The Airport Scare Before Our Disneyland Dream

It was 6 December 2015 (10.5 yrs ago) — a day I will never forget.

We were at KLIA, just two hours away from boarding our flight to Hong Kong. The girls were excited, especially Cass, who was only seven years old and looking forward to visiting Disneyland.

Then, the moment we arrived at the airport, Cass complained of a terrible tummy ache. The pain was so intense that she had to squat down and couldn't walk.

My heart immediately sank.

Because of her history of recurring UTIs, which used to strike almost every month until her surgeries at 13 months old, all sorts of frightening thoughts ran through my mind. I was convinced that we would have to rush her to the hospital. I imagined Cass and I staying behind in Kuala Lumpur while her dad and two sisters flew on to Hong Kong without us.

Trying to stay calm, I quickly brought her to the toilet.

For the next half hour, I stood inside the cubicle with her anxiously, praying and hoping for the best.

Then finally... she did her business.

And just like that, the pain disappeared.

The relief was indescribable.

Cass emerged from the toilet smiling again, happy and pain-free. Her dream of going to Disneyland was back on track.

When we finally settled into our seats on the aircraft, we couldn't stop smiling. We felt so grateful and thanked God that the crisis had turned out to be nothing more than a very urgent need for a trip to the toilet!

The holiday went on as planned, and we had a wonderful time exploring Hong Kong — Disneyland, Ocean Park, Lamma Island, and many other places.

Looking back at this old photo today, I can still remember the fear, relief, and gratitude I felt that day.

Sometimes, the most memorable holidays begin with the biggest scares. ❤️

The Days I Once Wished Away

Every day, my Google Photos on my laptop pops up memories from 1, 2, 3 years ago and beyond. Today, photos of my daughters from May 2020 appeared — right in the middle of the Covid lockdowns.

Looking at those photos made me a little emo. Back then, all I wished for was for the lockdowns to end quickly and for life to return to normal. When my girls were still in school, I also wished they would grow up faster because I was mentally and physically exhausted — juggling school runs, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, and working from home all at once.

And now?

Now that we are apart — the girls mostly living in KL and all grown up (Alycia is 23, Sherilyn 21, and Cass 18), while I am here in Ipoh — I find myself missing those days dearly.

My shoulders may be lighter now, free from many of those responsibilities, but my heart still misses my girls. They each have their own lives, their own routines, and sometimes days pass without us hearing from one another.

But no matter the distance between us, I will always love them, worry about them, and pray that each of them will always be happy, healthy, safe, and well.

Cass when she was in Std 6 at KC2, attending online class.

Sherilyn in Form 3 @ SMKTD, attending online class.

Alycia had to attend school during the MCO / RMCO as it was her SPM year.

Sometimes, They Don’t Need Money… Just Mum’s Advice

Today I got a call from one of my daughters. She said she wanted to talk. That immediately gave me a scare. 😅

Calls from my daughters are usually never good news — either they’re sick, got into some mishap or touble… or need money!

But this time, she needed my opinion on a difficult decision involving a relationship. We ended up talking for almost an hour and by the end of it, she finally found clarity and sounded so much happier.

Young people in relationships often face many emotional obstacles. So when your child is willing to open up, trust you and seek your advice, it really is a privilege as a parent — to guide them towards a decision that is healthier for their future and peace of mind.

On a totally unrelated note, here’s my dad’s homecooked food from yesterday for the 3 of us — stir-fried leek with roast pork, air-fried tempeh, his signature turmeric chicken, and pumpkin + chickpea soup with veggies. Simple home food but so comforting and yummy. ❤️

Today, I made a day trip to KL for my youngest daughter Cass’s SPM award ceremony. Proud mama moment? Absolutely. But the journey? Let’s just say the universe had jokes.

It started with a 5am train. I’ve never taken such an early train in my entire life. Waking up at 2.10am sounded like a terrible idea made by a sleep-deprived lunatic. But somehow, somehow, I got up effortlessly. My body clearly didn’t get the memo that it was supposed to protest.

Grab came at 4.10am (bless that driver’s soul). Reached the station at 4.30am. KL Sentral by 7.30am. Cass’s dad picked me up, we had breakfast in Brickfields, and made it to Kuen Cheng High School before 8am. Award ceremony ended at 11am.

