December, Oh December!

9 Dec

It just hit me that it is December already! Oh, my goodness. 2022 is coming to an end soon. With less than a month left, there is still much to do to fill up the days with memories.

December is a constant battle with the weather when it comes to doing the laundry. Will the sun peek out for a bit? Will it rain non-stop? The laundry does not have that sun-soaked smell during this time of the year.

December is also a month to get my Christmas shopping going! And so far, I’m on track. Yay. And yes, the home Christmas decorations are out, and it’s just the finishing touches here and there.

Being the last month of the year, December is also a time to wrap up things that started at the beginning of the year. Specifically, my DIY miniature, sitting at my station, collecting dust. I have not crafted so many this year, and it would be nice to finish up this last one.

December is a time for reflection on the year that passed. I am thankful for the good times and have stored away the good memories. I hope the remainder of the month will give me several more last hurrahs to cherish.

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The Struggle Continues, Part 2

6 Dec

Besides my golf game struggle, my DIY miniature crafting has also struggled over the past few months. I have not sat down at my little workstation for so long, and my last project has stalled to the moon and never came back! Hahaha.

It would be nice to finish it up and not leave the set incomplete and collecting dust. I have gone so far with crafting miniatures for the past three years already. And this being DIY project #25, it would be great to wrap it up before the year ends.

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The Struggle Continues

5 Dec

By now, I have played three rounds of golf, and the struggle continues. The golf mojo is hard to get back, especially when the weather plays a role. The wet and soggy grounds have not helped, causing lost distance with unnecessary forced shots to overcome the conditions.

When it rained, all the rain gears were out, and it became a handful to manage. Also, the momentum gets lost if we wait out the rain. It’s not enjoyable being out there.

The short game has improved, but only slightly. Putting was much better because I was using the Peanut Putter. I hope this struggle will not be prolonged. Perhaps another game or two before everything clicks again. I cross my fingers and hope for good weather as well.

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The First Game

2 Dec

After close to a month of travels and no golf, I played my first game yesterday. So how did I fare?

Well, I have to admit the night before, I watched some tutorial videos on YouTube as a refresher to remind me what to do! And it did help, but only for a bit.

The first tee-off was such a beautiful shot. I was impressed that I could strike the ball well. Even the second and third shots were good. I thought my golfing touch was still intact. But it was downhill after that!

The shot game and the putting threw the momentum off. The shot game was off, and my putting was horrible. I could not feel the weight of my Scotty Cameron putter, causing a lot of two- and three-putts. Sigh.

After the disastrous welcome-back game, it’s back to the drawing board to regain the golf mojo and muscle memory. The Scotty putter will make way for the Peanut Putter, and I need to work on my shot game to be more accurate. Essentially, practice makes perfect is what this game is all about. I will be going all out to play as much as possible from here on.

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In Denial

29 Nov

You know it’s back to reality when the alarm rings, and there’s so much to clear and unpack upon waking up. I was in denial over the weekend upon returning from Bali, even going for a movie, before I tackled the things left in the bags or scattered in the house.

Well, no more trips for the time being. I need to get back to my routine. Speaking of it, I’m not too sure about my golf game as I have gone a month without playing. We will see when I tee off on Thursday morning. Perhaps I better prepare with more golf balls in the bag.

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Extended Holiday

28 Nov

It seems like the holiday is never-ending! It has been extended with a public holiday today. Unexpected but anticipated (because of the General Election results) and appreciated nonetheless.

From Ku De Ta to local delights, we tried everything!
The must-eat dish when in Bali

Bali was fun, and I was doing things, not up my alley, which was nice for a change. I got to know my high school friends better, and we did things together.

Throughout the week, we indulged, ate, drank, laughed, shopped, swam, and luxuriated in our private apartment and villa (we stayed at two different places) together. We also pampered ourselves with not one but two three-and-a-half-hour and four-hour spa sessions.

Our private villa

There was no golf, no playing tourist but merely enjoying the presence of each other and having a good bonding time to catch up. I am thankful that, at this age, I still have such friends. It was as if we were never part despite all these years.

After this trip, we understood each other better, with our friendship forged to a deeper degree. I look forward to the next trip with this bunch of besties.

Last local delight before we left
Goodbye Bali!

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A Break Again

21 Nov

Sometimes when we return from a hectic vacation, we need to go off on another one to recover from the trip. And I did just that!

We reached home almost midnight after touching down in KLIA. The eight-hour layover in Doha was too long. And when we got home, everyone was so tired. But I wasn’t jet lagged, or I couldn’t feel it, even though I did not sleep much for the last 20 hours of traveling.

I was like an Energizer bunny, unpacking and clearing stuff away. But on Saturday, I flew off again with my girlfriends to Bali for a break to recuperate from the UK/Ireland trip.

Although Saturday was a big day for Malaysia, being Election Day, I did my part and then left. So this break is a break from writing and sharing and will return to routine after a week.

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End of the Adventure

16 Nov

It has been a whirlwind trip for us, with the big city lights, attractions, crowds, sights, cold, smells, food, wind, graduation, colder temperatures, sceneries, and smells.

We took it all in stride. When we see what the other side of the world faces daily, I think it makes us appreciate our home more.

The cold weather and the wind were a challenge. And wearing four to five layers is not something we enjoy doing, but we have to do it to stay warm. The wind is the killer factor, and that makes it unbearable at times.

The graduation ceremony was the highlight of the trip. It is hard to describe our pride and joy in seeing our baby receive her degree. A new exciting chapter awaits her life.

As much as we enjoy going on an extended holiday, I’m glad our adventure is coming to an end. We now have to prepare for hot and humid conditions back home. It will be uncomfortable to readjust, but we have had enough of the cold and wind.

Goodbye Ireland, we leave with good memories.

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Almost a Washout

15 Nov

It was a cold and windy morning. The winds howled at 38km, rattling the roof and canopy. It was more comfortable staying warm in bed than going out. But we should not be doing this and waited out the weather a little.

Wet morning and after the rain, visibility was low

When it let up a little, we ran to our car and drove out. Cork feels like Dublin, slow and chilled. We spent the afternoon in the city center, in and out of shops and shopping centers, the city center art gallery, and eateries, to avoid the chill and rain.

Lunch at Fellini’s

Sometimes being out in the cold too long can be tiring. After dinner, we were done being tourists and headed back to the apartment to call it a day.

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The Cliffs of Moher

13 Nov

We left Galway at 10.30 am yesterday and drove on to the Cliffs of Moher. Along the way, we detoured to see Aillwee Cave but didn’t do any trail walks or tours. It was too cold. Instead, we bought freshly made cheese and hot coffee at the Farmshop.

The journey continued and had us crossing farmlands, moors, little towns, and an occasional castle ruin. It was windy when we arrived at the Cliffs.

The short walk from the parking area to the Cliffs of Moher was cold and windy. Even my five layers were not enough, so we had to walk faster. The Cliffs of Moher experience would have been even nicer if it wasn’t for the wind. But breathtaking nonetheless, we dutifully snapped our selfies to capture the moment.

The Cliffs of Moher

We left the place, driving through narrow one-way roads in between farmlands. The sun was setting, and we decided to skip Limerick and head for Cork instead.

Narrow one car width road

We made it an hour after sunset. What a day it has been!

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