In July, life resumed to normal and it now feels like the lockdown never happened. I went back to the office full-time, completing a second round of line edits for a book. Work wise, I did 14-15 pieces of work for a freelance client, a record high for the year. Because life had gone back to normal, the first thing I did was get a haircut (not too happy with the result, but nevermind).
Then there were plenty of socials, checking out Tujoh Cafe in Seksyen 17 and its gin bar upstairs called Mrs Jones’ Parlour. I also had a day out IOI City Mall with a friend, shopping and dining at Manhattan Fish Market (never again!) On the last day of July, I spent a day out at Putrajaya Wetland Park with some new friends and dining at a Syrian restaurant after. My flatmate was also back so I had some company and learnt many new things.
Writing wise, I attempted Camp Nano, but only managed 600 words of several microfiction. In better news, a short piece I wrote for Stories that Connect Us was published! I’m so happy because it’s organised by Commonwealth Stories, whose short story prize I’ve entered for the past five years but never won. In July I read only three books, and all were non-fiction; ’The Power of Patience’ by M.J. Ryan, ‘Amusing Ourselves to Death’ by Neil Postman and ‘D.L. Moody on Spiritual Leadership’ by Steve Miller.
In August the socialising continued, with a dinner at Sunway Pyramid with high school friends, a farewell lunch for a writer colleague, discovering a Penang tomyam eatery in my neighbourhood and having coffee with a friend at Artisan Roast in Taman Tun. In August I read three books; ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ by Oscar Wilde, ‘Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis’ by Anne Rice and ‘Little Women’ by Louisa May Alcott.
I also bought five new books thanks to a BookXcess roadshow near my office. They are ‘High-Rise’ by J.G. Ballard, ‘The Gambler’ by Fyodor Dostoevsky, ‘Notes from Underground and The Double’ by Dostoevsky, ‘The Wolves of Midwinter’ by Anne Rice and Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Canterville Ghost, The Happy Prince and Other Stories’. Let the reading commence!
Wan Phing Lim 