Hey guys, how was your May 2020? Yes, we are already six months into 2020 and it has been a difficult year, to say the least. But on the brighter side, we are surviving it and proving ourselves better? So that is good right?
No? Okay I am giving up. 2020 sucks and how was May any different?
Life resumed in the UAE after a lock down of more than a month due to the Corona virus pandemic, finally this week.
The world seems to be moving towards a recovery from the pandemic. And the countries are slowly relaxing the restrictions. I already spoke about how we were doing it in Dubai, a while ago.
We are still required to practice social distancing and wear masks when we venture outside. While Dubai’s own contact tracing app for CoViD has been here for a while, it has now become mandatory for every resident to download it on our phones when we are going out.
Business as usual resumed in the UAE
But on the whole, many restrictions have been relaxed.
We can go out for non essentials as well now.
Yay!Airport and flights have been operating.
All shops including luxury shopping are up for business (Gucci anyone?)
Cinemas, beaches (in some places), fitness centers and gyms are all opened.
And people can go back to working from offices. (bummer?)
So basically, the UAE and Dubai are back to business as usual.
And while the things are more relaxed now from the public point of view but the Government has not stopped their work. We have nation wide sterilization programs from 6 PM every day.
But I am holding off the hitting the gym and venturing out in general, for a bit longer. I mean everyone is talking about the spike in numbers expected in the first few days once the restrictions are relaxed right? And also because my lazy ass is used to staying in now.
In conclusion, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Stay put in and safe at home as long as you can and you are ordered to, especially those that are in the USA and India where things are still gloomy.
What I read this week
I am currently reading Little Flies everywhere and I am loving it. I have been promising I would read it, before watching the series. So I have to finish this one ASAP.
On other news, my stilt at reading non fiction books is going great. Despite DNF-ing two non fiction books this week, I finished reading Warren Buffett’s Management Secrets last night.
What I watched this week
I watched Misdemeanor last week and I didn’t love it.
I am also watching Never have I ever and Space force. What are you all watching?
On my blog
In case you missed out any of my posts through the week, here is a quick recap.
As you might know already, we have been celebrating the holy month of Ramadan in the UAE since April for about 30 days now. Due to the current situation with Corona virus, the celebration has been kinda subdued and there are restrictions towards what can be done, as well.
Here is a little about Ramadan that I, as a non Muslim and UAE expat, have come to learn in the past few years.
Ramadan usually begins with the moon sighting to mark the beginning of the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. This year, Ramadan 2020 started on April 23rd.
During this holy month, millions of Muslims will undergo fasting between dawn to dusk with family and friends. But, of course, this year due to the Corona virus lock down, breaking of the fast (iftar) ritual has been restricted to close family only.
As per practice, there are five things that Muslims are usually encouraged to during the month of Ramadan.
Fast between dawn to dusk
Pray five times at their mosques
Donate to charity
Spend time with family and strengthen their faith
Take a pilgrimmage to Meccah, Saudi Arabia
Non Muslims are expected to be mindful about these rules. Usually there are no music or entertainment in the public and refrain from eating or drinking in front of those who are fasting. Usually the non fasting people eat at cordoned areas in the workplaces.
Some of those rules are changing for the current year, like the pilgrimage or praying at the mosques, which have been shut down for now.
A committee meets to officially mark the beginning of the tenth month based on the moon. This year, the moon sighting committee met virtually on Saturday to announce that the new month begins today!
We are on extended holidays for the Eid Al Fitr (end of Ramadan 2020/ end of breaking the fast) which started from Friday till Monday
Whoa that went longer than I expected it to be. Let me know if it were too much!
What I read this week
This has been an average reading week for me.
I finished reading two books this week. But I had started reading them weeks ago. Hence no so great actually
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
Flateshare, The by Beth O’Leary
What I watched this week
I watched Scooby Doo and it was nostalgic. We had a namesake dog when I was young and I kept sending pictures of Scooby to my mom, who was overjoyed.
On my blog
In case you missed any of the posts this week, here is a recap!
Marie tells us it is okay for book bloggers to not be on every social platform. She talks about that and about other ways book blogging has changed in her post.
Did you learn anything new about Ramadan here? Do you know anyone who celebrates the month of Ramadan? What are you watching/reading these days? Let us talk.
Did anyone see that twist coming on How to get away with murder?
Are you happy with the ending? I can’t believe that happened to them both. TBH I didn’t want anything to happen to that guy but it had to, right?
I hate it when my head tries to reason out my feels, like I know it had to happen but can I have a heart break for a fictional character, for a minute in here?
Sigh. Also talking about How to get away with murder without spoiling it for the rest of the world is difficult!
Oh by the way, my laptop stopped making that weird noise out of nowhere in the last two days. I still do not know what I did right, but I would like to think I solved it somehow. I tried most of your suggestions, as soon as I got them last Sunday (because I was desperate for a solution).
Thank you so much, guys especially Michelle @ Because Reading for your elaborate explanation about the issue.
What I read this week
I am reading two books currently. And I will finish both of them probably today.
Atomic Habits by James Clear
The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary
What I watched this week
I am currently watching Dead to me S2. I am watching 3 or 4th episode and I am enjoying it at all.
On the other hand, I am rewatching Brooklyn Nine Nine from season 1. And it is freaking fabulous, as we know it to be.
As I was saying I watched the last two episodes of How to get away with murder, yesterday and I dunno how people waited for one whole week to see the next part.
I am not able to do that for even Masterchef Australia or other reality shows. Also whom are you rooting for?
On my blog
In case you missed this week’s posts on my blog, here is a brief recap.
Happy Mother’s day to everyone out there! Show your mom extra love from my behalf. I am gonna call her, just after posting this one!
It is another Sunday and it doesn’t mean anything anymore. Everyday has been similar to the previous and the lock down period is going to be a valid example for people who say that time is just a social construct.
A few weeks before the lock down started (oh seems to far away now) I got a HP laptop and it seemed to be working so well, until now. Since last week, it has been making a loud whirring noise every time I moved it, so loud that it startles everyone in the house without fail.
So currently I am using the laptop like a desktop, and I don’t think I can find the customer team to help me out. And that is totally bugging me out.
Oh so my reading finally improved and I finished Yes no maybe by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed eventually last week.
I finished reading Building A Story Brand by Donald Miller too and it has been a really long time since I read a non fiction. So that is a yay!
I am currently reading
Atomic Habits by James Clear
The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary
What I watched this week
I have been so excited to mention about Broadchurch.
It has been a while since I liked a thriller as much as I did Broadchurch and it was so perfect, especially the 3rd season. I loved that I couldn’t guess the culprit until the end (trust me, usually I can find them a mile away – fictional ones obviously). And David Tennant was so perfect for the grumpy detective!
I am rewatching BROOKLYN NINE NINE. I love the series and am loving it even more the third time.
On my blog
I have not been so active last on my blog, due to the irritable laptop noise syndrome.