Easy Like Sunday Gathering

The whole family went to Seria today to visit what's left of our friends still living there. It turned out to be a mini-gathering in our honour, which reminds me of what I miss most while living abroad.

After late-lunch (from corn-dogs & kebabs to rojak & cucur tarap), the whole event turned into a DVD marathon. Well actually it was more like a dissection and scene-by-scene critique of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (extended version) and The Matrix (with the making-of scenes behind the actions). Of course, the most active particpants were yours truly and a dear friend (who has still stuck to his promise of being my side-kick to our yet-to-materialise backpacking trip to India - bless him).

The kids had the most wonderful time catching up. My first-born enjoyed himself immensely ending with the usual tantrums of not wanting to go home. Yes, this kind of visits normally do end in tears.

Indeed it is always nice to catch up with friends - it has been more than 10 years ago that I first met them when there were, originally, 10 of us batched up together ready to be shipped to the UK on scholarship. We have all come a long way since. Some did not make it through university, some of us got married and became parents (a spin-off of Baby Gatherings soon ensued), some are still enjoying their honeymoon period, some only starting to enjoy the wonders of parenthood while some have since resigned from our employer and onto what seemed like greener pastures. But no matter where we are, we have somehow managed to keep in touch over the years - with some more often than not. But with the wonders of e-mail, we do maintain some kind of contact with everyone through bulk e-mails with news of each other.

I've said it before and I will say it again, the one thing I miss the most is my friends. For it is friends that keep you sane when you feel your whole world is crumbling down (like when your colleague is being a bitch). For it is your friends with whom you share your joy (like when a new handbag is aquired). For it is your old friends that are the best friends.