Count Your Blessings

It is never too soon to count your blessings.  

Going out and coming home safely is very often an underrated blessing.  

Just think about it.

Post Travel Ramblings (1)

I have just returned from a holiday in China and I'm glad there's no more luggage to carry, no more having to get up early, no more climbing up and down a coach!  Best of all, no more endless walking!

The strangest part is how your aches and pains disappear when you are travelling but once home, they return with a vengeance!  A theory put forward by a friend has it that we enjoy ourselves so much that we forget or ignore all our troubles.  I am inclined to agree with her.  

Another plus point about travelling - people often say I look so much better after coming back from a holiday!  Rosy cheeks, a relaxed and less stressed face - it's like having a natural - but expensive - facial!   I guess it's the change in environment and company that does the trick.

So now I'm resting my weary legs while sipping a cup of Milo.  My travel agency is already sending me new itineraries.  They seem to think I'm a bionic woman who can just keep going! 

More ramblings later.....

Christmas Thoughts

 

Christmas is round the corner again!

Let's make this Christmas a season of peace and goodwill, of love and kindness, of hope and gratitude.  Let us spread light to everyone, let us bring joy to everyone.  

Oh by the way, do give a kind thought to all the turkeys out there.  God will bless you abundantly if you skip them for your Thanksgiving dinner and eat soy instead!

Merry Christmas!

No Place Like Home

For any holiday, whether it's somewhere near or a far off place, leaving for your destination is probably the most exciting part, and returning home probably the sweetest.  Though tours do give you good  hotels, somehow coming home to your own little bed beats them all.  There is truly no place like home!

Of Memories and Mussels

 

 Today I suddenly thought of my teen years when Pa and Mum took us to the beach over the weekends.  It was an outing we kids looked forward to.  It's been ages since I went to the beach now and I miss wriggling my toes in the sand, chasing the waves, climbing on half submerged rocks, taking little dips in the water and best of all, digging for mussels with Mum.  Sometimes we dug near the water's edge, sometimes in the dry sand.  Mum seemed to know the right spots and by the end of the day, we would have collected at least two pails of mussels for dinner!  Those days were great fun and I shall always have fond memories of them.

When It Rains Late at Night

It's raining heavily as I write this.  Somehow when it rains late at night, I feel strangely secure because I know the bad guys will not be out there breaking into people's houses or robbing someone somewhere.  I've so far never heard of thieves or robbers being caught in their raincoats or carrying umbrellas.  How do you point a knife at someone when you're holding an umbrella in one hand with rain beating down your back?  Trying to make a fast getaway will also not be easy, the car may suddenly stall and for those fleeing on motorbikes and wearing crash helmets (to hide their faces), they may skid and end up in a flooded drain or even get knocked down by a car due to poor vision and pouring rain.

Wet weather is definitely not for the bad guys.  So let's hope it rains more often late at night, then everyone can relax and sleep more soundly!

In Search of Bliss

A very spiritually orientated friend recently told me that happiness does not come from material possessions, things like plenty of money in the bank, designer clothes, expensive cars. Quite honestly I wouldn't mind having all the above but then I am told they are only fleeting pleasures and will not give me permanent bliss.  So what can give me permanent bliss?  My friend promised to elaborate in due course but meantime I can  think of a few things to keep me on Cloud 9 - my daily Milo, a cat with more than 9 lives, a never ending tub of ice cream .... 

I think my friend will be shocked if he sees my list. 

Oh Nevermind!

How often do you hear someone say something to you that's not so nice?  Well, it happened to me recently.  Of course it was a big blow to my ego and for a while, I was quite hurt.  Later when I had got over it, I had to admit there was a glimmer (and only a glimmer!) of truth in what he had said.  

Not everybody is perfect, least of all me.  Sometimes I  have mud thrown in my face but it's okay, I am glad I can still say"Oh, Nevermind!" and carry on with my life!

I Should Have ..

 

How many "I should have's" have you got?  I know I have quite a few from my schoolgirl days up to now and I have learnt that there is no use worrying about them or burying myself in regret.  Turn them into positive "I have's" and see the difference in your life!

Relish

 Relish every moment of  your life.  Whether you're enjoying the breeze in your garden or licking an ice cream or just going for a walk, remember not everyone has the opportunity to do these things, simple as they are.  Appreciate your life and those around you.  That's my motto for a happy and contented life.

Travel Woes

The part I hate most about travelling is unpacking when I return home . I usually start straight away with the washing  of dirty clothes because  I  can't stand to see them lying around, so my poor washing machine has to work hard for the next two or three days.  Why do I carry so much with me in the first place?  Well, there are those clothes for sightseeing, those for evening wear and a few "just in case" clothes (for things like sudden downpours).  Added to this I have my "travelling dispensary" - yes, all kinds of medication - just in case.  Then I have separate pouches for makeup, toiletries and underwear and another for my phone charger and adapter.  And if that's not enough, I carry a small hand luggage for "emergency" items (sweets, biscuits, tissues, umbrella, spare glasses, etc.) while my handbag containing my passport, tickets, money and phone is slung over my shoulder! And many of these items have to be kept and put back in their original place when I get.home! Grrrr...

I  love travelling but unfortunately I just cannot travel light!

A New Year Prayer

Today is the 4th day of the Year of the Snake and now that much of the excitement has died down and we have spent our "ang pow" money, it's time to relax.  I often think how lucky we are that we have so much to enjoy - good food, new clothes, etc. - yet another half of the world is suffering. How tired and emotionally wrecked those victims of war in various parts of the world must be.  For us, this is the time to be grateful for all our blessings, big or small, and let us not forget these poor people in our daily prayers.  May God protect and heal them and grant them peace.

Good Morning

 

Spelling - our Game

I went for a doctor's appointment today and whilst waiting, I couldn't help noticing that everyone waiting for their turn was looking at their phone, well, almost everyone.  It's nothing unusual of course but it brought to mind the times when I brought my mum to the doctor's.  At that time, I didn't have a mobile phone and while waiting, we played a game to kill time.  Mum had always been very proud of her spelling, having attended a Convent school run by foreign nuns, so I would give her words to spell, any word, and she would spell them all without a mistake!  Even difficult words like diarrhea!  It was good exercise for the brain and we were never bored or tired until we saw the doctor!  

Perfect Disguise

 

The perfect disguise for turkeys this Christmas.  I must quickly viral this to all my turkey friends before Thanksgiving!

Yummy!

 

Just perfect for a hot, dry day!

(Nestle's vanilla flavoured Drumstick)

Scissors Galore

Just something I saw on my recent trip to Da Nang.  I had just cleared the Customs and was about to walk away when I saw nearby a huge container of .... guess what .... scissors!  They were all sizes and colours and it suddenly occurred to me that they must have been confiscated from travellers who had smuggled them into their bags despite knowing the restrictions.  I wish I had taken a photo of it.  It will serve as a handy reminder when I next travel!

Happy Tummy

 

Taste of Bites,

Sense of Life

Light in flavour and pairs delightfully with hot beverage.  

Perfect snack for a happy tummy all day long.

Saw this on the wrapper of a brand of digestive biscuits.  Thought it was quite catchy.

Itchy Palms

Did you know that if one (or both) of your palms suddenly becomes itchy, it means money is coming your way?  That was what Mum told us when we were kids.  My palm suddenly itched a couple of days ago, so I'm waiting for a windfall any time now....

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