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I was born in a rather large Chinese—Thai family (my grandma has 15 children and 106 grandchildren, counted more than 10 years ago) my mother is the 12th one. She was brought up to be a decent housewife, I have to say. She knows everything from cooking to plumbing (from 20 years of serving my father’s family) I often hear her clever suggestion to the plumber on how to arrange the pipe in the bathroom. Further, she has been my personal doctor since I was little.

Thanks to the availability of medicine in Thailand, she always keeps every type of medicine at home. As soon as I didn’t feel well and told her my symptom, diagnosis would be delivered immediately (due to 3 kid raising experience) and she would then, prescribed me a medication. Soon after that, I got better.

I wouldn’t recommend anyone to do that— it’s probably safer to see the doctor, unless, you’ve got a very experienced mum like mine! Medication at home is good and bad but I suppose my mum hates going to see the doctor.

Although she never admits that, I remember once she said to me, ’I’m afraid of the syringe the most’ and recently, I have found out that she felt quite uncomfortable staying in the hospital due to the fear of hospital ghosts She was hardly very ill that she has to be kept in the hospital but, I think, that time she had to accompany my grandma because of her knee operation.

My mum tried very hard to persuade one of us (me or my brothers) to accompany her as well…heh (sorry, mum!, secret revealed) A lot of the time, I have found my mum’s reflection in myself (not about ghosts or syringes)— even now, living in England for more than 4 years, I am always told off by my English boyfriend for using my own medicine given by my mum to heal myself at home! He will always push me to go see the doctor (sometimes even makes an appointment for me!) and tells me to use medicine prescribed by the doctor only.

Well, it’s just so convenient to buy any type of medicine from the pharmacist in Thailand. However, I have realised that a lot of my medicine ,easily bought from Thai drug stores, can only be prescribed by the doctor and with a serious case. Oh, no! What have I been taking in the last 20 years?!?…

She is also a perfect cook for Thai and Chinese food (plus western food, at times). I still remember when we were quite young, my brothers and I got really excited when we saw ’New KFC Chicken Pop’ advert on TV (This KFC Chicken Pop is small pieces of chicken marinated with ’new’ ingredients and more favour, deep fried extra crispy outside) ’Wow, it looks so delicious!’ we thought.

Next day, my brother came back home with a box of that. We quite enjoyed munching the crispy bits and discussing the great taste and similar look to the advert while my mum were taking a glance and eventually asked if she could try one. On the following day, we were surprised to see something so similar to KFC Chicken Pop but in a huge amount on a big plate in the kitchen; it’s ’KFC Chicken Pop’, proudly presented in mum’s version!

’Wow!!’, that was the only thing we said before started munching. After that meal, that evening, we have never visited KFC again.

These things keep me wondering whether there is anything else that my mum can not do! Mum would definitely be flattered by reading this essay….But, you see, that’s one thing mum can’t do (understanding English); we’ll see more of her funny side on ’what are things that my mum can’t do?’!