Me: Harlo?
SYT: Hello? Mr Belacan? I am SYT from Sony Wings at KLCC.
Me: Arrr, yes.
SYT: Our technician has taken a look at your 12 band Sony radio which you sent in for repairs. I am sorry to say that we don't have any more spare parts for this model. As that is the case, we won't be charging you for anything. You can come and collect the radio from us any day.
Me: Aisehman... that radio very sentimental to me lar... nevermind. I will come and collect later. Thanks.
SYT: You are welcome. Good bye Mr Belacan. *Click*
Sigh... I bought that radio for my dad a year before he passed away. Cost me about RM300 then at Sogo Best Denki. Took me a few months to save that amount from my measly monthly take-home-pay of RM700. After less room rental, motorbike maintenance and food and allowance to parents... not much was left.
When I was young, my dad frequently listened to Voice of America or BBC News on his old Sony 9 band radio, normally late at night. He would listen for the Dow Jones report and any interesting news that may move the share market. In a sense, I always pictured him tuning that radio for the news. Hence, I think he was very pleased to receive that radio as a gift from me, although he thanked me by saying that I shouldn't spend money like that lah, should save for myself lar... hehehe, dads. ;)
After he passed away, I took that radio with me on my many out-of-town and overseas assignments. You can say that I enjoyed tuning into Radio 4 (was also known as Blue Network) on short wave from Jakarta or China. It gave me a sense of home away from home.
Belacan, the radio head
OK, so the radio's dead. Was tempted and finally I bought the latest generation of that 12 band radio for RM198 at KLCC Sony Wings. The design and layout is very similar to the kaputed radio but the size is now slimmer and smaller, and the best part is that it plays FM stereo on headphones and needs only 2 AA batteries instead of 3 AA previously.
Hehehe, maybe my kids would one day remember me tuning on my 12 band radio for world news and look back on those times fondly. Maybe...
5 comments:
Hmmm...Mr Belacan...how come your blog reminds me of someone? No, this is not a pick-up line!
ahh... so withdrawal symptoms no more...
so what did you do with the old radio?
YP: still with me. you want? give you free (almost lar, supper you bayar! hehehe). maybe someone you know can repair it lor.
;D ! I was here !! :D
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