Happy Holidays, {{contact.first_name}}! Sunday Surprise is here (19thDec21)
Dec 19, 2021 1:31 pm
Happy holidays, !
Can you believe that by the time next Sunday Surprise comes out, it'll already have been Xmas?! So here's hoping that your festivities are going well. Have you got any epic plans coming up? I'd love to know!
Before I go on, a shameless request! Could you forward this newsletter to just 3 people that you think would like one of the articles? It helps A LOT! If you're the friend reading this, click the link below to join! Glad to have you here!
In this week's email...
- Week in the Life - read on the blog
- Monthly Wallpapers - December Wallpapers
- Creative - Medium - Last minute gifts (under $100) & 2022 PxR Calendar
- Gadgets & Tech - ZeroCo
- Read - Why you almost never see purple on a flag (~3min)
- Watch - 15 Emerging Tech that will impact the world (~20min)
- Quote - "If they don't know you personally, don't take it personally"
Week in the life
It's been another week where I took some time off and unlike previous ones, this one felt like a holiday. I think it was because I was looking forward to it a lot more and had pre-planned holiday like activities like catch ups and brunches.
In the past, when I took days off, they essentially became catch up for all the things I hadn't gotten around to doing. While I did do work during this period, it was only if I felt like it. Sleeping and rest took priority and boy did it make a difference! I've realised also that after this many months, I need a longer break of more than 2-3 days at a time. Even though there's uncertainty about borders and travel, I've booked my first "overseas" trip for early next year. While it is "overseas" it's still an island that's considered part of Australia: Norfolk Island! I don't know what to expect there so it'll be a bit of an adventure!
In my week off, I went back to the cinema for the first time in what feels like an age. Eternals was the movie on the screen and it wasn't as bad as the reviews made it out to be. While it's one of the weaker Marvel movies, it did set up the next phase of movies nicely.
The Lume in Melbourne is also hosting an immersive Van Gogh exhibit. I've been to the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam but there was something special about seeing the paintings animated. Unlike people wandering around a museum, this exhibit had people engrossed way more. I wonder what they'll do in the future for art galleries?
On the calendar front, THEY'RE FINALLY HERE! Some have been hand delivered already and as of earlier today, I'm up to date with all the orders that have come in! So far the feedback from those who have received them has been great! If you're after one, head on over to the shop and grab a calendar with the code "sunday10'
To see the full version with photos and more, head over to the blog...
Creative update
Medium - Last minute gifts (under $100)
https://raffyhalim.medium.com/last-minute-gifts-for-geeks-under-100-9c2e7f8ac3b9
If you're reading this, you will most likely have seen most of the suggestions, but I did try to include some new ones as well.
Man, I wish people would buy me gifts like that!
Melbourne 2022 Wall Calendar here now!(~$22)
https://photosbyraffy.com/product/melbourne-2022-calendar/
The calendars have finally arrived! As mentioned above. they're being sent out with 24 hours of the orders coming in!
I've managed to get some postage on discount and have been able to drop the overall shipping a little bit.
If you'd like one with the subscriber discount, you can use the code "sunday10" to get another 10% off!
I haven't shared the discount elsewhere but here! Its great as a Xmas or Secret Santa gift!
Monthly wallpapers
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zdmvshcgsc3zjt7/AACoQMkNOvaP_zC6nfruGRzsa?dl=0
I was going to start this next year but thought why not start now? As well as some other tweaks to the newsletter, I'll be releasing phone wallpapers every month with some high resolution images to use as backgrounds!
That way, you'll always have some new images to keep your phone looking fresh!
For the inaugral set, I thought I'd have some classics as well as a festive one to match the season.
The Webb bridge is one of my favourite architectural structures in the city so that had to be in there. The new Xmas decorations are fantastic, so had to include an image of that as well as 2 different perspectives of the skyline. Hope you enjoy them and if you do use them, take a screenshot and show me!
Gadgets & Tech
https://zero-co.pxf.io/c/1311216/1073188/13750
I'm coming up due for a top up after about 8 months of using the starter box so hence it was on my mind to mention again on here. It's past spring cleaning season, but the holiday season is a great time to break the single use plastic habit and switch to something more eco friendly.
- Zyron 66W GaN Charger - Finally! An Australian 66W GaN charger that is tiny with multiple USB ports! I've been waiting for this one for a while!
- ExpressVPN- I've tried a few VPNs in my time and this and Nord are the 2 I've settled on. ExpressVPN allows me to bypass the Netflix geoblocking and watch shows only available to other territories
Read
Why you almost never see purple on a flag (~3min)
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/510177/reason-you-almost-never-see-purple-national-flags
Once it was pointed out, I did start googling the flags of the world and only 2 countries use the colour. The article goes over a quick summary of how the colour purple was initially produced why it's so rare.
Book I'm currently reading
- QAnon and on - After my fiction binge on Dune, it's back to the non-fiction stuff
Watch
15 Emerging Tech that will impact the world (~20min)
My personal favourite would have to be using sound as a method to extinguish fires and the self-healing concrete.
Quote I'm pondering
"If they don't know you personally, don't take it personally"
– Steven Bartlett
Not often that I get my quotes from social media but this one I saw on Instagram that hit home. Especially in the modern day where online trolling has almost become a pass time for many, I thought it was a useful reminder that in the anonymous land of the internet, no one know you well and vice versa.
What ever a stranger says there is just that: a strangers uninformed opinion and while it can sting, it shouldn't be taken personally, because frankly, they just don't know you.
One of the reasons I've always hesitated to put work/photos or anything out there is for exactly this reason: what will other people say? It's the reason I sat on the idea for this newsletter for years and even though I had an Instagram account for years, only started sharing regularly not too long ago.
It would've been useful to embody this a while ago for me!
That's all I have for yet another week ! Hope you enjoyed the newsletter. As always, I simply LOVE hearing from you and your opinions. Feedback is always welcome!
Have a safe and happy festive period!
- Raffy
PS - What was your favourite part of the email this week? Let me know with 1 click! I read the survey every week (& keep tweaking things with your feedback!)
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