Cold no more

He kept super quiet about it. This week Monday, the doorbell rang, and I kinda ignored it as I was in a meeting, and then few hours later, he came in carrying a super huge package with..."Black+Decker". Haha - He said that this is a V-day present, Bday present - all combined. I said - this is belated Christmas present, no??

And... it is a ... heater. 

We are quite late into investing in one, but still, for the first time this month, we saw the temperature rise up to 21.5. But, the heater's life-span to serve us this winter... is almost gone. The temp has been going up slightly, but steadily. Morns and nights are still brrrrr... but apart from that, it's that really nice weather and temperature. We are transiting into spring. 😍

And yesterday - I realized, I am growing old. 

He: Eh, how come you also have stomach?
She: Eh, what do you mean? You mean my stomach "pok out"?

He: Yah - I thought you always no stomach.
She: What do you mean. If I fat, then you don't like me? 

He: To be honest, I dunno, cos I never see you fat before. 

She: What? You 90kg I also stay with you. 

He: Haha... You want to eat "ice-cream"? 

She: Ok. I go buy. 

And this conversation happened after I drank beer, ate Fish n Chips, Wings, Calamari. :-0

All the nonsense mundane rumblings and the 心情 on a Friday evening. :)

And we had chocolate ice-cream after that. 😍

Growing old = stomach pok out. 

I discovered a PCN-alike

I must have been feeling some levels of stress, and yesterday, woke up at 6am. Friday's conversations were still etched in my mind, and so, because it was still so early and cold, I decided that the best thing to do, would be to read. 

I finished Educated, and decided to read "A Gentleman in Moscow". This year, I will aim to read 12 non-work related books. :) And I cannot believe I started my first few pages in bed, at an unearthly 6am. 

As I journal about the weekend, I also feel much better already. A weekend to recharge, recalibrate, realign is very needful. In fact, that's why a sabbath is so absolutely necessary. It is also about trusting in God, when I have done all I can in the week. 

I found a most amazing running connector yesterday. :) Yay, so happy, as I discovered a newly opened PCN, very similar to SG's PCN. I was actually thinking that maybe a round around the mosque would suffice, but as I found the running connector, I decided to just explore. It led to ADNEC, and I thought I could just run on and on, and maybe I will reach Mushriff. :-p. I will certainly try it one day. 

The morning runs really are very helpful for me. I listened to a Chinese sermon yesterday, and today, the Economist. Most runs will see me end at the beach, the tracks, or at Rihan's LD, and the best part of the run is the end of the run, with the stretchings and with listening to some really nice music, or WA-pping good friends. 

That feeling is usually one of thankfulness and simply joy. 

Spot Rihan - it's a speck in the distance. :) And this really feels a little like the PCN in Singapore. I met a few runners and some cyclists too. 

And, the expressways above me at one point, with paintings of skies. Haha, it feels nice to enter such a space. And also, with flamingoes and Wu Guis. 

And one of them, staring at me. Haha. The back is the actual beachfront, which is an extension of where I usually cool down. :)

Extension works in progress.. it would be great if there's really a full connector all the way to town!

I ran all the way until the end of the beach and where it started to join the highway. 

I think I can still run on; I saw cyclists continue the path, and if I do, I will reach Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). I'll do it next time and then loop back to Rihan. 

And the "vaccination" slogans are starting to appear everywhere. 

And along the running trial are all sorts of motivations painted. :-D

There was also "No Pain, No Gain", etc, etc. And as I keep stopping to take pictures, I am just so happy with my Saturday mini-adventure. 

The weather's also gotten slightly warmer - like 1 - 3 degrees? :-D

Mornings and nights are still terrible, and this past week, there was wind, sandstorm, fog. The good thing is that I think the worst is over, and possibly, it's gonna get really nice with a little more warmth, very soon!

冷

The common theme throughout this month is - 冷。 

It's just cold, and reports say that this year's the coldest Jan ever here. And I woke up 1 night to Steve rumbling through our packed winter clothes, for heat tech and a wool jacket. 

