January/February Updates

I turned 28 about a month ago. I was feeling very emosh about it all because wow I can't believe I'm in my late 20s! Like 28's legit late 20s already. I was very much in denial when I was 26 and 27 but 28's pretty much solid lah ya. And how would we have all known that we'd still spend first two months of the year in lockdown. Went into lockdown last year in March completely not knowing the full extent of how serious this virus is. We're now in the thousands but expectedly, people are going into this second lockdown more stubborn and rebellious. Streets were peep quiet first 'round in, but now it's like nothing's new. I mean, who wouldn't be tired of this! It's a whole year and we're worst than from when we started! Imagine if the whole Sabah hullabaloo didn't happen, where would we be now as a country. Something very exciting happened this morning - we received our first ever batch of vaccines! I slept super late last night but I still made sure to put an alarm for 9am so that I could watch the live updates of the batch flying into KLIA. I was so groggy and hardly had my eyes open but it still made me so happy. It's ages til we go back to normal but I like to take comfort that this is a step forward. And I'm going to die die fight for people getting vaccinated. No place for anti vaxxers here, sorry!

_____

I've realised that I sometimes put my photos here and there and whenever I want to look through them I never really know where to look through first. Recently I signed into an email I had long abandoned and found a lot of my photos that were sent from Path before they shut down. I loooove going through photos and reminisce - it has almost become a favourite past time especially since we've been home so much the past year. I'm going to try take more photos this year and indulge in posting more here. So here are some photos in the past month.

- TANIA'S BIRTHDAY! -

My sissy pants turned 25 this year! Bit surreal that we have spent a birthday in lockdown but alas, here we are. We made the most of it! We ordered in some favourites from Dolly Dim Sum and some steamboat too! Which was so cool cause we even got the little pots and burners - made it like we were in a proper restaurant (sad tings). Tania is a wonderful friend and it showed when she had constant deliveries sent to the house from some of her best buds. We only managed to get a slice of each cake sebab banyak sangat haha

From Ili Pot for those who are curious! 

I'm such a mum to my siblings.

Love you dear sister, always always always.

- MY 28TH BIRTHDAY - 

And then 2 days later, I turned 28. I had actually planned for a birthday party thinking we'd be ok but of course I didn't because of the lockdown. Even thought of a theme all! Sad I couldn't have my friends over but Dayana still sneaked in and got me a birthday present! Cue tears. She stayed for birthday cake and I'm so glad I had atleast one friend celebrate with me! Harap harap next year we'll be back to normal!!!!! I can't wait lah for us to come together again and have fun. I miss playing badminton, game nights, lunch and dinners together!!!!!

Anyway! Since we had Chinese food for Tania's, I chose to have Indian food so we did! We ordered in from Malabar Palace, one of our favourite places to have Indian food. I ordered a cake but I have wonderful friends who sent me more cake and treats!! 

From Azam! Hehe, loved it. None of these cakes ever disclosed names btw! I had to put it up on my Instagram Stories for my friends to claim their cakes hahaha 

From Diy <3 Love her so much and I loved this cake cause it was chocolate orange, something we both love! One of the very few things we have something in common when it comes to food! 

This one I got for myself but didn't manage to makan sangat pun because was busy munching on everything else! But I loved the whimsical design (got it off Pinterest!)

This came in (the only cake that had a card and name!) later in the evening and I was so excited to get this because have always wanted to try Lacher Patisserie from all the reviews they've gotten!! Thanks for thinking me as Jennie, I'll have this card saved for all of time thank you very much.

And Sofea got me this super cute super pretty cake!!!!! Eeeep, with a mermaid all. Got this delivered right after I opened Dayana's present which was an Ariel pyjama tshirt! I'm obvious when I like something.

Misha got Tania and I this super cool super sweet fruit desserts! <3 Sayang forever.

And then much later, I got this too from Zati!!! I love, love, love churros so I immediately got to business to finish this! Thank you babe if you're reading, so thoughtful, love you always! 

