all through the meeting. It was such a privilege to be able to meet him. Twice within a year! In the most unlikely of locations. I can't think of meeting anyone else that will make me this excited. My friends know this too, and I have a lovely collection of photographs to remember this occasion by. The autographed books and DVDs too. I'm thinking a little far now but I can't wait to show my children just how wondrous the world is through the eyes of David Attenborough when I become a mom.

Thanks to Otterman and Zee for taking pictures and also to Otterman for making this happen! :D