Archive | Nature & Health RSS feed for this section

Another Garden Visitor

24 May

Our home seems to be a sanctuary not just for us but other creatures as well. Last week, there was the squirrel. A while back, we had a bird making a nest between the branches of the potted plant placed at the car porch. 

We even have bees building a bee hive, more birds, a visiting owl, uninvited snakes, cats and of course, rats. Last night we made another discovery but it was too late to verify. 

This morning, we looked again. It’s another bird! This time, it’s high up on the tree on the front lawn of the house. A rather unusual engineering feat, the nest seems to be hanging precariously off the branch.

We used the binoculars to have a better view and to our delight, saw a black bird with orange feet fidgeting in there.

Let’s hope all’s well with Mama Bird and her babies.

Look closely to spot the hanging nest!

Tags: , ,

Wonky Weather

19 May

It was a dark and stormy night literally. On Tuesday night, the rain came down when I did the evening tuition run and it got heavier towards midnight.

By two in the morning, the skies were rumbling angrily and woke me up. Mother Nature was giving a pretty impressive lightning show and at times, it was scary yet breathtaking. Been awhile since I witnessed Mother Nature doing this.

Wet days are ahead, I sighed. We had initially thought we would go walk nine-holes of golf the next morning just to rid ourselves of the work kinks but we didn’t. The fairways would be soggy and play would not be a stress reliever. I foresee less golf days ahead.

And last night, the weather was good. Wonky weather I say.

Tags: ,

Playing in Wonky Weather

12 May

When I was in school dinosaur years ago, the choices we had for games were rather limited in an all-girls’ school. Besides track and field, which I was hopeless at, there was netball, table tennis, basketball and softball. 

And somehow in those days, rain or shine, we enjoyed our games. I don’t recall ever complaining about playing in unfavorable conditions nor do I remember falling sick. Weather back then was more mild compared to the weather now. My friends and I had even walked home on several occasions after school in the rain, something we don’t allow our children to do today. Ahh… those were the days.

A couple of years back, during a sports activity at school, M1 lamented that the sports teacher made them play netball in the rain after school, just like my good old days. But these girls besides fearing all sorts of disaster, groaned and worried about getting soaked and being tired out from playing three continuous matches. It didn’t help the team spirit that M1 told them that they would all die from the rain. Rain? Really… you mean lightning, falling structures or trees?

While I rolled my eyes when I heard my brilliant child commented on dying from rain, inwardly, I was glad no major mishap occurred from that outing save for a few bruises and scratches.

Nonetheless, we must be mindful of the lightning charge in the air before being too gung-ho about it. Maybe on that netball game day, it was just rain, no charge in the air so it was deemed safe to continue.

While playing in the rain is not something we would do or encourage due to the lightning charge factor especially, the weather these days compared to the good old days have changed for the worse. And I find that one falls sick easily if exposed to too much sun or soaked by a little rain. Global warming?

It has been reported our hot oven days will soon be over but not for the better unfortunately. The conditions are predicted to be replaced by rain and flash floods followed by haze soon after. One woe to another and then another! My goodness. For now, almost every afternoon without fail, it has been raining and this will worsen. 

Sigh… looks like no afternoon netball or golf until this spell clears. But when it does, the haze will swoop in. Yay. Great.

Tags: , , ,

The Haze is Back. Ugh

22 Apr

Need I say more? Ugh. As if our lives are not suffering enough with the horrendous heat, we now have the haze to contend with.

Ugh.

And to top it off, we have to prepare for water rationing in 42 days as warned by the state government yesterday.

Ugh.

Tags: ,

A Giant Furnace 

5 Apr

It has been unbearably hot for us for the past few days. The atmosphere is like a giant furnace, but with extremely high humidity on top of the desert-like temperature. And this discomfort is without the haze. Imagine with the haze added, double whammy! Then again, I read somewhere the haze will be making its way to us soon. Sigh… and super sigh.

Although I did not check the temperature, it feels like it’s at least 36 degrees Celcius or more. Even when we are indoors, it’s uncomfortable.

And to think that M1 complained to me last week that with Spring here, it has been so hot for her at 20 degrees Celcius. Hah! Call that hot? Wait till you come back for your holidays!

Tags: ,

A Reprieve

22 Mar

Of late the weather has been like being in a furnace! So darn hot. Over the weekend whilst hubby was away in Johor to play golf, M2 and I stayed home and literally chilled with the air cons at full blast.

She was seated at the dining table, studying and I was on the sofa in the living room, crushing candies and saving farm animals as usual. The air con was totally appreciated and especially so when we could feel the difference in the temperature the minute we walked into the kitchen to get a cold drink.

Today, on the way to work, it rained. A reprieve from the heat but it caused an unnecessary traffic crawl and we were late to the office. But I am not complaining. The rain is welcomed.

Hoping for better and cooler days ahead.

Tags: , , ,

It’s the Weather

10 Mar

These past few days I feel so lethargic, I think it’s because of the hot weather. My brain feels so fried, I can’t even think; my body feels so lazy, I just want to lay down on the cool marble floor and just be a sloth.

I don’t want to move, I don’t even relish playing my virtual games. But amazingly, I still play golf in the afternoon. Unfathomable.

It’s been very hot and humid and apparently, it will stay like this until June. My goodness. On a brighter (and silly) note, this heat sure feels like it is melting away the body fat. Heheh…

Tags: ,

Who’s Lying?

25 Jan

Some hotels like to put a weighing scale in their room bathrooms. Whatever the intention is, for better or for worst, I don’t appreciate it. I could don’t stand on it but sometimes resistance is futile. Or curiosity kills the cat.

When we were in Singapore last December, Ibis Bencoolen being a small city hotel, did not have a bathroom scale. So it was pretty much a guilt-free vacation. But when we were in Lone Pine Penang, there was an electronic scale.

And the freaking machine stated that I was 2kilos more than my usual trusted scale at home! Who’s lying?

Am I really that heavy? Is my trusty home scale whom sometimes I battle with, not telling me the truth? Hmm…

M2 was philosophical. She said resort scales don’t want guests to overeat, hence the extra numbers. Gee thanks, either I was over-eating in Penang or I am really two over.

Tags: , , , ,

It’s Gone, I Think

22 Jan

From the beginning of the Christmas week until today, it’s been a good five weeks that I’m having the laryngitis. But I can feel it dissipating this week. Thank goodness.

The earlier weeks of suffering, I had actually gone to see the doctor twice, took two bouts of medication and even did the inhaler. After that, it was plenty of rest, fluids, being mindful of the food choices and no talking. 

However, after all those precaution, I felt there was no improvement and I did not want to subject myself to too much antibiotics, I turned to taking Chinese medication and it helped. Now some people may tsk-tsk at alternative medication methods but I will take whatever works.

The further improvement I noticed was after I had whiskey! Maybe the alcohol killed all the germs? Whatever it is, I can safely say I am much, much better now, in time to usher in the coming Chinese New Year loudly! YAY.

Tags: , , ,

A New Technique

15 Jan

As work in the office has been quite slow, I decided on a new technique to recover from my laryngitis. I stayed home the last two days and not talk to anyone. And this did wonders for my voice box, I can feel the difference.

Even if I had to talk, it was minimal – a couple of phone calls, short instructions to the maid and some catch up conversation with M2 when she returned from school. My voice box is recovering well and I do sound louder and better if I had to talk. (Sigh of relief!)

But it’s not easy to stay home and nothing adoing. Thank goodness for my virtual games, otherwise I would have been bored to death, two days at home being a couch potato. I shouldn’t complain, this new technique works!

Tags:

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →