Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata | Book Review & Thoughts on “Normal”

This was a short but surprisingly thought-provoking read.

It’s funny in a very dry way and sometimes quite uncomfortable — because the person who seems “strange” may actually be the one who understands the world most clearly.

The story follows Keiko, a woman who has worked at the same convenience store for 18 years and is perfectly happy with her life.

Keiko has always been considered unusual. Even as a child, she reacted to situations differently from everyone else.

But because she doesn't follow the usual path of getting married, having children and building a conventional career, everyone around her thinks something is wrong with her. They think she needs to be “fixed.”

I actually liked how the book made me question what “normal” really means. Why do we assume everyone has to want the same things in life?

And then there’s Shiraha. 🫩

The more I read about him, the more I kept thinking, is there really such a human being? And how can someone like this exist and live their life?

What an arrogant, useless human being. I honestly found him so infuriating. 😂

He drove me crazy, but perhaps that's also what made his character so memorable.

Maybe that's part of what makes the book so good — it makes you uncomfortable, makes you question society, and definitely gives you someone to hate. 😂

Not sure I loved the book, but it definitely gave me a lot to think about.

Maybe the biggest takeaway for me is that “normal” is not necessarily the same as “right.” We all have different ideas of what makes a life meaningful, and perhaps we should be a little less quick to decide that someone else needs to be “fixed.”

May xx

I Got Into the Prague Half Marathon 2027 | My Running Journey

Well… I wasn’t expecting this.

I entered the ballot for the Generali Prague Half Marathon 2027 not really knowing what would happen.

And today, I found out:

I GOT IN. 🥹🏃🏻‍♀️

So, apparently, I’m going to Prague on 3 April 2027 to run 21.1 km through one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. 🇨🇿

And there’s an even bigger reason I’m excited about this one.

Prague is part of the SuperHalfs series — six iconic half marathons across Europe, with runners taking on Lisbon, Prague, Berlin, Copenhagen, Cardiff and Valencia.

And somehow, I’ve already started my own little SuperHalfs adventure.

Cardiff Half Marathon — October 2026 🏃🏻‍♀️

Lisbon Half Marathon — I got in! 🇵🇹

Prague Half Marathon — I got in! 🇨🇿

Three races on the list. Three cities to run through. And potentially the beginning of a much bigger challenge.

I never really set out thinking, I’m going to complete the SuperHalfs.

But now that I have Cardiff, Lisbon and Prague lined up… well, maybe I should see where this takes me. 😂

No big goals yet. No time target.

Just another race to train for, another city to explore on foot, and another finish line to look forward to.

Sometimes you enter a ballot thinking, let’s see what happens.

And then… it happens.

Prague, I’ll see you in April. 🇨🇿❤️

One more race added to the calendar.

One more reason to keep showing up.

May xx

I Have Too Many Books

I think I may have a small problem.

I have too many books. 😂

And somehow, despite having several apps to track my reading, I still managed to buy duplicate books.

Yes. Duplicate books.

Apparently, knowing what I've already bought is harder than actually buying another book.

So today, I decided it was time to do something about it.

I've been using a few different reading apps to keep track of what I'm reading, what I've read and what I want to read. But somewhere along the way, I realised that what I really need isn't just a reading tracker.

I need a proper catalogue of the books I actually own.

Because there is a difference between knowing what you've read and knowing what is sitting on your bookshelf.

And clearly, I need the latter.

Time to become my own librarian

So today, I found myself sitting in one corner next to my bookshelf, surrounded by books, trying to figure out exactly what I have.

The goal is pretty simple:

Know what I own.

I want to be able to check whether I already have a book before buying it. I want to know which books I've read, which ones are still waiting for me, and, most importantly, avoid buying the same book twice.

You would think this would be easy.

It probably would be if I had started doing this years ago.

Instead, I'm now looking at shelves of books and thinking, When did I buy this one? and Wait… don't I already have this? 😂

And that's exactly how this little project started.

The search for the right app

I've been looking into different apps that can help catalogue a personal library. There are quite a few options out there, and each seems to have its own strengths and limitations.

Some are more focused on reading and reviews. Others are better for cataloguing an actual collection. Some are simple and user-friendly, while others seem to have a lot more features than I probably need.

I'm still figuring out which one works best for me.

For now, though, the most important thing is getting everything into one place.

