A Small Swap That Sparked a "Why Didn't I Think of That?" Moment

It was just a simple decision on a Wednesday evening (12 March 2025). I was repacking my daily bag for tomorrow and reached for a fresh toilet roll. But this time, I paused. There, sitting on the shelf next to it, was a simple pack of tissues. On a whim, I swapped them out.

This tiny change has quietly revolutionized my daily carry.

The "Bag" Revolution

For years, I'd jammed a bulky, cylindrical toilet roll into my bag. It took up a prime corner, created a weird, lumpy shape against my powerbank, and left little room for anything else.

Replacing it with the sleek, rectangular packet of tissues was a revelation. It was like urban planning for my bag's interior. Suddenly, there was space. It slid perfectly into side pockets, sat flat against notebooks, and created no awkward bulges. It was no longer an awkward passenger; it was just part of the crew.

More Than Just a Space-Saver

The benefits went beyond simple geometry.

Perfect Portioning: A roll is all or nothing. A packet of tissues? I can easily grab a few and slip them into a pocket for a walk, leaving the main pack in the bag.

Discreet & Dignified: Let's be honest, pulling out a half-used toilet roll at a cafe table or in a meeting is... not the most polished look. A clean, compact tissue pack is socially seamless.

Versatility Unleashed: The toilet roll had one job. The tissue pack? It's a multi-tool. Spill a coffee, fight off allergies, wipe a screen, or offer one to a colleague; it's ready for duty without a second thought.

The Bigger Takeaway

This wasn't just about tissues versus toilet paper. It was a lesson in questioning my own autopilot routines. I had accepted the bulk and inconvenience of the roll for years because "that's what you do." That moment of pause, that simple "what if?"; unlocked a significantly better solution.

It makes me wonder: What other small, unquestioned habits in my daily life are creating unnecessary friction? Where else am I carrying a bulky "roll" when a sleek, efficient "packet" would serve me better?

The next time you're packing your bag, changing a routine, or facing a minor daily annoyance, take that pause. Ask the simple question. The smallest swap might just be the upgrade you didn't know you needed.

A Hands-On Review: Trading Power for Portability with My New Pink Fan

Mission: Survive the heat in style

Date: 16 January 2026

Location: Johor Bahru

As Johor Bahru temperatures continue to climb, my trusty 6,000 mAh aluminum portable fan started to feel less like a savior and more like a burden. Its weight was the issue. So, I decided on an upgrade; a pink, 5,000 mAh model that promised one crucial improvement: portability.

The Numbers Don't Lie

The moment I held it, I felt the difference. Putting it on the scale confirmed my suspicion: 168.9 grams. A direct comparison reveals it’s nearly 50% lighter than my old fan. The secret? A switch from a dense aluminum alloy body to a lightweight ABS plastic construction.

The Trade-Off: Power vs. Weight

This isn't a straight upgrade; it's a strategic swap. The new fan’s RPM and maximum wind speed are roughly half of my old one's. The aluminum fan roared; this one hums. But in the relentless JB noon heat, a consistent, lighter breeze is often more sustainable and comfortable than short, powerful blasts.

Why This Was The Right Choice For Me

The primary reason is fatigue. Carrying the heavier fan became a noticeable drag, especially on long, exhausting days. This new fan disappears into my bag. I bought it as a birthday present to myself; a practical reward for another year. Its value isn't just in cooling; it's in the relief of not having to carry extra weight.

Verdict:

If your priority is raw, maximum airflow for short periods, stick with a heavier, metal-bodied fan. But if you, like me, value all-day carry comfort and consistent cooling in a brutal climate, this lightweight champion is a worthy investment. Sometimes, less weight truly is more.

The Great Photo Migration: My 22-Hour Quest to Rescue 19,241 Memories

It’s noon on 19 January 2026, and I’ve just declared war on digital clutter. The mission? Transfer 19,241 photos from my phone’s gasping SD card to the safety of a backup hard drive.

It all started with a warning. My phone, in its infinite wisdom, suddenly switched to saving new pics to the internal storage. A quick check revealed why: the trusty SD card was down to its last 10.3 GB. It was time to evacuate.

Plan A: The SIM Ejector Pin Fail

My first move was the obvious one—pop out the SD card and use a reader. Simple, fast, done. Or so I thought. After jabbing fruitlessly at the tiny port with the phone’s ejector pin, I admitted defeat. That little tray refused to budge. Was it sealed shut by time? Dust? Pure stubbornness? We’ll never know.

Plan B: The Cable Lifeline

Undeterred, I pivoted. USB-C cable to the rescue! A direct lifeline from phone to hard drive. I connected everything, selected the mountainous DCIM folder, and hit Transfer.

