Birthday Reflections 2026

 Ooh, turning another year older toms; must remember to write a birthday reflections post!

Turning thirty-nine isn’t very different from turning thirty-eight … although this means I’m not just in my late thirties now but my VERY late thirties, cripes! XD

Same as every other year I’ve tried to enjoy this year but obviously there’s only so much enjoyment you can derive from living the very disabled life.  *sigh*

Still haven’t managed to rejoin the workforce yet, sadly.  Think it’s a catch-22? I’ve been unable to find paid work since I’ve not got any qualifications but I can’t get any qualifications since I’m unable to study due to memory   issues post brain injury. But remember: I’m willing to do ANYTHING (even wash toilets) provided I can do it whilst sitting down and it gets me properly paid.

Unfortunately, I’ve got not one but TWO blasted hours of physio to endure on my birthday but hopefully afterwards the carer can take me to Sunnybank Plaza and I can get my free Boost Juice! Apparently, I can get a free bubble tea too?? (If you know what other freebies are available, please lemme know!)

Unsure why I’m not a very reflective person? Suppose I’m just more interested in sharing meals out with people (it’s been just over seven weeks - nearly TWO MONTHS - since I last enjoyed a proper meal out (by proper I’m meaning a proper-sized portion where I’m not required to doggy bag half home for arvo tea) so should you be free to take me out for any meal with you whenever, please lemme know!

Next post here … actually, I’ve got not one but TWO posts awaiting composition (1) last July marked fifteen years since my most beloved grandmother went up into heaven to live with God forever while last December marked twenty years since I’ve lived @ our current abode!

Anyhow, until then~

Cheers,
Em. ^^

Birthday Wishlist 2026

 Let the monthlong celebrations begin!

Hmm …I vaguely recall that was how I started my birthday wishlist posts for previous years, too. Yeah, I’m repetitive like that. XD Apparently brain injury sufferers tend to repeat themselves?  You’ll just haveta put up with me, sorry!

It’s only been like three/four months since I last asked for presents (Christmas); hopefully I’m not coming across as too demanding by penning another wishlist asking for more presents? Feel free to go read sth else more interesting.  Just make sure you buy me a birthday present first! XD

What I’m hoping for this year:

(1)               Books – I’ve been an avid reader ever since I learnt how to read (around age four, maybe?) and doubt I’ll ever lose the love of losing myself in a good book and forgetting that the world exists for a while. Unfortunately post brain injury I read that slowly it’s practically   shameful but my favourite genres are fantasy, science fiction and historical fiction although I’m game to try anything bar Mills and Boon. XD Actually, after I MET Raymond E. Feist (my favouritest author ever) years ago I thought he’d retired from writing but turns out he’s still churning out books; someone please get them for me! Otherwise reminiscing about primary school days (more than a-quarter CENTURY ago; yes, Aunty Em’s old XD) will someone please get me Walter Farley’s The Black Stallion series? I loved reading those when I was little but confess to having forgotten everything bar perhaps The Black’s original name was Shetan? XD

(2)               Teddy – the other item I’ll always ask for. All my teddies are loved and all are named (even though one’s called John Doe and the other John Doe2. XD) Teddy bears are the quintessential stuffed toy although I love exotic ones – my favourite Christmas present last year was a teddy NIGIRI! (Never mind that I don’t eat any personally XD)

(3)               Glow In The Dark Stars – many years ago, someone (Kwany, maybe?) gave me some glow in the dark stars for my room but they’re duds and don’t work! Well, every now and again they glow very briefly when the day’s been cloudy/rainy … XD

(4)               Pet - although I’ll forever be guilty of the manslaughter of poor Silver and Bronze (seriously, I honestly was unaware that goldfish are so pathetic that they need a heater to keep them warm during Winter lest they freeze to death! ><) but they’ve been in heaven nearly eighteen years now and SURELY, I can be trusted with two more goldfish?? Just make sure their fishtank comes with a heater, please! Barring that:  Luke Mac Court, are you EVER gonna bring me my pet rock?? When you first told me about them years ago, I thought you were just   pulling my leg but I tried Googling ‘pet rocks’ and discovered that there were entire WEBPAGES devoted to the care of pet rocks; like, you don’t haveta give them food and water like live pets but you can give them stuff like different textures to sit on! Liam, since you’re Luke’s dad I reckon it’s your RESPONSIBILITY to make sure your son delivers on his promise; why did you   tell me to drop the matter?? I’m an only child so feel lonely without a pet!! XD

(5)               Frosties – since I believe all wishlists require one food item at the very least, I’m asking for a box of my favourite unhealthy cereal. Normally mother only lets me eat boring healthy cereals like Weet-Bix, All-Bran and Plus but a balanced diet surely includes sugary    stuff every now and again?? XD

(6)               Birthday cake – back when I turned THIRTY (2017), I’d asked mother please could I buy a birthday cake. Her immediate, snapped response: “No way! I didn’t get a birthday cake for my last birthday, so why should you?” I protested that it’s not just any old birthday I’m celebrating but my special DECADE birthday; you can’t jolly well deny me cake! >< In the end? Mother lemme buy one little *slice* of cake; if it were not for peers who understood the importance of DECADE birthdays and the NEED for cake, I would’ve gone without! O_o
The next year, I made sure mother had birthday cake before trying again politely asking to buy a birthday cake for my 31^st birthday. This time mother decides no, since she’s gonna bake me a cake instead! I ask for a cheesecake so the night before my birthday, after I’ve let her gleefully force me off to bed @ the piss-early time of 9:45pm she starts making my birthday cheesecake. On the night of my birthday, after dinner, we’re each tucking into a small slice of my birthday cheesecake. Me: “Um, mother? The cake tastes nice, thanks, but how come it’s SALTY? Aren’t cheesecakes meant to be SWEET?!” Mother looks horribly caught out for a moment before she just doubles over with laughter, howling her amusement. “Oh, you caught me out!” She cackles. “I was hoping you’d not realise since you’ve got inferior tastebuds!!” What actually transpired: the recipe said use UNSALTED butter but since she was already tired when she began making my birthday cake for me that night, she hadn’t read the recipe carefully and so used SALTED butter. XD You’d think after that she’d learn her lesson and just lemme buy a cheap cake from some bakery for future birthdays, don’t you? But no, apparently store-bought cakes are VERY BAD for you since they contain preservatives and what not … but they taste great! I only wish mother would try making her cakes sweet; I swear, if the recipe says 100g of sugar she probably puts like 10g in! >< XD Actually, does anyone know where I can buy cake that’s really pretty inside from? Earlier   this year I enjoyed one slice of cake where the inside was checkered rainbow colours; I’d love a birthday cake like that!!

