Over The Rainbow

The ending year is marked by dark clouds and much rain and much woorries too. The pandemic does not seem to go away yet. So what do you do? 

Me? Stay home. Play some music. I like this old song so tried to play it.

Hope you too like this old song. ( use earphone sounds better )

Stay safe.

I Love Listening To Old Song

 Hi

The rainy season has started. It rains almost every day now, especially in the afternoon. 

Water, water everywhere. The week before when we wanted rain the rain never came. You know why? There was a water supply disruption here for 4 days (!) straight. That's why we waited for the rain then. Now the rain sometimes comes as if it is running out from a pressure washer.

No outdoor activity in the afternoon. Just last week we wasted time to linger outside the tennis court first because the sun was too hot for us to start playing. Now we cannot play at all.

Also too hot for us to take a dip at the sea last week. When the sun was a little soft we thought the rising water was rough and we lingered on the sand until the water ebbed and got bitten by the sand flies.

As the saying goes make hay while the sunshine or is there any other saying more applicable? Of course, missing a game or missing the fun of swimming is not a big matter.

As people say make the best of what you have. Since I have much free time, good to browse past pictures while listening to the old song . . .

Till next entry

My Beautiful Cattleya

 Hi

I have a small collection of cattleya orchids in my home garden. Planted them many years ago. Some have overgrown the pots. And so when that happens I would break the original pots and separate the plants and repot them. And after a long span of time, I forget which plant would have what color bloom . . . if ever they will bloom. 

Actually, some of the original plants never even bear flowers. If ever they do the blooms are usually purple and I can't really be proud of them because they are usually small unhealthy unimpressive though the plant itself is healthy with strong roots and thick green leaves. 

That's my fault I think because I don't pay much heed to the importance of proper care which these plants demand.

Would I not be delighted by the beauty of this! 

 

As I am not very good at gardening I don't expect my plant to have a flower as big as this. 

 

 It has a nice fragrance too

 Yaa . . . only one perfect flower in that big pot.

The other one is spastic with the lip missing.  This flower opened first and I thought the flower would be only of one color.

 

 

At bud stage both looked the same, about the same size. 

 

Hope other cattleyas in my collection would feel jealous and start producing beautiful flowers :))

 

Happy gardening.

 

FATE

Floating on the surface

swaying with the waves

pulled by the flow

whichever way the wind blows

Pushed to the shore 

stuck in the sand

hails to endure

so is the scorching sun

 there shall remain

under the pelting rain

as the water swell will float again 

Rot and broken

not of any good

left and forgotten

Just a driftwood

A Rare Sight

Hi

Indeed it is a rare sight at least to me   

So excited felt like striking a lottery last Friday.

For a few days, I heard some strange sound but nothing was in sight. What animal was that.

On Thursday night the sound was louder of course I couldn't see anything but I recorded the sound.

Early next morning ie Friday I while I as was tending to my plants there was this sound again.

The mystery solved! 

Here . . . 

Good morning

Let's share breakfast

Two more birds on the adjacent tree

( Sorry my hands not steady)

Amazing they are here in the vicinity. The Hornbills !

Hope you like the pictures.

bye

Slow Walk In The Park

Hi 

It was many years ago that I first visited the botany garden in Putrajaya. I have forgotten what I saw there and what I gained by visiting the place but I remember it was very green.

For a long time I have wanted to go there again but never made it though it is just a short drive from our 'second' home. In a year I might be there a few times but only stay home and don't go out much. 

With the MCO and travel restriction recently I was stuck at home here but that was the time I felt I really wanted to go jalan jalan. Such is human nature in me that when there is time, time is not managed well. 

Last August I was there again at the second home, then came all the girls to join me as they didn't have a plan for the short school holiday. There are many places of interest in Putrajaya where the girls can go for an excursion. Might as well come here no need to spend much on trips elsewhere. Anyway quite risky for them to go traveling at a time of Covid 19.  

We decided to visit the botany garden though I think the girls are not really interested in trees and plants. Maybe just go for a picnic or do activities like a bicycle ride or just walking around to enjoy the place.

The place was quiet, not many visitors seen and all activities like tram ride were not available. This pandemic time, caution takes over. People prefer to stay away from others. In fact, some people came earlier and were going off when we arrived. They came for a power walk maybe.

As we strolled following the track the sun was already high but the atmosphere made cool by the vegetation which was quite dense. Of course, it should be if not it won't be called a botany garden. But in my heart, I would say it's not enough, it should be more jungle-like and more green and shady.

There is a beautiful lake. Calm blue water. There are some trees in the lake but I could not see any water birds, maybe they were hiding, but found a tortoise swimming.

We stopped at the lakeside, nice cool breeze blowing as we enjoyed the nasi lemak brought from home. Didn't feel like getting up to complete the track after that . . .  ahh we continued . . . at a much slower pace.

In water, the tortoise is not so slow

Till next entry. 

Stay safe.

Practice

 Hi 

The COVID is coming back with a vengeance. The number of infections is on the increase to a worrying high. 