The problem is that it's almost cold 24-7, except for a short window in the afternoon, when the sun shines most intensely. It's cold because it's just cold outside, and in the house, there is no heater... so the temp in the house goes down to 10+ too. And so everyday, I am decked in long sleeves, and in jackets, in sweaters. Haha.... some days, it is more tolerable than others, and there was this one night, I just couldn't sleep, despite being wrapped in layers, and having socks on, and under the comforter. 

Still, I am genki. :)

This morning, was beautiful. It was 13 deg, and I went for my run. It was a misty morn, and I am decked in UA long sleeves and tights. And boy, I just ran. The place was foggy, I can't see a lot in front of me, but I met neighbours and runners, and we were all running around the mosque. Saw the mosque shrouded in the mist, saw the early risers and joggers, and... it was just something to relish. I ended at the tracks, looking at a lone Japanese sprinter, and many kids having their track classes. (The kids are all shrouded by the fog)

This week, I had to content with some emotions. And especially, on Friday. I started a new year resolution to journal and had bought a small journal book for that. Each day, I write a page, covering my key prayers, work highs and lows, my learnings, my fitness and activities, my food intake, and my 心情字数。 And of course, I have the oura ring to track my sleep. I just wanted to be more conscious of how I live my life, and how I calibrate my thinking and my devotions. It's really great. :) I have kept at it for 15 days. Continuing this discipline. 

And.... I became friends with a German lady. :) We have been neighbours for a while, and she struck up a conversation with me recently, and we chatted more. She's a teacher, and has 2 lovely kids, and is one of the ladies around my area into cycling and sports. So... yay, next week, we would be going to try Aerial Gymnastics. She sent me the below. Ahahah, so exciting. I had actually penned it down as one of the things I want to do this year... and so, it will happen, next Sat. :) In shah allah. 

This morning was beautiful too. I spent time listening to a sermon on Mark, and then read Educated. It's gotten more and more exciting. The thing is... circling back to the cold, I am still cold. Haaaa. so I have to read in the balcony, and with the sun rays on me. And I feel better. :)

Beautiful Saturday indeed. 

Chopped it off

And I... chopped off my mane. 

It's been weighing on me for a while, and I really like the swish swosh as I run, or the varieties of styles, including plaits, spiders and buns. But... some days, i feel it tugs too much at my hair roots... and so, while ideally, I'd like to have cut it in Singapore, I just decided, to snip it off on Wed. 

And so, that's it. The fastest hair cut, wash, dry ever in my life, at the most expensive price ever too. About 30 mins, at about $100 SGD. 

The haircut was done by a razor blade. I do not know if that's the norm here, but the lebanese hair dresser made me stand up, used the razor blade to cut off the hair at my back, and it was done, in a matter of minutes. She asked about my fringe. I decided to do that too... (always never learnt my lesson that fringe is difficult to maintain), and so there the razor blade goes again. :-0

I sure... look forward to the usual pampering haircut feel in SG, soon. 

The Befores, Afters

And from the back, before - after

雨。温暖。

It rained... it was so lovely, and I was just missing the feeling and smell of rain, and the whole of 4th Jan was a wet and cloudy one. 

I love it. I was soaked and drenched as the rain came down while I was running round the mosque. I paused my Runkeeper. I was at the bridge intersection, and the rain started as little raindrops. :) I paused. Took some pictures of the sky; and some cracks of light were trying to shine through. It was just a beautiful morning. 

And so, I decided to run around the mosque, one more time. In the rain. 

The rain drops came down a little more furiously, and at one point, I just felt it was so good to feel the rain pelting down on me, soaking me up. The shoes got a little heavier, and with each step was that smackish feeling onto the ground. And then, I had to run faster and harder, as I began to feel colder. 

It was just such a lovely feeling to "run/dance" in the rain. :) This is perhaps the first rain since... March? 

