Hope

I have only now discovered that the other day a very lovely elderly couple who live in our community have lost their home. Whilst they were enjoying a night out, their home was burned to the ground. All they were left with were the clothes they were wearing and their car. Home and possessions gone forever. Our thoughts go out to them.

It is times such as these we realize there are those worse off than ourselves.


In a fleeting moment all is gone forever
A lifetime of memories up in smoke
Pain and tears break a heart in two
And things will never be the same again.

But life goes on and we pick up the pieces
With help from friends and family
We see a light ahead, a way forward
That light is what we call hope.


Spare a thought for those who have suffered great loss

Enjoy your day

Stay Calm and Collected

In my last blog I was looking for a new tablet to replace my old tired one. I had to make a decision as to what make I would purchase. After careful consideration and taking into account the useful information from friends, I decided to stay with once again an Android tablet. I must say, I was wavering towards an Apple iPad, however, since my laptop and smart phone would not be compatible this made my choice that much easier.

I am now faced with the problem of setting my old tablet to a factory setting to delete all my data. This is, I may add no mean feat. As I set up the new tablet, all my data from the old one synced perfectly through, this is great I thought. But wait a minute, if  I now do a reset will I lose my photos and music on all devices???? so, I did a few experiments to find that indeed yes, I would lose my photos and music if I deleted them from the old tablet even when I disable the syncing from all devices.

Having had the guidance from a friend and checked on Google for answers, I find that after five days of reading, trying and totally being frustrated, I am back at square one with an old tablet holding all my data and feeling totally inadequate at reading and listening to instructions to effectively do what should be a simple function as this. One would think that in this day and age of technology, to simply press a button would do the job, of course what is the right button, now there is a thought!!

I guess there is only one solution for me I shall have to succumb to having this done by a qualified technician and pay for my inadequacy. I could of course put my old tablet in a drawer and forget about it.......or could I? No, I doubt that very much, I like to have these things tied and sorted having peace of mind that precious photos and the like are not going to come back and haunt me and become an issue of concern if the old device is once again reserected.

One consolation, I am enjoying my new tablet and learning the various functions that it has to offer and to stay calm and collective in the hope I find a solution and put all this frustration behind me and move forward to less demanding projects.


Have a happy day and don't sweat the small stuff!!

Decisions, decisions

I am in the process of replacing my tired Android tablet. But, what to choose.....having looked online for comparisons and shopped personally, I am in a conundrum. Do I go for Apple or Microsoft. Will it be iPad, Windows or Android. Will I choose WiFi, cellular or both. What colour even, how many gigabytes. Oh to have a technical mind. It's all too much at a senior age!!

A friend has advised I go with Apple, however, having only known and worked with Microsoft I am reluctant to change. I suppose if I make a wrong choice I only have to live with it for a few short years as batteries lose their power and storage can be an issue, although I am told 'get icloud' storage will no longer be  a problem and those thousands of photos can be kept safe, that's a relief then. So, yet another decision to be made.

No doubt in the weeks to follow I will eventually be sitting at home with a brand new toy, trying to come to grips with all the features to explore. Happy days!!

Don't worry, be happy!

The Return Home

A few snaps from my trip

I have just returned from a wonderful six weeks holiday in Scotland, taking in a trip to Paris for seven days and a long weekend with my Niece and partner in England.

The whole trip seemed like a whirlwind, having something to do each day and to visit family and friends, not enough time to spend with each only a few days or hours with some, although it was quality time and very enjoyable and memorable.

The weather was not too kind to us, however, when the sun did come out, it was very hot.

The time spent in the air was quite tiring, the first flight out of New Zealand was eleven hours to Hong Kong, then ten hours to London and another hour to Edinburgh. The same on the way back.
To sit in a chair for such long periods can be quite stressful, however, the movies, music etc in flight was not too bad. Then came the meals, my do we eat an awful lot of food, albeit very tasty and healthy then there is the nice glass of wine which assists in keeping the mind in a slight trance of wellbeing, well for some it does! So, after all the activities of meal time it is time to settle down to try and sleep, huh! no chance, not so easy to sleep in the upright position moving from one side to the other so you watch another film, then another and by this time your eyes are hanging out for sleep.
But, time moves on and its time for another meal and at last the descent down to our destination.

I did this same routine four times and by the time I got back to New Zealand although I had a marvellous time, I was ready to get home to a normal routine and familiar sights and a well earned sleep.

My husband had had six weeks of looking after the house, the garden and the dogs, and he did a splendid job too. I wondered if my dogs would have forgotten me, no they had not. I was sniffed, nuzzled and followed from room to room, they were happy Mum was home.

It is always nice to go away, but so much nicer to come home.

Having said all that, roll on the next trip back to Scotland, Och Aye the Noo!!

Have a brilliant day

A Paris Experience

I have just spent seven days in Paris on holiday with my sister. The weather was absolutely beautiful, every day sun and warmth.

Our apartment was centrally located on the outskirts of Paris in Belleville. It was quite a large village with a very nice church in the centre and lots of village shops, restaurants, cafes and of course wonderful patisseries much to the detriment of our figures.