 

I suppose I never have too many things to ask for since I don’t think I’m overly-materialistic; I’d much rather meet peoples out for a meal to celebrate my birthday! Unfortunately, mother’s very ‘gun  gun  gai gow’ (say that in Canto; in English: tit for tat, maybe?); since I enjoyed a lunch out back on those Thursdays when she worked half a day once she retired she immediately cut my support hours for those Thursday lunches out, while dad’s made up some strange rule that I only get to share a meal out with my peers once every TWO MONTHS. Seems kina unfair, when the parents enjoy morning/arvo tea with their mates EVERY WEEK?

Even worse, I’m not allowed to contact anyone to see if they’re free for a meal out to celebrate my birthday month! >< So, the onus is on you, dear reader:   please contact me first and say sth like ‘Hey Em, haven’t caught up with you all year and hear it’s your birthday soon; let’s have lunch/dinner/whatever together! Please don’t fail me, else I’m bound for a very lonely month … >< XD

Actually, someone please teach me:   what freebies can I get for my   birthday? Please lemme know if you can take me around to get any!!

As always, I reserve the right to add to this post should anything else I’m after pop up … XD

Next post here: perhaps you’ll not hear from me again until I publish my birthday celebrations post; actually, this year I’m hoping to walk some of the Bridge To Brisbane 5km course; if I really manage that, will definitely haveta publish something about that!

Until then~

Cheers,
Em. ^^

2025 Reflections

Whoops again, another NYE, another whoops I’m only writing my reflections for the year-that-almost-was on the final day of the year!  Only last night did I publish the post about how I spent my Christmas Eve, Christmas Days and Boxing Days for 2025 and will haveta return and edit that post since it’s full of typos/grammatical errors/whatnot! XD

So, 2025: can you believe it, we’re already halfway through this decade! Here’s how this year was for me:

Physically-wise:  like last year, I’ve totally stacked it thrice. Apologies if I seem to go on about falling over excessively; it’s just that were I to find myself on the floor I usually can’t get myself back upright without help. >< From the moment I wake till the instant my head touches the pillow come the end of another long day, I’m constantly freaked that I’ll have a bad fall (fall awkwardly) and hurt my right arm after which I’d be beyond screwed since my right arm’s the only more/less functioning one I’ve got left post-brain injury. But I’ve been taught to only freak out inside my head, not to freak out in the real world, cause a ruckus and disturb others, so it’s all good.  XD Thankful also that mother wasn’t around to witness my few falls this year; for one I scrambled myself back into   bed without her finding out immediately and for the other two someone was around to pull me back upright. XD

Work-wise: another year where I’ve been unable to contribute to society.  *sigh* I think it’s a catch-22: I can’t hold down any paid job since I’ve not got any qualifications but I can’t get any qualifications since I’ve got memory issues post-brain injury? Anyhow:  willing to do ANYTHING as long as I can do whilst   seated and it get me properly paid; will even wash toilets provided you lemme wash them whilst seated and gimme a respectable salary. XD I’ve only got one hand to type with now but do so at 31WPM; hopefully that’s not too slow?

Spiritually-wise: like I said last year, I’ve come to realise that when I don’t expect anything to happen, I can’t be disappointed when absolutely nothing happens. I can’t help but    rail  against  the fact that there’s no other way  to heaven except through God because if  there was any other way, believe me, I’d take it! Earlier this year, Pastor Peter Pie (shows I’ve got alliteration skills; on the extremely  rare occasions when he’s mean I can call him Peter Poo XD) asked me had I  ever considered baptism; I  gave him the same reply that I once gave dear Pastor Chong when he asked me  the same question many years ago: I’ll  get baptised once God fully grants me  physical healing or after He lets me know what it was that I did/didn’t do that    was so unspeakably sinful that He saw it right to totally destroy my life for. Besides, I thought baptism wasn’t an entry requirement for heaven and that God lets unbaptised believers into heaven too, after their earthly life’s up?

Sporting-wise: like I mentioned in  my 2025 edition of my  Xmas  Greetings, Queensland NEEDED to win the Origin this year after our  poor captain’s  father passed away suddenly  on the Sunday before the decider come next  Wednesday; watching the game live from the couch  at home  I’d been terrified that the smelly Blues would crash over the line and steal the title but our lads were heroic and held on for victory; fingers crossed that’s the starting point for another (at  least!) eight-year winning streak!

And GLORY: for the first time since 2006 (the year before the cruel and unfaithful God totally destroyed my life with the brain injury) the mighty Broncos WON the NRL premiership! We’d  come *so close* to it in 2006 and I was so  pissed with Ben  Hunt  from dropping the ball on the restart, thus costing us the title (even though a church uncle very knowledgeable in the game explained to me that  the fault actually lay with the player in  the previous play) but Hunty hung around long enough to regain the title;  I hope he and captain Adam Reynolds retire  immediately  so they’ll be forever remembered as champions!

Everything else wise:  oh, for the first time in my life, I was affected by a cyclone! Sure, Alfred landed far up north to where I’m based down in south-east Queensland but before his arrival, I was singing my adaptation of Ronan Keating’s ‘If Tomorrow Never Comes”:  if tomorrow never comes … I got blown away by Alfred … XD

On the night of his arrival, the winds were literally HOWLING outside my bedroom window and being so noisy that I had trouble falling asleep! At 11:55pm I relieved myself once more, said oh, stuff it and pulled the covers over my head, rolled over and fell asleep anyway.  Upon awaking the next morning? Hey, I didn’t get blown away by Alfred!! XD

Is that enough reflecting for 2025? It’s time to make way for 2026!

Cheers,

Em. ^^

 

Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day 2025

 

With   the Silly Season  over for another year, here’s how I spent my Christmas Eve, Christmas Day    and Boxing    Days!

