Sayings (2)

Writing about a saying yesterday, got me thinking – what a lot of different sayings there are, and several of them very contradictory to one another. Like for example – “many hands make like work” or the opposite one “too many cooks spoil the broth”. That one also makes me ask, why broth, why not soup or stew or rice pudding! There must be a lot of history behind a lot of these expressions. Who first said them? Why? When? How did they come to catch on? and still be used today? I think I might even be tempted to try and do some research and try and discover more about them, in my spare time.

Sayings (1)

“While the cat`s away the mice will play”

What a true saying that seemed to be at work today. Management were away so there was definitely a feel of while the “cat`s away the mice will play”, about the place!

I wonder who first invented that saying?
What made them think of it?

Sunday Afternoon Walk

I`ve been walking again today.
A three mile walk.
A brilliant blue sky
A gentle breeze
The sound of birds calling
A robin sitting on a nearby hedge,
Hedgerows glinting red with berries
A well trodden path
muddy in places,
grassy in others.
A wide expanse of marsh land
pools of water and winding creeks.
Quietness
Peace
Solitude
What more could one ask.

Wait till tomorrow

“Never put off till tomorrow, what you can do today”.

Well, I`m going to put off writing my blog till tomorrow, because I can`t come up with any inspiration on what to write today!

Counting the Weeks

It`s approaching, just 10 weeks to go, or so I read the other day.

Why is it, I wonder, that to say 10 weeks sounds so much shorter than saying 2½ months? Both are the same measurement.
What`s that time away – if you haven`t guessed. It`s Christmas.
It makes me wonder if the shops actually really sell any more of their Christmas lines by putting them on the shelves so early and telling us its so many weeks, or do the goods just sit there until nearer Christmas anyway?

No, I`m not going to be counting the weeks off to it yet, to me, (and I`m probably odd in this), it`s far too soon to start thinking about it, the end of November is soon enough. I`ve got my birthday to have first!

Brain testing

I came across this the other day, so thought I`d try it to see what it said about my brain pattern

Your mind is an incubator for good ideas, it just takes a while for them to develop.
But when you think of something, watch out!
Your thoughts tend to be huge, and they come on quickly - like an explosion.
You tend to be quiet around others, unless you're inspired by your next big idea

I suppose some of it is fairly accurate, especially about being quiet, but I`m not so sure about being inspired

Birds and Planes

What do birds think of planes?.... that thought crossed my mind the other day when there were quite a lot of aircraft in the sky and some of them very noisy. We know what they were, but it made me wonder about the effects they have on the birds, and other animals come to that. Do they hear the sound of them in the same way as we do? Does it frighten them? It seemed to at times that day as I watched the way the birds flew in all directions as if trying to get away from it but not knowing which way to go.

Yet, at other times I`ve seen birds pecking on grass alongside a busy road and not batting an eyelid when cars and lorries thundered past. So is it that they can cope if they can see the source of the noise rather than if they hear something and can`t identify where it comes from?

Autumn or Spring?

Is it spring or autumn?
By the weather these last few days its spring! I was fortunate enough not to be working this afternoon so I`ve had another lovely walk today, this time out over some marshes. Well, on the path, not actually on the marsh, I might have sunk in! So I`ll share a picture I took of the sun on the creek with you. Isn`t it beautiful to see the sun sparking on the water like that.



( the photo doesn`t really do it justice). It looked so beautiful

A Different Taste

Getting back to my car from my walk yesterday afternoon, I then sat in the car and ate the picnic tea that we`d brought with us, and that set me thinking….
Why does food eaten picnic style like that taste better than the same food eaten at home? Is it that the fresh air somehow adds flavour to it?

Four S`s of perfection

Sun, Sea, Sand.... and Silence

Yes, I`m going to wax lyrical about a walk I had this afternoon.
I drove about 40 miles from home then walked along a cliff top and down a sandy path on to a wide expanse of sand, with the sea gently lapping a long way out in the distance. The sun was shining on this beautiful autumn day and a gentle breeze blowing, but not coldly. I walked along, my feet at times crunching over fine shingle, at others making footprints in the damp sand. What pattern and diversity there was in event the sand, at times ripples of it, in other parts flat and even, some dark gold and damp other patches very light yellow and fine. Looking closely down there were razor shell, cockle shells and other shells some embedded in the sand, others scattered among the stones, some broken, some whole. Yet on looking closer I don`t think any two shells had the same pattern or markings on them.
To my left, the cliffs rose up steeply, giving a feeling of protection and safety, to my right was the vast openness and the sea. I came across rock pools of water, water that was so clear and sparkling with the sun on it. The sun too shone on the sea making a silver road across it. There were other people walking along too, but the overall feeling was one of peace and quietness, of time to think, to feel close to nature and to God. To give thanks for the beauty around me, the time to appreciate it and to feel benefit from it.

Lawn mower?

Here`s a young creature I saw while on holiday a few weeks ago.
I could do with him (or is it a her?!) on the grass in my garden to keep it mown short!

Just looking at it the line from "Little Red Riding Hood" has just come to me "oh what big ears you have" !

Missing blog

If anyone wonders what happened yesterday because I didn`t write an entry, I`ll tell you. I had to attend a meeting in the evening and knew that I`d got to say something about a subject. I get very, very nervous about having to do anything like that, and especially as I knew that it could be opposite to what others were thinking. It was going round and round in my mind all day long and I just couldn`t concentrate enough to write about anything else.

I`m odd like that, I can happily and easily sit and write and know what I want to say, but as soon as I have to speak to a number of people (I`m not quite so bad on a one to one), I get flustered and stumble over it, and knowing I do that makes me more nervous, so it becomes a vicious circle. I suppose too, I`m afraid of appearing stupid.

I suppose that explains too why I find doing this blog so helpful because I can write what I can`t say.

Spiders on Guard

Is it me, or are there a lot more spiders and webs everywhere in the garden this year?
I`ve just been out to pick some runner beans in my garden and the spiders seem to be on guard, they must know I don`t like them, they`ve got webs at all angles from bush to bush surrounding the beans which are in the middle. I know its very clever how they spin them, and the strength of the way they stand up to all the rain and heavy winds for something so apparently delicate is amazing, and when you see the sun shining on dew on them they are real works or art, But, why oh why, can`t they spin them somewhere else, so that I can get my beans?!

