ASMA HAMID

Unexpected, but cancelling the Turkey trip might have been one of my best decisions yet. Having booked flight tickets from Edinburgh, I had also booked train tickets to Edinburgh which meant that I technically had a holiday in line either way. The trip - also like many others - is worth a post but I left a bit of my heart up there so this is one I'd regret not writing about as I'd read it over and over again. On a side note, I've just had some of Maidenhead's tap water and I think I might need to start getting used to it again. Day 1 - 17 Dec Had packed and was ready to go with one big luggage bag carrying a PS5 and a smaller cabin one for my clothes. The train trip was uneventful except that it was packed but the view out the window was amazing. Here's a tip - travel during the day so you could enjoy the view.  After getting lost trying to get out of Waverley station, I headed to Basel's and was welcomed to an amazing, well decorated flat which became home for ...

I was having trouble trying to get onto EA so I thought it might be a bit more beneficial or productive for me to get onto this. IT IS NOW SUMMER! Can you believe it. It feels like it was just two weeks ago when I was wearing my jumper to work and now I need the fan on all the time and even that feels like it isn't enough. The seasons are changing and it definitely feels like time flew by just like that. It's either that or I'm having so much fun that I've lost track of time or I've been so busy. I'll be happy to settle with both. Workwise, I've been pretty occupied.  I sleep and dream about it.  I wake up and have to deal with it. I try to sleep and think about it.  But I enjoy it. I'm going through a steep learning curve again which is why this is happening but at the same time, because I like it, I do it willingly - which is always a good thing. What is even better is the fact that I have people guiding me. It feels a bit like back when I did SKY, I r...

It has been so long hasn't it - nearly 3 months! I was lying in bed, knowing that I couldn't stand not doing anything but at the same time, no one's awake for me to text so I thought I might as well get on this. It's a way for me to procrastinate (or resist) from doing work over the weekends.  A lot has happened over the past 3 months, I'm now back in the UK. My new room here feels like my own and I start going to the office tomorrow, so that's a one hour walk (return) every day to look forward to. Being back here feels a lot different than it was last year. I don't hate it neither do I cry every morning wanting to leave anymore. I think the whole Malaysia trip, the length of it and the things I did there had definitely allowed me to feel content and I hope it stays like this for a while.  I quarantined for 10 days when I got back, did a swab test twice and then was able to carry out what still feels like a very restricted life. We essentially still wouldn...

We knew it was coming but it was Monday last week when they had announced that Selangor will be in full lockdown for two weeks - and I was gutted. I had planned for Jared's birthday staycation and Kee Zhen's birthday day out. Fortunately enough, I hadn't booked anything for both.  We had gone for a trip to PD the previous weekend. Mainly because we wanted to go to the beach and kayak. It was meant to be a complete family trip but Aisyah and Syameem had decided to stay home last minute because they became close contact.  I've seen a pattern when it comes to weekend trips and it's the fact that I would only start packing in the morning because of work. So, it gets a bit hectic especially because we tend to leave right after Subuh and would end up with everyone waiting for me. Because I had stayed up the night before to finish up a thermal model for work, I was extremely hungry throughout the journey. Luckily, the two hour drive didn't feel too long and I had a goo...

WHAT A YEAR. Where do I even start? I have officially quarantined for at least 10 weeks, have had 6 swab tests and 2 RTK tests.  There was a lot of people in and out of the house beginning of the year with Sara moving in long term with us. I remember how grateful I was with how Laura and Amy allowed me to choose my own housemate and gave me the all the time I needed to find the right one. Luckily, this all happened before the lockdown because I couldn't imagine being stuck in the house alone without Sara! We then went into February where I spent quite a bit of time in London with Zariq and Yen (and Aimi), running for the last train home on Saturdays. I remember thinking how Saturdays are never long enough because I had always wished I could spend more time with them! We had the most interesting conversations that never ends! March was when everything related to Covid-19 started affecting us... unfortunately, it was during my ski/snowboard trip to Bankso  when this had happened...

It was difficult today and it's only hitting me now that I have time think. I wish I hadn't started certain conversations and said certain things because all I've been doing this evening is going through bursts of break downs. It isn't great when you're alone and without a person to distract you from it. I had thought that this might be a way to let it all out so I could process my thoughts but I don't know what it is?  I think it'd be fair to say that at this point of my life, I should really start being careful of who I start conversations with. At least with the people I already know and trust, I'd be able to discuss ideas and find solutions. But leaving discussions open ended and with more questions can be quite deteriorating, at least, for my mental health.  I've pretty much occupied my time all afternoon by calling the people back at home but it's not like I could call them until morning. Nonetheless, I appreciate each and everyone of the c...

 It's my 5th time celebrating my birthday abroad and in all previous occasions, I've always had my best friends and/or my sister with me. This year... none of them were around so knowing that, I braced myself to not celebrate it. However, the Saturday before my birthday, Abg Lan, Kak Ida and Emma came over to surprise me with a cake and presents! I was deeply touched and realised it was good start for my birthday week. So, I did get a cake, I got people singing me a birthday song and I spent it with people who mattered. I then realised that I really didn't want to spend the next weekend on my own. So I texted my colleagues to come over on Friday. I texted my uni friends if they're free for lunch on Saturday. And I texted my Malaysian friends if they're free for dinner on Saturday. It was a yes for all. On my birthday itself, I spent some time receiving calls from Malaysia wishing me a happy birthday. My best friends stayed up until I finished work to have a group fa...