Merepek

And I did some ‘koreking’ in my drawers and found these old coins (in denominations of RM25, RM5 and RM1) which were passed down to me by my dear momma-in-law many, many years ago. Remember seeing them before? They are more than 30 years old...older than some of my friends here.

reverse

HAPPY TANG CHEK

Ah...... I like this magic word…’HOLIDAY'. Who doesn’t? Holiday means no need to wake up early; instead I get to roll a bit longer on my comfy bed… savour my morning cuppa instead of hurriedly pouring it down my throat…. take my time in the shower instead of the 1,2 3 and go…put on the most minimal of make-up and don something light and cool and forget about those jackets and power suits…no need to get stuck in the early morning and evening crawls to and from work. I can laze to the max.

After slogging for a good part of the 365 days in the year, I certainly look forward excitedly to the year end holidays. I need a break from the everyday pressures to maintain my sanity. Whether I get to travel to the most beautiful and happening places or just some time at home to touch base with kith and kin, I treasure my holidays. Holidays are for me to rest, relax and re-charge. Holidays are for me to unwind and to forget about work. Ah…to forget about work…this is the easy part. I know I am very adept at it because I have experienced forgetting even the password to enter the office after a mere 3-days weekend break.

After some decadent rest and relax, I am supposed to come back all re-charged and ever ready to take all the bulls by the horns. Step into the office the first day after my break and within hours, I’d sure to feel as if I have been trampled by a herd of buffaloes instead. A blank and empty brain will find it difficult to conquer a mountainous pile of work. But nevermind that. Work is work is work and it’s never finished, anyway.

It’s the holiday season now, let’s just take in the mood and enjoy. And I wish all my beautiful friends here

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Apparently, that particular brand of jeans is touted to be so smooth and comfortable and uses high quality denim. That would be expected, right? You don’t pay close to a month’s salary (yeah, for many, that is) for a pair of denims with colour that runs with every wash or a pair so uncomfortable as to make you sit, walk and talk funny. And of course, with this price, it promises exclusivity somewhat.

And coming back to the issue of paying RM2,600 for a pair of denims, yeah…you would have guessed it. I will not pay. Number 1….gua no money…Number 2…..IF I have the money, I’d rather spend it somewhere else. And if I ever buy that pair of jeans…woooow…it would be the most expensive item in my whole wardrobe.

hmmmm....Let’s just say, if I actually do lose my marbles and went out to sign my life away for that pair of cool denims, I will need to get a matching top…a cute number with a price tag of RM500 or so. I will need a pair of top-brand shoes …okie, just sign on the dotted line for another couple of thousand ringgit, perhaps. And a new branded handbag to hang on the arm or to sling on the shoulder…I eyed one the other day…just about RM8000 a piece, I think. And to complete the look a new pair of shades…Oh yes…I remember the lady at the optometrist’s showing me a fabulous pair the other day…she said…”It’s cool….it’s chic…and it’s only RM2.500..” or was it RM3,500 she said? Sorry, I was not paying attention because I was busy holding up my jaw.

Sei lar….flicking the plastic and sign and sign and sign summore. Like this, I would have died a few deaths. Lucky thing, I have good nyonya genes…good ‘kedekut’ genes…original mia from Penang and have been trained since young to be careful with money and that have helped to keep my feet firmly on the ground. Thrift is the operative word in nyonya households. And I am not brand-conscious… it can be a RM5 a piece T-shirt or a RM50 pair of pants or a RM200-a-piece pencil skirt …most importantly, it has to be comfortable and that I look good in it. Like these very, very cheap T-shirts…..it’s so very, very comfy…gua sukaaaaa……

I bought 6 pieces of different colours!

I googled ‘Retail Therapy’ and found this:-

Retail therapy is shopping with the primary purpose of improving the buyer's mood or disposition. (1) Often seen in people during periods of depression or transition, it is normally a short-lived habit. Items purchased during periods of retail therapy are sometimes referred to as "comfort buys."

When you EFNTD and you are bored stiff and have had too much sleep, the next best thing to do would probably be shopping…yeah…hopefully, some retail therapy to bring cheer and put a smile back on the face. What with the year-end holiday mood and the deluge of SALES and more SALES all over the place…. the stores are stretching themselves max to pull in the crowd to SPEND and SPEND some more. Cool comfortable surroundings, breathtaking displays, enticing discounts and freebies, eye-catching, heart-melting and ego-boosting stuffs….wahhh….all also I want….I want…I want…

BUT……..

One look at the price-tag followed by another look into my purse…Waaaa…..WAAAAA….I wanna go home and curl under the comforter. How can it be therapy when the prices give me heartburn and makes me feel unwell? How can it be therapy when it did not improve my mood or disposition but instead makes me feel so lousy? How can it be therapy when I am ‘diagnosed’ to be afflicted with ‘money-not-enough’ syndrome?