2022 IN WORDS

Hello everyone !

Wow, I still cannot believe that it is already 2023! 2022 was....something. A lot happened. 

Because of COVID-19, I still had to attend school as a form 1 in January 2022. We were separated into two groups and had to take turns so that the school wouldn't be crowded since we still had to maintain social distancing. We had our end-term assessment that month. Then we had a full month's holiday in February before we entered form 2. 

Before going back to school, we #FAFAMILY had a family day way back in December 2021. It was a rainy season at that time so we had to do the games at Mama's house in PJ. Then in February 2022, we went to The Sticks Guide at Frasers Hill, Selangor.

In April, we finally start a new semester. At the same time, we hit Ramadhan month so we had to fast while going to school. We still had to maintain social distancing so the tables were separated one by one (like how it would be if you have exams). 

I also celebrated my 14th birthday!!! We had a small celebration at our house after we buka puasa. 

For Raya in 2022, we had a little surprise. Raya came early this year! It was supposed to be on the 3rd of March but it came one day early HAHAHA. My family and I, we were in a mall when they announced the news. When we got the news, we were so shocked. It was hectic. Everyone was panicking about clothes, foods, the traffic jam, everything. I looked at WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter and it was HILARIOUS seeing everyone talking about it HAHAHAGAH. Even though it was all over the place, we managed to celebrate Raya nicely and smoothly. We went from PJ to Seremban on the 1st day Raya. Then on the 2nd day, we went to Muar to visit Adida and her family. Then we went jalan-jalan around Melaka for a few days. We also went to Langkawi to visit Dadda's friend from Glasgow, Aunty Ida. 

After a few days celebrating with family and close friends, it was time to go back to school. My school did a Raya celebration too! It was so fun. Unfortunately it was raining a little but we still had fun. We took pictures, played games, give out duit raya and ate.....A LOT. Every Raya, we definitely ate a lot of food from open houses and even celebrations at home. Even though we still had to deal with Covid while celebrating, Raya will always be a celebration where we really connect with people and have fun. It will always be a memorable celebration every year. 

at home 1st Eid morning

At Muar 2nd Eid

4th Eid at Melaka

In August, I had my sports day. I entered the parade for my team, a long-distance event and 2 field events. I had sooo much fun. It felt good to be back at the stadium filled with noises of cheers, claps and more. The last time I experienced that was in standard 3. After that, I kept missing all sports days at primary school. I miss all those sports day memories. 

I am in the red team (we called it Mars) and we won 2nd overall. I find it a little funny that I have been in the red team since kindergarten! I was red all the way. From CIC to SKBJ to Govan High in Glasgow and now in SMKBJ. Ah, the memories. 

After August, we got a bit busy. Idzhar and I were busy with school, Aysha started going to CIC like me before and Dadda got a new job. We also had a lot of school holidays since it was almost the end of 2022. 

In December, we had 3 weeks of school holiday. We mostly stayed at home since I had to prepare for my end-term exam. But on the last week of December, we went to Amverton Club and Resort to celebrate the new year. We went with the #BibAniCrew and also Adida's family from Muar. We had so much fun. We went to the waterpark and also the survival park. We also had a family dinner on new year's eve and watch the fireworks countdown to welcome 2023.

What a year. I learnt a lot of life lessons and face a lot of challenges. It was a roller-coaster ride. I hope that 2023 will be better than 2022. Time to face new challenges, learn new lessons and open a new chapter in my life. 

That's all for now. I hope everyone had a great 2022 and, InsyaAllah, we will have a great 2023 too. Here's to a new year in our life. It's a little late but happy new year everyone !!

xoxo,

gossip girl, hehe <3  

 

MY TRIP TO LONDON || 11TH TO 13TH OCTOBER 2019

Hi there.

                So, I have been telling you all about my September activities in my previous posts. Now, I'm going to tell you about my October activities.

On 11th October my family and I went to London. We went to London because of Dadda's Chevening orientation. It was held at Excel London so we had the opportunity to follow him. From Elderpark, we took a bus and went straight to the central train station. We met Dadda there after his class and took the 12:30 p.m. train.

Waiting for our train

We arrived in London at about 5:30p.m. From the station, we went to the underground station and from there, we went to Barking. At Barking, we stayed at the Bank Hotel. The room was really cosy!

Just arrived in London

On the way to our hotel

Our dinner the 1st night in London, just in front of the hotel. We did not expect the serving to be this huge!

The next day, Dadda woke up early because he had to attend the orientation. So, there were only me, Idzhar, Aysha and Mommy left at the hotel. After Zohor prayers, we went to explore Barking. First, we went to the Saturday market right in front of our hotel. Then, we went to Boots pharmacy across the road to buy Aysha's diapers. After that, we went to a nearby mall. The mall was not that big  but there was a supermarket so we bought some snacks to be eaten in the room. After shopping, we went to get some drinks at Costa Coffee that was just around the corner from our hotel. We went back to the hotel to perform our Asar prayers before meeting Dadda and the other Malaysian Chevening scholars at a restaurant for dinner.

