MY LITTLE GARDEN OF TREASURES

My new-found hobby, gardening, was on my bucket list when I retired. The timing was perfect because my gardener decided to throw in the towel as his health was deteriorating, so I stepped into his shoes. I soon found that gardening is highly recommended for seniors, especially retirees.

At the back of my house, on a small piece of land, is my garden of treasures.

At the far end of the garden sits a bush of pandan leaves or screw pine. The leaves are well used when I cook nasi lemak. At other times, I use them for my weekly barley drinks or home-made soya bean.

Recently, I learnt that if I tie a bundle of pandan leaves and put it in my kitchen cabinet, it keeps cockroaches at bay. I put some leaves in the car and the car always smells nice. I save on buying air fresheners. Oh, the wonders of the pandan plant.

Next to the pandan bush is my lemongrass plant. I use lemongrass for cooking but now I make a drink out of it after reading on the Internet that lemongrass has anti-cancer properties. So once a week, the family is treated to a few rounds of lemongrass drinks. I cut five stalks of lemongrass, wash them, and cut into smaller pieces or bruise the stalks and put them in a teapot. I pour boiling water and let it steep for a while. You can add honey to vary the taste. The drink is cheap and health-giving.

Serai pandan and banana

Sometimes I use two stalks of lemongrass, bruise them and add a small knob of ginger, five pandan leaves and a small piece of rock sugar. Boil this and voila, you get a very refreshing drink.

Being a chilli padi queen, I have two pots of chilli padi plants. I do not have to run to the market for my daily needs as I have an ample supply in my garden. Sometimes the harvest is bountiful and I distribute the organic chilli padi to friends.

Nearby stand my two banana plants. Recently, I harvested the pisang mas and they were the sweetest ever. The banana leaves come in handy for grilling fish or making nyonya kuih.

So far my papaya tree has not borne any fruit, but my Indonesian maid eats the leaves for detoxification. The other day, some friends came over to pluck some leaves because papaya leaf juice has been shown to increase blood platelet count and assist in the recovery of dengue patients.

Pineapple lime (limau purut) and banana

In another pot is my daun kesom (polygonum). This is so useful in making assam fish. I used to run to the market to buy this herb but now I have it at my doorstep. I grow my own spring onions, too. Just put a few small onions in the pot and you can get a constant supply. How convenient!

In the far corner of my garden of treasures is the lengkuas or galangal plant. This is also a very useful plant as it is used in cooking certain dishes. My curry leaf tree is a hot favourite with neighbours. Whenever they need curry leaves, they know where to get them.

The limau purut plant (kaffir lime) sits in a pot and this is an essential for cooking certain dishes like tom yam soup. The fragrant leaves also enhance the taste of other dishes.

But my favourite is the aloe vera plant. The leaves are thick and huge. It can be made into a healthful drink but I have not tried it myself. Instead, I use the gel from the leaves as a facial mask. Cheap and effective. The gel is also very effective for treating cuts and burns. When I accidentally cut myself, I apply the gel on the wound and it heals well.

Mint and mempedu

The latest addition to the garden is the mint. I bought one ringgit’s worth of mint from the market and planted it in a pot. Now I have a fresh supply of mint. It needs a lot of water, but it is easy to grow.

I tend to my garden daily. The plants need to be watered, the weeds pulled out, and the snails removed. I do not use any pesticides so the herbs are organic.

Gardening is therapeutic; it is a pleasure to watch the plants grow. Nothing is more satisfying than being able to run to the garden for your supply of herbs instead of lamenting that you forgot to buy a particular item at the market.

I have made new friends along the way. My neighbours drop by to get their supply of herbs; in turn, they pass me their home-grown tapioca, four-angled beans, passion fruit, and a pineapple or two.

Not only do we exchange produce and gardening tips, we also swap notes on the health-giving properties of plants.

Gardening is cheap, non-strenuous, enjoyable and above all, eco-friendly.

