I’ve been having some heart problems lately.  I think in part due to the daily stress, and in part from the heartaches from my kids.  No, not my son.  I’m talking about the teens jabbers I work with.  Those insolent brats that add a hell lot of spice to my life. 

On a daily basis, they’re usually NOT with me.  What do I mean?  Well, when I’m talking, they’re talking.  When I’m giving instructions, they ignore me.  And when I’m warning them sternly, they patronise me. 

But on occasional basis, when they need me, they’ll resort to all sorts of emotional blackmails and say the darnest things ranging from:
“You want coffee?” “You’re the best!” to “We love you!”

I’ll be a fool to believe that they’re speaking from their hearts.  Okay, maybe with a few exceptions.  Sometimes.   

While I’ve got a high threshold for their nonsense, I’m so afraid that one day, just one fine day, when my hormones wreak havoc and all hell break loose, I’m going to utter something unsavoury to them. 

Like last week.  One of the guys asked me if I’ve finished grading their assignments.  When I replied that I’ve not even started yet, guess what he dare to mumble under his breath, but within my earshot?

“Aiyoh, so lazy one!”

I swear I almost blurted out a five-letter Hokkien word to him. 

P/S: Due to privacy concerns, I reserve the rights to ignore any comments and or speculations addressing my occupation. 

My man is one year older and one year wiser.

But he’s still a few years behind me. 
In terms of age and intelligence. 
HIAK HIAK HIAK.

During my last corporate life, I spent most of my mornings eating the mushroom minced meat noodles here and most of my weekends eating the Bah Kuk Teh at the next stall. 

My husband loves the Tiong Bee Bah Kuk Teh and I have to concede that their service is very good even though they’re rather popular, especially with the tycoons.  The Noi’s Mushroom Minced Meat Noodle stall, however,  always dish out their food with a certain sort of attitude.  It was so bad once that we decided to boycott them. 

But as we learnt, it’s really hard to resist tasty food and in the end, we cast aside our ego and went back again last week.  With much delight I must add.

Both stalls are located within the corner coffeeshop at 588 Balestier Road (Jalan Datoh).

Do you know what difference a marriage can make to a relationship?   Have you ever stopped to think about what difference it made to yours, or how different it can make to yours?  Well, I suppose with every relationship, the story varies.  Let me share mine over a story of drunken prawns.

So last week we headed to Long Beach for a seafood dinner.  The man ordered a few dishes, including my favourite drunken prawns.  The waitress dished out a few bowls of prawns for us and I had two bowls but I was still eyeing my man’s share, which was left untouched.

After awhile, he pushed his bowl to me, and said I could have them if I like.  And I thought to myself: hmm…at least he remembers that these are my favourite and he’s letting me having his share, even though he didn’t de-shell any of them for me as he used to. 

Just when I was de-shelling the first prawn from that bowl, he said this:  Erm, how nice if someone can de-shell the prawns and put them in my mouth.

So, there you go. 

The difference in my relationship before and after marriage is in who de-shells the prawn for whom.  And no prizes for guessing if those prawns did indeed land inside his mouth.

The man exercises almost everyday.  He jogs.  He swims.  He goes to the gym.  So why does he need to buy this figure twister?  He says it is for him to workout indoor, when he can’t get a chance to go out. 

I SERIOUSLY wonder.

According to him, this figure twister is good to trim down the tummy and narrow the waistline.  And he was in such a hurry to get it from Courts over the weekend.  He even showed me how to workout on it. 

You must twist your body like this and like that.  Make sure you turn fully and work on it for 30 minutes.  Try, try.  It’s good for you.

Nah.  It is not as simple as he claims.  There’s definitely more than meets the eye.  He didn’t buy this just for himself.  Nope.  I don’t think so.  It’s all part of his plot because he has been complaining that I don’t exercise.  I reckon he may even have noticed that my waistline is now *gasp* almost 30 inches! 

Hur.  Whatever it is, no way am I going to get my bum off my chair, stand on that thingy, and twist for 30 minutes.  Three minutes…maybe still can.