The weekend we went to Ipoh was also the last weekend YP would keep her trusty old kancil. Named Berry for its giler maroon paint job, it was every ah beng's dream, and the apple of one little girl's heart.

Berry was kept in the most pristine of conditions, to the point that I would have to be cleaned and de-liced before entering lest my impure and sinful fingers sully its innards.

As with all things, old age, unfortunately, caught up with Berry. Riding on it was like riding on an Osim uGallop. Just a few weeks back, we sold Berry to someone who needed a small and inauspicious looking car (haha) to ferry illegal DVDs from Jelutong to SuperTanker.

"Oh Berry..."

Now, YP is absolutely in love with the mini cooper, and if at all possible, she would sell her kidney (and mine) for one. However, YP's kidneys are much too clean for most end users, while mine are nearing or is at the threshold of expiry. So, we had to settle for something much less. We bought a light green Viva.

I can tell YP isn't crazy about the new car. She says the color's insipid (a.k.a. spiritless, lifeless, subdued... you get the idea) and would have very much preferred the stronger ultramarine (which me and her mum was not in favour). She says the tint was not dark enough despite my (again) earnest attempts at explaining that dark != protection. Among the other potential candidates were the MyVi, Kenari, Suria & iTen. But we got the Viva for the most heartbreaking of reasons: practicality.

Since it was a Viva I suggested that we name it Vivian. I also thought of the name Hempedu by means of some weird mental association I have with the word insipid. In the end, she decided to name the car Riverine. Today, YP and her woodland creature friends gave Riverine a good wash (later, I am going to buy a tiny Ah Beng scorpion sticker to stick at the fuel cap...kekeke).

So here's saying goodbye to Berry. Though I didn't get a chance to sit in you much, thank you for keeping someone safe.

"Bye Berry"