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In a few hours, well I am being too lateral, it is more like 1 day and a few hours more, I am going to say goodbye to 2014, for some of you, it maybe for another 2 days. I will be looking back my year 2014 with some bitter sweet memories. Some maybe will haunt me for years to come.

My 2014 started with a bang. I celebrated the new year in Perth, Australia. It was an awesome experience, which will forever engrained into my memories. But after that my life basically somewhat like in a Zombieland. Not the horror kind of Zombie, but I felt I was a Zombie. For the next few months, works consumed me. Due to a deadline, my colleagues and I were not allowed to take any leave. Sometimes we even had to come in the weekends. Sometimes we had to be at the office in as late as 2.00 am. While some people were sleeping, we had to be in the office and once or twice had a shouting match with a few people.

In the middle of those chaotic dateline, I woke up on a wonderful Saturday morning at 8th March with a devastating news. Our national carrier flight MH370 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing was lost. The whole nation was stunned. I cried a river the whole weekend. I think I never prayed so hard as I was praying on that day onwards.

But the deadline was looming. Even in our sadness, life had to go on. Finally, in May my colleagues and I were able to sigh with relief. We achieved our deadline without any untoward incidents. The celebration was a bit muted because we still didn't find our missing flight  MH370.

In June, finally I took a week long holiday. I went to the Northern parts of Malaysia with my brother and his family. I felt refreshed. I was eager to come back to the office and face new challenges with my new office colleagues and boss. After all the hectic work schedule, my new office routine seemed very mundane and sedate.

Fortunately, Ramadhan came, and the office was less frantic. Everyone was looking forward to celebrating Eid Mubarak. Invitations from friends and business associates for Iftar came nearly every other day. On the day of July 17, I attended such Iftar with my friends. They were my colleagues from my previous company. We seldom were able to meet with each other. We laughed, we ate until we can't eat anymore and we shared stories. When I reached home, I was shocked when I received various WhatsApp messages informing that MH17 was shot down somewhere in Ukraine.

Another devastating tragedy had hit Malaysians. I was numbed. The office was in sombre mood the next day. We couldn't hide our tears. Amidst all that, we celebrated our Eid Mubarak. For the first time in my life, I refused to buy for myself new dresses. It seemed too trivial. Don't get me wrong. I still enjoyed my Eid with my family members and friends.

Life goes on seemed too cliche. But indeed life need to go on. Slowly but surely, we moved on. Finally we mourned the innocent lost lives of MH17 when the first 20 bodies were repatriated on the bright morning of August 22. Somewhat, it was the first step of healing and also a closure for MH17.

We celebrated our Independence Day on August 31 with mixture feelings. Proud that we had achieved so much, and yet with a tint of sadness because of the two major tragedies. Amidst all that, finally I met with my EC good friend, Grape. Though it was only for a day, but it was a sweet day.

My life seemed to be back to normal. My melancholy mood was a thing in the past. Suddenly I had to travel to a few cities because of my work. I had the chance to travel to Sandakan, a city that I never been before. I even had the chance to bring my mom to visit my brother in Labuan. My friend and I even managed to agree to visit Bangkok on December 11 until 15.

Then a few days ago, Malaysians were hit with the worst flooding in more than 3 decades. More than 250,000 people were displaced and evacuated to relief centres. My hometown was flooded too. On Friday morning, with his voice chocking with tears, my brother told me that our beloved house was partly submerged in the flood.

I felt helpless but at the same time thankful that my mom was in another state with my eldest brother and his family. My youngest brother told me that he will try to brave the weather and send some relief supplies that I just bought even though basically my hometown had been turned into an island in the middle of Malaysia. We can't do anything much for our youngest sister who was trapped in another state that was worst hit with the flood.

My family members were keeping in touch with each other through messages and phone calls. We tried to keep our spirit high. But when my brother and my sister that were trapped in the flood had to preserved their batteries because electricity supplies were cut off, we watched the news anxiously.

Then on Sunday 28 December, while I was chatting, an EC member told me another devastating news. A plane which was under Malaysian brand had lost contact. Oh no! Not again. When the news was confirmed, I, like all Malaysians were devastated. It was like a double whammy. We are still facing the worst flooding situation, and now we are facing another tragedy.

Today, we received somewhat good news. The flood in certain parts of Malaysia is receding. The search and rescue team also had identified the crashed site and in the process of recovering the crash victims. My youngest sister told us that she finally able to be back to her rented house and the electricity supply was back. My brother sent us photos of our house. Though the flood water had partly submerged our house, it seemed we are still luckier than some. The house is seemed to be intact, so maybe the damage is just minimal.

After all said and done, 2014 is an eventful year. Though some tragedies hit Malaysians, maybe it was a way to remind Malaysians, and definitely me, to feel grateful for all things that we had and continue to enjoy. For the peace and harmony that sometimes we take for granted. For the achievement that we had and continue to gain.

May 2015 makes Malaysians and me especially stronger in facing adversities. May it brings joy and happiness.

Happy new year to all.

This blog is dedicated to a good virtual friend who knocked my head with some senses and made me see that 'pity party' was lonely. Thank you Crocodil3 for giving me back the kick I deserved with that 5 inches high heels boots. I owe you one good kick back.