So today is less about finding the perfect app and more about finally getting organised.

Let's see how many books I actually own

This is probably the part I'm both looking forward to and slightly afraid of.

I have a feeling the final number is going to be higher than I expect.

And I'm almost certain I'll find more duplicates along the way.

But at least once everything is catalogued, I'll have a much better idea of what is actually sitting on my shelves.

Maybe I'll even discover books I've completely forgotten about.

And perhaps — just perhaps — this will stop me from buying another copy of a book I already own.

No promises, though. 😂

For now, I'm officially on librarian duty.

Wish me luck. 

May xx

Book Review: A Quiet Place by Seichō Matsumoto

🚨 SPOILER ALERT 🚨

I read this book a month ago and am now trying to get back on track with my reviews. 😂

The story follows Tsuneo Asai, a Japanese government bureaucrat whose younger wife, Eiko, suddenly dies of a heart attack while out in Tokyo.

At first, Asai accepts her death. She had a heart condition, so a heart attack isn't completely unbelievable. But one thing bothers him, and he starts investigating.

Asai's suspicions about Eiko are basically correct.

And then things take a very different turn.

The man who begins the story investigating a mysterious death eventually becomes a murderer himself.

But the ending felt so strange to me...

The first part reads almost like a very quiet detective story. You're slowly uncovering what Eiko had been hiding and trying to understand what really happened.

But ultimately, I don't think this book is really about solving the mystery of Eiko's death.

It's more about jealousy, obsession and how the need to know the truth can slowly consume you.

And that ending... I still don't know how I feel about it. 😂

Maybe the unsettled feeling is exactly what the author wanted to leave us with. 😮‍💨

May xx

Every Mile Has a Purpose | My Global 6K for Water 2026 Update

A Little Global 6K for Water Update 💙

The challenge has officially started, and I'm slowly getting into the rhythm.

So far:

🏃🏻‍♀️ 66.74 km covered

💧 S$50 raised towards my S$600 target

My Global 6K for Water Singapore 2026 fundraising profile showing distance and funds raised.

The distance is moving along nicely. The fundraising… let's just say we have some work to do. 😂

Which brings me to a little idea I've been playing with…

I'm making some handmade bracelets as part of my Global 6K fundraising. The idea is simple: if you support my fundraiser, I'd love to make you a little bracelet as a thank-you. You can choose a word, or let me surprise you. 🤭

Handmade bracelet created as a thank-you gift for supporters of my Global 6K for Water fundraiser.

I'm also thinking of making a few to bring along when I visit my sponsored child next month, so I can give one as a little gift.

It's a small thing, but I thought it would be a fun way to make this fundraiser a little more personal.

If you'd like to support my Global 6K journey, I'd be truly grateful. And as a little thank-you, I'd love to make you one of these bracelets.

💙 Support my Global 6K fundraiser

https://global6k.worldvision.org.sg/participant!P00238RA

For now, bracelets can only be sent to Singapore & Penang.

And if you don't need one, you can always choose to pass it on. 🤍

Every mile has a purpose.

Together, we're helping bring clean water closer to 12,000 children across Asia and Africa.

May xx

My Body Has Changed. So Has My Life.

I used to weigh between 47 and 49kg for most of my adult life. Back then, fitting into an XS was just... normal. I never thought much about it.

Then COVID happened. Yes, I still blame COVID.

Living in Penang during the lockdown meant we were confined to our homes. We could only leave for groceries and travel within a limited radius. Like many others, I started working from home, and the boundaries between work and life disappeared.

Wake up.

Work.

Lunch at my desk.

Keep working.

Before I knew it, it was evening.

There was no commute, no reason to get up, and somehow there was never an end to the workday.

I tried to stay active, but it wasn't the same.

When the world finally reopened, life had changed. Many of my running friends had retired from running, and not long after that, I moved to another country. I still went for the occasional run with colleagues, but the routine and community I once had slowly faded away.

Then work became busier.

Then I left my job and moved to Bangkok to be with my boyfriend.

Life settled into a completely different rhythm.

By then, I was hovering around 52kg.

At first, it didn't seem like much. But little by little, I noticed the changes.

My XS clothes stayed in the wardrobe.

Then I moved into size S.

Then M.

Eventually, even some of my M-sized clothes no longer fit comfortably.

I don't buy clothes often. So when I do, it's usually because I genuinely need them.

