I have an RM50 Popular voucher and wanted to get "Strange Buildings" in the local Popular stores but... I couldn't find it at all. I even went to three branches (Suria, City Mall, Imago). I guess their stock ran out or maybe the books aren't here yet... So I ended up getting the book from their store on Shopee. Of course, I couldn't use the voucher there. *sigh* I'll probably get something else (locally) next time since the voucher expires in May.

Had a monitor crisis(?) that fortunately got solved before the new patch arrives. I'm grateful that the local PC Image store has the one I wanted in stock! I don't really want to buy it online because I'm paranoid and the shipping is expensive/takes too long. 

Now I'm still getting used to the new monitor resolution and settings... including getting used to that "fish-eye" effect that apparently is something that can happen after switching from a curved monitor to a flat one. Read on Reddit that it will go away after some time (one said it took them a week, while another one took a month). 

It's such a weird thing! I guess the only thing to do is getting used to it by constantly using it (I don't really get headaches or eye strain, at least for now). But it's really a very strange experience! After getting used to it today, it goes back to that fish-eye effect the next day... like my eyes got reset overnight lol

I WON MY 50/50!!! 😭😭😭

(Luuk is so nice to me today... although I haven't started his part of the story yet lol)

So... yesterday I received a BBW parcel in the mail for books— "My Heart is a Chainsaw"... and yet another version of "Dracula". SIGH. I can't explain it. My reasons are it's hardcover and probably has larger text size (this is very important). It also might be pricier elsewhere. That's what I told myself but really... It's just that every time I see it, I'm reminded of how I kind of prefer "Dracula" to "Frankenstein" (not a fan of the writing style & Victor Frankenstein is annoying) and always have to check if it's a version worth buying so that I can reread it. The amount of efforts(?) I'm putting into this is so ridiculous especially considering "Dracula" isn't even a favourite LOL

The last time I blogged about the voice thing is in a July 2025 post. Yeah. It's getting worse this year. I just unsubscribed from a WuWa lore channel because I can't stand their voice. It's actually pretty normal-sounding but it's just the way they read that I find annoying. I don't like it, so I unsubbed. I really don't care anymore. This is a year of cutting out annoying things from my life.

I am "saved" by my flower-picking trips again because the first book I finished this year is from those trips. It's a book I found at Karamunsing in 2024. Unfortunately it's a 1.5 star read (rounded down to 1 on GR). I don't find it okay and I don't particularly hate it so 1.5 is just perfect. It's just a bit too boring. The characters are okay (it's a multiple POVs kind of book) but I hate the bride's POV and I won't deny, that's one of major reasons that ruined the book for me. Another is the multiple POVs format. I don't usually have problems with books that use that but here, it almost makes me want to hate the format. It makes the timeline confusing sometimes, like I still get it, but it's very distracting when you jump around them.

Anyway... it's going to be another year of mood reading. It might be more reading than last year but still moody :P

I've been seeing some discussions about the 3.0 main story quest which I find very interesting. I kinda arrived at the conclusion it's because they are still building the lore and world (and a bit experimenting), like they did in 1.0 and 2.0 but I guess people are comparing it to 2.0...? I just hope it's not a case of overglazing 2.0 because honestly that feeling they have now for 3.0? I think I had that during 2.0. It just got covered up by a big bang ending that is the carnevale. In the latest patch, it made me realised, "Ah.. so they're still building up the lore" like that literally means it's still cooking in the kitchen... it's the first chapter, you don't usually get the ending of the book in the first chapter. 

Oh well.

I'm just here for Rover. For me, the big main story is Rover's past and memories. The most important thing in the main story is Rover. I guess not many see it that way because it actually makes sense that some characters don't appear that much again because IT'S Rover's story. Why would the main focus of the main story moves somewhere else? 

[Wait... Ohhhh, so the segue arcs are for this... an alternate PoV... without involving the main story directly. Just like a peek behind the stage kind of thing.] 

Also, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's not even a week into 2026 yet and I feel like so many things have happened.

*loooooooooooong sigh*

Here are some updates, I guess...

Last but not least... *sigh*
I'll never get used to this but here we go haaah...

One of my uncles in Tawau passed away early this year. Why does that sound awkward? It was just last week! It's practically still New Year so it's a very surprising news when his daughter informed in the family Whatsapp group. I did first hear it from my parents because I rarely check my Whatsapp anymore. Doesn't lessen the effects of reading those messages. 

He was.. is.. one of my favourite uncles. It's not like we're close or anything but he's easy to talk to. Friendly and always full of smiles.

