Dear readers,

I first met the author of "New York Calling" in 2020 during a recreational football session he hosted. Ever since, we've developed a friendship especially when FMCO pushed us into isolation where we would have discussions over Google Meet and Clubhouse for the sake of our sanity.

Before he left for New York, we had a chat over chicken rice and I got food poisoning and he didn't - a clear sign that he was ready for the Empire State.

He came back, wrote a book which I voted to be named 'New York Khalling' but he didn't go with my vote. Looking back, I'm glad he didn't! So when he was mulling over doing a book launch, I was like, "Oh, I have done one book launch before!" and decided to volunteer my services not that he needed it with Ahnaf being his right (and left) hand man. 

One of my photo at the exhibition, sold

Over time, Khal had the idea of showcasing a photography exhibition of New York which fits into the theme of his book “New York Calling”.

Knowing that I have also set foot in the Big Apple, he casually asked me to upload some photos onto the Google Drive. Lo and behold, my very amateur (sumpah memang tak layak) photos made it into the exhibition alongside professional and semi-professional photographers’ works. I cannot even begin to describe the feeling to be given such a privilege but what shocked me the most was when I found out that one of my photographs was purchased by an art enthusiast! Never in my wildest dreams have I ever imagined this!

Thank you so much to Khal and Ahnaf for the honor to be part of yesterday and insyaAllah, to also be part of Recreational Readings, an upcoming publishing company with you guys. Definitely looking forward to that!

I only look fierce, but I really am not!

About Khalilul Rahman
Khalilul Rahman is a community sports activist, mental health advocate, and now an author based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He is also the founder of padangbolasepak.com, a Malaysian football collective of activists & bloggers with the intent to get people to get involved with the sport and to build communities, and the secretary general of the Malaysian Association of Recreational Sports.

With love,
Sya.

Dear readers,

As you all may or may not know, I've always been one of the boys so when I play futsal, half the time I'm like the only girl. Which is where I got the scar on my face and most recently, the tailbone injury. During the first weekend of July 2022, which was after the most busy period of my life, I played futsal, fell down and hurt my tailbone really badly.

It was so bad, I had shortness of breath and lost sight for awhile due to extremely low blood pressure. So the Husband rushed me to the hospital where I got an x-ray and all that fun stuff. But here's the thing that really sucked: it hurt like hell and they couldn't do anything about it other than giving me painkillers.

A few days after the fall, I felt sharp pains in my tailbone like a grinding feeling and I said to myself, I really cannot go to work. And that was the day the doctor told me I should be on a one-month MC. I was honestly not happy as I am a workaholic. On top of that, I couldn't drive for a few weeks because I could barely sit down.

It's been a month since the injury and I am still recovering although I am so much better now. There's no bone grinding feeling just soreness. So YAY!

Here's to another month or so.

Love,

Sya.

Before the pandemic, the Husband and I thought maybe Eid is the perfect time for a holiday especially since we did that in 2019 (Read: Raya Sydney: A Short Honeymoon (4 Days 3 Nights at RM3,000)). Then, we wouldn't have to worry about scheduling our Eid plans. Ahhh, those were the days.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic hit, we had gone 2 years without spending Eid with my family and I felt really sad about it. I was really looking forward to this year's Eid as we transition into the endemic phase. However, 2022 was legendary as Eid came like a surprise. Not that I was super surprised or anything. 

Long story short, I was in my grandparents place during the announcement that Eid is tomorrow instead of the following day without my Eid outfit! Face palm please! But the truth is, the car couldn't fit my things as we were transporting my brother's family's things. Lo and behold, we had to head back to KL which was an hour or so away. Dah balik rumah, tidur la situ kan? Penat kot.

The next morning, after getting ready and rested, I said to the Husband, we need to go ASAP because my family does Eid celebration like a competition against time. We made it just in time for photo sessions and makan time.