Magic Cream from China - Keep Dry and Shady

Good for:  Relieving mosquito bites and other skin irritations, light entertainment :P

Not so good for:  English lessons?!

Having lived away from Malaysia for the last (almost) 15 years, my skin is quite sensitive to mosquito bites.  After 4 days of being here, I am now moderately covered in little red spots.  So I was offered some cream by my parents to alleviate the itching.  It came in the jar above....

I have to say I spent quite some time giggling at the jar and its label.  I am not sure what I found funniest.   "Keep Dry and Shady" or "Do not drink" or "Scribble on skins" - Google Translate gone wrong!  But the cream seems to help the mosquito bites which is what is important.  :)

Take me home, country roads....

Good for:  Going back "to the place, I belooooong", a mental break
Not so good for:  Consistent training, jet lag

I made an impulse decision in the last few days.  I have decided to go back to Malaysia for a flying visit.  And I mean a flying visit, literally.  No country roads to take me home, I fly home on a Thursday and leave again on a Tuesday.  With travelling time that gives me 4 days home.  Period.  Pronto.

Reason being a) I need a new passport (good excuse) and b) I just feel like going home.  It does not happen often.  In fact this is probably the 2nd time in my entire 14 years in Europe, where I have felt "Yep, now it's time to go home".  Not that I want to go home for a prolonged period of time, but somehow, I feel like hearing those stupid sounds in KLIA.  Ha ha.  My fellow Malaysians must know the chimes I am talking about.  ;)

So KL it is, for a weekend trip and a bit.  Yay!  :)

Every cloud has a silver lining (or in this case bronze!)

Good for:  Looking on the bright side of things, keeping things in perspective
Not so good for:  Gold seekers, people who do not like the unknown

I was surprised to receive this in my Inbox last weekend...  An email telling me I was within top 10% of my Age Group in the world. I had what I thought was a disappointing season, having to pull out of races towards the end of the season because I simply could not cope with what I had put on myself in life.

The experience has forced me to reconsider what is important in life, something I continue to reconsider till today.  I think the time has come to make some changes.  All World Athlete sounds cool, but Trivestyle is the start of a more positive, balanced lifestyle.  Watch this space!  :)

Get some Headspace

Good for:  De-stressing and calming down, general well-being
Not so good for:  Staying awake when you are tired

You can get an app for meditation, it's called Headspace.  I tried it, and so did a journalist:  http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/07/09/headspace-meditation-benefits_n_3567421.html

I found it ok and possibly even invigorating, except I kept falling asleep whilst doing it.  :P  I have been told you need to practice focus in order to focus. Hmmmm. Try it, and if you do, please share you experience with me.  :)