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Adieu 2024!

31 Dec

It is the last day of 2024! What a year it has been for me. There were more travels than ever, more memories made as the year progressed, and sadly, a new injury. Let’s recap for the record.

My DIY crafting and building miniatures waned and came to a complete halt when my travels kicked in. It’s unfortunate after four years at it, project after project. Well, maybe come 2025, the interest will return. Only time will tell.

At the beginning of the year, I went to Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore, for golf and leisure. My flight distance and time increased dramatically with an app I downloaded to track these things. In October, I added Japan to round up my travels abroad. I figured I had reached a milestone, so I should travel more. In total, I flew 19,768 km with a flight time of one day, six hours, and 38 minutes. I’m wondering if I can top these stats with the new year. We will find out!

Wonderful memories are created with the travels and truly cherished. We played at new golf courses in Vietnam and Indonesia, and I savored the time with my golfing friends. What more can I ask for? My best memory is meeting up with an old college friend in Hanoi! The precious few hours we had is something I will never forget. We talked as if we were never apart for the last few decades that flew by.

The family trips were all about food, sights, and new experiences. Bangkok was all about walking, shopping, and eating. Likewise, Japan, but more. Wonderful, wonderful time together. I hope we can do such trips come 2025!

My golfing ability has been up and down for the year. The top highlight was being crowned the Overall Champion for my Tuesday Group’s annual game in August. I guess I peaked at the right occasion! I hope I can rediscover my momentum for the new year because I picked up a new injury right after that game.

The right tennis elbow sucks. As such, the golf has been on a downslide. But I’m not upset by this disability because hubby and I picked up pickleball to stay active! And I play with my left hand, thus preserving the right side from further aggravation. I wear an elbow guard, just to be safe, though.

Toward the end of the year, I reconnected with another old friend who migrated and was visiting. She’s my bestie’s older sister and an ardent golfer, so it was wonderful to host her. Despite the elbow woes, the time together was more important.

As 2024 winds down, I reflect on what has happened and look forward to the new year ahead. I’ve stopped making resolutions but tend to keep a positive mind as I believe in ‘you are what you think you are’ to face what’s ahead. Attract the good vibes and keep the bad ones away or at bay.

On a global scale, sports, politics, war, world peace, and climate challenges share the headlines. I’d rather not elaborate as details on these issues are available freely online. I am thankful I survived the year.

I take this opportunity to thank all my readers and supporters who have kept me going in my blog and to wish everyone a Happy New Year! May 2025 bring peace and prosperity to all.

Cheers and adieu 2024, it’s a wrap, and thanks for the memories!

Saying goodbye 2024 and hello 2025 with Chandon!

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Merry Christmas 2024!

24 Dec

Tis the season to be merry, fa la la la, la la la la! Every year, we have our family Christmas Eve dinner, and it’s a time to be together and be thankful.

This year, I’m baking my version of meat pies to add to the menu. I have become better at preparing a meat-based dish for the occasion.

In the past, I used to buy ready-to-eat ham from the butcher. Then I progressed to making ribs and meatloaf. This year, meat pies. And they look good and smell good!

Here’s wishing all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Be safe wherever you are celebrating Christmas.

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Afternoon Washout!

4 Oct

My plans for a round of golf yesterday didn’t quite work out because Mother Nature had other ideas. It was an afternoon game, not my usual morning tee-off, and the outing was a complete washout.

We had three flights – only the 12.30 pm flight managed 15 holes, while my flight did 12 as we were two slots behind them. I’m unsure how many holes the third flight completed because they started on the back nine.

It was quite a sight to see all the fairways inundated with water! That’s how heavy the rain came down, as there was insufficient time for the excess water to drain. Some holes even had their tee boxes immersed in water as well. There’s no way we could have resumed.

The buggy ride back to the club was not the most pleasant as we had to deal with pelting rain from the sides and driving through big puddles of water. Despite the situation, everyone was happy with an early happy hour! Hehehe.

Drinks and titbits were on the table, and eventually, dinner. The chatter and camaraderie were most enjoyable. Sometimes, we don’t need to complete a round of golf to enjoy the company of friends.