Prayer time

I like to have my `quiet time` at the start of the day, the only time when I can be sure, or as sure as I can be, of not being disturbed, of the phone not going, of the other person in the house not wanting to talk, or to call to me, but that means that I usually end up reading my bible and bible notes while I eat my breakfast. But yet I don`t really feel it`s right to be doing it that way, infact I felt guilty that I did do the two things at once. (I know readers may say I should get up earlier! I`ve tried that, it doesn`t work - I`m not awake enough, plus I have to start work early).

But, this morning while doing it two thoughts suddenly came to me while I was eating my breakfast – Firstly, that Jesus often ate and drank with his friends, and second that we are told of several different times when He broke bread and shared it with his disciples, crowds, a couple of people…. So maybe he wouldn`t mind sharing my breakfast time with me each day, that as I ate my bread, toast or whatever and drank my tea he was sharing with me?

Make over result

My parent is back, so my peace is shattered!,

But at least all the work of the transformation of her room with paint and paper and new accessories, was well worth while, it`s given the room a whole new look and a more spacious airy feel about it. And, she liked it ! Now all I`ve got to do is find a space for the rest of the clutter that I took out of the room, which has still not found a storage space. Why do we hoard so much? Or is it only us??

Vegetables

Cutting up a cabbage for lunch, set me thinking….
who first discovered that one could cook and safely eat them?
What made them decide to try it?
The more I thought about it, it made me wonder, who first decided to dig up a carrot and cook it? Or pick some beans to cook and eat? Same for all the other vegetables we enjoy today. Someone, somewhere must have first tried it, wonder who and where?
And, come to that, how many other things did they try and decide were not edible?
Did anyone die trying out different plants for food?

Cold or paint?

Having shown my feeling as headachy today, I feel I should add that it`s not the result of `the morning after the night before` kind of headache! I don`t go out at night like that. It`s either the fact that I`ve got a cold (caught from my boss at work who was sneezing her head off at the beginning of the week), or else it’s a reaction to the fumes from the painting and decorating I`ve been having done as a surprise for my parent.

Anyone any ideas how to get rid of the smell of paint?

House memories

Well, if you haven`t already guessed, the house is my dolls house!

It`s one of the few childhood toys that I still have and treasure.

I can remember the Christmas that it was given to me, (no, I`m not going to say how old I was at the time!) I spent all day playing with it, setting the table with the miniscule pink plastic cups, saucers, plates, knives and forks no bigger than ¼ inch (sorry aren`t into metric! I`m English), putting things into and out of the various cupboards and drawers in the furniture, putting the dolls in it to bed, moving the furniture round, winding the handle of the wringer on the tiny washing machine. I can remember too the excitement of saving up to buy something else to go in the house, the toy shop which had such a choice that it was hard to decide what to get.

It also brings back a memory of my uncle who made it for me, which is another reason I treasure it, to think that it was made especially for me.

I spent hours with that dolls house, contented happy hours, not just on that Christmas day but for weeks and years afterwards. I suppose in a way, it was an educational toy, in that I copied what went on in the home and relayed it into play in the dolls house. Wonder if that says anything about my contentment with being at home on my own now-a-days?

More about my house

Having posted that photo of my house yesterday, I must own up and say it`s not the house I live in!

But it is my house, and it is a house that has a lot of memories for me.
A lot of happy times have been had at that house. It was built about forty six years ago, and has four rooms – a bedroom, bathroom, lounge and kitchen, plus hallway with stairs up to the landing. It has been well carpeted throughout, wallpapered and redecorated several times. Countless sets of curtains, have been sewn and hung at the windows, and quilts and bedding provided. The rooms are well furnished with polished wood table, chairs, sideboard, bed, wardrobe etc., the kitchen has clean all white fittings including a cooker, sink, fridge. In the bathroom there is a large bath, along with a toilet and pedestal basin.
There are five people in the house, mother, father, two girls and a baby who often sleeps in the pram in the hall.

Where is the house?....I`ll tell you more tomorrow!

My house

Thought I`d share a picture of my house with you today, so here it is

A man in the house

Having said yesterday that I`ve got the house to myself this week, I should add to that, that I have actually got a man in the house! Wonder what the neighbours will think?! Looks good doesn`t it, as soon as I`m on my own I get someone in?

But its only during day time I hasten to add! He`s doing something for me to surprise a certain person.... at least I hope it will be a pleasant surprise and not too much of a shock when they return!

Freedom

I`ve got the house to myself this week, and it’s a lovely feeling. The parent that lives with me has gone off for a week, so it`s just me, well and the bird! It`s somehow as if a weight has been lifted off of me for a while. I suppose its not having the feeling of responsibility for someone else, particularly someone in their 80`s. Sub-consciously being listening for them, wondering if they`ll have a fall, whether they`ll slip over in the shower. Even, wondering (and I write this, I hope without sounding too morbid, but its always in the back of my mind) in the mornings when you go in, if they will wake up or not. It`s one of my biggest fears.

So, this week is a real treat, to just be able to be me. To relax and be at ease.

Prayer thoughts

I heard a prayer in church this morning, that I really found so good. I`m not saying that they aren`t all good but there was just something about this one that made it stand out for me. I think it was because it was so “down to earth” using everyday language and a fresh way of saying things. It certainly made me realise something that I hadn`t ever thought about or contemplated before, and gave me something to think about. It was along the lines of (I can`t remember the exact words) that God doesn`t expect us to be perfect, that he knows we are imperfect but that we are accepted as being such. I know that doesn`t mean that we have to be the opposite; or that it doesn`t matter what we say or do; or that we shouldn`t try; because it does matter. But somehow hearing that expressed was very helpful and strengthening.

Questions, questions, questions

I came across some intriguing questions the other day, so I`ll share some of them with you here. Wonder who can answer them!

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say paint is wet?

If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?

Why is it that whatever colour bubble bath you use, the bubbles are always white?

Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that`s falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over?

Why do people constantly return to the fridge with hopes that something new to eat will have appeared in it?

Why doesn`t glue stick to the bottle?

Rocket fault?

