Ingrowing Toenail

I have been diagnosed with 'ingrowing toenail'. Now this could mean one of two things - either my toenail really is growing inwards at the wrong angle, or, bacteria has infected the area around the toenail, causing it to swell. I think I have the latter.

Luckily, the toe in contempt is only painful when I touch it or when my wife accidentally knocks it with her leg, bringing out a slightly over-exaggerated cry of anguish from me. Yes, men do want sympathy at times! But it does hurt too.

The purple coloured bath solution is relaxing and leaves my foot a plasticy shade of orange after 15 minutes.

Just waiting patiently for the medication to do its job.

A welcome benefit

Living in Malaysia as a foreign spouse to a local has not been too kind to me during the last four years, with the bulk of the problems lying in the immigration policies. I have survived crushing moments where nothing seemed 'fair' but now things might be looking up.

My big toe has been swelling up the last few days so I decided to check it out with a doctor at the clinic across the road, at the advice of my good wife. The last time I checked in there I was charged RM15 because I'm a foreigner. (The normal price for Malaysians is just RM1) But I couldn't really moan at RM15 either. Anyway, the receptionist informed me that if I bring a photocopy of my marriage certificate next time, I can consult a doctor and receive medication for RM1 like everyone else!

This is the first time being married to a local has got me any type of benefit whatsoever.

The good woman at the counter also allowed my consultation on this occasion for RM1 because she sees my wife and I often and knows we live just across the road.

Turns out I have an ingrowing toenail which the doctor immediately diagnosed, and stocked me up with some antibiotics, bathing solution and cream.

Wearing socks and shoes in this climate carries an added risk, so be careful! Ensure you wash your socks after every time you use them, and that goes for your shoes too - they can be washed weekly or monthly, depending on how often you wear them.

The working week

Many people long for the weekends, to escape the duties of work. The two-day break is a welcome and long anticipated arrival, normally lasting five days. Thoughts are filled with the previous weekend's enjoyment, time spent with friends, out of the office, away from tiring work. As soon as it reaches Wednesday, minds begin fast-forwarding to the upcoming weekend.

Yes, we all need a deserved rest from time to time, possibly from week to week. It's good for the human body to rest, just as important as it is to physically exert the body. Personally I have always clung to the theory that rest time is during the six or seven hours one spends sleeping through the night. The rest of the day we can work.

We were born to work. Without work there would be no society. We would have no income, no means of supporting our families, no pleasure, purpose or point of existing on earth.

So I wondered if we could just appreciate the five days beginning with Monday and ending with Friday a little more. After all, these are the days in which we earn our money, which makes it possible for us to enjoy a more laid-back weekend. We can skimp on our time during the working week by hanging out, being lazy and taking unnecessary leave. It's possible to go through the five week days so focused on the weekend that we actually miss out on the joys of work.

I love the inspiring quote offered by Theodore Roosevelt: "...the credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood..."

Yes I can relate to this quote quite vividly during my time working in a warehouse in England. The work was tough and arduous, not pretty, and I literally ended each day with dust, sweat and blood on my face and/or hands. I savoured going in to work to give of my best effort, and I appreciated the payslip a lot more too!

Through the establishing of priorities and the setting and writing down of goals, we can achieve our targets associated with our work, and enjoy Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. We need not wear long, droopy faces going back in to work on Monday mornings. We were not created to be indolent. I'm sure with a positive attitude, we could all find more meaning in our lives.

As God said to Adam, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground..."

Mondays can be just as good as Fridays; Tuesdays as equally sweet as Sunday afternoons; every day is meaningful when we work hard and enjoy it!

Smells like home

There's nothing quite like baked beans and potatoes drizzled in butter!

This English food gives us a nice variety when wondering what's for dinner. We don't have to eat rice everyday, which for me, gets a little boring after a while. The soft, buttered potato takes all worries away!

A healthy option

So here is a dish we devoured a few days ago. This one is rice complete with raisins, soft boiled potato, chicken fillet, ikan bilis (the tiny fish, fried), celery and broccoli. As usual, it tasted delicious and was very filling!