Stepping up

August 1, 2022.Reading time 6 minutes.

Sister number 2 left last Tuesday. She arrived from Sydney on 1 June, almost 2 months ago, to be with our mum and care for her. I miss her as does our mum. I’m not sure if sister number 2 was fully aware of the extent of caring required for our mum. I’m also not […]

Driving

July 25, 2022.Reading time 6 minutes.

I usually drive. My husband navigates. That’s our standard arrangement when we drive anywhere, and when we are on holiday – local and foreign. I prefer driving as it gives me something to do. I get fidgety and bored, otherwise. It was no different during our last holiday. We picked up a rental from the […]

Saudia

July 18, 2022.Reading time 6 minutes.

My husband and I are safely home. Our bags, all 3, arrived safely with us. Big relief. Four weeks ago, we flew to London, my first trip abroad since 2019. I had written then that there were almost no seats and sky-high ticket prices on the 10 airlines that we had looked up. With no […]

Old and older

July 11, 2022.Reading time 6 minutes.

I’m guilty. Of not seeing, of not noticing, of not paying too much attention. I’m also guilty. Of not engaging. Of not asking questions. Of lacking interest. I’m more aware and empathetic now but still have a way to go despite becoming an older person myself. For sure, old and older people weren’t born wrinkly, grey, […]

Caravan holiday

July 4, 2022.Reading time 6 minutes.

I had my first caravan park/camp holiday with my husband and mum-in-law last week. I have heard so much about it that I was quite looking forward to it. My husband always spoke fondly of the many holidays he had had with his parents and sister. I think, for him, it was the childhood memory […]

Small spaces

June 27, 2022.Reading time 6 minutes.

I first felt it on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Hanoi. I was flying solo to meet my husband for a holiday on the last day of his business trip. I told myself to calm down. Continue to read my book. And, look out the window. Thankfully, I had a window seat on economy. […]

Bing by choice

June 13, 2022.Reading time 6 minutes.

I’ve not been out of Malaysia since Dec 2019. Not boarded a plane. Not visited a new country or revisited a previously gone-to destination. The longest my passport has not been stamped. Nothing. Nada. Of course, the inactivity has been largely due to the pandemic. Covid-19 and its ominous variants are still present despite the […]

Ageing

June 6, 2022.Reading time 6 minutes.

There are creams and serums to delay and minimise the appearance of wrinkles. There are aesthetic procedures to rejuvenate the face and body. There are exercises to keep muscles fit and flexible. There are diets and supplements to help stay healthier a little longer. Promising. Because it means we have access should we wish, want […]

Love

May 30, 2022.Reading time 6 minutes.

I like the L word, love. A happy, serotonin, feel good emotion. It’s nice to love, and be loved. And, it’s not just romantic love between lovers and married couples. It extends to the special love and affection that exist between parents and children and vice-versa, siblings, friends and even random people, who leave a […]

Alternative meds

May 23, 2022.Reading time 6 minutes.

There are three potted aloe vera plants sitting on my mum’s balcony. They look quite healthy despite being neglected. I can’t remember to water them. Still, they continue to survive rather well. I also don’t remember to use the slimy aloe vera gel to soothe a burn or a cut. It does work but it’s […]