Fooling around at B&M store near our hotel. 

Drinks at Costa Coffee after window shopping.

On the way to meet up with Dadda and his fellow Cheveners for dinner.

The Malaysian Chevening scholars of 2019/2020.

The next day, we packed our bags and headed to Liverpool street. We went there by train. There, we stayed at Travelodge hotel near the station. On the way there, we stopped over at Canary Wharf to see Dadda's friend from university days, Uncle Jonathan. He and Dadda both went to Warwick University years ago and he stayed on and is now working in London. He's married and has a baby boy. We had lunch with him and his family at an Italian restaurant on the ground floor of his apartment. That night, we went for dinner at Melur, one of Malaysian restaurants that is owned and run by a Malaysian. We met more of Dadda's friends from boarding school. Mommy's friend, Aunty Azah, who's staying in London at the moment with her husband also joined us there. We had a lovely dinner that night. We finally got to eat Malaysian food!

Checked out of the hotel in Barking.

Lunch with uncle Jonathan and his family.

Our dessert. Yummy!

One for the album.

Dinner!

Dinner with Uncle Rizmy, Uncle Shmi and Aunty Azah.

The next day, we checked out from the hotel and headed straight to the train station to go back to Glasgow. We checked into another hotel for the 2nd night because Dadda wanted to be nearer to the station to make it easier for us to travel to the station.

Checked out of another hotel on our last day in London.

London Euston station.

In the train on the way back to Glasgow.

So that's all about my London trip. It was a short and sweet trip as we got to see our friends along the way too, in addition to Dadda attending his orientation.

Till my next post!

Bye!
 

MY TRIP TO EDINBURGH|SEPTEMBER

Hi there.

I wrote this earlier in September but I forgot to post it so here it is.

Nadhrah has gone back to Malaysia (I will miss you and the other cousins) but Cuna, Uncle Aie, Mama and Safiyyah were still in UK but they are at Edinburgh so we decided to visit them before they fly back. Dadda rented a Suzuki this time. It's just a small car that can fit us all. Hehe... We actually didn't want to sleep there but we think we will be late so we just took some clothes and put in a bag and went. We arrived there about 1 or 2 p.m.

Ayahde, Cik De, Nadhrah & Mawar came to our apartment before they left. Said our farewells in front of our apartment.

On the way to Edinburgh. The weather was nice.

First, we went to The Royal Botanic Garden. That place was huge. There, we took a lot of pretty pictures and we also bumped into some Malaysian Chevening Scholars that Dadda had contacted. After we're done, we went to a hotel that Mommy had booked last minute. Although the hotel was small, it was so beautiful. Mommy was so happy because the hotel was right in front of the student house where Mommy, Tok Mama and Pak Su stayed for a while when Tok Mama was studying in Edinburgh years ago. After that, we went to dinner at Nandos in a mall near Cuna's air BnB. We ate, talked and had a lot of free botttomless yogurt that comes with the kids' meal.  After that, we went to Cuna's BnB.

Entrance of the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh.

With 3 of Chevening scholars in Edinburgh.

Our room in our pretty little hotel on Craigmillar Park, Edinburgh.

In front of The Northumberland Hotel entrance.

The view from our hotel room widow - David Horn House, the student house where Mommy used to stay with Tok Mama and Pak Su.

Nando's at Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre where we had dinner.

The next day was the day that Cuna and the others went back to Malaysia so we went to meet them again before they went to the airport. Before we went to meet them, we went around Edinburgh. We went to the house Mommy and Tok Mama stayed a long time ago. After that, we went to Mommy and Pak Su's school. Then we went to meet Cuna and the others at Edinburgh Waverley Train Station Mall. We ate lunch at Chopstix Noodle Bar. It was so good! After we're done eating, we went shopping!!!

In front of David Horn House.

In front of Pak Su's primary school, Sciennes Primary School.

In front of Mommy's high school, James Gillespie's High School.

The flat on West Newington Place where Mommy, Tok Mama & Pak Su stayed at after they moved out of the student house.

Tok Mama's university, not her department though, hehe...

It was an Open Day weekend in Edinburgh so we got to go into McEwan's Hall, where students from Edinburgh University have their graduation ceremony.

Walking in Princes Street Garden on the way to Waverly Shopping Centre. Edinburgh Castle in the background.

Our last meal together before they went back to Malaysia - Lunch at Chopstix at Waverly Mall.

With Mama, Dadda's mom, on the way to the carpark.

We stopped by at Aunty Jill's apartment to say hi and for CuNa to return the car seat she borrowed for Safiyyah during their Scotland trip. We also said our goodbyes to each other here as we all went our separate ways.

After that, it's time to go home. My family and I went back to Glasgow. Cuna, Uncle Aie, Saifyyah and Mama went back to Malaysia (Bye guys! We will miss you!)

So that's all for now. Till my next post.
Bye.