2017
was another year that started slow enough but sped along somewhere along the
way and before I knew it, the year was almost gone. It was another year full of
challenges, trials and tribulations, sweat and tears, and at times testing, tiring
and trying. As usual, the headlines focused on natural catastrophes and
disasters, calamities, displacements, tragedies, the continuing senseless war
in Syria, starvation in Yemen, war against IS and terrorism, and the debate
over global warming (it’s real, accept it and deal with it already!). There were
also the news of the mass exodus of the Rohingyas, the uncovering of the sexual
harassment and rape by Harvey Weinstein and the never-ending hilarious
statements by the President of the U Ass if you care to be bothered to follow
his tweets. We also have our own comedy right here involving money (lost but of
course), poor governance and financial mismanagement. After all, those are what
made the headlines: sensational, disturbing, shocking, mind-numbing news.
I
continued following some accounts/pages on Twitter, IG and Facebook to have an
idea of the world and its happenings but that’s about it. I’m hardly on FB
otherwise. Alhamdulillah, I managed to equal my previous year’s reading total
of 150 books and spent almost every night reading the Quran, especially Yassin
for Mummy and those who had departed and a couple of other surahs. I would
admit to stumbling from the straight and narrow every now and then and am
continuing to be a better Muslimah.
I
had to take more emergency leave as my dad’s health started failing which meant
I took more leave compared to the year before. Alhamdulillah, I still managed
to squeeze in some trips:
January:
Had office teambuilding in Cherating during the third weekend then flew to
Dubai via Cochin, India, on the first day of Chinese New Year before travelling
overland to Oman
February:
Came back from Oman and a few days later, spent Thaipusam weekend at Tanjong
Jara Resort
March:
Didn’t manage any trips
April:
Spent a short weekend in Penang then flew out to Warsaw at month-end
May:
Came back from Europe after brief pitstops in Paris and London
June:
Didn’t manage to make any trip ;’(
July:
Flew to Sydney to meet Arsenal
August:
Didn’t manage to make any trip ;’(
September:
Trip to Kota Bharu and returned to Pangkor Laut Resort
October:
Trip to Singers
November:
Day trip to Kuala Pilah
December:
Year-end trip to Uzbekistan
Arsenal
won the FA Cup again and as mentioned above, I flew to Sydney to meet them. But
I’ve not been pleased with them thus far this season and have stopped being
emotionally invested in them. After all, there are a lot of other things more
important in life in the larger scheme of things anyway: death, life, good
health, wealth, a strong iman, love. I do catch the occasional match but I have
stopped following them as fervently as I used to.
I
have continued cutting down on chicken and meat consumption but can’t quite
stop eating junk food. I continued my morning walks and have even taking to jogging
4 km on every other Sunday. Whenever I do that, I feel like collapsing and
throwing up but boy, does it feel so good after that. I walk an average 5 km
daily (even more on weekends) and take short cat naps during lunchtime after
some reading. I continue carrying my water bottle and shopping bags almost
everywhere. I aim to shop only for quality brands now and not waste money on
lower quality goods which won’t last long anyway. I want to eat healthily (save
for the occasional junk food craving) and purchase food items just enough that I
don’t run the risk of wasting them. I think even Jamie Oliver said it’s better
to buy in small quantities if you’re cooking for a small number. Sure, it would
be economical to buy in larger quantities but what’s the point if you’re going
to end up wasting them? I also want to continue trying to be a responsible and
environmentally-aware citizen of the earth and traveller.
Anyway,
Happy New Year 2018. May this year bring us all much joy, happiness, love,
iman, good health, wealth, success and prosperity, peace and good fortune. May we
be strong enough to face come what may, insyaAllah and amen.
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