Happy New Year, 2025

First week of 2025 is almost over – and now finally- I get into my website! Firstly, I wish you a happy new year, with prayers and good wishes for an amazing year. May God bless you in more ways this time and help you achieve all your goals one by one.

What a beautiful way to start the year! That Storytelling session recently, was amazing. Osman Khalid Butt and Shahana Khan Khalil talking about content writing and creative works filled a thirst deep within.

Writing for me is like oxygen. So, frankly, I’ve missed being able to write for a long long time now. There was a problem, when I gifted myself with this Macbook, saying goodbye to my previous two laptops. I switched to the new Macbook system cold Turkey. It was very tough – like the knee operation – for which I had gifted myself the gift! Full of pain and difficulties. Yes, I’m talking about both the knee and the laptop operations! It has a long story, but let me say, I’ve felt very lost without my writing.

Now, I’m feeling completed – with my new knee and my laptop and my WordPress!

A special thank you to Asif, who helped me re-enter my wordpress website with his smooth technical know-how. Finally, I can write my heart out. I’m so happy.

I was thinking that with all that podcasting, vlogging and travel, I would have forgotten my writing. No. I didn’t. Writing is writing. Nothing can take its place. Nothing! So, I’m very happy to be back on board.

A quick round up of last year:

Started with a bang!

It is ironic that my last blog post was entitled ‘Disheartening times’ on my website. The year began with the rigged elections, then the ensuing political turmoil. In my life, it was going fine, with Ted Talks in Kinnaird College, Lahore. Then to Writer’s Retreat in Abbottabad in early March. I didn’t know that the gift of a suit I had bought for my precious mother, would end up being her last new suit.

My mother’s passing away

It happened on March 13th, 2024 on the second day of Ramzan; Her move to next world was a big shock for me. She was truly the gem in my life, and I miss her a lot. Thankfully, she went peacefully in her sleep, and I had seen her well at 12.00 am that night in her normal state. I am still trying to come to terms with her leaving. I’ll share a post very soon on her. Actually, I’ve written it, but…. here is my vlog #52 in memory of my mother. It has some selected videos of her which I love to watch. May Allah bless her soul and grant her highest place in heaven. ameen.

Two surgeries

Then in June, I had my knee replacement surgery. Actual surgery was on 27th of June. Nataliya had come all the way from Seattle to be with me. She knew Waliya wouldn’t be able to do much due to baby Zaydan. I made a vlog #60 and #61 about my knee replacement surgery experience. So now I have a new knee. Then, in September 2024 I got my port-a-cath removed. So, got these two important surgeries done.

Painting exhibition and book launch

Fatima from Lahore arranged a group painting exhibition at PNCA, Islamabad for cancer survivors. They also held my book launch of my book Rising Above – my cancer journey. This was on 10th of September at the prestigious National Art Gallery. It was another dream-come-true!

Holiday in Seattle

On 15th September my US visa arrived, and on 20th September, 2024 Waliya Najib, baby Zaydan and I flew to Seattle. There followed two solid months of an amazing holiday. My second daughter Nadiya joined us from Canada with Zyem and Nyra, her son (aged one) and daughter (aged five.)

Lots of vlogs and podcasts

I guess my YouTube channel has given me a wholesome outlet for expression. I’ve made many podcasts by now. Only this December, we recorded four podcasts.

As far as vlogs are concerned, I uploaded my #91st this morning! So, I guess I didn’t do too badly.

November/December 2024

Lunch with Bilal

Ahmad Bilal, my eldest son-in-law came over to Pakistan for a month. It was a pleasure having him here. Though one always feels that the time wasn’t enough. It was great having him with us, at the time of celebration of Zaydan’s first birthday by Waliya and Faizan. It was a lovely fun-and-games-filled party.