Quiet Day Musings

Hi

I am having a quiet weekend.

Although now is the school holiday the four girls and their little brother Adli, my grands are not coming over but that is ok with me since I have spent time with them at their home during the first few days. I understand as the family matures they would have their own plans and programs for the children during long school holidays.

The week before the two older girls went for their separate young leadership course. I suppose it causes quite a bit of damage to the family budget as both courses took place outside the country. I have no qualms about it as it didn't affect me. Up to their parents. whatever is good for the girls' future then it should be worth their sacrifice.

In the past, they usually reserved more than a few days to be here with me. You can see my house would be like a tongkang pecah then. Hubby would vroom here and vroom there at the behest of the pampered girls. I would also be super busy in the house, hard work you know,  and also forgone all my hobby activities when they were here but that's alright as being embraced in family joy is an experience that is immeasurable.  

For me, being alone is no reason to whine and fret over. The internet, my small garden, my tennis friends, my camera and the swimmings and the walkings would fill up my time and keep me occupied. 

Quiet days and being alone sometimes pose only one problem, I tend to binge on food but of course, now I am quite strong-willed and have control over what goes into my gut. Well, I don't have money to have bariatric surgery if my body bloat to morbid obesity. Keep that in my mind.

So quiet days cannot be that miserable, but this particular weekend it is! 

Saturday and today, Sunday I am nursing my knee with ice packs. Three-four times a day is my treatment regime. The pain seems slow to subside. The doctor whom I went to see on Saturday morning assured me nothing to worry about, my knee can last me for many years more to come. Hey, how about this pain! Pain killer and rest!

The pain recurred after the Friday game. You see the club tennis committee was organizing our last monthly tennis tournament for the year. I was so gung ho to participate. I went for practice and became overzealous and played hard ignoring pain that started to creep up. Obviously, the old injury has not fully recovered. So on Saturday, I was miserably stuck at home while my friends were enjoying the year-end tennis "extravaganza" : ( 

I stopped playing the last few months so it is understandable why I am so impatient. Furthur I have stopped going for long walks let alone joining the fun runs popularly organized nowadays. Swimming saves me from being totally inactive. Yes I know I am old and not be thinking about all these straining physical activities, but then some friends are older and they can chase the tennis ball like nobody's business.

I guess I need to rest from physical activity patiently and undergo another course of physiotherapy asap. 

I long to be back here  . . .

Participated in 2018 year-end game

Ok friends, I would stop here. Will be back again for next entry.

Take care.

When The Sun Is Out . . .

Hi

It has been raining nearly every day in the past weeks. There were short spells of sunny weather but last night it rained again, hard and heavy complete with quite strong wind. And light rain continues in the morning.

Of course, it makes me restless. Can't go out for a morning walk.

So here I sit looking back at past days in between bad weather when the sun was out. Everyone wouldn't want to miss it. 

  

Cheers . . .

You Smile

Hi 

The day is not smiling. The sky is darkening. Anytime now the rain will pour.

Which means there would be no outdoor activity for me.

Have promised to make up a foursome for this.

But the rain foils our plan.

Nevermind.

Its a blessing in disguise. By right I need to rest. My dental doctor advised me to limit strenuous activity temporarily while my gum is healing.

I'm in the process of replacing the biggest molar with an implant. That process is not completed yet. The bone has been built up and already healed. The titanium piece is already drilled in. The doctor said to let this second part of the process to completely heal before screwing the other attachment and the crown.

I need to be patient when chewing food. Slow gentle like a real lady. No hard food like the jambu batu. Meanwhile, a friend suggested I take a blender along when going for makan 😁😁😁

Let's while away the time and read some quotes by some famous people but the pictures are mine.


" Every tooth in a man's head is more valuable than a diamond."

                                                                       - Miguel de Cervantes


"I was never afraid of anything in the world except the dentist"

                                                                             - Taylor Caldwell

                                                "Behind every smile there's teeth"

                                                                                     -Confucious        



                                

                                                  "Smile while you still have teeth"

Ok friends that's my short post for today.

" Keep calm and smile big."

Rainy Ramadan Morning

Ramadan Kareem and greetings to dear readers

Now we are already in the middle of Ramadan. I hail Ramadan. It is special. I am thankful for the good health which enables me to fulfil my spiritual duty without any problem so far.

The only problem since the beginning of time is only waking up from a deep sleep for the sahur. :))

Sleepy dove

It was exactly a year ago that I was confronted with a worrying health issue. It jolted me from self-denial because I thought to be physically active all this while means everything was alright with my health.

And the tests confirmed a condition which supposedly required a lifetime of medication. And worse my system couldn't accept the conventional medication.

I went for the alternative treatment though it was quite costly whereas the conventional treatment would cost me very little. Paying is painful and that made me follow the advice and instructions strictly and took the supplements accordingly.

Diet and exercise and reducing body fat have to go alongside with the taking of the supplements in order to make the treatment effective. But dieting is so very difficult to adhere to. It takes great efforts to overcome food temptations, thus I hail the coming of Ramadan which can reinforce my willpower.

I still continue doing exercise when fasting. Of course, tennis, treadmilling in the gym and jogging are out. That will cause body dehydrating. I do not want to cause a commotion collapsing on the tennis court ok, but still, I don't want to be cut away from the joy of tennis, doesn't matter if it is only from the courtside.

Then what do I do to keep active and not allow the body to idle?

Swimming. Gardening. Yes. But today, Ramadan morning was raining hard :(

White lily bowed to the heavy rain

You see it is so difficult to regain the healthy condition. It takes a lot of determination to continue doing exercise and dieting and swallowing those supplements. It is so frustrating and disheartening to see the blood test result is the same as the previous one and that the needle of the scale-weight sometimes never budges. At times I feel like giving up.

But with patience and true grit, after one year, I won. My condition reverse for the better. I feel light. My health indicators are better and that includes the BMI because I have lost more than 10 kg. Yay!


Cheers.

Of Old Trees And Dead Wood

Hello everyone

Please no I am not talking bad about people, I mean if you look at the title you might think I am on to belittle some people. But it is real that some people are being called dead wood for a reason.

I remember in my old working days very senior non performing unproductive staffs were quietly called dead wood by unhappy and annoyed co workers.

Those sly few were highly paid but they seemed not to contribute proportionately. They were only counting their days to retirement. At critical time they were not of much help. They remained cool and aloof even if the sky were to fall. They just stood there like a dead wood and looked on with no heart to help . They cunningly escaped doing difficult task by pushing it to more junior staffs. They were burdensome to colleagues and management.

Hope I was not included in that category hehe.

As I said those kind were few. In fact some  senior staffs were like old/matured trees giving shade to whoever happened to be under them. Some were so good and guiding that they seemed like having mentor mentee relationship, this helped a lot when the newly appointed was not quite independent yet. Managing and working together with such colleagues you don't feel so much the heat of the high - pressure working condition.

Anyway those were the days. Its just that sometimes when you are alone you tend to have flashbacks. Or sometimes when you see certain objects like dead wood it spurs you to think about its other meaning. Wandering mind can make you look at things far and beyond.

Are dead wood useful?

In the old days dead wood were used as firewood, as if you don't know.

Dead wood if they are not rotten can be crafted into artwork or mementos. On my many walks along the beach I find many dead wood drifted to the shore. They are of different forms and shapes and I think  it can be turned into interesting craft pieces. Alas I am not good at craft work. Otherwise I could set up a stall selling souvenir to you.

Some trees although already dead still stand tall. Birds like such bare trees especially in the morning after the night rain when they want exposure to the sun. This is good for you the bird watcher . No foliage to block your view.

Birds like bare dead tree

Old trees soon becomes dead wood.

Skin Bark - rough n wrinkled

Trees, they can live for so many years. Those who planted them have long gone. It is common to hear people say you plant the tree but other people will eat the fruits.

Amazed by their gigantic size, the strong roots,the massive trunks and the huge canopy we want to let the trees be there to cool us to protect us from the heat and not forgetting the oxygen they supply. And you wonder why would anyone want to fell it, the big tree.

Old big tree gives shade

Some trees look ok from the outside but see the stump below. Dangerous if not cut down in time.

The tree that gave shade to our tennis court was felled recently

The rot inside

This tree which was chopped down was our favorite. Because it was there we could start our game early. It protected us from the strong evening sun. It reduced the glare so that we could play in comfort. We love the trees around the tennis courts. We did not realize the danger posed by that big old tree. Are they going to replant?

