Tuesday 30 July 2013

My own company Day 340

Done and dusted. 30th July deadline, checked. Now I only have one more research paper to finish up before I am completely done with Masters InsyaAllah.
By the end of it, you'd wish you had your own company and was doing this for real.

I know I'm far from having my own but a girl can dream! 
:):):):)

Friday 26 July 2013

Higher Day 336

I'll come clean.

This whole juggling between work, applied financial research paper, completing a private equity project and fasting for more than 18 hours is very very challenging. Unfortunately, I hardly ever learn. The idea of not being idle at home just wins me over and over again all the time, before I realize that my body only has a certain amount of energy.

Well it's August and September, market's gonna slow down a wee bit with a little bits and bops here and there occasionally. I'd be done completely with Masters by mid August and I spy with my little eyes more dreams to be chased! Well at least more adventures to explore :):):):)

For now, I'm exploring to further studies in something I've never done before! Time to do a research on once-in-a-lifetime adventures :):):)

The sky is the limit baby! 

Wednesday 24 July 2013

Seeking knowledge

I find myself very blessed to have someone so knowledgeable close to me. Aiman is one I can ask when I need to know something, or when I get confused. Especially on agama (Islam).

We're both nowhere close to being a perfect Muslim, no doubt. I find comfort in knowing that he is always ready to explain (what he knows) to me things I do not understand or things that I question about. Albeit his (sometimes) frustration as to why we were never made to understand fully about certain things in school, I have to say he has a lot of patience when it comes to me. Well, he does challenge and shoot me down sometimes, but only because that way I'd remember it, or so he says bahahaha! :)

He's not an easy teacher this one. I have to always think before I ask him something, although he reassures me all the time that I can throw any questions to him anytime. Today I asked him about specific acts we do when performing salah and he explained it to me.

That aside, he's always reminding me to always understand the content of the Al Quran and not read it blindly. To be careful not to recite and (blindly) memorize and along the way miss out on the point and gist of the surahs. Sometimes we forget, and because our tongue is used to it, we can swiftly recite the ayat/surah, only because we've memorized it. Using the wrong tajwid may lead to you rephrasing the ayat and subsequently changing the meaning of it all.

Aiman downloaded the Quran app on my iPad and it has become a habit for me to always read the english translation next to the surah. Not sure if its advisable, but sometimes, I read the translation like a storybook (without realizing it) before falling asleep (guilty face). Most times, I leave the Quran app to play throughout the night until I wake up. It's very comforting :)

To me, age does not matter. You could be asking the right or wrong question at any ages at all. It's better late than never when it comes to seeking knowledge and doing the right thing, don't you agree? :) For now, I'm just grateful I have someone as close as my best friend to discuss about anything under the sun, who tells me that the best books to learn and understand about basics would be children's books.

Made me even happier when I went up to him one day and asked:

"Could you please imam-kan (lead) all our prayers in the future?"

and without any hesitation he said

"Of course!"

*melts*

InsyaAllah, Amin, Bless this very intelligent boy! We are far from perfect, hence may Allah SWT continue to bless us with an open heart to learn more about our religion everyday. Yums :)

Tuesday 23 July 2013

Royal Baby Boy

I'm sorry for being so into her, but I just cannot get enough of looking at how pretty she is, MasyaAllah! 

London was just so overjoyed today, so many celebrations and gun fires at Green Park. Office isn't too far away, so we could hear all the celebration outside of office :)

Monday 22 July 2013

ootd on a Heatwave Day 332

London has hit the level 3 heatwave warning! The weather has been going through quite a mood swing lately. Just 2 weeks ago I was out and about with sweaters everywhere. Then last week, a few people died due to the heat. It almost feels like I was in two different countries.

I have no words to describe how challenging it is to experience Ramadhan here in London. 18 hours in the hot blazing sun, MasyaAllah only He knows what it's like. Many have asked whether I could fast through a day without food and water and surprisingly it is not that bad after all. I guess your body just needs some adjustments and getting used to :))

I've always believed that He will always always always help you get through it. I find it even more amazing that during non fasting months, we can suffer from gastric when we don't eat on time, but not during Ramadhan. There seem to be no such things as gastric even after 18 hours, Subhanallah! 

Plus, it's in the hot sun that we could do more #ootd and pre occupy your mind from thinking about what to eat for buka, no ;)

Friday 19 July 2013

Bloomberg Anywhere - Day 329

Do you know what Bloomberg Anywhere is?

It's basically a product. In which if you have an account log in with Bloomberg, you'd be able to use the service anywhere, anytime if you own a Bloomberg Anywhere. Cool isn't it?! Just means that you're a superstar to be able to get an access to it. It is not cheap.

