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August 10...

Today marks a significant milestone in our nation's progression from Covid-19. Dining-in is again permitted at F&B establishments after repeated stop-starts over the past year. And fingers crossed for the current liberation to continue (and expand further) as we move towards a new endemic normal. Coincidentally enough, the author received a Facebook Memories notification this morning. On 10 August last year, he finally had the chance to enjoy a leisurely brunch, with newspapers in tow, for the first time in several months. This was after Singapore first went into Covid-19 circuit breaker lockdown, followed by "Phase 1 to 3 then back to Phase 2" of Heightened Alerts during the period of April to early-August 2020. As such, the author deemed it appropriate to commemorate his (renewed) dining freedom by visiting the same F&B joint that he patronized exactly one year ago. Sitting at the same table. Ordering somewhat the same meal for brunch (they ran out of ham croissant so a pizza will have to do).  And again with a copy of today's papers in tow. 

To paraphrase a quote by Stephenie Meyer, who wrote the bestselling Twilight series

“It's true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it, but it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives.”

Before the pandemic, the author probably cannot imagine how a simple activity of sitting in a restaurant, having a quiet meal and reading the newspapers as he picks through his food, can be such joy. And that it be something he sorely miss someday. Until Covid-19 put a halt to what most of us have taken for granted to be part of our daily tasks - having a coffee inside Starbuck, eating at hawker centre etc. As such, we should all learn (or re-learn) to not just pray for the big things but also be thankful for all the little things in life. And also to do the right thing, such as masking up in public and get vaccinated if one is physically/medically able to, so that we do not mess it up and go into another round of F&B dine-in ban again.

While the dining-in restrictions have not created a problem for us at The Patissier (as we have always operated on a 100% take-away mode), we are really happy for our peers in the F&B sector that were primarily doing sit-downs before the pandemic. It has been a terrible year for them and we pray that this light at the end of the tunnel will remain bright. We are also looking forward to 19 August, where companies may allow up to 50% of their staff to return to work in the office. While this may mean fewer customers coming to collect their cakes during working hours (a WFH privilege), the buzz from the working crowd is definitely a blessing to all F&B establishments along Mohd Sultan Road, us included. 

See you at the shop soon!

  
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