We went out each morning to the metro and walked long distances each day visiting various places of interest. Having been in Paris three years ago we had seen most of the big attractions, however, we did return to Montmartre which I personally enjoyed.

We again took a trip on the Canals through Notre Dame and the East side of Paris. It was a really hot day and copious amounts of water was consumed. Each afternoon we would return to our apartment hot, exhausted and sore feet, but having had a marvellous time.

Paris is a very romantic city evident by the young and older couples walking hand in hand in leisurely conversation. Being school holidays there were also many families with young children. A very popular city for tourists of all cultures. I find it really rewarding when I can speak a few of the popular French words, I think it shows you try to fit in.

Our last day arrived and heading off to the Charles De Gaulle airport, the sun was hot and feeling a little sad to be leaving, we boarded our plane and said Au Revoir to France.

Arriving back in Bonnie Scotland to.........yes mist and rain, I will never get used the Scottish weather again as the winters in New Zealand are often like the Scottish summers. And so, back to cooler temperatures and for myself back to sweatshirt and track pants for warmth.


Have a lovely day

A Woodland Nature Walk

On a walk the other day I came across a lovely little woodland, Calais Muir, believed to be 120 years old, it had three way marked nature trails, of various distances. At the entrance of this woodland stood two very nice sculptures of wooden deer, apparently there are roe deer around and hopefully I will catch sight of one before my trip ends. There were also upright poles one of which had inscribed on it "Fairies, Goona, hags and Giants

During my walk I looked for a  buzzard's nest which apparently sits high on a tree, unfortunately, I was unable to find this, perhaps another day like the deer I hope to see.

I was amazed at the number of dogs that I encountered, all shapes and sizes and all perfectly behaved, so very relaxing and very nice to see. I do miss my own dogs when I am away, however, to see and be able to approach a strange dog to have a pat is always a bonus.

I am off to Paris with my sister for seven days to enjoy once again the sights we visited three years ago, namely the canals through Notre Dame and to Montmartre to once again find and listen to the Whistling Lady, a real treat, and of course to visit and sample the French patisseries with their delicious food. There are many sights and places to see, however, we enjoy the hospitality of the locals in the little village where we will be staying.

A tale to describe a "Hag"

An "ambivalent" character in Scottish myths was the "hag", the Goddess, the Gaelic Cailleach and the Giantess, a divine being who is harmful. The hag is also considered a "healer" and helpful during childbirth and is divine and said to have "long ancestry and incredible longevity". She is also known as "at once creator and destroyer, gentle and fierce, mother and nurturer"

Until next time," Au Revoir", when I may have some tales of my time in Paris.

Enjoy your day

The Scottish Kelpie

A week into my visit back to my homeland has been met with a very cold wind chill and dull days. However, today's outing which was a beautiful hot day took us to Falkirk, Stirlingshire, visiting the Falkirk Wheel and the home of the unique sculptures of the Scottish Kelpies

 

The Scottish Kelpie is a shape changing aquatic spirit of Scottish legend it's name may derive from the Scottish Gaelic words 'cailpeach' or 'colpach', meaning heifer or colt. Kelpies are said to haunt rivers and streams, usually in the shape of a horse.

 

But beware......these are malevolent spirits! The Kelpie may appear as a tame pony beside a river. It is particularly attractive to children - but they should take care, for once on it's back, t's sticky magical hide will not allow them to dismount! Once trapped in this way, the Kelpie will drag the child into the river and eat them.

These water horses can also appear in human form. They may materialize as a beautiful young woman, hoping to lure young men to their death. Or they might take on the form of a hairy human lurking by the river, ready to jump out at unsuspecting travellers and crush them in a vice-like grip.

A common Scottish folktale is that of the Kelpie and the ten children. Having lured nine children on to it's back, it chases after the tenth. The child strokes it's nose and his fingers become stuck fast. He manages to cut off his finger and escapes. The other nine children are dragged into the water, never to be seen again.


So the next time you are strolling by a pretty river or stream, be vigilant; you may be being watched from the river by a malevolent Kelpie........

Have a lovely day

The Secret of Happiness

I was asked the other day "what is happy". For a moment I was unable to answer, then I thought about it and came up with these:

Happy -  when I feel content perhaps in the garden strolling around with my dogs

Happy - when I think of something funny that someone has said that makes me feel good

Happy - passing someone on the street and they give you a smile

Happy - Feeling satisfied with a job well done

Happy - Having a sense of trust and confidence in someone

.
There was once a boy who hardly had any toys or money.
Nevertheless, he was a very happy little boy. He said that what made him happy was doing things for others, and that doing so gave him a nice feeling inside.

However, no one really believed him; they thought he was loopy.
He spent all day helping others, dispensing charity to the poorest, and looking after abandoned animals. Very seldom did he ever do anything for himself.

One day, he met a famous doctor who thought the boy's case was so peculiar that he decided to investigate him. So, with a complex system of cameras and tubes, the doctor managed to record what was happening inside the boy. What he discovered was surprising.
Each time the boy did something good, a thousand tiny angels gathered around the boy's heart and started tickling it.