And then—the moment. Cass walked up on stage. I had always envisioned this. And it actually happened. 

Lunch at Smith Breads & Café in Bukit Damansara. Bought sourdough breads to bring back to Ipoh because apparently I have no self-control around good carbs. Dropped Cass at 1 Utama for a friend meetup, then got sent back to KL Sentral for my 3pm train.

Reached Ipoh at 6pm. Walked into my room.

And screamed internally.

It looked like a tiny furry tornado named Haru had tried to break down the door. My cat, clearly convinced I had abandoned her forever (after only 14 hours), had attempted a dramatic escape. Claw marks and her broken nails all over the floor. Scattered things. Total havoc.

So now I’m asking myself: How on earth am I going to survive more day trips to KL to visit my girls in the future?

The answer, apparently, is: with a lock on my door and a very forgiving heart. 😂

Worth it though. Every bit.

You can watch the video here >> https://www.facebook.com/reel/26719294664418134

P/S: TQVM, mum for helping me feed Haru and entertain her for a bit.

Mothers' Day 2026

This morning, my mum made a rich and delicious chocolate mug cake using the microwave oven. Preparation took only about 15 minutes, and the baking time was just 90 seconds. It turned out so moist, chocolaty, and incredibly good. That was her little Mother’s Day gift to me. 🥰

Later at around 2pm, Alycia, who is currently holidaying in Ho Chi Minh, surprised us by ordering some of our favourite desserts from Doubā through GrabFood. Such a thoughtful treat from afar. ❤️

Two weeks ago, when my younger brother was back in Ipoh, we had an early Mother’s Day celebration. We went to Durbar at FMS for a sumptuous dinner before heading to Secret Recipe the following day for cake-cutting. My dad, who is 83 this year, still prefers the old-school style cakes over the modern fancy ones. We tried the kunafa pistachio brownie and chocolate fudge cake, which were really good. One thing about Secret Recipe — their cakes never disappoint. 🍰

To all the mothers reading this post, Happy Mother’s Day to you. ❤️

Motherhood is not easy. There are days filled with frustration, exhaustion, worries, and moments when you feel like giving up. But through it all, you kept going, loving, sacrificing, and doing your very best for your children. That alone makes you an amazing mum.

Even if your efforts are not always seen or appreciated now, your children will understand one day. So today, take a moment to celebrate yourself too. You deserve the love, appreciation, and happiness. 🌸

You can watch the video of our Mother's Day celebration on my Facebook page.

Microwave chocolate mug cake from mum to me today.

Early Mother's Day celebration at Secret Recipe with younger brother last week.

Early celebration at Durbar at FMS.

Desserts from Douba, grabbed to us today, from Alycia who's in Ho Chi Minh.

Life Lately: A Quick Update On My Daughters

It suddenly struck me that I haven’t shared much about my 3 girls lately. Some of you may also be getting a little bored of my gym and strength training videos with my mum 😄 So here’s a little life update on my daughters.

Alycia, my eldest, flew off to Ho Chi Minh City today with a group of friends. This is already her third trip to Vietnam! She has always loved travelling since she was young and is constantly planning her next adventure.

Sherilyn, my middle child, is busy as usual with a new university semester, dance classes, and part-time jobs to help fund her multiple dance lessons. I honestly wonder where she gets all that energy from sometimes!

As for Cass, my youngest baby, she has just completed a month of shadow coaching for figure skating. Starting next week, she’ll officially be teaching beginner skating classes, and parents have already started texting her about lessons. On top of that, she is now waiting for her official offer letter from Universiti Malaya (UM) for the Foundation in Social Sciences programme. I’m truly thankful and proud that she got into Malaysia’s top university, and even happier that it’s close to home in KL.

That’s all for this little update on my girls for now ❤️

As for me, I’ll be busy with writing assignments over the next week and hoping to finish everything before heading to KL next Saturday for Cass’s SPM award ceremony.

Here's a pic of me taken at the gym today. Video to follow soon on my Facebook page😜

Running on Overdrive: When Your Mind Just Won’t Stop Thinking

Lately, my mind has been working on full gear. It’s constantly flooded with thoughts — plans, projects, work, my daughters, and everything else that comes with being a 52-year-old mother, wife, daughter, daughter-in-law, and sister-in-law. It feels like my brain is juggling a hundred tabs open at once, and I can’t find the “shut down” button.

