.:A trip down memory lane:.

Bumped into someone I haven’t met for a long time today. Fariz. A nice guy. A very nice guy. We used to play footie together when I was in LSE. We played our hearts out during the Nottingham games, but never did manage to get past the first round… I still remember his words, “Kita tak pernah lepas ni sebab kita semua tak tau membezakan antara shoot dan pass”. Wise words indeed. =)

Seriously though, seeing him brought back plenty of memories. To be honest, I haven’t given the matter much thought lately, but the knowledge that he was working in CSFB brought me shuddering back to reality. Suddenly I remembered the pain, suddenly I remembered how it hurt so bad… so bad. The days when I stood at a knife’s edge, between sanity and eternal damnation, as I stared down the dark abyss that stood beneath my 15th floor balcony.

But, with the pain came salvation. When all light had seemingly dimmed, when all hope had seemingly failed, in steps your true friends. The ones that had been happy for you when you were happy, and the ones that backed you up when you were down. I remember Yazmin and Azie driving down to Melaka to try and help me out. I remember Azie inviting me to her grandma’s birthday, just so I wouldn’t get so lonely on a weekend. I remember Nadia and Apai telling me that my-ex was just a teenager in an adult body and not worth my time. I remember Joe Azril insisting on going for dinner with me sometimes… even though I hadn’t seen him for ages. I remember Gosh calling me up for breakfast regularly, and watching EPL on the big flat-screen TV in the TNB control room. I remember Muiz and Aizat and Butet and me playing 2-on-2 football, something I’ve never done before, and later chatting the night away at a mamak stall in Sri Petaling.

I remember these things, and I feel like shedding a tear. Not out of sadness for what has happened, although indubitably it was really sad. No. The tears that I shed will be out of love for my friends, out of happiness for having these people in my life. I may not say it very often, guys, but I love you. I really do.

Thank you.

.:Ermm... whuzzat??:.

According to The Star today...

Amber Chia, famed Malaysian model, talking about her role in the upcoming moviePossessed: "I will be playing a model possessed by another model who had committed suicide."

Hmm... even in the afterlife she can't play anyone but herself.

Oh, be nice, Ahmad!

.:Back at work:.

Dear readers,

Alop!! How are you? Hope you guys enjoyed your long break from work. I just love Malaysia..It's the only country in the world where you can get multiple holidays all crowded together, like sardines in a.. errmm.. sardine can.

damn it.. I need to work on my metaphors if I'm ever gonna make it as a yuppie writer-wannabe.

I'm back at my desk, people. For the first time in a long while, I'm actually happy to start the day. I realised this morning that I'm actually in a good place. Okay, apart from the fact that my apartment block is none-too-safe (what with the burglaries and muggings recently and the weirdly-affectionate guy on the seventh floor - who I've not bumped into for a long time, thankfully), other things are going great. Personal life's sorted out (I'm madly in love again. yes, Nadia.. Yes, Min... I know, I know. I can't help it. When I love, I really do love. It's never a lukewarm thing when it comes to me... maybe it's just due to the Italian blood flowing through my veins - uwekk!!). Job's going great (though a payrise would be most welcome.. ehem..). I'm pretty healthy, I think, although the tummy could use a little less flab and a little more hard-bound muscle.. sigh... the burdens of a sedentary lifestyle.

Oh. I know something which could be worked on, actually. I miss my friends. I miss Gosh, Mizan, Dol, Nad, Apai, Min, Azie, Novan, Joe Azril, Apai (2), Muiz, Meon, Mouse, Aizat etc etc.. Haven't seen them for some time. Some of them I'll be seeing tonight for futsal, but the rest (especially the "Econs class" gang.. plus Azie and Novan), I'll probably have to work something out. Yeah, they've got families now. It just won't do to bother them with my bachelorly antics. Sigh... The burdens of being an emotionally-aware man.

By the way, my car (a.k.a. MBE7515 a.k.a. The Rebound a.k.a. Da Chick Magnet - according to joe) is permanently stabled in melaka now, till I find a better place to live in. Am now a little impaired in the mojo department (not that I need it, lah!)

It's great to be alive. =) Alhamdulillah.

See ya!

Regards,

Ahmad "I ain't got no blender!" Abdul-Halim