I blame the space rockets.
What for?....
….all the atrocious weather that the United States are suffering from. Can it only be coincidence that shortly after they again sent up a spaceship, to pierce the atmosphere that unusual weather happens?
Is it really all the fault of global warming? To my mind, unscientific as it is, it stands to reason that if you interfere with nature something`s bound to happen, and surely sending rockets up is damaging to the world.

Left behind

I`m looking round the town where I live for a man!! ….

He`s probably limping along, maybe wondering why he`s suddenly developed a limp, why one leg seems to be shorter than the other. If it`s raining he`s probably wondering why one foot is getting wet. To solve the mystery I suggest he returns to a shop in town where there is his Shoe!

It`s a bit like people who leave walking sticks behind and never coming back for them…. It makes me wonder how they got home without them! And why didn`t they miss them later even?

There`s a lot of mystery to lost property isn`t there. Wonder what the strangest thing that`s ever been left anywhere is?!

I`m a turtle

Wonder what animal others were in a former life?... I`ve just discovered in another of these quizzy things that I`m supposed to have been a turtle. It said…
“Come on out of your shell; in your former life you were a turtle named Spiros. The details are a bit sketchy, but we do have a brief summary based on public records: You were born in a small pond beside a taverna on a small Greek island. Despite having an exceptionally athletic father, you seemed to prefer sunbathing and mud baths to more active pursuits. Contrary to the rumour, your favourite colour was never green, but actually blue. Few people knew that you were a talented poet because most of your work was destroyed during a flash flood that swept not only your library, but your entire community into the Mediterranean Sea. Fortunately, you were sunbathing on a rock at the time so you only suffered the minor indignity of being stranded on your back until a kindly donkey set you right. You showed courage and determination and had the pluck to settle down, make some eggs, and live happily ever after with your wife Aphrodite and your 20 offspring”
(If you`re wondering if I did the Menace on the Road, yes I did, but aren`t going to boast by showing the good result I got on it! not a menace!)

Testing time

I enjoy trying out IQ tests, and have just done this one. And got a score of 133. I wouldn`t like to say that their assessment of me is completely correct though!
“Your IQ score is significantly above average. You have a wide range of exceptional skills which are much stronger than those of the average population. You are also skilled at answering the types of questions that are asked in a classic IQ test. The test analyses your strengths and weaknesses based on your mathematical, linguistic, visual-spatial and logical skills. Even though you have high scores in all of those areas, we are able to analyse your results to discover the areas in which you have the strongest abilities.You are gifted with the natural fluency of a writer and the visual and spatial strengths of an artist. Those skills contribute to your creative and expressive mind.”

I`ll try the Menace on the road one tomorrow!

Three lives

Is it really only a week since I went back to work from a holiday?! It feels and seems so much longer. Memories of the holiday seem quite distant. I could do with another one now! Things at work, not the actual job, but the unfairness of some things, the attitude of the boss, have got me today just feeling that I want to walk out and leave everything. Once it was enjoyable to go to work, now it’s a feeling of do the job and get home. I could do with a change, but yet, for what? Something more worthwhile and useful, but where to find it?
Still, at least I`ve got more interesting things to do at home in my “other” life. In a way I seem to have three lives! – one the working one, two the church one, and three the home one. And I know which two I prefer!

Flower

Its been a good day today, but I can`t think what to write about. So here`s a photo I took of an usual flower I saw whilst on holiday. I thought it quite a spectacular flower.

A bit of paper

It`s the way of the world… to have a “bit of paper” to say you can do something – or so someone said to me the other day.

Now, I`m not decrying those who have studied and worked hard to achieve “bits of paper”, those certificates are earned and deserved. For what I`m talking about see Thursday`s Blog.

But, does that “bit of paper” really make any difference?!
One can fill in all the correct answers because they`re so obvious – but – there`s a world of difference between knowing and doing! So, is that “bit of paper” really so important? What a strange way the world is getting into, if it thinks having a “bit of paper” makes any difference to how things are done.

I`ve got a “bit of paper” from primary school that says I can swim, but I can`t swim a stroke!

Qualified to shop

Following on from yesterday, maybe this could be the training form for Customers…….

1. What do you need to take with you to shop?

2. What should you take to use when entering a supermarket?

3. How should you speak to the staff?

4. If something is out of stock, what should you do
a) complain bitterly to the staff that it`s their fault?
b) Accept the fact and look for an alternative?
c) Accept the fact and wait until another day?

5. What should you do if your mobile phone rings while you are at a counter/till?

6. What do you do if you`re at the back of a long queue and another checkout is opened?

7. How do you pack your bag?

8. Do you idly stand and wait until your shopping`s all been checked through, then start packing before paying?

9. You think you`ve been wrongly charged for something, what do you do:
a) Shout at the cashier?
b) Accept that everyone is human and can make mistakes?
c) Politely ask for it to be checked?

10. If the price is right and you are wrong do you:
a) Apologise for doubting them?
b) Say nothing and stalk off?

11. If something is broadcast as going to be is short supply do you:
a) buy up as much as you can?
b) buy just what you need, so that all can buy some?
c) not buy any because you`ve got plenty already?

12. Do you think that you are superior to those who work in shops?

If you pass all those questions you can have a piece of paper to say you`re qualified to shop!

Letting off steam!

I`ve been working in a retail environment for well over 30 years, and today I was asked to fill in a Customer Service form, On it were questions such as:
“What do you say to a customer when they come to the till?”
“How do you pack a bag of shopping?”
“How do you answer the telephone?”
“What is the uniform like?”
“What do you do if a customer asks for an item not on the shelf?”
“What do you do with a customer that`s lost?”!!

What a total waste of time and paper. What an insult after spending all those years doing the job “unqualified”. On querying the need to do it for the `long serving staff`, I was told, “its to get a bit of paper saying you can do it – it’s the way of the world today everything needs to be qualified”.
What a load of old rubbish.

Haven`t whizz kids in offices got anything better to do?! Have they ever worked at shop floor level and experienced it first hand?

And, whilst we`re all spending hours filling in these useless forms, shelves go unfilled, queues grow longer and longer. I wonder would the customers be happier knowing they`re being served by a person with a bit of paper, or would they rather see more tills open and full shelves?!