And, I was really feeling quite cold. It wasn't just the rain. It's been the weather... considerably colder this month and the last. I have to be decked up most days, even inside the house. Winter brings about a nice, cosy feel. So, even if I were cold... I'd enjoy it. 

And, I had a nice hot bowl of white fungus red date soup after lunch. :) 好温暖。好舒服。

The night sky has covered the Rihan area. I bought more notebooks for journaling and work. Looking forward to more intentionally spending my time wisely, and visualizing what each end of the month will bring. And - spent the last hour practicing 听海。It's also one of Alice's faves. :)

Tomorrow, will be the start of a new work year. I've marie-kondo-ed the necessary, and I look forward to another good year ahead. 

Crossing over

I hear that it's been raining non-stop in Singapore as the year crosses over. :) I miss the smell, and the feel of rain. I saw a video of the downpour in Bishan... the bleak skies, the rain just pouring. 

In contrast, it is so sunny here, 7hrs away by flight. :)

Kenji decided to snooze and bask in the sun, right now. 💓

Crossing over into 2021, it's about new year resolutions again. 

I am still thinking about them. 

This morning, as I ran, I closed my eyes at a certain stretch and ran, and imagined what end Jan will bring about, what end Feb will bring about, and by 1Q 2021, a few tangible areas that I think I can see myself having done. :) 

A constant journey of preparation, and then the understanding and wisdom, and the paralysis of pessimism - all these I listened in my first sermon of the year yesterday - by Dr Ravi Zecharias. 

This morning, it was about the Son of God, Prayer, Kingship, by Pst Tan. And prayer being able to discern God's timing in my life, what His plans are unfolding and how I can move in partnership and alignment. :) 

As I ran and closed my eyes, I wondered if I had lived well in 2020. Have I, in Dec 2020, lived better than Jan 2020? :) Had such a long and good chat with YF yesterday afternoon, it was all so familiar - the encouraging of each other in Christ. :)

Especially in 2020, with less going out, with more time spent alone, I had started to take more pictures too. They capture that moment of brilliance, that moment of soul and emotion. 

The last dusk. The new dawn. 

The close of 2020. 2021 beckons.

Vision

It's been a very nice last afternoon of 2020. I did my last run of the year, and basked in the sun for a bit. :) Listened to a beautiful 听海 re-composition, just at the beach. And was talking to various good friends. 

Came back, finished some work, and continued with a chat with Zeal, just sharing about life and how we would enter 2021. As I sat there, Starbucks coffee delivery came, the whole afternoon felt so precious - me alone in the house warmly decked in the cold, coffee nourishing my soul, moments of flashbacks of 2020, heartfelt thanks for all my hits and misses and the learning, sharing about life and what 2021 would bring... and at that moment, I just felt very contented, and just thankful. 

It must have been a very unusual 2020 for the whole world, and as I contemplate in Dec about what would gird me for 2021, I already knew in my heart that I would need to be able to see. It's special because it's not anything so out of the blue, but because 2020 passed me by where I was just busy, but I had not paused really, to think about where I was headed towards. 

That busy feeling yielded more than just - feelings of negativity, and nothingness, some days. So, on 8 Dec, I woke up strangely to - "For without a vision, the people perish". This is found in Proverbs 29:18, and on 25 Dec, while at Al Ain, I woke up at 5.30am, this was ringing in my mind as I journaled, and then, the Christmas sermon was... about vision. 

Perhaps, this, or the lack of this, was what made it tough and challenging. Most times, and for many facets of my life, I do not know where I am heading. 

So this would lead me into 2021. I am just very thankful for moments like this afternoon, like 8 Dec and 25 Dec early mornings. This is where I know that God is real, is reaching out to me, is speaking to me. :)

Vision. 

The Queen's Gambit

Such an enjoyable series to watch, and exciting at times. After MJ's - The Last Dance, this is the next series I enjoy very much on Netflix, and I finished the last episode "The End Game" tonight. 