That explained the boy's happiness, but the doctor continued studying until he discovered that we all have our own thousand angels inside us. Unfortunately, he found that, as we do so few good things, the angels spend most of their time wandering about, bored.

And so it was that the secret to happiness was discovered. Thanks to that little boy we now know exactly what we have to do to feel our hearts being tickled.

To be happy is to appreciate who you are and what you've got, life can be fun

Have a very Happy Day

Returning "Home"

The New Forth Bridge, The Rail Bridge and Road Bridge

Soon I will be winging my way to Scotland for a six week holiday, it will be four years since I have been back, not that I expect to see many changes in the countryside or weather patterns, the changes I will see however, will be in my sister's grandchildren. This is when you realize that the years are ticking by and the youngsters are growing up and I will no doubt be looking up at them and they looking down to me. Also, an additional New Bridge over the River Forth which I will be looking forward to seeing.

As we get older we tend to look at life a little differently, with a view that perhaps in this instance for me, this may be the last time I will visit my birth place and meet up with family and dear friends. I do not like the thought of not seeing everyone again and so I shall go with the thought that I will be back one day.

I found this little story which is so true in many ways:

When you are little you love your house, no matter what. It’s your castle, your playground. Your fortress of solitude. No one has a porch as big as yours, and certainly they’ve never seen a deck and rope swing like the one you have out back. No sir. Then you grow up, move away. If you’re lucky, your parents stay — but every time you go back to visit, it gets just a bit smaller. Perhaps a tad shabbier. You stay away for a long time. When you finally go back home, you’re shocked. It’s run down, dusty, falling apart in places. At first you wrinkle your nose, but the more you look around, the harder you look, you see it. Those bits that you loved peek back at you. Your favourite reading spot is still there. And you realize you could never quit it entirely. In fact, you dream that maybe someday it could be your house. And you could fix it, make it better than it ever was. Maybe you can. Let’s hope so.


Enjoy your day

A Yachting Legend

Another picture taken from a walk through the Hatea River tracks. With the America's cup being contested at this time, I thought this lovely kayak scene looked very serene and calm, which is a far cry from the incidents and excitement of the yacht races being undertaken in Bermuda at the moment. Of course living in New Zealand I am hoping that 'Team New Zealand' will once again bring home the cup.  I guess time will tell.

A short insight into the legendary Sir Peter Blake

Sir Peter Blake is a New Zealand-born yachting legend

Famously, Sir Peter Blake is the only sailor to have taken part in the first five Whitbread Round the World races - now known as the Volvo Ocean Race.

Held every four years, the race follows a general route from Europe, south through the Atlantic Ocean, around the tip of Africa, and then across the southern ocean.

Blake first sailed in the Whitbread in 1973 - 74. In 1989 - 90, he skippered Steinlager to an unprecedented clean sweep where his team walked off with line, handicap and overall honours for each of the race''s six legs.

The following year (1991), he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth. 

America’s Cup Brought in at the last minute to manage New Zealand''s 1992 America''s Cup challenge, Blake led the Kiwi team to the challenger finals with NZL-20. However, it was Italy that finally emerged from the controversial Louis Vuitton Cup series to face the US for the America''s Cup.

In 1995 Blake came back as the syndicate head of Team New Zealand. Sailing NZL 32 Black Magic, the Kiwi team made a clean sweep, beating Dennis Conner''s Stars & Stripes 5- 0 and providing one of the most dominating performances in America''s Cup history.

During the 1995 series, Blake became famous for his lucky red socks. A gift from his wife, he wore the same pair throughout the entire 1995 America''s Cup challenge.

Governor General Catherine Tizard described the 1995 America''s Cup win as New Zealand''s proudest day since Sir Edmund Hillary''s conquest of Everest in 1953.

In 2000 Blake led Team New Zealand in only the second non-American defence of the Americas Cup - beating Italians Prada 5 - 0.

After the 2000 success, Sir Peter Blake stood down from Team New Zealand.

2001: Tragic death Tragically - on 5 December 2001 - pirates shot and killed Blake while he was on an environmental exploration trip in South America, monitoring global warming and pollution for the United Nations.

The two-month expedition was anchored off Macapá, at the mouth of the Amazon delta, waiting to clear customs. At around 9pm, a group of six to eight armed, masked robbers boarded the Seamaster.

As one of the robbers held a gun to the head of a crewmember, Blake sprang from the cabin wielding a rifle used to ward off polar bears. He shot one of the assailants in the hand before the rifle malfunctioned.

Blake was fatally shot in the back, and two other crew members suffered knife-wounds. The remaining seven were unhurt.

Authorities eventually captured the pirates and sentenced them to an average of 32 years each in prison.

The Sir Peter Blake Trust was established - with the support of the Blake family - in December 2003 with the aim of helping New Zealanders "to make a positive difference for the planet through activities that encourage environmental awareness and action, and leadership development".