Christmas E$ve:  the  24^th  began with my   4^th   consecutive awesome  sleep (when I bid my teddy  sweet   dreams, fall asleep  and then  don’t  wake until  the Sun has risen  sufficiently for me  to see  the time from the clock on the  wall  - much easier now that  it’s Summer!) but  there was slight panic  when CODA rang just before 9:30am  saying Jane can’t come mind you today; her   car’s broken down! O_o o Mother    gives me fifteen more minutes then  helps me up  (meaning  she leaves me  to  get myself mostly independently kitted  after helping  extremely slightly with absolutely nothing  bar  the bra strap before coming back and finishing with  absolutely nothing bar the AFO straps and both shoelaces) before I head over  to    the bathroom  and brush teeth.  That  done, I’m  sitting   over the loo when  CODA suddenly  rings  back,  saying Catherine from Staffing Options will  support me  from 10am  till 1:30pm, phew. Usually  my  carers are from    CODA South; when carers from that  organisation  aren’t found, agency works from Staffing Options are  called in. Catherine’s looked  after me many  times;  she’s middle-aged and Chinese!

Over the usual breakfast (one bowl of   healthy cereal, all  my usual  drugs – aka health   supplements mostly   XD and one full mug of water, I  quickly  scrawl  out  a Christmas card for Catherine~!

When  she announces her arrival three minutes late,  I answer the door, give her the Christmas  card  and then sit over the loo before we   head out  together to buy groceries from Warrigal Square. All the disabled parks are already taken outside Woolies but I direct Catherine  around  to the  front and phew, she grabs a disabled park outside Ichiba, the Japanese  grocery store.

Groceries bought, I head home and take a shower before sitting   down to a lunch  of a tuna and cheese toastie,   washed  down with one mug of  delicious  vanilla chai. Actually, someone please teach  me: what’s chai called in   Canto?

After catherine leaves,  I  enjoy my most important two  hours of  the day online and then munch   some   arvo tea   (one piece of  fruit, one rice cracker  and one mug of  herbal    tea and read for awhile  before sitting over the toilet briefly then sitting  by the door and waiting for Dr. Lee for pickup to  our EM Christmas party! ‘Twas a potluck dinner; I enjoyed two plates of food (thanks to whoever walked behind me   to  get some) but mostly    sat out the games since I’m unfortunately very physically  disabled and not mobile. After dinner there was a Christmas service; there were these candles named the Jesus  candle, the Mary  candle, the joseph  candle, etc. and little Daniel was given the task  (closely supervised by his dad Kwany, obviously) of lighting  them and then Hannah (his little  sister)  had the responsibility of extinguishing the candles!

The night  ended for me with  some delicious mango pudding;  after Dr. Lee tootled me home I   returned online briefly   then obediently hit   the sack  at the piss-early  time of   9:45pmm. Zzz~

Christmas Day: aww, what better way than to begin  CHRISTMAS  DAY then with my  5^th   consecutive awesome sleep? After relieving myself on the commode chair  (I must  wear an orthotic  over my  affected calf and ankle if  I  am to walk without pain but mother insists I  sleep barefeet (apparently, feet/skin need to breathe even though I’ve tried protesting that  it’s my nose/mouth that breathes? XD) so I use a commode chair I use bathroom   trips that  doesn’t require my affected foot  to touch the ground; I just  stand and pivot  too the commode chair, do my  business then stand and pivot back into  bed.

When mother lets herself into my  room to hit  me  with the eye goo  (for some odd reason it’s my left limbs  that don’t function properly post brain injury  but my  right eyelid that doesn’t fully shut nor my right eyebrow move much  hence why I wear eye  gel  during the  day  and eye ointment for lubrication) I say good morning first and she brightly responds with “Merry Christmas!”

After brushing  teeth I dit over the loo then get a special Christmas breakfast: COCO  POPS! Sure, homebrand Coco Pops don’t go pop like official Kelloggs ones but they  still taste great!

Christmas Day means attending  church. Since our English ministry didn’t have a service prepared the parents  made me attend the Canto one although thankfully I  was allowed to   remain  seated for worship but I harmonised along  with the Christmas hymns sung. Obviously only Christian ones but I  sang four secular  Christmas carols while been driven around inside  the car during the  day~ I  was willing to hike up the several steps and sit inside the little room at the back  of the  main  hall;  unsure why the parents not only  refused but  dadf  even insisted I  sit  on the most  right  side of  the hall  when usually I sit on  then most left side of  the hall for peace of mind? Doesn’t matter~

After service we went home briefly then went to the Slams’ for Christmas lunch! I made sure to wear my  Santa hat, since I obviously  wasn’t  allowed to wear it attending  church today (mother wouldn’t  even lemme wear  a Christmas tee) and I’d not  get  to wear it again  tomorrow since Christmas had ended for another year! Aunty  A  came also, although she’s still  feeling the side effects of just getting  the shingles vaccine, the poor thing~

For entrée we had  crackers with slices of smoked salmon  and little slices  of cheese on  top (I donated the salmon to dad XD) and then for lunch I had barely  half  a bowl of  rice with a few  of Anna’s yummy mini  pork ribs and a few slices of  dad’s  duck. ‘twas slightly disappointing since I thought CHRISTMAS was like  feast-worthy, but hey,  still yummy~

For  dessert, clever mother made a yummy cheesecake! After I enjoyed one yummy tiny   slice I  saw Uncle Slam  cut himself a slice of seconds and so tried  asking  could I please have another slice too? Dunno why polite  request  was immediately   refused by  the parents but oh well.

When we all left,  I took  a seat in  the backseat of Aunty A’s new car! Farewell, 852 LPU;  I remember your  predecessor the little red 595  BJB so  next  year I’ll haveta memorise the newest car’s numberplate. XD

The rest of  the   day  was spent uneventfully; just the usual  events: shower (one of  my few longer ones during  the year, dinner, bed. Zzz~

Boxing Day: another awesome sleep, yay! Not only that, today was mother’s BIRTHDAY! Hence why    after she  let  herself into my  room  and stroked my face (what  she  does to wake me up; dad  kisses my cheek  instead) I immediately sit upright and sing her the happy  birthday song, using Mini Pearl (the teddy  currently keeping me  company in bed nightly) to do the hip  hips!

Back  to boring healthy cereal for breakfast without toast, but hey.

