Is blogging still a thing?
There's facebook, instagram, tweeter now. 
Who'd want to read a long ass random writings when you can just read 2-3 sentences worth of non-ideas.

It is 2020.
Covid19 happened.
My dad's stroke happened.
I am suddenly in the now of, "now what?"

Angst

It is nearing the end of 2019.

Gosh.

I took up calligraphy. Brush lettering. Attended 2 short courses for this.

I took up sports massage level 1 and 2.

I learned how to crochet the Kadazan Siling. Attended a course of this with a few relatives.

Lost weight. People thought I got sick. I sort of.

I took part in Samoc. Heart wasn't in it. But somehow I got through it.

Going to take part in Amac. I pray I will be fine.

Ok. Back to basic. This here is my new toy. A 1kg discus. I think I could do with a new purpose in my sports life. So let's see what I can do with this.

Half Marathon the IV

How faithful I was once to the habit of jotting down my life experiences.  Facebook usurped that. 

Well, hello again blog.

I did my fourth half marathon last Sunday. 

I don't even dare use the word 'run' because I did not run continuously. I jogged and walked and jogged and walked. 

But completed the 21km distance I did. 

3 hours and 21minutes. 

I left my very comfortable bed to start the half marathon at 5am.

To see if I could.

And I did.

Not a fast pace at all.

But I did it.

gamble

Waddaya know.. it's 2015.

Lotsa things happened in 2014.. experiences gained from those planned and sought out. Missed out a few due to time and financial and personal issues.

Taun kambing. Be good.

Paragliding @Lohan, Ranau

We-fie with all who came for the thrill.  We were on one of the many take-off zones
designated by the Ranau Paragliders.  Behind us lay Ranau Sports Complex and the expanse of
Ranau high country. 

The four siblings.  Janice, Vanessa, Joanne and Brendan

Cikgu Jestinie was one of the pilot that day.  We found out that there were supposed to be more
Ranau Paragliders but only 3 were on duty.  The others were at Novotel, attending a luncheon
hosted by a client.

Janice, who said she was scared of heights, poses with a smile.  She was the jolliest of all, laughing
and giggling during take-off, on-air, and on landing. We could all hear her (except during landing, of course)

aah... the kakak and the adik.  Glad she could join that day.  Fun kan?

Cikgu Jestinie's wife helping sis with the helmet.

Yes I was excited.

So thrilled was I that I was also giggling and laughing.

Boy am I glad I have my own action camera. (taken with GoPro Hero 3 Black Edition).

TryAthlete

Performance Sportz organised this Community Triathlon Training last weekend. I managed to not allow my head to talk myself out of it and followed my heart to register for it. RM20 only what. I'd be getting a free Isaac water bottle, water supply, bananas and PSZ's service management of the whole thing. I asked Mary, the sweet lady in charge at the counter, whether I could use a mountainbike. She made a quick call to Douglas, who said as far as this training was concerned, I could even bring a Bmx. Cool.

Come 14th at 3pm I was parked behind the Likas Aquatic Complex. Unloaded my car of my XDS mtb, hitched my bag over my shoulder, put my cycling helmet on my head, and pushed my bicycle over to the entrance. Lo and behold, a few high end bicycles were already parked against one of the walls. I noticed some bicycles had running shoes already prepped neatly under the bicycles. Some had shoes attached to the cycling pedals.. wuuu.. those must belong to a real triathlete. Nice.

But I was nervous. Nervous and excited all at once. I was finally doing it! Yala.. it wasn't a real triathlon course. But hey.. I was doing it!

Perfect pancakes at 10pm.
Diet disaster.
But what a recipe success!
3 pieces of fluffy mini pancakes with a hot cuppa Vico.

It has been that long huh?
First race in January didn't turn out well.
been lagging in the fitness aspect of my likes in life.
sucks big time.