Zaim and Hanis' birthday bouquet to me (I asked for flowers this birthday and I got them!). And a super special present in a small jewellery box. Love you both!!!!

My first birthday bouquet this year was courtesy of my sweetest Tania. The pinkest of pinks!

And then this came too!! From Aina and Sherry. I always always love going out with them or have them come over for my birthdays so this was so so so so sweet.

From Elin!! From my favourite florist too hehe love love their arrangements. So nice to have flowers all around the house. Wish it was my birthday every week haha

I got these delivered to me earlier in the week with no sender address. I have been wanting a pair for the longest time but never got around to getting one. Imagine my pure delight and surprise to open a box of pink Stan Smiths!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Found out it was from my colleagues!!! Eeeeep, they're the bestest ever I love them a whole lot!!!!! Can't wait to wear these out soon!!

A pink package of something so so so pink from Amal. It was an Impi bag, also something else I've wanted to get for some time but never got around to getting it!!! It's SUPER huge but I can't wait to bring it out soon. It's *super* pink and I love it.

Papa changed into something pink when I told him to pakai pink that day haha <3 

Sayang you always Dayana!!!! Thank you for making my birthday this year extra special!!

Grateful for my family and friends. Grateful that I have the comfort of my home during these tough times. Grateful for all I've got. Went into 2020 feeling hopeful for good things, not knowing what was about to hit us. So I took it as a lesson and I welcome 2021 with like... a nudge and a "Hey 'sup man?", feeling bit more cautious about everything around me. I continue to be as bright and as Nadia as I can be but I can't help to be more conscious of not putting my hopes up too high. This year I hope to do more good and be a better person. I say that every year but this year macam nak extra baik and extra sweet to all of you ahaha xx

Ok here are some random photos to fill in the post! 

Got an emergency haircut before the lockdown. This was during lunch hour at work hahaha grabbed something from Aunty Anne's and got a quick cut from my usual place at OU. Had it cut short this time 'round because I didn't know how long the MCO would be. Of course the hairstylist cut it a lot shorter than I had asked but I'm ok with it I guess. Wished I had cut my bangs too! Hair salons are open now but limited to just hair cuts and I'm dying to have my hair dyed again. Bored of my brown hair so I'm thinking of something super dark again. Also, my white hair is showing and it's bloody annoying. 

That night we also went out for dinner at Chica Bonita at Publika! The three girls in the middle (Wei Wei, Britt and I) are January babies so this was our celebratory birthday dinner. Wished the other girls could make it too!

Tania's birthday present for me. Been some time since I've read a book so this was just right to get back into it. Macam you feel so light and refreshed when you read this. Puts your perspective back into place and shows you that love is everywhere you see. Beautifully written. Can't wait to indulge in more.

Watched Blackpink's concert on Youtube with Tanners! She had bought access so I joined in the fun hehe, so fun! Best part about it was that I could also eat my favourite lauk while watching a concert. When can we do that kan? Hahah

Our yee sang on our last day of work before the CNY break (which was a blissful whole week!). 

With CNY came the mandarin oranges. Upon opening one of them, we found this baby one that we just had to take a photo of. How cute!!!!!! Hahaha 

In true Dayana fashion, she sent us cards on Galentines Day. We had the absolute time of our lives at her party last year where I made a bunch of new friends and brought some of my closest to her party! She sent us this handwritten card to not just me, but to both Tania and Iman too. They were so pleasantly surprised and touched that they pun wrote letters to Dayana. We sent out our cards and some dessert treats to her today as our way of saying thank you. I love generous friends and I love Dayana. So thoughtful and sweet! <3

Back to work tomorrow, full time and full quorum. We had been working on alternate days before this and without the full team. I do miss working in the office because I just get so much more done there but I do also love being home, sleeping in and showering at 2pm. The freedom *chefs kiss*. 

Have a fun week, friends! See you guys soon. And don't forget to register for your vaccination this 1st of March ok!!!! Don't be scared about it please, have faith in science. And you're doing this not just for yourself but for everyone around you. Don't be backward and please GET VACCINATED!!! I simply would not consider you a friend if you don't.