Maybe everyone will soon be required to fill in a form before they can come shopping, to see if they`re qualified enough to shop!

The one above sees all

Going back to my window seat, which I was writing about the other day, it was interesting all the things one saw from a different height and perspective! And without being seen! There were joggers some young and going quickly others older and trying to keep up! A race type rowing boat with a crew of six on the sea which would have looked more at home on a river; the sad sight of an old man picking up a discarded newspaper from a bin to sit and read.
But the thing that I found most touching, was seeing that almost all of the older couples were walking along together hand in hand.

Association

I`m going to confuse people in the next few days or weeks!
If they`re looking for something they recognise or associate with me they won`t see it.
They`ll see something different!
But, what it is, I`m not going to tell you here!
At least not yet!

View from the Window Seat

One of the joys of my holiday was that my bedroom had a window seat, something I`ve always fancied having in a room, but have never had. There wouldn`t be much point in having one in the house I live in because there`s nothing to see, and I certainly wouldn`t see the sea even if we had another storey or two on top! But there sitting on this one first thing in the morning it was lovely to see the sun sparkling on the sea. The photo though doesn`t really do it justice.

Worth it

Having written a few days ago wondering if all the work entailed in preparing for a holiday is really worth it. I`ve just come back from a holiday and can say I`ve found the answer.

On my second day away, walking along a promenade by the sea I suddenly realised that tension, which I wasn`t consciously aware of having, was gone. I felt free and relaxed. There was no clock-watching, nothing to be done by a time deadline. Just time to walk, sit in the sun and read, time to just “be”. To get up each day, look out of the window and then decide what to do, nothing planned, no daily routine to be stuck to.

But, was it a rest – not really! Mentally, yes it was, but physically, no it wasn`t!, The walking, apart from a couple of hours all week, wasn`t just walking, it was wheelchair pushing. It`s surprising how even a flat looking pavement or promenade isn`t actually flat, they either slope right or left or up or down.

Was it worth it? Yes it was
But now I could do with a few more days to have a rest!

Nothingness !

I`ve been “busy doing nothing” today! Lots of bits and pieces but nothing to really settle to. And can`t get any inspiration for what to write either. My minds blank. Funny isn`t it how some days lots of ideas come and other days nothing. So I`ll just put a picture on here today instead.

"Ready for take off?"

Holiday memories

Thinking about holidays, it came to me how different they are today to when I was a child. Yes, I`m going to reminisce today! I had memories come to me that I`d not thought about for years. Strange isn`t it how something suddenly comes back to you.

Anyway, memories of holidays…… We would have just one fortnight holiday each year and always the same weeks. I can remember Mum, on the Saturday about tea time, taking me walking up to the railway station where we`d stand and wait for my Dad, who having taken the suitcase back to work with him at lunch time, would come straight from work to the station. I can remember Mum getting anxious one year when the train had arrived at the platform and there was no sign of Dad, then just in time he came running up the road, he`d got delayed getting away from work. But we made it.

We`d go into what was then called `apartments`. No, not flats! This was where you stayed in someones home, in the way you would for B&B today, but you chose and shopped for the food you wanted for each meal and they prepared the meals, - breakfast, dinner and tea. So it was like being at home, but in someone else`s house with them doing the work. I can remember there was a butchers on the opposite corner to where we stayed, and I used to be sent over the road with a piece of paper saying what we wanted that day. I was about 6 ot 7 at the time.

How different to today.

Thoughts of holidays

I really wonder sometimes if holidays really are worthwhile?

Even to go away for a few days seems to give so much extra work beforehand, and I don`t just mean the planning and packing. But there`s always so many jobs that must be done, so much work that must be got ahead with to cover the time one is away both at work and at home. So many arrangements to make, like pets to be arranged to be looked after, someone to look after the house, or to water the plants etc…etc….

And then, when one comes back from a holiday there`s more piles of work to be done at work that others haven`t done in one`s absence. There`s piles of correspondence, washing and things needing sorting out at home.

Is it really worth it?!

Spring Cleaning

The theme of the flower festival I visited yesterday was “Diary of a Parson”, and the arrangement in the photo I posted was church Spring-cleaning. I just hope they don`t have spiders there as big as the one on display! I`d run a mile!... well a few yards, I never was any good at sport and running at school, and used to dread sports days, I could win the egg and spoon race though because it paid off not to be too quick running for that, pity they only did that in primary school sports. - now there`s an idea for another race for the Olympics!

But, that`s getting side tracked. I wondered looking at that arrangement if the parson really did do the spring-cleaning?

I`ve been to see a Flower Festival today, something I enjoy doing. To see the beauty of so many different flowers, some very exotic and some well known and loved ones, but in such a rainbow of colours and shades.
One design in todays that I particularly liked, both for its flowers and foliage but more especially for the way that amongst all the special times that were depicted, this portrayed an everyday task. Here`s a picture of it. I`ll tell you tomorrow what it was, if you can`t guess!

Sunset

Well, its got late, so here`s a picture I took of the sunset set tonight.

Not that many days

Saying 3011 days yesterday, it`s a bit frightening, it doesn`t sound all that long does it, with the way days and months fly by. It`s almost the end of this month, and it doesn`t seem many days since it was the start of it. Maybe I should be ordering my Zimmer frame, and making my booking for an old folks home?!

Still, they say “you`re as old as you feel” don`t they? Hope they`re right!

Over 60?

Having said about a “senior moment” the other day, I`ve been to a DIY place today (no I`m not a DIY enthusiast and won`t be doing the work, someone else is going to do it!), but on getting to the till I was asked, very politely, but asked all the same “are you over 60?” !!
I was totally taken aback.
I`ve still got 4,335,840 minutes before I reach that!
Did I really look that old?
She certainly didn`t `make my day`!

(And if you`re trying to work that out, its 72264 hours, or 3011 days including leap years!)

Happiness is.....

Out of all those definitions of happiness which I listed yesterday, I think for me what really gives me happiness is the feeling of contentment.

Where do I find it?....

…. sitting quietly somewhere on my own with a book to read

…. watching sun though a stained glass window

…. walking along a cliff top

…. looking at the sea, and the sound of the sea
(this somehow helps to take worries away)

…. getting in my car and just driving

…. being on my own after a day at work

What is Happiness?

