It’s a huge photo, but this is one of those moments when size really matters. Any smaller, and I think that bright smile would just form microscopic lead points that barely tickle your heart.

It is quite the ultimate catharsis when, right after screaming at the top of my lungs, I look at this and break into pealfuls of uncontrollable laughter. Because there must be light at the end of this emotional tunnel; be it passing my exams, the coming of 6th year (party time, baby!)..more importantly, being the last person in the extended family to finally have a chance to see my nieces. I’m looking forward to the end; I can’t wait for the gathering/BBQ planned for me on the day I return.

That’s Aliyyah, by the way. And I know I must be fair, but I like to pace myself too, so a picture of Maryam shall wait.

And Aly, this smile is dedicated to you. Pssst, look at the archives: it’s a little retro - borderline stale actually - but my unbridled immaturity presents quite embarrassingly in unedited emo rants. Entertainment indeed!

For lack of a more direct title (the dissolution of creativity must be blamed for this), here are the highlights of what has happened so far; in reverse chronological order of course.

#1. BodyPump MasterClass
I love the gym. Like really. It is a fact that I am cursed with chunky genes; no amount of exercise (I have gathered thus far) can make me any less curvaceous. So throw those ‘Oh you’re not skinny’ accusations at me with much passion if you must, but at least I can be proud that I have passed the holy grail of all BodyPump classes - the MasterClass (special class for fitness trainers, open to regular members). The instructor - an award winner and senior trainer - was awesome. Possibly due to his uncanny resemblance to Aaron Eckhart, he was an absolute charmer as he kept encouraging me on (I had challenged myself with heavier weights); publicly coaxing me to smile. When the class ended, he teasingly approached me to ask how I thought the class went. Major endorphin rush for the day, people!

#2. TT’s 21st
Putting aside the unbearable fact that she’ll graduate from Medical School at a young 22, my good friend TT pulled a birthday-drinks-cum-end-of-school bash last Friday night at BarCuba. We had a blast doing silly things like playing ‘daredevil candle-blowing’ (Kianny won). And with much enjoyment, I had a humorous (3 hour-long!) drawn-out debate with Channy on the eternally controversial topic of Males vs Females and Cate Blanchett vs Natalie Portman (a must, everytime). Serena and Jenna pitched in occassionally to inject their much-appreciated feministic views.

#3. The Aunt and Uncle visit
Although it was difficult trying to juggle my numerous presentations and tutorials with the coming of my paternal family members (they had dropped by from a Sydney conference), I had enough luck to shave some evening time off to meet them for dinner at my cousin’s every night. As expected, being overseas makes one yearn to spend as much time possible with fragments of home. Despite my not being as close to the father’s side as I should, I enjoyed listening to my Aunt’s tales of yesteryear. And as my cousin and I propped up our elbows till the wee hours of the morning, I learned humbling things about my late grandparents that I never knew before.

(thanks to my cousin, Muna, for this family picture)

Next year, insya’Allah, I’ll see these guys for Eid.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri to all my readers. Maaf zahir dan batin.