Leavers and remainers

November 26, 2018.Reading time 7 minutes.

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 […]

Grateful, thankful and blessed

November 19, 2018.Reading time 8 minutes.

I have managed to get to my fifties; grateful for living and remembering more happy days than not. I am happy with my personal life, and content with my reasonably successful professional achievements. All my organs function, not at full capacity, but they work ok, and my limbs are intact and allow me mobility. I […]

Customer Disservice

November 12, 2018.Reading time 5 minutes.

I lament at how companies focus so much energy and money in attracting new customers and not half the fervour in retaining, and dare I say, pleasing those they already have. Promotions and goodies are lavished on the latest conquests while loyalty is taken for granted. Banks, telecommunications companies, magazine publishers and satellite TV service […]

Celebrating Deepavali

November 5, 2018.Reading time 10 minutes.

I don’t get excited any more. I don’t think even my much younger nieces and nephews get excited. The one person in the family who does is my mum. We know Deepavali is happening because of the almost childlike excitement my mum exudes. Her joy and enthusiasm are palpable. She gets into prep mode, well […]

French

October 29, 2018.Reading time 6 minutes.

I like the way French sounds to my ears. Almost musical with the right intonations. If I could feel the French language, I would say it would be like a bed of pillowy soft marshmallows. I don’t speak French. I wish I could. My Indian tongue gets twisted and I mangle the words. Whatever words I […]

Taboos and unmentionables

October 22, 2018.Reading time 7 minutes.

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 […]

Labels

October 8, 2018.Reading time 5 minutes.

I don’t believe in labels or being pigeon-holed. That said, I’m probably a Type A personality. In fact, I wish I wasn’t as I would probably feel less stressed about life. I can’t find a reason or excuse for this personality flaw except to place the blame squarely on my DNA. My parents were not […]

Invisible people

October 1, 2018.Reading time 5 minutes.

Invisibly and quietly doing all types of jobs

Issues relating to foreign workers emerge regularly in Malaysia. Hiring programs, levies imposed, illegal and legal status, recruitment agents and negotiations with source countries are some recurring topics.

A tetchy ex-home worker

September 24, 2018.Reading time 6 minutes.

I have worked from home for over 20 years. I liked what I did but I had a niggle. An element of irritation and tetchiness kept roaring its ugly head, now and again.

Pinocchio is everywhere

September 11, 2018.Reading time 7 minutes.

It flabbergast me how people can lie with a straight face, and worse yet, repeat the lie. I read and listen to ludicrous explanations being spewed and the fantasy story telling that continues week after week. This has happened and is happening almost every day and everywhere.