Calit's getting a S.I.L.

25.1.2015.

Come 21st. February, everybody's going to S2 for Amal's betrothal. Already Idah and I have made several trips to the house to lend moral support, give ideas for the occasion. They want to have an all-brothers & sisters affair only, but that easily means about 150 people and counting.

Calit and Ina have already started. They want a simple but classy affair. They seem to have the right ideas, including choosing me as the spokesman. Idah, as usual, has a lot of suggestions, so much so last night Calit suggested they start the bridal business, operating from the home. Why not do something they love and make some money at the same time ?  You could easily undercut some of the more expensive services around. 

Since the house is on a cul-de-sac, Calit should be able to get the affected neighbours to cooperate and erect his tents nicely on the road. If it's buffet-style eating, parking shouldn't  be too much bother - there's ample space right down the road junction.

It's three weeks to go. I'll start rummaging for the old notes - must make some old pantuns and what-not, and make the future"besans" squirm a bit.

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Final Retirement Car ?

4.1.2015.

Now that I've reached the 15th. year of my retirement, I reflect on the old plan of mine to have a nice car to drive around throughout my old age. It was to be a Mercedes. When I first retired on my 55th birthday I had with me already a 230 E I bought new on 17th. June 1997. So that score was settled.

I kept the car for 7 years and 7 months, and sold it on  17th.January 2005.  There was nothing wrong with it, but L.A.K. offered me his 1989 300SE for cheap, and I said what the hell, let's try this big one for a change, and bought it. We went to Taiping to collect it. As expected, I had to do some work on it to restore a semblence of its original capabilities.

The last one year I've had to dig deep into my shallow pockets to keep the 300SE  running, and the wife and kids were making snide remarks, and AAM was becoming familiar with the jalopy. Something had to be done.

I remember my first Mercedes - a 5- year-old imported 230 E I bought in JB. I also remember driving all the way from PJ with C.S.P. in his car with RM 85,000 cash in my pocket to collect the car. I think it was 1990, but am not sure now. I kept it for two-and-a-half years and sold it for the same price.

On my 70th birthday I was thinking of a suitable present for myself. I thought why not get one good pre-owned Mercedes, my fourth, and call it a day ? 

So I called Sam, and we went around in Kepong, Ampang and Klang looking for a good, cheap 10 - 15 year-old model. We saw a few, but couldn't agree on the price, or were not happy with the condition. So I let Sam look around some more and then call me. We were supposed to go to Cheras on the 24th. December.  Taib died on Christmas Day. But on 26th. Sam called and said excitedly that he'd found an S 280 in very good condition for 10% of the original price of  half-a-million, and I must come and see it right away.

That was how I got my final retirement car. A Mercedes S 280 registered in 2005, in original paint and, as Sam had said, in very good condition. 

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