Fresh paint and working in bright sunlight

 

Grilles fitted over our windows - especially in low rise flats - are still unsightly. Interestingly, in Holland, lower floor apartments are not permitted to have these as the hinder escape in emergencies. And at higher floors, these are intended for suicide prevention. Singapore flats are fitted with these as a preventive measure to deter criminal break-ins. It's the same function item, but depending on the historical-social cultural landscape you are influenced by (in this case, British or Dutch), the rules, practice and preference for these metal grilles across your windows vary.

Fortunately, these ones over my rear room window - sort of an annexe room - can slide aside. But that is for the unusual need to have flat occupants put out the laundry in these long bamboo poles (colloquially known in Malay as "gala"). These hang outside the windows to catch the windy draft and sun light for the clothes to dry.

I just re-painted the annexe room and turned it into a cosy workspace which is beautifully sunlit and more airy, until these afternoon Westerlies (monsoon from Sumatra which blow in from the South-west, hence the name) thunder in.

Still, the ambient light is so good that I can work without turning on the room light or desktop lamp, which makes for better ecological concern. Being more airy as well, I hardly need to have the ventilation giro-fan switched on -- until the computer heats up, of course.

It is just a joy to finally paint the spot and get things all cleaned and arranged. But the need to clear out some collectibles and unwanted items continues. Some items are plainly too costly to dispose off or send to the recycling centre. The Nano-Cube (original item) with acquarium lights/pump/filters and CO2 tank cost more then S$1200 and that is simply too wasteful to dispose off. I will have to check around if anyone would like to have it and would be happy to pass these along. Then again, I never know when I might want to re-start my freshwater acquarium again. It was fun and wonderful to have, but involved a great deal of water and cleaning too, plus power, which did not make for great eco-sense as it was not a significant carbon sink but used up significant power and water, and included a CO2 tank to fuel the underplants in their photosynthesis in artificial lighting. Acquaria like these are in fact, carbon costly in principal, and operate in a reverse day (illuminated at night and dark in the day) mainly to be an in-door attraction when the owner is at home in the evening and retiring from the day.