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 […]

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 […]

Anything but 8

July 30, 2018.Reading time 6 minutes.

Quirky practices that make no sense and are a waste of precious time. Blame them on planetary movements and numerology, not our silly habits. Sigh!

Sayings and all sorts…

May 27, 2018.Reading time 5 minutes.

Sayings are a bunch of words that resonate; a collection of words that is obvious, but not obvious enough until you read them and then have a ‘aha’ moment.

Self-censorship of a kind

May 23, 2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

Kids say the darndest things. They say what they want, when they want, to whom they want, and pretty much get away with it. In fact, we excuse them because they are kids. And, we defend them because we believe they don’t really know or understand what they are saying, which is true, most of […]

Accidents of birth

April 30, 2018.Reading time 4 minutes.

Peace, equality, stability – both political and economic – are precious commodities we cannot afford to negotiate or lose under any pretext or self-serving agendas. It would be devastatingly sad if our children and their children miss out on their right to a good life and become accidents of birth

A leap: turtle to parenting

February 12, 2018.Reading time 7 minutes.

Having a child is only the beginning. Being in charge of another human being is an incredibly mammoth responsibility. How do you know when to hold your children tightly and when to let them go? How do you know if you are doing right by your children?