Can't Bend Like The Birds

Hello

When I entered the pool this morning I was determined to have a proper workout because the zip on my sarung is difficult to close now. The scale does not show any marked increase may be the fat has crept on but the weight not yet detected .

The appetite is so difficult to curb. Everything tasted is delicious. And fried foods always taste good and lately I have more of them than usual, those the finger licking good type.

At this age the metabolism rate is low and burning of energy is kind of slow. Ok I understand as we grow older getting out of shape is a norm and shouldn't be a thing to worry about . After all we are not going to parade for a fashion show.

No its not that.

Once you are passive and negative the condition can get worse . From just being fat we can become obese. By that time we are too weak to exercise. Every retiree like me should try to avoid that situation.

It is not so much the aesthetic but its health reason.

Everybody knows what  obesity can lead to.

What I worry is if I am so very fat and heavy I will give problems not only to myself but also to the people around me.

• they have to give me more space anywhere everywhere
• they have to slow their pace while waiting for me
• they will get wet when sharing umbrella with me
• they have to adjust the drivers seat after I borrowed their car because I may have sunk the seat

and so on and so forth.

Wait for me. . .

And  more important points . . .

Who is going to lift me up should I fall

Can anyone move me from the bed to the bath room should I fall ill or turning me or rotate me to sponge me  . . . what a scary thought.

When ill I might need to be diagnosed and the x-rays too will find it hard to penetrate me ha ha

So lets exercise while we still can.

This morning here's what I did

• stretching in the water 
• abduction and adduction of limbs while floating on the back and breathing deeply but slowly
• then jump and walk a bit 
• push from the wall swim the breast stroke with slow exaggerate movement of hands and legs
• freestyle slow with exaggerated stroke
• then swim proper for may be 20 to 30 mins of alternating the breast stroke, free style and back stroke paying attention to proper breathing and stroke rhythm 
• taper off with back stroke slow and easy
• do a few times - hold the breath diving under water as far as can go and surface to take a deep breath 

The aquatic exercise is enjoyable and refreshing. Imagine yourself as a young girl gracefully doing the rhythmic swimming  ha ha.

If our slow swimming cannot so much burn the calories it is good enough at toning the muscles. It can make our stiff body a little flexible.

So with the regular exercise let us hope we don't turn obese and our body a little supple so we can at least bend to cut our own toe nails easily.

Even if your body is supple don't dream to bend like them  . . .

Beware don't end up with a broken back . . .

Be active and stay healthy

Bye. . .

Fishing Or Birding. . . Or?

Hi everyone

Doing any positive recreational  activities to fill our time is always good.

For us the seniors extra hard and vigorous workout of course is not advisable, our hearts cannot cope and our bone might break..ha ah.

Golf is good if you are rich enough to pay the fees. It is more interesting to walk, walk and and take a swing at the ball rather than just monotonously walk and walk and walk and do nothing.

We also cannot involve ourselves in games that we used to play in schools, those ball games like net ball basketball softball and all.  Past our time.

Badminton is ok only if you can get access to the facilities. But believe me usually in  public halls they are full of youngsters you need to have your own boomers group. You need to join a family club which has badminton courts.

Tennis is a game which you can play into the senior years. If you have actively played it before and has stopped for sometime you can make a come back. Get a friend or better still a coach to bring back shine to your game. I think you are always welcomed because  lady players are becoming extinct at least here. .  . To play tennis you have got to start when you were younger. I started taking it more seriously at early thirties with some friends. We stick together and carry on until now.

Whatever we plan to do we need other people's support to achieve it.

To do it alone is impossible. Badminton and tennis you need a sparring partner. Oh you can opt to exercise in the gym. But not so much fun. May be you don't like the noise . . .and hmm the smell.

If all seem to be so difficult then gardening is the answer. Even a very small plot like our terrace house compound will make us sweat. Do it in the morning or in the evening if you are scared of the sun. You may find yourself so absorbed and dragged on for hours. In that case protect exposure to the ultra violet by using stylish gardening hats.

Good coverage ensure protection to your skin....wear anyway you like...