Kidding. Sorta.

xx

Zaim is married!

 Hi! A major life thing happened on the 10th January 2021.

My brother, my one and only baby brother, got married to the love of his life. 

I didn't think I'd get emotional because the whole event took only 48 hours worth of planning. They were supposed to get married about 2 weeks later but because of the MCO, they decided to bring forward the event. That meant a lot of things: it was only going to be just for family, that my grandparents couldn't come (sad!!!) and we had to get things settled the day before. They decided on a Friday that they were to be wed on Sunday!! That only left little of Friday and a lot of Saturday going around like mad. Ok, not us sangat lah. All of it was by Hanis' family doing to which we are always so grateful for. Thank goodness we had sent our kain to Foong Ling (ye ol' trusted tailor) much earlier but even then, we were surprised she managed to pull it off for all four of us ladies. Given, it was a very simple baju and we just added lace later. Zaim requested we wear grey and although Mama was meh about it, I thought it looked quite nice on camera! Some pearls and a silky shawl, and we're set! 

Zaim had to go buy his baju the day before! I had to call up the hantaran lady (I highly recommend her because i) she has the NICEST flower arrangements ii) Aunty Linda is the SWEETEST person you'd meet this year, seriously!! Bar none, 11/10 for service.) on Saturday morning to ask if she could do another 4 more hantaran dulangs! Zaim initially said because it was just going to a small ceremony, he'd be ok with just one dulang. But they must've changed their minds and asked for all 5 of the dulangs. Called Aunty Linda up and she was more than accommodating and said yes, sure, no problem! Ugh, love her so much. Such a saviour. Iman and I went to her place to pick it up that night itself (!!!) and she had done it SO beautifully, it was so painful to see it come undone much later. Like so sayang to touch it cause it was just so beautifully arranged. Even my dad loved it! My dad!!! My dad who has no affinity for these things at all! 

Our first run was to buy door gifts for the event. We went to this artificial flowers/door gifts place nearby my house called WH Floral (it used to be SSF) and scouted for some things before settling on this cuteeeeee little thing (ain't a box, ain't a bag so I don't know what it's called) to put some Patchi chocolates in. Some bits of ribbon and a whole lotta stuffing and they came out pretty cute! Someone even asked Hanis where she got these door gifts from haha! And this was so cheap too! Last minute events actually make you work more efficiently, I've realised.

Then we went to make a quick TudungPeople run at Ikano. I've worked with them for KL East Mall and they're just about the nicest people to work with so naturally I'd only want to support them! I actually got myself a grey shawl from Naelofar the day before but I couldn't resist TP's silk one so I got that and gave Iman the Naelofar one. As pictured below. Cute kan, macam muallaf.

This was at about 11pm? We went to collect the hantaran's quite late because understandably, under super last minute circumstances, she could only finish it by 10pm. Her place is about 30 minutes from mine so took us a bit to go back and forth. And I was driving so slow because these hantaran's are so delicate that a bump or a swerve could jeopardise its original arrangement! But came back safe and sound, phew.

Please, please check them out if you're looking to do your dulang's or some flower bouquets, they're the nicest people to work with and they're super accommodating to all your whims and requests! They're @pretty.bunga on Instagram and you can check out more of Zaim's dulangs here! 

Ok photo time!

How cute are Zidan and Naim!! They became our dulang boys unknowingly!

Fun fact: My brother's sampin was my dad's during his nikah day! Full circle, enough to get my grandmother sebak sikit.

One with his sisters. Zaim grew up very, very naughty. Like drive-you-up-the-wall-mad kind of naughty. He was also like an Energiser bunny, my parents can tell you all sorts of stories about him when he was young. If you watched our old videos, you can almost always hear my mum or dad yelling out "ZAIM!!!!" "ZAIM DON'T DO THAT!!!" "ZAIM COME HERE!!" hahahaha he was just notoriously buas. Like, cannot duduk diam. Then he grew to be the sweetest boy (and a lot calmer) and I am just so proud to see Zaim where he is now - he's such a great guy, love him so much. As an older sister, you can't help but feel so... motherly I guess?? So to see him grow into the man he is now is just so... heartwarming and wonderful.

