Watching The Waterhens

Hello everyone

If you see the thick and dense undergrowth, shrubs and bushes right opposite my house you would wonder why were we so stupid to have bought  this property, our house, which is just next to it. Me too was feeling the same at one time. There was a sense of regret and that we have made a great mistake . The adjacent area which we thought would be developed was not to be.

There are a few kampung houses there. The plot nearest to our home where once stood a house is overtaken by lush wild creepers and plants. The house was "stolen" and what is left behind is just the cement flooring. In fact the house disintegrated little by little, missing doors, missing windows, missing wooden walls and later vanished totally even the beams and poles/pillars.

Behind the said house there is another deserted house. And this house now is nearly covered by the shrubs and undergrowth. And the roof top sometimes becomes a resting place for the monkeys.

To create a buffer I planted crab claws and birds of paradise alongside my fencing facing the area hoping to mask off the not so nice sight. And on the other side of the dead end road bordering the vacant plot I planted hibiscus, bananas, mulberry, sour sop and even a coconut tree.

However now that plot of vacant land is not a bother to me anymore. The undergrowth at the vacant plot has become so thick and dense and so green and has covered the ugly remains of the the construction. It has a jungle look landscape with tall trees in the background. I like the sight and the freshness of the atmosphere especially in the morning after the night rain.

There must be many animal lives hiding underneath . I know. I hear them. Their croaking and cooing in the morning and sometimes at dusk would make me abandoned whatever I was doing, to go and have a look.

And last night it was raining birds and squirrels, snakes and frogs cats and dogs causing the vegetation to look so rich fresh and alive in the morning when the sun came out. Of course there were many kinds of sound as everyone was busy flying and calling out at one another but the most outstanding sound was the croaking and cooing from that rich undergrowth.

Hi there . . .   unexpectedly they were there on a coconut frond and not hiding as usual.  The two were happily preening and drying themselves. Ever so meticulous picking and probing at one another. They moved vigorously shaking their bodies and flapping their wings under the sun to "wipe" away wetness. They took quite a long time to do what they were doing.

Well . . . they don't have towels . . .

They were there preening as I watched them for nearly fifteen minutes before one of them moved away and the other soon followed and disappeared under the bushes.

These water hens, I like their clean look, white face, gleaming eyes, nice cinnamon brown feathers. They are beautiful and they sure take great efforts to maintain their good look.

The water hen 

I hope no one will come to know about their presence there . . .b e c a u s e . . .these birds, their flesh is . . . a great delicacy. . .

Happy birding !

Bye . . .

#Waterhen And Other Water Related Matters

Hi hello

The morning was fresh after last night's rain , the first rain after days and days without rain. It is good to exercise to get the system going.

As I approached the pool I saw someone was already in there swimming at the far end. It was the lady I befriend recently. A newbie. Still struggling but confident. The far end of the pool is 10 feet deep.

Two or three months ago she just started to get interested. She worked hard at it. I think she will master the stroke fast since she is quite serious.

Seeing her I remember my struggle in the beginning. It was so very difficult to turn my head to take the breath when doing the free style.Until one day I suddenly managed to do it once and then it became so easy afterwards. That left me wondering if it was this easy why was it so difficult earlier on.

Proper breathing technique is important if not you won't love swimming.

When  brave enough I swam to the deep end and for the first few times I could sense that the pool attendant was apprehensive. I would smile proudly when I reached the wall while trying not to look so breathless. In fact I was wheezing.....yes wheezing!

And it is not so big a pool...

Regular maintenance important

Now I can swim to and fro without much difficulty.

Once I swam in this big pool

Olympic size?

I felt overwhelmed. Although I swam in the sea before but I felt different here. There were many youngsters swimming on the other lanes. They were all practicing hard. I felt really slow. Slower than the snail. I was the only grandma there...ha ha..

But then who cares...just swim...

Be cool keep swimming...

Swimming together can be fun

It is so much fun swimming in the open sea

People enjoying the sun the sand and the sea in some faraway land

Swimming keep them banded and bonded

A place where learning can be fun

A few friends have expressed their desire to take up swimming but they keep procrastinating. I suggested that they find a coach and not to be skeptical about it.

If my new friend and I, old as we are, we can do it there is no reason that they can't. Within months they will be able to swim and keeping fit would be more fun.

Take the challenge!

Wait no more .

Postponing and waiting have little advantage.

But in case of birds you got to wait ha ha

As in this case there were bird calls and sound but they were not showing not until when dusk was about to fall

There it came out from the dense undergrowth

Moving forward slowly

Wonder what it was looking for

it could be for water in this dry season

 But it soon turned back and vanished!

Waterhen.....you are captured and to remain in my picture file.....

Birds in the air
Birds on the ground
And birds in the water?
In the woods and in the trees
With their songs and the sounds
The expanse of delights
Bestowed by nature
For mankind to savour


Be fit to be happy.....

Happy reading...