I thought  dad would take us  to  Westfield Carindale for our once-yearly  shop, but he took  us  to Capalaba  Park and amazeballs, he    lemme use Sparkless3 (my manual wheelchair)!  I really enjoyed Boxing Day, since I  got  to WINDOWSHOP. XD Mother found a really  cute Winnie the Pooh  bear tee for me, while I  picked up the memoirs of Adam  Reynolds! We enjoyed mini  bahn mis from Van  Dough for   lunch before returning home  and having  a quiet rest of the   day. In the past, the parents have invited friends over for mother’s birthday but mother snapped at me that’s never happening  again since  she’s too  tired to host? Still,  I   told dad he had to get mother a  birthday cake  else she’d deny me birthday cake for my next  birthday! Only with mother’s birthday falling on Boxing Day, it's like impossible to  source one … solution? Dad took one of the chocolate chip muffins I’d made with Doorrie for our final OT cooking session for 2025  and stuck  a candle into it! We sang mother the happy birthday song  and shared the cupcake (dad half while mother and I one-quarter  each; how we usually split things.

Afterwards,  ‘twas time to open presents! My favourite was the TEDDY NIGIRI I received from the cSlams!

Sorry this isn’t  proofread; toms I’ve gotta write 2025 reflections but promise I’ll revisit this next  year and edit it  properly!
Cheers,
Em.  ^^

XMas Greetings 2025

Greetings, everyone! Just like that, this new decade’s not new anymore: wow, we’re already halfway through it! Hope you and your family have had an awesome 2025?

Last year, I was the absolute idiot who’d already totally stacked it on the second day on of the year but this year, I lasted until mid-late January before falling flat on my butt for the first time in 2025; may I call that an improvement? XD

While it’s the left side of my  body that’s been  affected post brain injury  and stroke (left leg must wear an orthotic if I am to walk without pain but I still ambulate with a disabled gait, while my left arm doesn’t do much functionally so thank goodness I  was originally born right-handed) it’s my right EYEBROW that doesn’t move (so I look like a Vulcan when only my left eyebrow goes up and down XD) and my right EYELID that doesn’t fully shut hence why I wear eye gel during the day  and eye ointment during the night to keep it lubricated.  Usually, mother squirts the eye goo into my eyes after I obediently hit the sack at the piss-early time of 9:45pm but this year, more often than not, mother will come hit me with the eye goo around 9pm and go to bed first herself, ordering that I do the same at 9:45pm. That’s fine; I’m perfectly capable of going to pour myself half a mouthful of milk before bed, brush teeth and sit over the loo myself without any assistance whatsoever from mother before hitting the sack. 

That night, after I’d entered my bedroom and turned the light switch off, I’d grabbed the back of my commode chair and then the  bedside rail some Home Modifications guy had installed for me on the wall when I’d initially been discharged from the insane asylum (more commonly known to everyone else as the Brain Injuries Rehabilitation Unit  of the Princess Alexandra hospital  XD) before pivoting around to my bed and sitting down. Only I didn’t sit far back enough - in the next instant, plop! My bum slid off the bed and I was on the floor! Luckily, fat butt good cushioning XD; I didn’t hurt myself but what the heck was I gonna do now, screech upstairs help mum I’ve slid off the bed please come pull me back up? Obviously not! 

I scrambled around, pushed myself back into bed and thought I’d done well enough to not let mother find out, but whoops in my haste to climb back into bed I’d banged bruises all up and down my legs and obviously mother saw those! Usually, I sprout out with random bruises since I’m a messy sleeper who apparently flails against the bedroom wall and bash myself bruises; one year a carer saw all the bruises down my legs and asked me, “What, did you have a fight with your mum or something?” I’d laughed and replied, “If I did, then obviously I lost: check out those bruises!” We’d both cracked up, before I’d assured her that they were accidentally self-inflicted and nothing to worry about. XD

 

You know how Brisbane has tourist attractions like Dream World, Movie World and Sea World? Well, in Singapore this year they opened a MINIONS world and after I heard about it, I told everyone, “If you’re going to Singapore, please stick me in your luggage and take me too – I’ve GOTTA go to Minion Land!!” I believe everyone who knows me even slightly will be aware of my complete obsession with those yellow, jellybean-shaped, stupidly hopeless henchmen from the Despicable Me series?  XD

One night when I was already in bed waiting to fall asleep with my teddy, I heard my dearest dad having a Facetime conversation with his older brother saying “Yeah, we’re taking a short trip to Singapore soon” and hope ignited!

Several days later, when I was seeing my long-lost cousin (my surname’s ChAn and his surname’s ChEn; surely bazillions of years ago our cousins were siblings? XD) for some acupuncture and massage, after mother excuses herself into the bathroom Ray says to me, “So, I hear you’re going for a trip to Singapore soon?”

“MINIONLAND!!” I squeal back excitedly. Back in the car after treatment, mother confirms this for me, but then immediately emphasises to me that this will be the final overseas holiday she ever takes me on, since it’s too much bother for her to help me out with personal care.  Shame: I’ve tried researching supported holidays before but don’t have enough funding for one and I’m unsure how you’d go about applying for more?

But visiting Singapore for the first time in two DECADES (we first visited in 2005 just after I’d graduated high school) was AMAZEBALLS and visiting MINION LAND was the BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!! Mother lemme buy a minion plushie with fairy floss hair as my souvenir from there; when I brought FairFloMin to a Toastmasters meeting to show him off to all the other members, Neil (our current club president) was cheeky and pretended to give poor FairFloMin a HUGE LICK!  “Eww!” I screeched; the next day, my carer was a champion who wiped him down for me with an antibacterial wet wipe and thus saved him from the contamination of Neil germs. XD

Remaining on the topic of Minions, this year I hit the Ekka for an afternoon and night and returned home with a GIANT Minion - he’s 87cm big!

I saw the huge Minion along the prize rack of some game and asked the game attendant, “May I win him? What do I need to do after giving you my cash?”

