BRAVING THE ELEMENTS - "Lying Down in Green Pasture"

Where Would You Want to Live?

A Healthier Lifestyle philosophy believes that the human body was designed to be healthy, and that LIFE LIVED IN PEACE AND HARMONY WITH NATURE GRANTS HEALTH AS OUR NATURAL STATE.

When I was young I used to wake up to the chirping birds and sweet scent of blooming jasmines and feel the morning sun filling up the room in our semi-detached house.  With city developments, more highways and byways, more high-rise apartments and the hustle and bustle of city life, it's so refreshing to be back with nature as resonated in Peter Cincotti's Song "The Country Life":-

Excerpt from "The Country Life" lyrics

Time can fly and days go by
It speed we can't controll
It's been 30 years of city life
And now we're growing old

There's nothing more we needed for
And there's nothing left to do
So let's spend the autumn years ahead of us
Like the summers of our youth

Never knew how much we had back then
But it's not too late to have it all again

I wanna wake up to the music of hummingbirds and harmony
I wana feel the morning sunlight filling up the room
I wanna listen to the silence that's singing through the scenery
I wanna smell the roses of our love the day they bloomed

Let's go back and find
The simple world we knew
Coz i still wanna live again the country life with you
Country life with you

Taxi cabs and traffic jams
And subways on the ground
Don't you miss the days when all we hear
The nature's quiet sounds

MEET TEAM B - The Golden (***Green Acres) Team

***Green Acres is an  1965-1972 American sitcom starring Eddie Ablert, a New York attorney and his wife Eva Gabor who  try to live as genteel farmers in the bizarre community of Hooterville.  I could empathise with the couple as I worked on this grassland under adverse condition - the weather and the cattle...

Senior citizens need not be a burden that a grudging society has to bear. On the contrary, by channelising their maturity, experience and time towards vital social issues, elders can lighten many burdens carried by the society

To some people, walking in the rain is romantic. To others, it's invigorating.

Ode To Those Golden Years

Work

is not
what I do,
that was before,
always driven by another’s demands

Now do what I please and mostly it’s play,
taking my ease
enjoying
this day’s
“work.”

Elizabeth Crawford  

THE SUN SHINES BRIGHTER AFTER the RAIN

After the rainstorm, the sun seems to shine brighter than ever before. Visually, there's a clarity and purity in nature, as if beholding a canvas drawing coming to life. From such a scene a biblical text comes to mind: "For His anger endureth but a moment; in His favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." (Psalm 30: 5).

I believe the weeping during the night spoken of by the psalmist, are the spiritual droughts we all face in our lifetime, times when we go through stormy periods; the death of a loved one, a broken marriage, depleted finances, illness, or loneliness. When there is no relief during these times, sometimes months or even years, we long for that time of refreshing for our souls to be watered by showers of blessings from above written about in the hymn by Major Daniel Whittle. When the showers come and our soul drought is ended, impurities and superfluous elements in our character are swept away, leaving behind a more strong and resilient person. The drought has served its purpose; through adversity strength has come by tenaciously holding on, and our characters made pure. And the sun does shine brighter.

LEARNING JOURNEY - Lessons from the Cows

The situation is complicated immeasurably by the fact that cows are inquisitive animals and will often approach any visitor to their field. This happened to me 2 years earlier when I was snapping photographs of the stately mansion at Dyrham Park of "The Remains of the Day".  When I raised my eyes from my camera a minute later, I froze with terror – a crowd of curious cows had built up behind me. I cried out to my friend,  6 feet away from me. He began clapping his hands, shouting loudly and stomping his feet. Eventually, they retreated.  It was not until I was at Dinefwr that I learnt that cows are extremely curious and inquisitive animals which will investigate everything and would moo when frustrated. 

Thus, I would like to share 10 lessons I learn from the cows:-

 1. Wake up in a happy moo-d instead of moo-ing over unhappy things of yesterday;
 2. Don't cry over spilled milk;
 3. When chewing your cud, remember:There's no fat, no calories, no cholesterol, and no taste!

 4. The grass is green on the other side of the fence.
 5. Turn the udder cheek and moo-ve on instead of moo-ving over it.

 6. Seize every opportunity and milk it for all its worth!
 7. It's better to be seen and not herd.  
8. Honor thy fodder and thy mother and all you udder relatives.

 9. Always let them know who's the bossy.
10. Don't forget to cow-nt your BLESSINGS EVERY DAY!

Have a mooo-velous day!

Up Next...... "EAT, PLEASURE. LEARN"

WORK-LIFE BALANCE, lessons learnt while building a Bird-Hide with Ms Yn wir

 "In order to see birds it is necessary to become a part of silence." 
                                                                               Roberty Lynd

A bird hide is not a house for birds to hide.  It is a shelter, that is used to observe wildlife, especially birds, at close quarters.  A typical bird hide resembles a garden shed, with small openings, shutters, or windows built into at least one side to enable observation.

     

Come, journey with me to Dinefwr Estate, Llandeilo and see how we built the first  bird-hide, almost the primitive ways, learnt some skills and get inspirations along the journey.......

DINEFWR means "stronghold with fortifed hill". The 800 acres (about 800  football fields 50ydx100yd each) estate covers a 12th-century Welsh castle, a historic mansion, the Newton House  and the 18th-century landscape park, enclosing a medieval deer park with more than one hundred fallow deer and a small herd of the rare White Park Cattle.  

Relax to Country Morning

The early bird catches the worm, have the kitchen to myself and breakfast with a view.  All these in the former farmhouse of the historic Newton House. It has been here since the 15th century but in 1775 it was remodelled by Capability Brown in the fashion of the time.  Coincidentally, Jane Austen was born in 1775.  I could visualize how Jane Austen would enjoy doing the chores, would spend her days in such a picturesque, tranquil surroundings reading and writing, would do those long walks in the fields and woods amongst nature.

