LATELY, I have felt myself ageing fast.

For many years now, I have been made to feel aged. I have been called "Uncle" in various languages by all manners of Malaysians wherever I went. Malaysians would know that "Uncle" is a generic name given to an older male person, and needs not indicate any blood tie. It is to the credit of Malaysians that the address of "Uncle" is usually accompanied by a certain amount of respect and deference. The Chinese term "Ah Pek" would tend to sound slightly condescending.

Then one day last month, I was walking down the road in my neighbourhood when some very young children hailed me as "Ah Gong", which in Chinese dialects means "Grandpa". My suspicion of my ancientness was thus confirmed forever.