MY FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS

I was going through some of the stuff that I have been keeping for years at the back of my closet when I came across these friendship bracelets. I used to make a whole bunch of them and give them to close friends or people whom I cared for (yes, I was a semi-hippie back then). These friendship bracelets came from a time when life was much simpler and not as complicated as today. Their association with friendship, honesty and simplicity was what first attracted me to learn how make them. Undoubtedly, times have changed and it is hard for us to find people who can appreciate something as simple as a bracelet made from strings. Now, we tend to spend a fortune on gifts for friends, colleagues and family members. I am not against buying expensive gifts if one can afford them but most of the time, the art of giving has lost its meaning. It's even rarer to find home-made gifts and cards anymore. Almost everything is mass-produced, commercialised and unnecessarily over-rated. With time, I, too, have lost my innocence and tend to see only the face-value of things. I sometimes wonder if it is possible to retain our innocence and yet be mature at the same time.

DURIAN TIME!

It's the durian season now (at least in Perak where I'm staying) and you can get a whiff of its smell almost everywhere you go. My brothers came back for the weekend last week and we had a wonderful feast of cucur durian, santan durian, fresh durian and everything durian. I am not so keen on fresh durian as I prefer to have it prepared either with cooked or fresh santan and eaten with pulut. I also went to the wet market to get my supply of tempoyak from this makcik who owned a stall selling bananas and other kampung produce. She is the only one whom I trust for my tempoyak. I guess by the end of this week my weight will have gone up a few kilos. One thing for sure is I will be burping my durian breath which can be quite hazardous to those who are not prepared. Burp! Excuse me (in a very sweet voice, nevertheless).

AMY, KAK PAULA ABDUL AND THE SNAKE!

Hi guys, it's been more than a week since I last wrote here. I have been a little bit moody lately and I guess it must be due to the unpredictable weather. I received a phone call from a good friend a while back and I'm sorry I could not spend more time giving out my two cents worth about love and relationship. So to summarise what I intended to say, here is a Paula Abdul's video back from the 80's when she was still young and hot! To Amy, I know you love dancing so now you can dance to your own story. Call me,okay?

He's a cold-hearted snake
Look into his eyes
Oh oh
He's been tellin' lies
He's a lover boy at play
He don't play by rules
Oh oh
Girl don't play the fool--no

You're the one givin' up the love
Anytime he needs it
But you turn your back and then he's off and runnin' with the crowd
You're the one to sacrifice
Anything to please him
Do you really think he thinks about you when he's out

He's a cold-hearted snake
Look into his eyes
Oh oh
He's been tellin' lies
He's a lover boy at play
He don't play by rules
Oh oh
Girl don't play the fool--no

It was only late last night
He was out there sneakin'
Then he called you up to check that you were waiting by the phone
All the world's a candy store
He's been trick or treatin'
When it comes to true love girl with him there's no one home

He's a cold-hearted snake
Look into his eyes
Oh oh
He's been tellin' lies
He's a lover boy at play
He don't play by rules
Oh oh
Girl don't play the fool--no

How come how come he can he can tell-a tell-a you're-a you're-a
Always always number number one without a doubt
(He's one cold snake)
When-a when-a he is he is always always squirmin' squirmin'
Like a little snake under-a e-ver-y-a rock
(No give, all take)
You've been you've been workin' workin' on the on the love
And he's been only only playing undercover all the while
(One smooth sharp tongue)
Take a take another 'nother look into his eyes
(He just talks)
And you will on-ly see a rep-tile

You could find somebody better girl
He could only make you cry
You deserve somebody better girl
He's c-cold as ice

He's a cold-hearted snake
Look into his eyes
Oh oh
He's been tellin' lies
He's a lover boy at play
He don't play by rules
Oh oh -- Girl don't play the fool--no

He's a cold-hearted snake
Look into his eyes
Oh oh
He's been tellin' lies
He's a lover boy at play
He don't play by rules
Oh oh
Girl don't play the fool

AL-FATIHAH

My friend's mother, whom we fondly called Kak Minah, passed away peacefully in her sleep yesterday. She had been bedridden for the past few years but would still chat happily with us every time we went to visit her. Before that, we could still wheel her around in her wheelchair and take her out for dinner from time to time. To Coco and Nuar, all my love to both of you for giving her your best. I know I will miss her deeply and so will the whole gang.