I’ve been intrigued by RD’s recent expose on Sri Lankanisms and I have one more to add, the long goodbye. I’m not entirely sure however whether this Lankanism is widespread or whether it’s just me and the lunatic asylum that makes up my family. My dad’s side is the worst at this though and any family function involves a ridiculous amount of goodbyes. There was one particularly memorable night when the whole clan was there, the half French cousins, the half Welsh ones, the arty aunt and the dignified aunt along with the Grandparents. The guests of honour were some old family friends and their two daughters (wonder what happened to them, they were quite delic back in the day). 

The first goodbye was said around midnight in the salé. The whole troop then moved to the front door of the flat and stood around talking for about 20 minutes before decamping to the front gate. More talking, half inside the apartment building and half spilt onto Havelock Road. More talking for about half an hour before the guests got into their car. Things approached a farcical level when the family continued talking to the departing guests while they sat in their car. I just wished we could have done this inside where I had been comfortably ensconced on a sofa. Another 15 minutes of talking and the night was finally over, a good hour and a half after the first goodbye was said.

I find that either because of my rapid ageing or genetics I do the same thing now. Even the online world is not safe, though in this case I wasn’t really to blame too much. As Sri Lankan’s I think a simply “bye” or in my case “laters” just doesn’t cut it a goodbye has to go on for at least eight lines!

N:  hey ive gotta run….mothers day..have to take the mater out for dinner and all that jazz

J:  hehe

J:  alright

N: mystery cleared up and im glad this was u! and not some random wierdo….catch u laters

J:  yeah me too

J:  ttyl

N:  tc and happy monday!

J:  keep in touch…

J:  :)

J:  tc

J:  bye bye

N:  will do..laters

J:  yeah.. laterz