Hanis here is so cute, wanna push her.

I didn't cry here, though you think I would. I cried when Zaim hugged me. I hugged him bit longer than usual and he just hugged me tighter after that, kissed me on my head and all that. Cried like shit after that. Love himmmmmmmm 

Ok a quick one on my baju. It was a simple baju kurung modern with lace borders at the sleeves and baju. I got the kain from Jakel and the lace from this place on Instagram called Lace Mewah. My mum went to the place to buy laces for all of us and they're pretty affordable too! I liked that they had an array of options. I find Jakel to be quite limited in their border laces and they're super pricey too! I just added some of Mama's long pearl necklace and some earrings on and I was good to go. I absolutely love wearing baju traditional! Wished I wore it more often.

Hanis with both her mums. (She calls my parents Mama and Papa too now which is so lovely)

And my mum's selendang is off, everyone. Hahahahhaa

One with all the cousins who came! Missing is Amelia, Mikhail (both in the UK), and Mia Sara (in Penang with my grandparents, aunties and uncles). Would've been extra sweet if we had the full quorum but this will do for now! 

Why are these cuties always just so darn cute! 

And one with the family.

Anybody who's on my Instagram would know this as I had it on my caption but I'll tell it here anyway. 

Zaim has only ever told me about one girl ever in his life. That girl is Hanis. It happened over lunch at home and he mentioned that he had went out with Hanis the day before and something happened between them that made him so incredibly happy. So happy that he just had to tell someone. He never mentioned just for how long he had liked Hanis but I think the date that he had just gone probably reaffirmed his feelings. That was the first time he ever indulged me about his love life. Hanis was the only one for him. Zaim is the kind of person that if he wants something, he'd go get it. No matter how long and how troublesome the journey may be. He'd find a way and he'd work to make it happen. Hanis was the only one for him and he knew it from the get go. So alhamdulillah with his prayers and those of everyone who love him, the Almighty granted his prayers and on the 10th of January 2021, despite the circumstances, they were pronounced husband and wife.

Hanis is such a wonderful person and she has the sweetest of hearts so we're only very happy that she is now part of the family. It's also pretty nice to have a friend as a sister in law! I used to go to her apartment unit in college and hang out with her. At the time, it never occurred to me she'd be calling my parents as her own and my brother as her husband! It's so wild if you think about it. Alhamdulillah, Allah is so great and has blessed us with the loveliest and most kind Hanis as our sister and daughter in law.

We love you both so much and we are boundlessly happy for your union. I'm so glad you seek comfort and warmth in each other and may Allah continue to bless you endlessly with rezeki, happiness and love now and forevermore. Sayang you both always and always.

xx

Dear 5 Year Old Me,

Dear 5 year old Nadia,

You've got it so good, darling girl. You'd have a bit of a difficult time in your first years of school but it gets so much better. You'd meet friends that would quite simply change your whole life. You're a shy little girl with undeserving insecurities, like that birthmark on your elbow. Your inability to speak fluent Malay and getting scolded for it in school - painful times and you'll remember it for life. Getting made fun of it only made you a much better person because it plants empathy and sympathy within yourself - something you'd still have at the fun age of 27. Yes! It's fun. You'd walk around seeing these 20 year old's at malls and wonder how cool it must be to be of that age - to be free, to drive around anywhere you want, to buy all the Barbie dolls you want without having to tug on Mama's baju to cautiously ask if you could get one at Toys 'R Us. And a few minutes shy of being 28, I'm going to tell that that's all true - it is cool to be in your 20s. They'd become some of your best years. But dear girl, you've got it good throughout your whole life. It gets freckled with some harder nights but you've done well, anyway.

