Tag Archives: Raining

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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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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A Slow Gallop?

3 Feb

Suddenly, it is February already! Good gracious me, where did time go? This year, the Lunar New Year falls in February, and we are doing a slow gallop to usher in the Year of the Horse. Or is it a slow gallop? January has flown by.

What started as business as usual, as far as routine is concerned, has been thrown into disarray! The follow-up medical last week had us waiting for almost seven hours. The doctor had 50 patients ahead of us, remember? It was not a good idea to do our blood tests and see the doctor separately. We should plan to do both on just one day. Oh well, now we know, right?

Then the weekend golf was weather-interrupted. The Interclub game, organized by my golf club over the weekend, was a washout because the skies opened up gloriously and dumped a whole lot of rain. This unexpected downpour came after a period of hot and dry weather leading up to the Lunar New Year. And typically, this festive time is hot and dry.

It’s been a while since I last played a round of golf that was incomplete. My flight had six more holes to play, while some other flights had fewer holes left than we did. Nonetheless, everyone ended up drenched from top to toe. My golf shoes were soaked through to the inner sole, and my golf bag and clubs had to air out for over 24 hours when I got home. That’s how bad the situation was.

Well, golf games and activities aside, the focus should now shift to preparing for the Lunar New Year, which is just two weeks away! Gosh. Where do I even begin my preparations?

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Banana-ganza!

2 Dec
Six kilos of banana-ganza

Six weeks ago, we harvested a six-kilo bunch of bananas from the banana tree in our garden. It was an unintentional decision. On that wet and rainy day, a strong wind toppled the adjacent papaya tree, and we were concerned that the banana tree might suffer the same fate. The constant pounding of the rain and the wind had already caused the banana tree to bend precariously, unable to sustain the weight of the fruit and the situation.

So we had no choice but to cut the fruit to save it, despite it not being ripe yet. The other worrying situation was the garden intruders – garden squirrels or worse, the free-roaming civet cat! If we don’t save the fruit for ourselves, these critters would help themselves to a free fruit buffet.

The large bunch yielded five smaller bunches, and it took almost two weeks for them to ripen. We gave some away, ate some, and made banana bread with the remaining bananas. Nice.

The tree is gone now, but fret not, there are several other banana trees in the garden for the next bout of banana-ganza!

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Wet Year-end Challenge, Part 2

25 Nov

It has been raining cats and dogs the past few days. The situation has gotten so bad that several toll gates on the main Plus highway had to be closed yesterday. Several states have experienced flooding, forcing families to leave their homes. A significant annual challenge as we approach the end of the year.

Closer to home, we typically have two issues: a garden filled with backlogged water that cannot drain due to the continuous rain, and an occasional leak in the roof. On the activity front, I have been very fortunate for the last two golf outings.

There were threats of impending downpours only to have the sun peak out, and strong gushes of wind to blow away the voluminous clouds. There was no need to bring out the raincoat, and the leather shoes held up without issues. And the rain came down only after we were all showered and sat down for lunch, for both games! Aren’t we blessed?

As I have said previously, I take each day in stride, and if the weather is unfavorable, it’s best to return to the clubhouse and be safe. If I can complete the round of golf with my friends, we return to the clubhouse to celebrate!

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Wet Year-end Challenge

18 Nov

It’s the rainy season again! What this means is fewer golf games to play because of the threat of lightning and the risk of being soaked if caught in the rain.

Two things irk me if it rains during a round of golf, and it’s not so much the weather stalling the game. It is more about staying comfortable. The number one issue is the golf shoes. No more wearing light summer golf shoes during the rainy season, as rainwater tends to soak through to the inside. The toes get cold and pruned because the socks are wet. Ick. Leather golf shoes fare better, but they will still be uncomfortable.

The second issue is having to wear a raincoat! Wearing a raincoat to stay dry and swinging the clubs is not the best scenario. Sometimes the raincoat can’t even do the job right! Sigh, enough complaints, less said is better. Otherwise, it mars the joy of the game.

Having said all that, so far the few games I’ve played have been completed without any interruption, thank goodness. I guess I have to take things in stride, after all, this wet year-end challenge is an annual affair.

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Hello Osaka! Part 2

21 Oct

Day Six in Osaka continued with some planning. We inadvertently hopped onto an Elegant Saloon 8000 series train, and clearly, the train felt a class above the normal ones we have been taking. There were two levels of sitting, but as our train rides are typically short, and this ride was not any different, we just stood.

The Elegant Saloon 8000 series train

We decided to see the Osaka Castle, and the sky was a tad overcast. As we walked towards the Castle, I felt the slightest raindrops. Uh oh. Luckily, we had our umbrellas! We did our dues, spent some time there to take some pictures, but with the overcast, the colors are not very impressive, although the Castle is.

Osaka Castle

A quick lunch, and we moved to our next point of attraction: Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan! It was the best decision to do this, for us at least. I was in awe of the massive whale shark. The pictures are an injustice to its sheer size and beauty. The other aquatic attractions were equally impressive, for lack of a better word. We spent a fair bit of time at the aquarium, oohing and aahing over the exhibits.

By the time we left the aquarium, we were drained and had KFC for dinner! Hahaha. Too tired to figure out what we should eat. It’s okay, as the flavor was different and just as appetizing. We headed back to the hotel, happy and contented, and looked forward to a good soak in the tub again, and be ready for Day Seven.

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Being Serious About Pickleball

24 Jun

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.

I love my Neonic pickle paddle!

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Monsoon Season! Part 2

17 Dec

The threat of the monsoon rain last week did not materialize drastically to affect the golf games when I hosted a visiting friend. We were most fortunate to take in another two games. In total, we played three and a half rounds, the half being the first game that lasted only nine holes due to the downpour.

While it was fun to be playing so many games in good weather, the game performance went from bad to worse. Hahahaha. Could it be we were talking so much? I do admit the tennis elbow did act up now and then. Sigh. However, it’s not like the course was hard to handle – it’s my home course, and I play there week in, week out, three times a week!

I do notice that when I talk and laugh a lot during a round of golf, I don’t play well – the focus is not there. Oh well, it was more for the company, which was great. And we were fortunate the weather held up for the bonding time.

I’m glad I could host my friend for several games, rain or shine, and she has plenty of good memories to bring back when she leaves Malaysia. I look forward to future golf games with her on her next return trip.

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Monsoon Season!

10 Dec

It has been a wet month as we wrap up the year. We are facing a second phase of the year-end monsoon rain. Last week, the weather had its moment and washed out an afternoon golf game when I hosted a visiting friend for a round. We completed only nine holes, which was a blessing in disguise because my tennis elbow was acting up! Bummer.

Three days after that wet round, we played another afternoon game. Thankfully, Mother Nature was kind to us despite the rain forecast. We completed the game in good weather, with only a slight drizzle that did not disrupt the momentum. And somehow, the tennis elbow pain was manageable. Phew. The weekend games after that were also fortunate, without any threat of rain or pain. 

However, this week may not be as good. The Weather app on the iPhone shows rain forecasted for the whole week. Golf will have to take a backseat if the forecasts are accurate. We will find out.

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