Small pleasures

So I was at Pasir Ris park yesterday, trying very hard to reign in 16 teenage boys. It's hard enough with undergraduates, and a thousand times worse when we're talking about testosterone charged (and smelly) boys and having to make sure they don't get carried away when girls from another school walk pass. Some shouted rude comments, others waved cheekily and tried to get their attention. Right in front of me too! They are nice boys; I wish they weren't so easily distracted, but I guess that's growing pains for you, along with the dim awareness that some girls are nice and not necessarily stupid/gross/whiny, and the hilarity of finding contraceptive wrappers while picking up rubbish. Is it a 'boy' thing or a 'teenage' thing? I don't remember all those 'nudge nudge, wink wink' malarkey going on when I was in school.

Three hours of shouting later, I declined Z's suggestion to visit the newly opened Ikea and opted for a coffee at the kiosk instead. The friendly uncle recognised me, and put out a table and some plastic chairs, in front of the gents. Location aside, it was a great way to unwind. TV blasting the evening news, people watching, chatting with the uncle, just relaxing and taking in the serenity of the park as the day gave way to night. These days, moments such as these are few and far in between.