Stressed Be The Ties That Bind

I first encountered neckties in 1963.

I disliked those “kiddy” types – one type came with an elastic band, and another with a Y-shaped plastic catch (this one made my skin sore).  I wanted those which adults wore.

But getting the knot “right” with the correct lengths to be left dangling was quite tricky.  In those days,  the prevailing style seemed to resemble a scalene triangle, which I called the “ketupat”.    I hated that shape because it was asymmetrical.

I spent many hours perfecting the twists and turns to get that ultimate symmetrical “samosa” knot — along the way inadvertently producing some  “bak chang”, and “kuih abok abok” as well.  Quite stressful indeed, just to put a tight noose around our necks! (How did the West come out with this thing?)

Do you have a knotty story to tell?

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