“Make life your playground, not your battlefield”

School’s out for summer
Playing, running and swimming
Childhood memories

When I was young, summer was my favourite season. The sun was out, flowers bloomed and everything was bright and beautiful. It was the time we played outside all day (until our parents called us for dinner), cycled around our village, and seek our adventure in all places. We also swam in creeks and lakes, climbed trees, ate fruit we picked, played hide and seek. On other days, we played patintero (try to cross my line without letting me touch or catch you), tumbang preso (hit the can), piko (hopscotch) or luksong-tinik (lit. jump over the thorns of a plant). Sometimes we rented some bikes and circled around our neighbourhood. It was a happy childhood.

Summer is still my favourite season. I love it when we could be lazy and not do anything. Or staying in the garden and drinking some cold drinks, listening to the birds singing. I love our garden, full of lavenders, roses, dahlias, petunias, sunflowers, and the three tortoises walking around their fenced paradise half of our garden (spoiled pets!). I also love it when we cycle to different beer gardens and parks, or go to the mountains to walk or swim in the lakes.

A warm summer day
Watching the ducks in the lake
Cycling to the park

I’m a Sagittarian through and through
I love adventure and excitement
I’ll do anything to make my friends happy
I’m always there to give them a hand
And never expect any favours in return
I have this old policy of “live and let live”
I want to explore the world, rivers and seas
I look for things to do, to gain wisdom and learn
In turn, I seem to be guided by good luck
The downside, I can be reckless and stumble
Frequently because I jump at something new
Before thinking of the pros and cons
Love me or hate me, I’m me – a Sagittarian

I am the queen of the jungle, hear me roar
I love nature, trees, animals and seashore
Wild at heart, exploring open spaces
I climb, jump, bounce like cheetahs
I made my house on top of the tree
I love talking to animals with glee
If I want to, I can jump off waterfalls
I run down the hill and do a cannonball
I learn a lot by observing animals
From birds, butterflies and beetles
I’m their friend, looking after them
I can even write them a prose or poem
I make jewellery out of shells and barks
Sing a song like a song of a meadowlark
I love my simple life, eat when I want
No worries, I’m quite nonchalant
Zip line from one jungle to another
Or go to the lake or river that’s bluer
I’m Ladylee – queen of the jungle!

Meet our tortoises – Gin, Rex and Nik

For: https://secondwindleisure.com/2023/05/21/sunday-stills-appreciating-our-pets-and-playgrounds/