Another year has gone and so I am now a year older.  I am in fact will be 78 years old a day from today. It''s a good feeling and am happy and relaxed. I still continue with my usual routine of early morning jog/walk, followed by calisthenics in the house and a nice warm bath. Thence its breakfast prepared by my wife.
Reading books borrowed from the library is another passion and this can be very absorbing and I consider it as my brain exercise.  In the evenings, I will play table-tennis or ping-pong as is known here.  This is my adrenalin rush. I love every minute  of it. Another favourite indulgence is carpentry. I will collect discarded woods and planks left out by our neighbours when they repair their house and these discarded materials will be recycled by me.  Since I have all the carpentry tools to do my carpentry it's a golden opportunity to be a picker. Garden bench, stools and bookcases are some of the items constructed. Very satisfying.

My wife and I are now holidaying in our second son's house in Kuala Rompin, some 350 km from our house.  My youngest son, reza, his wife and 3 children are also with us on this trip. My son is driving the car. Thank goodness, as it would be too taxing for me to drive that distance.

Kuala Rompin is a small town on the east coast. I like the quite atmosphere and the serenity of this place. It''s an ideal place to recuperate and rest. One can really relax here - its'' so peaceful.   I am reminded ot this piece of gem:  What is this life, full of care, one has no time to stand and stare."

As a septuagenarian, I ask for nothing more.

My wife and I left the house at 6.00 am this morning to go to KL, my son's house about 35 km from our house.  It''s still quite dark and we have to go through the city of KL and hopefully there is no traffic jam as yet. We arrived at my son's house around 6.55 a.m and what a relief.  We came over at the request of my son who needs his mothers help in looking after his 5 year old son while he and his wife will be at work.
All this while, his wife's sister was doing the caring of the child but now she has gone back to her hometown to get married. So we are called upon to help out. Yes, grandparents can be handy at times. We don't mind as we have the time and the energy.  It''s great to be useful.  And we can only be useful if we are healthy.

My wife went for a routine medical check-up this morning. Her blood pressure was checked and it was normal. But her bodyweight tends towards obesity.  So the dietician in the clinic gave her a number of tips on healthy diet.
She was told to reduce food with lots of fat content, such as meat etc. She was also advised to eat more fruits and vegetables and to do at least half an hour of physical exercise three times a week.
I intormed that I totally agree with what she is being advised to abide and follow the recommendation of the dietician.
Yes, we must really work hard on taking care of our health, with food and exercise as mandatory.
Nothing comes easy in life and we must be very vigilant to all the things that pertain to healthy living. It''s nice to be healthy. When one is healthy, one enjoys life, and one can be helpful to the family, to the children and in our life now, towards our grandchildren.

This country is now enveloped in a phenomena known as haze - a very smoky and irritating atmosphere. This is as a result of massive burn and slash the forests and trees for replanting in a neighbouring country and the wind is blowing the haze and dust to our place and now we are suffering.  Because the condition is unhealthy, many schools are closed.
As a result of this enforced ""enforced stay indoors"" situation, the grandchildren suffers the worst as they can't go out and play in the children's playground. Very sad situation this.
Al these happenings are as a result of men's greed and inconsideration.

Professor A.C. Grayling recently wrote:
""To read is to fly; it is to soar to a point of vantage which gives a view over wide terrains of history, human variety, ideas, shared experience and fruits of many inquiries.

....if we honor the obligation we have to ourselves to  develop, to the best of our ability, the constellation of interests and passions and talents that we have - even if we don't succeed, never win a gold medal, never get knighted, never get published - that in itself is the good life.''

What a truism.  I liked it. I feel inspired on reading it.

To persevere!  Nothing comes easy in life!  You have to work hard for your education; you have to work hard for your career; you have to work hard for your health!  All these require intense effort.  But I believe, that is what it should be. And I am up to it.