RudimentalDrummer
Moderator
The Reporter a Female, came to my home one night. At the time I was having a Rehersal with one of my Band “Antaeria”. I Reherse with 3 Bands on a Monday, Thursday and also Friday, Saturday I have to work and Sunday is my Off-Day leaving me 2 nights after work that I can Practice Drumming at Home that is – Tuesday and Wednesday, time of Practice is only 7pm to 8pm or 8.30pm (1 to 1 ½ hrs).
The neighbour 1st made many complains to the Police….I saw the police stood outside my Door, I continue playing then I stop and ask the Policeman ‘Can I help You Sir” and Police reply “Nothing really”…so I continue drumming (I assume here that the police came up to check if I was drumming too loudly though – time allow to drum might be till 10pm latest (as people need to sleep)….but I have already been very (automatic here) only drum 7pm to 8.30pm at most (to compromise on my very own part) as a neighbor not forsaking I too need to do some practice in a week as a Learning Drummer.
When the neighbours found that I’m still continuing my drumming after repeated reports to the police who find me doing nothing really as against the law. They went to see the HDB. 2 HDB Officer then came to my home. One of them says “I think you’re not allow to keep a Drum Set at home as he feels that it’s not a Musical Instrument like a Piano or Guitar” - - - A Drum is also a Musical Instrument it’s a Percussion Instrument right. HDB Officer says – Yes there are 3 drummers in this 4 Blocks facing each other here – but if the complain is against you – we have to stop you – but the rest (the other 2) they can drum ( I believed this is their policy just doing their job here). We came because this neighbour got very angry and Bang their table – because the police took no action against me as I am still drumming (that means they want me to stop drumming forever here – I assume)
With this I went to “Meet The People Party” to see the people there. I spoke to them about my problem and my passion in Drumming. They told me “1st - I’ve the Option to drum at my CC there – Mr Lim Boon Heng allows me so” but the CC I know have a lot of activity, not necessary I can drum there on any night eg Tuesday and Wednesday here… and also I spoke to one of the people there at the Meet The People Session and he says - - “I do have a right to drum …BUT … I must Always Try To Compromise with my neighbours – that is the right thing to do ethically too not that I cannot drum”……That is a reasonable statement.
After a few weeks, HDB send me a letter, telling me the same thing (cause in the letter it didn’t says I cannot drum” but as any neighbour they must compromise with each other so that a peaceful neighbourhood and good relationship can be achieved – Harmony is the key” and I do Agree with them here of course. So I call the HDB Officer and told them “Can you kindly ask the neighbour to speak to me personally – as I wont know when for instance a day that they don’t feel well on a particular day while I was drumming, or the kids are actually having test tomorrow, exam etc as I do not kids at all, (hoe would I know if they don’t tells me so) - - - - why not, sure I will compromise….The HDB Officer says to me “But Eric the neighbour doesn’t wants to speak to you personally and we HDB are not to disclose this to you”.. Then what can I do now I told them? …. They say “yah it’s difficult”
So My fellow Softies – I have indeed on my very own part tried my very best to strike a compromise with my Neighbours didn’t I here? And furthermore I only drum at most 1 ½ hrs only 2 times a week 7pm to 8.30, closed my doors and drum softer than usual, controlling the sound and where it is still consider early not late in the night (my own practice) – isn’t this a compromise and understanding on my part? But of course a Drum is a Drum – sure got sound just softer that’s all.
This neighbour, who doesn’t wants to talk to me directly (after complaining to the Police & HDB as above) and no action taken they feel as I am still drumming Twice a week – then call up the Shin Min Paper Reporter where they came to my house. I was not around that night so they pass a Name Card to My maid. When I came home, I called her and told her the above as quoted and how this happens.
The Report written in Chinese published 2 days ago (though I am not well versed with it) was translated to me by my colleague….The Reporter did not wrote exactly what that had actually happened in this case (say I play 10 years according to my neighbour how could that be – I was not playing drums for 8 years ( as I’ve no interest that time though I own the drum Yamaha Stage Custom and it was rusted so badly cause my interest was Fishes that time and Orchids) and had only took Drum lesson 2 years ago like when I join Soft, they write what they wants to write (only a small part in the last few sentences of what I actually said was posted - - - - eg (I will compromise of course but the neighbour will have to speak to me cause I wont know when I am disturbing them, but the compromise will not be – that I stop drumming forever as it is my Passion) – Compromise has to take 2 hands to clap – a give and take situation on both ends. It cannot be only –a one-sided affair.
Whatmore was that – The picture of my Home (as in the Newspaper was taken without my knowledge and consent) – I didn’t know too – till I saw the Papers – the Reporter snap it secretly – my dad and maid didn’t knows too. They quoted in large print (I think in Chinese it means – I say MP says I have a right to drum - - - but behind these words ley, that they and HDB had said to me - that I must compromise on my part – they didn’t put it down? (this will cause a Misunderstanding) Those things that they told me the Compromising part and that the HDB told me that the neighbour doesn’t wants to talk to me – how come they dont put it out, those things that they say I have to compromise on my part with my neighbour and me myself automatic – they never say it) - - - - why can’t they just put it in a neutral way (It seems the neighbour is the one that is not compromising and being reasonable with me too – They don’t state – is it because they are the one who complain against that why? – though yes – only the last part, which was only a small fraction of it.
This was what happens to me.
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