Winnie-the-Pooh

March 22, 2021.Reading time 8 minutes.

I never owned nor read Winnie-the-Pooh before. I was introduced to Pooh late in life. Of course, I knew and heard of this adorable bear of little brain. But that was it. Until I watched the movie ‘Christopher Robin.’ It was a watershed moment for me. I became a Pooh convert. His easy and unassuming […]

My mum’s schedule

March 1, 2021.Reading time 6 minutes.

As my mum’s carer, I spend a fair amount of time with her. I pop down to see her about four times a day as she lives on a lower floor in the same condominium as my husband and me. I know her schedule. She is up between 5-5.30am every morning. Yes, that’s correct. I’m […]

Birthday countdown

February 22, 2021.Reading time 6 minutes.

Its 31 days to my birthday. A milestone. A beginning of a new decade and an end to the previous five. Am I keeping track by drawing lines and crossing them out every 7th or 10th day on a wall? No, I’m not. Thanks to my dear husband, I know exactly how many days there […]

Speaking at…

January 25, 2021.Reading time 6 minutes.

A phone call from a friend, whom I hadn’t texted or spoken to in a very long time, made me wonder about conversations. She and I, two people speaking with each other; exchanging information and updates about each other’s lives. But, that wasn’t what occurred. After asking me how I was, obligatory niceties out of the way, […]

Knee pain and the Net

January 11, 2021.Reading time 6 minutes.

A few weeks ago, my mum complained of knee pain. She had difficulty standing up from her toilet seat. She has chronic arthritis and osteoporosis. She aches all over. Her pain is constant. Accentuated by phases of more pain. I was concerned. About the pain. About sitting and walking in her condo. About the possibility […]

Christmas 2020

December 28, 2020.Reading time 6 minutes.

The tree went up on the first Saturday of December. Glittering with ornaments, tinsel and fairy lights. Spirits were lifted and brightened a little. What else? Desserts. Always works for me. A sure mood enhancer and belly pleaser. I decided I’d bake some traditional desserts, not attempted before. To surprise my husband. To fondly remember Christmas 2020. To not […]

Pongal rice, Karthigai and festivals

December 7, 2020.Reading time 6 minutes.

I helped my mum make ‘Sakkarai Pongal’ or Pongal rice last Sunday. Obviously not biased but she does make the tastiest Pongal rice I’ve ever had. This time around, she also got the thumbs-up from my husband, who doesn’t normally like the texture or taste of sweet rice. He likened it to a really delicious version […]

Not going away

November 16, 2020.Reading time 6 minutes.

It’s not going away. Not anytime soon. Eights month on and we’re now in a Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) in Kuala Lumpur. Various movement restrictions from MCO, CMCO, Recovery MCO, and Enhanced and Semi-Enhanced MCO’s have been enforced in various areas, districts and states in Malaysia, at various times, to control the number of […]

Deepavali 2020

November 9, 2020.Reading time 6 minutes.

My mum’s most anticipated celebration is happening this Saturday, 14 November. Not easily excitable nor normally demonstrative, this is the only time of year that she’s animated with almost childlike enthusiasm. Deepavali – the Festival of Lights – has always given my mum a sense of joy and excitement. As a child, a wife, mother and […]

Farewell old favourites

October 26, 2020.Reading time 6 minutes.

First it was Sri Melaka. Our favourite Nyonya restaurant. My husband and I spent many evenings there. In fact, not a week went past without us visiting Sri Melaka. The exception was when we were out of town. And, it was Sri Melaka that we visited when we returned from wherever. Quite longingly, I might […]