Trying to think what to write for my recipe for happiness, made me start thinking – what really is Happiness?

I know what happiness feels like to me, but yet it’s a different feeling at different times, it seems to have many facets, so I looked it up in the dictionary. And found that it can mean being cheerful, contented, delighted, glad, high-spirited, ecstatic, joyful, jovial, carefree, pleased, thrilled, overjoyed, …. and many more definitions.

So how can one possibly write one recipe for all of those?

Still looking for the Recipe

I`ve been thinking all day of what would be my recipe for happiness. I`m still trying to analyse it – so more of that anon.

I`ll share with any readers though my “senior moment” of today! I took my car to work with me this morning, it was a beautiful sunny morning (but then so it was when I walked to work yesterday and by lunch time it was pouring and I got soaked), and anyway the car wanted a drink, to I took it to the petrol station on my way to work. It enjoyed its drink and purred happily along to the car park, where I left it sitting contentedly with some others while I went to work.

At last dinner time came and I left off work, came out of the building where I work and set off home enjoying the sunshine. I went along several road until I got to where my house came into sight. Looking at the driveway of the house I thought that looks empty. Yes, you`ve guessed it, I`d left the car sitting on the car park!!

Is that the first sign of old age?

A Recipe for Happiness

One of the newspaper cuttings that I wrote about yesterday that caught my eye was “A recipe for Happiness” it read:-

A cottage neat, a garden trim
but not too large in size,
enough to serve my every whim,
but not to win a prize.

A kitchen clean but not too grand,
An arm-chair that will fit me,
One for the wife, you understand,
And a small one for some “maybe”.

Some work to do, a living wage,
With just a bit beside
To save until a greying age,
To use at eventide.

God with me when I start the day
An ever constant friend;
And, when the hours have gone their way,
God at my journey`s end.

It set me wondering what would be my Recipe for Happiness? Maybe I`ll try writing one, but it won`t be in verse!
I wonder too what would be others recipes for happiness?

Cuttings

Looking through a recently found Bible of my great grandfather`s I found he had put between he pages many torn out quotes and texts torn out of the newspapers of his time around the 1930`s & 1940`s. Although the paper is yellowing now the print is clear and many of their content just as relevant to life today. I felt somehow privileged to touch what he had touched and read what he had read. Some made me stop and think, I wonder what he was thinking about as he read that one. I wonder too if he had placed them in certain pages within the Bible to link with the bible reading, maybe for his preaching, or were they just randomly there. I`ll probably share some of them on this blog over the coming days.

There`s some interesting bits or articles on the back of some of them too, like the following:
“Scots Girl`s Idea.
A potato-flour chocolate cake from the recipe of an Edinburgh girl, Brenda McClean, is to be made by the royal
kitchens for Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret”

I wonder if that cake got made, and what it was like?

Not a quiet Town

Having said about living in a small quiet town, I should add that at the moment it`s far from a quiet town - its full of grockles… they`re everywhere… on the pavements, wandering across the road, standing in the middle of the pavement, aimlessly heading nowhere in particular, except under my feet whichever way I try to go to get past them!

Still, I suppose I shouldn`t moan, I`ll be a grockle too shortly when I go on holiday, but – I hope I`ll have more sense than to do what the ones here do!

Or do we all leave our brains behind when we go away?

Day Off

Well, its got to bed time, I`m tired and can`t think what to write tonight.
I`ve had a lazy day altogether really, didn`t somehow feel like doing much. So I spent the afternoon on the computer, the evening sitting reading , yet I feel far more tired that if I`d been busy doing things all day and evening. Strange how I often find that. The less one does the tireder one is. Wonder why it is? Or is it just me?!

What`s happening to the world?

I live in a small town and on my way to work today saw a notice in a shop window that said…. “physical and personal abuse will not be tolerated in this store”. It really made me wonder, what are things coming to when shops in a quiet town feel they need to start displaying such signs?

What`s happened to courtesy, politeness and good manners?

Office Working?

I share with you today, some Office Advice sent to me by a friend......

Top management can get away with a clean desk. For the rest of us, it looks like we're not working hard enough. Build huge piles of documents around your workspace. To the observer, last year's work looks the same as today's work; it's volume that counts. Pile them high and wide. If you know somebody is coming to your desk, bury the document you'll need halfway down in an existing stack and rummage for it when he/she arrives.

People with documents in their hands look like hardworking employees heading for important meetings. People with nothing in their hands look like they're heading for the canteen. People with a newspaper in their hand look like they're heading for the toilet. Above all, make sure you carry loads of stuff home with you at night, thus generating the false impression that you work longer hours than you do.

Never answer your phone if you have voice mail. People don't call you just because they want to give you something for nothing - they call because they want YOU to do work for THEM. That's no way to live. Screen all your calls through voice mail. If somebody leaves a voice mail message for you and it sounds like impending work, respond during lunch hour when you know they're not there - it looks like you're hardworking and conscientious even though you're being a devious weasel

Always leave the office late, especially when the boss is still around. You could read magazines and storybooks that you always wanted to read but have no time until late before leaving. Make sure you walk past the boss' room on your way out. Send important emails at unearthly hours (e.g. 9:35pm, 7:05am, etc.) and during public holidays.

Any time you use a computer, it looks like "work" to the casual observer. You can send and receive personal e-mail and chat and generally have a good time without doing anything remotely related to work. When you get caught by your boss your best defence is to claim you're teaching yourself to use new software, thus saving valuable training expenses

Read up on some computer magazines and pick out all the jargon and new products. Use the phrases freely when in conversation with bosses. Remember: They don't have to understand what you say, but you will sound impressive.

If you work in a big open plan office, always leave a spare jacket draped over the back of your seat. This gives the impression that you are still on the premises. The second jacket should be worn while swanning around elsewhere

Always try to look impatient and annoyed to give your bosses the impression that you are always busy.
....

Do I follow that advice??? Now that would be telling !!

Success

A few weeks ago I wrote about a game of table tennis that I`d found on here and that in the tournament I hadn`t manage to beat the purple bat…. well…. success I`ve done it, And gone on to beat the orange and brown one too. Must be improving! Or am I spending too much time on this!!!