Which reminds me, I must go to the nursery and get a misai kucing plant. This medicinal plant is said to be good for sore throat and diabetes. Yet another plant to add to my collection.

(The above article by Linda Lim was published in Star2 on July 15, 2016 as 'You can grow a herb garden in your backyard'. It is re-printed here with her permission. 

Footnote: You will also enjoy reading Linda Lim's earlier article in SeniorsAloud blog:

I LOVE MY AGE

WHY ARE OLD PEOPLE SO GROUCHY AND GRUMPY?

Ask young people what they think of old people. You can bet they will come up with a long list of adjectives, all negative.

"Cranky, senile, grouchy, grumpy, frail, smelly, nagging, long-winded, useless, stubborn, unproductive, dictatorial, burdensome, ..." You get the picture.

But how did old people get to be this way? Why do they always complain? Why do they insist they are always right, that everyone should listen to them? How did they become such poor company to be with?

We will all grow old one day. So let's try and understand why old people are the way they are. They may have valid reasons for their grouses. Maybe we can learn from them, and when the time comes, we can age gracefully, and with dignity, loved and respected by all.

Let's put ourselves in the shoes of an 80-year old man. He has limited funds and no source of steady income, so he complains about soaring prices. He recalls the old days when a cup of kopitiam coffee cost only 40 cents. Now it's RM1.60 at the mamak stall.

There was a time when he could travel and enjoy an active social life. These days he is mostly at home, unable to venture out alone because he no longer drives and there's no one free to take him out. His perennially busy adult children have little time for him.

Once upon a time he lived to eat. Now he eats to live. His diet is restricted to low-fat, no sugar and cholesterol-free foods. No more of his favorite hawker food, no more culinary indulgences, all because he has a host of health problems to deal with.

His old hobbies no longer interest him. He can't read because of poor vision. He has little interest in watching tv as the programs don't appeal to him. He can't explore the rich diversity of information on the internet as he is computer-illiterate, and refuses to learn.

As a young man, he was blessed with good health and vitality. Now the passage of time has reduced him to a frail shadow of his former self, with all the accompanying aches and pain of old age.

Few friends drop by to see him, as they are in the same boat as he is. So he sits in his arm-chair or lies in bed the whole day long with only his memories of the good old days to keep him company.

It is no wonder old people are bitter and grouchy. They have all the time in the world to gripe about everything under the sun, from GST and high prices to corrupt politicians and uncaring children.

What a horrible way to grow old! We can't stop growing old, but we can certainly choose how we want to grow old. It all boils down to attitude.

We can choose to grow old complaining about things from A to Z. Or we can choose to focus our attention on the things that make us happy, like our grandchildren, like being able to look back at happy times with nostalgia, and not compare them with the present.

There is little point in harping on things that can't be changed. We should learn to accept whatever unfortunate circumstances we are dealt with and make the best of the situation. Let's embrace our twilight years with joie de vivre and fill each day with love and gratitude, not bitterness or regret.

Now you know why SeniorsAloud loves to feature inspiring seniors on our Facebook. They are our role models to show us that we can live to 80, 90, even 100 and still enjoy life to the fullest. It's never too late to start laying the foundation of good health and developing a positive attitude to life.

(The above is an updated version of "Why Do Old People Love To Complain?" first posted on SeniorsAloud blog on 1 July 2012.)

THIS SENIOR CITIZENS CLUB GETS OUR VOTE

SeniorsAloud members get together for a game of Maths Magic at Penchala Hills, one of our favorite venues

For retirees, the golden years are great for making new friends. They now have the time and leisure to take up activities they are interested in, be it sports, gardening, travel, cooking, painting, photography, music, dance, qigong or board games.

With more seniors owning smart phones, getting connected has never been easier. So there really is no reason why anyone should complain about the difficulty in finding new friends and new activities to keep them happily occupied.