No worries there are so many other trees around. We still have shade such as from another big tree like this where birds like to perch.

Shadow play . . .

Old trees and dead wood, meant literally, are there in nature for a purpose.


Till next entry, bye . . .

Hitting It Harder

Hi

My left hand tossed it high, my right hand swinging to strike it down hard. I have learnt to do it right. And sometimes I would produce an ace 😤 much to the chagrin of my opponent whom I know most time would underrate my ability 😏.

Ouch . . . why this time I missed the ball. The racket weighted my right hand until it hurts.

Awakened suddenly, my right arm was hurting.

It was all about yesterday's tennis. The excitement got carried into my sleep.

Hey don't pass me as a standard six student writing an imaginary composition titled I dream of tennis.

This  I am telling is true. My arm really hurt. I know the reason. I slept like a log, being so tired. I am more comfortable sleeping on the right than lying on the left. My arm could have been compressed throughout the night. Lying on the left would not take me to a good sleep. Feel heavy. Could it be because of my big heart. My chest x-ray was reported as, likely cardiomegaly.

Ah lets talk about a more exciting matter than on what that can make you worry.

Yeah about yesterday's game that found its way into my sleep hehe.

The game can find its way into my dream? I am not a child, say whatever, but yes yes. Too interesting or too frustrating to forget, sometimes.

I love tennis . So are my gang here. Nobody should speak down to us insinuating that tennis is not for the old and the haggard (😒😠). Respect yea, we are seniors (read old).

Tennis is in our blood. One of my tennis friends even said he is okey if he is fated to die at the tennis court. We have been playing for so many years already and will continue to play while we still can.

Back to yesterday's game.

Earlier in the day it was raining hard. The club informed that the court was not playable when queried. Some of us the real hard core kaki tennis just went without thinking about the court being wet.

Since we, me and three other friends were already there we insisted on playing . The grounds man gave in but told us to only use old balls. Alright . . .Gleefully we went in.

Yes the court surface was still wet but the water had seep down. There was nowhere water ponding seen. The court has good drainage. The surface is of artificial turf and it has been properly built and maintained and was sanded just recently. There was no fear of it to be slippery. The condition was playable except that the ball would get wet hence we were not given new balls.

We were okey with the old balls. Used tennis balls, that is.

In the beginning it was alright we started hitting, smooth and effortless. As the game progressed the ball soaked up the water and became heavier. The ball bounce was kind of slow. You need to move faster to get to the ball and make adjustment in your stroke.

Sometimes the adjustment made was not good enough. You see we are just ordinary players . . .

It was hard to play when the ball became heavier. So try to compensate by hitting harder. If from the base line, you need to put more force on your grounds stroke. If too much you would send the ball out. Tennis is a game of skill not only about physical strength.

The lob ball would not go high and spinning. Opponent would be able to smash the ball back into your court. Nothing you can do in return but to just look in dismay.

Even the volley wouldn't be effective as the oncoming ball may also be slow and lame. If  you are real good at the net then only you can volley the ball beautifully back into the opponents's court.

And those who like to surprise and trick the opponent with a cunning slice would not be able to do so with finesse on a wet ball. Most time the ball will get caught in the net. ( By the way, I call this a coward shot).

With all the problems yesterday's game was tiring yet exciting. The friend who chose to nap would surely feel regret when she got my message. Purposely made her feel sore hehe.



Everyone worked hard at the game, cooperating well with their doubles partners, all so focused in trying to execute good shots and less of errors. At times there were bursts of laughter. At times, disputed line calls.

Me, I just enjoy the game. I love playing at the base line hitting cross court or down the line or strike a short and sharp shot to the sideline. Feel the satisfaction of getting the killing shot landed right on the line yeahh! A winner, undisputed.

Sending shots far to the back of the opponent requires good technique and strength and if the ball is wet you got to really whack. And to the one who underrate me I whack harder still huh!

Perhaps, yesterday, it was too much of whacking but less of skill and strategy, hence my aching arm . . .

I think I need to be away from the tennis court for a while to give my arm a rest.

I would go look for my avian friend instead . . .

The silhouette. Can you spot the kingfisher?

Whoever plays tennis will surely agree  that it is a good sport. For ordinary people like me it is not so much about competing though no doubt you want to win when you play. I have been playing since young but I never get bored with this sport.