At night, when I finally lie down hoping to rest, my mind refuses to cooperate. It races through to-do lists, family matters, and random worries — everything from what to cook tomorrow to whether I remembered to send that message or pay that bill. The result? Sleepless nights and a very forgetful me.

In just two weeks, I left food that I bought from one shop at another shop, left my empty tiffin carrier in a restaurant, and even left my food and groceries in the car boot. Thankfully, I always realize it after I reach home — but by then, I’ve already changed into my house clothes! The frustration of having to get dressed again, go down to the basement, or worse, drive back out during lunch-hour traffic when parking is impossible, is just… argh!

I know things in my life won’t stabilize anytime soon. My mind will continue to be in this “crazy mode” — thinking, strategizing, planning, organizing, and worrying about everything under the sun. But I’ve decided that for now, I need to create small mechanisms to help myself — reminders, checklists, and most importantly, the presence of mind.

When I’m out, I must consciously remind myself to stay in the moment. Not to let my thoughts wander to what’s next or what’s pending. Just be where I am. Easier said than done, right?

Sometimes I joke that I sound like an old lady with early dementia — LOL! But maybe it’s not dementia. Maybe it’s just the mental load of modern motherhood — something every woman who wears a dozen hats can relate to.

Have you been like this before? Forgetting things because your brain is simply too full? If yes, then you’re definitely not alone.

Lately, I've been going through some stuff, and listening to songs from my younger days always gives me joy and light. Here's one of my all-time favorite songs by the Bee Gees - Too Much Heaven. 

 

When One Word Nearly Gave Me a Heart Attack

Yesterday afternoon, just as I was expecting Cass to be home from school, I saw a missed WhatsApp call from her. Naturally, I tried calling her back immediately, but the call didn’t go through. A little worried, I waited, thinking maybe she was on the way home and would call again soon.

Then came a single WhatsApp message from her: "Accident."

My heart literally dropped to my stomach.

I froze. What accident? Was it the school van? Was it her? My mind raced through every possible horrible scenario in a matter of seconds. I called her back again — no answer. I messaged her, asking whether it was her school van or she who got into an accident. But no reply.

That short window of waiting felt like an eternity.

Finally, after what felt like forever (but was probably just a few more nerve-wracking minutes), she messaged back. Guess what she meant?

She accidentally called me.

Yes. Accident = accidentally. That’s it. She shortened the word “accidentally” because she was too lazy to type the whole thing. Just like we always do when we’re texting – abbreviating, cutting words, and assuming the other person will know what we mean.

Well, this one-word shortcut nearly gave her mother a heart attack!

Of course, I was immensely relieved. My heart gradually climbed back to its proper place. But the emotional rollercoaster that little word sent me on? Not something I want to repeat anytime soon.

I know teenagers like Cass are always in a rush and type fast, but I told her that next time she must be clearer — especially when it comes to sensitive words like "accident". Don’t just assume your mum will decode it correctly, especially when I’m waiting for her to get home safely.

We all shorten our messages out of habit – LOLs, BRBs, TTYLs – but sometimes, a few extra letters can save someone else a whole lot of unnecessary panic.

Lesson of the day: next time you mean “accidentally,” please just say “oops” instead.

The Cost of Dreams — Paying for Our Daughters' Education

April is here again — the season that gives me mild heart palpitations: university fee payment time for Alycia and Sherilyn. It’s one of the three most dreaded times of the year, financially speaking. Sometimes, in just one night, almost RM40,000 disappears from my bank account when I make the payments to both their universities. It's a moment that feels like tearing off a huge Band-Aid — swift but painful!

But this April brings a small sigh of relief — it's Alycia's final semester of her final year. That means this will be the last payment to her university. What a milestone! Thankfully, she was awarded almost RM20,000 under the ACE Scholarship from Sunway University and was granted a PTPTN loan of RM30,000. These helped lessen the burden significantly. We’re beyond proud of how far she’s come.

Now on to Sherilyn — her Architecture Degree comes with the heftiest price tag, costing over RM160,000 in total. She’s just starting her journey and we’re still hoping her PTPTN loan will finally be approved after some submission errors caused a delay. Keeping our fingers crossed!