Rest in Peace, Uncle Yohanis. 

Uh-huh. No water supply during the weekend (back to normal today). Had to take a raven's bath yesterday (either that or no bath at all lol).

It's okay, I guess. Very reminiscent of Phrolova's patch and Cantarella's companion quest combined. Quite fanservicy, in my opinion, but for Chisa fans and surprisingly, anime fans..? It's a bit of a me problem: I just recently recovered from my anime-watching slump so I'm still kind of sensitive to things that could bring me back to the slump (T_T). 

BUT we get some Rover lore in the end so I'm very satisfied! I can't wait to get to the next area (Lahai-Roi)!

Wasn't planning to pull for Chisa but I find her gameplay quite fun so I decided to go for it. Unfortunately, I got another copy of Jianxin (now she's S2)... & I'm fine with this result. Next time! 

*gosh my wishlist just gets longer and longer lol* 

I'm going to keep the guarantee for Phrolova~

My backup-speedrun account got her (guaranteed) but in the same 10-pull, I managed to also lose my 50/50... so I guess it's another guarantee for whatever future banner I will pull. I decided to get her for this account because I wasn't confident that my Fenn account will be able to. I was proven wrong lol because that account won the 50/50 lol... Good thing is I think I can do the 2.8 main stories without finishing Rinascita's...? (haven't tried it yet though) So I should be able to level her up to Level 90.

I'm here with some updates!

 

I've been reading... but most of the books I read this year are surely from flower-picking trips and the library. Damn. Didn't think I would be doing that much audiobook-listening in my life but here we are. I'm in my audiobook era, apparently. It's a very irresistible method when you dread opening a physical (& digital!) books but still want to do some reading. I still won't touch those heavy ones but the ones that's easy to follow and maybe a book I've read before are very much welcome. I usually listen to one while playing a game that doesn't demand my full attention or when doing the dishes. I got peer-pressured (something like this XD) into reading two audiobooks but it's okay, I would just return early if I don't plan to spend time reading them. A couple of audiobooks are just to accompany my slow physical reading journey...

Oh yeah, one of the audiobooks I finished was "Real Ghost Stories of Borneo 1". I never heard about this series before but it looks like the Borneo's version of TSGS so I thought that was cool! One of the stories talked about their experience in KK and described the hotel they went to as a white castle.. Jeez, I wonder which hotel is that? :P
But seriously though, I consider that place to be old (I went there when I was little) so I wouldn't be surprised if some stuff happened there.

I had a brief silly moment few weeks ago where I almost buy a second copy of "The Labyrinth House Murders"... totally saved by my LibraryThing (which is where I mainly catalogue books I own). I think it was partially me misremembering that what I meant to get is the one I got here. Highly recommend the site to anyone who has similar problems (or wants to avoid this) to use LT. I just started using it again back in 2020 when I realised I have a lifetime account (it used to have a limit on number of books you can add, if I'm not mistaken)... but then couple months later in the same year, they became free (no fees, no limits).  

Great news~ I'm kind of out of the watching slump? I guess that's thanks to Tondemo Skill S2! I've re-watched the whole S1 and still enjoyed it (most of the time with food). But I'm so rusty with my I-know-that-seiyuu game XD. It was a pleasant surprise to know that Elrand is voiced by Namikawa Daisuke, it's so fitting! I wish we can meet Gonji soon but I guess that would be in the next season. Even in the WN, if I remember correctly, there's a big time gap between Dora and Gonji. At least Dora is here! I really need to catch up with the WN... I might need to start from the beginning again...

Here are some life(?)... updates.

Lol... more like book updates, maybe?

Interestingly, I can categorise them by month:

Yeah... I managed to get on (visit? board?) the Doulos Hope when it's in town. Had to make reservation online. Kind of fortunate that I was able to do that the night before for August 29th's... Amazingly, I only purchased one book which is another hardcover version of Jane Eyre. When will I ever read "Jane Eyre" and "Emma"? It has been 4 years XD.. what's funny is, at the moment I'm typing this post I'm considering reading them on my Kindle (because I can highlight them there and revisit them in one place on Goodreads). Well, it might be possible to do hybrid reading...

Anyway, I remember the date because when we returned to Jesselton Quay (we rode on a bus to go to the port where they docked), we saw a lorry on fire.

Received these books on September 26th... and I remember the date again because it's the day for Wuthering Waves 2.7 preview livestream XD

Anyway, got Ciaccona's signature weapon... but at what cost?

