My mum’s recipe 7: WIP – Suji Puttu

June 14, 2021.Reading time 6 minutes.

Two weeks ago, my mum announced that she was going to cook Suji or Semolina Puttu for her Friday lunch. Just like Upma, there’s nothing about Puttu that I like. Not the sand-like texture, taste or pale colour. But, that’s just me. Despite my dislike and disinterest in Puttu, I volunteered to help my mum. […]

Rain

June 7, 2021.Reading time 6 minutes.

Rain is not a topic that’s top of my mind. Except, when there’s too much or too little of it. There’s been a lot of rain in KL over the last few months. Like clockwork. This almost daily occurrence made me think about rain. Do I like rain? I do. Late in the night or […]

Staying safe

May 31, 2021.Reading time 6 minutes.

Recently, a close friend tested positive for Covid-19. For weeks, she has been working from home. Not going out. Not meeting up with friends or visiting off-site family members. Her only contacts have been and are her husband and children. So naturally, her positive result was unexpected and a shock. My husband and I were […]

Vaccine hope

May 24, 2021.Reading time 6 minutes.

A little hope. Seven of my family members have received the first dose of vaccines against the life threatening and omnipresent Covid-19. My mum had hers on May 11. I didn’t know which vaccine she would be given. So naturally, I did the only thing I could do. I prayed for divine intervention and the […]

Daughter-mother

May 17, 2021.Reading time 6 minutes.

I missed the point. I’m the daughter. My mum is the mum. That’s the relationship. Yes, I’m my mum’s carer now. The roles and responsibilities may have somewhat blurred. But the relationship is clear and irrevocable. Mother’s Day was on May 9. The week leading up to it was unusually difficult for me. My tinnitus […]

Happy-smiley

May 10, 2021.Reading time 6 minutes.

I was instantly happy-smiley when I saw the sunrise as I drew my bedroom curtain. Golden shades of orange and yellow illuminated the sky. It was a near perfect morning. I see this glorious scene, many mornings, from my east-facing windows. I feel happy-smiley, and then I… stop. My husband and I live in a […]

Haircut week

May 3, 2021.Reading time 6 minutes.

It was my first hair cutting job and my mum’s first in about seven decades. She hasn’t been to a hairdresser or barber since she was about 12. I cut my mum’s hair a few weeks ago. It was a daunting and challenging responsibility on many levels. Why? My mum prides herself in her twice […]

Migration

April 26, 2021.Reading time 6 minutes.

A report on economic migrants on one of the news channels made me wonder about people, migration and motivation. For years, people have moved from their home countries to near and faraway lands to work, earn, gain a better standard of living, and travel. People have also moved because of conflicts, insecurity and persecution. In […]

Walks, parks and picnics

April 19, 2021.Reading time 6 minutes.

My husband and I visited Taman Eko Rimba Negeri Selangor or the Selangor State Park last Saturday. It was our second attempt. The first was in January when one of several (lost count now) Covid-19 movement control orders resulted in some parks being closed in the Klang Valley. After that trip, I didn’t hold out […]

3-1 hair, face and body

April 12, 2021.Reading time 6 minutes.

My husband is the only person I know who used soap, the same bar, to clean his head/hair, face and body. Long before the numerous hyphenated hair, skin and body care products made their appearance on retail and supermarket shelves. To be honest, he didn’t look any worse for wear. His before and after looks […]