The guy demonstrated. There was a bottle lying on its side. With a ring attached to a piece of string on a stick, you had to hook the ring around the neck of the bottle, draw the bottle upright and release the ring without the bottle tipping over. The game attendant demonstrated once and made it look easy! I paid for three goes. My first attempt was dismal failure:  the bottle stood straight up, but once I released the ring from the bottle neck, it went straight back down. Hm, no good! For my second attempt, the bottle wavered upright for three seconds before falling back down flat. Hey, I’m sitting right now and can concentrate. I told myself.  I’ve got this; if I can make the bottle stay upright for my last go for five seconds, I’ll win! Very slowly, I draw the bottle upright and release the ring. The bottle stays upright for one second. For two seconds. For three seconds! For four seconds! For four and a half seconds! But then, on the fifth and final second, it gives up the ghost and falls back down fat. Defeat. >< “Oh no,” I wailed. “I   failed!”

But the game attendant catches my gaze.  “Hey, you know what?” He says.  “I can see how much  you love the Minions and I can also see how hard you tried, so  I’m going to give it you anyway!”

“You’re the BEST!!” I   screech. For the rest of   the day, my poor carer had to push the wheelchair for me, since once that enormous Minion was on my lap, I couldn’t reach   around him to the wheel When we rolled me past his game stall later again that day, the guy was still  @ work and when I yelled “Hey!” at him, he looked up,  saw me holding the massive Minion on my wheelchair, flashed me the thumbs up and called back “Cool Minion!” my only response?  “THANK-YOU SO MUCH!!” :D

 This year, Queensland NEEDED to win the Origin, since our poor captain’s dad had suddenly passed away the previous Sunday but after immediately leaving camp to be with his family, he’d returned on Wednesday to lead the team out. Watching the game live from the couch I’d been terrified that the Blues would somehow snatch the victory from us brave Maroons but our lads were heroic and held on for the win; fingers crossed that’s a positive omen that Queensland have started another (at least!) eight-year winning streak!

And GLORY: for the first time since 2006 (nearly two DECADES ago!) the Brisbane Broncos won the NRL premiership!! The last time Brisbane hefted the premiership trophy was the year before the cruel and unfaithful God totally and wantonly destroyed my life with the brain injury and I’d been so GRUMPY with idiot Ben Hunt in 2012 when he’d dropped the ball from the restart and thus cost us the grand final (even though a church uncle very knowledgeable about the game had explained to me that the fault actually lay with the player in the previous play)  but Hunty hung around and secured the final redemption by winning the 2025 NRL premiership; I hope he and Adam Reynolds retire immediately and will be remembered as champions!

The day after the NRL grand final was a public holiday and originally my dearest dad had planned to take mother and I out to the city, hence why I was allowed to use Sparkless3 (my manual wheelchair). After boarding the bus, a girl sitting in the priority seating up the front (since her leg was casted up to the thigh) immediately waved me over to sit beside her. I was wearing my Broncos jersey to celebrate Brisbane’s mighty premiership win and since she was wearing a Broncos jersey too, complimented her on how awesome her jersey was.  “Likewise!” She cheerfully replied.  “Are you heading out to   their fan day like us, too?”

What fan day?? I’d not heard anything about it!  Her dad immediately whipped out his smartphone and showed the event to my dearest dad, my dad quickly located the same event on his mobile and voila, immediate plan change!

As we disembarked the bus the heavily casted girl and I bid each other bye and maybe cya at Suncorp Stadium and then we made our way inside!

Turns out one whole side of the stadium had been open to fans and not only was the PREMIER David Crisafulli present to give a little speech, afterwards, the grounds were opened to everyone!  When people started streaming down into the field, I told the parents that I wanted to head out too; sure enough, a short while late some usher approached us and asked would you like to go down?!

Down in the field we all took happy snaps together and I wanted to wheel over to  where a stage had been setup for the players to come out and get a Bronco to autograph my jersey for me, but the parents said don’t;  it’s too far away and we can just watch them on the big screens since we’ve gotta leave soon and open the door for the carer who’s coming at 4pm. Fair  enough, I watched the big screens and cheered loudly for the mighty Broncos; fingers crossed we’ll successfully defend the title again next year and hopefully  I’ll not haveta wait another nineteen years before we’re the premiership champions again because cripes, I’ll  be nearing SIXTY by then! (Fifty-seven. XD)

One more story for 2025: for the first time since 2012, I wheeled the Bridge To Brisbane! Mr. Hall, my teacher (for year ten high school maths) who first invited me to do it with him and a bunch of other maths teachers thirteen years ago has since moved up into heaven but last year at my twenty-year high school reunion I bumped into one of the teachers I’d done it with and Mr. Ilsley had said let’s do it together again next year!  Back in 2012 we’d done the 10km course but this year we only did the 5km course since Mr.  Ilsley’s in his seventies now. While travelling along the course, I saw some female doing the course using a rollator! She’d walk some and when she needed a rest, she’d put her legs up onto the rollator’s frame and the person accompanying her simply rolled her along! Back doing another session of blasted physio the next week (at time of typing this letter I’ve still got one more session to endure before finally getting a very short break over Christmas and New Year) I’d asked my physio, do you think I’d be capable of tackling the 5km using a rollator too? Like, walk some and then rest some? She’d replied I’m unsure can your affected hand handle a rollator but you should stick with what you know. Currently you are walking with a hiking pole; how about you walk 1km, sit 1km and repeat that for the 5km? She then immediately offered to accompany me to do it, saying I’d need to find someone to help me push my manual wheelchair along while I was walking. I immediately started enquiring around and a Toastmasters friend said she was willing to help push my wheelchair for me while I walked! Mother warns I’ll need training to be able to walk such a distance and I’ve said that I’m willing: once 2026 arrives I’m gonna start preparing for the event come September!

