Hippocampi

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It’s ten minutes to four in the afternoon on a Monday and one is seated with a book and a bowl of bingsu, with Rosé’s album playing in the background 😌 Just got done with a 1:15pm pilates class for the first time in a long time and it felt good to be back. The workout was just right although the breath work needed more practice. ‘Twas nice to be out in the sun at two-ish after sweating it out. One needs to remember how this feels like.

Maybe we’ll read for half an hour more and move over to the library to pick up more reads and continue reading. This is looking to be quite an apt off day.

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Quite enjoyed the two short films from yesterday’s masterclass though one was sleepy and lowkey struggling during the Q & A session. Also had a bout of stomachache half an hour before we were to step out of the house, good thing it was alright throughput the entire 2.5 hours in the theatre.

Was still exhausted and so one stayed horizontal on the bed after, listening to videos till 3am no less despite the exhaustion because sleep wasn’t coming.

A little less tired when one woke up this morning and we spent half a day at Chai Chee with the people we spent Surabaya with a decade ago. Then met B for an evening walk and the energy was slowly depleting towards the end. On the bed as we’re noting this down and it’s now the fourth day without playing TB.

Maybe we’ll take tomorrow as an off day. The social and physical battery is highly dying.

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Day 14 and felt tired last night and this morning, for the first time this break. Went for a long overdue massage on Thursday with mum and tried blood cupping for the first time ever, marks were expected but aches from the massage are still here. The kakak pressed down so hard on all the pains, it was so bad yet so good.

Came by IAF again this year and spoke to the author of whom I’ve got two picture books from about getting her onto Goodreads 😬 and then made one’s way to Suntec for a market to come by S’ booth and catch up for a bit but also ended up chatting to her customer turned friend for 1.5 hours.

One has got to step out for a masterclass with a certain Korean director in an hour but one could also fall asleep in this state 💤

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It’s half past eight in the evening on a Tuesday i.e. Day 11 and here’s what down today. Thoughts of going out in the morning were dashed because the sleep schedule is still in ruins and one slept at 6-ish in the morning.

Woke up to complete a book which makes the total current count to be four in eleven days (wild). And then one stepped out to jog by the lake in hopes of not wasting the day away. The forecast wasn’t promising honestly but one thought at least the temperature was great for being out. Forgot to turn on strava and so one did another round of just so we could determine the distance. As if that one wasn’t enough, one decided to walk another four kilometres to the library so we could pick up more reads.

Bought the first bubble tea in two weeks on the way back (thanks to the cough) and we’re now on the bed, all body scrubbed and lotioned up 😌 First workout of the week clocked in ✨

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So it’s half past six in the evening of Day 9 of the Summer Break, or a Monday of Week 2 and we woke up in the afternoon because yesterday was spent playing Tiny Bookshop for too long that one decided to peel self off the bed for a quick workout. Found a new podcast to listen to at midnight and that paired with a botched sleep schedule resulted in one only sleeping after six in the morning which brings us here now.

Contemplating pulling an all-nighter tonight and sleeping at a normal time tomorrow, if possible. Cleaned the current sheets and in the process of cleaning new ones because the skin be itchy these days. Might be tidying up a little and consolidating all the letters that need replying so we can start writing in a bit. Play a bit of TB again maybe?

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Not me taking myself out to jog again although we’re feeling the sores from two days ago but yknow might as well. And we’ll work towards a longer distance today. Also honestly one thought it would feel like we did nothing today if we don’t head out. It’s Day 6 of the break, we’ve met one group of friends, finished a book, completed a drama series, checked out one new cafe, fulfil one craving on the form of Korean Fried Chicken, tried eating something new for the first time and ruined the sleep cycle.

Also the weather seems great today so we’ll take advantage of that. If we’re feeling it, we’ll drop by the library for new reads (because the emergency stack is down to four and we know that’s quite a crisis) and maybe get a matcha because it’s been a while without one. We’ll see.

Also one skipped a night of cough syrup and it feels like we might have gotten backwards again.

Update, six hours later: We’ve also done two jogs in that span of time. One definitely had slowly and quietly filled up the days.

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It’s now Sunday and also Day 2 of the Summer break. One is perched on the bed after a nap in the afternoon after a chill morning that started at 11-ish. We had coffee, lunch, some sessions of Duolingo and got some reading in - as chill as it could be. The throat is still gagging with every cough but hopefully the flu has tapered off and the fever doesn’t come back.

Had a blast at A’s house, with the bestest food: one tried siput sedut for the first time, that was cooked in some stellar kuah lemak that also came with sweet potatoes. All the dishes were amazing really, but that was the most impressionable, considering the novel experience. Let’s not forget the perfect chocolate cake that we had too that had the most ✨ proportions of ganache, sponge and whipped caramel and chocolate balls for extra crunch.

It’s now six in the evening and maybe one will proceed to read for the rest of the night and start a new k-drama potentially. Also one is feeling for some good tasty food but not sure what hmmm-

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School’s finally out and summer break is underway. It’s almost four on a Friday afternoon and one is enroute to meeting the brother for a walk, but not quite in proper footwear because one is from work. Just cleared brunch with S and one actually doesn’t feel as sick as yesterday. Speaking of which, one took meds and knocked out at 6 in the evening and did not manage to write to most of the kids leaving this time (and also only completed the year-end collage video while in class).

