Snow

Snow. It really does not matter how old you are or how much of an introvert or not you tend to be. There is always one and the same reaction to the first sign of snow. Excitement. A bounce in the step. Cheer. An inner childhood happiness that grips you.

There is something magical about the falling of snow. The blanket of white that covers rooftops, streets and the once bare tree branches. Have you ever shook one of those liquid paper weights and wished you were inside? A unison of colour and calm everywhere you look. A subdued serenity in the air. A togetherness of nature. An announcement that winter is truly here.

If you were wondering before this whether it was appropriate to wear those extra warm gloves or whether you looked odd in that oversized coat. Snow dispels it all. It is time. Bring out all your woollies and your extra warm gear. Wrap up. Bundle up and splash out with bold reds to contrast the monotone of the season. Indulge in front of cosy fireplaces. Hot cocoa with cinnamon and marshmallows. Warm puddings. Hot water bottles and luxurious throws. Soft blankets and warm nights in. All the while watching snow descend outside. Delicate flakes resting. One layer after another. It almost reminds me of how a soufflé rises. The fluffiness of one layer of smoothness on top of another. No need for an umbrella. There is a certain charm to feeling snow flakes on your nose and your eyelashes. If there was ever a time to celebrate winter this is it.

So you think you can dance?

A successful marriage is like a series of perfectly executed dance routines. In the grand scheme of things, our life here is like a huge dance production made up of a series of routines. We may choose to lead this production solo without a partner, like a contemporary dancer who explores and exhausts every creative avenue alone. The majority, however, go through life married to a partner. The journey, to me, is analogous to dancing a routine together.

Set the scene and the first thing you need is a good dance partner. The woman needs someone she can trust and depend on. After all, no one wants to be leaping in the air and have no one to catch them. On the other hand, the man needs someone who is prepared to be led. The man's role after all is to lead the routine to perfect execution. When it comes to choosing your dance partner, that is still just not enough. The couple must be suited to each other from the start. Unless both are perfect all-rounders, you cannot have an expert in contemporary dance matched with a brilliant ballroom dancer. The former is used to the independent freedom of exploration while the latter cannot function alone. They both have to come from the same dance background and have the same approach to the type of routine they both wish to embrace.

Throughout the dance, the couple needs to be in tune to one another. Responding to each step in a timely manner is just as important as being there for each other all the way. When the footwork is tricky, both need to keep up. When the going is slow, grace and resilience has be demonstrated. When one partner falters, the other has to be quick on their feet, literally, and keep the routine together.

It takes two to tango; in all sense of the word. It is not enough to be technical in a dance routine and just follow through with the motions. To really stand out and be a successful couple, each needs to give to the other that extra something. It goes a long way and this is what truly differentiates the good from the brilliant. It is also the reason why some couples are truly happy couples and describe their marriage as a successful one. It is not only about feeling the music yourself but making the other partner feel it too then both responding to it accordingly. It is about knowing when to improvise and when to take risks. More importantly, throughout the production, dancing in unison as one, so that the boundaries of two separate people melt away into the perfect couple.

Doing my bit

It was 17 years ago when I had just finished high school and all eyes were on the Earth Summit in Rio. I remember the thrill and excitement; the urge to want to be a part of positive change. To make a difference and do good. I joined the local Environment Society which no one even knew existed back then and they were just starting to take their first baby steps. I wanted to do my bit no matter what, nevermind that the outcomes from Rio were a disappointment. The future was at stake, or so it seemed at the time.

Fast forward to 17 years later to Copenhagen. The world is more aware of the catastrophes that could have been avoided. Cynics would turn away from this, I know, and destiny would shake its mighty finger and say that nothing could have stopped what was meant to happen. Nevertheless, in the past 17 years the number of natural disasters our planet has experienced have been unlike any other era. The extremely hot summers. The erratic and unpredictability of winters. The increasing divide between seasons in some countries that never experienced seasons before. The rising sea levels. The floods. Earthquakes. Tsunamis. These are just some of the effects of climate change. There is more to come and in years there will be a geographical remapping needed. Glaciers disappearing. Ice caps melting. Islands disappearing.

Although it should not take a global summit to instil this need to act, it can sure act as a reminder. In that spirit, what is it that I can do then to do my bit? Here's my top ten list:

1. Energy saving light bulbs. They do go a long way. Everyone needs their electricity and while I save my lamps for a more luxurious time of day, flicking a light switch is almost second nature now as soon as it gets dark. I have decided to do it in 'green' style and use energy saving light bulbs whenever I can.

2. Unplug devices or simply switch off power points. Remote controls come in all shapes and sizes and their multi-use variety can be nifty. That little red light at the bottom of my TV screen or stereo that is just waiting to be switched on, however, is ever so slowly draining an unnecessary amount of energy. Do I really need the microwave to tell me what time it is? Or the toaster to constantly remind me that it is all set to deliver that perfectly golden piece of toast? I think not - off!

3. Adjust the thermostat. Some people enjoy living in habitual conditions, I know I am one of them, but change is good once in a while. Adjusting my thermostat to just a degree lower (or higher as the case may be) can go a long way to saving a little bit more of energy. Not to mention that it keeps me on my toes!

4. Park the car and forget about it for a while. How about this for a change? Walk to the nearest grocery store instead of fuming as I try to find a parking spot. I always find that I experience more from walking to a destination rather than driving there. There is more time to experience the journey. Weather permitting, of course, because sometimes walking or cycling is just not an option. I use public transport instead and I imagine the petrol I would save in a week, not to mention the mileage I would save on my car.

5. Recycle. This has always been one of my joys in terms of how creative one can get. I will not print an email or a document unless I have to. When I do and if it is in draft form, I use both sides of the paper and reduce the font to fit more on a page. I use the blank sides of those no longer needed pages as scrap paper for doodling my thoughts. Cardboard, in the form of used-up tissues boxes, has always been quite inspiring for me during those times when I just needed to paint that 'masterpiece'. Experimentation is not an easy art to adopt but cardboard has been a faithful fallback and a satisfying outlet for many a creative streak. On a more conventional recycling note, I now separate my plastic and glass from my aluminium and regular waste.

6. Look for green products. Some countries allow you the option to be more environmentally conscious. I go green when I am in those countries and look for the green symbol on everything I buy from spray cans to stationery to packaging.

7. Turn vegetarian. Okay I hear you thinking this is going a bit too far, yet I have experienced a difference in health. Myth or fact: the meat industry consumes a huge amount of energy. I am quite cynical about this after hearing a British politician state the link between meat and energy consumption. Nevertheless, I have noticed the difference in my lifestyle since turning vegetarian but whether this has anything to do with saving our planet is left for the experts, not to mention, common sense.

8. Plant a tree. Some people are lucky enough to have their own garden. Others, like me, have to make do with finding a reserve or a location, preferably nearby, where they can actually make a difference by restoring a wild forest.

9. Air dry wet clothes instead of using the dryer and I have started using the 30 degrees wash cycle. It does not make a difference to how clean your clothes come out. The whites remain white and the colours do retain their brightness!

10. Volunteer in the community and take action. I indulge myself with the signing of online petitions but where it really counts is in the community. Above all, it is a balancing act of helping those in need and cutting back on one's consumer-focused lifestyle.