The sea

Well, its got late in the day, I`ve been busy, and haven`t had time to think what to write, so as I was thinking about the sea yesterday, here`s a picture of it.

Roots

I`ve been learning during the last week some of my family history. Its something I`ve often felt that I wanted to do, but have never done. I never knew any of my grand-parents they all died when I was a baby, so to realise that my Uncle actually knew my great-granddad and could tell me about him from first hand experience was so good. I heard about the way of life and realised how hard life was in those days – the way they would in all weathers walk distances of 10 miles or more to get anywhere. Yet, they lived to be well over 80 years old – maybe there`s a message there for those like me who should walk more, but don`t!.
Hearing about them, made them become real people, not just names or pictures in an album. And hearing the strength of his faith, and the way he shared that faith has been very inspiring as well as challenging.
It`s been interesting, its been fascinating, but most of all it has given me a strong feeling of belonging.

Creature language

Have you heard a frog with a Norfolk accent?
No?
Well nor had I until yesterday. If you think I`m kidding follow this link to the bottom of the page.

Its set me wondering, how many more creatures have the dialect and accent of the county or place where they live? Have you heard any?
Maybe there`s Somerset sheep? Scottish deer? Yorkshire bees? - now that would make an interesting study for someone!

Moving pictures

I`ve just seen two pictures of my Dad as a little boy. It`s something I`ve often longed to see, so it was a great thrill and experience to do just that recently.

I feel far more “related” to that side of my family history than I do to my mother`s side, yet, it`s something I know so little about. My Dad never talked about his family much, maybe he didn`t get the chance because on the occasions when I can remember him starting to say something, Mum would then interrupt with something about her family and go off from there.

How I wish that I`d got my Dad to talk about his family and childhood. Not that it was probably very exciting, but just to hear the everyday things that he`d done, to find out what he`d been like as a boy.

Why do we always realise things too late, to do anything about it?

Missing Indicators

Having written the other day about flashing speed limits, something else that annoys me when driving is the number of drivers that think other drivers are mind readers! Where have all the indicators gone, don`t they make cars with them on now?

An inedible pear

As I write this I`m sitting looking at a pear.
It`s a beautiful pear, but it`s brown.
No, its not a rotten or decaying pear, but I`m not going to eat it.
It`s got a lovely feel to it, it`s very smooth and shiny.
It is in fact a wooden pear!
It, to me, is a real thing of beauty, it`s a finely turned and crafted item, the grain of the wood so perfectly flowing with the shape of the pear, and so beautifully polished. It makes me just want to hold it and feel it.
What skill some people to do have, to make such wonderful items from natural material.

Wonderful world

I`ve been thinking this evening with some friends about “What a wonderful world”. All sorts of images come to mind, from the gift of human life, to all the plants, animals, seashore, birds, countryside, rainbows and so much more of nature.
But as well as all the natural things that make up the world, thinking about it, it seems to me that acts of kindness, thoughtfulness or helpfulness at the right moment, and at someones time of need, can also make it a wonderful world.

Start of the Week

Its Monday… the start of another week – or so many say and thus dislike Monday`s. But, yet we also say on a Sunday that Sunday is the start of the week.
So how many starts does a week have?

Flashing speeds

We seem to be getting more and more flashing speed limit signs on roads now-a-days. Those ones where as you approach them, if you`re doing over the speed the light up to warn you what the limit should be. But, I wonder how effective they really are? I always get the feeling that once I`ve got past one without lighting it up, I can speed up!! I`m not saying I do this because that`s what I do (because I don`t), but it`s a sort of instinctive feeling that I`ve succeeded in not lighting it up, so now can go quicker, and it makes me wonder if others feel the same about them?

And the ones that annoy me, are the ones that flash at you long before you`ve got to where the limit starts – do they do that as a warning, or are they just incorrectly set up?!

Reading what I type

I`ve been doing some typing recently of the history of an old evangelist. I`d heard read the story of his life before, but by actually having to type it out, it made me read it carefully and thoroughly, and I found it very inspiring. I`ve noticed before that if I have to type out such items, I find I take in what I`m typing more than if I just read something.

I wonder why that is? And, if I`m odd in this or do others find the same?

Which Nation?

If you`re tired of the nation you live in, I`ve just discovered a way to build a new nation.

In this new nation I wonder what we`d set as our principles, priorities, and rules of government?

Or even what we`d call it…?

The Men are in again!

We always seem to have men about the house this year!
Mother will be getting a bad reputation! - as soon as I go to work, men come in!!
Yes, the workmen are in again, or rather I should say the workmen are out. This time they`re repairing some of the outside walls because being an old house some of the bricks are crumbling.
It`s been a year of different jobs needing doing.
Why is it that everything always seems to repairing or replacing at once, then one can go years without needing anything?

A calm sea

I`ve been looking at the sea again. A calm sea today, but what a variety of colours in it, from turquoise, to sea blue and patches of grey, as the sun and clouds moved across it. Didn`t have my camera with me though, but here`s a picture of a calmer one. The sea is rather like life isn`t it, some days all goes right and its calm, other days are full of problems and turmoil.

Calling alI Inventors!

Coming home with hands full of shopping bags, the other day, having to fish in my bag to find a door key, insert it in the lock and turn it, all whilst juggling bags, I wondered…. Why doesn`t someone invent door keys for houses the same as car keys, that you just have to press, or the even more posher modern ones where you only have to be in the vicinity of the car door and it will unlock for you?
I suppose perhaps there is some reason why it`s not been done, but I can`t think what! It would make life so much easier. And in these days of modern technology surely someone could come up with some secure method of doing so.

Waves of water

As I said yesterday, I love sitting watching the sea, particularly when there are waves breaking, the sound of them is like no other sound. The sight of them at times so majestic, at others gentle and calm, the way they turn over somehow setting off a long roll of turning water, changing colour from grey and blue to white. From the delicate fineness of the white spray, to the contrasting grey heaviness of the expanse of the sea, it’s the same substance. Yet so totally different in its form, what else, I wonder, could change as much as that. Water is an amazing thing, what strength it has, what power.

Waves

I`ve been sitting watching the waves this evening, its something I enjoy doing. So thought I`d share them with my readers.
Might share the thoughts that came to me as I watched them, during this week too!
I always find that I do a lot of thinking and discovering as I watch the sea.
It`s alive.
It`s ever changing, yet constant.

