Lift Up(down)grading

So you are all familiar with LUP (Lift Upgrading Programme) on this lil red dot. Recently our block of flats joined in the frenzy (not that it was our choice) because, apparently, when the architects designed our block (which has 13 floors), they decided to let the lifts stop at ALL the levels, except Storey 13. Why? Beats me? Perhaps the technology then didn't allow it? Anyways, presumably in anticipation of the ageing population, and to make people on Storey 13 happy, upgrading came along.

Upgrading is a misnomer for us because no one - NO ONE - feels uplifted by the new lifts. They are s...l..o..w.., s..l..o..w..e..r... than the OLD lifts, so it takes forever for the lifts to come, especially when one was sealed off for works, leaving only one lift available for the entire block of residents. Not only are they slow, they no longer have those screens up above that tells you which floor the lift is at! Gasp! And... sometimes, when you press your floor, e.g. 8, and someone comes in, and press, say, 6, your floor number disappears but you're probably not aware, and then suddenly, 'bing' you realise, oh %^&&**, you're on the 11th floor and have missed your stop!. arggghh....

The frustration is clear...the sucky lifts have become the most popular conversation starter for all the residents here. Formerly, we would step in and step out, nary a smile or hello, but these days.........things are different! We have a common enemy - we all grouse in chorus about the sucky lifts - shake our heads in unison - and then let out sighs in symphony. Oh, our lives, damned by these lifts...oh how LUP has raised the quotient on social capital in our block. Perhaps, LUP does have some merits then?

Wait, and then we find out something from one of the PRC workers. They heard us venting as usual, and told us that the new lifts cost a third of the old lifts (Fujitec from Japan). AHHH....the truth emerges. We now know why LUP is really LDP.

But you know wat? I can deal with that. At least i now know WHY. It's the austerity drive, la. Economy not good so better bite the bullet too. I'm all for saving $, if the $ saved can benefit more people from having lifts that stop at their floors. All I ask is that whoever is sourcing these lifts make sure that they are SAFE for us. Yup, that's it. Nothing more. I can get myself to adapt to the slowness (I mean, we city rats do need to relax a tad!.

Just as long as those lifts never shudder and drop kerplunk into the shaft. Join me in prayer...