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Sunday Thrice Over

17 Sep

We have yet another long holiday, stretching from the weekend until today. And it feels like Sunday thrice over. The weekend golf differed from the usual schedule, with a Saturday game and a tournament on Monday.

The four-day weekend was due to two overlapping public holidays on Monday. But Tuesday is considered an optional holiday for some. For us, if it’s a holiday, enjoy it!

Since we had a round of golf on Monday, we opted to sleep in today and skip the regular Tuesday golf. The cool weather added to the comfort of a lazy Tuesday that feels like a Sunday. Nice!

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Happy Anniversary

3 Sep

Last Friday, hubby and I celebrated our anniversary a day early. A toast and happy anniversary to us! I had a Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri, and it reminded me of the first time I had this drink. Ahh, those were the days.

It was during the Summer when I was still in college for my final year. That year, I visited the bar with my roommate, who introduced me to this delicious cocktail. Back then, it only cost a dollar!

A brain-freezing Strawberry Daiquiri. Nice!

The drink I had on Friday cost more than that without question. Nowadays, I hardly drink cocktails anymore, but an occasional one for a special celebration is always nice. Happy anniversary to us again, and many more to come! Cheers.

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August Golf Escapade

30 Aug

It was the third day of our golf escapade. After breakfast, we left Forest City for The Els Club Desaru Coast for our third game. The drive was not too long, and we arrived early.

We found the golf club a tad plain. There was no grandeur in the architecture of the clubhouse. Maybe it’s meant to be like this?

As we arrived early, we could tee off earlier than our allotted tee-off time. Big mistake! There was a four-ball flight in front of us that was so slow and a two-ball flight behind us that was too fast! Ugh. And it started to drizzle. Sigh. The wind picked up, and my hands were cold. It was not the best experience playing at the Ocean course of The Els Club.

To our angst, the sand bunkers were flooded and looked like mini ponds on the fairways and beside the greens! Not nice. Hubby lost a ball in the flooded sand bunker. It was mildly shocking that maintenance was not up to par for an award-winning golf course. We’re not talking about one or two sand bunkers but several throughout the Ocean course.

Golfing on the Ocean course is supposed to be easy, but it was not in the best conditions to live up to it. Sadly, it was a forgettable round for us. I wonder if the outcome would have been different had we teed off at 12.30 pm instead of two hours earlier? Hmm.

There was some consolation when we checked into Four Points by Sheraton. The room was spacious and very comfortable. Dinner was equally comforting. The generous tray of Briyani rice and meat fulfilled the urge for carbo after two nights of dinner choices without rice. We have one more game tomorrow, and hopefully, the trip will end on a better note.

The Els Club, dinner and a huge green side bunker that was flooded

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Being Away

27 Aug

Last week, hubby and I escaped the doldrums of our daily routine for four days of golf! You would say that the golf part is the same, so how can this be different from the usual routine? When we play at other courses outstation, it’s exciting because the anticipation and expectation are different.

We left on a Thursday for Forest City Golf Resort. The drive was pleasant without too heavy the traffic. We detoured to a nearby town for a simple lunch at a coffee shop. Contented, we headed to Forest City for the 1.00 pm tee-off.

Played Legacy on Day 1, and Classic on Day 2

The golf course was pristine and in tip-top condition. We had a competitive round and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Dinner after the game was a good choice of chunky chicken satay and grilled fish. We requested that the spicy sauce be on the side instead of over the fish. We topped off the meal with hot ginger tea instead of beer. Nice.

Satay and grilled fish on Day 1, and burger and wrap for Day 2

On the second day, the situation changed though. We had an 8.45 am tee-off, and the pace was horrible. Every other hole and every shot, we were kept waiting. My momentum was out, I was angst to the core, and it was the worst game I played in a long while. Sigh. How can this be fun? Dang. I couldn’t wait for the game to be over. Double dang.

It got worse after that. Dinner was too heavy, and I was bloated. Ugh. An early night might be the remedy for the shortcomings. Thank goodness, the next day, we are checking out and headed to Desaru.

