Serial baddies

April 25, 2022.Reading time 6 minutes.

I am no expert. But I do think there are far too many bad and evil people in Tamil TV-land. How do I know this? Since sister number 4 left for Brisbane on 6 April, I’m with my mum 24×7. My evening entertainment comprises Tamil serials that my mum watches, courtesy of Sun TV HD and […]

Reps of the people

April 11, 2022.Reading time 6 minutes.

Listening to two interviews on the radio with two different politicians made me ponder about politics and politicians. Both were asked identical questions. Both gave age-old rhetoric to address pressing economic issues and evolving health concerns. And, both claimed what they said was dissimilar from their opponent. Integrity, accountability, transparency, inclusion and fighting corruption were […]

Mind, heart and holiday

April 4, 2022.Reading time 6 minutes.

It was an enjoyable two day holiday. The resort was idyllic. The accommodation was reminiscent of my kampung home in Alor Setar. My husband and I had a few National Geographic moments. Just what I/we needed to unwind and relax. But did I? Unwind and relax? There was a meandering stream. Two to three rapids […]

Job search

March 21, 2022.Reading time 6 minutes.

Job shortage, minimum wage, living wage, skills mismatch, unemployed graduates, unemployment rate, underemployment, foreign workers, 3D or dirty, dangerous, difficult jobs and gig workers i.e., independent contractors, online platform workers, contract firm workers, on-call workers and temporary workers [1] are issues/topics debated and deliberated frequently. The chatter made me rewind to my, long ago, job search. It was […]

Chocolate and birthdays

March 14, 2022.Reading time 6 minutes.

It’s my birthday month. Yes, the whole month of March. Why not I ask? I know it’s birth + day = birthday. So, it’s ‘supposed’ to be celebrated on one day. I know. But, what the hey? Particularly as it makes me happier and a little more special. I get to decide what I want and […]

Perceptions

March 7, 2022.Reading time 6 minutes.

I haven’t met up with my friend in over two years. I thought about her recently. Realised that despite having worked with her, and knowing her for more than 15 years, I knew very little about her husband’s home country, Azerbaijan. Our conversations usually focussed on what we have been up to, our mutual friends, […]

Ticking time

February 28, 2022.Reading time 6 minutes.

My mum is a stickler for time. A clock watcher. Even now. Ailing with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and heart failure, her days are influenced by time. She has clocks everywhere in her condominium. One large analogue clock by her bedside wall. Another digital facing her. Two large ones in the lounge and kitchen. She […]

Bills

February 14, 2022.Reading time 6 minutes.

It’s month two of 2022. Whizzed past? Plodded along? All a blur? Not sure. What’s for sure is come rain, sun or fuzzy days, a new month means bills – utility, credit cards and maintenance charges. And, the start of a new year usually heralds an assortment of other bills – insurance, council rates and taxes. […]

How not to be sad

February 7, 2022.Reading time 6 minutes.

I don’t have the answer or solution on how not to be sad. I’m sad. I know why. I just don’t know how to shake it off. I just thought of Taylor Swift’s song as I wrote that. And, her video. I smiled. I guess that’s one way of doing it. Shake it off. Switch […]

The brain

January 31, 2022.Reading time 6 minutes.

I binged watched a Netflix ‘explained’ production about the brain recently. Sat through 4 of the 5 episodes presented. There were some noteworthy nuggets on topics such as focusing, personality, creativity and brainwashing. The one on ‘brainwashing’ piqued my interest the most. It made me think about how the brain can be brainwashed – controlled, […]