Mirror, mirror…

What is beauty? Who is beautiful? Is there a beauty standard? If yes, who decides and who qualifies? These questions came coursing through my head. While and after I had watched a cooking show with an international model, yes, a model as one of three guest judges. She was tall and thin. Light skinned with […]

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My mum’s recipe 7: WIP – Suji Puttu

Two weeks ago, my mum announced that she was going to cook Suji or Semolina Puttu for her Friday lunch. Just like Upma, there’s nothing about Puttu that I like. Not the sand-like texture, taste or pale colour. But, that’s just me. Despite my dislike and disinterest in Puttu, I volunteered to help my mum. […]

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Vaccine hope

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 […]

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Happy-smiley

Happy smiley when one with nature

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 […]

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Haircut week

It was my first hair cutting job and my mum’s first in about seven decades. She hasn’t been to a hairdresser or barber since she was about 12. I cut my mum’s hair a few weeks ago. It was a daunting and challenging responsibility on many levels. Why? My mum prides herself in her twice […]

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Migration

A report on economic migrants on one of the news channels made me wonder about people, migration and motivation. For years, people have moved from their home countries to near and faraway lands to work, earn, gain a better standard of living, and travel. People have also moved because of conflicts, insecurity and persecution. In […]

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Walks, parks and picnics

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 […]

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3-1 hair, face and body

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 […]

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My younger mum

One morning, without any prompting, my mum recalled her wedding and her early married life in Kuala Ketil estate in Kedah. She, who is always late and on a catch up mode, despite being up between 5-5.30 am every morning, was rather relaxed and in a chatty mood. Information was spewing out of her. Naturally, […]

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Becoming sixty

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 […]

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