Is There Going to be a Cliffhanger Episode or What?!

Finally, the episode between PB and the scoundrel is concluded. Or has it?!

Again, I'm hearing for the umpteenth time that P is keen on the scoundrel. Now I have another special despatch from PB informing me that said scoundrel is asking for N's number. At least the 2nd despatch is verified by S, whom I trust the veracity of her source.

S amusingly commented that how come scoundrel is asking for N's number and not hers. While I hesitate to tell on scoundrel's alleged crimes in the romantic sphere, I certainly didn't want N to be hurt.

She's far too naive and innocent. Not much different from a child really.

Heck, even children are more street-wise nowadays! You have kids having boyfriends and girlfriends from the age of 10!

Well, PB did say that she'll not mention it anymore - her comments are usually prefaced with the words "don't tell anyone" - of which it invariably means "YOU don't tell anyone, but I shall".

The "discreet" meeting that I had with the rest of the folks was really meant to give all of us a break from her dominating the conversation with the same issue. Though sympathetic, we are suffering somewhat from issue-fatigue.

But back to more cheerful news.

The retreat produced a happy couple. Love struck in the most unlikely of places and times. I should have guessed it when he used all those colored pencils to draw a note for her.

Awwwww.....!

Making Others Comfortable

At the wedding dinner, PB has displayed a most abject lack of good behaviour, by harassing, pouting and generally behaving sulkily, and complaining about the seating arrangements.

Our dear G, who must have one of the thinnest skin that mankind ever has and easily mortified, was aghast at PB's boorishness. Flushing mightily like a red poppy, G was utterly embarrassed, thoroughly flabbergasted and infinitely distraught at the fact that the rest of the guests at the table could jolly well hear PB's rude remarks.

While trolling the internet on my favorite advice columnist, I chanced upon an entry that says etiqutte is making people comfortable. This, however, does not preclude the fact that you have to overreach yourself in doing so. Some historical examples, wry though amusing, are reproduced below for your reading benefit:-

"At a great London banquet, dear Queen Victoria lifted her finger bowl and drank the water. She had to. Her guest of honor, the Shah of Persia, had done it first.

At a Washington embassy dinner party, the king of Morocco plunged his fingers into his teacup and wiped them on his napkin. He had to. His guest of honor, President Kennedy, had done it first.

Then there was the time that Mrs. Grover Cleveland attempted to engage a tongue-tied guest in conversation by seizing on the nearest thing at hand, an antique cup of thinnest china. “We’re very pleased to have these; they’re quite rare and we’re using them for the first time today,” she is supposed to have said. “Really?” asked the distraught guest, picking up his cup and nervously crushing it in his hand. “Oh, don’t worry about it,” said the hostess. “They’re terribly fragile—see?” She smashed hers.

Mr. Grover Cleveland, on another social occasion, carefully added sugar and cream to his coffee, stirred it and poured some into his saucer. Observing this, all his guests felt obliged to do the same. There they all were, pouring their coffee into their saucers, when the President leaned down and put his saucerful on the floor for his dog."

Crisis Mode

What is confidential, is, apparently, not so confidential, afterall. This was what G concluded when she found out that the whole gaggle of girls knew about it.

Granted, the scoundrel continued to create much pain and sadness in PB's life. But as I've often reiterated, not making contact with him, letting go and moving on is the best solution of all time. Both K and E sighed and said that they doubt the whole thing will have any proper closure, since she's so full of aggrievement about the whole thing. And every word that she speaks rankled her soul, and she sounded so joyless and bitter!

I think her good sense has taken leave from her. She could call multiple people to rant about the whole thing, and while we could talk to her till we go hoarse, I doubt it's helping her much. In fact, it's probably feeding her sense of unhappiness and bitterness!

I'm totally flummoxed. There seems to be no easy solution. As long as she felt aggravated by the whole thing or get to see him at common social outings, there's no let up of the roller-coaster ride that her emotions are taking.

In fact, she's starting to be dishonest with us. To me (because I always take a hardline against such folks and didn't mince my words), she'll say that she had put it all behind her and that she will forget him, but to G (who's the most kind and patient amongst us), she will pour her woes out, analyzing every minute move that Scoundrel made.

So much so such that G also felt rather tired to hear the same things again. Her goodwill, she confessed, is starting to flag.

The whole episode is fast descending into a cesspit.

Food for Thought

The Homily

At Joe and Joyce's wedding, one part of the homily during the solemnisation ceremony by Reverend Chang struck a chord deep in my heart.

"... in this man's virtue and character, lies Joyce's happiness, in this woman's virtue and character, lies Joseph's happiness."

My happiness, therefore, is not dependent on his looks, size of his paycheck, or ability. It depends on his character and virtue. And it is incumbent upon, no, imperative that I choose wisely to begin with.