Have a good day

The Highland Cow (Scottish Heilin Coo)

My walk this morning with my two Labradors took us past a herd of Highland cows or in Scotland  ''Heilan Coo." They were grazing very quietly and contently until Bridie the younger of my dogs took umbrage to these strange looking large animals with big horns and lunged at them barking. Of course there was a fence between us and them, if there had not been one, Bridie would have skirted round these magnificent looking beasts or stuck to my legs like glue. A few of the cows looked up and gave a snuffled acknowledgement to our passing whilst the others continued to graze, unperturbed and didn't move an inch.

I noticed a sign on the farm gate "Highland Cows for Sale" I could have been tempted to buy a couple, however, having only an acre of landscape ground and of course a stroppy Labrador, sort of made my mind up for me not to even contemplate this. I am hoping that one day I shall be fortunate enough to see a very young calf amongst this herd, Watch this space.

I found this rather interesting true story of someone who was looking after a friend's three Highland Cows whilst the friend went on holiday. This note was pinned to the barn door.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A HIGHLAND COW

The following is a schedule of events in the life of a highland cow in Summer pasture mode:

5:30  to  6:00 a.m .  -  Cows wake up.  Senior cow gets up first and stands in front of the other cattle so they can admire her.  All then get up and do a little ritual poop.  Cows may make sarcastic greetings to each other like "good morning hairbag" or "who made those horns?"

6:00  to  8:00 a.m.  -  general grazing time, followed by a period of staring at the master's home.  All drink water during this period.

8:00  to  9:00 a.m.  -  All cattle receive the master, reporting any overnight problems and complaints.  Common complaints are: quality of hay, grass has lost it's crunch, why are we not being raked more regularly etc.  Master gives hay and they show appreciation by staring at him and threatning to break wire and escape or rub and kill more trees.

9:00  to  11:00 a.m.  -  Cattle find shade and socialize. The senior cow leads discussions.. (I have learned their lingo, so have a fair understanding of what goes on)...basically they gossip!  They are very interested in visitors and the shoes, belts or gloves they wear, wondering who they once may have been.  Highland cows have no teeth on top so can't say their "L"s.  They talk of escape from the master during these socials.  This escape talk never goes any place, probably due to their speech impediments.  One recent exchange went like this.  "Rets rush master when by fence raking reaves, knock him off his regs and break for woods, cross that rittle rake through the woods to rarger, greener pasture."

11:00  to  4:00 p.m.  -  general grazing, pooping and peeing, rubbing on trees, trying to break fence, resting in shade, staring at master's house or watching him work around yard or barn.  A highlight of this period is when master's wife yells at him or he does something stupid  that appeals to their sense of humor.  Highland cows don't laugh openly, but smile and grin with a slight upper lift of their mouths.

4:00  to  7:00 p.m.  -  eat hay master has given them, poop and pee followed by a time of meditation.  Highland cattle have no religion but know they are sacred and play on this.  Crop circles, sacred cows, their role at the nativity and in Scotland's history is very important to them.  The face west as the sun sets and place their noses on the ground, standing perfectly still for up to a minute.  It is a most moving ceremony.

7:00  to  Dusk  -  Senior cow decides where they will bed down for night. She usually sleeps looking towards master's home, with other cattle behind.  They are very quiet during this period; however, there is some lowing or "rowing" as they say.

At Dusk  -  To get to sleep, cows tell stories for night.  These are epic tales which highland cattle have passed down for centuries...I have overheard them.  Some of their favourites are:

• Wellington Wullie" - about a lonely shepherd who goes nuts and tries to ravish a herd of highlands -
• Old Mary and the Wolf" - about an old cow who fights off a wolf to save her calf -
• "How the snake got it's name",  and on full moon nights, the horror tale "Jock be nimble, Jock be quick.

Then they fall to sleep secure in the knowledge that the master loves and cares for them and has been placed on this earth to serve their every need and be their devoted servant.

THE END  

Enjoy your day

   

Wishing Well

I was given this lovely wishing well as a Christmas gift and have planted poppies and succulents in the various layers.

There are other wishing wells of course that hold water and have coins in the bottom of them which have been thrown in by those making a wish for something important in their lives. I wonder just how many of those wishes have come true. I hope many of them.

It was said that the Wishing Well was only ever found by those who believed they would find it. No sooner had they emptied the bucket of their wishes then the Well would vanish and reappear somewhere else.

So it was perhaps ironic that the last person to find the Wishing Well was one of the rare souls who wanted nothing at all. His home was wherever he lay his head to sleep that night and, owning no more than the clothes on his back, he was grateful that he had nothing to carry. His friends were the people he happened to meet as he walked the earth and he travelled wherever the winds blew him – until one day when a mischievous gust nudged him into a large open field with a stone well in the middle.

It was a hot day so he walked up to the well to slake his thirst and lowered the bucket to pull himself a drink of water. The rope seemed creaky and reluctant though and when it came up too light to have filled, he expected to find holes in the bottom of the bucket. Instead there was a folded note. Opening it he read:

Are you sure?

