It's the holiday seasons

As the days moved closer to another year ends, it's hard to believed that another year has come and is almost gone. People around the work force are busy with travel plans as most took the opportunity to clear their remaining leaves from work. There is no official long break here except the weekend of Christmas and New Year. We do not have snow but rain; the sun will continue to shine as it always have.  Since my firm work on projects, we simply moved forward and the transition of a new year is  just flipping to a new calendar month like the years before,  if it weren't for the constance wishes of  "Happy New Year" from every staff and business associates that walks through the door, I can assured you that the day is just like any other day.

The next few weeks will be hectic and will become more and more chaotic at work as the Chinese New Year festivity in February draws closer .

Let's see how I wrap up the last few weeks of the year this December
Week ONE  - I volunteered at a Charity Event with the Penan Women Project at their KL Xmas Sales at Verdant Hill Hotel. ( I blog about the Penans here a while back )

 It was a great experience to be involved in the behind scene of the sales and great to work with the ladies whom I met for the first time. I do foresee myself doing the same again if time permits with their next charity sales

My choice for lunch was this Sarawak's (Borneo) Kolo Mee (Noodles)

from the hotel, the best Kolo Mee I have ever tasted,  served with a dessert, Sweet Bao (Dumpling)

Diane started her two months internship with Pantai Specialist Hospital's  Pathology Lab this December. That means ferrying her to work in the morning and fetching her home in the evening. We are not allowing her to drive until her ACL injury is totally healed. It's been just over two months after her surgery.

Week TWO - I went on a day trip to Ipoh with 5 other girls from college visiting some famous landmarks in the City, actually it was more of a food expedition and a get together. Ipoh is a city in our Silver State. It was known historically for tin-mining (hence the name Silver State) activities until the price of the metal dropped severely affecting the state's economy. The city of Ipoh, like Penang and Malacca are known for its British colonial landmarks. Below is the baroque style railway station of Ipoh

(Image : tripadvisor)

Perak Tong (Perak Cave) is a temple and one of the oldest limestone hill

Famous for it's mural paintings. The walls of the cave  are decorated with colourful murals depicting characters and events from Chinese mythology and Buddhist scriptures

The memory of a 120 years old Lane known as Concubine Lane. How did the name derived ?Pretty sure you can guess, well it was believe to have  established in 1908 . A residential of the rich Chinese magnate and British officers were believe to have kept their concubines and mistresses in the colonial structures townhouse here . During it's hay days, the area is considered "redlight", and thus the area is associated with gamblings, opium den and prostitutions backed then. The lane was given a make over not too long ago after most of the shops and it's street was left deserted. The shop lots are now preserved and restored and today's it's the most vibrant tourist street in Ipoh City 

Our Wefie here 

A zippered pouch - I needed a money bag for our trip treasurer, something I thought at the eleventh hour before our departure . I had to rummage my stash and sew a simple zippered pouch with a bright and cheerful fabric to match the only white zipper  I had in my stash that fit the pouch size, which means I need to stock up on some color zippers soon.

Week THREE -  Working hard on my Birthday exchange gift for my partner from the WSG group.

I have picked a handful of colors to work on, the design I am working on is giving me a feeling of uncertainty in every way.  Undeniably, I don't have much time left if the exchange meet is to be in January.

I have sit on it for like a year, well actually some six months since I have only then decided what my finished item would be. The gift exchange will be reveal in January when the group meet at a date still pending for a discussion. 

Winter Solstice, it's the time of the year again to celebrate Dong Zhi festival, eating tang yuan which are glutinous rice balls in a sweet syrup. Chinese fesitval dishes usually have auspicious and meaningful names and the tang yuan is no different. Tang Yuan sounds like "tuan yuan" which in Mandarin means reunion of the family. This festival denotes that the year is coming to an end and is the last festivity in the Chinese Calendar for the year .

Week FOUR - Christmas week - No Christmas stitching this year. Two cards is the only craft that I managed at the very last minute and hoping that it get delivered in time before Chirstmas to both recipients 

Two very simple cards

Tree is my theme for this year

Here's wishing everyone

MERRY CHRISTMAS

wherever you are and hope it's a fantastic one

for you and your family

Big THANK YOU to all of you who came by without fail and for your kind words
Your words are my inspiration to keep on blogging
I hope you enjoyed my ramblings of  life and times
from a continent in Asia
Here's wishing everyone
HAPPY NEW YEAR
2018
May yours be a fantastic start into a NEW year !