All about the money, money…

December 17, 2018.Reading time 6 minutes.

I was watching ‘A Star is Born’ and multi-tasking by looking up Lady Gaga on my iPad. It was a general browse about the stars of the movie. I wasn’t checking on anything in particular but her net worth popped up, which was pretty impressive, but what really threw me was how much Kylie Jenner […]

Mad and maddening drivers

December 10, 2018.Reading time 6 minutes.

Scurrying and rushing to keep up with the flashing green man

I felt compelled to write about the driving culture in Malaysia, if you can call it that, following a recent drive to Fraser’s Hill. Being a local, I am amply aware of our ballistic and ‘kiasu’ tendencies when we get behind the wheel, deservedly and sadly, earning us the shameful label of being rude and […]

Pooh

December 3, 2018.Reading time 7 minutes.

I was given three movies to choose from. Gold, Christopher Robin and Juliet, Naked; in that order. I picked Christopher Robin. My husband immediately said that he knew I would. Too right, he was. Never hurts to watch a fantasy feel-good movie with stuffed animals that talk and have adorable names, especially on a rainy […]

Old faithful Vicks

December 3, 2018.Reading time 6 minutes.

My first go-to when I have the sniffles or a cold is Vicks VapoRub. I have used it all my life or at least as far back as I can remember. The vapour it emanates, a menthol-minty aroma is soothing and nostalgic all in one. The latter because it reminds me of my mum caring […]

Leavers and remainers

November 26, 2018.Reading time 7 minutes.

The only time my husband and I take an early morning flight is from England to Malaysia. Up at 5am and out the door by 6am to catch the 10am flight home when the leavers (us) and remainers (family) are still half-awake and a little groggy from sleep. I dread the leave day as it […]

Grateful, thankful and blessed

November 19, 2018.Reading time 8 minutes.

I have managed to get to my fifties; grateful for living and remembering more happy days than not. I am happy with my personal life, and content with my reasonably successful professional achievements. All my organs function, not at full capacity, but they work ok, and my limbs are intact and allow me mobility. I […]

Customer Disservice

November 12, 2018.Reading time 5 minutes.

I lament at how companies focus so much energy and money in attracting new customers and not half the fervour in retaining, and dare I say, pleasing those they already have. Promotions and goodies are lavished on the latest conquests while loyalty is taken for granted. Banks, telecommunications companies, magazine publishers and satellite TV service […]

Celebrating Deepavali

November 5, 2018.Reading time 10 minutes.

I don’t get excited any more. I don’t think even my much younger nieces and nephews get excited. The one person in the family who does is my mum. We know Deepavali is happening because of the almost childlike excitement my mum exudes. Her joy and enthusiasm are palpable. She gets into prep mode, well […]

French

October 29, 2018.Reading time 6 minutes.

I like the way French sounds to my ears. Almost musical with the right intonations. If I could feel the French language, I would say it would be like a bed of pillowy soft marshmallows. I don’t speak French. I wish I could. My Indian tongue gets twisted and I mangle the words. Whatever words I […]

Taboos and unmentionables

October 22, 2018.Reading time 7 minutes.

Unmentionables that we try not to mention

A whatsapp exchange on my siblings’ chat group got me thinking about how I, we, and a good number of people I know, consider it taboo to say certain things that we believe is unlucky or a bad omen. Anything remotely related to dying is unmentionable. Equally off-limits are inferences to falling sick, losing jobs […]