Next year, Cass will be starting college too — and with that comes another round of tuition fees, applications, and more funds flowing out. It’s daunting to think about, but we’re mentally prepared (and budgeting like crazy!). I am now encouraging her to apply to Universiti Malaya (Malaysia's top university and ranked #60 globally) via the Open Channel (SATU) as the fee is slightly cheaper than private universities.

Even though the numbers can be scary and the expenses seem endless, I try to remind myself that this is what parenting is all about — investing in our children's future. Giving them the education and opportunities they need to build a successful, fulfilling life is a responsibility we don’t take lightly.

No complaints. Just prayers, hopes, and trust that our girls will thrive, be happy, stay healthy, and eventually earn a comfortable income to live the life they dream of — and maybe, just maybe, treat us to a nice dinner one day down the road 😄

To all parents walking the same path — may we all find strength (and good budgeting skills) to see our kids through.

Another Busy Week in Full Swing

The first week of school and university in 2025 is officially in full swing, and life has been nothing short of hectic. With Maria, our part-time helper, still unwell, and my mother-in-law battling Influenza A since New Year's Eve, I've taken on all the household chores—cooking, washing dishes, and cleaning. While it's been a whirlwind, I’m counting my blessings, grateful for health and strength to keep things running. The only thing that I am complaining is my chaffed hands. And my right Tennis Elbow is still lingering there, with pain in almost every movement, after 9 months.

The Flu Bug Strikes

This flu season hasn’t spared us either. Cass caught the bug from her grandma earlier this week but, thankfully, bounced back after just a day of rest. She still has lingering phlegm and the occasional cough, but she’s on the mend. As for me, my body has been in battle mode. Two weeks ago, I felt the first signs of my immune system fighting the virus, and now I’m starting to feel off again—dizziness, headaches, and phlegm are creeping in.

I’ve learned how to tackle these bouts effectively: avoiding sugary and junk foods, prioritizing nourishing meals, and, most importantly, getting a solid seven hours of sleep each night. Sleep is my ultimate remedy, and with it, I’m confident my body will come out victorious.

The Upside of the Weekend

The weekend is fast approaching, and while I look forward to dining out (a welcome break from cooking), my day will still start bright and early at 5:30 a.m. Despite the grind, there’s no room for complaints. Being busy, active, and healthy is a privilege—far better than spending days confined to a hospital bed.

Each task, no matter how mundane, is a reminder of life’s blessings. Here’s to conquering the rest of this week with resilience and gratitude!

Pix taken from our condo - A huge bright rainbow with a faint one next to it greeted me on the evening of 7 January 2025. Such a beautiful sight to behold.

The beautiful rainbow forms the backdrop to KL's iconic landmarks: KLCC, KL Tower, and Merdeka 118

The Never-Ending Battle of Picking Up Hair: A Frustrated Mom’s Rant

If you're a mother with daughters, you're probably all too familiar with this infuriating and exasperating task: picking up hair from every corner of the house. No matter how many times I remind my daughters to clean up after themselves, it feels like their "selective forgetfulness" kicks in. Whether it's after brushing their hair or using a hair dryer, there are always strands left behind—on pillows, bedding, the floor, toilet seat, tables, and chairs. It drives me up the wall!

Every day, I find myself with a lint roller in hand, tediously rolling off hair from every surface. The frustration comes when I remind them to pick up their hair, and they nod and say "OK," but nothing changes. The next day, I see the same mess, and their excuse is always the same: "I forgot," or "I had to rush to school." I know it’s selective forgetfulness, and it’s frustrating beyond words.

As a mom who’s on the OCD side, it’s exhausting having to clean up after them constantly. I’m tired of rolling hair off every surface in the house, only to be greeted by the same mess the very next hour. How do other moms deal with this level of irresponsibility in their kids? How do you get them to take simple tasks like cleaning up their hair seriously? 😐

If you’ve figured out how to get your daughters to clean up after their own mess, I’d love to hear your secret. But for now, I’ll keep rolling away, hoping one day it clicks for them!

My First Attempt at Cooking Rice in a Pressure Cooker: A Lesson Learned

Not too long ago, I decided to try cooking rice in my Philips pressure cooker for the first time. I chose black rice and added two sweet potatoes to the pot, thinking it would make a nutritious and delicious meal. I selected the “Rice” setting on the pressure cooker and waited for the cycle to complete.

