Slum Book Entry # 1

I have made a number of true friendships since I started working as a bonds dealer in the Philippines. Well, it is quite a competitive industry, investment banking, so I am actually happy that there are some who have kept their friendship with me when they have absolutely nothing to gain from it. I am in sales now. I am actually competition!

Anyway, one of those friends retired fairly recently. His emails are now about his beloved grandchildren, his beach house, holidays with the wife, and other stuff. Very sweet! He reads my blog regularly. One time, he sent me a very long list of questions. (Thanks, JMC!) That reminded me so much of my childhood when girls kept slum books. I would ask my classmates to fill up pages and pages of questions. Sample questions: "What is love?", "Do you have a crush?", "When was your first kiss?" and "Where did you meet?" Funny especially since these questions were being answered by 8, 9 or 10 year old kids! Apparently, this is one thing that has not changed through the years. My niece, Rei-Rei, gave me her slum book to fill up last year. During those few very rare minutes, I felt like a giggly teenager again!

I will answer one of JMC's questions.

What is you sweet sin (ex shopping)?

(Note: He is French and has that special way of saying things.)

Me wearing my Thriller top with Sheila

JMC, you got it. Definitely, Missy's sweet sin is shopping! There was a two- or three-year period when I got into luxury brand shopping. That was when I was living in Europe. I have to say though that it does lose its appeal after some time especially when one realises that she is about to hit 40 and starts thinking of retirement. These days, this almost-40 woman is into cheap shopping thrills. My friend Sheila Lehmann hosted a party in June. I wore this top which Sheila's hubby Michel referred to as "something from Michael Jackson's Thriller video". (Thanks Michel! I find your honesty so refreshing! You are a friend for life! =))

So, what do you think? I paid HKD35 for that (equivalent of PHP200 or USD4.50.. no typo there... the big fig is 4!). I thought it looked kind of not so cheap when I layered it with one of my black spaghettis.

This is a new hobby that I share with my girlfriend Carla Wooldridge. The time I bought this top, I was with Carla. She said that we should have a contest on who could find the cheapest wearable outfit. At some point, we found ourselves totally losing our dignity, giving a new name to down market shopping as we rummaged through racks of clothes selling for HK10!