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 […]

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 […]

Becoming sixty

March 29, 2021.Reading time 6 minutes.

Last week, I became sixty. My husband kick started my birthday celebration in January. Yes, sixty days prior with fun presents every day. There were also loads of birthday discussions and excitement about the youngest, that’s me, turning sixty, in my family. My sisters, who live abroad, sent parcels of thoughtful gifts long before, leading up […]

Living in KL

March 15, 2021.Reading time 6 minutes.

I have lived in Kuala Lumpur for more than a decade now. Walked along the same road to get to Avenue K and KLCC for over 10 years and took no notice of this magnificent tree facing Corus Hotel. Then one fine day, I did. A huge and wondrous creation. Roots – far reaching and […]

Pongal rice, Karthigai and festivals

December 7, 2020.Reading time 6 minutes.

I helped my mum make ‘Sakkarai Pongal’ or Pongal rice last Sunday. Obviously not biased but she does make the tastiest Pongal rice I’ve ever had. This time around, she also got the thumbs-up from my husband, who doesn’t normally like the texture or taste of sweet rice. He likened it to a really delicious version […]

Yellow-black banana

November 23, 2020.Reading time 6 minutes.

Bananas ripen and turn yellow-black before I get home from the supermarket. Mangoes develop unsightly spots as I wash, dry and store them. Tomatoes get mushy and even the hardier carrots look scruffy in a few days. Fresh and inviting in the store. Wilted and sad at home. Fresh produce become un-fresh, and spoil at an […]

Farewell old favourites

October 26, 2020.Reading time 6 minutes.

First it was Sri Melaka. Our favourite Nyonya restaurant. My husband and I spent many evenings there. In fact, not a week went past without us visiting Sri Melaka. The exception was when we were out of town. And, it was Sri Melaka that we visited when we returned from wherever. Quite longingly, I might […]