Author: Valentine Tawie Salok

Socialising in evenings to reinforce rapport

When you’re warm and approachable, you don’t have to go up and talk non-stop to someone in a social situation. You just have to be open to the conversations you’re already having – and warm and receptive to the people you’re meeting. – Karen Salmansohn, self-help book author All the

Long-awaited reunion between two buddies

Never go to your high school reunion pregnant or they will think that is all you have done since you graduated. – Erma Bombeck, American humourist Finally my good friend Carter Ballang Kapong managed to meet me for a long-awaited reunion. We were supposed to gather at BDC Ah Liong 

One remarkable blowpipe excursion

I knew that looking back on the tears would make me laugh but I never knew that looking back on the laughs would bring tears. – graciousquotes.com Since my young days, I have been enjoying jungle trips using blowpipes – my brother Jon and I were lucky to have one

First anniversary of leaving the building

A lot of people have accused Elvis of stealing the Black man’s music, when in fact almost every Black solo entertainer copied his stage mannerisms from Elvis. Last Sept 25 completed the first year of the demise of Kuching Elvis Presley titleholder Ges Barundang, better known as Elges Presley. He

Memento truly a gift of wealth

The love of family and the admiration of friends is much more important than wealth and privilege. –        Charles Kuralt, American journalist Many generations ago, there lived a very poor couple, Mara and his wife Siman. They stayed alone at a dilapidated hovel, just a short distance from a longhouse

Mutual assist to the fore

Camaraderie doesn’t happen by accident; developing a strong sense of trust, accountability, and togetherness around team goals requires intentional effort. – Don Yaeger, American author and public speaker Most longhouses in the Melupa basin, a Krian tributary in Saratok, are still practising ‘beduruk’ or mutual assist in many deeds, especially

Pricey jars with stories to tell

If you mocked animals, it would cause the wrath of spirits which would seek revenge by turning the longhouses of the guilty parties into stone during hail storms. The only way to avoid this would be to place large Chinese jars at longhouse doors. Jars are regarded as being impervious

Hilarious moments of cerebral concussion

Memory loss is strange. It’s like showing up for a movie after it’s started. I’m sure I’ve missed something. I do the best I can to lose myself in the story and hope the gaps don’t matter. Later, I can look it up, or someone will remind me, or maybe

The King’s legacy remains intact

Rock and roll music, if you like it, if you feel it, you can’t help but move to it. That’s what happens to me. I can’t help it.  – Elvis Presley On August 16, 1977, the world mourned the loss of one of the greatest exponents of American and world

Protective, decorative headgears – and hilarity

I use sunscreen every single day, even if I’m not going outside in the sun, because I’m near a window. I can always get those UV rays on my face, so I always apply sunscreen on my face and neck. It’s like brushing my teeth: I feel weird if I