All I want for shopping is you

I'm not a great fan of shopping. While I do enjoy half a day out at the mall, trawling through favorite stores to see what's new and happening, I'm generally the "buy what I need and let's have coffee" kind of shopper. It must be age. In my youth, I used to have the energy to walk up and down Orchard Road in Singapore the whole day and into the night. Not anymore. But now I've literally found a shopping haven at my fingertips. Literally. Online shopping!

Going bananas over curry

Side vegetables change daily

There's nothing I love more for lunch than a meal of banana leaf curry. I do enjoy nasi kandar or Malay food, but there's something quite endearing and utterly delicious about this humble offering that's originally from India but probably totally Malaysianized.

It brings back memories for me of meeting my Dad at his office downtown when I was in my teens. He would bring me to his favorite banana leaf curry shop and we'd tuck in. I don't remember what we talked about (we weren't great conversationalists) but we did both make appreciative noises about the food.

Current movie/TV favorites

My all-time love is reading, but I do enjoy being a couch potato as well and catching some great movies or shows on TV. I haven't been to the cinema in a while. Not only does it cost an arm and a leg, especially with snacks and drinks, but I have to sit through the entire movie without a break. At home, I get to pause, refill my drink, take a bathroom break, or make my favorite popcorn before getting back to the show. Here are some of the shows that have piqued my interest recently.

Dining solo

I love dining with friends, whether going out for a nice meal, or having a potluck together. When I’m cooking for family and friends, I think the more the merrier. I tend to cook more than necessary, a trait I’ve inherited from my mother. There’s nothing worse than not having enough food for everyone!

By circumstance, I tend to dine alone more often than not. Ever since my son, B, moved out, it’s been just me for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And while I love the company of others at mealtimes, I think basically I’m a loner and oftentimes prefer to dine alone.

It's time I apologized to my son

Wow, my son, B, turns 30 today. While I’m extremely happy to see him at this milestone, it also makes me feel positively ancient. I still remember the day he was born as though it was just yesterday, and am bursting with pride that he’s become a fine, young man – smart and strong, yet possessing a kind, sweet spirit.

I just read a blog where a young mother posts apologies to her young child for the many times (and all mothers can relate) when she wishes the child would eat faster or go to bed earlier just so that she can have a little me time. She would check the diaper and close it back up when it’s only pee. Or let her child go to bed with avocado in her hair. I think it’s struck a chord among mothers who can relate to all the times when they are less than perfect mums.

Rounding up to the nearest 5 or 10 sen, or daylight robbery?

Is it only me, or does anyone else notice what is being done at cash registers in supermarkets?  When an item costing, say RM1.83, is scanned, the amount automatically registers as RM1.85, because the system is programmed to register amounts that are rounded up to the nearest 5 or 10 sen. So if an item costs RM3.56, it will register as RM3.55, but items that cost RM2.53 or RM4.68 will register as RM2.55 and RM4.70 respectively.

Now, you may say that these amounts are miniscule, and nobody bothers about the 1 or 2 sen difference. But they are keyed in for every single item that’s scanned, BEFORE the final total. My point is, doesn’t it make more sense for the individual items be scanned in with their actual price, and then the total amount rounded up? That way, the consumer (or alternatively the supermarket) doesn’t have to lose out on every single item scanned.

TP blues

Like many, I have my moments of inspiration when sitting on the throne. When an idea hits, I just want to finish up quickly and get on with things. So when the roll of toilet paper refuses to cooperate, it bugs me. And it really starts to irk when I’m sitting down at another time and realize that the whole roll of toilet paper is similarly afflicted.

My Little Leica

My Leica V-Lux 40 – the ever-faithful travel companion.

For the longest time, I was travelling without a camera, believing that  all my experiences were of the moment, to be tucked away in my memory and savoured. But as I grew older, I realised that it would be great to record some of these images to be re-visited one day when I am no longer so mobile.

I figured all I needed was a tiny point-and-shoot, something I could just put into my bag or pocket, which I could whip out quickly and discreetly capture some images. While landscapes and scenery are great, my favourite pictures are of people. I don’t mean posed group shots of people I’m travelling with in front of some landmark. Thank goodness my fellow travellers are mostly averse to having their picture taken, and yes, shoot me if you ever see me take a selfie!

New year, new resolve

It’s been a somber start to the 2015. Many year-end celebrations were cancelled in light of recent tragedies including the Air Asia crash, nationwide flooding and stampeding in Shanghai. Lives were lost and thousands lost their homes and possessions.

Many have rallied to come up with aid for flood victims in the country, with organizations taking the lead in collecting donations in the form of cash, blankets, food items and more. What I’ve discovered is, perhaps not surprisingly, that those with seemingly little are willing to give more. Those who are already feeling the pinch of rising prices have generously opened their wallets to give more than what they can afford, to help those who have lost everything.