Scratching his head he suddenly saw the words carved into the stone rim and all at once he understood where he was and broke into hearty laughter. What on earth could he wish for? He needed new shoes, it was true – but the ones he wore were so comfy now that his feet were used to them. He could do with something to eat but he was willing to bet there were berries in season in the forest. He briefly considered asking for a new razor as the one he had was going quite rusty – but it seemed a waste of a wish and he rather fancied himself with a beard anyway.

It struck him as a little sad that so many people would have given their little finger to be where he stood and yet he couldn’t think what to wish for. Then inspiration struck and he lowered the bucket, chuckling as he dunked it in the water below and pulled up a load of…dynamite. Striking a match on the stubble of his chin, he lit the fuse and, as he let the bucket fall, he ran away as fast as his legs would carry him.

A loud explosion from behind sent him sprawling flat on his face and suddenly the air filled with a cacophony of sound; elephants blowing their trumpets mixed with the sound of roaring locomotives and a New Orleans jazz band. He raised his head to see all the water from the Well shooting up in the air in an impossible collage of images – flamingos performed ballet upon the back of an enormous sunburned whale, polar bears kissed passionately in tuxedos and telephone boxes argued furiously about whether there was such a thing as free will…

And then it was all gone. The water from the Wishing Well evaporated into the sky and mingled with the clouds. A sharp breeze came along and in no time the clouds were dispersed far and wide across the planet.

Which is why, if you ever want a wish to come true, all you have to do is take a walk in the rain, stick out your tongue and maybe, just maybe, you’ll catch a drop from the Wishing Well.

Stranger things have happened, next rainfall have a go!

Have a nice day

Mantis

praying Mantis

Having lunch in the sun the other day I saw this little guy slowly walking along the deck looking very unsteady on his feet. It is of course a praying Mantis. They are fascinating little insects to watch as they slowly but surely find their way to where they want to go. I have read that the New Zealand native praying Mantis are being pushed out and threatened by the recently accidentally introduced South African Mantis. The New Zealand Mantis is always green and have blue spots on their forearm. I have heard that they can bite, however I let this one crawl on my hand then placed him on a gardenia plant so that the dogs did not squash him. I may have saved the predator as I could not find any blue spots, ah well, no worries, I could not have taken his life, so he lives to fight another day!


A story is told about a monk who lived in a monastery in the bamboo forests of Southern China. During an early morning walk, he noticed a preying mantis balancing delicately on a twig. A bird, obviously thinking the fragile-looking insect would make an easy meal, fluttered down onto the twig and attacked. The monk watched in amazement as the mantis stood its ground and fended off the much-larger bird.
This monk went on to develop a style of fighting named after the little insect — one that was based on a humble, steadfast spirit; a refined sense of balance; a ferocious focus; and a highly developed efficiency and economy of movement. The style proved to be devastating as a martial art, yet so spiritually profound, that it was considered to be one of the highest levels of training in the temple.
Today, the spirit of Mantis continues through the work of Sifu David Moragne, who has started the only Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu school in the state, at the request of his teacher, Master Gin Foon Mark.

Mantis is more than a martial art.

Mantis is an attitude.


Have a wonderful day

Shades of Autumn

On my walk the other morning I took this picture of  a lovely big Autumn tree along a country roadside. The sun was warm, making it a very pleasant walk and looking over the fields I saw various shades of green and brown with the leaves of the trees just starting to fall, leaving mounds of creative colours on the ground, looking much like an artist's palate.

Autumn is such a lovely time of year as the trees and flowers go into a period of rest and the land is swathed in soft browns, yellows and golds. Although, having said that I have noticed that the Spring daffodils and iris are growing already in our garden, I do hope that when Winter arrives it does not kill the bulbs.

A little story about the Anxious Leaf:

Once upon a time a little leaf was heard to sigh and cry, as leaves often do when a gentle wind is about. And the twig said, "What is the matter, little leaf?" And the leaf said, "The wind just told me that one day it would pull me off and throw me down to die on the ground!"

The twig told it to the branch on which it grew, and the branch told it to the tree. And when the tree heard it, it rustled all over, and sent back word to the leaf, "Do not be afraid. Hold on tightly, and you shall not go till you want to."

And so the leaf stopped sighing, and went on nestling and singing. Every time the tree shook itself and stirred up all its leaves, the branches shook themselves, and the twig shook itself, and the little leaf danced up and down merrily, as if nothing could ever pull it off. And so it grew all summer long, till October.

And when the bright days of autumn came the little leaf saw all the leaves around becoming very beautiful. Some were yellow and some scarlet, and some striped with both colors. Then it asked the tree what it meant. And the tree said, "All these leaves are getting ready to fly away, and they have put on these beautiful colours because of joy."

Then the little leaf began to want to go, too, and grew very beautiful in thinking of it, and when it was very gay in colour it saw that the branches of the tree had no bright color in them, and so the leaf said, "Oh branches! why are you lead-colour and we golden?"

"We must keep on our work-clothes, for our life is not done - but your clothes are for holiday, because your tasks are over," said the branches.