It is just that playing tennis makes me happy.

"Keep calm and play tennis"

Bye . . .

Where Is The Full Stop

Hello

Sometimes while preparing to go for tennis one thought that crosses my mind is how much longer can I go on playing. Ya lorr me not getting any younger...

One day my knee will sure give way. My feet start to ache after a lengthy game. Play more than two sets I feel like crumbling. Of course I am talking about only playing in the doubles game. The singles game is totally off my radar.

But the thought of slowing down and giving up vanished as soon as I reach the club and would feel so welcomed when I happen to be the fourth person, no waiting no delay right into the court we would go warm up and start the game.

Some of us like to skip warming up. Though just recreational players we still got to have enough warming up to get the feel and to prevent injury, and its understood old engine need to go on idle longer....ha ha

For the love of tennis those nagging bodily pain won't stop us from playing. We are lucky that we play on carpet surface which is quite compatible to human body, it sorts of having softer impact. The shoes can last longer too....

We play on carpet..

Shoes last longer....

In terms of skill well we are quite ok ...some can execute shots like the professionals do..really no joke...

Because they picked up the game a long time ago and have been playing for so many years some  have developed their own style of killer shots not described in any of the tennis books! Hmmm no laughing matter ....

It really is not all about playing to win though winning is important to our self esteem , its also about friendship. The sportsmanship we cultivate over the years has made us more caring and tolerant and that sealed our friendship.

Some people say playing tennis is for the cultured and the refined and that playing tennis is elegant.
Yea...?? Of course Maria Sharapova is . But we the ordinaries also find joy in this game.

As long as the body is able no matter what with the flaws the spots and the moles I will keep on playing. Maybe when life goes on to the next stage then of course I have to surrender.

What is the next stage..? Quote from Shakespeare's  As You Like It....

"........last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything."

Ha ha so before that  no stopping any time soon...

 Meantime watch the birds...perched on the same nangka tree...

A common sight

Tame and friendly(?)

Touch and go type

Perch longer to display elegance

Young(?) and look innocent

Height is scary..

Always looking up ...

Safe in nature's hold...

Hope to be back soon with another entry ...

Bye...

Birding And Tennis I Like Both

Hi everyone

Yesterday.. again happily went  for tennis

It was a hot day. All the courts were exposed except one which was a little shaded by the trees.

Players would be clamoring for that court.

We were there first so our foursome had the advantage.

It is the case of the early bird catches the worm.

A little bit about me and my tennis kakis..nearly are all retirees …well…we are old!!

We have been playing tennis for decades and are still enjoying the game just the way we did when we were young. We can still be emotional. We still can get pissed off at wrong line calls which make us slap back the ball to the opponent with vengeance on the next return. 

Some tease a volley right to the body..

Some are very clever to execute nasty slices making the opponent scramble for the ball even though they know the opponent is having a bad knee.

Some are good at sending high spinning lob to the back making short player like me hitting the air and getting a sore muscle in the arm.

Camouflage your craftiness by raising your hands and say sorry. Huhh…

After all winning is the name of the game.

Any bad feelings will be erased with handshakes and high fives when the game ended. Sometime we don't even to that...ha ha

Whatever it is I really enjoy tennis the one game sport that I think is the best compared to others that I have ever been involved in.

Tennis is the game where you need concentration. In big games like the grand slams we can see that the players are very easily annoyed at any distraction. They react even to a spectator’s whistle. Of course I watch all this on the television. I cannot afford to travel to watch them first-hand live.

For us the club players we don’t care so much about outside distraction. Our own laughs, giggles and screams during exciting moments can even drown the sound of the aeroplane flying above

The sound is deafening

But I am more interested if I see this hovering above.

There making a show

The eagle they must be back.

Today after my morning swim in the pool I went out to the beach.

I waited for some time. I saw crows running  flying from tree to tree hurdled together in groups.
Sure enough they are giving signal that a predator is lurking nearby.

I could see there was an #eagle hovering and gliding . It came but too far for my camera. I could not get any picture.

Waited for it to come nearer but it later disappeared.

Anyway here are some old pictures of  #eagles the Brahminy Kite as pointed out by Tabib in my previous post Watching The Birds.

On the look out

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Seeing something?

Go !

The eagle has come back

Will be back with more bird stories...

bye..