Huge apologies:  usually I send out these greetings come the 11^th, giving you one fortnight’s time to read and reply but yesterday I was busy attending Christmas parties; they’re one of my most favourite things about Christmas! Still, please allow me to wish you and your family a very Merry   Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year; please remember to contact me for a meal catchup/whatever so we can celebrate 2025 together since I’ve got odd parents who usually don’t lemme contact ANYONE and ask are they free for a get-together? Hope you’ve achieved everything in 2025 that you set out to and may your 2026 be overflowing with many awesome things!  Looking forward to   staying in touch with everyone next year~

XMas Wishlist 2025

Heylo, Santa! It’s been nearly one whole year since you last heard from me; hope you’ve had a solid yearlong rest from your epic Christmas present delivery last year and am/are all ready to go again! Unsure why last year you only left me *two* presents under the Christmas tree (I already reminded dad back in November last month to  please setup the  Christmas tree by Dec. 1^st since I needed to decorate it; unsure what’s he’s been busy  with and still hasn’t unpacked it from the garage yet but I’ll  keep pestering him to!) but seriously, would three/even five presents be too greedy for me to ask for? Like, I’m not like the spoilt brat Dudley Dursley was who threatened to throw some epic tantrum until he got like thirty-eight presents for his birthday but come on, Santa; get your act together! XD Here's what I’m hoping you’ll bring me this year:

(1)               Books – books will always be the first thing I ask for in any wishlist. I’ve been an avid reader ever since I learnt how to read and will happily spend a few hours with my nose buried in a book if given the chance. It matters not how shamefully and pathetically slowly I read post brain injury; the cruel and unfaithful God has taken away so much from me already and I’ll be damned before I’ll let Him take away my love of reading, too! >< My favourite genres are fantasy, science fiction and historical fiction but I’m willing to give anything aside from Mills And Boon a crack. XD Oh, it’s been just over a quarter-CENTURY since I graduated from primary school (1999) but one series of books I really loved reading was the Black Stallion series by Walter Farley! Could someone please get that for me to reread??

(2)               Teddy - another item that features in both my wishlists every year. Every teddy I have is loved and all are named, even though I will sheepishly admit to having one teddy called John Doe and another called John Doe2 since I can’t remember who I got them from! XD Bears are the quintessential teddy but I also love collecting unique ones; for instance, the teddy that currently keeps me company in bed every night is a BUBBLE TEA plushie! Squishmallows are cool too~ Actually, could someone please teach me what Squishmallows are called in Canto?

(3)               Pet – yes, I’m forever guilty of the manslaughter of poor Silver and Bronze; I honestly was ignorant of the fact that goldfish are so pathetic that they need a heater in their tank to keep their water warm enough for existence lest they   freeze to death! But they went to heaven all the way back in 2008 and come 2025, surely, I can be trusted with two more goldfish again? Just make sure their fishtank comes with a heater, please! Other than that: Luke MacCourt, I’m still WAITING for my PET ROCK! When you first told me about them years ago, I thought you were pulling my leg but when I went home and randomly Googled ‘pet rocks’ I actually found several WEBPAGES devoted to them! Like, you don’t need to give them food/water like you would with live pets but you can give them stuff like different textures to rest on! Luke, I know you’re really busy being a dad and all that and Liam, I’m not sure why you told me to let the matter drop, since I’m still after a pet for Christmas so hurry up and get your act together, lads!! XD

(4)               Minions – surely everyone who knows me only slightly will be aware of my complete obsession with these small, yellow, jellybean-shaped dumbarsed creatures but I honestly can’t get enough of them; even all the littlies from BCAC (my home church) no, the entire church congregation’s prolly aware of my besotted infatuation with them, so more Minions for Christmas please! BA-NA-NA!!! :D

(5)               Frosties – it’s my belief that every wishlist requires at least one food item. Sticking with my favourite box of unhealthy cereal here: someone please bring me a big box of Frosties! Mother only gives me healthy cereals like All-Bran, Special K and Weet-Bix but I need some way to achieve my sugar high! XD Anything with chocolate also can’t be wrong! Please just remember that I   have a nut allergy and will EXPLODE upon any consumption of nuts (well, thankfully the exploding part’s an   exaggeration but the nut allergy’s real >< XD)

(6)               Bubble Wrap – usually I like saying since small things (jewels) amuse small minds (me XD) I have always loved playing Bejewelled. Another small thing I like’s bubble wrap; will someone please bring me a big sheet so I can just sit one afternoon and happily pop away?? Better yet, wrap me some fragile, expensive present inside sheets of bubble wrap; that way, I’ll get to enjoy both the present and the bubble wrap! XD

Lol I’ve only asked for six things but have already run outta things I’m hoping you’ll bring me, Santa! XD Perhaps hopefully that makes me not too overly materialistic?  Well, I reserve the right to add to this wishlist as December continues! Actually more than actual presents (things) I’d much rather catchup with people over a meal (the way to my heart’s through my stomach;  feed me and I’ll love you forever XD) but for some strange reason I have odd parents (especially mother) who try their hardest to keep me socially isolated by denying me permission to contact anyone and seeing are they free for a meal together to celebrate Christmas? In that case, the onus is on you, dear reader: please contact me (Facebook Messenger’s prolly the easiest way to reach me since I rarely get mobile access unless I’m out) and say sth like haven’t caught up this year; let’s do lunch/dinner/whatever together!

Clear as mud? XD Everyone disperse and get me multiple Christmas presents!

Cheers,

Em.  ^^

P.S. Next post here … prolly my Xmas Greetings, although I really need to get a post out about how it’s been fifteen years since my most beloved maternal grandmother went up to heaven to live with God forever; anyhow, until then~ 

Birthday Celebrations 2025

 Eep, only one week until I turn 38.5 and I’m only just starting this post about how I celebrated my birthday MONTH this year! Yeah, that’s me: unorganized. XD

But cripes, I’m officially in my late thirties now! When I was thirty-seven, I could get away with saying that I was in my mid-late thirties, but once you reach thirty-eight, you’re definitely in your *late* thirties~

Forever grateful to my Facebook friend who taught me that your birthday celebrations needn’t be just restricted to the whole day; you’re allowed to celebrate your birthday for the whole MONTH! ‘Twas an awesome idea that I immediately adopted and I’m just gonna ignore the parents who sneer at me that I only want to celebrate my birthday for the entire month since I want people to take me out for meals because I reckon eating out and sharing a meal with someone’s a great birthday celebration, don’t you? Obviously, my celebrations are curtailed since the parents forbid me from contacting ANYBODY and asking are they free for a meal out together to celebrate my birthday with so I was very grateful for a friend who contacted me first and we enjoyed a lovely meal out together with dessert afterwards~

