Friends Forever 014

The Group of 5 first came together in 2006 when we went to Batam for traditional massage. It was a fun filled, relaxing, and warm excursion. After the almost 2hr-long full spa, Carolina, Linda, Mimi, Jenny and I did the usual rounds of shopping and makan. The most talked about experience was the spa's 'kang-kang' - a luxurious time for some but an uneasy one for others. I liked it v. much, though.

Dinner brought us together again recently. The four ladies gave me a lovely dinner treat at Cathay Restaurant. But it was the good 'young' company that I appreciate most. Jokes flew over sumptuous dishes - especially on abbreviations and acronymns. I can't remember them all, but Carolina and Linda certainly have created a variety of instant abbreviations to describe a host of typical scenarios.

Mimi had good news: her son Benson is now eligible - thanks to mom! - (and any pupil from his school provided they come within qualifying times) to participate in any inter-school swim meet. Woww, that's a first time achievement. We also wished Mimi a fulfilling time at the conference that she'll be attending at Cape Town for 10days later this month.

What is your interpretation when you hear the phrase: Lhong-piak, Hokkien for "to crash/ to hit at a wall"? We all had a good laugh when Jenny recalled the incident when she and a friend overheard a stranger on the street telling her friend (on mobile) that she's going to 'lhong-piak'. Intrigued by the phrase, they tailed the woman and realized that 'lhong-piak' means ... to withdraw money from an ATM machine! What would ABeng-ALian Singlish come up with next?!