There goes another month in 2020 and time to take stock of whatever resemblance of normalcy we have left. Let us see how my April 2020 turned out to be.
I am not even going to attempt to write a long serious updates, because I dont have any. Most of us don’t!
I stayed in and never stepped out unless for essentials. Oh my birthday just passed and we had cake.
Dubai has reduced the restrictions, so we are allowed to go for a walk or exercise on the yard finally.
The desert summer has started. While the sky looks so beautiful it is horrible during the day and it can only go worse from here. Not looking forward to July and August.
Was your month any better? Please say yes and say more. It has been awfully dull here!
What I read this month:
I was so swamped by work and the new routines that I could not find time to read. This was the first time in a long time that I was not able to sneak in a quick read into my day.
So I read just two books in April 2020 and I read them during the first week, before things got hectic.
Finally Dubai has started reducing its lock down restrictions this week. From a complete lock down where we need permits to even go to buy groceries, we are finally allowed to go out of the houses from 6 AM to 10 PM. And that also means we can visit close family, take a walk, exercise (with not more 3 people) and go shopping, provided all these maximum 2 hours per day!
The malls and shopping centers would be open but operate at 30% capacity. Hotels, restaurants and other F & B would operate as well. So would offices and other non essential work places. But wherever possible people are advised to work from home. Trains, buses and taxis would be running as well from tomorrow.
We are still required to have our temperatures taken every time we enter any shop, even groceries. Wear masks and gloves when we step outside. And follow physical distancing of 2m at all times outside our house.
And to be honest, Dubai and Dubai-tes went on a non-official quarantine/lock down quite early, in the middle of March itself and that paid I guess. That and the extensive testing. The UAE is at the top 3-5 places in terms of number of testing per million of its population.
So basically there is a light at the tunnel. Let us not lose hope. Stay in and stay safe.
On the other news, the holy month of Ramadan is here. So I guess Ramadan Kareem, which means Have a good Ramadan. More on the month of Ramadan, in next week’s Sunday Musings.
What I read this week
My reading has been terrible this week. But my highly productive week has to be blamed, not me.
I am currently reading The Time Traveller’s wife and Yes no maybe, which I have been reading on and off for 2 weeks now. Sigh.
But I will catch up!
What I watched this week
I have been watching the Fall, a British serial killer mystery and it has been underwhelming despite the raving reviews.
Also watched Stranger things again, with the family. Well, there is only so much things to watch guys, we get to repeat watch some stuff.
If you are interested in watching Indian movies that are not Bollywood’s cheesy musicals I would love to make some recommendations.
Ayyapanum Khoshyum – Malayalam – Prime
Varane Avashyamund – Malayalam – Netflix
Sillu karupatti – Tamil – Netflix
And for the sake of cheesy Bollywood movies, watch Shbubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan on Prime
Let me know if you do watch any of these!
On my blog
In case you missed any of the posts this week, here is a recap!
The last few days of “spring” is here and we are already freaking about the Dubai’s summer heat. While we had few hours of rain and the climate was really pleasant in between, the other day the temperature soured up to 42C (107F) already. And Corona Virus isn’t gonna cancel summer right?
In other news, last week was more productive and I got things that were on my lists for months/weeks done. I am quite happy with the progress. Have you got your routine set?
I recently read Coincidence of Coconut Cake, The by Amy E. Reichert. It is sprinkled with lots of food and cooking and I liked that.
I am still reading Yes No Maybe by Becky Albertalli and I will be finishing it today hopefully.
I am taking the chance to talk about how I am faring on my 2020 A to Z Reading challenge.
Not bad eh?
What I watched this week
Is it just me or anyone else is disliking the Money Heist season 4? I have watched 4 episodes and I am already not feeling it. And also why Arturo is back? Ugh. I am not even sure if I want to continue watching the series.
Also I am watching Community series and am loving it. I love Abed!
On my blog
In case you missed out any of my posts last week, here is a quick recap.
How are y’all coping up? I have heard some parts of the world have reduced their lockdown restrictions, is that true? Has anything changed for you since day one? Is your summer there for you. Let us talk.
Week 5 of quarantine and I am finally getting to the groove of being productive with people around me and the house. But there is more important news for the week. Yes! It is my birthday today.
I am turning one more year older today and so far I still do not feel a bit adult-er than the day I left college those many years ago. And as every adult should, I know it is more adult and not adult-er, but let it be. It is my birthday!
Today and the rest of the week is gonna be similar to the others, again. Home made food, Netflix and Amazon binge and working from the couch and turning in early. But there might be a cake today! Fingers crossed. Otherwise, sigh! Can’t wait to break this pattern.
This was an okay reading week. I read only one book, as per my usual. But that one has been a good one.
I read The Sittaford Mystery by Agatha Christie for my ClassicsNChristie Book club. I have picked up Yes No Maybe next and might finish in a day or so.
What I watched this week
I figured if I can’t read all the Stephen King books, I will try to watch all their adaptations. Let us take the easy way out, right? So last month, I watched the Outsider and the season 1 of Mr Mercedes.
And this week I continued that streak and watched a lot!
Mr Mercedes Season 2 and 3
Jane the Virgin – S5 last few episodes
Sabrina Part 3 (currently watching)
And last night while I watched Onward and I loved it so much. Another good one from PIXAR!
On my blog
In case you had missed some of my posts from last week, here is a quick recap.
How are you all doing? I am grateful that the whole of March 2020 is done now and we are into a new month. Despite everything that is saying in the contrary, I am excited to step into April. And it is just not about being my birthday month, but also because.. Okay I am lost. It is definitely only about my birthday!
I know. I know. The world looks grim and futile, in general. And mostly my birthday is gonna be super ultra low key, but still that is the only thing that is helping me face the day and continue to hear more morbid news. So let me have it. Please.
Also let us talk about some of the good things that happened in March 2020. Or at least try to.
Quick May’19 updates
Just before the social distancing fervor started, I took a trip to the beach and had dinner at one of my favorite places.
And guess what? I think I have not stepped out after that, other than the one time I had to buy grocery from a store. Well, there is a thing called door delivery, so I have not stepped out of my house in 15+ days now. I should get an award, y’all.
We had some rain in Dubai. And the clouds looked really scary. Photos for reference.
Well, nothing else happened in March, okay? I give up.
What I read this month:
March 2020 was an average reading month for me. I read 5 books and no 2 or fewer stars among them. Good right?
Poet X, The by Elizabeth Acevedo
From Twinkle, with Love by Sandhya Menon
Bride Test, The by Helen Hoang
10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World by Elif Shafak
Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner
And I am currently reading The Sittaford Mystery by Agatha Christie.
That gives me a chance to show where I stand on my 2020 A to Z reading challenge now.
What I watched this month:
Here is a list of my top pick of movies and TV series I watched in March 2020 in no particular order.
Shutter Island (I know I had missed out years on this)
The boy 2
On my block S2
Sherlock (Rewatch)
Brooklyn 99 S6The
Outsider
Mr Mercedes – S1
I am currently catching up on Jane the Virgin, the new season, 5 I think. In case you had missed reading any of my recent posts, here is a quick recap.
How was your week and the whole of March 2020? What are you currently watching and reading? Are you happy with your country’s steps towards controlling COVID19 virus? let us talk.