Wishes

If you could have one wish to change something about yourself, I wonder what it would be?

I know that one of mine would be to be able to be better at making conversation with people.
I know I`m useless at it, and find myself just ending up saying "did you?", "were you?" etc.. just to try and keep a conversation going. And how boring that must be for the other person!
Perhaps that`s why I often feel left out of things and feel lonely when with a group of people. I suppose too that its lack of self-confidence - in that I think people won`t be interested to hear what I`ve been doing, or want to say, and that I suppose (thinking deeper), goes back to childhood and being told to be "seen and not heard". I guess our upbringing has a lot to answer for?
But, how to change? that`s the question?!

*I must add - that I like being on my own and am content to be alone, I like my own space, its just that in those type of circumstances I feel lonely.

Realisation

The Communion service I went to this morning, really touched me somehow, it was quite moving and seemed to speak exactly what I needed to hear. I know it wasn`t addressed solely to me, but it could have been for the relevance it had. It did make me think and realise too, that I do need to make more time to read my bible, and to not just read it, but to think about what I`ve read and to pray more. There is a big difference between just reading words and saying I`ve read that!, to reading words and actually thinking what they say and mean, isn`t there?
But, not living on my own, it is difficult to get a quiet half-hour or so to do that, without being disturbed. But I really must try harder to.

Don`t know why, but I`ve got on to writing about colours this week… so let`s have another day of it!....

What do certain colours bring memories of? For me its: -
Red – wobbly jellies an aunt always made and brought which weren`t quite set!
Orange - the warmth from a real coal fire
Yellow – a singing canary
Green – home – the paint outside was always green
Blue – has to be - the sea!
Navy blue - school uniform
Brown - chocolate
Black - coal in the old coal shed
White - lilies of the valley

Wonder what colours give memories to others?

Does colour make a difference?

Thinking about colour after I wrote that yesterday, If red is danger, then black seems to be a sinister colour, a bad colour, it often seems to be used to depict evil and wrong.

I used to have a dislike almost a fear of black dogs, thinking somehow that because they were black they were dangerous, until I met a friends old black dog and my reactions changed at once on meeting it. He was `an old softie` very loveable and I became very fond of him. So it just went to show how preconceived ideas about something can be so wrong. Oh, I know not all dogs are the same, in the way that not all people are the same, but it proves one shouldn`t perhaps judge things by colour after all, doen`t it?

Male or Female?

I wonder why it is that we (or I, at least), seem to refer to insects etc., all as “he”. Yesterday, getting hold of a book at work to fill in some information on, I suddenly spotted some legs moving on the edge of it! With an aggghhh! I quickly dropped the book, and made the person next to me jump!
Yes, you`ve guess it, it was a spider. It dropped to the floor and I said there he is. And it dawned on me later that I tend to always say he, when describing creatures etc., yet, there must be female ones. Wonder why they are all `hes` to me? Do others do the same? But thinking about it, as I write this I realise there`s an exception to that… I call ladybird`s `shes`! Maybe its because of the colour?!

Why, why, why?

I`ve just heard from a friend that her friend who is about the same age as both of us, is terminally ill with cancer and has just been told she has only a few weeks to live. I`m at a loss for what to say to my friend to help her. Other than to say, something that I learn from hard experience, - to make the most of all the time you have. I also visited someone last week who has this terrible disease, again not an old person.
I`m sorry to say it, but it makes me question my faith. Why does a God of love allow this to happen? I can understand in a way when terrible things happen because of things people have done, because God gives us the choice of how we live our lives, but natural things I can`t understand.

Wasting food

I think I`ve written before about the amount of food that gets thrown away by shops just because of a date, when there`s actually nothing wrong with it. How can we justify doing this, when so many starve? OK I know we can`t send them it, but why, oh why don`t the firms cut down on over ordering, and then maybe they could consider giving the equivalent of what they lose in wastage to help the starving instead. For example why do the shelves still have to be as full of bread etc., late in the day as they are in the mornings? (that causes a lot of waste, because it has to be destroyed the next day) and that’s only one product. Surely customers are aware enough to know that if they are late there won`t be much to choose from. Am I alone in thinking this way?

What to do with £2,000

The answer to the question on my blog of yesterday, is that I read in the paper that it costs parents over £2,000 to keep a child amused during the school holidays! I couldn`t believe it, I had to read it twice! What on earth do they do to need to spend that amount?

And then I look at the television and see all the poor starving children and families in Niger, and it really makes me mad to think of the way we squander money away on useless things, when so many haven`t the basic things to live on.

How can anyone justify spening £2,000 on a child in just 6 weeks?

Unbeliebable cost

I`ve just read in the newspaper last night, that it costs over £2,000 to do ..?????........... in the summer holidays.
What do you think it is?!

Clashing Dates

Why is it, that for weeks there`s nothing special on, yet as soon as I`ve accepted an invitation to something, I discover the date of the event that I really want to go and see, and of another that I`d like to go and see (yes some Flower Festivals!) are exactly the same weekend? One of them was particularly good last year. And being a working person there is only one day of the weekend that I can go, so it`s no good saying I can do both. The thing I`ve accepted the invitation for isn`t even that interesting as all the other folk that will be there are in the older generation – in their 80`s! I think they only asked me, because they asked my parent to it. Yet, how can I get out of it? I`m in a quandary over what to do.

Peace

Enjoy the scene. (I can`t think what to write today!)

Leading Bird?

I stood watching a flock of birds flying and swooping over the marshes the other evening. They were so graceful with all their twisting and turning as a whole group.
It always amazes me when I see them like that, that none of them seem to collide with one another however closely they seem to be flying together. I`m intrigued as to how they decide which way to go as a flock, which way to swirl round….is there one in the lead? If so, how do they decide which of them it should be? How do they convey to each other when they`re going to swoop left, or right, or up or down?
They all seem to move with one accord. It`s a joy to watch. One of the marvels of nature.