75th. Yeah, I was so surprised that it's the 75th pull, I forgot to screenshot the convene result lol. 

I'll include this shot of the weapon still at Level 1 with Ciaccona instead :P

Lol didn't expect to make a debut for PGR label in this post... though I don't see myself posting about it as much as WuWa in the future because I'm very on-off with the game...

Anyway~ Received these books yesterday:

Not much to say really... Went to the Muji store which honestly I didn't know existed until this week (there's also a branch at Imago). I'm just four months late XD. Although it's more like me checking out their little stationery corner and the organizer boxes section. 

Went to my usual go-to places including Popular Bookstore. Was pleasantly surprised to find Uketsu's "Strange Pictures" in stock (there were three copies on the shelf). I wanted to get the one with the UK version cover but unfortunately it's out-of-stock at Kino... and on Shopee it's basically selling like hot cakes. It's so funny to see the books went out of stock the next day on Shopee (two shops had a few the day before). I guess checking physical stores is an option too next time (duh! XD).

Yup, very much still kind of in a reading slump... which I've embraced fully(?) as mood reading. Like, it's not I stopped reading completely... I still read just not much as before. It's almost like a dormant period of some sort lol - everything is happening in slow motion XD

Unfortunately (and humorously, I must add), the reading situation makes my journey of reading books at the place I pick flowers more noticeable. It probably didn't help that the first book I finished this year is "The Giant Bathroom Reader" lol (mentioned in a post from October 2023). Honestly, that's a book that really lives up to its title. It's full of short and brief paragraphs... and most of the time with gory and gross details, definitely not something you want to read while eating a meal. 

Reading ≠ Buying Books
It's kind of hard to describe but nowadays I'm very sceptic and pessimistic of books with nice covers and synopses. But at the same time, if it's something I do have interest in, I just want to get it so that I have it ready when I want to read it. Definitely not a healthy way to do it but I do more side-eyeing these days so it balances out in the end...?

Honestly, I've been skipping more and more reading videos recently due to my reading slump/mood. If I don't skip, then they'll be videos I put on the background (and it remains uncertain if I'm able to listen to it properly or not). Most of the time I became sceptic and think "Was it really good though?". Sometimes books hauls are just another yapfest - I wish some of them just skip the synopses (or do a more brief synopsis)... Also, I still have problems with voices (just like back in February) so I usually DNF those videos as soon as I feel irritated. 

It should be obvious at this point that the future is dim XD. I probably will focus more on series that I do love and a few of the ones I'm interested in (yeah, reading is slumping but curiosity stays on, totally unrelated). Reading will be slow and sporadic.

The weather has been good recently - too good - and I'm hating it *siiigh*. The humidity is not too high (around 50%) so the hot weather is slightly bearable BUT the sun is still scorching hot... it's so bad. I feel sticky from sweating during the day. And then I sweat again after taking my shower like.. what's the point of showering anymore HAAAAH

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Received this book few days ago.. It's a preloved copy but damn... it's very much in good condition. I mean it's expected (didn't know until I've seen it myself) since the paper is the magazine paper type.

I lost my 50/50 *sad lol*... I did think of wanting another copy of Calcharo (which I just realised is now S2) recently but I didn't expect I would get it this early!? *sigh*

I could wait for a guaranteed Cartethyia, I guess...? I dunno... I worry about getting into a similar situation with Yinlin's - which resulted in another loss in the next patch (Carlotta) - I most probably be better off with skipping Ciaccona this time around... 

Not Calcharo with the 10:10 eyebrow LOL

71st might be my magic number lol

The first time I pulled for Shorekeeper I got her at 71st pull.

Then in the recent rerun, I also got her at 71st pull.
And Zhezhi is also at 71st pull.

I think one of my alternate accounts also experienced this. I think it was for Phoebe...

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Oh yeah... received these books yesterday. 

1st: Book
Received this in the mail today.

Yeah. It's the version with the paper I like. I have a few of books in this series but I don't think I have one of Austen's work (for this version) before. 

For reference, the others are:

2nd: WuWa
Did one pull today and managed to get Zhezhi's signature weapon! 

[I probably should stop now...]

Early! *sighhh* I guess this means it will be hard to get Changli's signature weapon in the next phase

I know I don't really need to get it but I just love them having their signature weapons and... mainly, I'm just generally lazy (lol). I rather have it easy than go farm more echoes XD

I feel like I haven't done much blog-housekeeping recently lol

Books received these week:

Honestly, I was surprised by the size of these books. I guess it's the UK's version of mass paperback size (A-format)...