Tag Archives: Chinese New Year

First Project of 2026!

10 Mar

I finally made myself work on a DIY project this year, my first project of 2026 after such a long break from an activity that I once loved and dedicated a lot of time to. Yay! As you know, during the Lunar New Year, I wasn’t feeling festive, and the weather during this time was terrible, alternating between hot and wet; it wasn’t pleasant.

Playing my games daily on the iPad was so addictive and unhealthy that I decided to recalibrate my routine. Time for crafting! I had stopped my crafting for quite a while, and all those unboxed miniatures that I had aspired to build are collecting dust! Ugh.

However, I did not unearth a box from the tower of miniatures. There are eight boxes altogether, projects of different sizes and difficulty. Instead, I bought a whole new type of model to work on. It is a mechanical piece that looks overwhelming but does not require glue. Looks like fun, yet intimidating.

The infinite cycle Marble Run Spaceport did pose a challenge, but only for a short while. I took five days to complete the DIY kit, several hours each day. Upon completion, there was a sense of achievement as the kit was a Level Four in difficulty!

My first DIY project for the year!

The mechanical part featured a USB-C connection, which was quite impressive, and not a battery pack like all my previous miniatures that required one for the lights. Amazing how things have changed and improved since my last build.

Now that I have completed the kit, where can I keep or display the spaceport without collecting dust? Sigh. A win for personal satisfaction, but a no-win for storage. With this niggling display situation, should I even attempt the remaining eight boxes? Something to consider for this year.

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Chap Goh Meh 2026

3 Mar

It is Chap Goh Meh today, the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, and the celebrations of this festive time are coming to an end. How time flies.

I have to say, the past two weeks didn’t feel festive for me because I felt so out of it. I was merely going through the motions to pass the time. Even the few golf games I played felt so meh. And the weather during this period started wet, then hot, and now unbearably hot. Sigh.

Well, now that the Chinese New Year/Lunar New Year is ending, we are galloping into March, February being a short month. The family had an early Chap Goh Meh dinner two nights ago, and it was a simpler feast compared to the Reunion Dinner spread.

A simpler Chap Goh Meh spread of ‘Poon Choi’ (big bowl feast), Roast Duck, and a Nam Yue Pork.

Separately, we decided on a nice dinner outside tonight to bid adieu to the festivity and hope things will return to normal. Maybe I will play better golf again?

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Year of the Fire Horse, Part 2

24 Feb

It has been an unusual Lunar New Year so far. I am not feeling the festivities. So much so, we only put up the customary red cloth at our home entrance two days before the New Year! Two days, that’s cutting it really close. But we made some effort and hung tiny lanterns up on the trees in the front garden.

Some effort with little red lanterns

Despite the effort, the nonchalant feeling remained, perhaps due to the weather. Typically, during this time of the year, it is hot and dry. But it has been raining cats and dogs! Cold and gloomy. Ugh.

I think this sentiment could be due to the Lunar New Year being so late, mid-February, and all the holiday and festive mood has evaporated. The weather has not helped either. And the joys of Christmas and the New Year feelings have dissipated with the lengthy break from then until the Lunar New Year came around. Oh well.

I guess I have to change my mindset and make the best of the Lunar New Year. After all, I always believe, you are what you preach. Be positive to have a good time!

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Year of the Fire Horse

17 Feb

Gong Xi Fa Cai! We have officially ushered in the Year of the Fire Horse at the stroke of midnight. The fireworks last night were non-stop and loud; what a boisterous way to welcome the new year.

The family reunion dinner last night was a gastronomic adventure. The spread was a test of our tummy space! I definitely gained a kilogram. Burp!

Decorated our Yee Sang to look like a horse!

Here’s wishing everyone a very Happy and Prosperous 2026 ahead! May you gallop into the year with zest and positivity. 

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So Nonchalant

10 Feb

The Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year feeling is not there at all! We have another week left before we usher in the Year of the Fire Horse. I’m feeling so nonchalant about it, I don’t understand myself.

I have been a slowpoke in preparing for the New Year this year, unlike the previous years. While we did manage to purchase the necessary festive things for gift exchanges and did some cleaning, it was minimal. The New Year decorations are out of storage, but yet to be set up. Really don’t understand why I’m so nonchalant this year.

I suspect this is due to our procrastination in hanging up the red cloth at the entrance to the house. It is yet to be up. The house does not feel festive. Maybe if we get to it, then we will be triggered! So, we’d better hang it up before the weekend comes around. Chop chop!

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Ha Long and Hanoi 2025

21 Feb

It was a trip mooted last year, and it felt like forever for the day to arrive. When it finally did, the five-day golf trip to Vietnam came and flew by quickly! It was our first golfing trip for 2025, and yes, I was excited.

