November « 2010 « JEWELLE TAN

My Car Necessities

Just the other day my husband cleared the many “junk”, as he called them, out of my car.

Junk they may be to him, but necessities they are to me and the kids!

Spare shoes : I am not comfortable going out knowing that if any of our straps or soles decide to give up, we have nothing else to use!

Nappies : when one of my kid says that she needs to go, it can mean any minute. Since we don’t fancy urine smell, I better have something she can pee in at a moment’s notice!

Books : Both my kids and I are to blame for this. When I have to wait and they are napping, I would read a few pages the current book in my car, Tash Aw‘s “Map of the invisible world” – which to me is as interesting as reading health publications such as the md clear reviews because that promising historical settings of Malaysia and Indonesia (the reason I bought this book) was wasted for the “gripping drama of private relationship”, as per TIME magazine’s review and which do not interest me.

Anyway, I had better re-equip my car before I drive out and get into a situation where I unintentionally curse my husband for cleaning my car because what I need is gone!

25Nov

Innocent Namesake

Filed in Sabah Leave a comment

This focus on the Atkinson Clock Tower vs Mall issue has now taken an interesting twist – a historical lesson for all :

THE person after whom the Atkinson Clock Tower is named was a member of the British troops set out to assassinate Sabah’s hero Mat Salleh back in 1900.

But to me, what we are preserving by keeping this Clock Tower and its surrounding area undisturbed are two things – this amazing piece of architecture that is an all-wood and no-nail structure built in 1905 which survived World War 2 and the pleasant forested area in a city which is becoming very congested with buildings and traffic jams.

The late Mr Atkinson and his legacy is quite irrelevant, actually.

More shopping malls is great but let’s have them somewhere else.

We want our future generation to drive into Kota Kinabalu city along Signal Hill Road past the Atkinson Clock Tower and continue to MARVEL at how such a simple structure could stay intact after hundreds of years.

Instead of seeing a mall, which in 50 years time would probably be rundown and abandoned.

24Nov

Old Photos

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It’s always nice to see old photos.

To see how fashion trends and places have changed over the years. To be reminded of the things that had happened, the good and the bad. To see how each of us we have changed over the years, for better or for worse.

My favorite are those old print albums of my eldest two children, when they were still wee babes.

Not that long ago but oh, how much they have changed too..

Unfortunately, I have not been printing that many pictures anymore even though there are more than enough to choose from. In fact, that is the exact reason why we have not been printing any – there are simply too many to choose from!

The funny thing, it’s not really a matter of cost or convenience. We have a good photo shop nearby that charges reasonably. There are many reputable online printing stores (that even do catalog printing) if I don’t feel like driving.

Heck, we even have a photo printer with all the necessary kits – ink and photo papers – at home!

I supposed it’s welcome to the world of digital photo albums…

16Nov

Depression, In Italy

Filed in Good Read 5 Comments

I am determined to finish reading Elizabeth Gilbert‘s “Eat, Pray, Love” – before I get swept away by the movie and what would surely be a feast of colours, culture and food of Italy, India and Indonesia.

So far, it has been worth it – every 104 pages of it, which is where I am currently and which in her setting, is Italy.

Imagine, hankering for a taste of an Italian dessert that does not even sounds that amazing – but if she is willing to forgo heaven for it, it must be that good. Or wishing that I too could meet divine Italian men who will teach me to say Attraversiamo or learn L’arte D’arrangiarsi.

But in the midst of elegant Italian phrases, cultural quirks (Italian men hung out at bakeries after football games – to eat cream puffs…) and the delightful food, she spoke about something equally captivating – personal and profound.

Depression and Suicide.

That she was severely depressed for years and at one point succumbed to taking antidepressants and sleep aid to stop her suicidal thoughts. She didn’t know what caused her despair, what triggered the endless sobbings, the urge to take her life to end her sufferings.

And if even her – someone so accomplished, so privileged, talented and in many ways, blessed – could fall under depression, it shows that this is not something that happens to only that sort of people.

And if you read the way she tried to rise above her misery, it is also clear that this is not something people could just snap out of it if only they would try harder.

But serious subject aside, it is now on to Naples – where she experienced Italy’s best margherita pizza with double mozzarella —->

14Nov

Big City Men

Filed in Brunei Life | Thoughts Leave a comment

There was a picture of my husband and a few of his old university friends – all of whom are from and based in Kuala Lumpur – on his recent trip over.

Like my husband, all of them are now men with senior positions and big responsibilities.

Unlike my husband, thankfully, they have the girth to show for it too.

In fact, my husband who can never be described as thin was positively small in comparison to them.

But of course, that’s life in a big city.

Where people like them drive and fly non-stop – and when they drive or fly, that’s hours spent sedentary at traffic jams or in the air. Making money sitting down or standing up, on the phone, over coffee and everywhere.

Nobody stops eating at 8 pm – because nobody is home at 8 pm! Besides, who can resist all the glorious food that you can get anywhere, day and night – to heck with exercise or dieting or fat burners like secratatropin hgh!

It sure sounds exciting to live in that city that never sleeps. Where you can get everything and anything – at any time.

But I like my life in this unexciting city – and a husband who is home for dinner with the family most nights.

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