Balancing act

January 29, 2024.Reading time 6 minutes.

There was never more month at the end of my money. I didn’t have much, especially when I was younger and just starting out on my own, but I had enough to see me through to the next few salaries. Every month, I saved a little and then some, particularly, for rainy days. It wasn’t […]

Feel-good movies

January 22, 2024.Reading time 6 minutes.

I watched one. Then another, and before I knew it, I was searching for holiday/Christmas movies on Netflix. The soppy and predictable with happy endings variety. No shooting, killing, or maiming. No big companies or individuals with money, power and position abusing and rough riding everyday, regular people. No pain or misery. None of the […]

Present and past

January 15, 2024.Reading time 6 minutes.

My brain, sometimes, stops in the present. Preoccupied with life, and daily routines. It forgets how she was/used to be. Right up to August 2021, my mum was the queen of her condo/castle. She had a daily schedule. Up every morning at 5.30am. Complained about being late even before she began the day. A constant clock […]

Connecting safely

January 8, 2024.Reading time 6 minutes.

I read. I listen. I follow instructions. I think I’m fairly cautious but am I safe? I access the internet. Just like the over 5.3 billion internet users. Or the 65% of the world’s population with internet access. The number is expected to reach 6.54 billion by 2025[1]. I own a smartphone. There are approximately 6.84 billion smartphones in the […]

A good, better or ok 2024

January 1, 2024.Reading time 6 minutes.

I hope 2024 will be a good or better year. Peace on earth, friendlier weather, people-centric governments, equitable social and economic growth, and all that. Ok is also alright. If the new year’s generic wishes for good health, happiness, successes, steady/true friendships/relationships and fun holidays are somewhat realised or enjoyed by one and all. Good […]

Heavy heart

December 25, 2023.Reading time 6 minutes.

An onslaught of upheavels and emotions. My heart felt like it was going to burst right out of my chest. I felt claustrophobic. I needed to get out of my home/condominium, and be out in the open. It was late, sometime after midnight. I was having difficulty sleeping. My mind was all over the place, and […]

Thinking,talking,remembering

December 18, 2023.Reading time 6 minutes.

I feel unsettled. More than a week has passed. I think of Gunda, brother number 1, almost all of the time. It’s no exaggeration when I say I wake up thinking about him. Go to bed thinking about him. Remembering that he is no longer with us. This is on top of talking about brother […]

Brother number 1

December 11, 2023.Reading time 6 minutes.

I am sad and tearful when I think that my Gunda is no more. I know what has happened but my head and heart are having a hard time accepting, believing. Most of this year, brother number 1 was not in a good way. In and out of hospitals for his protracted prostate condition. And […]

Service and satisfaction

November 27, 2023.Reading time 7 minutes.

Generally, customer service should be about answering customers’ questions on products and services. Providing advice and guidance. Finding solutions and/or resolving complaints to problems. In a quick, easy and empathetic manner via face-to-face interactions at brick-and-mortar stores and/or online through emails, WhatsApp, live chats, and telephones. My recent encounters with two companies made me question […]

Deepavali 2023

November 20, 2023.Reading time 6 minutes.

Deepavali came and went last Sunday. It was the most low key in recent years. Even my mum, who looks forward to and gets excited to this one festival in a whole series of Indian celebrations each year, was reticent. This despite the presence of sister number 3, the family’s in-house chef, who returned home […]