Just then a little puff of wind came, and the leaf let go, without thinking of it, and the wind took it up and turned it over and over, and whirled it like a spark of fire in the air, and then it dropped gently down under the edge of the fence, among hundreds of leaves, and fell into a dream, and it never woke up to tell what it dreamed about.

Have a really nice day

Taoism - A Way of Life

A Taoist Priest

I am not a particularly religious person, although as young girls my sister and I enjoyed going to Church to sing the hymns. The sermons on those occasions were listened to and gave us something to think about.

Religion is not always encouraged as a topic of conversation and is rather kept to a minimum in a gathering but I hope this small insight into the principles of Taoism will be of some interest.

I have read a book named Tao Te Ching (DaoDe Jing) which is an ancient Chinese book written by Lao Tzu, the legendary father of Taoism. Tao means path or way. To live life in accord with Tao

is to be in harmony with all others, with the environment and with one's self. A book that can be read by people of any religion or no religion where something can be learned. I have found this book and others of the same nature to have a very interesting understanding of being mindful of others, learning about one's inner self and to live in the moment, but a few observations.

A very good book to read is the Tao of Pooh  written by Benjamin Hoff in which he reveals the principles of Taoism through Winnie -the -Pooh and shows that Taoism is not simply an ancient and remote philosophy but a very useful thing to know here and now. It can be quite an endearing read, however, I am told that there are differing meanings to the actions and antics of Pooh Bear.

I have barely scratched the surface of reading about this way of life and there are many years of learning to becoming close to understanding Taoism, if at all. Peace, love and tranquillity are some of the qualities we seek in life and where we have a better understanding of ourselves will help us better understand others.

An extract from Tao of Pooh

I am me,

And you are you,

As you can see,

But when you do,

The things that you can do,

You will find the way,

And the way will follow you.

Wishing you all a thoughtful day

Simple Pleasures

They say the best things in life are free.  Life is filled with simple pleasures, the little satisfying effects you never really anticipate, but always take great pleasure in.  The simple pleasure you get from looking at beautiful flowers or trees.

I am sure the undermentioned will have you smiling.

Sleeping In on a Rainy Day – As the rain beats lightly against the window, you nestle your head deeper into your pillow.  The sound is soothing and your bed feels like a sanctuary.  There is no place you would rather be.

Seeing a Friend Stumble Over Himself – As you walk across the street with your friend, he fails to accurately address the curb on the other side.  He trips and stumbles around momentarily before regaining his footing, then swiftly attempts to play it off like nothing happened.  This can be a hilarious sight if the moment is right.

Hearing the Right Song at the Right Moment – It doesn’t matter what the setting is, hearing the right song for that moment is one of those simple pleasures in life that instantly lifts your spirits. You could be driving home from work, hanging out at a bar with friends, or walking. When the right song rattles your ear drums the entire meaning of life seems crystal clear.

Saying the Same Thing Simultaneously – There is a moment of silence.  Then all of the sudden you and your friend blurt out the same exact set of words simultaneously.  This rare occurrence is something to laugh about.

Fresh, Clean Bed Sheets – You yank at the corner of the bedspread to create just enough space to slide your body under the freshly cleaned sheets.  The sheets feel cool to the touch.  Everything seems so clean, like nobody has ever slept in this bed before.

Reminiscing About Old Times with Your Closest Friends – Pink Floyd once said “the memories of a man in his old age are the deeds of a man in his prime”.  There is no simple pleasure more satisfying than recounting the greatest moments of your life with your closest friends who lived these moments alongside you.

Holding Hands with Someone You Love – Every time she grabs your hand you are overcome with an awareness of how much she means to you.  Holding hands is sensual and physically intimate, yet subtle.  There are few people you allow to hold your hand, so when it happens you can be sure that the moment is special.

Relaxing Outdoors on a Sunny Day – As you relax sprawled out in a lawn chair, the sun warms your skin and a light breeze keeps the temperature comfortable.  Birds are chirping merrily in the trees behind you.  You are at complete peace with the environment.

Having a Good Laugh – Laughter is the greatest cure of all.  Life is extraordinary in the moments when you are laughing so hard you can barely breathe.  These moments of deep laughter are divine in the sense that they cleanse your mood and set your mind on a positive track.


Have a simply wonderful day

Poetry - Serious or Funny

A Sad but Interesting Face in Our Garden

 I have recently joined a Poetry Forum which I am finding most enlightening and interesting. I like to write poetry. As I write, I always find difficulty in thinking of rhyming words. I now find that you do not need these rhyming words at the end of every second line or whatever. Poetry is like a story as such but in shorter form and with more feeling and emotion depending on the mood of the writer at the time.

I'd like to have a go at writing a limerick one day, they always sound so cheery and funny with a bit of a tune to them. I will never be a Burns, Keats or Byron to name a few, but I will be myself and hopefully some may enjoy what I write.





A bit of lighthearted fun, not my poems:

There is a young schoolboy named Mason,
Whose mum cuts his hair with a basin.
When he stands in one place,
With a scarf round his face,
It's a mystery which way he’s facing.

There was a young lady of Lynn,
Who was so excessively thin.
That when she assayed,
To drink lemonade,
She slipped through the straw and fell in.

