I am at the tail-end of completing the three individual gnomes. I missed the deadline I set for myself, which was the end of August. And it is almost the end of September! I’ve got to get going on it.
Last week, I decided to push myself to complete this with love and dedication. I reduced my golf outings to focus on finishing up the pieces. And I must say it has been so fun and therapeutic to work on them.
Working on all three in tandem, seated at my workstation, I fine-tuned the surfaces and eventually applied acrylic paint. It actually took me only one day for the painting process! If I had known that it would take just a day, I would have prioritized this step sooner! Oh well.
I am very pleased with the outcome. The color choices of the pants are at the request of the individual recipients. At this point, it is only a minor touch-up to even the coat of colors. Lastly, a gloss varnish will be applied to the surfaces to complete the project.
Yay, I am a happy camper with my efforts, and I hope the recipients will be equally pleased to have them in their homes.
Over the weekend, hubby and I did an impromptu golf escapade again! It was one of those impulsive decisions that a getaway is a solution to rejuvenate the body and mind. Hence, a golf trip out of town. We decided to do a Stay & Play at Damai Laut Golf & Country Club.
At the signature Par 4 near the beachsideDamai Laut
The drive to the country club was leisurely paced. We took the new WCE Highway and arrived just in time for a simple lunch at the clubhouse before teeing off. There was hardly anybody there. We literally had the golf course to ourselves, save for the troops of monkeys on several holes. Being a resort course and allowing the buggy to be on-course, we completed our 18 holes in three and a half hours! Nice.
Enjoying the sunset at the adjacent resort, DoubleTree by Hilton
Our studio unit was spacious and included a well-equipped kitchenette. We even had Netflix, unlike some hotels with limited TV channel choices. For meals, we weren’t fussy and enjoyed simple local fare at the golfer’s terrace.
We ate Nasi Lemak, Pattaya fried rice, fried kueh teow and Roti Canai
During the two nights we were there, it rained late into the night, but we stayed indoors. The Netflix choices were very gripping! During our second game on Saturday morning, we discovered some fallen trees on the golf course. We had to drive around the mess to move forward. Other than this, the course was not affected by the heavy rain, and we were still able to drive the buggy on the fairways.
The two games were very fun as we battled hole by hole. Who won? Heheh, that’s our little secret! The escapade ended all too soon, and I can’t wait to have another impulsive trip soon.
Excited about carving again after seeing the Three-Gnome piece evolve, I decided to carve more gnomes, but single pieces instead of a trio. I found three wooden blocks from my stash and decided to work on them simultaneously.
On days when it was too hot to be out on the golf course, I alternated between the four pieces for the past several weeks. It wasn’t a daily process, though, and it took time. And since I completed the Three-Gnome piece last week, my focus is now on the three single gnomes.
The task at hand is very exhilarating, especially with the new carving tools that I recently purchased online. When an unassuming block of wood evolves and becomes something creative, done with love and focus, the satisfaction and joy are immensely wonderful.
I hope to complete the three pieces before the end of August!
Two months ago, the weather was unbearably hot, and I reduced my outdoor activities, meaning my golf games. Being home, I decided to revive an old and forgotten carving project, rather than spending my time constantly on my iPad playing games. I was playing too much!
It felt good to carve again, as it had been ages since I last used all my carving tools. The piece is not new, but a second take on my Three-Gnomes piece. Slowly but surely, I will complete the piece and not leave it sitting there forgotten.
Last week, soon after I returned from my Interclub trip to Johor and Singapore, I had a day’s rest before heading off on another trip! This time, it was with M2, and we took the train to Ipoh.
The ETS ride by KTM was on time and comfortable. Within two hours, we arrived at the train station. It was a hot day, but M2 and I chose to walk to discover the city.
During our short 3D/2N stay in the city, we were on a mission to eat as much as we could. However, we could only manage 11 choices of food, being small eaters, not counting the Citrus Yuzu Matcha and white coffees.
Lunch on Day 1: Fruit Rojak and Kai Si Ho FunThe start of Day 1, after lunch drink, Lamington cake and chicken rice dinner
There was time for us to even go for a short excursion to Tasik Cermin. It’s an interesting and new tourist attraction. It was there that we had the most wonderful Ipoh white coffee! So satisfying on a hot day.
Day Two brunch was half boiled eggs and toast with the best coffee!Day Two Tau Foo Fah and Nasi Ganja breakfast and excursion; and train ride back to KL
Other than discovering food, there was not much else to do except go into every shop to browse the Heong Peah and biscuit choices. Some were very tempting, but as we were traveling by train, it was a constraint to return with additional bags on top of the two we brought. In the end, we packed everything properly and had just two extra bags, albeit a bit bulky.
Dinner on Day Two was moonlight kueh teow and blanched octopus
The short getaway was very relaxing, but ended all too soon. Both of us had some delicious eats, and both agreed that Ipoh’s pace was a tad too slow for us. Before we knew it, we were boarding the train for home.
Duck rice and pork lard noodles for breakfast before leaving Ipoh
The Interclub trip down South over the weekend came and went by in a blink. Waking up at 4:30 in the morning is not something I wish to do often, but it was necessary, as everyone had to meet at the club to depart by six o’clock in two buses.
Although there were 60 players, some chose to drive instead. The journey was comfortable with fewer people on board, and traffic was manageable along the highway. Despite taking a couple of wrong exits, our group arrived on time.
Our first Interclub match was against Ponderosa Golf and Country Club. After the welcome lunch, the shotgun start matches began. It was a good fight, but our club lost out with a score of 13.5 points versus 16.5 points. However, Ponderosa, being a gracious host, declared everyone a winner! The losing team players received silver medals, while the champion host team members collected their gold medals. What a friendly way to build friendship in a golf tournament.
