Laundry Day and Elbow Grease

How nice it is to drop a load of laundry in the washing machine, then go back to the book or TV, relax, while the laundry is being done! In the days before washing machines were affordable and widespread, lots of elbow grease were required on laundry day. Here’s an except from my upcoming book [...]

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The Life of a Malay Wedding

A wedding is like a microcosm of life. Family, friends, hope, past, present and future all meet on that special day. On my recent trip home, I was fortunate to attend the wedding of my cousin’s daughter, Haslina. It was wonderful to meet again so many people who have been a part of my life, [...]

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Musings in September

This year, Eid celebrations fall in the month of September. Eid, or Hari Raya Aidilfitri as it is known in the Malay language, is the festival that celebrates the end of the month of Ramadan. Ramadan is the holy month in Islam where believers fast from dawn to sunset, and also abstain from negative thoughts [...]

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Dedicated to Vote

I have always been amazed how women all over the world make a strong commitment to vote. I continue to be fascinated by the fact that across generations, even in countries where women are perceived to have a low profile in public life, women make the effort to make their way to the polling stations, [...]

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Musings in June

The month of June, in many parts of the world, spells vacations and flowers. It  marks the beginning of the months when flowers are blooming bright and strong, courtesy of the summer sun. Flowers are one of nature’s finest gifts to us. They not only enliven the home, but can also improve our emotional health. [...]

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Sheila Majid – Revisited

On this home trip to Asia , while resting in a hotel in Petaling Jaya and surfing through the television channels, I was pleased to catch Zoom in @RTM featuring Sheila Majid. I’ve always loved her songs, and they are among the ones that I listen to most in my life in California. Needless to [...]

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March Musings

The iris in my garden has just bloomed. They are always the first flower to appear, signaling the arrival of spring and warmer weather. But this March  finds me crossing the Pacific Ocean, and back in Singapore and Malaysia visiting friends and family, and taking care of some matters. It has taken a while to [...]

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Musings in February

February feels like a month in transition. The year is still new, and we also know that it is moving fast, getting into the “meaty” part of the year. And for a change from all the gloomy economic news that fill the newspapers these days, let’s talk about the good things about this month. In [...]

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