Have a day full of laughter

A Golf Lesson

My husband is a keen golfer, he started playing when we retired five years ago and has gained four holes-in- one. The other week he asked me to join him on the golf course as his caddy, and being such a lovely day, I agreed.

A 9 hole course near St Andrews Fife

As caddy my job was to mark the golf card, I had no idea what I was marking, however as we progressed over the course, I soon learned. I became aware of the following terms, a birdie, a bogie, a double bogie and a par not to mention the uses of the different clubs.

So, as we reached the end of the game and leaving the course, my husband said as he apparently says at the end of each game "at least we achieved our objective today, a walk in the fresh air, some exercise and a lot of fun." What more could I add. Not a thing! I may even join him on another nice day and may even have a hit at the golf ball..........



A few golfing laughs to share

Golfer: Please stop checking your watch all the time. It's too much of a distraction.
Caddy: it's not a watch - it's a compass.

Golfer: That can't be my ball, it's too old.
Caddy: It's been a long time since we teed off, Sir.

Golfer: I'd move heaven and earth to break 100 on this course.
Caddy: Try heaven. You've already moved most of the earth.


Have a very pleasant day

One Good Turn Deserves Another

My humble pie!

My laptop of nine years has given up on me and so I have had to buy another. Of course I had to take the new laptop to a technician to have my information from the old transferred to the new. Having done this I am now back in business, or so I thought.

This morning I turned on the new laptop to find I could not log on. I was not amused to say the least. After powering off and starting up a few times, nothing worked. So, I took my new laptop back to the technician for him to look at it. I discovered to my annoyance that the error was mine. I had been looking around all the new bits and pieces that Windows 10 had to offer and I clicked on the tablet mode, not knowing that this was the reason I could not start up this morning. Anyhow, all is well after I had a chat with Brendon, the technician, he told me that there would not be a charge for his services, I was quite humbled by this and so as we were chatting I found out he liked rhubarb pie and so I will make him a rhubarb and apple pie that can be shared by the others in his office to say thank you. In this day and age an act of kindness from the younger generation is sometimes not always forthcoming, not today, and so one good turn deserves another in my book.


A little story I found:

When someone does you a good deed, you must never forget it. You must look out for the opportunity to do a good deed to that person. If you do not get that opportunity then you must pass on the good deed to someone else. It is quite a strange fact of life, that a good deed done to another always bring some kind of reward to the person who has done the good deed. Hence you must always return good with good.

Have a wonderful day

Unfamiliar Territory

A most beautiful Autumn morning and my walk today took me on a path I had not been on before. The place is a disused quarry which has been turned into gardens and walking paths, all done by volunteers.

There were a myriad of steps to climb both up and down. The paths which are well maintained are narrow and they too climbed upwards and then dropped down. A very rigorous and tough walk for me being used to flat walking!.

There was a point on the walk that I realised I had not seen one single person for about 3km and being in dense native bush, it was quite dark out of the sun and a bit intimidating, however, I was not prepared to turn back. Then listening to my music I heard a lovely track Rondo Russo and I forgot all about the imaginary noises and trundled on my merry way.
When I reached the top of the quarry looking down, it was so tranquil looking out over the lake with the sun streaking over the water and surrounding cliffs, the vegetation is so well planted and looked after, I completely forgot about my aching limbs and just enjoyed the scenery.

As I continued the climb up to go over the top I thought I was on a loop track and so kept to the path waiting for some sign of me nearing the end of my walk and back at the car park.  Little did  I know I was heading in the opposite direction. I got my phone out to check where I was to read I required Wifi for the maps to work, Oh dear! what now I thought, no one to ask and in the middle of  dense bush, so being me and hopeless at directions I decided to carry on and see where I would end up.

I did eventually come back to civilisation and realised I was about 4 km out of my way. So what I thought, I can normally walk 10 km with little discomfort. I did come across a person to ask where I was and in what direction I needed to go to reach my car. Off I went then, on the pavement this time much to my relief, no steep inclines or steps to climb, although by this time I was really feeling the aching and wondered, should I ring my husband to come and get me, but he was at golf and I do not think he would be too happy to be called away, although I knew he would do it. I continued on my slow trek to the car, eventually getting there and all the time I could not stop thinking about my having a nice hot bath when I got home.

I arrived home and hobbled out the car, opened the gate and parked the car in the garage. Got into the house and ran a bath. I must say, I have not had a bath for some time, I have never had the patience to lie in water for any length of time, but today, it was like being in heaven, to luxuriate in nice scented hot water feeling the warmth ease my aches and a feeling of relaxation enter my mind.

As much as I enjoyed the day, I will not be venturing on my own down the path of unfamiliar territory, I shall remain walking  in places that I know or go with a friend to discover new walks.

From  The Tao of Pooh:

To know the way, 
we go the way, 
we do the way.
The way we do,
the things we do,
it's all there in front of you.
But if you try too hard to see it,
you'll only become confused.