SeniorsAloud frequently receives emails from Gen Xers asking if we could recommend clubs that their parents could join. They would like to see their parents go out a bit more, and enjoy social activities with new friends.

This is our response to such requests: If your parents are happy being at home, pottering around the house, looking after the grandchildren and spending time with family members and close friends, let them be. They are enjoying their golden years their own way. A busy active life may not be every retiree's cup of tea. What is important is they remain active and engaged whether at home or outside the home.

But if your parents feel lonely and depressed, then it is good to get them involved in social or community activities where they get to connect with people who share the same interests.

Here is one Senior Citizens Club that we are delighted to recommend.

HAPPY SENIOR CITIZENS ASSOCIATION (HSCA)
Balai Raya, Jalan 17/1A, PJ

HSCA has been around for ages, since 1988. While most senior citizens club complain about barely meeting the quorum at their AGM, this is certainly not the case with HSCA. Its popularity stems from the variety of activities it organizes and the dedication of its exco members led by the club president Dr Cheong Weng Hoon, 88. The exco has been returned time and time again because the members are pleased with the excellent job it is doing. The activities are similar to those organized by other senior citizens clubs, but the difference lies in the strong camaraderie among the members who are English-speaking and come from a variety of background, race and religion.

Here are some photos of HSCA's activities taken over the years:

A recent outing to Putrajaya to catch the Fantasy Rainforest show. Group photo taken with the performers.

The men of HSCA are ever so sporting. Here is the winning team in the Dressing Santa contest at last year's Christmas party.

Queuing at the food truck for their lunch pack after a club event.

Listening to a health talk on hair loss at the Balai Raya.

Club members love to dance. The weekly dance classes are very popular. They are conducted by excellent instructors like Nelly Tsen, Lindsay Leong, Y.S. Lee and Jan Ghani who is also the club secretary and line dance instructor.

The lovely ladies of HSCA in their elegant baju kebaya at the 25th anniversary dinner.

Some of the HSCA men enjoying a chat over drinks outside the Balai Raya.

Every year at the annual dinner, the club honours members aged 80 and above. The line-up keeps getting longer each year - a clear indication that HSCA members know how to stay fit and healthy. The oldest members are over 90!

HSCA regularly organizes outings as well as overseas trips. The above images were taken during their trip to the Old Silk Route. 

I joined HSCA in 2008, and was pleasantly surprised to discover that my former neighbour and university mate is also a member. We make it a point to take a photo together every year to show my younger daughter how her former History teacher is doing.

If you are looking to join a senior citizens' club, be selective in your choice. Find one that is active and growing in terms of membership, The charges should be reasonable. HSCA charges RM40 a month for classes. For more info about membership fees, contact Jan Ghani at 012-327 0115.

The Balai Raya in Section 17, Petaling Jaya, is nothing to shout about. The facilities are basic and minimal. Parking is free but limited. Still the members remain with the club because of the strong bond of friendship built over the years, and also because they have grown accustomed to the neighbourhood.

The Jai Ho line dance above was performed at SeniorsAloud's 'Golden Memories' dinner in 2015. The line dance ladies of HSCA have been delighting guests at our dinners since 2014.

AGE IS NO BARRIER IN BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE

When was the last time you approached any of your adult children with a question regarding your smartphone, tablet or computer? And what was their usual response? "Sorry, mom, dad. No time. I have work deadlines to meet."

So you turn to your grandchildren. After all, they grew up in the internet age and are wiz kids when it comes to electronic devices. They are happy to teach you. Unfortunately their enthusiasm and patience don't last long enough for you to grasp their explanation. After a few minutes, they run off to play or do their own thing.

It's true - family members often make the worst teachers and also the most difficult students, whether it's about learning to drive, play a musical instrument or use multi-media.

