2020 in review

Just like that, 2020 is almost coming to an end. I cannot believe December is coming to an end and soon, we will be welcoming a brand new year. 2021.

I feel quite sad that we didnt get to do much this year. Felt like we were waiting for 2020 for ages and was so hopeful that it was going to turn out to be so great but in the end, it was such a let down. 

We started our year really well. Back in January 2020, we welcomed the new year in Bangkok and had an amazing time with the family. My kids also had a really nice time with their cousins there. Although there were reports of Covid-19, it wasnt really a big deal back then. We had no clue what was coming. We travelled to Desaru and Singapore too in January. At that time, Covid-19 stories were already detected in Singapore and Johor. We were worried but still, we didnt know how serious it was going to get. I remember Singapore malls were quieter than usual and some people were already wearing masks. At that time, we were still walking around Singapore without masks on. I dont know how to do that anymore. How much things have changed since then.

In February 2020 we were busy preparing for our Mekah trip. It was a journey to remember for me and it was truly one of the most humbling experience of my life. I was blown away by that trip and enjoyed every bit of it. Thinking about it gives me goosebumps and I cant wait to go back there. While we were in Mekah, the pandemic started getting more serious. Arab Saudi decided to suspend all entry for pilgrims visiting the holy sites while we were there. Some of them were already in Jeddah airport and was asked to return. How lucky were we that we arrived only a few days before that happened. I believe, we were really the chosen ones to be there. MasyaAllah. 25 February 2020 is also an important date for me because it was the first time I wore the hijab (to the airport for my Umrah) and I have not taken it off since. I would like to keep and remember this date as the date of my hijrah.

We arrived in KL in March and we had plans to travel to Paris and London during the easter break in April. It was supposed to be amazing to celebrate my mil turning 80. But Malaysia went into lockdown in March just 2 weeks after we arrived back from Mekkah. All the plans we had for this amazing 2020 went down the drain. March 2020 was the first time we had to be in proper lockdown. Police and army seen everywhere even in malls. Going to the supermarket to get groceries was like going to war. It was terrifying. An experience we will never forget.

April was a sad month for me as it was my first experience with death of a close family member. In my 40 years of age I've been blessed to have all my family members with me. I have never experienced real grieve till I was 40(turning 41). You would think that one will be more mature and strong at 40 when dealing with grieve and death but trust me, it is just as hard if not harder. I cried and cried lots that month. I lost the most amazing person in my life. I lost my dear grandma. Someone so dear to me. My biggest fear finally came true that month. It was painful but I am happy that I was there and I got to say my goodbye despite being in lockdown. Al-fatihah Tokmi. You will always have a special place in my heart and I will continue to pray for you till the day we reunite again, InsyaAllah.

Ramadhan this year was probably one of the best Ramadhan for me because I felt like I've done more ibadah than I ever did. I tried to do my terawikh every night and read the Quran more than I ever did. I got myself a digital Quran too and that helped me a lot in my reading. 

In May we celebrated Raya in the new normal. It was a quiet one. In a way it was ok because we were all still grieving. It was our first raya without my grandma. It was hard. For the first time, kids didnt get to celebrate with their cousins. Raya felt like just another day. I didnt even get new raya outfits for the family. For the first time, we didnt have colour coordinated raya outfits, which is a shame because that has been a tradition for many years. The Raya mood was gone.

June, July and August is always a busy month for us because it is our birthday months. One after another. It was pretty low-key but memorable nonetheless. The kids had some friends over for their birthdays and that itself was a nice time for the kids as they haven't seen their friends in months. 

August this year was also a huge milestone for my kids as they moved to a new school. We were very excited and really enjoying the new school very much but our excitement was short-lived because the government announced another lockdown after the Sabah elections. I was so pissed that they had to go back to online classes only just a month after being in the new school. Such a bummer that was.

September went by so fast too. I turned 41! *cries* Alhamdulillah for all the blessings in my life. Although I always have to order my own birthday cake every year (rolls eyes) but I am happy that I am surrounded by good wonderful people in my life especially my husband and family. I celebrated my birthday with people dearest to me and I couldnt ask for more.

On the 2nd of October, my birthday gift arrived. Yay!!! I've been waiting for you for months. 

I also finally got to see my brother and his family. They moved to London for a year (to do his Masters) and we've missed them so much. They're now back in KL for good and I finally got to meet my new baby nephew. Baby Yusof is just too adorable for words. I love that boy so much.

November went by really quickly too. We were going about our usual routine most of the time. I wondered many times if this semi-lockdown will ever end as cases kept rising. I couldnt celebrate my mom's birthday but we spent some time with her at my brother's place and that was fun seeing my nephews and mom. A friend of mine invited me for lunch one day at her new place and that was a lot of fun too seeing everyone to catch up. Small gatherings with dearest friends and family always puts me in a good mood. Something we took for granted pre Covid days. Now that we dont get to do it much, each time we meet we treasure those moments a lot more.

December felt long somehow. The kids ended their online classes for this academic year and we are hopeful that school will reopen in January. Hopefully they will be able to return back to campus again. We had a short break to Legoland this month which was nice too. For the first time ever, theme park was empty and for the first time, we didnt have to queue to get on the rollercoaster, which was a lot of fun for the kids. 