Have a very relaxing day

Music of Life

To have music in one's life can bring such happiness and healing, it can brighten up your day to be reflective, peaceful, a background for a romantic dinner or a celebration party. I really enjoy walking to my music, I get a spring in my step with the cheery pieces, not sure if I make my target faster though!

There are numerous occasions where music can be enjoyed and appreciated and I think life would be rather dull and boring without it.

There was once a tiny country that was suffering from a long drought. It had gone so long without rain that the people there were starting to go hungry because of the bad harvests.It just so happened that a group of musicians were travelling the country, trying to make a living from their concerts. But with so many problems in the land, no one felt like listening to music.

-"But music can help overcome any problems," objected the musicians, without anyone paying them the slightest attention.

So the musicians tried to find out the reason it wouldn't rain. It was very strange, because the sky

was overcast, but no one could provide an answer.

-"It's been cloudy like this for many months, but not a single drop of rain has fallen, people would tell them.

-"Don't worry, we'll bring rain to the country,"

the musicians responded, and they began rehearsing for a concert at the summit of the highest mountain.

Everyone who heard the music was seized by curiosity and went up the mountain. And the conductor of this strange orchestra gave the order, and the musicians began to play.

From their instruments came small, playful musical notes, that rose and rose into the clouds. The music was so joyous, happy and fun, and the notes started playing with with the clouds' soft, fluffy bellies, running here and there, up and down, and the whole sky turned into one big game of tickle torture. Before long, the giant clouds were thundering with laughter.

The musicians continued playing joyfully and a few minutes later the clouds, crying with laughter, soaked the little country below with their precious tears, bringing happiness to all.

And in memory of that musical rain, everyone in the land learned how to play an instrument and, taking turns, would go up the mountain every day to bring joy to the clouds with their beautiful songs.

Have a happy day

Making a Difference

During my working career I have always gone out of my way to try and help others, I have worked in many Government Departments and have enjoyed my work immensely often working long hours and under a great deal of pressure, but always feeling I had done a good job.

On one particular day I attended a Team meeting and was presented with a plaque from my Manager and Peers 'Making a Difference'. I was very humbled by this mark of appreciation for my work and efforts in helping others to be the best they could be. This has stayed with me to this day in that I would gladly go out of my way to help and assist wherever it is needed.

A guy used to go for a jog around a park. By the park there was a lake. Each time he went for a jog on a Sunday, he used to see an elderly woman sitting by the lakeside with a small metal cage beside her.

The guy was curious to see what she was doing there. So one Sunday he bucked up the courage and walked over to the woman. As he reached her, he realized that the small cage he used to see was actually a small trap.

Inside, there were three turtles who were slowly walking on the base of the trap and one turtle was in the lap of the elderly woman. She was carefully washing it's shell with a spongey brush.

The guy said to the women, “Hello, I see you every Sunday morning. If you don't mind I would love to know what you are doing with these turtles.”

She smiled and said “I am cleaning off their shells. As anything on a turtle's shell like algae, reduces the turtle's ability to absorb heat and also slows it's swim speed. This algae also weakens their shell over time.”

“Wow!, really nice of you!” the guy replied with a smile.

The woman continued and said “Every Sunday I come here and spend hours relaxing by the lake helping these little guys out. It is my way to make a difference.

Further, the guy questioned “But don't most turtles live their whole life with algae.”

The woman replied “Yes, sadly they do.”

The guy got a bit confused and asked, “Well then, don't you think your time could be better spent? I mean your efforts are all kind but there are turtles living in lakes all around the world and 99 percent have no one to clean their shell. So, how come you are truly making a difference.”

The woman smiled and looked down at the turtle in her lap and said, “ Dear, if this little turtle could speak he would tell you I just made all the difference.”

You can bring change in the world even if it is not a big one. We should do whatever we can to help others. Even a small help in someone's life can make a big difference.

Can you 'Make a Difference' today in someone's life?

Watch the Starlings

I look out of my kitchen window every morning to watch the starlings who are now at this time of year in a battle of wits to take over the nest boxes for the coming Spring, when they will once again be raising their young. On this particular morning I looked out of the window and saw a starling hanging by it's foot out of the opening of the nest box, I was quite concerned about this as I thought it had caught it's foot on something. I grabbed the binoculars to get a closer view of what was happening. To my astonishment,  I saw that the starling fluttering about the opening of the nest box was being held by another starling inside the box. I decided that this was a warning to say "I got here first, go away!" I would have to assume that is was the female who was doing the attacking, being very protective of her home.There are two nest boxes next to each other and it would appear that we have quite a few starlings trying to get into the boxes to stake their claim. I will be watching with interest over the next few days in the hope that peace will once again prevail and the birds will accept their loss or gain of a home and settle down.

A little poem I found:

watch the starlings
synchronizing
their collective dance..
each bird deciding for the all
each on the edge of 
chaos and fall..
local decisions on moving 
coupling a mysterious
non-local intuition.. 
all spurring our wonder 
our disbelief

watch the starlings
once more..
locate where you now stand
my edge in my time
absorb the starling's miracle
murmuring our own 

murmuration

Enjoy your day