When the cycle was done, I eagerly removed the lid, only to be greeted by an unexpected sight—a sticky, doughy paste instead of the fluffy rice I had envisioned. It was completely inedible. I realized I had likely added too much water, which caused the rice to overcook and turn into a mushy mess. That wasn’t the first time I cooked black rice with sweet potato together. It always turned out well in the rice cooker.

Determined not to waste the food, I decided to cook it for another cycle, hoping to salvage the rice. Unfortunately, the result was even worse than before. In the end, I had no choice but to discard the sticky rice. Since the girls were in a hurry to eat, they ended up having the dishes without any rice.

After this mishap, I’ve learned my lesson: I don’t think I’ll be using the pressure cooker to cook rice again. From now on, I’ll stick to a proper rice cooker for perfect, fluffy rice every time.

Looks disgusting but tastes like some kind of sweet potato kuih.  I actually ate quite a bit of it 😁

A Week Filled with Hospital Visits

This week has been a whirlwind of hospital appointments, and tomorrow marks the start of it with my visit to the podiatrist at Sunway Medical Centre. For over three months, I've been battling a stubborn corn on my foot. Despite diligently applying Duofilm corn solution and corn removal patches, this tenacious corn has refused to wither and peel off. The persistent pain has become unbearable, making it difficult to walk properly, let alone exercise for over two weeks. The corn removal patches were also totally ineffective in removing the corn.

Recently, the corn has started to peel off (finally!!), but the pain at its center remains a significant issue 😭. I was hoping to cancel the doctor's appointment, thinking the worst was behind me, but the pain has convinced me otherwise. I'm preparing myself for the appointment tomorrow, praying that the podiatrist won't suggest surgery. The thought of undergoing a procedure is daunting, but I trust that the doctor will provide the best course of action to finally relieve me of this persistent pain.

As if one hospital visit wasn't enough, I have another appointment lined up on Friday. This time, I’ll be accompanying Alycia to see the hand and microsurgery doctor at Subang Jaya Medical Centre for her cast removal. Two weeks ago, she endured the painful procedure of having her stitches removed from the injured finger. Watching her withstand the pain with such courage was both heart-wrenching and awe-inspiring. I’m hopeful that this visit will be less painful and that it signifies the end of her recovery journey.

Reflecting on these hospital visits, I can't help but hope for a respite from emergency hospital visits and medical procedures. Scheduled routine check-ups are manageable, but the unexpected trips and the anxiety they bring are exhausting and stressful.  I long for peaceful days without the looming presence of hospital appointments, where we can focus on healing and moving forward without interruptions. I am looking forward to resolving my own health issues and seeing Alycia fully recover from her ordeal.

Here’s to a week of healing, strength, and hopefully, the last of our hospital visits for a long time.

Stainless steel fan-shaped food storage containers with lid and steaming rack, all ordered from Lazada (shipped from China).

Since the freakish kitchen mishap almost a month ago, we try not to use glass dinnerware now. Alycia is still having a phobia of using glass tableware. Instead, we have switched to using stainless steel plates and bowls.  I still use glass Pyrex though, but only for myself.

I recently ordered these stainless steel food storage containers with lids. The set of three containers fits nicely into a round steaming rack.  It's great for storing leftover food or dinner for the girls. When they come back from school and uni, I just pop them into the wok briefly to reheat the food. 

Embracing Simplicity By Spending Lesser Time in the Kitchen

Over the past year, my kitchen has seen a transformation. What was once a hub of daily culinary creations has evolved into a place of simplicity and ease.  I used to place priority on home-cooked food when our three girls were younger.

With my two older daughters immersed in their university and college life, and the MIL temporarily away in New Zealand, my household has experienced a significant shift in mealtime dynamics. This change has led me to spend less time in the kitchen, preparing meals that cater to the smaller family unit I now have. Because of this shift, I even have time to exercise in the evening *beaming with joy* 😁🏃🏃🏃

As Alycia and Sherilyn have ventured into their academic journeys, they've naturally gravitated towards having most of their meals on campus with their classmates. This shift has freed up my daily cooking responsibilities significantly. I now find myself cooking for just one person—my youngest daughter, Cass.  

Cass, being simple and undemanding when it comes to food, has made this transition smoother. She's content with whatever dish I place on the dining table. This newfound simplicity has allowed me to cook on alternate days, as there's no pressure to prepare elaborate meals every day.