So you can imagine how excited we were when Dr Teh Pei Lee agreed to collaborate with SeniorsAloud to organize a workshop on smartphone usage specially for our members. Dr Teh is Associate Prof from the Dept of Management, School of Business at Monash University Malaysia. She is also Head of the Gerontechnology Lab, as well as Chair for IEEE Technology and Engineering Management Society (TEMS) Malaysia Chapter which would be sponsoring the workshop.The facilitators for the workshop would be her students from the School of Business.

The workshop would be the first inter-generational event for SeniorsAloud. And who better to teach our members about smartphones than a team of young students who are also research assistants at the Gerontechnology Lab that we would be visiting after the workshop.

Early birds at the registration counter getting their goody bags and workshop manuals from facilitator Venise Lam Chi Ying and Chong Kaixiang.

Dr Teh Pei Lee welcoming the participants

Presenting certificates of appreciation to facilitators Chong Kaixiang and Yip Wai Luen, and a memento to Dr Teh

The workshop took place last Sat 23 April, 2016 at Monash University Malaysia, School of Business. A total of 60 SeniorsAloud members had registered for the free workshop. Everyone was given a goody bag of door gifts as well workshop manuals.

The event turned out to be of mutual learning benefit to both generations. The student facilitators discovered that teaching seniors was more challenging than they had initially thought. The manuals had to be printed in large font size, with easy-to-understand instructions.

Brought up in the analog age, the seniors had plenty of questions to ask. Some had problems following the explanations. But Jeffery Yeow Teh Thiry, Jonathan Shakesh Kee, Venise Lam Chi Ying, Chong Kaixiang and Yip Wai Luen rose to the challenge. They proved to be excellent facilitators handling the participants' numerous questions with lots of patience and tact.

(Left) The facilitators for IOS iPhone users: Jonathan Shakesh Kee and Yip Wai Luen; 
(Right) The facilitators for Android users: Chong Kaixiang and Jeffery Yeow Teh Thiry.

Both IOS and Android sessions ran concurrently. It was interesting to note that Android users outnumbered iPhone users 3 to 1.

Participants were separated into two groups, one for iPhone users, the other for Androids. They were shown step by step how to perform basic tasks on their smartphones. Each was given a manual covering topics such as:

• how to edit settings
• how to use the phone camera 
• how to edit photos
• how to set up chat groups 
• how to share images and videos
• how to download and install applications
• how to access websites 
• how to use search engines 
• how to create Facebook accounts

Listening attentively to the facilitators, and following the instructions in the manual

Those who were already familiar with the above tasks took the opportunity to build on their existing knowledge of smartphone usage. The facilitators were there to guide them and answer their questions.

After the smartphone workshop session was over, participants enjoyed a tea break before making their way to the Gerontechnology Lab, the first and only one in Malaysia to date. For SeniorsAloud members, it was certainly an honour and a privilege to be the first group of senior citizens to visit the lab.

Visit to the Gerontechnology Lab

The Gerontechnology Lab was launched on February 18 to conduct research into developing technology that would help the elderly remain independent in their home. It is a collaborative effort between the schools of Business, IT, Health Sciences, Medicine, Arts, Social Sciences and Engineering, and jointly funded by Khind Starfish Foundation, Monash University Malaysia and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI).

Final year Business and Psychology student Jeffrey Yeow Teh Thiry briefing participants in the lab.

Jeffery demonstrating the appliances on display at the stations. PhD student Tang Tiong Yew explaining his project - the emotionally intelligent robot.

The Age Simulation Suit that enables the wearer to experience what it feels like to be an old person. The Emotionally Intelligent Robot is designed to interact with the elderly living on their own.

A close-up of some of the assistive devices at the kitchen station and a customized walking stick that gives the elderly a firmer grip and better balance when walking.

Dr Teh speaking with one of the participants. On the table are the various components of the smartphone home system that the research team is currently working on. 