Your dreams have come true; one at a time. You'd get your straight A's in UPSR and PMR. You got your pink Motorola Razr and your first Mac laptop from these achievements. Your high school crush in turn, had a crush on you too and although that didn't work out, take solace that you went on a date with him and it was still one of the loveliest days you've had. You also went to the college of your dreams and met people that have grown to become more like family to you. And all the conversations in the car with Mama about her days as a student in the UK, you'd also get that. That came with a lot of prayer and Pak Tok and Mak Tok's help. Pak Tok is, btw, doing well. He's not as quick as he used to be but dear God, are we happy that he is still here with us. You spent 3 of your best years in Bristol learning so much about yourself and the type of independence you had only imagined of before this. It would be the experience of your life and you'd come back with a newfound love for your country, for change, and for yourself. 

So although you'd have tough days in between, you'd wake up the next day a bit better. And it never stops. It's never stopped. You'd be a romantic and you look at life with rose coloured glasses. You're all the better for it. You'd meet people who would come and go but a gentle caution to not be sad about it for too long for they were all hard earned lessons for you - lessons you'd only make sense of later in life and be thankful for regardless.

As for family, your love for them grows tenfold. Zaim, Tania and Iman have grown out of their phases and blossomed into the sweetest and kindest people you know. They're also very funny. They're your best friends for life and you'd share some of the most important moments ever with them. And Mama and Papa, they're doing well and they've gone above and beyond for you over the years and worked so hard to get you to where you want to be. They've realised your dreams for you so never doubt their love and care. Your priority in life now is to exercise your rights everyday to become the person that would make your family happy. From all the love they've showered generously to you, you owe them at least that.

You'd do good. You'd grow out of your shell and you'd eventually find your footing in life. It's a bit wobbly of a beginning but it steadies itself soon, I promise. Don't be swayed by anyone who tells you you're too nice or you're too generous with your laughs. Be nice anyway. Be generous anyway. I don't have all the answers yet to your questions but stay prayerful, dear girl, for all that is yours will be called to you in good time. The clock has struck 12 and I'm bound for sleep so I'll end this post here. Dear 5 year old Nadia, in the instance of a parallel universe where we'd meet, I hope you'd take a good look at me now and think to yourself "what a cool girl she has grown to be."

You got this. Love you always.

xx

31st December 2020

It's the 31st of December 2020.

The year is coming to an end but the effects of it will linger through 2021. At least for the first few months. Malaysia ends the year with a record high cases of 2,525 just today.

I find myself in a familiar position, wrapped under my covers in my room waiting to hear the fireworks at midnight. It reminds me of my days in Bristol, actually.

2020 will go down as probably the most memorable year for a lot of us. Never would have I ever thought in a million years we'd find ourselves in a pandemic, and partaking in a nationwide lockdown for close to three months. How we find it so normal to be wearing masks and having to scan QR codes and take temperature virtually everywhere we go. Kalau tak, it'll be so kekok. So many things are just so... kekok this year. Who the hell would've thought social distancing would ever be a thing. The other day I bumped into a friend's mum and at first we didn't salam but at the end, we just decided to salam her and I miss it so much! Last day of the year and it's still so weird to me. 

This year, I'm just very, very grateful. That I have a roof over my head, food on the table, family to be quarantined with, friends to holiday together and a job to groan about. The world saw a lot of kindness and generosity and understanding. It really felt like God wanted to give us a time out from our tumultuous days. How cliche is it to say this but it stands true: to give the world a break it needed. And most importantly, for us to realise how good we've got it with our lives. To be thankful for the frontliners, to be empathetic and generous to the ones who are going through an immensely difficult time, to be considerate of each other and to learn how to prioritise. I think what I've been trying to say (but so hard to word it out!) is that this pandemic has forced us to take a step back from our daily to reevaluate our lives and see what we can do to make it a better place. During that short sweet period of time when Malaysia was doing single digit cases everyday (I cry thinking about it), I appreciated going out and doing normal things a whole lot more. What used to be a normal experience like planning a trip with friends would soon be such an exciting time. Or going for karaoke! Or watching movies ramai ramai. And going to weddings!!! Man, I miss it all. I can't wait for the time we can travel and see the world again, I miss it so much. I miss the world being normal so much!

