I know it’s Christmas

December 23, 2019.Reading time 6 minutes.

It’s Christmas. That wonderful time of the year. I know I have said this before. December is my favourite month of the year, second only to March, which is my birthday month. For me, there’s very little not to like about Christmas or December. This year, Christmas came early in many of the shopping malls […]

Lego

December 16, 2019.Reading time 6 minutes.

I only just discovered Lego. Seen it. But never played with it. Never owned any as a kid. In fact, I don’t remember having many store-bought toys. Maybe, some marbles and a ball. What I played with were mostly bespoke toys. Thanks to my eldest brother. He used to build things with whatever was available. […]

Business Class

December 2, 2019.Reading time 6 minutes.

I hadn’t flown Malaysia Airlines in a long while. I did this year. I wanted a direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Brisbane. Most other airlines had stopovers. I honestly prefer to fly on my national carrier. But, it threw a few spanners in the works not to endear itself to me. Even before we […]

Bad over good

November 18, 2019.Reading time 6 minutes.

One wrong decision. One poor choice. One bad behaviour. That’s all it takes. One mistake to erase or taint all the good – said, done and achieved – over the years. I don’t understand how one bad tick (✓) can override so many good ticks, but it does. And, try as I may, I am […]

Reactions

November 11, 2019.Reading time 6 minutes.

I don’t always get the reaction I want or would like. After the time invested, detailed planning and injection of that all important, element of surprise, it fails. Not entirely as there are a few gushes. ‘Ahs’ and ‘oohs’. Certainly not the exuberant reaction I expected. It happens. A little disappointed, yes. But, certainly not […]

“I do”

November 4, 2019.Reading time 6 minutes.

Bjorn and Jennifer’s wedding was wonderful. The bride looked lovely in her gorgeous beaded gown with a corset back. My nephew, the groom, scrubbed up well and appeared spiffy in his navy blue jacket and khaki pants. The groom and bride had three groomsmen and three bridesmaids respectively. Family and friends were well represented. With a […]

Deepavali difference

October 28, 2019.Reading time 6 minutes.

Yesterday was Deepavali, the Festival of Lights. My mum’s favourite celebration since she was a little girl. Every year, the mental preparation for the big day starts many months earlier. How do I know this? She loves to talk about her Deepavali plans: cakes (must-haves), number of guests (the usual suspects) menu for the day (similar […]

Value of things

October 14, 2019.Reading time 6 minutes.

Should a porridge soup cooker cost the same as a brunch for two people? Should a hotel room per night cost as much as or more than some people’s monthly grocery bill or salary? Naturally, I am not comparing like for like. But, it made me wonder what I was willing to pay for the different […]

Irony

October 7, 2019.Reading time 5 minutes.

When I was five, I wanted a bicycle. Not any bicycle. A two-wheel bicycle with pneumatic tyres. Preferably pink in colour. I used to watch this girl, who was a little older than me, ride along the road, in front of my house in Alor Setar. I wanted a bike just like hers. My dad […]

Caring enough

September 30, 2019.Reading time 6 minutes.

My mother is special to me. She was very unwell recently. Despite visits to the doctor and medication, her recovery was slow. She caught a cold off my brother. Maybe. I am not absolutely sure. He had a cold. She got one after he stayed with her while my husband and I were away on […]