Maybe it's that slightly rebellious and competitive streak in me, and in competitions - the tensions, that excitement and the anxiety. 

I really enjoyed the acting and the story, and the going back in time too. At one point, I googled and wondered if the character Beth Harmon was real. There was a 1983 novel of the same name, and the series was based on this. I was quite captivated by her piercing eyes, and the portrayal of emotions, the intensity, the focus - and her story of being an orphan and learning to play chess thru' a janitor, to being adopted by an alcoholic mum, to holding her own in the numerous competitions and life, while struggling with her own demons, the alcohol and pill addiction. And in the ending episode, the overcoming and the cheers of her friends who stood by her. This whole series is rich and complex, and explores the mind of a genius interwoven with insecurities and life's pains at different points. 

I just so enjoyed the series, and it was even more powerful, because I don't play chess. I imagined that if I knew the game, I would be even more hooked. 

Watched too the whole netflix production synopsis too - https://youtu.be/LzDhpEInMIg.                          And learnt about cinematography and set designs, and the possibly a little more about the film industry. It is just amazing to me.

This is really such a great end to an on-leave Monday. :)

My kind of chill :)

随心所欲

It was a very happy and easy Christmas break. Happy because we just followed our hearts; easy because there's not much frill and planning involved. 

We drove to Al Ain on Christmas eve, and even the ride out to the outskirts was chill and nice. Road trip feel. Truth be told, there's nothing much to see, except for the safari, and Jebel Hafeet - where we've gone before. But that feeling of - We are going on to a trip - feels very very familiar. It is that feeling when you know that for the next couple of days, you can put away some mental strain, leave behind the work and other thoughts, and just relax and enjoy, even if it meant just a short 2-day getaway. 

It's also the feeling of chilling in the night, sleeping in, and then waking up to a hearty buffet breakfast. Everything about the 2-night stay at the hotel reminded me of the various holiday trips done before. :)

The highlight was of course - the safari. Haha, that's the reason why we went to Al Ain anyway. I must say the safari and the zoo were pretty impressive. Clean, spacious, and the local Safari guide was pretty good. I enjoyed the walk around the whole zoo; safari was on the truck and we were pretty close to some animals - though not the ones I ideally would have liked to be closer to - the lions, cheetahs. :-D

I think I relish my "once-upon-a-time" dream that I might have been a vet, and that's why I really like to visit zoos and get a little up close and personal with the animals, or observe them. We were also fascinated by a family of mongooses. I basically just watch in amazement how they dig holes and kick dirt and sand. Ah - and mongooses are a community breed - they chatter to each other all throughout the day. I don't think however, that I'd fancy coming up close with a mongoose though. :-}

I think another great highlight was finding a really unassuming tucked-away Korean restaurant (Sonaji) at a corner of the Al Ain mall. It is newly opened by a Korean couple prob in their 60s? And... the food was really good. According to the Korean ajuma, she told us that everything is home-made - and TripAdvisor, Google, FB - all had raving reviews. So good that we did both our dinners there, and I wrote them reviews, and hope that they also open one restaurant in the heart of Abu Dhabi. The Soontofu, Kalguksu and Korean Fried chicken - really very tasty and yummy, and the soontofu had that crabby seafood freshness too. Maybe cos the weather is also considerably colder in Al Ain - the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, and that's why the steaming hot tofu stew was extremely comforting and nice. 

Our trip was really 随心所欲。 We had a walk at the oasis too - and this is a Unesco cultural site. While this place is a desert, amazingly, the people who lived in the land were able to draw water from deep below ground, irrigate the land, and there is agriculture in the palm and date trees. We went to this whole oasis area and marveled. It was a nice walk - midday sun warms the skin, and with a cool breeze. And - there are quite a few mosques even within the oasis itself. 

And so - the short staycay passed us by this 24 - 26 Dec 2020.

