Robert Monday

My MIL has some difficulties in hearing.. so when we talk to her, we try to speak into her right ear, which is the better ear. Or else, we would have to repeat what we said to her a few times, with gradually increasing volumes and lesser words. And sometimes to the extent that people think we are being rude to her.

*无辜*

So, on Monday nite, we spent quite a long time explaining why Vic was driving a blue Peugeot instead of a red Kangoo, and why it was not his fault he got into the accident. The Peugeot didn't have any windows from the second section onwards, so passengers can only see the view outside from the windscreen and windows from the front section.

This was what went on inside the van on Monday nite.

*I spray some lemongrass air freshener and MIL catches a whiff of it*

MIL: 这个是什么来的?

Me: 柠檬草 (big mistake to do a direct translation. correct name is 苍茅 for most Singaporeans)

MIL: OHHHHH!!!! *sniffs* 味道很像苍茅 horrr??

Me: ... er.... 对啊，我刚才说的就是苍茅

MIL: OHHHHHH!!! 我以为你在讲柠檬.

Me: ....(in my heart: T_T sorrry la... 是我说错了啦....)

MIL: *sniffs* 很香 hor?? 你知道吗？苍茅拿来煮 Curry 很好吃的嘞!

(next bit is edited because you'd probably be bored hearing us talk about how lemongrass enhances the taste of curry)

*Long pause. We drive past a row of very nice bungalows*

Me: (very excited) Waaaaaa!!!! 你看！那些屋子很美 hor??

MIL: HUH? 你说什么？

*I suddenly realised that she had no windows where she was sitting, and by the time I manage to explain in our very well sound-proofed van with carpeted walls, we would have passed those houses*

Me: (after another long pause) Ahhhh!!!  YAAA!!! 苍茅拿来煮 Curry 很好吃嘞!!

MIL: Hah-Nor...(continues with the topic with a long string of sentences that I really can't remember now)


Vic giggles uncontrollably in the background. 
I throw him a dagger stare and hold back an irresistable urge to whack him with the street directory.


Moral of story: He (or she) who "roberts" doesn't have the last laugh. Booo.....