This year I'm also so happy and blessed because something happened in my life that has made me closer to God. Honestly, I don't know what'll happen but I'm happy anyway that it's made me more in touch with my faith. I spend more time after prayers to berdoa for things I want for myself and for the ones I love. I look forward to praying too. InsyaAllah to better things for me this 2021. 

Ok! Let's make this 2021 much much better than the last. There's just so much more for us to be and to do and I hope we work hard to make them happen this year. Let's always strive to be better people. Better daughters and sons, better partners, better sisters and brothers and better friends. Find the things in life to be grateful for and I promise it'll change your perspective on life. It's worked for me and I hope it does the same to you too. Some days will be harder than the next but my God, you've got this!!

We're going to make the start of a new year the start of a new take on life. You've got this!

Love to all! Here's to a wonderful year ahead of us, however challenging it may be.

xx

KL East Mall

Phew, what a day!! I need to write this all down before I fall asleep and start another very busy day.

For those who don't know, I work at a retail consultancy firm. The bulk of our work is leasing to malls but we are also deeply involved in the planning of it too; so in terms of layout and fit out. A project that has kept the company busy the past 5 years is KL East Mall. It's a mall developed by Sime Darby - their first wholly owned mall. Of course we have other projects that have occupied us but KL East Mall was probably the most important of them all. 

I guess it would also be the most interesting because of the pandemic. Leasing seemed an impossible feat during a pandemic as you can imagine. Who wants to expand their business midst of a global viral outbreak?! Well... a lot more than you think. We've managed to pull through by bringing renown retailers to this mall despite it all and it's probably what I'm most proud of. 

So anyway! It has finally come! The opening day of the longggg awaited KL East Mall (KLE for short)! We have been running up and down especially in the past week making sure that everything is in place - that tenants complete their work and all is in order. Of course you can expect hiccups and well.... hiccups we had. But it was all such a rewarding learning experience that I'll take with me forever. A newfound and everlasting appreciation for the hard workers behind the renovation process - working on a tight timeline is no joke difficult. 

But it was so much fun today. We were there bright and early and we left when the mall closed. Helped out with some of our tenants in overseeing their operations and assisted best we can to ease their first day chaos. Seeing the mall come alive after so many, many long days and nights of hard work was so rewarding. We still have acres to go to achieve what we really want but today was a wonderful start if I do say so myself. It was fun to see so many people come over and get excited about the mall. We really believe in the potential of KL East Mall this whole time and we are very pleased to see that people share that same sentiment. 

It's only about to get better because some tenants are still not ready to open mostly due to the current CMCO constraints but insyaAllah in the coming weeks, we will progressively see more and more tenants opening with us and making the place livelier that it already is. To name a few that'll grace the mall soon is Naj N Belle, Calia, Chef Wan, Decathlon, dUCk, Lilit, Starbucks, and Siti Li. We also have rock climbing and cinema with us but because of the ongoing Covid 19, the entertainment trade had to unfortunately put an indefinite pause on their operations. So sabar ya kawan kawan, soon enough it'll be even more meriah with these tenants onboard! 

"Eat together and not separately, for the blessing is associated with the company"
- Prophet Muhammad S.A.W

I'll post more photos tomorrow because it's already 1am and I'm about to face another hectic day. All in which I'm happy to do. So happy!

Edit: More photos now.

Other than site visits, we also have ridiculous amounts of paperwork in the office. Endless negotiations and contract amendments and table sheets... this was my table situation for months.

This is what is called a 'hoarding visual'. For tenants who are unable to open together with the mall on the grand opening date, are required to put up a full height hoarding along with its visual. Full height meaning it covers all the way up to the ceiling so that noise/dust doesn't escape from the lot while they rush to finish up work. In our last few days leading up to opening, a bulk of our work was rushing tenants to submit their visuals and contractors to put it up quickly. 

