Here is an email received yesterday… and my reply. Tog and I use to MC the scout troop campfires back home in Malaysia.
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: Hi Asshole!
From: Tog Tan
Hi! Hi! How u been doing? Its like what(?), 33 years since we lost contact.. Good to hear you are still bullshitting people from the stage now.
As for me, I took up a career in advertising photography, did well and then gave it up for a business of dealing with snakes. Kinda weird, ha? Somewhere along the way, I got married, produced a lovely daughter who is 20 yrs old now, and got my freedom back thru a divorce. U hitched? Or the females over your place have the intelligence to avoid ya?
The only shithead I kept in contact, though not constant, during all this time is Colin. Now he’s Dr. Colin as of 05. He hasn’t change a bit except for his loss of hair.
Oi..send me a pix of u, I wanna see how ugly u have matured into.. I will attach a pix of me for your insults, demeaning, dartboard or whatever your wretched mind wants to do with it.
I still feel its like yesterday with those darn campfires and what not. Mentally I don’t feel I have aged. Come to think of it, I will be 50 this year. As of this year and the coming ones I don’t have a solid plan yet cos at about this time in ‘05 I got very badly screwed in a project and actually lost every cent I had. Took me like a year to get me feet back on the ground again. I have been offered a post as an advisor to a government snake facility. Still kinda skeptical about it. After 10 years of dealing with reptiles, I got a little tired from the diseases I catch from them. So for the time being I will be taking a much needed holiday to Bangkok from 18/1 to 25/1 with my daughter and her boyfriend. At the same time, I will be seeing my Thai girlfriend there.
So do drop me a line. Oh by the way, since I went into the world, I been using my family nick name ” Tog ” its was really something when I heard people calling me by “Kong Liang” at the last ESG gathering which Chin Kee put together. There were only 4 of us from my time, ie., Andrew, Seong, Colin and me. Most of the time I kept muttering.. “hey.. I don’t think I know you.. .
So till I hear from the One Fin Fish, keep well and feel well..
Regards Tog Tan
——– My Reply ——–
Tog!
Damn, man… yeah, it’s been years. You have a 20 year old daughter??? They actually allowed you to breed? LOL! I’m sure she is a lovely girl.
Good to hear from you. Believe it or not you have crossed my mind (fleetingly) over the years! Good to know that you are alive and well. I’ve been busy. It always seems as if I’m starting from scratch… nature of the business but it keeps me on my toes. As for me… I’ve made a living doing theatre. Was married… not now … but we are still good friends. No kids… 4 dogs, a house and lots of bills. Started a festival a few years ago and it’s taken off. Have my own theatre company… that I’m kicking up again this year. The best way to keep up with my exploits is http://sinun.blogspot.com … you can actually leave comments too!
If you’re still doing photography… you should get into the gallery component of the festival. David Lim is performing again this year… his third time… and quite the hit. It’s in March… wanna come by? Anyway… lets keep in constant touch.
Cheers!
p.s. Here is a collage that I posted on my blog at new years. Try to figure out which one I am… David is in a couple too!
Postscript: Tog recently discovered a new species of reptile on his adventures which is second in size to the Komodo Dragon of Indonesia. It will soon be officially named Varanus Togtani… after him. That and he remembered the “One Fin Fish” thing which I had totally forgotten!