Lighter and more comfortable

and very cheap at RM 4.90

Don't forget the gloves and the shoes. Oh everybody knows that you say. I know everybody knows. Its fun to repeat. . .  like our grandma did.

How about fishing. Women like fishing too. We can do it. But here people will comment if they see you alone like this

J

The strong sun the salt and the sea may damage and worsen your matured complexion...

we still care. . .yes we do

And so it is better to leave fishing to the men. Persuade your spouse. Let him get hooked on fishing. . . for fish!

Good for him to lull away his time. Besides he may bring back some of his catch. Usually they will let go the fish back into the water but not when the fish is big.

On second thought would you bother to mess with a fish as big as this?

Neighbour caught a big fish...

In my community some superstitious anglers stopped their activity when their wife conceived the belief is that the child will be born with a cleft palate. Imagine that.

I prefer birding to fishing. As a very casual birder ( hah can I call myself a birder?) I have only the camera and perhaps binoculars around my neck. Compared to fishing, beside the fishing rod line hook and sinker you have to think about the baits which include worms and leeches... yuck.

Birding for me is a relaxed activity. So far I have "captured" only a few birds which I rarely see around my area. I hope they show up again because the photos I have of them are not of good quality.

"...why do birds

suddenly appear..."

Hope to see you again

They came together to bask

Do come again...

And this. . . which has a noticeable crest on the head, how I wish it stayed longer. . .

Well sorry for my ramblings . . .

Bye for now. . .

Little #Heron Basking

Hi

It was two years ago a few days before Hari Raya.

All were busy cooking and baking and spring - cleaning . The rituals before ushering the big day.

Actually celebration is not really a big deal to me. After having been living for decades it has become ordinary.

Of course as the heart of the family it is mandatory for me to see that things are done and prepared lest the cheer of the day will be mired.

But please do excuse me if in the midst of doing things I have to take leave …

I would not miss that. The spring-cleaning and all that can wait.

The unexpected guest. . . how can I miss this..

Perched posteriorly on the dead tree...something rare to be seen around here ..... a pleasant surprise.
 
This dead wood was a Nangka tree. It was healthy with lush green leaves and bearing many fruits before.Unfortunately the fruits were mostly bad and those that ripen did not taste good. Only the young fruits were useful for cooking masak lemak a favorite dish to accompany white rice.

The tree was in the no man’s land (just outside my fence). How the leaves became suddenly yellow and started dropping I cannot explain. Or was it termite.

And so what was left were the dead trunk and branches . Now in the year 2016 the tree has become history. Thick shrubs and undergrowth take its place.

Nothing interesting is it about this tree. But to me it has some significance. And may be to the birds too.

It became a favourite port of call I should say for the birds. Many birds on their daily commute stopped to perch on this tree. And it sort of spurred my liking for them.

The grooming starts

So flexible

All fluffed up

And now so relaxed

View from right side

Ready to go...

Bye......

A Bird In The Focus is Worth More Than The Many Outside.

Hello again

I always wonder when would a person stop imagining. I use the word imagining because I feel a little shy to use the words day dream. Yeah being old and still day dreaming? Why not.

The longer a person lives the more are the unattainable and insatiable needs wants and desires. So he or she will day dream. Right? Of what you can’t be or do or have you just dream.

Imagine you can fly like a bird. The best you can do is to swim a butterfly stroke like the world champs do when they are competing .. that is if you can. Just watch the them racing. That's for children.

For us the the older ones there's more meaning to flying (of course not sitting on a plane ha ha) Watch the eagles fly and you will know what I mean.

The flying bird is the epitome of freedom and liberty. That’s how I see it.

Back to reality.

I find it very difficult and near impossible to take a picture of a flying bird. I marvel at the ability of those photographers who can produce perfect picture of a bird  just as  it is taking off. 

People like me will just hope for a moment of chance.  Should I buy a real  good camera with the the long lenses…too expensive… not for the not so serious me.  I don't really know how to fiddle with the camera the shutter speed and whatnot.

Here comes….

                                                                                                                    

Lo and behold !

This beauty strayed gracefully into my focus!!

Just for a moment and then it was gone..

I was so happy when I got this. Do share my happiness.

Bye ..will be back soon.