In My Hands Today…

Posted on May 27, 2012 by memoriesandsuch

Behind the Night Bazaar – Angela Savage

Thirty-something Australian Jayne Keeney works as a PI in Bangkok. Shaken by a serious incident, she heads north to visit her close friend Didier in Chiang Mai, though there’s no relief for her there.

Murder is in the air and the police, led by Lieutenant Colonel Ratratarn, have no interest in justice. But Jayne does.

With some help from Arthur Conan Doyle, she digs deep—past the tacky glamour of the city’s clubs and bars, arrogant expats, corrupt officials, and a steamy affair—to find out just what happened behind the Night Bazaar.

Back Again!

Posted on May 7, 2012 by memoriesandsuch

I’ve been missing from this, my online diary for a while.

The biggest reason is that I am a SAHM (Stay At Home Mom). This was somthing I had been wanting to do for a while, but didn’t really follow through. I’ve been a SAHM for about 3 months now and life has taken a 360 degree turn. I was forced to leave my previous job (which I did with joy) because of issues with my domestic helper. I have sent her off and am maidless now.

It’s taken me this much time to sort out my head and so I’ll blog more often now. Hopefully have more recipes and also stories…..

In My Hands Today…

Posted on February 12, 2012 by memoriesandsuch

The Yacoubian Building – Alaa Al Aswany, Translated by Humphrey Davies

This controversial bestselling novel in the Arab world reveals the political corruption, sexual repression, religious extremism, and modern hopes of Egypt today.

All manner of flawed and fragile humanity reside in the Yacoubian Building, a once-elegant temple of Art Deco splendor now slowly decaying in the smog and bustle of downtown Cairo: a fading aristocrat and self-proclaimed “scientist of women”; a sultry, voluptuous siren; a devout young student, feeling the irresistible pull toward fundamentalism; a newspaper editor helplessly in love with a policeman; a corrupt and corpulent politician, twisting the Koran to justify his desires.

These disparate lives careen toward an explosive conclusion in Alaa Al Aswany’s remarkable international bestseller. Teeming with frank sexuality and heartfelt compassion, this book is an important window on to the experience of loss and love in the Arab world.

Money Money Money

Posted on November 22, 2011 by memoriesandsuch

BB & GG have been saving their pocket money for about two school terms now. They get S$1 per recess daily. Most days since they’re back by 1:30 pm, they just get $1, but on days they have to stay back in school for either extra curricular activities or extra curriculum time, they get the additional dollar. GG saved much more than BB who was more prone to spending his money in school.

On Saturday, we took them to the Popular store closest to our home as they both wanted to buy some books for their cousins. There, I witnessed, the power of savings! Now that they both had some money to spend as they wished, when it came to actually spending it, they thought multiple times. GG wanted to buy a Geranimo Stilton book for her cousin S who is about 6 years old. The book cost about $10. I then showed her an offer for a set of three Enid Blyton books which cost $12 and explained three of those books were almost equal to one of the one she had. I could actually see the ‘Ka-ching!” moment in her eyes when she tuned to me and said, “So if three of those books are equal to one of these, I will take those and give S one book and keep two for myself!”