Alarms have all been turned off and may we all look forward to waking up naturally. Here’s to watching some good shows and more crafting and more books!

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Today we clocked in a library duty without a book to read because one left it in school but I guess since we’re at the library, we’ll never be short of books, I suppose?

After clearing some library things, one thought to write the letters that one ought to since it’s year-end season but alas, KY walked in to hang out and so we proceeded to catch up for the next two hours, which meant that we closed the library late. Turns out he also came last week, expecting to see one on shift only to realise one wasn’t 🥹 maybe one is just easily moved, but one really do appreciate people who surprisingly make time for other people just because-

This library is really something.

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It’s almost nine in the evening on a Sunday, before the last week of school. Spent the entire day in and managed an afternoon nap because one is exhausted but also we spent almost a full day out yesterday, starting with waking up at seven on a weekend. Went birding with at Sungei Buloh and saw no crocodiles but found a single otter (!) that Mum got casually close with.

On the work front, one was allocated a great teacher for next year thankfully and so we’re safe after all the worry. Farewells took place two days ago and work has been quite tough to get through as usual, since we’re all near the end. Literally thinking of pick-me-ups to order, every, single, day.

Considering a short trip during the break but we’ll see. Won’t be short of things to do anyway if we stay grounded on the mainland.

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Twenty-two more days till the break! It’s afternoon on a midweek break because it’s Hari Raya Haji and we’re taking it slow. Been reading for the couple of hours on the bed. Wanted to go for a sunrise run this morning but one has been sneezing all night last night till three in the morning so that plan was a no go.

Got a new watercolouring book and a new picnic mat is on the way so one is quite stoked to fill the summer days in. Maybe we’ll finally try cycling around the hood and the lake nearby, get more crafting done and write (reply to) more letters. One has been quite behind in that area. May we get more good sleep too. And step up on the working out.

On the work front, it is of no surprise that one’s brain space has been taken up by all the possibilities of what the new allocations would be. We will be fine, it is just the uncertainty that’s a bother.

One is also considering the different trips to be taken next year. Excitement is great, to have something to look forward to is great.

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It’s almost two in the afternoon on a Saturday and one is perched on the bed after a workout sesh, a shower, some coffee, four sticks of satay and lessons on Duolingo. The potential plan was to visit a flea market but it’s been raining the entire day so far and one is not up for being around crowds so we shall see.

Ran an errand for the house on Wednesday evening after work, which marks another milestone. Swimfest happened this week and it felt like the longest week ever. Good thing one managed to leave at noon-ish on a Friday.

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Ughhhhh so hard to meet the mat today the legs are just way too heavy somehow (maybe it’s the period) but managed to do a video plus stretches 😭

The four-day weekend has been great although one could do with a three-day one and it’d be enough. Checked out an exhibition, a new bookstore that one has been meaning to, a new cafe, completed two books and made a trip to Kino which resulted in an almost purchase of a colouring book that costs $57.

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Struggled to start working out today 😵 Woke up at 9-ish on a Saturday morning, which is pretty early but ‘twas too hot to work out and so one did the usual Duolingo lessons and alas, one was hingry after and so the workout plans were shelved. Upon being done with lunch, one had to digest and just as one thinks digestion has been completed, one got hungry again?

Lazy as one was, we met the met successfully and started with some shoulder stretches to remedy the aches that has been hanging around for weeks now before tucking into a twenty-minute leg workout instead of the usual ten, for a change.

Aiming to get to page 100 at least of the current book and getting new reads next week since we’re down to three books in the emergency stack.

Long weekend next week!

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It’s half past one in the afternoon on a Sunday and we’ve just taken a shower, with a cup of hot coffee ready to be had while embarking on the usual Duolingo routine. Got up at 11 today and got straight to working out, did a different video for legs today and ‘twas bit harder than usual, considering one has slipped out of the workout routine in the last two weeks. Pulled through still, so it’s a win. Really good productive work week this past week, and may this be a reminder to lay low and just focus on being the best self, everything else will follow.

Did we get enough hours of sleep during the break? No. Did we get good sleep during the break? No. Did we get all of those this last week? Also no. Counting the days till we get it again.

Meanwhile, it’s been great getting to watch Survivor again.

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Trust oneself to have a regularly normal sleep schedule throughout the two weeks and only wreck it on the weekend just before work commences. Stayed past midnight at a friend’s place for the yearly raya visit and regressed to an age when we first met. It’s a Sunday today, just before work sets in tomorrow and one woke up with a sombre, slight heavy feeling. The gloomy weather is not helping but we’re off to watch a musical so that should lick the mood up.

Maybe one shall watch a Survivor episode tonight to make end on a cheery note-

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It is a Wednesday, in the midst of the second week of the Spring break and here’s a lowdown of what has gone on: woke up today with the damnest headache and so one knocked down some pills before later setting off for another library shift in the evening.

Sores on the arms are still lingering but one has never felt this sore after a(ny) cycling episodes before! Amazed self (and everyone else too) when one swung by and clung onto a railing for one’s life to avoid falling deeper into a longkang. Somehow this edition of our cycling journey seemed difficult already in the first half an hour, with the uphills. The sun was definitely not helping and so one strongly still prefers cycling in the night.

The first week of break moved as slow as it possibly could and now we’re halfway through the second. We’ve got a raya visit plus a play to watch in the weekend. Between now and then, let’s see what one can fit in.