Sunday Best

Why, I wonder is it that if you walk through a town or anywhere on a Sunday morning you can tell the people who are going to church, just by looking at them - by the way they are dressed?
Why do we keep certain clothes just to wear on Sundays?
Is it just because it`s traditional and always been done?
Is there a deeper reason, like giving ones best to God?
Yet, does it really matter what we wear to go to church? Isn`t it more important that we go than what we wear?
I wonder, is that why people and especially young people are reluctant to come to church, because they feel their choice of clothes isn`t consistent with what they see as “church people”.

Age Difference

I`m not as old as I thought!
I spent a bit of time yesterday evening doing this test and discovered that I`m a year and four months younger than I am!
When we have a birthday we often say, we`re not going to get any older, we`re going to start counting backwards, wonder if this is the start of it?!
So long as it doesn`t mean I`ve got to work another year and four months extra before I get to retirement I`m happy with the result!

From Logic to Sudoku

I`ve always enjoyed doing Logic Puzzles. You know - those grids when you have to work out things like who had what for breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper and what colour plate they ate it off and whether it was burnt, raw, tough or tasty etc… all useless stuff. But it kept one occupied for hours. Infact at one time I compiled some and even had 2 or 3 published in a magazine of them, but that`s years ago now. I still enjoy the books of them, but have today got hooked onto another kind of puzzle, the Sudoku number squares. I suppose in a way they`re similar to logic. But, I wonder if they`ll manage to keep my interest as long, or will they become monotonous? At least with the logic there`s often a lot of subtle humour in the clues and names etc.
But at least they both help to get me to sit and relax, either sitting in the sun or wherever.

Brothers and sisters

I hope you enjoyed meeting my brother, on my blog yesterday!

But, to be serious, a brother or sister is something I`d love to have. I haven`t got either. I frequently wish that I had. I often think how good it would be to have them, to have a feeling of belonging, to be part of a family, to have someone to share things with, do things with, go places with, as well as to have someone to share the responsibility of an elderly parent. The fact that I`m an only one, and have that responsibility scares and frightens me.

A big brother?

I went to see my brother today.......


hansome chap, isn`t he?!

Restlessness

I`m restless today. After a busy week last week, tiredness caught up with me yesterday. Today I thought I`d take myself off along the coast for the day. I got some rolls and ham for a picnic lunch, took a chair and a book, and off I went. I sat on the grass along a cliff top and enjoyed it for a while, the sun was warm it was quite peaceful. Then after an hour or two I began to think I shouldn`t be sitting here, I should be back doing……all the jobs I`d left behind. But yet I didn`t want to go back, but neither did I want to sit any longer, and for once I didn`t feel like going for a walk either. A cool mist came in from the sea, so I drove back a bit along the coast and stopped at another place and sat by the water, but again after a short while, I was restless and moved on, stopped at another Staithe, then after a while moved on again.

Why can`t I sit and relax, why can`t I settle. Is it that I miss the busyness and purpose of last week, and now feel flat? I don`t know.

Different Atmospheres

I was writing yesterday about “soaking up the atmosphere”. I`ve said before on here how I enjoy looking at stained glass windows, so that takes me into different churches. I wonder if it`s just me, or do others find the same, that as soon as you open a church door even though they are all churches, they all seem to have a different feel about them. I don`t mean different to the outside world, although they do have a difference to it, but I mean different from one another. Some I like the feel of, some I don`t; some feel welcoming, others don`t; some make me feel uneasy and I want to get out as quickly as I can, others I`m content to walk round and look and absorb it. –
- All different atmospheres.
Yet, why are they all so different?

Atmosphere

I`ve heard many expressions used during the last few days. As I wrote the other day, I was involved with a Flower Festival somewhere. There were the obvious comments like, how beautiful, wonderful perfume of the flowers, better than last year, etc.. but the one I think I found the most memorable was from one elderly lady, who sat on a seat at the back of the church and was heard to say “I`m just soaking up the atmosphere”.

Whilst others were scurrying around (myself included), or casually walking round I wonder, did we really appreciate the beauty, the perfume and the “atmosphere” in the way that lady did, just sitting there, taking it all in.

Maybe `atmosphere` is different for each of us?
To many of us there, it was a busy bustling atmosphere, yes an enjoyable one – but wasn`t there more to it than that?
I walked round that same church early this morning with no-one about, I sat for a while in the quietness just looking and smelling the perfume, and what a different atmosphere.

Beatrice Potter in flowers

Well, its got too late in the evening to write much, so here`s something I saw today

Moving Moments

I`ve been involved with a Flower Festival this week, and have experienced some moving moments.

There was the time yesterday afternoon when I looked across the church and among the people walking round, I spotted the head of someone I knew, standing tall and looking at the flowers. Perhaps nothing unusual in that you may think, but for about the last five of six years he had been in a wheelchair following a stroke, and this was the first time I had seen him walk. It made me feel very emotional. It `made my day`.

The previous day, I`d been very moved by an elderly lady of the church, for years she`d been very, very active in all sorts of ways and particularly with baking lots of goodies, now she was unable to do this. But she came and sat on one of the seats and was cheerfully greeting and talking to people as they passed, giving them a good welcome. I went to speak to her and she said “I can`t do anything now to help the Festival”, I told her that she was doing a very important job, just by being there to speak to people. Then on just giving her a simple flower festival badge to wear, she said “you`ve made my day”. It really made me think - how just a small insignificant thing like that, could mean so much to someone. Her determination to be there, and her attitude to her problems (by being cheerful and not complaining about them), and her obvious pleasure at such a small thing, was so moving.

Words fail me

I feel I ought to say something about the terrible events in London yesterday, but words fail me.
So I`ll just say that my thoughts and sympathy are with those who are still worried and anxious about friends and loved ones who they know are in London at this time and they haven`t been able to get contact with; with those who have been injured; with families and friends of those who are bereaved.
And I give thanks for all the rescue and care workers.

Olympic games

So, Britain`s won the right to host the 2012 Olympic Games. It`s going to cost billions of pounds, yes billions not millions according to the news on the radio this morning.....

Strange how extortionate sums of money can always be found for things like that and not for medical care for those waiting for operations for years, or for helping to feed all the starving and underpriviliged in the world.

What peculiar priorities people have, when to just show off ones strength or ability in sports and games seems far more important that the lives of poor and hungry people.

I shan`t be giving a pound, nor even a penny to support the games!