My own eating habits have slightly evolved as well. I've embraced a more streamlined approach to my meals, focusing on balance and nutrition without the need for complex cooking and cleanup. Here's a glimpse into my daily eating routine:

Breakfast: A nutritious start to the day with fruits, nuts, seeds, raw honey with apple cider vinegar, and a cup of organic almond milk with oats. Of course, my morning ritual of decaf coffee with milk is non-negotiable.

Lunch: My main meal of the day occurs at noon, consisting primarily of vegetables, some meat, and an egg. Almost zero carbs.  It's a balanced and hearty meal that keeps me fueled throughout the day. I don’t eat rice but buy a small packet of vegetarian vermicelli buried with heaps of vegetables and mushrooms once or twice a week.

Dinner: For dinner, I opt for simplicity. A bowl of low-fat yogurt with nuts and seeds, accompanied by fruits, veggies, sweet corn or sweet potato, or a comforting soup, satisfies my evening hunger.

What about snacks? Yes, I still eat them – crackers, biscuits, chips (non-salty and non-oily ones) and cakes but not every day and I limit the portion that I eat. My favorite chips are the Original Tortilla chips from Mission. These chips are not salty and not oily with no flavorings and no MSG.

Intermittent Fasting: I've incorporated intermittent fasting into my routine for several years now, with a fasting window of 12-13 hours. This allows me to reset my body and prepare for the day ahead.

Despite the streamlined approach, I make room for variety and the occasional treat. For instance, today and yesterday, I indulged in the delightful Black Thorn variety of durian for breakfast—a rare and delectable treat that hubs got me. 

Droolicious Black Thorn durian, yummeh!

Yesterday, I cooked a nourishing radish soup with frozen Beacon chicken soup and an assortment of veggies stuffed with fish paste—a meal that Cass and I savored for two days.  Beacon chickens are free from growth hormones and antibiotics.

Beacon chicken soup. It tastes exactly like homemade chicken soup. And it's SO convenient to make soups of any kind using this ready-made soup. 

Low-fat and sugar-free yogurt with a piece of Ipoh peanut cookie.
Chris, thanks for the tip. This combo is yummy 🤤

In embracing this shift towards simplicity in my kitchen and eating habits, I've found a sense of contentment and balance. I'm grateful for the flexibility and simplicity that have entered my life. It's a reminder that our eating habits and kitchen routines can evolve, just as we do.

Tuesday, 25 January 2022

One of my daughters made me fuming mad when she got home from school today. She must have gotten on the wrong side of the bed today and was feeling antsy. She just wouldn’t listen to anything that I told her to do, not for me but for herself. Instead, she said something acidic (and sinful) that just burnt my heart. I was irate. I’m still seething. It’s not the first time that this defiant teen had said those words to me.  I was on the verge of lashing out those cuss words on her for her lack of respect but I held my tongue and said something less severe. Swear words and curses lashed out in the heat of the moment are extremely dangerous – the curses may come true and what’s done can’t be undone. 

I once said something to her at the heat of the moment, for her lackadaisical attitude, for her lack of care and love for herself and disrespectful attitude, and what I said, which must have been a curse on her, came true in the same year. I regretted deeply what I said as the consequences cost me my time and money. And if I wasn’t careful enough, it may even cost her, her life.

She’s my most difficult child and I had cried out to God many times asking him for guidance on how to handle this strong-willed child of mine. She seems fearless to anything, even her creator, which crushes me. 

Perhaps only time will change her. Her follies and obstinacy which may result in pain, embarrassment,  failure, and regret can only change her. We almost always learn the hard way, don't we? Sadly.

We were all once at that age when nothing our mothers said would change our minds and hearts. We were once dead stubborn, rebellious and turned a deaf ear on our mothers. It’s only when we got hurt and when things didn’t turn out the way we intended them to be, that we regretted our follies and thought “I should have listened to mom”.  

After Dinner Walks

It's been more than a week ever since Cass and I started our post-dinner routine to have a 30-minute brisk walk outside our condo. She seems to enjoy walking under the street lights and moonlight in the current 'Winter Monsoon' evening weather with crisp air.  I'm glad that I've finally succeeded in getting this couch potato to leave her seat to exercise after almost a year of being discombobulated from being locked up at home and away from her friends. 

