Once a radio DJ said that women must always make time to look after their skin.

Going for facial, spa and the likes are a must because every women must pamper ourselves this way – and the inevitable line – because we deserve it.

Perhaps.

But pampering oneself with facials is not for everyone – not me, at least. I do not enjoy just lying down having someone pick on my face for hours. Doing hair is just as bad if you consider the time but at least, I can read and look around when I get my hair done.

So no to massage, no to facial and no to spa treatment.

I rather use that money on exclusive skin care and make-up; bobbi brown cosmetics, MAC range, SKII and others. That is the kind of pampering that I can deal with.

My late maternal grandmother was a passionate gardener that she could never bear to leave her home for more than a day.

In the days when she was still alive and lived in a town more than 2 hours drive away, coming to visit us was a torture for her. She would be fretting over the state of her garden, “Matilah semua tu bunga-bunga tu tidak kena siram” or “Entah macam sudah tu bunga ros…” – and always ending with, “Saya mau pulang lah ni!“

Truly love-sick with her flowers!

At least, her aching heart were a little appeased with my mother’s own garden who, must be said has never lived in any house without at least 10 potted plants. In the many homes that we have had over the years, she has always had a mini nursery and that moving houses always mean one dedicated truck just to transport her plants. They are that many!

So maybe it is unusual that I do not share this interest because as much as I must have nature around me, I prefer wild flowers i.e no caring needed! And there are enough florists around town for the occasional flower indulgence. Besides, there’s always good deals on teleflora orders and all I have to do is pick up the phone!

A friend who is doing another round of spring cleaning for the year complained about bulky “treasures” belonging to her husband.

Which he refused to get rid off.

How much that reminds me of these two long-defunct B-52 PA Speakers (or something like these) that belongs to my husband. They have stopped working maybe 10 years ago and he refused to get rid of them too!

Never mind that they take up precious floor space in our small and already jam-packed living room.

But unlike my friend who already threaten to dump her husband’s trash if he doesn’t do anything about it, my particular trash needs one strong man to carry down just one piece (and there are two heavy pieces!) – and it is only because of that reason that they are still in the house.

Lucky for him!

If the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach then one of the way to this woman’s heart has to be through the various electrical items in her household that break down at the most inconvenient time!

Of course women can fix things too!

But surely you had one of those lazy weekend and you were about to prepare lunch when the water pressure was low but the water pump was not cooperating AND the children declared that they are starving?

Wasn’t it wonderful to just holler and then watch as he carries his box of tools filled with the likes of slide hammer puller or maybe just a regular hammer, ready to coax the offending item into working – at least until lunch is ready?

Now if I could only make sure that any electrical items that decide to break down, will do so on lazy weekends when he is home – life will be perfect.

A video recorder is one item that any parents could not do without.

The brief recorded moments in a growing child’s life would always be entertaining to watch, when they are all grown-up and no longer talk, behave and look like they used to do.

It will be nostalgic to remember the times when they were mere toddlers sitting on our laps, feeling happy to just sing rhymes understood by only them (and us).

Pictures can only say so much and it is videos which will immortalized their movements, voices and change of expressions – that is if equipments such as Sony Recorders can last the fast changing pace of technology.

So, who is the dedicated videographer in your family?