It's that time of the year when I inevitably feel painfully sentimental. I've been thinking back to past travels, Italy and Hokkaido in particular - although that could very well be due to their delicious cuisine - and it really didn't seem that long ago. But it was, and the memories are already receding.

Speaking of travel, 2010 was when I realised that it can also be fun if part of or even the sole purpose is to enjoy each other's company. And I'm talking about groups of at least 4-5. All along, I've planned my trips around taking in as many sights of this big, big world as possible. But sometimes a different agenda - or rather, no agenda at all - is a refreshing change, I guess.

All in all, you could say that 2010 has been a year in which I've just let go of expectations. (Also, it's been a year of aging, but we do not speak of it.)

Yesterday, WG activated puppy mode and kindly accompanied me around as I ran errands. True to form, we managed a visit to the Children Little Museum at 42 Bussorah Street. It houses vintage toys and related paraphernalia that I seriously don't think anyone born in the 80s would appreciate.

Some toys were familiar even though I did not own them (there was quite a kampung flavour). Remember the games we used to play? Hopscotch, five stones, pick-up-sticks - all designed to train one's balance, agility and hand-eye coordination. Kuti-kuti and god knows what other boys' toys to develop strategic thinking. Toy telephones, typewriters, cash registers, baby dolls and prams because every little kid wants desperately to grow up and do grown-up things. These days, a single video console manages ALL that and more via bits and bytes. Yes, it was a very different era before PS3s, MP3s and iPhone4s.

Here are some snaps (yes, the curator is very insistent that one takes loads of photos but I'm not complaining, it makes business sense for him anyway):



All this and much more for only $2 admission. Check it out if you're in the area.

Drink with me to days gone by
To the life that used to be

At the shrine of friendship
Never say die

Let the wine of friendship
Never run dry

Here's to you
And here's to me

Craving your indulgence - I hardly get sick so this whole business is quite a novelty. It started with a dry and raspy throat on Monday, which has since progressed to dry(ish) coughing and completely blocked nasal and aural passages. This afternoon I developed a massive headache which has spread to the neck and shoulders.

It also doesn't matter what I eat; my tastebuds only register (a) tasteless or (b) salt. In fact, most things are tasting extra salted to me now. I used to balk (from 2m away) at the revolting concoction that is Axe Brand Medicated Oil, but today someone applied it right in front of my face and I couldn't even smell a thing. I've tried inhaling eucalyptus but sadly, it didn't work - can't smell any of that either.

What it must be to feel this crappy on a more regular basis.

It's quite funny how the more I stay away, the less inclined I feel to write anything. I fear I would probably have been grappling with the same old gripes and grouses or throwing the usual pointless punches at what passes for humanity. Me complaining about something or other is like you brushing your teeth or taking your dog for a walk, right? Everything I vaguely ever thought of committing to keyboard seemed trite and completely unnecessary. Just like where this post is meandering, come to think about it.

But I also think that somewhere back there I might have entered a new mind space, probably the same thing that happened 5 years ago when I started this particular blog out of curiousity. I don't really know what it is, but it's probably some sort of privacy defence mechanism that's rising against the ubiquity of "social" platforms. Unfortunately I don't think they're going to go away - I mean, even unborn children already have Twitter and Facebook accounts. Speaking of which, I'm sure you must've caught The Social Network. I've heard some say it wasn't what they were expecting for a "Facebook movie", but really, FB is so not what it's about (apart from the visuals and soundtrack which were quite refreshing). The dark side of corporate machinations could have been from any business setting. What makes it delicious is the fact that FB is such a high profile setup today and that the film's very title rounds off the bitter irony of it all.

The very meaning of "social" has been rewritten and redefined to a point where I have to stop and laugh (ok, more like scoff in the sidelines). How are you being social when you ignore the very person having a meal with you, to interact in with avatars you might never even have met, on a device you sorely wish came built into your arm? And what about the slow-moving pedestrians who choke escalators or busy walkways because texting or moving some colourful pixels around a small screen is more important than being aware of your physical surroundings or I don't know, being part of a gracious society? But well, whatever works. Technology, language and human behaviour have never been static. It's just sad that the more connected one becomes, the more disconnected one also becomes. Because there are only 24 hours to a day, and a limited number of days on this planet. We simply can't have everything.

Now if you will excuse me, I'll go back to being socially antisocial in my virtual cave. Shush, please.