5-2 week

September 12, 2022.Reading time 6 minutes.

I’ve had a 5-2 week for the last seven weeks. 5N/5D at my mum’s and 2N/2D with my husband. Sounds like a holiday or travel package. Not quite. I live with my mum at her condo 5N/5D. My week with her starts on Sunday at 9pm and ends on Friday at 9pm. Brothers number 1 […]

Hand-written diary

September 5, 2022.Reading time 7 minutes.

I stumbled upon my 2020 diary, a 2019 Christmas present from sister number 1. I was pleasantly surprised to find my touch-and-feel interactive diary, in amongst my other notebooks. Yes, notebooks that I used to write in and catalogue holidays. It feels strange even saying it. These days, I might scribble a reminder, a grocery […]

A year on

August 29, 2022.Reading time 6 minutes.

It’s August 2022. A year on and my mum is coming along as well as can be expected. I am super grateful. This time last year, my mum’s health took a turn. It all began after she had fallen off her queen-sized bed on 10 August. As she sat on the floor at the foot […]

Learning

August 22, 2022.Reading time 6 minutes.

I Googled the respiratory, pulmonary and circulatory systems. I think I learnt a fair bit from various websites about how the three systems keep me ticking along. Nothing warranted the online search. I did it out of interest. Strangely, that made me think about my school days, and biology. And, other subjects that I studied […]

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, […]

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 […]

Praying and rituals

May 16, 2022.Reading time 6 minutes.

My mum retracts her legs and covers her feet when she watches the images of gods on TV. She prays when she sees the ‘Thivarthanam’ or oil lamp/light offering to the deities. She does so each morning as she listens and watches Astro’s Channel 201 that features devotional songs, prayers and rituals conducted in temples […]

Routine

May 2, 2022.Reading time 7 minutes.

Routine works for me. It gives me structure and a certain order to my day. The order might vary, albeit very slightly, depending on the circumstance, but the activities are pretty much the same. And, they, mostly, get done each day. My days used to start with drinks of water. A check on my mum […]