Donna cops out.

Dear Readers,

I recently noticed that my $10 purse was on the brink of death. The shoulder straps are always the first to go. So, where to go. I am not a designer purse person. I don't know one brand from another therefore I don't think someone's name on a purse means anything I should pay attention to. I was looking for a purse that was small, had shoulder straps, but I could carry a small umbrella in. I have been soaked too many times in surprise storms here in Singapore. I don't want to be caught unaware. Where I live there are a hundred high end purse stores. Because my knees are giving me trouble, I didn't want to have to travel very far to find a purse so I found myself wandering through my favorite department store that sells designer purses. And there it was. A new arrival. A Hilly on a pedestal. Blue. My favorite colour. Many salegirls were following me around because I looked like a white tourist-their favorite mark. They get a commission. I was disappointed I couldn't give all of them a sale but alas, I needed only one purse. You can see the purse above. At the same time I went to 7 Eleven to buy a cell phone that operates off a pay card (Sims). If you buy one, the government has to know who you are and you have to give them a copy of your passport to purchase one.

They are afraid that terorists are buying them to operate in Singapore. They do this in Indonesia (they have found hugh amounts of them in the terorist headquarters). So I am now registered with the government as an owner of a cell phone. I can never remember the 10 digit phone number. I have to carry the number written down in a small notebook (which also fits in this blue purse!)

I was told to buy a cell phone by my new friend Annette who is from Blacksburg VA. She and I were taking quilt lessons from Ira, the quilt lady nearby. She insulted Annette once too often and now she has defected to another quilt shop run by a nice Swiss lady. There she found a whole group of Ira defectors taking classes. She had asked me to come over to the dark side. I am still thinking it over. I am sure that when Ira sees my latest problems with my current quilt, she will give me an ear full. Rightly so. Is that a reason not to put up with her verbal abuse? She is a mother figure to me. My mother always gives me an ear full. I feel at home there.

I am going to the new quilt shop next week to check it out. It's always good to know where an alternate supply of material is. The other picture is me in my newest little black dress. I wore it out to Jumbo Seafood Restaurant at Dempsey Hill. This was a nice Chinese place where the walls were filled with live fish and lobsters and shrimp in tanks. Every once in awhile I would see a net come down and another fish would disappear. Fred the lobster would reappear in a cute dish of rice and vegetables at the table next door. It was quite a magic trick!

More from Asia later!