Happy New Year! (and Happy Three Kings too)

As far as years go, 2017 wasn't so bad for me. It was nowhere near perfect, but it afforded me work to get by - and I can't complain in that regard. Now that 2017's finally done, I look forward to an equally fulfilling - if not an even more prosperous 2018.

Hope springs eternal, really... but I really need to work on making sure my capabilities are known by more people (and companies), thus expanding my business network.

In that regard, I am finally glad that my working relationship with the Mentor Group shows promise  - although this officially began October last year, it is only now that my efforts will see things come to fruition.

I can also say that this year will see the efforts of both Barbie and my labors come to fruition. Bryce is as good a graduate - just waiting for his Graduation ceremony to happen. In fact, he's already working! Yet Bryce!

Bernice is also at the cusp of graduating - thesis done and defended. She's about to have her apprenticeship, and after that - graduation as well by June. As early as now, I can breathe a big sigh of relief.

Our next collective efforts will be to ensure the two have a great start with their career. I just hope that some time can be had by them for us to finally take our next family vacation. But I don't think that will happen this year - more so since the two will probably not have enough vacation time yet in their budding careers.

Anyway... as the pictures connote, we had a very private, and simple (comparatively speaking) New Year's celebration. Just us four - with some food on the table. The fruits represent having a fruitful year, and I can even go into details with all the other dishes - bottom line just being that we're all wishing 2018 become kind to us, and benefit us with great experiences, and new positive challenges.

Honestly? we did not touch most of the food - as we were already full with a heavy dinner. But we did open (and finish) the two bubblies - Asti Martini... one which can be seen prominently in the foreground, and the other equally visible - if not so obvious, in the picture's background.

Yes, we also have (and still do actually) a few bottles of Butter Beer. And as you can see, I even tried making a Harry Potter theme in the last picture I posted.

The wands are life-sized replicas of those used by certain characters in the movie. The scarf is Bryce's - he apparently bought it some time ago, and the Butter Beer? I bought a dozen - and lucky for me that I did. It was apparently very popular that many people who tried ordering it - or going to the weekend markets where they're normally sold, realized they - the butter beer, were all sold out.

Good foresight  on my end, right? And because I got a lot, I was able to let Bing Bing taste it - after all, she is a big Potter fan - definitely bigger than me.

So yeah, she got to taste it, and I'm kinda happy she did. Come to think of it, maybe after I finish this entry, I'll pop open a bottle and enjoy one myself.

Anyway... here's to hope. Here's to health. Here's to a better - more prosperous year - and well... I'm sure we'll repeat the table spread in February for the Chinese New Year.

Before that, I've got a post New Year's party to go to tomorrow, and a small get together right here with a good friend. Barbie and I will host E.J. (a.k.a Jingo) on Friday, and we'll toast absent friends. Most likely, Bryce and Bernice will join us for a bit - after all, they're old enough to drink. I'm glad though that they don't show an appetite for drinking a lot. After all, I don't want them to turn this into a vice.

So I end this the way I began it. A Happy New Year to all. May Peace on Earth reign. Barring that , may it at least be present in our surroundings.

Update (of sorts), I just realized a while ago that tomorrow is Three Kings, so I might as well throw in the greeting. Happy Three Kings!