Group photo to commemorate the success of the first inter-generational collaboration between SeniorsAloud and Monash University Malaysia Gerontechnology Lab 

The organizing team comprising team members from SeniorsAloud, and research assistants from the Gerontechnology Lab. (Not in the photo: Jonathan Shakesh Kee from the research team)

Footnote:
The Gerontechnology Lab research team led by Associate Prof Dr Teh Pei Lee is currently conducting a multi-discipline study on developing a smartphone home system for the elderly. They are inviting volunteers aged 50 and above to participate in a questionnaire and interview session. The session will take about 40 minutes and will be held on weekdays at Alzheimer's Disease Foundation Malaysia (ADFM) at 6, Lorong 11/8E, PJ. As a token of appreciation, each volunteer will receive a AEON voucher worth RM10.

If you would like to volunteer for this meaningful research study, please contact Jenny at 016-608 2513 or 03-7931 5850 to arrange for a suitable date and time.

NOT DIVORCED BUT GRADUATING FROM MARRIAGE

Shojiro Shindo and his wife Kimiko on
a trip to Nagasaki Prefecture in 2013

I learned a new word today - 'sotsukon'. It's a Japanese word that means 'graduation from marriage'. (Read the interview with Shojiro, 71. He and his wife Kimiko, 69, are happy with their 'sotsukon'. The Japan News)

When the children have grown and flown the family nest, longtime married couples go through a period of re-adjustment. It's make-or-break time for the relationship. The marriage either strengthens as the couple have more time for each other, or crumble as they constantly bicker and get on each other's nerves.

Blessed are couples that have remained loving, caring and committed to their marriage vows. Unfortunately, marital break-ups among older couples seem to be the norm these days. In the US, more than half of all gray divorces are to couples in first marriages. Indeed, 55 percent of gray divorces are between couples who’d been married for more than 20 years. (Washington Post)

Gray divorce on the rise in S.Korea

Gray divorces are on the rise, even in Asia. And it's usually the women who initiate the divorce. (AARP). As late as the 1980s, it was unthinkable for a woman to seek a divorce. How would she support herself? Besides, a divorce meant telling the world that her marriage was a failure. That would be such a loss of face.

Today, Asian women are no longer afraid to seek a divorce as they are able to fend for themselves financially. Society has also become more accepting of divorce.

For those who do not want to go through a messy and often expensive divorce, there is 'sotsukon'. This is not the same as 'estranged' which implies the couple living separately on unfriendly terms. In 'sotsukon', the couple lead separate lives but remain in touch, and still enjoy activities together.

'Sotsukon' is gaining popularity in Japan, and why not. It's the perfect compromise for couples who still have some affection for each other, but want to have the freedom to pursue their own interests and lifestyle.

Expect 'sotsukon' to catch on too in Malaysia and Singapore.

OLDER WORKERS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Who can afford to retire these days? With the high cost of living, the slowdown in the economy and the depreciation of the ringgit, our retirement savings will be depleted long before we are gone. It's time for a Plan B, C or D to supplement our retirement funds. It's either back to work, start a small business or invest a portion of our savings.

If you have no head for business or investment, the best option, arguably, is to get a job. However this is easier said than done. Jobs that are suitable for older workers are limited. But a bigger challenge facing retirees planning to return to full or part time employment is age discrimination. With multinational corporations, SMEs and retail businesses laying off staff in the hundreds and thousands, retirees have better luck striking a 4-D lottery than getting re-employed.

Freddie Yap

That is why Mayflower Tours deserves two thumbs up for giving two of its employees, Ivan Ho Eng Kiang, 67, and Mohd Shapiei bin Zakaria, 68, the opportunity to continue working with the company. Both had already reached retirement age.

Says Freddie Yap, Head of Coach Operations with Mayflower, "The Gardens Mall had approached us to provide a shuttle service from Mont Kiara to The Gardens Mall, including a conductor and a driver. We immediately thought of Ivan and Shapiei. Both men had just the right qualifications and qualities for the job.