First race of the year. Dup dap dup dap..scared? Anxious? Excited?
Was I thinking when I decided to sign up for the duathlon? Apparently not. I am not doing both discipline though. Just the cycling part. I think I am almost embarrassed just mentioning it. Why? Because I haven't been faithfully training for it. Other competitors are. But no backing now. Wouldn't want to let down my runner-partner. So race I shall endeavor.

Tis the season to be thoughtful

2014. After 14 years of teaching English, I was reassigned to do Health and Physical Education. And so, my England will soon be going down the ditch.

Oh. My change of diet had resulted in a much diminished cholesterol reading. So happy was I that I rewarded myself with some sinfully cholesterolly delicious foods. Dang. My spots were clearing up and skin was getting much healthier too. Nemain. Tis January, will slowly return to the healthy foodstyle again.

But. I am tired. Soul is ailing.

2013 is nearing it's exit. Most would regard this last day of the Gregorian calendar to ruminate (oh sounds so dairy-like), to reflect, to examine, to consider the happenings of the year and perhaps reaffirm a vow to achieve what was not achieved.

Sure, it's easier to come up with new to-do lists at the start of each year, so as to give the self a chance to actually do something, and be able to put a mark at any successful endeavor.  No need laa... everyday's a new day. Taking life one day at a time.

It has been a year of acquisition for me I think, which, the biggest of all, was acquiring a brand new 4x4 ride. An Isuzu Dmax four wheel drive. I like the feel of almost invincibility it gives when I'm behind the wheel. No more pressing down on the brakes and easing on the speed when I'm going over a bump or potholes on the road. Not so much anyway, I ran over most slight bumps and potholes with my sedan. No more feeling vulnerable when it's raining cats and dogs outside with the wind bending down weeds. Driving has taken a new chapter!

Still fluttering, still unsure.. what is this life all about?

Read somewhere that life isn't about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself. So, I guess, being creative in living should be tops in my list of purpose in life.

Glad I didn't buy a DSLR camera.  I don't think I'd know how to frame any subjects. Thus begins my adventure with GoPro.

 I am quite delighted with this shot of Amber.  The frozen water droplets are wow amazing.  A single snap with the HD GoPro made this.  Of course the hand blurring the lower left portion of the picture is a bummer but the water effect? I like.

Aah... so called selfie pic. underwater snap.  not photogenic at-tall. 

Another selfie.  (who created this term selfie anyway?) An experiment in picture editing.  Simply picasa.

Oh. This one skodeng from EDY's instagram pic.  Yea.. Merdeka Parade in Likas.  I decided to try my newly acquired chest-strap for my GoPro.  On restrospect, putting GoPro on my chest wasn't a good idea.  Putting GoPro(henceforth to be named GP) on my chest didn't give a satisfactory angle.  Watching myself maneuver the bicycle handlebar was quite distracting. Next time I should try putting GP on top my helmet.
Oh.  This Lintas hormat for bicycle was under the Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu's Bicycle Club.

Cheat Day

Went to PJ initially to get some tofus. Tofus only.  My mistake was going there with a grumbling stomach.  The smell of roasted meats and fish was still strong in the air.  Iftar was less than an hours time then.  Had I been fasting i might not have been tempted so much by the smell.  But i wasn't.  So, four blocks of tofu were soon in company of a slab of roasted ikan pari, a container of white rice, a tiny portion of rebung masak lemak, and a side order of kerabu brinjal. Cheat day my toochus.
   But never de mind, I didn't wallop abis the rice, finished the pari panggang and rebung though.  Tomorrow back to my oatmeal breakfast, some mihun soup for lunch, and broiled greens salad for dinner.  Lost about ..hmm... let's see.. 4kg since I began my much diminished calorie and hopefully cholesterol intake of diet, 6 weeks ago.  6 more weeks to go before I do another blood test.  I haven't touched a single udang and ketam since then.  My intake of red meat has also been greatly lessened.  Not much oil and goreng-goreng stuff either.
   Let's see if I can manage to lower my cholesterol level.