His character and virtue, will be the reasons why I will love, honor and cherish him, and why, again and again, I will look forward to coming home after a long, hard day.

I cannot imagine why, during those years of dryness, these words never rang with such conviction or truth, till now, when I'm much wiser, much more sobered up, and much more sure of myself.

The Vow
"... this I do solemnly vow."

I trembled when I heard what they've vowed to do. Marriage is a convenant, and I began to shake at the enormity and the seriousness of the vow that they have both just undertook. It's no joke when you have both made a contract with God and before men, who are witnesses both on heaven and on earth, of what you've promised to do for the rest of your life.

It was very good to be able to catch up with Neighbourhoodians - the older ones, the younger ones, all crowding round Joe to congratulate him. Mr & Mrs Yang, Mr & Mrs Yuen, Pastor & Mrs Aow and so many other folks were so excited and pleased. It was also good to catch up with Fabian and Gilbert - such long time friends that I've not seen for yonks.

As the sunlight poured through the stained glass window as both of them signed the marriage certificate, bathing their hair in light shafts of gold, my heart sang, as it is truly a culmination of the prayers of so many of us.

May the road ahead be one that both of you walk together, support one another, laugh and cheer one another, and love one another, through life's hills and valleys, with the help of our Lord. Amen.

Cover Your Ears - It's the Foghorn!

The Foghorn is a girl who works in the Sphere, who has a voice that sounds singularly like the blaring of a ... you've got it, a foghorn.

Loud, strident and absolutely rude, she talks to her superior at The Sphere in a demanding, critical tone, even when she's not mad at someone.

And when she is, better stop your ears with industrial-grade ear mufflers. I was more bothered by her voice, which is always demanding, critical and loud, then the traffic noise right outside my window. It's terribly distracting, absolutely ghastly and detracts one from listening to what she actually wants to say.

Pity her boss.

Back to the Sphere

It was with very odd feelings that I returned to the Sphere, where I was told to report on my doings at the continent.

I missed the continentals, they are such a cheerful, lively, irrepressible bunch of fellows, that you could not help liking them back and enjoy working with them. Tall Man is back, cheerful and fresh from a UK/France trip and brought back some souvenirs. I chose a little green gowned angel and he smiled and said that he knew I'll pick something "as girly as this".

I remembered the Kindly Matron, who is my good colleague at The Sphere, smiling and said that I should be Tall Man's "happy little angel" and bring him good cheer as I cover his work dutifully at the continent. Didn't expect her words to be so prophetic and I ended up being gifted with an ornament to hang on my Christmas tree! Anybody who had a relaxing three week trip round Europe will definitely come home happy, without my puny contributions to his general well-being and happiness! :)

The good thing (and I must give thanks here), was that the Fox was ill at the continent, and hence, was not able to thwart my plans nor cast aspersions on my character during my 5 week stint. Thank God indeed!

Life at The Sphere was boring. After my presentation, there was praises all round, but what next?!

Dear Lord, please guide me on my next move. Amen.

Growing Up

So it's true, I am no longer the woman that I was three years ago.

I've learnt to be a lot more discerning in my choice of a mate.

At the last fellowship event, I was sitting next to this fellow who happened to work in The Sphere too (yet to know which department, as the Sphere is notably heavily staffed). The worse thing is, I found out that he was a member of the Cesspool, which I used to slog for. No wonder he looked so darn familiar. And worse still, a creeping feeling of horror crawled over my flesh to find this well-adjusted young man is a member of the dreaded Cesspool.

I know I'm being unreasonable, and I hate to admit this, but folks from the Cesspool seldom come out smelling fresh, nor good and kind. They are as horrid as the turds that the Cesspool periodically generates at increasing regularity. Unfit for anywhere but the sewage system.

Ok lah, he is a nice man lah, despite membership in a dubious organisation.

The next fellow who sat next to me at dinner was a Candian-born Chinese. K was indeed boisterious, and took to slapping and punching my arm playfully throughout the entire dinner. the final straw came when he draped his arm over the back of my chair and leaned behind me to speak to a Chinese-born girl who kept asking him (and everyone else) about her hair.

B (who's K's acquaintance) caught my discomfiture and yelled to the two them to stop "talking behind my back". Smart B!

Sensing that I seemingly get along well with K, Chris suggested that I get to know K better, as "he's smart, rich, not too bad looking".

Such suggestions usually drive me ballistic. And my face fell as I wished P was around. Even K's cologne threatened to choke me, unlike P's! Or maybe K is leaning a bit too close...

Perhaps 3 years ago, I would have liked K immediately. Now, I'm just very tired out by such personalities.

I must be growing old.