Six Pack

 Today's song is: 6 Pack workout, similar to Thavorn's, but her's hers is 30 mins long:

Thavorn is still working hard during Covid to realize a 6 pack. She is very close:

Myself, I am just working on getting rid of my covid 10 (pounds) that I put on since arriving back in Canada. The new treadmill is helping immensely!

Meanwhile, back in isolation I am thinking about things like Christmas, teaching Thavorn and Jaidan how to skate, etc. As always, you can't do it all, so I will have to prioritize. We never really celebrated Christmas in Bangkok, because it was simply a change of decorations for the commercial interests. There is not a large Christian population in Thailand. IMHO, Thais are better off with their Buddhist 'do overs'.

Snow is drifting down in large snowflakes as I write this blog. It won't stay but I would not be surprised to see it stay later on in the week. Tomorrow, the high is -5, down from today's high of +4. 

I am anticipating another lockdown as covid infections are spiking again in Ontario and most doctor's are calling for it. It is only a matter of time. To prepare, Thavorn and I bought a month's worth of staples at Costco early yesterday morning. The store was mostly empty at 8:45, unlike the weekend when it was packed.

Speaking of Costco, they opened a store in China this week as as Chinese are want to do, they went nuts and overran the store.

https://youtu.be/2UfO4gpML4g

This is why you don't ever want to be in an ambulance in China! And, no I am not racist, having coached many Chinese student, just not the mainstream Chinese who never step foot out China. I can't imagine what would happen if  'Bat Soup, was on special in the cafeteria.

I continue to code for my 18 year old software application as covid makes weekly changes necessary. But, then again, what else if there to do during covid?  Time for a good book, Kindle edition :-)

TTYL

Covid Coping

 Today's song is: Born to be Wild ... Steppenwolf

My last post talked about my methods for coping with Covid, which included exercising and purchasing a treadmill to enable wintertime runs.  The tread ill arrives today so I am anxiously awaiting it.

I have been a long time motorcyclist having purchased my first bike in 1969 which was a Triumph T120R Bonneville. I enjoyed that motorcycle immensely (despite crashing it) and it was stolen in the Fall of 69. All that remains is a Franklin Mint model:

My next bike was a Norton 750 that I bought about the early 70's. I kept it for a few years and then sold it.

Next up was a mid 70's Norton 850 that I kept during my university years. I ended up making a custom out it after disassembling it and then rebuilding it. I sold it in the early 80's.

Next up was a Honda NT 650 hawk that I bought in the early 90's when my kids were young. I sold it in the late 90's.

Next up was Yamaha FZ1, 1,000 CC rocket that I bought in 2006 and sold around 2013 as I was spending most of my time in Thailand. Top speed was 275 kph.

Now with Covid looking like it is sticking around for at least a couple of years I ordered the new Triumph Trident for delivery around Feb 1st  2021.

Apparently many people are ordering and becoming bikers as it is something that melds nicely with Covid and self isolating.

TTYL

Quality of Life

 Today's song is: Clean Bandit and Ellie

I don't think I would be remiss in saying that Covid-19 has degraded the quantity of life for most of us. I would also argue the impact has been greater in some age groups than others. Obviously young people graduating form high school and going off to University have been robbed of some of life's best rituals.

However, they have many years left to regain some of life's experiences. Older folks (older 70) lose out in more ways than one as they only have a few years of life remaining. A year of Covid to an older person could represent 10-20% of their remaining years. Ouch!  

Realizing you may have only 10 winters remaining means that you look forward to winter and embracing all that it has to offer.

Perhaps more important than the years an older person has remaining is the quality of life in those remaining years. I have argued before, the most important aspect in your life is your health! If you don't have good health all else is moot.

So, I would argue, eat well, exercise well, and play well. They are all important and remember, 'We are here for a good time, not a long time!' Embrace whatever life you have and run with it. If you are not happy, change it! And, if you can, take a walk on the wild side now and again :-)

I have been known to say that, 'I don't regret anything I have done, just the things that I have not done.'

As winter has started to approach, it has been chilly going for my run. I am now doing interval training, running 500 metres, walking 500 metres, times 4 which translates into running 2 kms and walking 2 kms, whereas in the past I ran 3 kms straight at 10kph.  My new training regime is easier on the joints and I believe better for cardio.

However it is time to extend it my intervals to six sets regaining my 3kms of running and adding 3 kms of walking. I have been debating whether or not to buy a treadmill and a Costco promotion i coming up tomorrow so I think I will jump on it.

I am anticipating a price of $2000 but as I mentioned, health is important.

I do enjoying running and listening to music and watching the news at the same time.

Thavorn is uing her covid time to get in great shape. She sometimes exercises twice a day.

Meanwhile, Halloween is fast approaching

TTYL

Meanwhile, Back in the Pandemic

 Today's song is: Imagine .. John ... RIP

Life is boring these days. The highlight of the past few weeks is that Jaidan is adapting very well to school life despite missing out on JK4 and JK5. Today his teacher informed me he was awarded 2 owl awards, each from a different teacher. Apparently he will be mentioned on the school morning announcements!

The Owl is the school's mascot and school teams are the Owls.

Our days starts at 6:30 am when Alexa announces it is time to get up. I am usually awake 30 minutes earlier as I like to enjoy my coffee and peanut butter toast and contemplate the day's activities.  I have already made the coffee and a piece of peanut butter toast for Thavorn. I then cook some bacon and rice for Jaidan which he usually starts to eat at 7 am.  I then head off to the shower and Thavorn makes sure Jaidan eats well and gets him ready for school. We usually bot drive Jaidan to school and then head off to Timmy's in Kemptville for a medium dark roast double double.

I follow us the morning by checking my eMail and start programming any issued that have arisen with my software. Thavorn prefers a hearty lunch and we have a lighter supper. After supper it is a bath for Jaidan and asleep by 8pm on school nights.

Wednesday is the mid week treat for Jaidan and we take him for KFC chicken tenders. We celebrate Friday after school with chicken nuggets at McD's.

Next week we repeat. We don't have visitors and we don't visit and we only go to food stores and occasional the Beer Store. Thavorn loves Cracked Canoe light beer from Moosehead Breweries in the Atlantic provinces.

Some pics:

TTYL

Poppa

 Today's song is: Only the Good Die Young ... Joel

I have written about my friend Jimmy, a Singaporean who has made Bangkok his home for 40 years.  He is affectionately known as 'Poppa' to the Girls of Cowboy. When you walk into a Cowboy bar with Jimmy, you will quickly hear the girls shout 'Poppa' to greet him. He is an icon on Cowboy.

I just got news from Cowboy that Jimmy is very sick. He had a stroke or aneurism and is unable to walk or talk. Jimmy speaks 7 languages and was a font of knowledge, having lived through the best times of Bangkok, before the advent of social media and too much tourism.

I know I will miss Jimmy but so will the girls of Cowboy. He was not a customer but a friend to all who knew him.

I will share some pics. Some of Jimmy and a bunch from the past couple of years chosen at random to illustrate why I miss my expat life in Thailand.

Poppa on the left

Margaret and the boys

Brigit and the gals

Quiet before the storm

Harvey

Ronald

Jaidan going for a ride

Harvey and Jim out for a beer with Jaidan

Jimmy and Mimo

Marriage

Best friends

Phai and Harvey

The boys and Phai

Thavorn and Tacky

Thavorn and friends

Thavorn in a wrap

3 Kings in Cambodia

Ting Tong

Bad boy Tum on the right

One day I will post the best pics over the past 10 years

TTYL