Tag Archives: lockdown

The Year That Wasn’t Again

31 Dec

The never-ending year 2021 finally concludes today. I look back, and what a year it has been! I feel history has repeated itself, with the year being another year that fell short of expectations like 2020 because the pandemic has dragged on.

When the nation went into lockdown again in May, we were short-changed for several months to have a good year. And the lockdowns implemented under the Movement Control Orders (MCO) had so many versions, I lost track of it all.

But life goes on. With what we had experienced in 2020, we handled 2021 a little better. We became more accepting of the situation and were more productive, and the hobbies picked up in the year before continued. We also got vaccinated against the Covid-19 virus, and it was our passport to venture out (if needed) without hassle.

Towards the end of the year, I picked up another new hobby – felting. What fun this turned out to be! Felting is immensely enjoyable and therapeutic when I am not carving or crafting miniatures as it is a short and fast activity to complete.

Looking back, being home this time around wasn’t so bad because there’s so much to do at home, and I love it. There is no rush or fear but simply comfort and ease. As long as there is good time management, the days go by quickly.

M2 came back for her Summer holidays, and it was great to have her home. My cooking skills improved from last year, and there were many great mealtimes together at home as a family since we couldn’t go out at all.

Then M1 came home for good after completing her Master’s degree, and both of us are very blessed to have the family as a complete unit. But soon after, M2 returned to Ireland, and M1 started working. By the third quarter, we were juggling work, albeit not much, and playing golf when the country reopened to more activities.

But just when we thought things were improving with vaccination and economies opening everywhere, the world saw a new virus variant! The Omicron. The pandemic management globally was sucker-punched with this new development. Travels, activities, and economies were restricted once more, and many countries faced fresh lockdowns. When will this onslaught of the unknown ever end?

So we start 2022 with uncertainty again. I see no point in toasting the New Year for better fortune and goodness. Just brace yourselves to stay negative (Covid-wise) in a positive way, stay healthy, and stay safe. Goodbye 2021, I wouldn’t say it was the best, but we survived. Happy New Year, folks!

Oh, You Cutie Pies!

28 Dec

My latest felting characters are adorable! After I felted specific characters for the hubby and M1, I asked M2 what she would like. She requested a blue Miffy, the famous bunny from The Netherlands.

A Miffy for M2!

And so, I got right into it. My work speaks for itself. Adorable beyond words. I was so motivated by the outcome that I decided to make another Miffy. The second Miffy in yellow turned out even better!

Oh you cutie pies!

Dang, I’m getting good at this felting business.

Forgetful Me

27 Dec

Last Friday, I inadvertently gave an inaccurate account of the previous year’s Christmas Eve Dinner. My bad. We DID have a family dinner together, but I honestly forgot about it. Was it so insignificant that it slipped my mind?

Or could it be with the last two years being in constant lockdown with the various Movement Control Orders (MCO), I lost track of time. I think the fact that it was just the two of us at the dinner sans both girls stuck in my mind more than anything else.

Or, in all honesty, I have become a tired and forgetful dinosaur more than ever!

Christmas Eve Dinner 2021

24 Dec

This year, we are thankful that we can get together with the family after missing out on the Christmas Eve dinner last year. It was the pandemic that derailed everything-from travels to gatherings-throwing festive occasions into disarray, and both of us had a quiet two-person dinner at home instead without much camaraderie.

This year, the SOP’s have changed with most adults in the country, all of us included, being fully vaccinated. So it is great that we can gather to celebrate Christmas.

I take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! Be safe, stay safe, and be healthy.

Dinky Has a Friend

20 Dec

My latest felted character is a dinosaur, and my Dinky dinosaur has a friend! This character started as a stegosaurus, but as I progressed along, I decided to change the shape. Soon it evolved, and now it is a Tinysaurus, hahaha!

Dinosaur in the making

I had fun working on it. And I’ve decided to give it away as a gift to be loved by another dinosaur-loving person.

Dinky’s new friend to be adopted by someone

Felting is Fun! Part 3

17 Dec

I have to admit this piece is my third character before the gnomes. Soon after finishing Mike from Monsters, Inc., I wanted to do something for myself. Hence, an owl to go with what I have been carving to make Gigglesville.

A felted owl to join the Citizens of Gigglesville!

It took some 3D visualization effort, and in the end, I am pleased with the result! It looks like crafting miniatures and carving are taking a backseat for this.

Painful Moments

14 Dec

What is worse than stabbing yourself with felting needles or carving tools? It’s slicing your finger with a blade. Shudder, ouch, and cry!

Yesterday I was at the office cutting some paper with a blade, and the accident happened. It was a bloody moment, literally. Stab pains by both my activity tools pale in comparison to this!

Snoopy to my rescue! 🥰

I am much better today, thank goodness. However, I cannot use my thumb to type on my iPhone as I usually use both hands. I hope this temporary disability is short-lived.

But I will stop the paper cutting for the time being and go about with pure design work on the Mac. As for felting, no stab pains will stop me from continuing this newfound enjoyable activity.

A Satisfying Activity

13 Dec

Within a few days, I felted a few more characters. IKEA’s Christmas gnomes inspired me, so I decided to make a couple of my own instead of buying.

After all, a gnome character is right up my alley, with all the gnomes that I have carved. I think my attempts are pretty good!

IKEA’s gnomes inspired me!

New Growth, Part 2

7 Dec

The mini brinjals seem to have stopped growing! After the initial excitement of seeing two fruits on the two different plants, I don’t see them growing anymore. Their sizes remain the same as before.

I shouldn’t be too impatient just yet. After all, with the plant being a mini species, the fruits may have maxed out in their growth already. Hmm.

Two mini and a mini-er brinjal

But to say they have stopped growing is not correct, for there is a new fruit growing on one of the plants. We need to monitor the ripeness of each fruit before we can harvest it. Hopefully, the wet weather or the critters in the garden won’t spoil it for us. We shall see.

Felting is Fun!

6 Dec

So I have been felting when there is an opportunity to do so. Suddenly crafting miniatures or carving seem tedious and time-consuming. I have to admit, I have been busy and have not had much time for my hobbies. Even with my golf outings, I have reduced my playing time.

After the thrill and satisfaction of completing the Totoro character, I started on another felting piece. This time, it is my interpretation of Mike from the animation movie – Monsters, Inc.

My version of Mike from Monsters Inc.

A little thinner than the actual cartoon character, I think my attempt is not too bad. After all, this is only my third piece, and practice does make perfect. I need to do more and often. And it looks like crafting miniatures and carving will be taking a backseat for now.