Ivan, a former tour guide, knew exactly what the job entailed. As for Shapiei, his vast experience as a former driver with a tour and travel company made him an obvious shoo-in for the job."

Billy Pih

Fortunately for Ivan and Shapiei, The Gardens Mall had no issue with having two senior citizens running the shuttle bus service.

"To us, what matters most is excellent customer service and good work ethics," explains Billy Pih, The Gardens Mall Customer Service Manager. "As the passengers are mostly expats and locals residing in Mont Kiara, we needed someone who could speak good English, is familar with the needs and expectations of the passengers, and upholds professionalism in his work. Ivan fits the bill. The same with Shapiei. It would be hard to find a more reliable, responsible and patient driver than Shapiei. He is very careful on the road. The safety of the passengers is paramount to him.

What do both Ivan and Shapiei have to say about their work?

Ivan Ho

Both men take their job responsibilities seriously. "I enjoy my work. I would be bored stiff doing nothing, just sitting around at home," says Shapiei.

"Me too," chips in Ivan. "My children have no objections to my returning to work. In fact, they say it's good for me. Keeps me physically and mentally active. And self-supporting too."

As part of his daily work routine, Ivan welcomes the passengers on board, reminds them of the schedule for the day and even throws in suggestions on what activities they can enjoy while at The Gardens Mall and MidValley City. No other shuttle service provides a conductor quite like Ivan.

Shapiei, on the other hand, prefers to focus on his driving. Soft-spoken and mild-mannered, he is a direct contrast to Ivan, but together they make a great team.

Now eight years down the road, Shapiei still enjoys driving the shuttle, and Ivan still relishes taking good care of everyone on the shuttle. He finds seats for the elderly, helps young mothers with their strollers, and others with their shopping bags. Mont Kiara residents who use the service have nothing but high praise for both men.

Mohd Shapiei Zakaria

Retired school administrator, Chan Ng Moi, has been taking the shuttle for the past three years. "The service is excellent. The bus is clean and comfortable. Ivan is friendly and courteous. He connects well with the passengers. As for Encik Shapiei, I feel safe knowing he is behind the wheel. He is such a cautious driver. I have never seen him speed or lose his temper. This is very important as there are elderly people and children taking the shuttle daily."

Indonesian expat, Lovi, echoes the same sentiment. She uses the service regularly with her husband. "It's so convenient. This morning we took the 10.00am shuttle, did our grocery shopping at the supermarket in The Gardens Mall, and returned to Mont Kiara on the 11.35am shuttle. We are able to plan our shopping trips according to the schedule because we know the shuttle is always on time."

When pressed about the company's hiring policy, Pih has this to say: " We don't discriminate on age. As long as the candidate possesses the right work experience, is in good health and willing to work hard, we will recruit him. The right person for the job must also be well-groomed."

Adds Yap, "Having the right attitude is equally important. Older workers must be willing to learn, adapt to change and accept instructions from younger management staff."

Orderly queuing to board the shuttle at The Gardens Mall. 

To sum up,  here's the take-home message from my interview with the four gentlemen. Seniors who are contemplating rejoining the work force should take note of these tips. They will stand you in good stead the next time you apply for a job.

• be flexible
• learn to keep up with technology
• upgrade your skills
• stay relevant to the changing times
• respect your bosses regardless of their age
• uphold work ethics
• don't make unreasonable demands
• be a team member

Footnote:
Other shopping malls in the Klang Valley also provide shuttle bus services. But The Gardens Mall shuttle service stands out in terms of safety, reliability and customer satisfaction. It deserves a 5-star rating. I should know as I use the service regularly.

For those new to the service, here's some info regarding The Gardens Mall shuttle service.  It is complimentary. The route covers Mont Kiara, The Gardens Mall at MidValley City and KLSentral, with three trips a day, 365 days a year. Pick-up and drop-off point is next to Jeeves Dry-Cleaners in the Isetan wing of The Gardens Mall.

(Article by Lily Fu)