Yesterday, I went shopping.

For the first time, I didn't even bother reaching for a size M.

I picked up a size L without thinking. Five years ago, I would never have imagined doing that.

This morning, the scale read 59.8kg.

A younger version of me would probably have panicked.

Today?

Not anymore.

I've tried.

I've trained for marathons.

I've walked, run, swum, and started over more times than I can count.

Could I do more? Probably.

Should I start strength training? Definitely.

Could I eat better? Probably.

But life isn't lived in perfect training cycles.

Sometimes you're building a career.

Sometimes you're moving countries.

Sometimes you're trying to settle into a new place.

Sometimes you're so busy showing up for the people you love...

...that somewhere along the way, you forget to show up for yourself.

Age changes us.

Hormones change us.

Life changes us.

Do I still want to become stronger and healthier?

Absolutely.

Not because I want to fit back into an XS.

Not because I want to see 49kg on the scale again.

But because I want to feel strong.

I want to keep running.

Keep travelling.

Keep exploring.

Keep saying yes to adventures.

So yes, today I'm 59.8kg.

The clothes are bigger.

The body is different.

The pace isn't what it used to be.

Would I like to lose a few kilos? Of course.

But I'm not going to beat myself up over it anymore.

Life happened.

Age happened.

And that's okay.

So I'll just keep moving.

One last thing before I end...

This isn't about saying one size is better than another, or that there's anything wrong with being a size L.

It's simply an honest reflection on how my body has changed over the years. We all have different bodies, different lifestyles, different genetics and different life journeys. This one just happens to be mine.

I'm curious...

Have you noticed your body changing too?

Was there a moment when you realised things weren't quite the same anymore?

What has helped you make peace with those changes—or are you still figuring it out?

I'd genuinely love to hear your story. Let's have an honest conversation in the comments. ❤️

May xx

Every Mile Has a Purpose | My Global 6K for Water Singapore 2026 Journey

Last year, I took part in Global 6K for Water Singapore for the first time.

I wasn't chasing a personal best or trying to run the furthest distance. I simply wanted to use something I already loved - running - to support a cause that has become close to my heart.

By the end of the challenge, I had covered 694.69 kilometres and raised S$1,840 through my fundraising page.

Looking back, those numbers aren't what I remember most.

What stays with me is the reminder that while I choose to run, many children across Asia and Africa don't have the same choice. Every day, they walk long distances just to collect water that may not even be safe to drink. That journey takes time away from school, affects their health, and limits opportunities that many of us take for granted.

That's why I'm signing up again.

From 4 August to 20 November 2026, every training run, morning walk, recovery session and long run for my upcoming races will also count towards my Global 6K for Water journey.

This year is a little different.

A few weeks ago, I started Project 100 - a personal commitment to rebuild consistency, one day at a time. It isn't about running every day or chasing perfect workouts. It's about showing up, listening to my body, and remembering that progress is built through small, consistent actions.

As it turns out, that's exactly what Global 6K for Water is about too.

I'm currently training for the Cardiff Half Marathon in October, followed a week later by the Chicago Marathon. As with every marathon journey, there will be good runs, difficult runs, recovery days, and moments when simply showing up is enough.

Instead of treating the Global 6K challenge as something extra, I'm choosing to give every kilometre I'm already running an extra purpose.

Every mile I train.

Every step I take.

Every finish line I cross.

They all become an opportunity to help bring clean water closer to children and their communities.

Together, we're helping bring clean water closer to 12,000 children across Asia and Africa. It's a reminder that while none of us can solve the challenge alone, every step we take and every act of generosity can become part of something much bigger.

Over the coming months, I'll be sharing my Project 100 journey alongside my Global 6K challenge - the highs, the setbacks, the races, the recovery days and everything in between. I hope it reminds us that consistency doesn't have to be perfect to make a difference.

If you've followed my running journey before, thank you for being part of it.

And if you'd like to support my Global 6K for Water fundraiser this year, I'd be truly grateful. Whether it's through a donation, sharing my fundraising page, or simply cheering me on, every bit of encouragement helps.

You can support my fundraiser here:
https://global6k.worldvision.org.sg/participant!P00238RA

Thank you for believing that every mile can have a purpose.

Running has given me so much over the years.

This is one way I can give something back.

Here's to another season of running with purpose.

Let's make every mile count.

May xx