I am thankful for this Christmas season break. The joys and hopes and beauty of this season - where we start to plan and look forward to 2021, will mark the next chapter and year of our lives. :)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

圣诞节的小小创作

It's been so much fun. :) The different attempts, synching, laughing and trying out different songs. 

Christmas is really a beautiful and wonderful season, and I am so glad and so determined to enjoy, and make the best of the last 2 weeks of this year. 

So, this weekend, it was off to a great start and countdown. Both Steve and I are on leave, and we made elaborate plans on Friday to do this and that... and haha, none really materialized because we kinda slept in late, did house work, took K for long walks, but that's also a nice way to spend the weekend. Just 随心所欲。Perhaps, the most exciting discovery this weekend was that we found a super yummy laksa. We saw it on Jeremy's fb, then Sean and HN said the same, and then we just decided to go try it. 

And, the crazy me had laksa last night, and tonight, and we travelled 30 mins to reach the laksa. :-D 

The SGD$16 vegetable laksa. Basically, you can add other ingredients (kind create your own laksa), but I was just happy with an assortment of veges. 

And so, maybe our grand plans will happen tomorrow and the remaining 2 weeks. Yay - on leave for quite a couple of days!! So, we will go shooting (rifle and pistol - haha, so look forward, haha haha), and then do a Christmas weekend staycation at Al Ain (so super look forward too). 

And in the midst of the day, finally, the 圣诞的小小作品 was done! I had played my part first, and ensured both the saxo and guitar tunes matched. And then Alice stitched it together. Ahha, and last night she demanded that I added in the last segment of the video with a hi-fi. Laugh Die Me. I so enjoyed the mini project, and the fun we had. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiMa3kjKLVk&feature=youtu.be  

Laugh Die Me. The hi-fi in the last part. :) 

So look forward to Christmas!

Towards the most wonderful season of the year

Friday, was about dusk and its rays. 

Saturday was a whirlwind of sorts. 

Sunday, saw some misty morn and a relieved end. 

The first week of Dec was one

With some emotions - 

Work and a small scare. 

Thankfully, the week has ended. 

Dec week 2 will mean,

It's a step closer, 

to the most special day of the year. 

Thanksgiving week

On the topic of "nice", "singlehood", and this discussion went on from last night till now, and I even joined in a panel sharing on singlehood experiences - such raw and good sharings from 1 dear friend, and also, much about this word - nice. 

Do you describe someone as "nice", when you want to introduce a person to a friend? And what does "nice" conjure? I am actually not sure too - maybe it's different when it's used by a man, vs a woman. But perhaps for me, it comes across as too vague, and this adjective could also mean that there's really nothing too good to say, or nothing much to comment about the person, and hence, "nice". 

Definitely a good discussion topic and much learnings and understanding. 

That aside, Sunday again... I had a very sleepy weekend... felt sleep-starved, and just zzz-ed. 

My oura ring stats should be quite good for the last 2 days. :)

It is the Thanksgiving week. And I am thankful for Thanksgiving Thursday - had a really great fellowship, and traditional American dinner with Robert, Monique and their 3 lovely gals and friends. It's officially my first time joining an American family for Thanksgiving dinner, and it's a huge celebration for them. :) So much food, so much good conversations, and I am really thankful. 

First time to their new place, maybe first time in last 1 year since we met. Same lovely family :)

And Friday was good too. There are so many sales advertisements all over - every merchant and online stall trying to capitalize on this Black Friday tradition, and even Cyber Monday - to rake in the sales. And, I didn't really have anything I wanted to buy though I checked out Zoom Fly 3. Unfortunately, the discounted price is not really anything great too, and even more expensive than normal sales in the past. There's really nothing very much I want materially, at this point in time. 

