Keeping in touch

November 11, 2024.Reading time 6 minutes.

I met up with seven school mates a fortnight ago. One of them lives in England, and it was her ‘Balik Kampung,’ the reason for the get together. Our collective home town/kampung is Alor Setar, Kedah. We went to the same primary and secondary school until form five – St. Nicholas Convent (as did sisters’ […]

Nice, interesting, unusual…

August 26, 2024.Reading time 6 minutes.

I listen to the radio most mornings. A couple of weeks ago whilst reviewing the global markets, the announcer pointed out that the Nikkei 225 was closed for Mountain Day. Yes, Mountain Day. I smiled. Aww. Nice. When I think of the Land of the Rising Sun, I think of salarymen, in dark suits, working […]

Meet up

August 5, 2024.Reading time 6 minutes.

I met up with two of my university mates recently. It was my first social meet up since my mum passed. I have consciously avoided speaking, seeing, or spending time with anyone outside my family. The last gathering that involved family members was about nine weeks ago just before sister number 3 left for England. […]

Making time

July 15, 2024.Reading time 6 minutes.

I received a WhatsApp message about celebrating life. About appreciating and enjoying the moments and times spent with family, friends and loved ones. It was a nice message, and one that I agree with. But did I? Do we? Make time, enough time to communicate. Be physically and mentally present. Care and love. Create and […]

Counting steps

May 13, 2024.Reading time 6 minutes.

I count steps now. Before, I just used to walk. I like walking. More than running or cycling. One foot in front of the other, without too much thought. Now, I’m a little more deliberate. I try to hit or surpass 10,100 steps. A target set by my Samsung mobile health app. Why 10, 100? I have […]

Birthday month

April 1, 2024.Reading time 6 minutes.

March was my birthday month. Yes, every day was a celebration except for 1st March. That was sister number 2’s birthday. I let her have that day.😊 My idea of celebration almost always involves desserts of some form or other. Chocolates, cakes, ice-cream, and chocolate-coated biscuits. The thing is I eat them all-year round. There […]

Dogs and cats

March 4, 2024.Reading time 6 minutes.

Niece number 3’s stories about her pet-children, Coco the dog and Zupa the cat, made me smile and go awww. My husband also smiled when I related the antics of these two animal species that are not usually friends or friendly. I especially liked the photo of Zupa waiting for Coco to return to the dog-and-cat […]

Holiday happiness

February 26, 2024.Reading time 6 minutes.

One sure fire way to lift sagging spirits or general malaise is a holiday. It works every time for me. Wide smiles. Happy hormones. Great anticipation of what can only be good things to come. Hopefully, sleeping more as I’m an insomniac. Hopefully, relaxing and worrying less as I’m a certified worry wart. The sooner […]

Getting back my jolly

February 19, 2024.Reading time 6 minutes.

Last week I wrote about losing my jolly. I’d identified the jolly stealers in writing in the hope of not thinking and giving them more brain space than I already have, and do. All in the hope of getting back my jolly. While I sort of knew somethings that could help, I still searched on […]

Losing my jolly

February 12, 2024.Reading time 6 minutes.

I’ve lost my jolly, and I want it back. I know the reasons for my general melancholy. It started with Covid and the restricted movement controls in 2020. Holidays became scarce. The rigmarole involved in organising any form of travel was a deterrent, as was the infectious disease itself. I remember the arduous loops my […]