The initial estimate was… optimistic. “2 hours and 50 minutes.” I could live with that. I made coffee, mentally patting myself on the back for my efficient digital housekeeping.

Oh, how naive.

I checked back an hour later. The estimated time remaining had ballooned. The progress bar was crawling. My computer, faced with the sheer scale of 19,241 moments—from blurry pet photos to vital screenshots—was having a existential crisis.

Current Status: 22 Hours Remain.

That’s right. What began as a sub-3-hour task is now a day-long saga. We’ve moved from a quick coffee break to a “check on it tomorrow” operation.

So, What’s the Takeaway?

1. Don’t Wait Until the Last 10 GB. Future me will definitely back up in smaller, more frequent batches.
2. The SIM Tray is a Fickle Beast. Maybe clean it once in a while, or have a backup plan (thank goodness for USB-C).
3. Time Estimates Are Fiction. Computers look at 19,000 files and make a wild, hopeful guess. They are almost always wrong.

For now, the transfer chugs on in the background, a silent digital marathon. Each ticking hour is a lesson in patience and the surprising, immense weight of memories we carry in our pockets.

By 1.07 pm, left 6 hours and 10 minutes. However my laptop battery left for 45 minutes for 27%.

At 1.13 pm, have successfully copied 6,180  pictures. Which is 32%.

Need 2 hours 40 minutes after continue back transfer copy by 3.03 pm.

Need 2 hours 50 minutes when continue to transfer back copy by 11.07 am, 20 January 2026.

By 11.19 am.

Cancel transfer by 11.54 am. As laptop Lenovo battery left 7%.

By 5.33 pm of 20 January 2026, I get free space of 105 GB in my SD card.

Glad for being able to safely transfer all my pictures from my SD card to my external hard disk. Until then, make sure to remember to back up and clear up your phone storage💪.

🧼 My Self-Made Glass Cleaner, Surprisingly Good for Windscreens and Toilet Stalls!

📅 Evening of 23 June 2025

Today’s little experiment turned into a surprisingly useful discovery.

I brought along my DIY glass cleaner. It is originally made to keep my car windscreen spotless. And I gave it a try on a used public toilet stall door before using it. Honestly? I didn’t expect much. But it really helped remove the urine stench. ✨

It’s bleach-free, smells fresh (thanks to essential oils), and doubles up as a quick spray to make awkward public toilet situations a little more bearable.

I’m now planning to make a bigger batch for tomorrow’s errands. This little bottle may just become a new handbag essential.

Until then, have fun making your own DIY glass cleaner. It’s safe, simple, and multi-use from windscreens to bathroom survival.

UTM 69th Convocation on second day, morning session

I managed to check in for my convocation by 7:50 AM, and everything went surprisingly smoothly. By 10:40 AM, I was already at the drop-off point after the ceremony. Pretty fast, considering how crowded convocations usually are!

Selfie after safely arrived DSI.

Screenshot of me on the stage. Courtesy of UTM Facebook page. Was awarded by Che Puan Khaleeda.

Selfie after arrived at shuttle point C in FABU. After finished convocation session.

Using selfie camera.

Using main camera.

Using selfie camera.

I’m really grateful that it didn’t rain during the drive to UTM. Even better, I reached the campus in under 15 minutes, which felt like a small miracle on a busy morning.

Huge thanks to the undergraduate students who helped drop me off at the designated shuttle bus area. Their kindness saved me from the long walk from FABU to DSI. And honestly, that help made the morning so much easier.

I spent around 40 minutes doing my makeup, and I’m glad I practiced earlier in the weeks before the event. It really paid off. I’m also grateful for the official UTM Facebook video of the convocation. It made it super easy to download and screenshot the moment I received my certificate on stage.

All in all, it was a smooth, meaningful morning.

If you’re attending your own convocation soon, have fun, enjoy every moment, and take it all in. 🎓✨

Size, Scent, and Serenity: My Morning Kesidang Ritual

Harvested a champion Kesidang bloom on 14 January 2026!

• Current Status: Size of a new 20-cent coin (Big!)
• 
  
• The Goal: Reaching the size of the old 50-cent coin.

In the world of engineering, we call this "Iterative Growth." In the world of mine, we call this "Garden Zen." The fragrance is absolutely intoxicating today. Who needs a chemical room freshener when you have a Kesidang in bloom (natural room freshener)?

My Simple Makeup Routine on 23 June 2025 Morning

Just sharing a little glimpse of my simple makeup look today, done on a calm Monday morning, 23 June 2025.

I started with my DIY face oil, which I use as my daily moisturizer It gives my skin that natural glow and softness. After that, I applied my sunscreen (always a must!), followed by dabbing on my homemade lip tint in pink. Not just on my lips, but also lightly on my cheeks for a soft flush.

