Showing posts with label Cycling Sprite. Show all posts
Fishtail Mountain, Annarpurna Region Trekking Trail, Nepal, backpacking lonely planet, Dec 2006.
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the blundgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishment the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
I'm fascinated by the unbroken spirit of the poet, William Ernest Henley. It could have resonated an ignorance of God, or even complete disatisfaction with the Almighty, for as a child he suffered the amputation of a foot. 'Invictus' is latin for 'unconquerable'.Being ill for much of his life, he wrote this during a two-year spell in an infirmary. Henley was a great friend of Robert Louis Stevenson and the character of Long John Silver may even be based on him. This is a gem of my reading from The Dangerous Book For Boys, Australian Edition by Conn and Hal Iggulden.
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the blundgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishment the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
I'm fascinated by the unbroken spirit of the poet, William Ernest Henley. It could have resonated an ignorance of God, or even complete disatisfaction with the Almighty, for as a child he suffered the amputation of a foot. 'Invictus' is latin for 'unconquerable'.Being ill for much of his life, he wrote this during a two-year spell in an infirmary. Henley was a great friend of Robert Louis Stevenson and the character of Long John Silver may even be based on him. This is a gem of my reading from The Dangerous Book For Boys, Australian Edition by Conn and Hal Iggulden.
AN UNYEILDING SPIRIT
At the sight of my haemorrhaging wounds, hub ushered me to a thorough clean up, dressing cum a significantly long lecture on biking skills. When he has dressed the unsightly spots, I emerged an embarassing Spartan of war casualty, almost.
What did this series of unfortunate events had in store for me?
" WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU MOM ?? "
Needless to say, the children were aghast at the sight of mama wrapped up at the knee and elbow. Sam as a matter-of-factly gave me advice " Next time , hold your brake and don't ride fast " ( Why do I have a feeling it is familiar like her papa's 'lecture'). Henry in particular, find it rather amusing to poke at the bandages and hear me 'hiss 'and 'ouch'. Rich, the most compassionate boy I've ever met , would felt so helpless yet tried his utmost best to comfort me. Displaying his trademark frown at the pain of others, he offered me water as if magical in that mug, it would withdraw my thorn in the flesh. Time stopped, my heart melted.
These are opportunities to beguile their 101 questions and introducing them to a good friend, Empathy. I believe children would have the faintest idea of the word until coming face to face with the adverseries and unpleasant discomforts of OTHERS and then being shepherd towards the right response and behaviour to react just and kindly to the sufferings of living beings, be it human or animals.
For now, I hug them all and tell them all the ways and means to make Mama feel better like doing their own dishes and being careful not to play rough with Mama which I know they will be glad to oblige ( at least for the time being). And they know Mama will compensate their every effort with more hugs and kisses.
At the sight of my haemorrhaging wounds, hub ushered me to a thorough clean up, dressing cum a significantly long lecture on biking skills. When he has dressed the unsightly spots, I emerged an embarassing Spartan of war casualty, almost.
What did this series of unfortunate events had in store for me?
" WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU MOM ?? "
Needless to say, the children were aghast at the sight of mama wrapped up at the knee and elbow. Sam as a matter-of-factly gave me advice " Next time , hold your brake and don't ride fast " ( Why do I have a feeling it is familiar like her papa's 'lecture'). Henry in particular, find it rather amusing to poke at the bandages and hear me 'hiss 'and 'ouch'. Rich, the most compassionate boy I've ever met , would felt so helpless yet tried his utmost best to comfort me. Displaying his trademark frown at the pain of others, he offered me water as if magical in that mug, it would withdraw my thorn in the flesh. Time stopped, my heart melted.
These are opportunities to beguile their 101 questions and introducing them to a good friend, Empathy. I believe children would have the faintest idea of the word until coming face to face with the adverseries and unpleasant discomforts of OTHERS and then being shepherd towards the right response and behaviour to react just and kindly to the sufferings of living beings, be it human or animals.
For now, I hug them all and tell them all the ways and means to make Mama feel better like doing their own dishes and being careful not to play rough with Mama which I know they will be glad to oblige ( at least for the time being). And they know Mama will compensate their every effort with more hugs and kisses.
Buying A Bicycle
The auspicious day has arrived for hub to fulfill his promise of an anniversary bequest. This year, Selberans would be last on my wish list. Being besotted by the cyclic spright, a new mountain bike is my pine.
So, lovely morning, hale and hearty, hub packed my old Rockbike, which has served me well into the backseat of our sedan and off we set out to Jalan Ong Kim Wee. I, as vivacious as the dancing clouds in the horizon, as hoity- toity as an American Idol contestant would be, is seeing visions of that perfect two wheeler.
After a brief interview of my cycling habits and needs, Keong the veteran shopowner of Sin Bee Hin recommended two Medinas of which the first , a white aluminium framed, 27 speed Shimano geared was a handsome picture of zest. When he has finished briefing us on 27 speed, he moved forward and presented us with another Medina, which set my heart racing and swirl my eyes to sparkle like a glass of Moet & Chandon.
Its gay silver top notch aluminium frame, 24 speed Shimano powered gear, handsome bar handles and superior hydraulic brake discs whispered me her dynamic potential and brawn. As she beckoned to my frivolous intuition, I conjured my most captivating smile at hub, my sight returning to Invictus, her new name and thereafter to hub again. .jpg)
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Owning Invictus qualify me for bourgeois extravagance, and hub made no qualm in hiding his expression of disapproval, adamant at the price. Keong approved of my choice, declaring that engaging the 24 speeder would be ample for my training on the road. Chances of experimenting off road mountain biking is a 0 % in my paradigm. Hub, convinced by his wise commentary relented to the offer. A sly grin emerged from hub as we locked eyes to probably indicate
" This will be your Mother's Day, Birthday and Christmas present as well."
How To Survive A Bicycle Crash
Waiting for the day after for an opening ceremony seemed almost eternal. In the early morning, children in tow areall at school, peace on earth, goodwill to me. Cumulostratus, accompanied by the crisp blue sky as if cheering my attempt to put my convictions to the test. That my daily 12km ride redeemed me a perpetual, bona fide cyclist. My training was a journey of tranquility on the familiar route, serened by rows and rows of palm oil trees on both side of the road.
Serenades of my Mp3 heightened the pleasures of serendipity. Almost near home, absolutely tempted to flaunt Invictus, I brisked through the coarse terrain; my right foot missing the pedal, losing restrain of the steer. At this strident, defeated moment, I sprawled semi prone in disbelieve.
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ng in my face, anguish pain ripping through my senses, I prefered the moment's delusional state t
o the truth. Reality sank in when crimson trickles ran down my knee and elbow, a concoction of blood and dirt! Trotting to my rescue were two astounded 'Asoh's, of whom one of them bawled " Why did you go so fast? ".
How to recover from a bicycle crash in style?
1) Examine self for signs of fractures, punctured wounds, profuse bleeding.
2) Apply immediate first aid if need to e.g. support a fractured upper limb with the other hand. Compress bleeding wounds with a handkerchief or your own hand.Call for help if in suspicion of fractured lower limbs.
3) Gather enough courage to pick yourself up despite the excruciating pain sustained.
4) To mimic bravery, pretend you are still 'on top of the world' .Smile and say thank you for help offered.
5) Proclaim " I'm fine. Small matter ".Smile!
6) As much as you can, ride or push your bicycle to the destination for medical attention.
An frivolous survival guide, you may say but for all your wisdom, it may be the simplest beacon of knowlege to an Idiot's Manual to Surviving a Bicycle Crash.
Ironic.
