🌈1385 – Wednesday, 17 December 2025 22:23
London
It’s crowded, noisy, and cold outside downstairs. Reporting from London.
Earlier, when I took my bike out to go to the gym and swim after work, the roads were packed. Traffic was so heavy I couldn’t pedal, so I had to get off and park my bike by the road. I started walking and noticed two guys in front of me wearing dark jackets. I saw something fluffy on their jackets in the light. I wondered what it was, then realised it was also on my jacket – it was slowly snowing.
It was beautiful.
Woke up early today, feeling good, grateful, and normal. Still in bed, I read Dad’s prayer message in our family WhatsApp group, then did affirmations while lying down. I just wanted to stay in bed longer. It was already 08:20 AM, and I had missed the time to work out before starting work, so I stayed in bed until 08:40, which felt like absolute luxury.
By 08:50, still in bed, I messaged both parents with Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh – meaning “Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah, and His blessings.” I thought about my nana, who passed away last year. I used to say Assalam to my gran every day in my thoughts, but I never texted her. We weren’t very close, but now that she’s gone, I wonder why I didn’t reach out back then. Is there a way to fix that? Why do we sometimes ignore the impulse to act and only realise it too late?
09:15, after a shower, I prayed Fajr, then logged into work. I had sweet potatoes and salad for breakfast. Everyone’s busy finishing work before the longer Christmas break. I tried not to chat too much so colleagues could focus, but one dear colleague was excitedly talking about visiting her boyfriend’s family in Australia for Christmas. She had been talking about it for half the year. I quickly Googled “Christmas Santa Australia kangaroo” and found a funny picture: Santa in a cart being dragged by kangaroos in the desert. She usually serious, but she loved it. She replied, “Hahaaa.. Love it! Have a wonderful break, you too Ash!” I felt happy.
11:25, I got a text from my dear mother checking on me. It was already 16:30 for her. She asked, “What are you up to? You must be at your desk working.” I called her immediately. I was still eating my breakfast; teased her through the camera about the red colour of my food – it was sweet potatoes.
We had a quick catch-up, talking about family and the property viewing that I have this weekend in southeast London coming up. While on the call, the agent rang to confirm the viewing. I think I might get that place as an investment. I called mother back to update her. Later in the evening, she checked if the agent had sent the address yet – I said no.
17:30, I logged off work and got ready for the gym. That’s what I mentioned earlier about the busy roads.
Reached the gym at 17:50, with less than an hour to work out. I did four sets of 11 pull-ups (I weigh 70 kg), flat bench presses, three sets of shoulder presses, and ab exercises on the machines.
18:10, quickly changed and swam 10 laps of breaststroke. There were two others in the pool: one with a paddleboard and another practising swimming. I prefer going early to avoid this learning crowd. I finished at 18:24, showered, did Wudu, changed, and biked home.
I left my bags by the main door and walked fast to the mosque, aiming to catch the Isha prayer at Mayfair Masjid by 18:30. I arrived just as the congregation finished, so I prayed Isha alone. It felt warm and muggy inside. I prayed two rak’ahs of Hajah and three rak’ahs of Witr.
Back home, emptied my backpack, walked up to the Sainsbury’s on Stratton Road, bought groceries, and prepared dinner – ready-made chicken with rice.
21:30, my friend who’s away called from Italy. He had visited a city there and got lucky witnessing the Olympic torch being passed in a crowded, lively event with media, athletes, and free food. He even got a picture holding the torch. He was thrilled, as he was only there for one day. He also sent a photo of an octopus he ate and showed that he walked 32,000 steps in a single day! I wished him goodnight, and by then it was 22:10.
Since I hadn’t written for a few days, now sitting in my study room, my neighbour girl is in the window too on her laptop, on this cold, dark December night. Wrapped in a leopard-print throw, sitting on this chair, it feels like heaven on earth. I may be alone, but it feels like the whole world is with me. I love you so much!
“Staying in bed longer or watching TV all weekend isn’t true luxury. Just like you can’t appreciate warmth without experiencing cold, you can only recognise real luxury if you’ve experienced it. Keep looking for it – you’ll find it.”
Some resources to share:
Social Wellbeing Course (FutureLearn) – A free online course you can join about wellbeing and how to use wellbeing principles to improve your life, work, and community impact. Browse Free Online Courses – FutureLearn
Free or low‑cost digital skills training that helps people learn computer skills, internet confidence, job tools, and more in local centres. https://globalhealthtrainingcentre.tghn.org/
Volunteer Emotional Support Helplines (VESH) – In many countries, you can volunteer as a listener for people in distress or find emotional support services yourself. This improves community compassion and personal fulfilment.
Three things I felt grateful for today:
Grateful as planned for finishing a quick gym and swim session together in less than 40 minutes.
Grateful for a long catch-up with mother this morning – first since last Saturday.
Grateful I got some writing done and heading to bed peacefully now.
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Goodnight, good luck!
Ash Khaleem