Everyone felt relief after the last MCO since that time the number was decreasing to single-digit. Our jubilant is shortlived. 

So now it's better to back to stay home though we are not forced to. 

I think I have to avoid going out too often, got to sacrifice my outdoor hobby. 

I would use the extra time at home to practice my other hobby.

Stay safe.

The Feel Is Festive

Hi

I like the locality where I stay. It is easy to move around and everything is within reach in no time at all, unlike in the big city where I've stayed before moving around was a hassle if you drive. Even if you take the public transport it was always a rush.

Here, though you have less choice, only  the bus, the taxi or the taxi sapu but the lone bus service is quite regular plying the routes. Anyway I like to drive myself because due to thin traffic going place to place to do things is a breeze.

In those days when I was still working I could come home to have lunch and then go back to work for the afternoon session on time. After office I got home in time to watch my favorite TV programme, the interesting South American drama series which I never wanted to miss.

Then after that, a five-minute drive to the tennis court. Life was so uncomplicated in small town. How I loved it then. It was like living in a village. In fact my big town friends used to call me orang kampung.

Lately this place is not as quiet as when I first moved here. Now moving around can be a hassle especially on weekend. Some of my tennis friends avoid playing on Saturdays. Why because driving to the club has become a nightmare as their threshold for traffic snarls is understandably low. 

The big jam has moved on to our roads!

Since the Covid thing brings with it many restrictions to travel to many holiday destinations people find it less of a hassle to come here, a place reasonably just as nice. What more with the fire-sale hotel rates being offered.

Yes the roads, the beaches, the eateries have surely become crowded . . . but somehow I like it. The feel is festive.

Cheers

Colours In My Garden

 

I've Been Busy

Hi

Works on house repairs, home improvement, or upgrading say, the bath is something you hate but paradoxically what you want it done. 

You hate to have to live with the debris and the dust in the air but you can't wait to see the transformation, the gleaming new tiles, and the sparkling white of the new fixures. Though you were quite comfortable with the old, you would usually think that the new is always better. It surely put a dent in your budget but you would somehow justify it.

Of course, some work really needs to be done. It really is a relief when torrential rain comes and the roof is not leaking anymore. That leaking roof was what triggers the whole thing. I find that usually, construction contractors won't layan for minor works it is not worth their time. We consumers sometimes have no choice. 

At first, I was quite hesitant about doing the changes but then I think home improvement should be done from time to time. That life should be as comfortable as can be afforded.

There was quite a lot of work that involves the hacking of the floor and tearing down of the old wall tiles and dismantling of the existing fixtures. Then the floor, wall, and ceiling were rebuilt, so were the plumbing and the electrical wiring, and the fixtures replaced. The work seems easy enough but definitely is physically tough.

They were busy working on the project. I was busy too, everyday cleaning and mopping. 

The whole work took nearly three weeks and that explains the quietness here. Also, Adli and entourage came back to celebrate the Hari Raya Aidiladha here and much of my time was devoted to the family.

This is the second time after the MCO we manage to be together. This time the Hari Raya Haji was celebrated with much more fervor than the last Hari Raya Puasa when we as a family couldn't be together because of travel restriction during the time.

Anyway, still cautious of the COVID, we just enjoy ourselves at home and avoid going out. Not even going for a beach walk. Adli has not been taken out to the beach yet. Heard that the beach was full of people. Physical distancing would be hard to observe. Maybe we take him there when it is safe to do so later.

He was happy enough to play in the garden. My garden is quite messy but there is still space for them to play and the place is cool even in the afternoon as there are big trees to give shelter. Adli loves to walk on the grass and curiosity makes him want to grasp the leaves and pull the plants. Adelia too loves to spend time here and so are we the adults.

Cempaka tree is flowering and fruiting. 

A belated Selamat Aidiladha from me.

Cheers.

We Are Free

Hi

Since the MCO has been lifted we are free to move. We are not to forget the relevant SOP. It is safer, however, to be away from the crowd . . .

Cheers

Blogging On A Cold Morning

Hi

It is nearly nine o'clock but it is still dark. The rain raging from last night till now. Feel a bit groggy coz couldn't sleep well, woken by the strong wind, and worry that the tree branches might break and fall on my fragile garden plants. 

I worry more about my plants than the leak in the roof? 

Yeah, there is a leak which I counter by just putting a basin and a big towel to catch the water. So long the leak is not over my bed and I don't get wet its ok. If it is too bad a leak I transfer to another room and make myself comfortable again.

I wonder in heavy rain like this where do the birds take shelter. I know they enjoy light rain but in heavy rain like this? I think, like us humans, they also know what to do to escape adverse conditions, weather, or whatever. When the rain stops and the sun shines you'll see them again.

This, below taken from an old post

Here is my favorite place

In the morning where I perch

Between flights in my search

For food to survive

Here I use to rest

When I can shake off the dust

Pick away the pests

From my feathers to look my best

,

Sometimes together with a friend

We are here you can find

Every day at most time

Come rain or shine.

That.s my blogging on a cold morning


Cheers.