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.