Despite this challenging year, I think we've all done pretty well this year. We all had our ups and downs. Some can be testing to the core but alhamdulillah, we made it! Let's pray for a better year in 2021. 

Happy New Year everyone. May Allah protect us all and bless us abundantly always. 

Food Galore

Best Chocolate Cake EVER

I turned sweet 41 last week and I am blessed that I have friends who wants to celebrate with me. I dont know why but birthdays are always a big things for us makchics. 

My birthday celebration started a week before my birthday in Alexis. It was really unexpected as I thought we were there to celebrate a girlfriend's birthday but it turned out to be a double celebration. Food was good as always. I'm a pasta girl and I ordered my usual seafood spaghetti. I was loaded with carbs!

A week after my birthday, my best friends took me out for lunch. Again, it was a double celebration as there were 2 of us celebrating birthdays in September. Food was good and company was even better. We were there for hours. If it werent because we got kicked out (the table we sat for was booked at 4pm), we would have stayed longer. These girls have been my friends from school days. They know my taste very well and ordered this glorious cake. My ultimate favourite. Chocolate cake with chocolate cream cheese. It was wonderful.

Ficus in TTDI

Next celebration was with my kakaks. My soul sisters who are always there for me. Sometimes I wonder why they put up with me because I am always in need of a kick in the butt with them for being so lazy. I got a lovely birthday gift from them too. Some art tools and demanded that I paint for them. 

BV

This week, I had another glorious birthday lunch. We opted for Indian food. Food was so so good I dont know what else to say.

Tasty Chapati

 

So I think with this, I am wrapping up my birthday celebration this year. I couldnt be happier. My real birthday gift is arriving in October (according to my husband and kids). I know what it is and although it has been months since we decided on it, I am so so excited!!!! 

Thank you Allah for all the blessings in my life. I am a simple girl. I dont need much to make me happy, really but yet the abundance of things I am getting in my life - my good health, my family and their wellbeing and friendships I have, I am so so grateful. Alhamdulillah.

Sweet 41

 Early this week, I celebrated my 41st birthday. It is so hard to believe that I am 41. It was a special day indeed but I didnt do anything special. 

My morning started as usual, sending my kids to school. After dropping them off in school, my husband and I went for breakfast in Common Man in TTDI. We had the big breakfast.

Every birthday, I try to splurge on skincare products on myself. This year was no different. I went to KLCC and spent some time exploring Sephora. It is so hard to shop for makeup these days as we are not allowed to try the products. I was annoyed that the salesgirl kept following me around despite me telling her that I am only here to look around. (why do they do that?! it is annoying!!) I bought some stuff there and left. I went shopping for other stuff too and ended breaking my bank account. But it felt good because I generally hate shopping.

I had lunch at House&CO and had my usual favourite meal - Their Nasi Lemak Sotong. It was so good and by far, the best Nasi Lemak in town for me.  

In the evening, I received some gifts and flowers from friends and family, which was very nice. Every year, I will order myself my favourite birthday cake and this year was no different. It was da bomb of a cake.

 

My husband came home with balloons and a gift too, which is really unexpected and totally made my day. We then had some cake and my kids prepared some performances for me. That was the highlight of my day. My daughter's singing is just out of this world (I am bias of course, but she's really really good!)

My day ended with me raising both my hands to illahi thanking God for such a nice wonderful chilled out day.Alhamdulillah for blessing me with a wonderful 41 years of life. For blessing me with wonderful friends and family. I am thankful for everything in my life. 

Thank you for being part of my birthday.

Selamat Hari Raya

A day before raya, I went to ziarah my grandma's kubur. It is heartbreaking not having her around. I am 40 years old and I have never celebrated Raya without my Tokmi. This is very painful for me. I went to visit her grave and doa that she is ok. I still have tears in my eyes thinking about her. I miss her so much.

This year's raya is a lot different from previous years. Initially I didnt want to get any baju raya because I am not exactly in the mood to raya but I need to make it somewhat special for my kids. It is raya afterall. I ordered their baju raya online just to support other local business. But unfortunately, when it arrived, the size dont fit. I was bummed! No time to get a refund too. I ordered my baju raya from Zalora but when it arrived, somehow it doesnt suit me. I managed to get a refund but it was too late to order a different one. Ah well, I guess it wasnt meant to be.

We all wore whatever we had. It took me a long time to decide on my scarf. I am just not used to it and I dont know what suits me yet. Finally, I went with the simplest and easiest - a black square! Cant go wrong with that.

In the morning, we went to my mother in law's house. We had our own quiet time with my mother in law and spent quite a few hours there. By 2pm, we were back at home to rest. Next, was to my mom's house in the evening. We took turns to visit to make sure that we comply to the regulations set by the government. Raya is usually a very busy time with lots of relatives visiting both my mother in law's house and my mom's. Both houses would have more than 20 pax under normal raya conditions but this year is different, we all took turns to come. It worked out fine.

Although we are missing our rayas with relatives, we must remember that this fight against Covid-19 is not even near the finishing line. We have to do our part to stop it from spreading as even someone without any obvious symptoms can carry the virus.

Raya was a very bittersweet one for me. Although we had an amazing time and quality time with our loved ones, we are missing the most important person in my life. My Tokmi. May Allah bless her soul.

Selamat Hari Raya to all and Maaf Zahir Batin.