The next day, the entourage traveled to Singapore via Woodlands to visit the Keppel Club for our second Interclub game. The format of play was a bit different, which initially left everyone confused. It turned out to be a team event; our players were paired with the opponents, meaning we were playing with them rather than against them. The team with the best ball score for Stableford points will be declared the winner.
Keppel Club is not an easy course to play. It may look short, but the distances to the pins were deceiving, especially with the undulating terrain. I felt so drained after the game despite the cool and cloudy weather. The early confusion on the game format aside, I would say everyone left Keppel feeling satisfied and happy.
On the final day, we had a casual game amongst ourselves at Palm Resort Golf & Country Club (Cempaka course), which was not an Interclub match. I played with my regular group, and it was quite an enjoyable round of dueling to see who would end up contributing less money for lunch! Hahahaha.
I’m just glad to be home after the hectic and tight schedule for three rounds of golf.
Keppel Club with a glaring OB spelled out guarding the Par 3; approaching Woodlands on the Causeway, and sights of the other golf courses.
It has been eight months since we started playing pickleball. And I must say we enjoy it very much. It is because we can see ourselves improving with each outing every week. Unlike golf, the more I play of late, the more fatigued and frustrated I become with my golfing ability. And sometimes, unfavorable weather, too hot or wet, makes the golf outing not as enjoyable.
Now pickleball is very interesting. We have a little group where everyone started together eight months ago. And everyone has improved together, so it’s much more enjoyable because everyone’s ability is equal. During the weekly two-hour session, we rotate playing partners constantly after each round.
The best part of our weekly pickleball sessions is the place where we play. After several venues that we have tried, mostly outdoors but covered, we found a comfortable indoor air-conditioned pickleball center, and we have been going to this venue ever since. It’s the perfect venue, especially when it rains, as we are safely indoors and can continue playing without interruption.
And, after four months into the game playing with an entry-level paddle purchased online, hubby and I decided to upgrade and invest in better paddles. He chose the Australian brand Six Zero Black Diamond, while I selected the American Neonic Flare Prime [X]. His choice is more for power, and my choice is because it looked so cute on display, being 14mm! Hahahaha.
Seriously, my paddle is very lightweight, but the spin is deadly. I love my paddle, and my game has also improved by leaps and bounds. Yes, we are being serious about pickleball, hence these purchases.
Mother’s Day is always a family affair, celebrating the three mothers in the family on Sunday – Mom, myself, and my sister-in-law. A sumptuous lunch and fun jabber to catch up with everyone.
This year, I received a lovely gift. It’s been almost two years since I last worked on building miniatures, and this gift is the perfect one to kickstart this activity again.
Project number 32 was the last miniature I worked on from October 2023, but sadly, I never completed it. I had golf, travel, and games on the iPad Mini, keeping me busy. At this point, I’m not sure if I can complete the set because it’s too tiny.
Anyway, maybe it’s long overdue to spend time building miniatures again. And of late, my golf sucks, and I find no joy in playing, so the timing is just nice to go back to doing things that gave me so much joy.
I’ve lost track of the days during this Hari Raya festive holiday as my weekend and weekday seem to have merged into one long stretch. As a result, my activity schedule has become quite disorganized. Throw in a lunch get-together with friends that stretches into teatime – it’s no wonder I’ve lost track of time!
Recently, my golf game has not been going well, so I’ve decided to cut back on playing to focus on recovering my mental strength before I tackle the sport again. In the meantime, I’ve been playing more pickleball!
My usual twice or thrice-a-week golf has been reduced to once a week, while my pickleball has increased to twice a week. I find that the latter sport is less of a mental challenge. Although I’m still new at it, I’m making progress. The two-hour pickleball session can be tiring but not as draining as a round of golf that lasts four hours or more.
Golf has always posed a mental challenge for me to play better. And at times, I worry that I may aggravate an old injury or acquire a new one. Unfortunately, it has not been as enjoyable for me lately. I’m surprised I’ve reached this point with a sport I’ve enjoyed all these years. Perhaps the long holiday or my disorganized schedule is contributing to these feelings? Or simply, I’m just overthinking things!
P/S I have really lost track of time! This post is out on a Wednesday instead of the usual Tuesday. Eeeks.
I love buying golf shoes because I tend to wear them out quickly, playing so often weekly. My collection of golf shoes is at different levels of wear and tear. The Skechers pair is the worst among the several brands I have, not surviving even a year and falling apart.
My peach-colored Adidas is still in good condition. It is a little dirty, but a good scrub can resolve this. On the other hand, my white/grey/green Adidas pair is showing significant wear, especially with both heel sections starting to detach. The end is near. Perhaps I can manage a couple more rounds before discarding them? I have to be careful and should not wear them until the bottom sole falls off during a round of golf!
I gave M1 a new PGM and used Inesis, Decathlon’s house-brand shoes to use if she joins us at the driving range. Lastly, two pairs of used shoes (FootJoy and another Inesis) are merely sitting on the shoe rack, not seeing any action and collecting dust. Looking worn and tired, maybe it’s time to say goodbye to them.
With all the inventory accounted for, I shouldn’t have to buy more shoes. But I did! Hence, the G/Fore and FootJoy shoes. And as if those two were not enough, I bought another pair of golf shoes last week! I think I am obsessed. I have to say, the latest Callaway purchase was a steal of a bargain. It was only a fraction of its original retail price, so why not?
Angieneering 
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