But Friday was good. :) We had a good brunch and stroll along the coast. It would have been holiday season in the days of old, but I suppose we could just still pretend it's a holiday walk, stroll. :)

I am just thankful for a nice walk and a good conversation. :) Nothing fanciful, but just enjoying the moment. And because it's Black Friday, dress in black. :-)

On Thanksgiving, of this week itself, one of the small moments I was very glad for was that it rained a little, even for a short 15 minutes. It was nothing to really rave about, but it was just a strange feeling - something like a refreshing moment, thankful moment, breathing moment early in the morning. Maybe it made me feel that I was closer to home, having heard that it's been pretty rainy in Singapore. Or it's just the early morning moment of experiencing the start of a new day. It's a fleeting moment and a feeling that I wanted to capture... a newness, hope, life, and that the day had begun. The clouds came on in the early morning, and it drizzled, even as the sun starts to rise. I managed to catch the whole sunrise as I was up early for a meeting. :)) 

Earlier today, I was also thankful that I've had a good week and weekend. I also felt some tinges of nostalgia too as I went about my cleaning and laundry routine. I looked at the closet, and thought about the clothes, the make-up, the shoes, the bags. When was the last time I really decked myself in proper office wear and bought nice girlish things? I think it was quite some time ago. Maybe, this would happen in 2021. :) A little wistful feel washed over me. 

Finally, I am thankful that Christmas is coming again. :) This year will be quieter... but in it, there's surely that sense of awe, and then, the start of a new beginning, new hopes too. I am looking forward to this beautiful December season. 

我的一个小小作品

很感动。有几个好友说好听，有feel. :)

But fingers are feeling the sting now. Nonetheless, it's very enjoyable to just make music, and I'm looking forward to another WIP one with Alice. 

For now - it is just this part of 雪落下的声音。 

Of shoes, and meat

Saturdays and Sundays feel so very different. Yesterday, I was more relaxed, had guitared, and was listening to the sermon on Honour, and felt so ready to enjoy the Sabbath rest - which is a very conscious and deliberate effort, to choose not to think about areas of concerns, but to trust Him. 

Today's feeling was more - let me just check my emails first, and see if there's anything I should attend to, and then at least, I can have peace of mind to read, write, and enjoy the rest of my Sunday. 

I wonder how our brains and emotions are wired to think, feel and see. Am reading this book called Incognito by David Eagleman, and it's re-reading some parts to further understand. Some days, I feel super genki, some days, I feel a bit down in the dumps, but technically, nothing has changed on the outward. Also, I was thinking that in such a vast and majestic world and universe, my thoughts are so so so, so so so insignificant and inconsequential, in comparison, to the vastness - and yet, and yet, that God knows me by name and He is the one who is my friend, mindful and in control of all that goes thru' my life, my mind. It was a pretty much mind-blowing thought - because last week, with a sermon I heard, and with this thinking - I did wonder again, why people would want to take their lives. And - also, set against the backdrop of world events, like the recent US elections, like the pandemic - these too, are as huge as it can get for 2020, but in eternity and in God's mind, probably, just one speck (important or otherwise), in His vastness. 

I have come to this part of the year again, where I know that time will still a little as I prepare for 2021. 

So, my yesterday was a really happy and chillax one. I was told that the shoes I bought for my mum was delivered. :) She was so happy. And I asked her how she wore her shoes. I bought her a first pair 3 years ago, and I think I've brought her, like 3 pairs, and she's worn all of them out. Haha. And I am still wearing the same pair I bought for myself 4 years ago?! 

My mummy swears by these Clarks cloudsteppers ever since her doctor told her that these will help lessen her feet pain. There are no more such designs here in UAE, and I had to ship it from Amazon US. Amazon is really amazing. And finally, it was Ernest who brought the shoes back to SG for my mum. :)

And then, my sis keeps asking me to buy Alphafly. She says it is so good and helps shave her timing off her runs... and better than zoom fly 3. haha. Oh dear... alphaflys are not available in UAE, and then they are like 3 times the price of zoom fly.... haha.

And, my life's been about big eats recently. I shall talk about the Fri night big eat. 