For all ice-cream aficionados, you'd be familiar with the yellow grill. You'd be quite surprised to know Inside Scoop did all their work within a week tops. A WEEK!!!! Met up with the owners on opening day and they were so lovely. 

Ali, Muthu & Ah Hock. I was SO excited to see this come together. A kopitiam in a mall was sure to do super well and it did alhamdulillah! 

This is the kiosk area on the LG floor with notable brand names like Famous Amos and Tealive. Loved seeing the mall come together because just a little over 2 months ago, it was all bare concrete for these lots! 

We also have dUCk!! Exciting to have them on board. Under the Fashion Valet group, we also have LILIT. and KL East will host its first ever physical store.

Exciting sneak peak to Naj N Belle! It was meant to be opened together with the mall but due to unforeseen circumstances, some things were not able to arrive on time. Very exciting to see this come together. Soon soon!

Poplook dismantling its hoarding. Loved working with Poplook, they were an incredibly dedicated team and were the least fussy! Hahaha. Super professional and so easy to collaborate with for KL East Mall. 

This was us in my car because we didn't have an office to work out of so for when our phones ran out of juice, we had to run to our car and charge it there. It was also a party.

xx

15 Minutes

 I'm going to give myself 15 minutes to blog before I head for my good night sleep.

I'm having a gush of delayed emotions; I miss so many people. So many of my friends, and so many of the things we used to do together. This third wave has heightened fears in so many of us; so much so that although it isn't a proper lockdown, we find ourselves confined at home anyway. Well, almost all of us. Some still find it appropriate to head out and meet up with friends and have fun. I don't understand why we're not taking this more seriously. Of course there's that argument of "life goes on" and that we have to still maintain and adhere to SOPs but I think a cafe date can wait. Worrying numbers now in Selangor and KL and I think we have taken this for granted. We always think the numbers are scary but that since a bulk of it is still from Sabah, we have nothing to worry about. And that it's okay to go out. It isn't!! Not until we're in the clear, at least. Which isn't so wild to fathom because we've had those days before of zero and single digit cases. Stay home if and when you can. It's the *least* you can do while so many of the frontliners help combat this for you. It'll be so mindless and irresponsible of us going out risking it for everyone. 

Anyway, I miss everyone so much. All of my friends. I bumped into a friend the other day at the lobby of my office (yes, I work from the office) and I was just so elated to see him! We aren't that close but I was just still so stoked to see a friend outside! Haha. I was watching the news on the vaccine progress and my heart leapt for joy. It's said to be available April 2021 and although that could very well be untrue, it still excited me. That the fact that we could be at this virus' tail end. Life will never get back to its usual step and rhythm if there isn't a vaccine in this world for this pandemic so I hope we're getting there soon. I just need this all to be over with, what a nightmare year it has been for so many of us. I speak from a place of privilege of course, in which I completely acknowledge. That I still live with my parents rent free, that I still have a job, that I still have all this technology to connect me with the rest of the world and that I complain that I can't work from home. MasyaAllah. For the unfortunate ones who have had it bad; losing their work, battling with mental health, struggling to keep food on the table, I can't begin to imagine their year. 

Ok, my 15 minutes is up. I'm going to go sleep now. This is already considered late for me these days. I'm usually out by 10:30pm. Work has kept me on my feet this past few months. Leaving me stressed and tired and drained everyday but I am grateful for it anyway. Like, *in tears* grateful.

I'm off Instagram for a while, by the way. It's been... bit of a weird time for me personally. And I don't know when I'll be back on; could be next week, could be next year. But it's going good... I think. Anyway, you can find me on Twitter and/or here. If you're a friend, Whatsapp me to say hi; I'd love it if you do.

Night, guys. Talk to you soon. Take care, stay safe and don't forget to read your doa's tonight. Keep me in them too, if you don't mind. 

See you in a bit.

xx