August 29, 2007: Brrrrrrrr .... Am I Weird?

Walking on the beach in 15 degree C? Brrrrrrrrrr!!! Somebody must be joking!

That's me in Howard's jumper!

Bathing in Roman Bath? At this temperature?!!!! Are you trying to kill me Hon?

Nooooo!!! I am too cold!

Shall we take a train and go somewhere NOT SO COLD?! Pleaseeee.....

That's better! It's warm enough for me here at Stanley Ghyll!

August 25, 2007: Whitehaven

Good morning from Whitehaven!!

We are in Whitehaven today - Herb's hometown. This Georgian town, situated on the west coast of Cumbria, was one of the first post-renaissance planned towns in the country.

It's a bit cloudy this morning. The weather forecast for today:

Cloud Base: Broken around 300 or 400 metres for much of the day but lifting and breaking later in the afternoon to become well broken around 700 or 800m.

We might be going to Cat Bells in the afternoon.

See yaa!!!

August 23, 2007

Eccles Pike

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Tegg's Nose

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Hanging Gate

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Alderley Edge

This is what we have been up to, the last few days

Do You know how many layers of clothes underneath that waterproof jacket?

And I am still freezing at the top!!!

August 11, 2007

A very hot Saturday!!

This is what I feel like doing!

August 10, 2007: The Waking

I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I have to go.

We think by feeling. What is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

Of those so close beside me, which are you?
God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
And learn by going where I have to go.

Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

Great Nature has another thing to do
To you and me; so take the lively air,
And, lovely, learn by going where to go.

This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
What falls away is always. And is near.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.

(The Waking by Theodore Roethke)

August 08, 2007: The Great Way

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The Great Way has no gate;
there are a thousand paths to it.
If you pass through the barrier,
you walk the universe alone.

~Wu Men~

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August 07, 2007: I am Thankful

I am thankful I can walk;
there are those who have never taken their first step.

I am thankful I can see the beauty all around me;
there are those whose world is always dark.

I am thankful I can hear music playing;
there are those who entire life has been spent in silence.

I am thankful my heart can be broken;
there are those who are so hardened they cannot be touched.

I am thankful I can move about freely and express my beliefs;
there are those who live in constant fear.

I am thankful I have been loved;
there are those for whom no one has ever cared.

I am thankful I can work;
there are those who have to depend on others for even their most basic needs.

I am thankful to wake up in the morning and take a deep breath of fresh air;
there are those who never got that far.

I am thankful for the opportunity to help others;
there are those who have not been so abundantly blessed as I.

I am thankful for the gifts of friendship and love;
there are people like YOU I am blessed to have in my life.

Larra: Dear God, for all the above ..... I am thankful to You!

August 05, 2007: It's Sunday Again!

Come, join me for my morning walk!

Don't worry, if you're late.... just watch the slide show!

After my morning walk, I made myself a mug of 'teh tarik' and relaxed on my balcony. What would you like, "teh tarik" or just coffee? Or hot lemon tea with honey?

August 05, 2007: Kasih Tercipta

This is for You: Kasih Tercipta

Kasih hilang tiada bicara

Setelah cintaku kau puja

Rintihan rindu terus melanda

Redup cahaya oo hati lara

Bisiklah kiranya aku bersalah

Sedetik tersirat rasa

Kau cipta kasih yang kumiliki

Cinta ku jujur selama ini …oooo…

* Carilah aku dalam hatimu

Sayang sebutlah kau rindu oooo

Hanya…pintaku

Kasihmu kekal setia

Usah biarku ooo terus terluka

Ooo… Kasih tercipta …

Ooo… Carilah ku sayang …

Mesra suaramu …kini berbeza

Gagal sembunyi sedih

Kenangan lalu menusuk jiwa

Manis seindah berganti pedih

* Carilah aku dalam hatimu

Sayang sebutlah kau rindu oooo

Hanya…pintaku

Kasihmu kekal setia

Usah biarku ooo terus terluka

Pabila bersamamu, debaran

Darah arus mengalir, cinta,

Lahir selamanya

Berilah…kucupan sayang

Biar terukir wajah …kasih tercipta …

Berilah…kucupan sayang

Biar terukir wajah …kasih tercipta …

Ooo…Kasih tercipta …

Kini ku mengerti

Walau berbisa …

Ku rela kiranya kau bahgia …

August 04, 2007: The Shape of Leaves

Ginkgo, cottonwood, pin oak, sweet gum, tulip tree:
our emotions resemble leaves and alive
to their shapes we are nourished.

Have you felt the expanse and contours of grief
along the edges of a big Norway maple?
Have you winced at the orange flare

searing the curves of a curling dogwood?
I have seen from the air logged islands,
each with a network of branching gravel roads,

and felt a moment of pure anger, aspen gold.
I have seen sandhill cranes moving in an open field,
a single white whooping crane in the flock.

And I have traveled along the contours
of leaves that have no name. Here
where the air is wet and the light is cool,

I feel what others are thinking and do not speak,
I know pleasure in the veins of a sugar maple,
I am living at the edge of a new leaf.


Arthur Sze

August 03, 2007: Picture Perfect

In not more than 3 words, what can you say about the above photo?

August 01, 2007: God Speaks to Each of Us

God Speaks to Each of Us


God speaks to each of us before we are,
Before he's formed us then, in cloudy speech,
But only then, he speaks these words to each
And silently walks with us from the dark:

Driven by your senses, dare
To the edge of longing. Grow
Like a fire's shadowcasting glare
Behind assembled things, so you can spread
Their shapes on me as clothes.
Don't leave me bare.

Let it all happen to you: beauty and dread.
Simply go no feeling is too much
And only this way can we stay in touch.

Near here is the land
That they call Life.
You'll know when you arrive
By how real it is.

Give me your hand.


- Rainer Maria Rilke