We’re almost halfway through 2022 and life has gone back to some form of normalcy for most of us. Because it’s the school holidays, many here are on a holiday finally after more than two years of being cooped up. We can’t go on a holiday yet because while BB is in his school holidays, GG can’t take leave from her internship. And when she starts school after the internship, BB will be working on his internship and so we can’t go on a holiday until both are done, which means except for short trips to Malaysia, we can only travel in early 2023.

Today’s quote comes from Yolanda Gail Devers, the two-time American athlete and Olympic gold medalist. Devers reminds us that any accomplishment that we have starts with the decision to try. If we don’t even try and start something, then how do we become adept at it and how do we feel a sense of accomplishment in it? Something to think about right?

As of the end of May, I have walked about 4200 km and am still in the state of Assam, but am within spitting distance of the Assam-West Bengal border. Hopefully, by the end of next month, I will traverse the chicken neck in the state of West Bengal and which is that small stretch of India that lies between Bangladesh and Nepal.

I am reading, but not enough, so my resolve for June is to read more, especially at night when I am mindlessly scrolling social media. I hope that by the time I report next month, I would have caught up with my reading goals for the year.

And with that, let me go and read a book. Keep safe and catch up with you all next week!

We’re at the fag end of yet another month and is it me or is this year speeding past? Things have been fairly quiet, so there’s nothing much to report this week.

School holidays have begun in Singapore and after more than two years we see people travelling, especially those who have not seen their families in all this time. The streets seem less crowded and the air still. BB has exams starting later this week and then will go on a mid-semester break while GG only looks on because she doesn’t have leave during her internship.

BB has also been running with his friends for the past few weeks as they start to train for their national service. We’re very happy with this new development as he is usually not an outdoors person and to willingly go out and run is something that is out of his usual comfort zone.

Today’s quote about how our energy and persistence will allow us to conquer everything we set our heart on is said to have been attributed to one of the founding fathers of the United States of America, Benjamin Frankin, a polymath who was a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher.

That’s all from me this week. Stay safe and take care…

In today’s quote, Oprah tells us that challenges are those gifts that force us to search for a new centre of gravity. We should not fight them, instead, find a different way to stand without losing our balance.

The past few months have been extremely hot in Singapore. The daily temperatures are in the range of 34 and 35 degrees Celsius, and some days reach a high of around 36 degrees Celsius. The humidity levels are around 83% which means as soon as we take a bath, it’s as if we have not taken one! Most of India is also under the grip of a heatwave with cities in northern India like New Delhi average temperatures of above 40 degrees Celcius. On the other hand, Bengaluru where my parents are currently is experiencing temperatures as low as 19 degrees Celcius! When they told us this, I was so jealous and wanted to go there pronto. But because they are not used to such low temperatures, they find it cold and not very comfortable. And this extreme weather changes are due to climate change, which will change our worlds if not for us, then definitely for our children and their children.

Now that we are finally learning to live with COVID-19, we learn of a monkeypox infection wave in Europe. The WHO yesterday had an emergency meeting to discuss the recent outbreak of monkeypox, a viral infection more common in West and Central Africa, after over 100 cases were confirmed or suspected in Europe with cases reported in at least nine countries including Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom – as well as the United States, Canada and Australia. First identified in monkeys, the disease typically spreads through close contact and has rarely spread outside Africa, so this series of cases has triggered concern. Monkeypox is usually a mild viral illness, characterised by symptoms of fever as well as a distinctive bumpy rash. However, scientists do not expect the outbreak to evolve into a pandemic like COVID-19, given the virus does not spread as easily as the SARS-COV-2.

In light of all this, let’s be more careful. And with this, stay safe, and be careful people! I’ll catch up with you all next week.

This was a normal week and nothing happened. GG is very busy with her internship and CCA at school. She also has started working on her statement of purpose for her university application. BB is also busy with school and this is his last semester in school, the next semester will be his internship.

It’s also the last long weekend for a while. May had a super long weekend at the beginning of the month and tomorrow is also a holiday on the occasion of Vesak Day, which happens to be today. Also known as Buddha Jayanti, Buddha Purnima and Buddha Day, Vesak Day is a holiday traditionally observed by Buddhists in South and Southeast Asia as well as Tibet and Mongolia. The festival commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha in the Theravada, Tibetan Buddhism and Navayana traditions. The name Vesak is derived from the Pali term Vesakha or Sanskrit Vaisakha for the lunar month of Vaisakha, which is considered the month of Buddha’s birth. In Mahayana Buddhist traditions, the holiday is known by its Sanskrit name Vaisakha and derived variants of it. In the East Asian tradition, a celebration of the Buddha’s birthday typically occurs around the traditional timing of Vesak, while the Buddha’s awakening and passing away are celebrated as separate holidays that occur at other times in the calendar as Bodhi Day and Nibbana Day. In the South Asian tradition, where Vesak is celebrated on the full moon day of the Vaisakha month, the Vesak day marks the birth, enlightenment, and the ultimate passing away of the Buddha. To those celebrating the festival, here’s wishing you a very happy Vesak Day or Buddha Purnima and may the teachings of Lord Buddha spread the message of universal brotherhood and compassion for everyone and may the Lord enlighten everyone on the path of love, peace and truth.

Today’s quote is from the British novelist and author of the Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis who reminds us that we are never too old to dream of something new and different. So this is a lesson for us to not stop dreaming, even when we think we are too old for it. And this is an apt quote for me as a reminder.

And on that note, Happy Vesak Day and stay safe, stay happy and always be positive.

It was so hard to get back in a work groove after the long weekend, but we did what we had to and the week ended before it even began. R is back after almost two and a half months as we missed her. I know she will leave Singapore soon to go back home and her being here was never a permanent thing. But when she does, we will miss her because, over the years, she has become a part of our family. And like people in a family, we sometimes have our fair share of differences, but at the end of the day, we are friends again.

Today’s quote is attributed to the American actress, Jennifer Freeman who gives us the reminds that we are far too smart to be the one thing that stands in our way. This quote reminds us that we need to make a mindset shift if we want to achieve anything and today, this quote resonated with me as I seek to make changes in my life.

Here’s to a wonderful week ahead and to staying safe, happy, healthy and positive.