We chanced upon this Brazilian Ola restaurant that serves 15 different types of barbequed meat, with salad, cooked food, soups, sushi, desert - buffet style. Oh my goodness. I never had so much meat ever before in my life. Seriously, my first time, and I think I cannot eat meat any more for a while. 

But, it was really quite a nice place, and not so ex, at AED 129 per person, which is about SGD$47.

And, I really liked the wagyu, beef brisket, and this other slightly crispier cut - all medium rare. 

My favourite, was the salad and salmon though. Haha, and.... the Brazilian black bean stew soup called Feijoada! Super super super delicious, and it reminded me of my mum's 黑豆汤。 

虽然看起来不起眼，有什么都看不到， 但真的很好喝。哈哈。

Maybe cos it was a Friday evening, I felt that it was such a well-deserved meal. :)) We stayed from light till dark, and the whole place was filled with merry-making. It's nice. I took some photos of the area and night sky, and also... it was all the more enjoyable as the manager gave me free Cab Sav Merlot blend. So enjoyable and thankful - last Friday evening. 

The Getting-Ready-for-New-Week Feeling

This coming week, I will be doing 3 sharings, and then 1 of our collaborators, will be doing a sharing on our work too. 

Usually, when I agree to share, I always tell myself - Just do it. And when the day draws near, I will be like... I have to think about it seriously and spend some effort on it now. It's  challenging myself to speak, to take on the QnA, to learn and improve, and understand my chain of thinking better. Sometimes, this is the JBE feeling. But yet, it is necessary, to step out of comfort zone. 

And last 2 weeks, we operated too like events company - webinar event company (as Fiona jokingly said). 

And it was also some levels of preparation, especially on an AI talent and skills topic that we had with OECD, and on a collaboration with LinkedIn. 

This part of the year, technically should be about winding down, some travels, some taking stock, some gatherings with loved ones, some reminiscing.  
However, this pandemic has really turned everything topsy-turvy, and on this Sunday evening, I am feeling a little wistful. I had completed the first presentation deck for next week, and now, cannot help but think about the "good old days" and the travelling episodes. If 2020 had been normal, maybe I would be glamping in Japan with Maki. 

I cannot be more thankful though - that today, at least I got 1 sharing done. Tmr, I will have to wreck my brains a little for a guest lecture at NYU-Abu Dhabi on Thurs. :)

Thankful to the ongoing collaboration with LinkedIn, and this year, we investigated the factors that enable success for mid-career workers' pivot into new jobs, and the employability of fresh grads.

And our first collaboration with OECD Science, Tech and Innovation Directorate touching on AI Talent and Skills. 

Work - is truly about partnerships. :)

夜深人静时刻的美

We took 2 night walks in the last couple of days with K. Tonight, I thought how beautiful the quiet night scene was yesterday. We just walked quietly, stopping for K, each of us deep in our thoughts, and occasionally stopping and sharing some reflections. 

When it comes to writing, it is really about the mood, the flow, the emotions. Maybe tonight got a slight feel. Just finished a conversation with Sabie, and I am glad Monday is over. It doesn't take very long for me to write if I feel it just coming together. And it has to be that kind of moment for me to write. Then, the words are formed - the letters becoming words, words becoming meaning, and the whole diary entry becoming an etched part of my life that I want to remember. 

And so last night I brought along my phone to capture some of the shots. I want them to be etched in memory, because it speaks of a certain feeling this Nov season. 

好美，对吧。

And the light hues, and the mosque being lit - they are really beautiful. I wondered if there were any activities going inside this grand building, and at such a late time in the night. This 80km sign is also where I usually start my run round the mosque too, on weekend mornings. I'd have run maybe about 10 minutes from Rihan Heights to reach the mosque, and then I'll decide if I should do it clockwise or anti-clockwise, again, depending on my mood that morning. 

And you can spot big S and little K - enjoying the night walk yesterday. 

And the last pic of the mosque from the back, just alongside the highway. :) There is no night walk tonight. Both K and S are sound asleep. I will have to turn in soon too. Tonight, am thankful that Monday is over.