Next, I did my eyebrows and used the same brush and pomade to line the top of my eyes. As multitasking made easy. Then I added a touch of concealer under my eyes to brighten things up, and finished the eyes with a pop of gold glittery eyeshadow at the inner corners. Just a little sparkle to lift the look.

I completed everything with a swipe of coral lipstick for a fresh, warm tone. Before heading out, I spritzed on a little of my go-to perfume, Ange Ou Démon EDT. And I was ready to face the day.

🍈 Sweet Surprise from the Garden: My Selfgrown Papaya

Taken on the morning of 12 June 2025. Where I finally got to enjoy the papaya I harvested the day before, and it was absolutely worth the wait!

This little gem was a Solo papaya, weighing in at 384.6 grams. The most surprising part? It was completely seedless inside! Although the flesh wasn’t fully orange yet, it was already deliciously sweet and juicy. Proof that nature knows best.

Growing it myself made the experience even more satisfying. No pesticides, no chemicals. Just sunlight, rain, self watering during hot days, compost fertilizer from waste and care. There’s something incredibly rewarding about tasting the fruits of your own labour (literally!).

Until next time, may your garden bring you sweet, healthy surprises too. 🌱💛

Lost in the Shadows: Reflections on a "Once-in-a-Lifetime" Convocation Photo

16 November 2025, was supposed to be a day of crystal-clear memories. As I stood in the morning light for my convocation session, I felt the weight of the years spent in research and the strategic milestones achieved. However, when the official stage photographs arrived, the "Visual Logic" did not match the reality of the moment.

The "Wide-Angle" Disconnect

The first shot, the pivotal moment of receiving the scroll, felt distant. In engineering, we value the "zoom-in" on critical data, yet this once-in-a-lifetime frame was captured from so far away that the personal triumph felt secondary to the architecture of the stage.

Navigating the Dark

The second sequence, as I walked toward the stairs after receiving my scroll, suffered a technical lapse in lighting. The images were significantly underexposed, a "dark" transition that obscured the joy of the walk.

As a student, my focus in that moment was purely functional: I was navigating the marks on the floor and aiming for the stairs to ensure a safe descent. Without a clear visual cue or a "photographic mark" to prompt eye contact, the connection between the subject and the lens was lost. I was focused on the floor; the photographer was capturing the shadows.

A Call for Professional Standards

Convocation photography is a specialized, paid service. It is the only physical evidence a student has of a moment that will never be repeated.

To improve the "User Experience" for future graduates, I believe three strategic adjustments are necessary:

1. Dynamic Lighting: Ensuring the "walk-off" area is as well-lit as the podium itself.

2. Visual Prompts: Implementing a clear "eye-contact mark" or a other visual cue so students can look up from the floor markers.

3. Proximity Calibration: Ensuring the "Scroll Moment" is a medium-close shot that captures the graduate's expression, not just the stage layout.

I’m sharing this moment here so I have a link to submit for the survey. Think of it as my digital “Exhibit A” of graduation day! 🎓 And if sharing this helps improve the picture process for future graduates, that’s an even better reason to post it.

We pay for these services not just for a picture, but for the preservation of a legacy. It is time the technical execution matches the high standards of the degrees being conferred.

Today’s Makeup Check-In

I just finished doing my makeup in the morning of 4 November 2025, and here’s a little update on how it went. I started by applying my Face Oil evenly on my face and neck, followed by sunscreen non-negotiable, of course! After that, I went in with my foundation. It looked quite fair on my hands at first, but once blended on my face, it matched surprisingly well.

Before foundation, I did a light mist of setting spray (a new step I’m trying out), and I think it really helped the makeup settle nicely. Then it was the usual routine: filled in my brows, a little eyeliner, and some highlight at the inner corners of my eyes and under the brow tail to brighten up the look. I set everything with loose powder, added a touch of blush, and finished with lipstick.

✨ 4-Hour Check:

I’m actually happy with how my skin held up! After about four hours, my face wasn’t overly oily. Just a quick dab on the T-zone with tissue was enough. The foundation stayed smooth with no patchiness or blotchiness. Which is a win for me, especially with combination skin that leans dry due to perimenopause.

I know I still have a lot to learn, especially with eye makeup. Mature skin really needs extra hydration and proper prep for that smooth, long-lasting finish. It’s all about experimenting to find what works. The right texture, the right style, the right products.

But honestly, I’m satisfied. The effort I put into scrubbing and prepping my skin earlier really paid off, and it reminded me that good makeup truly starts with good skin prep.

Still learning, still improving and enjoying the process.