A little about Bettas

In a pandemic, I find it a mental test one's sanity. Not only do we have to grapple with the many restrictions in place to keep us (or the economy) safe, we also have to deal with the fatigue and daily fear that has hit us since Jan 2020.

Life was already difficult to some pre pandemic and made worse with the onset of this long lasting disease. Jobs lost, businesses closed down, dreams ended up in smoke, families separated and some not even having the chance of saying goodbye. It seemed like a punishment meted out to us humans which seemed to hard to bear. But I always keep the faith that none of this is from God and although I cannot understand why this has to happen, I get that with humans around, there are always some sort of destruction happening.

Moving on to some brighter stuff, many people have since then adopted and adapted to find things to do which makes them happy and occupied. Working from home has changed the dynamics of the workplace 180 degrees and while some may embrace them due to the nature of their work, I'm not much of an agreement that work can be done in a sanctuary we call home. I can workout like the Rock at home with the same gym equipment and so, but does it beat working out at the gym  with the fellow gym mate, sweating it our and getting motivated by the commandosque training which the instructor is blaring out?
Certain things cannot be replaced with technology but this ain't a GP paper about that.

Ok, finally moving on to the brighter stuff. 

Bettas, or what people used or are still calling today: Fighting fish. I have been keeping them actively since 2002 after I sent my flowerhorn to a local show and was attracted to the bettas on display.

I was intrigued by the the different colours and forms they enjoy and kept in separate tanks each.

I remembered that I had kept 2 bettas in a honey jar when I was young and they died.

I caught on a name card Kelson Betta and wondered how beautiful his fishes were. Long story short...Mrs Ussenal and I made good friends with the owner Kelson and his shop is always the top place to visit, regardless of the fishes on sale. I have had great success with Kelson in the past when I was active in competitions and many of my top prizes were sourced from him. However, his shop always gives a serene feel and adding on the nice fishes on display, makes it a nice experience overall, be it purchasing fishes or just having window shopping.

To date, the shop has been operating for near 20 years? Long may it continue to serve the local community and encourage fish keeping among the youth so that they realise that other than games, keeping a pet fish can do so much for their studies and social growth.

 

November 2021- Autumn (if there is)

 

Here we are. November. No, this is not about any Maplestory post. I had long abandoned any remaining thought of going back to the game, period. I had great fun and end of story.

The maple leaf has long been symbolic of autumn, a sight which we will never see in Singapore. Perhaps when one day climate change hits its peak and we might be able to see autumn stuff then, not sure if from a standing position or looking up from the ground (punt definitely intended).

What's new for the past many months? Plenty , perhaps some been mentioned before in this blog or elsewhere but I do have a few stuff to share.

1. Ads on Youtube are getting out of hand -  to the point that every click will have you to watch an ad (99% of the time useless because I would be spamming my mouse to click the NEXT button and not even watching what the sh*t is showing on the screen). Toh long.. try not to push everyone to take up your premium Youtube. 

2. Still on Youtube. I like to watch comedy videos such as from Wah Banana. NOC made some news, so I thought i hadn't watch their videos for some time. Headed over and saw all sort of videos trying to be Mother Theresa to explain how they feel or trying to 

Firstly, I was shocked because other than the irritating ads, I was appalled how any Tom Dick or Harry can just make a video(poor quality/graphic presentation etc) and talk about other people's lives/gossip etc. C'mon, don't waste my time by putting yourself on a global platform just to watch your tasteless videos. If you cannot do a good video, don't do it. If you want to waste your time and love to talk, go talk to the mirror and record yourself. You can then attach your phone to the charger and play the video over again until the Iphone 200 comes out for all I care.

3. Grammarly - You have youth advertising this program. What other weapons of destruction should society suggest next so that the English standard of our youth continues to be eroded until they become a cup of iced milo of 90% ice and 10% milo? Wake up, not every digital stuff is helpful to humans.

4.  Living with a construction site just a stone's throw away - Living with noise pollution is painful.

For a few years, I have been surrounded by construction work on the BTO blocks opposite me or the toilet upgrading in the precinct. It has been endless hearing of construction work for so long.

Then few days ago came an email like the letter which Harry Potter receives from the owl (cant remember the name. Hagrid?) from NEA, reminding ME THAT I WAS INVITED TO TAKE PART IN A NOISE SURVEY BECAUSE THERE IS AN ONGOING CONSTRUCTION OPPPOSITE WHERE I STAY).  I believe I held back a lot of truth and Im sorry for lying even in the survey by pretending that I will not contact anyone even if the pollution was so bad. BECAUSE I TOLD THEM THAT WHAT IS THE POINT OF NOISE MONITORING AND SUGGESTING WHAT I WILL DO WHEN THE DAM CONSTRUCTION IS TO BE THERE ANYWAY? WHY TAKE THE SURVEY NOW AND NOT CONSULT AS PRIOR? I STILL BELIEVE IT IS A SIN TO MAKE A BTO BLOCK SO NEAR TO A MATURED ESTATE OF SEVERAL BLOCKS. ITS JUST LIKE MAKING A JENGA BLOCK IN THE MIDDLE OF A SQUARE OF JENGA BLOCKS.

5. Never say never.. - Well, in 2020 and towards the end of the year, Im sure many would have thought that well 2021 is going to be better for sure. We have been stuck, you know this Covid sh*t for so long, normalcy will resume, vaccine coming, back to soccer , ktv , Bangkok etc.

It was anything but the above, it turned out.

We are seeing average of 2 to 3k cases a day. Delta variant walloped humans one devastating blow, blowing all the plans into disarray. On this day, we are still facing tight restrictions. No dining of more than 2 pax unless from the same family sh*t, no soccer, no ktv, no unrestricted travelling, Im still working from home and losing my marbles. Did anything change? Yes, I'm vaccinated but at the same time also seeing for myself how many more are affected by the side effects. Its tiring and mentally drained to understand that the vaccine is necessary in our battle against the Cov*d enemy and yet need to brave ourselves for what comes next after taking the vaccine. 

I read with concern when MOH says the dead who die everyday from Covid has underlying conditions. Which elderly has no underlying conditions? One day I will be old too. So are all old people supposed to die from Covid? Another sick sh*t to think about.

6. I finally managed to cure fishes with internal diseases. Hopefully, that will go some way in placating those which have passed on.

7. I need more sleep.

Bye for now.

Mr Ussenal.