Where's the remote control?

I never realise how watching TV in the past can be such a chore and tiring task. There was no such thing called the "remote control" for TV in the past. If you want to change channel or increase the volume, you have to get up from where you are sitting at and walk all the way to the position of the TV, and change the channel or volume. We do not feel that was a tiring in the past, however, with the birth of remote control, we find that all the walking in the past seems pointless. We are so reliant on remote control that we have forgotten all about the past, on watching TV.

Same goes for me. I am so reliant on the remote control that I can just switch the channels while lying on the sofa. When one show is showing the commercials, all I need to do is press a number button on the remote control and 'wa la!', I've changed the programme channel! If I want to decrease or increase the volume, I also just pressed the volume button on the remote control and the volume is changed. It's just the remote control sending signals to the TV, via infra-red, but it has made our lives of watching TV so convenient.

I only realised how in the past, it was such a chore and troublesome to walk up to the TV, and change the channels. Reason? My dad accidentally threw the TV remote control yesterday night. He accidentally wrapped up the remote control with newspapers, along with the empty beer can, accompanied with some snacks, and just threw it down the garbage dump. I just couldn't understand, the remote control is not a tiny stuff, and yet he is able to wrap it up like it was nothing. He only realised it when he wanted to change channel.

Dad: "Did you see the remote control?"

Me: "Isn't it on the table?"

Dad: "Bo leh..."

Me: "Maybe slid into the cushion gaps?" (searching through all the cushion gaps) "Also bo leh!"

Dad: ".....Don't tell me I accidentally threw it away with the newspapers?"

Me: "........"

Both of us started to search frantically through every corner of the living room for any signs of the remote control. Inside, I was praying that Dad really didn't throw it down the garbage dump.

Mum: "What are you looking for?"

Me: "TV remote control"

Dad: "Think I threw it down the garbage dump...."

Mum: "..... See la... you always throw the things without looking...."

Dad: "Ok. I go find now." (Dad leaves the house, with a torch and go downstairs to find.)

Me: "Huh? How to find? Isn't it down the garbage dump? Still can find meh?"

Mum: "The garbage dump is just emptied and the trash is just thrown down, so most prob is on the top."

Brother was in the room when it all happened. He did not realise what had happened.

Bro: "Why Dad go out?"

So, Mum told Brother all about it.

Bro: "If still got, confirm smashed into pieces le..."

A few minutes later, Dad came up with nothing.

Me: "Don't have?"

Dad: "Bo leh... only got someone's else's the casings of the remote control... Cannot be that I threw it down la. If got, why I don't know?"

Hmm.... Really? You also accidentally threw a tweezer and 2 spoons down the garbage dump before. (different times)

Brother and I search the living room again but to no avail, and so this time, Dad and Bro went down to hunt for the remote control again. A few mintues later, they came up and this time, with a remote control in Brother's hand.

Me: "How?"

Bro: "Cannot le. The remote control is split into half le, left only casing. Even the chip board is gone, can't even be fixed back."

Me: "But I thought Dad say juz now dun have?"

Bro: "Aiyah, juz now what Dad saw was our remote control la. He thought was someone else de."

Dad: "I always thought our TV was Philips brand, forgot that it's actually Sharp."

Me: -_-"""

So now, we have to resort to the old and tradition way of switching channels, and changing the volume, until another remote control is bought. Mum called "Best Denki" during the evening to ask if they got sell, and they replied only Sharp HQ service centre got sell. Location? Leng Kee Rd, which is near Redhill MRT station.

o.O This means I can only buy on Fri after lessons, coz Fri is my only earliest day dismissed. Why me? Coz I'm the nearest. Clementi to Redhil, only a few stops lor... Haiz....

I MISS THE REMOTE CONTROL!!!