Like previous years, my first official birthday celebration began with the 3^rd edition book club ladies of the Logan North library. Book club’s held on the 2^nd Thursday of every month and near the end of the February book club one lady said “Well Em, it’s your birthday next month; how are we gonna celebrate your birthday with you?” I suggested dinner after book club but in the end, someone decided dinner during book club! We met at the Springwood Tower Hotel; the Chinese’s restaurant’s called Wong Wong. Meaning I had to share the Sum Ting Wong joke, obviously. XD The restaurant’s a Chinese one and the owner lady speaks Canto~ For birthday cake, someone made fat fluffy cupcakes with chocolate icing; everyone sang me the Happy Birthday song and dear Erika did the hiphips! For my dinner I chose this combo that was one bowl of fried rice (I picked out the prawns XD), a little sweet and sour pork, a little honey chicken, a little braised chicken and two spring rolls! Delicious~

But we ended early so Catherine took me   back to Tea Station and I enjoyed an Oreo croffle! Catherine’s agency from Staffing Options; my usual carers are from CODA South but when they’re not available agency carers get called. She originally told me that when Staffing Options first rang her, she was like, ugh, not another shift; I don’t wanna work anymore tonight but when she heard I   was the client she said I’d better go! <3 Catherine’s Chinese from Beijing~

My first official birthday meal out (BTW, I count every meal out during March a birthday celebration XD) wasn’t until the 2^nd Tuesday of March and I actually have Cyclone Alfred to thank for that! After mother retired from work two years ago halfway through the year, practically the first thing she did was cancel my Thursday lunches out. However, since Cyclone Alfred had caused some flooding in Garbo, everything had been shut so our GCCW group at the library was cancelled! Since Olivia still had the shift to take me, however, mother sent us grocery shopping @ Sunnybank Hills Shoppingtown and since Ho Lin Wah opens early @ 11am, she even let us grab lunch out before I came home for a shower! That was my first official birthday meal out, nearly one FORTNIGHT into my birthday month! I had the B meal (fried chicken drumstick with rice) while Olivia had honey chicken with rice; we ordered one HK-style milk tea and one HK-style milk tea coffee. I told Olivia to try a spoonful of each then choose her drink first; being a sweet tooth she went with the milk tea.  XD

One thing that tried to blow away my month of birthday celebrations:  cyclone Alfred! Since he made landfall way further up north than where the parents and I live we weren’t actually personally affected, but I vaguely recall dad going out and buying a big box of bottled water just in case and mother may have filled up the bathtub with water since the weather reports were saying power and water could potentially be cut for days. You know the singer Ronan Keating? Mother doesn’t like him since he cheated on his wife but I think he’s a great singer and have you heard his hit song If Tomorrow Never Comes? My parody: if tomorrow never comes … I got blown away by Alfred … XD For our final (I’m being melodramatic here XD) dinner together, dad cooked fried rice for us~

Around the time Alfred was coming, our Sunday service was only online through Zoom, although I’ve forgotten was that was because of Alfred/COVID lockdown/whatever. After service, several people were just chatting when suddenly Rosanna said she’d make me some cheesecake for my birthday! My current life motto: eat more cake, since fat people are harder to kidnap. XD Sure enough, one day she pops by and drops off three adorable tiny little cheesecake bites! The parents and I all enjoy one each~ Another motto I live by: CAKE for BREAKFAST CAN’T BE WRONG!! :D XD

On the night (well, morning the next day, but still night for me) Alfred arrived, I originally couldn’t fall asleep since outside was so WINDY and NOISY! But at 11:55pm I relieved myself once more, said oh, stuff it. I’m going to bed and pulled the covers over my head. Blessed sleep~ The next morning: hey, I didn’t get blown away! XD

Turns out Alfred brought one more benefit: he flooded UQ, meaning I got outta one session of physio!  XD Unsure did Alfred manage to flood the actual Therapies building; I would’ve guessed that some part of UQ was flooded and so everything was closed? Table tennis was also cancelled for the week~ Toastmasters was cancelled also, so instead of meeting   @ QUT we held a Zoom meeting instead.

However, Albert also brought some frustration: because of his predicted landfall; my personal care support was cancelled.  Sure, I shower everyday regardless of whether/not any carer’s here but when it’s mother supervising my shower, I get much less help than I’m comfortable with. For instance, the carer will usually help me rinse out my hair since I need to hold my right eye fully shut. Unsure why when my left side’s the affected side, it’s my RIGHT eye that doesn’t  fully shut (not enough to see fingers should you  hold them in front of me, but enough to see lightning like up the room  during storms) but I vaguely recall some doctor explaining to me that while your right side’s controlled by the left side of your body  and vice versa, for some reason it’s just  the eyes that are controlled by the same side of your body. The only thing my left side can do that my right side can’t?  waggle the EYEBROW! The left one goes up and down, while the right one just stays there … did I believe in reincarnation I’d guess maybe I was a Vulcan in a past life. That’d explain why I’m such a Trekkie! XD

Also, when I have a carer to assist me with personal care, they’ll help me wash my right arm once she’s washed the rest of me. My right arm can’t wash herself, see? Except the one time I asked mother to please help me wash my right arm, she made my left arm do it instead! Hence why I figured out a way to wash my own right arm with the long-handled brush I use to wash my back with. I don’t mind my affected left arm washing my right arm since I’m seated and can fully concentrate, but she’s unco and would take time. More time means more water used which means higher water bills. Mother already bitches at me about enough things; I don’t want her adding too much water usage to my list … *sigh*

Usually, nature’s my wakeup call most mornings, but the day before Cyclone Alfred arrived the winds heralding his arrival woke me up; gosh, weren’t they noisy!

Before Alfred’s arrival, dad and I also indulge in some panic-buying: forty bucks’ worth of groceries! XD

 

Only last year/the year before/some recent year did I realise I should Google and see what deals were offered on your birthday and then try and get as much/many free things as possible.  Unfortunately, mother was a TREMENDOUS PARTY POOPER and would only lemme redeem ONE! >< Unsure why she gets such a kick outta restricting me so, but hey. *sigh*

This year, I decided to redeem my free birthday drink from Gloria Jeans! The original carer that was gonna take me to get it suddenly wasn’t available but a new carer called Karen took me to Sunnybank Plaza instead.

