Hand over fist. What?

Figurative Expressions in English

I have never heard of the phrase “hand over fist[1].” My husband used it recently.  When he did, I instantly got this image of my hand going over my fist like a contortionist.  I couldn’t help but laugh and then questioned him how this could possibly be relevant to losing or making huge amounts of […]

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All about the money, money…

Money for jewellery

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 […]

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Pooh

Christopher Robbin, the movie

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 […]

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Old faithful Vicks

Vicks is always at hand

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 […]

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Leavers and remainers

Flying by quickly like holidays

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 […]

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Taboos and unmentionables

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 […]

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Anything but 8

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!

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Sayings and all sorts…

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.

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Self-censorship of a kind

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 […]

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Accidents of birth

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

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