Tale of Tails

 

Tale of Tails

Many years ago I took a swing at golf and strained my shoulder which ended my interest in learning the game. The pain was so excruciating that I couldn't raise my arm above my waist. Despite a course of treatments, the pain persisted months on. Then by chance while teaching my niece to fly a kite, I felt the pain disappear.😂 I was pleasantly surprised and concluded that the energetic movement of rolling string onto the spool stirred certain muscles and relieved the pain! I was excited and took up kite flying all over again. It also brought back childhood memories of Naval Base where I learnt to fly kites.

Celebrating Nature

The sprawling grounds and open vistas of Naval Base offered children a childhood which belonged uniquely to the  community.

Growing up within a gated community provided children safety and parents peace of mind. Hence children were left to their own whims sometimes at nature’s calling. Like when the rains came boating took to the drains and the onset of gentle winds announced the start of the kite season. 

Dancing in the Skies

 Kites in a multitude of colors fluttered and swayed in the clear blue skies.  Colorful kites hanging in open-air shops to lure sales, added to the gaiety. Buildings were no taller than treetops so the ‘air-space’ provided unobstructed views. 

Heads and Tails 

During the 60’s boys and girls observed certain peculiar social norms. For instance, bicycles without cross- bars were considered exclusively ‘Girls’. Thus, boys would go to any length to avoid riding one, or suffer the humiliation of being teased ‘girlie’. Similarly, kites with tails were regarded as girl kites probably because tails resembled plaits girls wore. They were also deemed for children or beginners as tails made them easier to fly- like riding your first two-wheeler aided with side wheels for stability.

Pretty Girl beside a 'Lady's bicycle. Picture courtesy of Dee Hinton

The tail acted like a rudder. It also gave thrust and jettison. Often an extra tail was added as a booster. While girls and boys participated in common activities there was also friendly rivalry! Sometimes differences were openly challenged. It depended on the situation. For example, if there was a shortage of soccer players the boys would gamely invite girls usually to be keeper. As children we believed in fair-play and strived to have girl keepers on both sides! to equate the strengths.

Parents also got into the swing of things, teaching kids the basics of kite making and flying. While teens engrossed themselves in kite making. You could sense the season in the air!

Kite Making

 During that era, much of what we learnt was acquired ‘learning on the job’.  Hence it was fortunate if a lad was asked to assist a youth in making a kite. My neighbor Andrew Giang was someone whom I considered a skilled kite maker. He would plough the backwoods of Senoko River to hand-pick a tender bamboo branch that was firm yet malleable. The branch was then spliced into two, shorn with a pen knife and smoothened down with sand paper. These two pieces made up the kite’s frame viz. the spine and the cross member. The spine runs from top to bottom and the cross bar extended from the wing tips. A little node is made precisely in the center where the kite’s arm will be secured to the spine. The cross member or arms was tapered gradually towards the wing tips.

We were environmentally friendly and practitioners of sustainability and used recycled paper to make kites and boiled rice as glue substitute. Andrew however preferred light weight tracing paper and gum. He painstakingly made his kite which took a day or two to complete.

Kite Assistant

Once the kite was completed it underwent ‘air worthiness’ trials.

During these ‘test flights’ the kite assistant plays a key role. He would draw the kite a good twenty yards away from the flyer, from where there was no means of verbal communications. Consequently, both parties had to have teamwork and understanding.

 The kite assistant would toss a dry leaf in the air and watch its direction. If it sinks immediately to the ground, it suggested that the winds are still. So, both waited patiently under the blazing sun.  When they sensed the wind, the flyer would gently tug the string to give tension - signaling he was ready for take- off and the assistant would raise the kite and release it into the sky. We breathed a sigh of relief if the kite soars into the air!

Crash Landings

Sometimes the kite will rise and nose dive to the ground. Other common glitches included its’ inability to gain height; spinning out of control; leaning to one side or zig zagging.

These drawbacks could be due to several ‘technical’ factors and had to be closely studied to determine the cause of malfunction.

Solving Issues

 If the kite failed to climb the problem was usually resolved by adjusting the bridling point commonly known as lasso in Malay. If it inclined to one side a piece of grass or paper was inserted between the cross member to provide balance and steady the kite.

Further ‘test flights’ were carried out which included a series of manoeuvres – our simulated ‘aerobatic’ display.

When the flyer was satisfied with the test-flights he would ‘take it to the limits.’ - 500 yards high and hand the reins to his assistant, which was a thrilling and nervous experience being in the driver’s seat for the first time!

Making Glass

Another component of kite making is the tedious process of making ‘glass string’ to cut opponents’ thread in a kite-fight.

The first step in making glass string is to obtain the raw material, preferably fused bulbs because it was easier pounding lighter glass into powder.

The powdered glass was then boiled with cow hide skin glue (gam ayer ker) which exuded an obnoxious smell. Wearing masks was unaffordable so we distanced ourselves from the foul smell! We bought the gelatine glue from hardware shops in 13^th. Mile. Some of us who couldn’t afford it and with sticky fingers preferred extracting (foc!) gluey latex from rubber trees.

Meanwhile a fresh spool of thread was unfurled and strung between two (badminton) posts. The thread is then creased with the abrasive liquid glass with a piece of rag. (Many of us wore ‘ripped clothing which is fashionable today!) The thread (500 yards) is carefully checked to ensure every inch is coated with sharp glass and left to dry for a couple of hours, then rolled on a spool (reused milk can) and ready for the battle filed.  

Friend and Foe

Unlike Kite Festivals which are pretty much showcase events, in Naval Base it was both a competitive and recreational sport.

The kite assistant’s role becomes more crucial during kite fights. He is responsible for all the ground work because the flyer’s eyes are focused upwards in the sky.

The assistant must know when to wind or rewind heaps of string onto the spool. He had to be eagle- eyed making sure the string does not entangle among thorns camouflaged in touch-me-not grass. A few seconds delay in untying a stubborn knot can result in the downing of a kite. He also has to keep abreast of any changes in wind direction; keep an eye on predatory kites; and ensure he does not cut his fingers while frantically rolling the abrasive glass string.

 If the flyer suddenly changes tactics and shifts ground. The assistant must quickly wind the string and accompany him, always staying close like a navigator.

 The Friendly Skies

 There was a certain code of conduct kite flyers observed before taking to the skies. Like the principle of ‘open and free skies,’ which allowed kites to be taken down. So, you ventured into the skies at your own peril!  

When you sensed hostile kites honing towards yours and the situation poses an immediate and present danger, you had several options: take evasive measures; partake in a kite fight; or descend and call it a day with hopes of flying again, another day, to tell another tale.

By Alfred Dass