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 […]

Palliative care

December 4, 2023.Reading time 6 minutes.

Before my mum became very unwell, I knew very little about palliative care. What little I thought I knew or understood was wholly inaccurate. It was first proposed to me by my mum’s cardiologist in August, 2021. He suggested that I contact UMSC’s palliative care as he could not longer treat my mum’s heart failure, […]

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 […]

Returns

November 13, 2023.Reading time 6 minutes.

I’m an average online buyer. I only buy when I want a particular something that is reasonably priced or cheaper online. Promotions don’t entice me. Not because I’m averse to a good deal. I just find the process rather arduous – specific dates/times. And, there’s nothing I want, at whatever reduced price, that badly. Anyways, […]