为旅行而发愁

好久没有到国外旅游，心里有些不平衡。

尤其在十二月分，同事们几乎都在谈论年尾要到哪里去度假。。。日本似乎是热门地点！

想来想去，西藏旅游的念头浮现出来。

原本要在9月份往西藏旅游，但因为某种原因，无法成行。

预定一月初往南马自驾游，再过两个星期，再往九寨沟跟团游，然后4月份在入藏。

现在需安排往中国的行程！

一下子去那么多地方，是否有些夸张？

There is no running away from...不认老也不行！

前天在职总平价超级市场购物，付钱时，收银职员贴心的提问， 有没有“老人卡” (持有类似卡有回扣）。顿时醒悟，我的颜容已呈现老态！

也许注重饮食健康，定时运动，及不懈的在护肤保健上下功夫，能使人看来朝气蓬勃，但到了一定时刻，还是难免会浮现“老态龙钟”的景象！

常人六十岁的容颜，与影视圈明星的六十岁的外貌，往往有天渊之别！但七八十岁时，相差可就没那么明显了！

Aging... there is no running away.

While paying for my purchase at NTUC cashier counter the other day, the cashier asked me if I have senior citizen card (e.g Merdeka card). It daunted on me that I have aged, and it manifested externally!

There are various ways that I am constantly being reminded of my age -

- lack of stamina

- body aches

- seeing your contempories age at the same time

- seeing your children grow, graduated from university and started working

- being called uncle or worse still 大爷 by some of my paediatric patients

Dilemma... to keep or not? 抉择

Our newly adopted dog has been with us for the past one week.

Quite a handsome dog!

He is slowly adjusting to the new home. He is now more willing to walk out from our apartment into the lift, and stroll along the exercise path outside our apartment.

However, he is still not able to pee outside. Instead, he prefers to pee on the hard tile floor of our balcony!

He went for veterinary check-up yesterday, and was noted to have poor dental hygiene.There was some concern of possible arthritis in one of his hind leg.

Now, the reality sets in .... to keep him or not as a permanent member of our household?

CJ felt that it will be okay if he is able to pee outdoor... Hence, while observing his progress over the coming weeks (hopefully sooner rather than later), we will work on improving his oral hygiene.

领养宠物，需要有一定的能耐于付出！

我家刚领养的宠物，还不懂得在户外小解。即使带它外出溜达好几回，它还是坚持到回家后才在屋内阳台尿尿，着实令人头疼！

昨天给兽医体检后，发现它的口腔卫生不达标，有可能需要全麻来清除牙龈及牙垢； 还有它的后腿可能有关节炎的风险！

 去还是留，这是个大问题！

最后决定，再观察一两周，看看后续如何！

Zen-like composure 心如止水

Our newly adopted dog is still adjusting to his new home.

We created resting place for him in our balcony. He was resting there comfortably, then a pair of birds flew in and perched themself on the glass wall of our balcony. 

He just looked at them, in a zen-like composure, without making any sound.

It was truly unlike the other dog that my daughter has - he would bark at a glimpse of any bird!

我家新领养的牧羊犬，心如止水，毫无声息的目睹一对小鸟定足于阳台的玻璃围墙。这是好现象吗？

new member in the family

CJ finally adopted a dog yesterday. He is 4 years of age. Apparently a breeder dog.

And my name is Mantis

Staying in enclosed pan @balcony at night

Rather timid. Refused to walk, had to be carried. Never made any sound to date (2nd day at our place).

But we managed to get him to walk around our condominium this afternoon... a success one might say.

家里来了一个新成员 - 一只毛绒绒的牧羊犬。靖捷从网络频道，得知某间宠物店有一批被人遗弃的狗待人领养，狗龄多数都是六岁以上。在哪里看上一只牧羊犬，雄性，四岁左右。体格有些瘦小，但看起来还蛮讨人喜欢。于是便当场办理领养手续。付了八百多块（新币）的领养费（包含节育手术费）， 当天把它领回家去。

在家第一天，它显得战战兢兢。在外不敢自己步行，需抱着回家！静悄悄的没有一丁点声响，我老婆怀疑它是否是哑巴？

希望这些不安情绪，都是因为它先前长期处生于紧绷的环境下，导致忧心仲仲，需要一段时间来调养！

它的名字是“螳螂” MANTIS!

古树 old tree

在新加坡，古树不多。除了在自然公园里尚能目睹高耸挺直的古树外，多数的古树都丧命于城市发展的蓝图内。

很意外的撞见那几个纠缠不清的古树，其支干向四面八方伸展。在点点绿叶，白色铁门于围栏，及临近旧屋的陪衬下，显得有点诡异！总觉得有点聊斋”倩女幽魂“里之千年树妖的味道！

若在月深人静的时候，路经此地，会不会有股恐怖的感觉！

It is not easy to chance up old trees in Singapore, a garden city.

Most ancient buildings, let alone trees, have been demolished in the name of development.

Only in nature parks can old trees been seen. 

I caught a glimpse of entangled old trees branching off from a common ground a few days ago. Somehow, the view carries with it a sense of mystique and intrigue. One may even said spooky at times! This can certainly be a backdrop for horror movies!

杯弓蛇影，虚虚实实，镜花水月。。。figment of imagination

 那天如往常边步行边拍照，捕捉到了一个场景，浮现了“杯弓蛇影”的影像!

再往前走，竟然看到了那若隐若现的“火山”。。。

往回走时，碰上了镜花水月，虚虚实实的现象。

Within an hour of walking exercises a few days ago, I chanced upon some sceneries. They churned up images of snake, volcano and a world that goes up-side down... My imagination has indeed gone wild!