Photo courtesy of Mr. Freddie A.J.

It was an interesting experience being co-emcee for a singing competition.  The committee had tried to a few famous local celebs to do the hosting but because of financial  constraints, the plan was scrapped.  So, I guess I should feel honored being chosen to be a host.
   I had no idea what to wear but I immediately knew I wanted to wear a hairpiece.  I went window shopping for something to wear and formulated ideas in my head as I passed by mannequins after mannequins on display. And I also decided I wasn't going to feel unnecessary stress going on stage. I decided I was going to enjoy being the center, well..almost center, of attention.

So, on the second half of the competition (which was divided into solo and duet), I donned a pink wig.  My get up was kind of drab so I thought a little color would liven up the atmosphere.
It did. And I enjoyed my 1 night of fame.  And the subsequent few days (can't be patting myself on the back too much, I'd wrench my arms out of their socket if I did) of compliments and admiration for my spunk.  Oh well.

A brief snap of the great SM Mall in Clark.  After getting off from the airport cab, we got on to  the Suzuki Highlander belonging to Regore's Travel. Off to busy Manila! 

Couldn't resist. A Roxy boutique, all on her own.  Bought a few shirts of course. Didn't have enough moolah and time to drop by Quiksilver + Roxy store, which was only a few doors down.

Tidak sah go to Manila if I didn't try the balut. Ate two.  Taste-wise, it was not bad
if you can disregard the look of it.

My Christmas give-away to cousins .  Girl cousins only.  I quite forgot about the males when
I went shopping mad in Manila.  

Birthday and new year gift for myself.

Right. Forgot to realign the position this pic.  Birthday present from good friend Mona and Cody. 

2012 passed by so fast, blinking seemed like a walk in the park.

Going to be a hectic 2013.  Just hope I can keep my head above water.

The Bicycle Story

At Spring Trading, Kg. Air was where I bought my second set of wheels.  Not another car, but a bicycle.  Who'd've thunk?

Now I'm not the best of cyclist..yet (yet.. mayhaps I'd grow to be a more competent cyclist).  I am not too confident of my motor balance.  I don't have any problem getting on one and pedalling off.. however, i have this fear that  I would embarrass myself in falling off a bike while applying the brakes to slow down or to stop.  Not enough hours put in the cycling process maybe..no practice..therefore no perfecto..

So far I have joined my friend Freddie on two road cycling outings. I decided to venture out on my own and cycled in the vicinity of my neighborhood.

With XDS aluminium frame, Fork : Rock shox, Cassete : Shimano Deure, 10-speed. I'll try not to let this baby sit like a furniture in my house.

Funny how sometimes opportunity pops into your door.  Danum Valley is one of THE place that I fancied visiting.  It is in my list of must-go.  I was offered a place in a limited Environmental Education Course participation from the 11th-14th this month.   Actually I was called in to replace a friend who couldn't attend.  

My luck.  

The planned activities were interesting, on paper.  However, due to unforeseen circumstances, most of the activities were not carried out.  There was early morning bird-watching session.  And oh.. the 3.2km hike to Tembaling Waterfalls.  

With Japora inside the hostel

At Tembaling Falls

(picture courtesy of Mona and her amazing Canon camera)

***************

The Annual Staff Dinner was held in Grand Borneo 1B on the 2nd November.  I did my best scouting for a red dress to wear during the dinner since the theme for this year is Glamorous in Red.  Hah.. mine is color closer to orange.  This was the only 'safe' design I could find that fit my size.. (cuz dang.. I put on some unwanted pounds)

I had decided to go to Ramlah's for the make-up and hair.  Just felt like looking different that night.  And I did look different.  With the fake eyelashes and the curled hair, I felt like a retro HongKong artist. :)

There was lucky draw that night (which I think shouldn't be dubbed so, as all who attended went home with a gift).  The only lucky element in the lucky draw was the kind of gift that you won.  Some went home with tupperware containers, some with stainless steel cooking pans, hampers (foodstuff) and the most expensive was a night's stay at Berjaya Palace.  I went home with a hamper.