This evening we walked to our neighborhood supermarket to get some green vegetables and on our walk back home, we saw an ambulance with the sirens lights flashing (sound muted); the driver and the assistant were donned on full PPE suits with face shields!  Cass and I were stunned. She told me to make a detour and not walk towards the ambulance.  These days whenever we see an ambulance with sirens muted and hospital staff donned in PPE suits, everyone talks about it and wonders which house or building is affected.  The ambulance must have been on the way to whisk away another Covid19 positive patient.  

With the number of positive cases rising not only in our neighborhood but in almost every neighborhood  in our country, I'm now beginning to worry if it's safe for schools to reopen on 20th January.  We've also decided that we will not be going back to Ipoh to celebrate CNY.  It's too risky for us to do that as my parents are high risk folks. Many cases caused by inter-state travels and holidays were reported the past one week.  The only way to flatten the curve is to revert to a lockdown (MCO) for at least 2 weeks, just like how it was in the beginning and it was a success. Much as I'm dying for the CMCO to end and for our lives to return to normal, however, the most effective way to stop the spread of infection is through a total lockdown 😥  We're now waiting for the government to make a decision on this matter.

Our breezy moonlight brisk walking yesterday with a beautiful backdrop ahead of us - KL Towers illuminated in neon purple, The Exchange 106 in the middle and a huge moon on the right.

Our walk to the supermarket today.

The photos are blur and shaky coz I took them whilst brisk walking and I did it stealthily to avoid being noticed.  Cass would give me a killer stare if she found out that I stole pix of her!

 

Sharing Doesn't Work!

Today when we were at the pharmacy to pick up some toiletries and 'healthy' biscuits, Alycia wanted to get a bottle of facial toner.   After Alycia found her Thayers toner (finally Big Pharmacy at our area has it, yay!), Sherilyn wanted a bottle too. I told them to share but an argument broke.  One girl was claiming that her sister always steals her toner and Avène Thermal Spring Water and the accused rebutted. Soon, the argument escalated and got pretty intense.  And I said "OK, each one gets one bottle!"... and the brannigan stopped instantly.  There goes my RM96!  

When they were little toddlers and pre-schoolers, Alycia and Sherilyn would fight over toys and snacks.  Now that they're teens, they often fight over facial toner, pimple cream, perfume and other stuff, which I've always encouraged them to share. I told them that they better not fight over the same boy a few years down the road 😂

For peace at home, sharing just doesn't apply anymore with our teens. Each one gets to keep her own bottle of toner or perfume or whatever.  Just don't come and hound me with grievances when I am busy with work!

RMCO Day 64 ~ Wednesday, 12 August 2020

I have just submitted the 10th and last article to my online boss and the euphoria feeling is akin to completing my last paper in the SPM exam😁. When my online boss told me on Monday noon that she's got a large batch of articles to write and gave me 10 topics with a deadline of Thursday, I had little confidence that I could meet the tight deadline. I told her that I'd return the unfinished articles to her by Wednesday to enable her to find other writers. And for the next 2.5 days,  my butt was glued to my work chair and I kept typing and typing till I have blurry vision and stinging eyes now.  Add on a gassy stomach too from stress and loss of appetite from all the rush 😐.  As I'd mentioned before, I always work better under stress. My brainpower seems to only get properly fired up when Cortisol floods my system, which has its pros and cons. 

After two days of staying home to complete the articles, I really need to go to the supermarket to stock up on groceries and fruits. And I need my fix of  Nyonya kuih  to help me de-stress 😁.   I'm going to run for an hour at the park tomorrow morning to get my dose of Endorphins to zap away the stress hormones in my body. Running and exercising give me a high and IF I had more time for myself, I'd put the time into exercising.  This will be my retirement plan - exercise twice a day! That's how I find my zen.

I'm back at eating an egg a day after eating rather unhealthy food for breakfast for the past few months during the MCO. During the house quarantine, I was craving for junk food (to de-stress) and you'll be shocked to see my kitchen drawer stocked up with Twisties, muruku, Mamee and other 'healthy' snacks in packets.  My girls were in disbelief each time I got back from groceries shopping 😂.  My junk food crave is satiated now and I'm back to healthy eating again, with the exception of Nyonya kuih, my ultimate kryptonite. 

