Cass Starts University

 Finally, it's official!

Cass, my youngest daughter, finally received her Offer Letter from Universiti Malaya today—but not before giving me a little scare!

Earlier, she checked the UM application portal and the search result showed that her application was unsuccessful. My heart nearly skipped a beat. I asked her to check the Maya Portal (under UM) instead, as her application was made via this portal. After what felt like the longest hour ever, her Offer Letter finally appeared. What a huge relief for both of us!

From tomorrow onwards, life is going to get very busy for her. She has a stack of documents to print and prepare before her physical registration at UM this Saturday. Orientation follows on Monday and Tuesday, and official classes begin next Wednesday.

How time flies! It feels like only yesterday she finished SPM, and now she's about to begin a brand new chapter at university. Her long holiday since December is officially coming to an end.

From next week onwards, she'll be juggling university classes, her part-time figure skating coaching job, figure skating classes, training and rehearsals, and in August, she'll be competing in Skate Asia. It's going to be a hectic few months ahead.

As her mum, my only wish is simple—that she stays healthy, safe, and happy as she begins this exciting new journey. Work hard, enjoy every moment, and make lots of wonderful memories.

Congratulations, Cass! I'm so proud of you.

PS - in this photo, it was Cass's first day of Primary 1 at SJKC Kuen Cheng 2. Seated opposite her is Sherilyn.

The Weights Don't Get Lighter — You Get Stronger

A friend recently asked me if lifting dumbbells, kettlebells, and resistance bands is easy because, in my workout videos, it looks effortless.

The truth is, it isn't easy at all.

Even lifting a pair of 3kg dumbbells (6kg in total) while doing lunges, squats, shoulder presses, or arm raises takes a surprising amount of effort. After every strength training session, I go home with sore arms, shoulders, and legs. 

My hands—especially my right arm—are not particularly strong to begin with. I suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Tennis Elbow, so lifting weights requires even more effort and determination on my part. Some exercises that may seem easy for others can be quite challenging for me, especially on days when the pain flares up. Yet I continue to show up, do what I can, and gradually build strength over time.

What you see in videos—whether it's me or seasoned gym-goers lifting weights without wincing—is the result of many hours of consistent practice and hard work. The exercises may look effortless, but they certainly don't feel that way, especially when you're starting out.

The good news is that consistency, persistence, and patience do pay off. I can feel my core muscles getting stronger, and exercises that I struggled with when I first began now feel much easier and more manageable.

Strength and resistance training become increasingly important as we age. They help maintain muscle mass, improve balance, strengthen bones, and make everyday activities easier.

The best part is that you don't need a gym membership to get started.  Investing in a few sets of dumbbells in different weights and some good YouTube tutorials are enough to begin building strength at home. If your budget allows, investing in a few sessions with a personal trainer can be worthwhile too. Learning the correct techniques and form from the start helps prevent injuries and gives you the confidence to continue exercising on your own in the future.

The weights may never feel light while you're lifting them, but over time, you'll become stronger—and that's one of the most rewarding feelings of all.

The video is available on my Facebook page.