Oh well...

Moshi moshi

I was really holding on tightly to my purse just now..lest I make purchases of wants rather than needs.. I went into the Nike store and my resolve was almost immediately thrown out the tiny window of wants by this pair of b-e-a-yutiful fuchsia running sneakers. 

"You just bought Ms. Boombastic Blue last month!" I scolded myself, or so I thought..because it sounded more of a consoling tone rather than a reprimand.  Smiling at Ms Fun Fuchsia, I left her at her pedestal and went round the store, browsing at other probable items. My purse safely untouched, my feet automatically brought me to Roxy Quiksilver next door. 

"Hallo miss. This one here buy two free 1.  This one buy 2 1 hundred." said the passable good looking lad with the slightly crooked front teeth as he quickly spread his left and right hands by way of pointing over the shirts.  He was quite stingy with the smiles.  Do I unnerve him with my guise? I was wearing an orange Roxy top, black knee-length pants, my Roxy flip-flops and a red hat. With my handbag slung sideways over one shoulder with the bag sitting snugly on my behind, I knew many would think me as either a Japanese or Korean tourist.  I knew he thought so too, which could be the reason why he spoke to me in that version he imagines to be Orang Puteh talk.

"Oh yea?" was just my response to him.  I wanted some.  By golly I wanted all but of course one can't have the wants over needs all the time. I was smiling slightly, just to show him I meant no linguistic harm, as I let my fingers do the talking, perusing through the multi-colored shirts. 

A few minutes later I held out two Roxy Girl shirts (an info which gnawed on my conscience.  Girl? I am hardly that)- a white shirt with a whimsy Roxy emblem on the front, and an orange shirt with a couple of Roxy lettering on the front.  I thought of just buying these without trying when Mr. Salesboy said," Want to tried?" 

A bane or a boon? A boon, being in the profession of  language teaching, being able to distinguish sounds and having to correct them when spoken incorrectly - in class.  A bane, having this ability, and having to hear mangled sentences then in that store, and not able to correct it.  Mind you, I am not a stuck-up, high and mighty, oh I am the greatest in the universe English speaker.  It's just a habit I guess, making correction.  I am not so silly as to make grammar correction to everyone who mangles and strangles the Queen's English.  And I did understand what Mr. Salesboy meant.  So I said, "Ok".

Long story shortened, I didn't get to the counter to make any payments, thank goodness.  Guess I overcame my impulses today.  Arigatogozaimasu.

Sporty Saturday

75 year old uncle throwing the javelin

Yupp..nearly 6pm and prize-giving ceremony was still not done.

Saturday was the date for the 2nd Sabah Masters Athletic Championship.  It was an open event where anybody over the age of 35 (35 is now considered a veteran oledi..) could participate and

• show off how even after the age of 35 you have managed to maintain your physical prowess
• model your sports attire
• defend your title (last year's event)
• win some medals in your age category ..so plenty of them 
• just have fun (which was what I did)

Each participant can join up to 4 events and to register, you'd have to pay RM10 per event.  I decided to just take part in the javelin and shot put.  I had no ambition to win any medals initially since practice pun teda.. I just had two javelin practices before Saturday, and none for shot put.  However, after looking at the list of participants in my age group, I thought, ah-ha.. there's a possibility.

So, anyways, for both events, I managed to win the silver.  I am loathe to mention the throw distance since they were so pitiful.  But boy did I have fun. Even though we were only given 1 try and 3  throws, thus making the competition less than a half hour event, I enjoyed myself (cuz I wasn't in any pressure to outdo the others).  I enjoyed watching and cheering my other teammates running and throwing and jumping.  I didn't even mind the sunburn (which is odd cuz I don't sunburn easily).

I think I'll take part next year and this time, I'll come prepared.