How time moves slower than a snail gostan (1) moving in reverse. On an analog watch, which has a “second hand” (Don’t really know why it is called a “second hand” when really [yes, not bluffly] it is the third hand [then again] why is it called a hand?) indicator, one can sweat cold sweat, waiting impatiently for it to move another second forward. After writing / typing on the Logitech MX Mechanical the last sentence, I think I can become a lawyer, what with it having sub-sections and sub- sub- sections, don’t you think so? 😏🤔😉😅

In the day’s “slowness”, I seemed to have been able to tick off more things and “go to(s)” as completed. Makes sense: more time to do more things and “go to(s)” as completed. We were in Klang (2) (famous for crows, hence the term “Klang crow”) by about 10.00am. Met Malcolm, my youngest brother; at our parents” house. While he took our dad to the doctor’s clinic to get the dressing on his (dad’s) head changed (dad had a fall, actually [there that word goes again – ambiguous] 2 falls, one on Thursday, last week; the second fall, the day after that. Dad is still trying to out do Tom Cruise’s Mission Impossible stunts), I kept mum company.

Was back in Subang Jaya (3) by noon, and took on the role of “keyboard warrior”; clickity clacketing on the keys, getting words to form, from thought, flowing right through my veins, to my fingertips, tapping on the right letters of the keyboard to form words and sentences. In that order, I think. Or could it be words and sentences formed through thoughts, telepathy-ed (4) (the “-ed” part is to create a sense of already done, past tense); to the computer screen, and will somehow magically show up as visible words and sentences, as per how I want it to be when my fingers tap-dance across the keyboard.

It was Patrick Archibald’s birthday, today. The Archibald family are dear friends of ours. Jeannie gave him a call and asked if we could meet up. He; Hazel, his wife; Mary, his daughter and his father-in-law; had just arrived back at their home from the mountains in the east. (6)

Jeannie and I, bought a small birthday cake and went over to Putra Heights for coffee…er, tea. They all drank tea, except for… yes, I had coffee.😁We have always believed “birthdays” are blessings. Not only are they milestones to mark how far we have come; they are also “pulling rocks” or steps to help us move on to the next phase of our lives… the future which starts the next moment forward.

We had many stories and happenings to catch up and bring everyone up to speed on. Lots of laughs. The families’ bonding grew even stronger from what was already “strongest”. The evening was so pleasant, so relaxed, sooo nice…it was fun. Now, Patrick being a year older; has to play the role of being even more wiser than before. Big responsibility.🥳

By the time Jeannie and I got home, it was coming close to…dinner. Oh yes, food again.

NOTES:
1. “Gostan” Origin: Malay – it means reverse and is a contradiction of the nautical term “to go astern” Gostan is used in scenarios where you need someone to go reverse/backwards. This usually happens in driving situations when you overshot at a destination or turn.
2. Klang is the royal city of the state of Selangor in Malaysia. It is steep in history, diverse in cultures, and famous for the wide spectrum of food choices.
3. Subang Jaya is a bustling city, with multiple things to do and never seem to have enough time trying to do all of them. The choices of shopping complexes, food, outdoor and indoor sports, did I mention food? 😉. It is a well planned, self contained city. One does not need to travel out of Subang Jaya for anything…maybe to the airport?
4. Telepathy is the supposed communication of thoughts or ideas by means other than the known senses.
5. Curry puffs is a delicious Malaysian snack. Nyonya kuih is a delightful offering of sweet and savoury traditional cakes synonymous with teatime in Malaysia and Singapore. (In Malaysia, anytime is a good time for food.) Nyonya kuih reflects the rich heritage of the Peranakan Chinese or Baba Nyonya of Melaka, Penang and Singapore, with its colourful spectrum of Malay and Chinese culinary traditions.
6. Genting Highlands, in the state of Pahang; is a hill station located on the peak of Mount Ulu Kali in the Titiwangsa Mountains, central Peninsular Malaysia, at 1800 metres elevation.

Photograph: Courtesy of Hazel Archibald.