Women and Men

July 8, 2019.Reading time 5 minutes.

A former colleague and I inadvertently stumbled upon a discussion about women and men. There was no light bulb moment. We had no clever answers to explain the perennial gender differences. But, he did share an interesting viewpoint about the women-men dynamics, particularly in the personal and domestic spheres. According to him, women expect too […]

Access

July 1, 2019.Reading time 6 minutes.

Access. The quicker, the cheaper, the more efficient – the better. Thanks to technological innovations. At least, that’s how it seems to me, and I like it. Speedy access to information, cheaper communication and faster travel. That’s not all. Entertainment at our finger tips, health care options and business opportunities etc., etc. I like quick […]

Tick-tock

June 24, 2019.Reading time 6 minutes.

I cry easily when I watch poignant, heart wrenching movies about family, relationship, illness and death. In between muffled sobs (I try not to embarrass myself), I silently vow to focus on what’s important in life – family. When my sisters visit from overseas and return to their respective homes, I miss them achingly, and […]

Habits

June 17, 2019.Reading time 5 minutes.

Apparently it takes an average of about 66 days or some two months to form a new habit[1]. This length of time is needed to develop habits like walking 30 minutes every day, eating two or more fruits and vegetables, waking up 15 minutes earlier each morning to reduce the mad rush to work or […]

Yay to freebies

June 10, 2019.Reading time 6 minutes.

The Dwarika Resort's infinity pool with the Himalayas in the background

It’s nice to be given something extra without asking for it. It’s wonderful to collect a reward or a gift because of a personal effort or persistence. From freebies, discounts, negotiated rates, bargains, cashbacks to buy one-get-one deals, I like and want them all. These ‘wins’ make me feel special and successful. Regardless of the […]

Hari Raya songs, Ketupat and Biskut Makmur

June 3, 2019.Reading time 5 minutes.

I like Hari Raya songs. They make me happy. With just one more day to go before the dawn of Shawwal and the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations, shopping malls are abuzz with activities while festive songs permeate the air and the airwaves. Very nice. I have so many favorite Aidilfitri tunes. Top of the list […]

Precious water

May 27, 2019.Reading time 6 minutes.

We had a four-day water disruption not long ago. The public, including my husband and I, were duly informed and advised to store water for the duration. We were instructed to check online, using our home address and postcode, whether we would be affected by the disruption. I did the latter and accordingly, didn’t the […]

Back in the day

May 20, 2019.Reading time 6 minutes.

Things were different in the old days. Coffee didn’t come from Starbucks or OldTown White Coffee. The coffee I knew, growing up in Alor Star, came from a no name tall gold colored tin from the back seat of a bicycle. Seriously. My mum bought artisanal ground coffee from a travelling or mobile coffee man […]

Birthday money

May 13, 2019.Reading time 6 minutes.

Samsung, cracked, old and broken but still working

I have some birthday money left that is literally burning a hole in my pants. Every year I am given money for my birthday and every year I vow to get myself one big item or a few small things to remind me of my birthday. And, every year, I fail in my quest. The […]

Resorts in our own backyard

April 29, 2019.Reading time 7 minutes.

My husband and I went on a three-resort holiday in the East Coast of West Malaysia. Two, we had visited before and one, we wanted to try out. We drove from one location to another and stayed for two nights at each of these resorts. It was, we found, an easy and relaxing holiday on […]