So today my Boss shouted from across the trading floor:

"Alia! Come on over and sit next to me. S is not here, so you can sit here for the next 2 weeks"
"I'm actually fine sitting over here (I sit 2 seats away from him), coz I think S' Bloomberg is locked and I cannot access it. Unless it can read my log in, or if you are ok with me asking you to check Bloomberg for me all the time"
"Nah you can't. Do you have Bloomberg Anywhere?"
.
.
.
"Yup!! In school"

You'd guess what happened next...the entire floor started laughing like as if I made the best joke in the world. Oh I bring joy to the world.

"It's a product that lets you access Bloomberg from anywhere. Not whether you have Bloomberg anywhere"

Do you get it?

It's "Do you have Bloomberg Anywhere?"
Not "Do you have Bloomberg (machine), anywhere (else)?"

Tuesday 16 July 2013

All I wanna do is - Day 326

SLEEP

I never thought I'd ever say it, but seriously, at the rate I'm going right now, I desperately need sleep.
Sleeping hours cannot get any more haywire than this since the start of work, fasting month and 2-projects period in school.

Thursday 11 July 2013

New baby girl Fidessa - Day 321

There is nothing more that I hated in school than software/programming subjects. It’s hate with a capital H just for your information.

VBA.
Matlab
 C++

Trust me, I’ve tried my very best to fall in love with them and make friends, but there’s just no chemistry between us. I speak English, but they respond in minion-like-language filled with codes. Every, single, time. Funnily I’m dating a super software geek, but don’t tell me to learn from him. He…doesn’t take my hate towards these software magicals seriously.

Now that I’m done with Final exams, I’m just over the moon about not having to make up and be friends with these softwares anymore. Until I got into office and my boss introduced me to a new girl called…

Fidessa

She’s that famous, she made it into the Wikipedia page you know. First thing I did was to find out more about this gorgeous-name beauty. Let's come clean, I only know the Bloomberg. Never knew the existence of Fidessa. According to Wikipedia, Fidessa provides SOFTWARE (who?!) and services such as trading systems to clients in the financial services sector.

Yeah, we play with colours a lot on this one (apart from the usual suspects:numbers)
Sorry, did I mention that I am in love with softwares? I love Fidessa. I really really do. Fidessa is my besttttttest friend.

*pulls hair*

On a brighter note, I was told that if I keep on doing the transaction and practising, it'll start talking to me like a true friend would do. *Phew*

Tuesday 9 July 2013

Tell Me It's Real Day 319

This feeling that we feel, tell me it's real
Try is all we have to do right now

As Ramadhan begins, I wish to take this opportunity to ask for forgiveness from everyone that I may have hurt directly or indirectly, through words or writing through whatever ways. I'm just thankful Ramadhan is here when things should be calmer, and it's the best month that gets you really really much closer to Him :)

It has been a testing week for some of us, MasyaAllah but I've always believed this saying:
"A calamity that brings you closer to Allah SWT is much better than a blessing bestowed which (may) make you forget Him"

I believe that when Allah tests you, it's never to destroy you. 
When He removes something from your possession it is only in order to empty your hands for even greater things, InsyaAllah. In this case, it was in order to give something greater for the hereafter.
Only He gave it now, Alhamdulillah :)

Selamat berpuasa everyone

Friday 5 July 2013

First Week Day 315

Pictures are always worth a thousand words aren't they?
Feeling very very very blessed at the moment, Alhamdulillah :)
Thanks Boss!

Thursday 4 July 2013

For the love of technology Day 314

Ok, which keyboard to use now? Where is the mouse for the other screen?

First week back into the working life, I am still figuring out how to handle fascinated by the Bloomberg and PC screens, 2 keyboards and a phone that vomits out updates from different countries on my table. Looking up to a gazillion same-type clocks that showed different times in different countries and having all traders talk at the same time about the market (with Bloomberg channel playing in the background too). How do those traders do it?! *cries*

Last Sunday, I was so apprehensive about starting work. So what’s new? Just a little anxious, excited and mostly nervous. Hang on, did I mention really quiet too the entire weekend? Yeah ok, again what’s new? Lol! 

I was going to do something different from what I was doing before, I knew that. I guess my system was not fully ready yet. Previously, doing Treasury from the structured product desk was like watching the show happen from afar. I used to be in awe when I watch those traders trade and switch their eyes from one screen to another oh so very quickly.

Just when I managed to calm myself down about the whole situation, I walked into the already-buzzing office before 7am to find out that I was the last to come in. What pressure? *flips hair*

I must say though that everything is just so efficient in the office, and I am still very much impressed by the traders. By far the first new environment that is so very filled with energy and buzz-iness and super welcoming right on the first day - in the wee hours!  If you think I am full of energy, wait till you see my awesome colleagues. They’re Energizer! I'm in love :):):)

Monday 1 July 2013

ootd weekend Day 311

So everyone has been in this hashtag ootd craze!
Outfit.Of.The.Day


Which led to my housemates making me the subject for the ootd over the weekend! :)

 
But the best is still

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 Bahaha! Did I forget to mention that I went for casting to try and become one of the minions?