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Costly Three-Putts

20 Aug

My golf club’s Greensome competition that concluded over the weekend had all the thrills of a challenging tournament. My regular partner and I were at it again, having played the first Greensome tournament earlier in the year.

That time, we won the Ball Sweep for the First Nine, coming in second place. So, how did we fare this time?

I had several days of rest to recover from my exhaustion in the run-up to the game on Sunday. Thankfully, it was not a washout like the week before during the Scramble competition. We started on Hole 16, and it was a conservative start, with two bogeys on the first two holes. But we fumbled by the third hole with a three-putt. Hrmph.

Despite the setback, we remained focused when we crossed over to the front nine, which was easier to manage. Our partnership clicked, our game plan was effective, and we played well.

Then disaster struck on Hole 13 with two errand shots by both of us. And we were left with a two-putt for a double bogey. But the ball lipped out when it struck the pin! Argh, it was painful – another three-putt.

We were almost out of holes to play, so the next two holes were critical for damage control. We had to make a par and a birdie to salvage a stroke back to remain three-under. Alas, we could only manage a bogey. The birdie on the last hole was a small consolation. But we took it in stride as we improved our performance this time.

And it was with mild surprise that we won the First Nine Ball Sweep again but in third place. Oh well, a reward is still a reward. Looking back, it was the two unnecessary three-putts that cost us.

A small consolation

Greensome is a fun competition, and we both thoroughly enjoy it. We look forward to bettering our luck next year because we know our mistakes and understand our strengths better. So, thank you, partner, for the improved results and fantastic partnership.

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Winning Again, Part 2

6 Aug

I have never been playing better golf than ever. My distance has been far upon tee-off, second and third shots are good, and putting is accurate with the Scotty putter. When all departments are good, what more could I ask for? It feels very uplifting and wonderful. Everything seems to click because I have been winning when it matters.

I thought I had icing on the cake with the last game, returning as my club’s Best Pair with a friend, but it’s another cake with more icing on Saturday!

For months, together with my golf buddies, we planned the annual game for our Tuesday golf group. Being on the committee, we brainstormed, planned, argued, and discussed to ensure the tournament would be the best, being the third edition. There were a lot of logistics to consider when customizing items with the group logo for the goody bag, besides the running of the tournament itself.

Finally, the day arrived, and I’m pleased to say the tournament went smoothly without incident. We had 52 happy golfers, delighted with how things turned out. Although there were minor hiccups, I did not let this affect my focus on playing well, and I did! I thoroughly enjoyed myself despite no more beer available upon our cross-over. I thought my 35 Stableford points were commendable. Little did I realize it was enough for me to come out tops.

The fun and camaraderie continued during lunch. When the Prize Presentation came around, I was declared the Overall Champion! Woo hoo. How’s that for extra icing on the cake? I’m over the moon! Not only was I busy to the core, being on the organizing committee, but to come out tops in the tournament with better players amongst us was exhilarating.

Receiving the trophy from the person the tournament is named after. Taking the customary selfie!

I don’t know if this consistency can continue because I was exhausted mentally and physically by the time the weekend was over. I caught the sniffles soon after, so perhaps it is okay to take a break. I deserve one.

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Winning Again

30 Jul

It is nice when we play golf and win. It is nicer when this winning repeats itself. During my weekly Tuesday golf with my group, I returned as the champion for two weeks. What brought about this change in fortune after the disastrous Annual Club Championship outing not too long ago?

My glasses. My prescription glasses were giving me problems because the prescription was no longer correct for my vision. And I find it irritating when I play golf, especially when putting. The vision was blurred, and this affected my concentration. But all this discomfort is a thing of the past with a pair of new glasses.

The icing on the cake was the Interclub match over the weekend against the visiting club, Royal Perak Golf Club. It was a four-ball Best Ball format. My partner and I returned as the Best Pair from our club. We both played well, taking turns to score points on each hole. Both of us combined for a best-ball score of 47 Stableford points! Woo hoo.

A dozen new balls! Nice

I’m glad I discovered and rectified the problem affecting my golf performance over the past few months. The game is enjoyable again because I have a clear vision and better concentration to play well and win.

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