It has been ages since I wrote a monthly update. You know it feels weird to do this, as if so much time has passed but nothing has changed. I can see that six months since I wrote this, but honestly I am not sure if there is anything to show. Annoying right?
But hey, I at least am writing one now. Enough chitchats, let us take a view of what happened last month, shall we?
Quick May’22 updates
I moved to full time employment after years of freelancing and part timing. I am still figuring things out but it seems fun.
In an attempt to get myself to read more, I went to the library and picked 4 books. Sadly all of them are still untouched. I also grabbed some coffee with my friends after the library trip.
I got a new phone, and I am enjoying the better memory and not enjoying the huge size.
Some container bell pepper plants survived the dust storms and heat this month. And we had a good harvest of yellow peppers, a miracle by itself.
Also I am finally writing on my blog. Granted it is just updates and reviews, but it is a start.
What I read this month
Reading wise a really poor month, and I just didn’t find the motivation to. Something to work upon this month, I guess.
I read just one book this month, Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert, and I had to push myself to read it, despite liking it.
What I watched this month
So the new Marvel movie was out this month and I really enjoyed it. Here are a few things that I watched in May’22.
Russian Doll – liked it
Stranger things – S4 – It was good
Kim’s convenience store – Rewatching couple of episodes
Lincoln Lawyer (movie & series) – Movie was good, series was bleh
Dr Strange – had to rewatch before I watched the new one
Everyone is talking about the ultimate “hot girl summer” plans but here, I am dreading the summer. Well, that is sorta usual if you stay in a hot desert like I do.
Long story short, the summer is almost here and we are perfectly ready to “be roasted if you step out” during the day. But the nights are fairly pleasant, still.
And I am utilizing those few cooler nights to go on a walk (with masks on and socially distancing) these days.
We are all trying to enjoy the last few days before scorching hot summer. So we found the parking full and crowded where we go. And obviously I hate it.
There is still a ban on flying into UAE, and many other countries, from India, due to COVID. So I have a couple of friends who are still stranded there and trying to come back to their family and work in here.
I had a full on reader slump and I barely read two books. And I am so behind on my reading challenges.
What I read this month
I read just two books in May’21 and they were quite short ones. But in my defense I had a terrible case of slump and didnt feel like reading anything. Hopefully June would be better.
I hope everyone is doing okay, considering that we are still in the midst of chaos.
Usually, I love April, considering that it is my birthday month and that I usually have some plans. This year was going to be better than 2020, or that is what I thought. In short, it wasn’t.
I finally could go to India after a long year and had all plans in place to meet my friends and family (socially distanced and masks clad only). Of course, things have to go awry, cuz it can.
Anyway, let me give a quick round up of the major things that happened in March and April 2021 in my life.
Quick March and April’21 updates
I flew to Bengaluru, India during the third week of March and after a few swab tests, I was allowed to get to home quarantine.
I used the quarantine well and read a couple of books. And that lucky reading spree ran out with the quarantine bout. Yes, I have not read a book in the whole of April.
I reached Chennai, to my parent’s place in April and spent almost a month there. Of course, mom put me to use and got some cleaning and decluttering done. (Mothers have it all planned ahead, I say.)
Thanks to COVID pandemic (once again), I was not able to visit much of my extended family or beloved friends.
I did get to meet one of my close friend, on her birthday and made a day of it. Of course, with all the social distancing protocol in place.
My birthday was not much different than other day, you guessed it because COVID numbers in India had started rising by then. And a couple of my friends, whom I could have met, had tested positive too.
I was to return to Dubai on 25th. On 22nd night I received a mailer that all the flights from India into UAE from 25th were cancelled for at least 10 more days. And I had to scrape through the last available flight on 24th. Quite an adventure, if I can call it so.
Then with the flight cancelling fiasco and the drastic raise in COVID numbers all around India, I am done with April’21.
What I read this month
These are the books that I read when I quarantining in Bengaluru, earlier in March
February’21 was not a great month for me. Like someone commented on my blog earlier, it is the month’s fault. After all the excitement and cheers of New Year and January, February kinda fizzles out.
Well, that and the blue mood swings that snuck out of nowhere.
Enough about that, can we talk of things that happened during the month of February’21 quickly?
Quick February’21 updates
I volunteered at the Emirates Literature Festival 2021 in February. In fact, I look forward to this book event every year and I am glad that the dreaded COVID didn’t spoilt this one as well.
I got my second and final dosage of the COVID vaccine. As on date, I am fully protected (or as much as I can be), given it is past 21 days from the final dosage.
The second part of the month was a blur to me and it was filled with mood swings and melancholy. I am glad it is done with now.
What I read this month
This was not a great reading month for me, due to the above mentioned mental health issues. But here are the books that I read anyway.
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
Juniper Lemon’s Happiness Index by Julie Israel
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
What I watched this month
Here is a quick recap of the series and movies I watched during the month of February’21.
Parks and Recreation S2 & S3 – I keep waiting for it to get better.
Romance is a bonus book – A K-drama revolving around books and the publishing world
The Chilling adventures of Sabrina S4 – Didn’t love it as much as I did the other seasons.
Dhrishyam 2 – A Malayalam film sequel that is based on the movie/book Suspect X
The Girl in the train – A terrible Hindi remake of the movie, based on the book.
Ginny & Georgia – This was a fun watch for Gilmore girls fan but a darker version.
On my blog
Let’s take a look at the round-up of my posts in the past month
Yesterday was my last day with my volunteering at Emirates Literature Festival 2021, here in Dubai. As expected we had a many virtual sessions with authors like Malala Yousafzai, Elif Shafak, Thomas Eriksson and Oyinkan Braithwaite and some in person sessions with authors who were able to come down.
Despite all these, it was just not the same because of the less crowd and all the other necessary protocols. The volunteers and the team underwent the PCR test before the event and we all maintained strict social distance.
I am kinda missing it already, even though I am really tired and my voice is coarse because I talked to so many people.
Quick January’21 updates
I am very disappointed to say January 2021 didn’t miraculously make all the problems of 2020 disappear. COVID is pretty much widely spread, the travel bans and social distancing are still there. There are bad presidents and worse politicians even after the new year’s eve.
Anyway what else happened to me personally during the month? Let me give you some of the highlights.
After some really good months, the Covid cases in the UAE has been increasing. But with the excellent mass vaccination programmes around, I am desperately hoping there will be a fall soon.
We had some foggy, winter mornings for exactly 5 days and then I guess we were done with the winter. But the weather is kinda good and pretty.
A pretty good reading and viewing month. More about that follows in a bit.
What I read this month
I read 5 books last month and I am happy that I liked all of them. Yay me!
I am on my 3rd (almost) rewatch of my favorite series House MD on Prime. But this is the first time that I am watching it in order, as a complete series. Needless to say I am loving it. Have you watched it?
I also watched the Idris Elba starring UK crime drama series Luther, which I really enjoyed. It had a Sherlock vibe, without witty dialogues.
