In the present

June 22, 2020.Reading time 6 minutes.

I can feel sad. Surprisingly, suddenly. Without warning. A song. A paragraph in a book. A poignant message on WhatsApp. A scene from a movie. Just a few triggers that make me feel melancholy for no apparent reason other than the trigger itself. The change in emotion is quite dramatic. Thank goodness they are mostly […]

I, me and myself

June 15, 2020.Reading time 6 minutes.

It’s June. Six months into 2020. I was flipping through my table-top calendar (yes, it’s not digital) to check what I had jotted down in January for the rest of the year. Stopped in March, which was my birthday month, not the whole month. Although I do try to stretch my birthday for as many […]

Onde Onde ice cream

June 8, 2020.Reading time 6 minutes.

Onde Onde ice cream potong? Who would have thought of making ice cream from a traditional kuih or cake/snack in Malaysia? I didn’t. I am glad someone did because it’s fabulously creamylicious. I am familiar with most local cakes, snacks and pastries. Ice cream, I know only too well. Both making and eating them. Which is […]

Serial Netflix

May 25, 2020.Reading time 6 minutes.

From the start of the year until now, my husband and I have watched over 25 series/movies on Netflix. That’s about one per week in the last 20 weeks. A hefty consumption of entertainment. And, it does not include daytime viewing, despite the Covid-19 lockdown. I’ve worked from home for more than 20 years now. […]

My mum’s recipe 3: Pulut kacau

May 18, 2020.Reading time 6 minutes.

‘Pulut kacau’ is another favourite ‘kuih’ of mine. And, naturally my mum’s is the yummiest. While not an Indian ‘palavaram’ or cake, it nevertheless makes an annual appearance at Deepavali. My mum’s is not just any ‘pulut kacau,’ it is the pink, rosy, glistening variety. Glutinous rice, creamy coconut milk and sugar. Three yesses. This […]

Humpty Dumpty

May 11, 2020.Reading time 6 minutes.

I had a Humpty Dumpty moment a while ago. I tripped over my own foot, fell hard on my right bum and hit my head against the wall. This happened in my living room. The floor in my condo is flat. I had on my reliable Nike trainers. I was doing my morning aerobics exercise. […]

Wash. Clean. Repeat. Wash. Cook. Repeat.

May 4, 2020.Reading time 6 minutes.

Wiped all surfaces. Dusted rugs. Vacuumed floors. Scrubbed sinks and bathroom floors. Cleaned toilets. Repeated the sequence at my mum’s unit. The following week – washed, cleaned and repeated the routine at my unit, and then my mum’s. Hard work these. I like a clean house and bathroom just like the next person. But, I […]

Different generation

April 27, 2020.Reading time 6 minutes.

My mum wears sarees. Cotton sarees at home. Nylex or silk for social and important outings. All six yards of fabric, wrapped around the lower body, with the patterned end pleated in the front and lying loosely over the left shoulder. Worn with a matching blouse and under a petticoat or ‘pavada.’ Now, her homewear […]

Back to normal…

April 20, 2020.Reading time 6 minutes.

I have written three posts related to Covid-19. Two more than I had intended. And, here I am again writing about it. I didn’t want to for obvious reasons. The deluge of coverage in the print, electronic and social media is more than enough. Everyone has an opinion – right, wrong, ambiguous or self-serving. Politicians, […]

My mum’s recipe 2: Muruku

April 13, 2020.Reading time 6 minutes.

I like my mum’s ‘muruku’ best. Of all the savoury delicacies at Deepavali, ‘muruku’ or crunchy crackers is my favourite. Golden brown with little ‘mullus’ or spikes. Twisted, like a pretzel but not quite. A textured consistency with just the right snap. Yummy and flavourful. Not biased. Just honest. My mum’s ‘muruku’ should come with […]