Yesterday was the end of my old Apple iPhone 5S. It ‘died’ the most unfortunate death when the battery expanded unexpectedly. In other words, the battery–which had required service– finally bloated up and caused the phone to become distended. The front panel was separated from the body, rendering the end of my iPhone 5S. Boo hoo hoo.
The end of my old iPhone 5S
I have been using the iPhone 5S as my Spotify music center, playing music all day daily. As a result of this constant use, I achieved thousands of minutes on Spotify annually. Hehehe.
However, the phone could not keep up with the constant usage and needed external power support. And this was the death of it. With power plugged in and music playing non-stop, my iPhone 5S eventually met its untimely demise.
But I shouldn’t be upset, as the phone is ten years old and has served me well for five years before I upgraded to the iPhone XR. Then the phone had a new lease of life to be my music center.
RIP, my iPhone 5S – a much loved and appreciated device, and it’s most unfortunate it met an unexpected end.
Last week, a golfer friend asked me if I was still using the TomTom Golfer watch, and I said no. Goodness, it has been years since I stopped using it. After the watch kaput, I decided to move to an AppleWatch that does more things than just being a golf watch.
She asked because she’s still using her TomTom Golfer 2 watch. But recently, she received notification that their services would be shutting down soon. In other words, the watch will be useless once the support ends. Oh dear, how unfortunate.
I subscribe to the Hole 19 app on my AppleWatch for my golf games to give me all the necessary information and track my performances. So far, I am happy with the app. At one point, I tried GolfShot, SwingU, and Hello Birdie, and I like Hole 19 best.
While she won’t buy an AppleWatch, at least she’s getting a Garmin watch soon as a replacement. Goodbye, TomTom. You were good while you lasted.
I’m wondering whether I should give up Homescapes. Every week, I catch up with the end of the game, and it irks me that I have to wait until Friday for the new levels to open up.
If I play the game daily, starting over the weekend, I will hit a roadblock by Tuesday. Then, I have to wait until Friday for the new levels. It has become cumbersome. Should I continue with the game or not? Sigh.
Maybe I’m too dependent on my iPad Mini, which is very unhealthy, Homescapes aside. On days when I’m not golfing, I spend hours and hours on it. So bad! It could be a small step, giving up Homescapes to be less device-dependent. We shall see.
Level 15701 has opened but after completing 50 levels, the wait starts again.
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.
Going away for a golf vacation is supposed to be enjoyable. Unfortunately, this trip has not been quite the case. Only the first day was a good experience. Well, it is the fourth and last day of the trip. I decided not to have any expectations for what was to come.
After a hearty breakfast, we checked out and headed for the Valley course of The Els Club, a short drive from the hotel. Again, the clubhouse was not grand but rather plain. I wouldn’t call it modern because it didn’t come across as one.
Top: my breakfast choices, bowl of porridge, mini vadai; bottom: Singapore Hokkien Mee and Soto Ayam for lunch
We arrived early but decided against teeing off ahead. After two days of things turning out for the worse, I think it’s better to stick to the plan to avoid disappointment. The Valley course is known to be more challenging because of the terrain, but I started with a bogey, par, par. It didn’t feel that difficult.
When there’s no expectation of any sort, things go on smoothly. The day was perfect – our pace was excellent, the weather was cloudy, the caddy was good, and our duel was intense. After two losses in the last two games against hubby, I had an uphill battle to even the odds.
I had bunker issues, as always, because my typical game plan for these situations is to avoid them. But avoid them, I couldn’t, especially for the Par 3s. Luckily, the Par 5s saved me, and we battled until the last hole. I won in the end. And we completed the round in three and a half hours! The outcome from the four rounds: we won two games each for our mini-golf challenge.
Looking back, I think next time, whenever we plan an outstation golf trip, there shouldn’t be any expectations, especially when visiting a new golf course. Forest City was better than before, I have to say. The pace of the golf game cannot be a factor to fault the golf course. After all, it is a popular destination.
As for The Els Club, to say it was a disappointment is an understatement. The upkeep of both the courses was not the best, and they were not picturesque for photo opportunities like Forest City. At the signature hole of the Ocean course, we encountered a baby snake right off the bunker on the greenside. So there goes the photo opportunity! I’d say we will give the place another year before returning.
Uphill hole guarded by bunkers & a downhill snaking terrain, green on the right. The Johor River bridge Senai-Desaru Expressway
While there were complaints and angst on this trip, it wasn’t that bad or unpleasant. It was simply a change in environment to do the things we enjoy most together. Will we plan another golf trip before the year ends? Well, I have to find the window, and if our daily routine becomes monotonous again, why not?
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
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.
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.
I feel like my schedule has been the same of late. Same old, same old, you know? But the week goes by so fast, even though the routine is predictable with the golf games, the chores, and the weather.
I find that there is no new excitement in my life. I even started playing a new game because the levels in Homescapes are released too slowly. I am always ahead of them!
For now, the most exciting thing thus far is seeing a new eatery review on social media, and we will make plans to try out the place. Like tonight, and I’m glad I declared the kitchen closed. Otherwise, it’s the same old, same old again.
Angieneering 
Remarks