Snacks of crispy bread biscuit and kaya which I bought from a street vendor this morning to support him, to give to Maria, our part-time helper who's coming in today.

RMCO Day 27 & 28 ~ Monday & Tuesday, 6 & 7 July 2020

Monday, 6 July 2020

Someone made me SO SO SO FRIGGING MAD the entire day today that I wanted to strangle her and disown her. I was SO hopping mad I am quite certain a few days of my life were snatched away from me today.  Is this what motherhood is all about? Or is this what failure as a mom is all about I wonder?! I was so enraged and exhausted with her same shitty behavior that I just felt like bursting out and cry 😭

Even my favorite king of fruit did  not manage to prick away the seething anger in me.   Hubs paid RM150 for 3 boxes of 'kampung' D24 durians to support his supplier/friend who's now selling durians.  His friend's canopies, tables and chairs rental business has been badly affected since the start of the MCO and is now turning to selling durians while waiting for events and parties to resurface again.  A school bus driver whom I know has also taken the same route. 

These durians are one of the best I've eaten thus far.  The durians did not cause a stinging sensation in my throat or a sore throat or a tummy ache after I'd walloped 4 huge seeds of durians.  The Musang King species, known for being heavily sprayed with insecticide and pesticide, causes me sore throat and stomach discomfort every time I consume it. Thus, I now avoid Musang King and all premium species as my sensitive throat is allergic to some chemicals in these durians.



Our dinner: organic tofu with minced chicken, steamed golden pomfret with organic miso and ginger + minced garlic, stir-fried organic sweet potato leaves and pan-fried otak-otak.




Tuesday, 7 July 2020

Today is the 7.7 Mid-Year Sales which means that there is a bunch of great deals to grab from online shopping platforms! I'd already entered the item that I wanted to buy from Lazada into my shopping cart a week ago and this morning when I was on the throne, I paid for the item on my phone and saved RM12!  I'm a multi-tasker - I don't just sit on the throne and discard stuff, I always ensure that I do something useful like reading, replying to messages and paying for my online shopping stuff 😁

Here's another beautiful shot of sunrise taken at 7 a.m. today.




Last week, I found out that there were 2 more casulties in our neighborhood arising from the pandemic and MCO.  The pet shop next to Cass' music school and the optical shop that we used to go to had closed down 😪😩  With the closure of the pet shop, Cass and I will have no more pet therapy after her piano class on Saturdays.  We are terribly saddened to hear of the pet shop closure.

Grandmother In Her 40s

Last week I had a chanced encounter with an ertswhile classmate's sister who is 2 years my junior at the supermarket.

Our eyes met and then that stranger who looked terribly familiar smiled at me and asked if I was Shireen. She then introduced herself as KF, KL's sister. I was so happy to be able to reconnect with a long lost friend and we jawed away incessantly for about 15 minutes.

The two sisters used to car-pool with me in my parents' cars almost throughout our secondary school years.  We lost contact after leaving school when we were 17 years old. That's 29 years ago!  And to think that she still recognizes me after almost 3 long decades, I must definitely be still looking the same! 😊😉 ahem!!  She looks almost the same too, except a little plumper, but still as pretty.  And she has 4 kids - 3 grown kids studying in college and university and the youngest daughter is in primary school.  She got married young and now at 44, her eldest has graduated from university already! How envious of me!

And then the shocker. She told me that KL, my former classmate is already a grandmother to 4 grandkids! Her eldest child is 26 years old.  I didn't ask how old her grandchildren are but being a grandmother in your 40s is something that's uncommon in our country in this generation. I think she must be the youngest grandmother amongst our group of classmates. WOW, I am so happy for my friend! The Chinese would call this 'good life' when you have grown up and independent kids and you're still so young. I can't imagine myself being a grandma now or even 10 years down the road when I'm 56 😂  though my mum was already a grandmother at 57.    Today I finally have the time to send a Whatsapp message to KL to reconnect with her and we've been chatting just like how we used to back when we were teenagers.

Here's what Sherilyn whomped up during the recent public holidays. I know it's totally unrelated to this post but I realized that my blogs have inadvertently morphed into a food blog 😄 and my readers are liking it as I've been receiving many messages from them asking me about restaurants and food.

Chocolate cookies made with sugar-free dark chocolate:






Strawberry smoothie with strawberry yogurt, fresh milk and fresh strawberries.