Dato Lato Mato Bato.....

What does it take for one to be made a Dato in this country?
I'm sorry I cannot answer my own question because I am not qualified to do so but if I were to make my own substantiated assessment, I'd say either nothing OR a lot of dough.
I'm sorry for sounding so pathetically cynical, accusing even, but someone I know had just been made a Dato.
It was so utterly shocking. My gardener might as well be a recipient!
What had this someone done to EARN him a datoship?
So, that's why I'm saying that a lot of dough can get you a state award because I am shamelessly very suspicious of the circumstances leading to his receiving the title and award.
Highly suspicious.

It has become a brunt of all jokes, this datoship awards.

I thought one had to have contributed SOMETHING to the state (if it was from the Sultan) or the country (if it was from the Agong). I mean, that's my understanding since time immemorial.
I know that civil servants and military or armed forces personnel in key senior positions will eventually be awarded datoship.
Moving along the nation's progress, business tycoons had been nominated to receive awards and titles.
I suppose this was inevitable as some of them have helped develop the country.
And then you have "outstanding" sportsmen and women being made Dato.
I think we can win some points in arguing that some of them were undeserving. I shan't mention names.

Then, those who successfully climbed the highest mountain, crossed the seven seas and the English Channel.
My oh my....

I find that the selection process, in recent years, to have degenerated.
The criteria seem to be careless because you get **&#@ people being made a Dato, it is so shameful.

Where is the honour? Why have they belittled the title and the award?
Young punks who have contributed zilch to the country but on the strength of their service and servitude to powerful politicians are getting to be called Dato.

And I haven't even touched on the crooks and the crooks!

Boy am I glad YOU are not a Dato! You'll find yourself in BAD company.....

Call Him Squirrel

Heavens! It's been more than a month since I last posted anything in this blog. If you must know I have been away on holiday. A luxurious holiday where the day is always bright and beautiful - not necessarily hot. Wish you were here!
I was, of course, with Antonio. If you don't know, Antonio is the love of my bittersweet life.
We've been together oh-so-long. There's the bitter, and there's the sweet. Nver in that order, of course.
So, there we were in one of the most romantic places in the world. And we would be crazy not to have a great time (together) at a great place.
And he behaved. Oh! What am I saying. Of course, he would.
I returned home a few days ago.
Got over my jetlag. Pampered myself at a spa.
After that, called up a couple of girlfriends for an update of everybody's life.

One of the people I called up was my pal, Selena who is a vivacious, attractive single mother, involved with a married man who is a father of three.
How stupid is she?
You know, she is not stupid at all. She is intelligent. But well, yes, so she is so stupid to be involved with this SOB for the past 10 years.
Yet, when she talks about him, she makes him sound like some hunk who was made-in-heaven.

Selena could and can have anyone she wants. But she is so stupid that she has been so stupidly faithful to this SOB.
Oh. I told her so. I told her to leave the SOB who's been nothing but a pain to her.

No. She doesn't think so at all. The SOB whom we shall call Romeo, may seem to be a pain to her in my eyes but he isn't at all, she avers.
She, Selena, is the love of Romeo's life.
Like hell, she is.
So why is he still married, eh?

Anyway, a quick update on Selena and she tells me that she does not trust Romeo.

"You're kidding, right? You trust that bastard all this while even though he is still f----ing married and had another child with his wife while declaring his undying love for you.
You need to have your head and heart examined, girl!" I said to Selena, over the phone the other day.

Well, what happened was, that SOB Romeo has been doing little "innocent" things behind her back.
God! Doesn't that sound familiar.
They're not innocent.
Well, not as bad as when she found about his little fling with this car salesgirl. Exchanging little come-on text messages and emails.
She saw those text messages and emails which were forwarded by this girl to another person whom Selena knows.
I told her to leave him. Much like what I was told when Antonio had his little escapades.

Actually, SOB Romeo, I found out, is a squirrel.
Selena tells me there is a Malay saying about how nobody can be that smart to get away with deception and lies.
Literally, it says that no matter how smart a squirrel is in jumping and climbing, that animal will eventually fall down to earth.

Hah. Not so clever, after all, you little cheating squirrel.

So, is Selena leaving that SOB of a squirrel?
"Oh...maybe. He may not be worth my love, you know.."
Now, you're talking, sista! Now you're talking.