WALK-4-LIFE  - Our daily 1 mile walk to our worksite.  No traffic jams; no jostling on public transports.  Sniff the fresh air with occasional whiff of dried woods, sounds of flowing stream; chirping birds, woodpeckers pecking and the sights of farrow deers, horses, white park cattles and surprisingly, some art pieces along the way........

There is no greater activity than walking even better when you can be talking to a friend old or new at the same time appreciating the view.  It is so beneficial to your heath and you can see the wealth of the beautiful countryside before your eyes which you can only just realize.  You can appreciate every plant and tree but most importantly it is free and as we look around and stare, also breathing in the fresh air.  We can all appreciate this wonderful treat and thank God for our legs and feet.  

I feel honoured to be able to talk of the wonders that you see on a walk, reminiscing the poem by their very own poet W H Davies (1871 – 1940)  who found fame as a working-class poet in Edwardian time.

The poem "Leisure" had a "universal appeal" which had ensured its enduring popularity for a hundred years. The message is that leisure is a basic human need - freedom to relax, to do one's own thing.  This is what we all aspire to live free from care, free from the pressures of modern living.


LEISURE

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
 No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

                       W H Davies
                             from Songs of Joy and Others (1911)

"Every noble work is at first impossible." - Thomas Carlyle

The Big Move - Teamwork at it's Best with (Wo)Man Power

Teams are formed when individuals with a common taste, preference, liking, and attitude come and work together for a common goal. Teams play a very important role in organizations as well as our personal lives.

Every worker is dependent on his fellow worker to work together and contribute efficiently to the organization. No worker can work alone; he has to take the help of his co-worker to accomplish the tasks efficiently. It has been observed that the outcome comes out to be far better when workers work in a team rather than individually as every individual can contribute in his best possible way. In organizations, individuals having a similar interest and specializations come together on a common platform and form a team.

“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success" -Henry Ford  

  

It’s in the building that the job comes alive -
The hammering of nails, the grasping of wood rough-handed,
The wind and chill atop a roof, snow blowing free across the fields
In a striding mass that whirls and encompasses,
Striking through the skin to exhilarate the heart,
Each man to himself,
Wrapped in elemental Nature
Together against the world.

It’s in the building that the job comes alive -
How on a sunny day cement tangs air,
Water puddles the ground,
A bee blows past -
And in that moment
The contrast with the earth and heavy labour is so sweet, so sour,
That life is held at the point of a pendulum unresolved,
About to fall.

By Richard Macwilliam


Dedicated to: Women all over the World

"The Power of a Woman"

The empowerment of a woman begins within herself,
if that woman loves herself, she has that authority to love
anyone she chooses.

The power of a woman becomes even stronger when she
finds herself and knows who she is, and doesn't let others tell
her otherwise.

The power of a woman can make her strong enough to stand on her
own two feet; and finally that woman is independent.

 She will not be afraid to ask for help or help herself.

The power of a woman is stronger then a grip of a lions teeth when his
prey is in his mouth.

The power of a woman is a power that no man could live without,
because without women there can be no man.

The power of a woman is endless;
so stand tall, and represent for all women in the world.

 by Tiffany Mitchell

Work-Life Balance

"You are far more likely to succeed if you are having fun, so play just as hard as you work, if not harder! Find time to laugh, whether it is catching up with friends, chatting to new people or sharing a joke on Twitter. Then when opportunity knocks, open the door and make every second count." 

                          - Sir Richard Branson

Prepare For Awesomeness. Pandamonium Begins -  "Get ready to feel the THUNDA!" - Po, the Kungfu Panda

Y SAWL NA WEITHIED NA FWYTAED.

(Without due effort one is not entitled to the fruits of the work.)

"Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it's a day you've had everything to do and you've done it.”  ― Margaret Thatcher

CENHADAETH CYFLAWNI - Mission Accomplished in 4.5 days!

7 Years On....  "Be Thankful of What You Have, Not What You Don't Have"

"A tractor trailer tour will take you down to the Bird Hide where you can learn how to spot and identify birds "

I can now empathize with our fore-fathers and appreciate the hard works and their labor of love in building our nation, Singapore from a fishing village to a modern city of today.

SAVOR WELSH RABBIT WITH MS YNWIR

CROESO! Welcome to my blog  

I am not Welsh, neither am I a rabbit.  Then, what is this story about?

It's about my learning journey, beginning with a bird-hide in Dinefwr, South Wales, United Kingdom.  Yes, it's a real life-size bird-hide by the river of the Dinefwr Estate.

I adopted an abandoned Russ Radcliffe near Dylan Thomas' boathouse.  She is so adorable and I immediately fell in love with her and name her Yn wir , Welsh for "indeed, it's true" after my Chinese name  “真真” lor!

Thereafter, we indulged in our first Welsh Rabbit.  Huh!  both of you ate rabbit?  

No lah!   Welsh Rabbit, or Welsh Rarebit is a dish made with a savory sauce of melted cheese and various other ingredients and served hot, after being poured over slices (or other pieces) of toasted bread,  or the hot cheese sauce may be served in a bowl accompanied by sliced, toasted bread. The names of the dish originate from 18th-century Great Britain. Welsh rarebit is typically made with Cheddar cheese,  in contrast to the Continental European fondue which classically depends on Swiss cheeses.

Mwynhewch eich bwyd aka Bon Appetit!

Do you like to learn how to build a bird-hide the primitive ways?  Watch out for my next posting on my "Learning Journey through my solo travels".

HWYL FAWR!