At the beginning of the year, I took some time off from golf to allow my tennis elbow to recover. I had to if I wanted to enjoy the golf trip pain-free. The self-imposed break worked out well because we had all the Chinese New Year celebrations during this time.

Golfing in Ha Long and Hanoi this time was quite an experience. It was cold, quite cold, and super cold during the three games we played, two being in Ha Long and one in Hanoi.

Last year, when we were in Hanoi for golf, it wasn’t that cold compared to this time. And the last time I wore three layers of clothing for golf to keep warm was back in 2019 when we were in Oregon! Goodness, that’s quite a while back.

Ha Long was beautiful and serene. It felt very laid-back and untouched. The golf course, Tuan Chau Golf Club, was relatively flat in its terrain. But there was a lot of water surrounding the course, being an island, after all.

The first meal upon arrival in Hanoi

The second course was more challenging, FLC Halong Golf Club. Up in the hills, the terrain was a challenge to walk in and out. Both courses did not allow the golf buggies into the fairways. So, you can imagine the toll on the knees if the ball landed far away from the buggy track.

The weather was cool but misty, or rather, hazy, spoiling the scenery of Ha Long Bay beyond the signature Par 3 hole. No amount of attempts or the best smartphone could capture the natural beauty in the hazy condition. Sigh.

Top: Tuan Chau; Bottom: FLC Halong

Weather aside, there were some highlights from the trip. Our group enjoyed a sumptuous lunch on a cruise on the bay, followed by a short trek into the Ha Long Cave. Again, the pictures taken do not do justice to the beauty of this natural wonder.

In the blink of an eye, two rounds of golf in Ha Long were under the belt, along with a few phở meals and plenty of beer. We bid farewell to Ha Long and left for Hanoi for the rest of our stay in Vietnam.

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A Break in Between

11 Feb

Although tomorrow is the last day of the Chinese New Year celebration, there is an overlap of festivities today, hence, a break in between with a public holiday. Nice.

It is Thaipusam, a Hindu festival celebrating the victory of good over evil. Typically, during this holiday, we would sleep in or do nothing. However, being a couch potato may not be a good idea, what with eating all those festival cookies and meals for the last two weeks.

I think once Chap Goh Meh is over, full-swing exercise, or better yet, full steam ahead to play golf. With all that time away from the golf course, I think I had enough rest to allow my tennis elbow to recover.

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Chinese New Year 2025

4 Feb

Kong Hei Fatt Choy! Wishing everyone a very Happy and Prosperous New Year. A week has passed going into the Year of the Snake, and I have lost track of time! All we do is eat and eat. Burp.

The Reunion Dinner was a gastronomic feast, with so much food on the table for our hot pot dinner. I think we all experienced a food coma after that meal! Hahahaha.

Toasting over the Yee Sang, our Reunion Dinner spread, and irresistible CNY cookies!

Chinese New Year is all about celebrating and merry-making with relatives and friends. And, of course, there’s the food—especially the New Year cookies and snacks. These delectable treats are dangerous and irresistible. Every choice is a must-try, can you imagine? How do we resist? Although they are only available once a year, the waistline is always in danger of being tempted by them!

We have eight days left for the Chinese New Year celebration, and I’m looking forward to the Chap Goh Meh dinner finale soon!

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Reunion Dinner 2025

28 Jan

Today is Chinese New Year’s Eve and the Reunion Dinner night. This year, we will have our Reunion Dinner at home because of circumstances. In other words, we did not return to hubby’s hometown and avoided driving a long and arduous journey. Phew. Nor did we gather at my sibling’s place for this auspicious celebration.

Nonetheless, the Reunion Dinner, here or otherwise, is a time to be thankful for our family’s unity and bond. As both girls are now grown, I am most thankful they can be with us to usher in the Year of the Wood Snake together!

We count our blessings and would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous Year ahead. Gong Xi Fa Cai / Kong Hey Fatt Choy / Kiong Hee Huat Chye!

This year, we added this festive decor besides the customary New Year red cloth at the main entrance to the house.

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Last-Minute Queen

21 Jan

It is a week before the Reunion Dinner for the coming Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year! And we are still not prepared, yikes. I am living up to being the last-minute Queen again.

The Year of the Snake is supposed to bring good fortune to people born in the year of the Ox, Dragon, Rat, Rooster, and Snake itself, making me look forward to the year ahead because I’m one of the fortunate zodiac signs!

However, we have one week to prepare, not a day more before the good things can happen. So, let’s do away with this last-minute Queen attitude and complete the necessaries to usher in the Year of the Snake with open arms!

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