Since I couldn’t quite remember where Gloria Jean’s was; after Karen parked, I asked would she please head up into the shopping centre first and find where it is before coming back to fetch me. Karen kindly did so, but came back and nearly gave me a HEART ATTACK when she’d reported it’d like shut down! O_o I was all for wailing but awesome Karen immediately Googled around and drove me all the way to Cannon Hill to get my free drink! <3 Seeing as the store was closing at midday, I walked/hobbled/staggered/limped/you choose a verb XD as fast as I could to order my drink before they closed for the day; a lovely old lady even lemme push in line! When I protested, I couldn’t take her place she roared with laughter and said go ahead; I’m not in a rush but obviously you are!

When Karen tootled me home, I quickly sculled it all down, lest mother confiscate whatever was left of it when I got home. Only then I got   brain freeze.   >< Actually, I had so much brain surgery back in 2007, 2008 and 2009 I’m not got any brain left to freeze; rather, I suffer from throat freeze! XD

Dad also took me to get my free Boost juice but then I got pissed that I didn’t sip it (what’s that sinful about taking a long slurp from your drink) nor did I share it with him! Well, he didn’t ask me for any; how was I to know he wanted some? XD

 

During my birthday month, I also attended some Toastmasters conference at like Parliament House and was given some star award! I’m unsure what for, since my favourite quote about stars is: stars don’t shine without darkness. XD But for lunch, I just Googled ‘food near me’ then Olivia and I bought lunch from Betty’s Burgers! A fried chicken burger with chips and chocolate thick shake for me: yum! After the conference everyone adjourns for cake and coffee (half strength mocha for me) and actually it extends to dinner too but since Olivia’s shift ends @ 6pm and I need a shower first I give the rest of my chips to the gentleman beside me, say bye and enjoy!

The day before my birthday I attend GG Bible study @ Dr. Lee’s house and feel very loved when once Bible Study’s over, Dr. Lee brings out a Woolies chocolate mud cake with Tim Tams stuck on top and my GG all sing me the Happy Birthday song! <3

Since Yu Lam and I have our birthdays only two days apart (she’s such a sweetheart and says I can say I’m just two days older than her, not TEN YEARS and two days XD) after church on the week of our birthdays we shared lunch together at some place called sth like Wolfissimo!

 

At the beginning of the month when I’d gone to the Pinelands Bakehouse to buy my once-weekly crunchy pork bahn mi, I’d happily burbled to Aunty Nancy (one lady that works there) that ‘twas my BIRTHDAY on the 20^th; when I come to buy my bahn mi on the week of my birthday she asks me, “You birthday yet?” (Her English isn’t the best but we understand each other just fine) When I excitedly reply “This Thursday!” She instructs “Wait” and goes back behind the counter.  I thought she meant wait while I heat up your bahn mi like she usually does but then she comes back out with an ENTIRE BIRTHDAY CAKE for me! She even proudly shows me how she’s scrawled ‘Happy birthday darling’ on the top of the cake and refuses any payment when I try and reach for my purse!  Afterwards, my carer and I laugh and agree she prolly scribbled Happy Birthday darling since she couldn’t remember my name. XD

When I was first released from the insane asylum (more commonly known to everyone else as the Brain Injuries Rehab Unit of the Princess Alexandra hospital XD), I had to return to the hospital every six months for an MRI to check that the idiot tumour inside my head hadn’t done anything stupid like hit a growth spurt. After several six-month all clears, the hospital said okay come once a year now. After several one year all clears, the hospital said okay come for an MRI once every two years now. Last year I was very happy to not need an MRI, since I’m extremely hard to cannulate because I have super-wimpy veins that bolt with terror whenever someone approaches them with a sharp needle. Meaning last year, I didn’t need an MRI but I went for my first once-every-two-years one during my birthday month.

When the doctor rings with the follow-up, she immediately reassures me that there’s been no tumour regrowth. Phew! But then she tells me I’ve somehow sprouted a huge CYST on my brain?? Me: um, doc, sorry I know absolutely nothing about cysts; am I like suddenly gonna explode now? The doctor roars with laughter before reassuring me, don’t worry, cysts are usually just filled with water but come in for a CT scan and we’ll check.

I thought CT scans were like MRI scans but turns out you’re only inserted into the tube up to your shoulders. After I’d been moved in and out like three times the technician comes over and says we’re all done. I’m like umm, but you haven’t even stuck me fully inside the tube yet; I’ve only gone into my shoulders thrice before being slid back out? The technician laughs and replies no, that’s it! XD

But back to cake: I see my long-lost cousin (my surname’s Chan and his is Chen; surely billions of years ago our cousins were siblings? XD) and he gives me some cake too! I also brought cake to share for table tennis and writers’ group; you could probably say that I was pretty caked out after my birthday month finished! XD

Someone around my birthday was also the first time I’ve been lucky enough to have both lunch and dinner out at a proper restaurant. Usually I don’t count our once-weekly family dinner together outs a proper meal out since dad only orders two meals for three people, takes one whole meal for his lunch the next day, eats half the other meal for himself and leaves mother and I the other half for dinner. Guess who gets the ‘bigger’ half? Obviously not me! >< XD

Oh! My birthday celebrations didn’t really end until June! See, for my birthday, a church friend offered to take me to AUSTRALIA ZOO; of course, I said yes since I’d not visited the zoo for 1.5 DECADES! We’d originally planned to visit the zoo around my birthday but then Cyclone Alfred blew our trip away and then her munchkins were ill but we finally made it!

Fi picked me up early and after breakfast @ Maccas (double chicken and egg McMuffin with a hash brown and a mocha for me) she tootled us all the way to Australia Zoo. Obviously, I used Sparkless3 (my manual wheelchair) for the trip and lucky we grabbed a map at the entrance since that place was HUGE! Later I asked mother was I really bad @ the Where’s Wally books when I was a kid coz whenever we saw a new animal, Fi would spot it immediately (I’m guessing that’s why she’s the vet, not me. XD) but I couldn’t find it! More often than not, she’d have to describe to me where the animal was hiding but often, she just took my arm and pointed it at the animal before I could see it too. XD

For lunch, Fi was healthy and ordered a salad but I went with a burger and chips. XD

Anyways, I had a marvellous birthday this year and will settle down to living life officially in my late thirties. XD

Next post here … I’ve a Fifteen Years Post due from July and also a Five Years one; will see which one I can get out first.

Until then~

Cheers,
Em. ^^