The Real Benefits of Walking

Since I'd been on and off from work due to recurrent chest infection and asthma, I couldn't really do vigorous or any cardio exercises as I got too short of breath. I could not even walk my dog as I couldn't manage to get any far.

 

However, as I felt a little better, I started walking my dog again. I started from 10-15 minutes walk a day then increase the length of time by 5 minutes every other day. Nowadays I can walk and play with my dog for up to forty minutes! I know it doesn't sound much, especially for a 26 year old woman, but I'm still in the process of recovering. I guess it's just a matter of gauging your capabilities and not pushing yourself too much. What important is we must always be ready to take our 'first step' towards good health.

 

So c'mon, let's start walking!

 

Benefits of walking:

• It can be enjoyed by people of all ages
• Not an intense or too vigorous way of exercising - do it on your own pace!
• A study shows that 30 minutes moderate to intense walking can result to expenditure of around 207 calories
• You can enjoy some beautiful or interesting sceneries along the way
• You can enjoy a good company (with a pet or a friend)
• Walking can help you make mindful choices in your life

"Above all, do not lose your desire to walk. Everyday, I walk myself into a state of well-being & walk away from every illness. I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it." - Soren Kierkegaard

 

My angel Tia Maria on our walk through the woods

Poetry Book Review: The Chatter of Crows

I recently re-read David Bingham's The Chatter of Crows.
It was published by Offa's Press  in late 2014. They say don't judge a book by its cover but boy this book has a very beautiful illustration that can definitely capture your attention and make you curious about its content.



The Chatter of Crows

The book has 66 pages and the poems range from free verse to Japanese-inspired haibun and haiku. And this is what I like about this book - it gives me a West meets East kind of feeling.

Also I like David's use of vivid imagery and playful tone in his poems. A friend of mine who also read the book was captured by how a poem 'let the readers fill the gap themselves'.

For me, the poems also leave you reflective about them. Also, having been born in the Philippines, I normally find it difficult to get British humour, but surprisingly, I can totally appreciate the humour in some of the poems in this collection.

Offa's Press likes poems which are 'good on the page and good on the stage' and I think David managed to deliver that. If you want to see for yourself, attend some of his readings this summer:

June 2 - he will be reading at The Works Canteen, Black Country Museum, Dudley (7:30 pm)

June 12 -  he is taking part in an open mic reading at The Pottery, Old Chapel House, Much Wenlock, TF13 6HT (7:30 pm)

You can also order this book from Offa's Press' website, Amazon & Waterstones (though Waterstones may take up to 3 weeks to get the book for you)

Literary Places Guide: Poetry of Staffordshire

My friends and I went to Brindley Village in Cannock Chase for inspiration in writing poems to be submitted to the upcoming Offa's Press' anthology, Poetry of Staffordshire. Staffordshire is a landlocked country in England.

It was a very interesting  and inspiring walk. I found out from my friend, Cherry, that the woods was once a village. And I guess that's the charm it gives to the woods.

It was so amazing how a civilisation can be consumed by nature over time. Indeed, nature still rules in the end.

Only a stone? Well, it is the only remnants of the entrance to the Great War Hospital.
Yep, there used to be a hospital in the woods!

We couldn't really see them but we here distant cuckoo callings

A memorial of a beloved dog. A lot more all around.

Our precious dogs!

My friends Cherry & Kuli.
Cherry's dog, Bonnie (the black & white one) and my dog Tia (the black one at the background)

Field of heather. Not quite purple yet.

Me & Tia on the viewing dock

The three muskeeters! <3

 

Country Voices - A new literature performance by Offa's Press

I have been invited to perform at Country Voices which is a new performance platform created by the main editor of Offa's Press.

Tomorrow night, May 26, I will perform with poets Jane Seabourne and Bert Flitcroft.

The venue is gonna be at the picturesque Ironbridge, in a very cosy and beautiful café at Green Wood Centre, Station Road, TF8 7DR.

So if you love poetry and want to see us perform our lovely works, please come along. The show starts at 7.30-9pm (Café opens at 6) And tickets for event £4/£2 (under 16s) on the door.


See you there!

Romalyn
xx




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Changes! and a New Blog to launch soon :)

Oh how we cringe upon hearing changes! Whether it be good or bad, there's always be a smidge of anxiety with it.

I just want to announce the future changes in my blog - Since I want to concentrate on using this blog for pure poetry and anything literature-related topics, I will be taking down the Other (hearts) section of this blog and replacing it with Literary Travels (or guide to places related to literature/poetry). How exciting!!!

But don't cringe if you will miss the random topics I normally post because I will be launching a new blog about my Other Hearts.

Basically, it will be an exciting blog about how the things I heart leads me towards Happiness :-) I will be notifying you guys as soon as the blog is ready.

For the mean time, enjoy looking at my Other <3 section of this blog while it's still here.

Good day,
Roma
xx




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Selected to be in The Yellow Book and Tweeted by Stephen Fry

How often can a poem help people with mental disability or at least uplift a person's mood when he is having a bad day?

I am very glad that two of my poems will have the chance to do this. I'm excited to announce that I've officially got 'prize winning' poems at the Rethink Your Mind Poetry Competition! The prize is publication in The Yellow Book which will be distributed throughout the UK and awarded to me (and to other selected entrants) at an upcoming event at the House of Lords. I can't contain my happiness because I will not just get to receive an award at a prestigious place but also my poems will have a chance to put a smile on someone's face!

Find out more HERE

And thank you Stephen Fry for congratulating us!

 

 

beauty: Garnier Sakura White



So I found this day moisturiser whilst I was on my holiday in Thailand. This promises you a 'pinkish radiance'. I don't normally like lightening moisturisers/products on me as I am very proud and keen of my olive/brown skin. However I still bought it cause 1:)it's cheap 2.) tried it out and it actually does the moisturising job 3.) it has a tinge of fresh fragrance with it.

So what I love about this product apart from what I have mentioned above? My skin is normally dry but it could be oily through the day and I love the fact that I can just put this product on without the need to powder my face to dry up the oily bits. It kinda works as a powder-based moisturiser for me.

That's probably why it claims to give you a pinkish glow. The glow that you will get isn't permanent. It gives you, as I said, a pinkish 'powder' effect on your face so you can ditch your actual powder and blush.

I find it so helpful when I'm on the go and can't be bothered to put make up on my face. It leaves me with a smooth, 'pinkish' complexion on my face.