Carl's Throne

While prowling through Kampong Glam – also known as the Arab Quarter – a couple of weeks ago I spotted this beautiful little rattan chair at the basket shop on the corner of Arab Street. It was the only one there, dwarfed by stacks of brightly coloured woven baskets, trays and platters, and looked absolutely perfect for Carl. The dusty price tag said $75 which I thought was a bit steep so I went up to the shop owner and above the din of passing traffic and pedestrians asked him if he would take $65 for it. “Last one left lah – $60 ok” he said. Wow! That’s the only time I’ve had a price haggled down by a shop owner!


Upon returning home I presented it to Carl and with a slightly doubtful look on his face he lowered his butt into it. It rocked backwards and he jumped in fright, thinking he was going to tip out. However within half a day he was hooked, and now he won’t sit anywhere else. When visitors arrive he even lifts it up, drags it to his favourite spot and announces “this is MY chair!” to make sure no grown up tries to pinch his throne. As if we could fit even half a bum into it!


So this is a typical picture of Carl these days. As he munches away on an ice cream, doesn’t he just seem to be saying “life's not to bad here in the tropics”