Strong Sunlight

Now the sunlight is so much stronger and the days are unclouded it is time for:

Sunglasses, to look glamorous and to prevent sudden visual disturbances

Sewing and knitting with my black wool and being able to see exactly what I am doing

Staring at my tiny tadpoles to see whether any are swimming independently yet

Starting to have the front and back door open at the same time to feel the breeze flow through

Sweeping away the dust from the old cobbles in our stable to make it more homely

Smiling at our first dandelion, so full open and deep yellow

Walking Around New York

My latest blog find. I don't know what to write about it as I have only just come across this.

http://imjustwalkin.com/

Democracy and TV

Page 60 'The hierarchy was lost almost immediately...The thirty-three of us were one and we began a democratic system; the best idea that made the most sense was the idea that ruled.' Alex Vega.

Page 92 With the advent of a democratic system, the miners established a rudimentary sense of order, organizing daily routines and tasks. 'I gave all the people something to do down there.' Mario Sepulveda

Page 92 'The men survived by following a strict regime of daily activities, including prayers and group meetings...' Jonathan Franklin.

Page 168 'What really screwed us up was the TV. When the TV arrived, it ruined the communications; it was a big problem. Some of the guys would just stare at it; they were hypnotised and watched it all day.' Mario Sepulveda.

The 33 - The Ulitmate Account of the Chilean Miners' Rescue
Jonathan Franklin

Me, territorial???

I looked out of the kitchen window and saw that my husband S had put his cycle helmet on the roof of my car. I made a big shout of 'Nooooo!' and went out to put it on a nearby hedge.

Is this the difference between people who have a sibling and an only child? I regard taking someone else's territory as an act of war, but S presumably just thinks the roof of someone else's car is a convenient close site for his helmet.

How easily people get in a lather!

Mmm, So Good, So Wonderful (now with active links)

I have read 2 pieces today which I recommend. They can be my day-after-my-birthday sharing.

First, Ann Voskamp's blog post on saying thank yous.

Second, Stacy Lewis' blog post introducing her new ebook on Practising Peace.

Have fun being inspired!

Saying goodbye to the Ruth Burrows book

The Lent Group I have been going to on a Monday night held its last meeting this evening. We will miss the discussions arising from reading Ruth Burrows' book Love Unknown.

I have enjoyed being able to listen to the others' takes on her words. I have also enjoyed giving my own views. I hadn't realised the extent to which I am interested in the writer as a person, rather than as a nun. I am less interested in arguments or in being persuaded of a point of view.

I will miss the warm fire and comfortable atmosphere. The slight danger of the walk in the dark along a village road with no pavement livens up the time before and after the meeting. I have loved seeing the big tree at the junction still lit with white Christmas lights and the two planets in the sky in an unusual position.

The village is just a little further away from the local town than my village, so the air is cooler and damper at night as we have walked that short walk from where the car is parked. All these things go to make up an evening out to chat about 'stuff'.

I nearly forgot to mention the conversations with my friend as we took turns giving each other lifts. It is a wonderful opportunity to catch up briefly on how the book is giving us pause for thought.

As I said good bye tonight I said that if she ever was free and wanted me to come over for a coffee 'just call me and I'll come running!', I'm sure that is from a song....

Ball of Wool and The Talk

I offered a ball of black wool to our visiting black cat today. Her eyes lit up and her ears focused forwards immediately. She bit right into it a few times and grabbed it with her front paws, kicking with her back paws. One happy hunting cat! That was a first for her, I could tell.

Other news, I am having many versions of The Talk, we have covered most topics now, but it is the one topic whch never dies, so I expect to learn a lot over the next few years/decades. I have realised that I am bisexual when it comes to cats, but strictly monogamous. One cat is enough in my life, but male/female makes no difference, I just love the current one's personality, fluffiness, ways, bad habits etc.

I also discovered that syphilis is rife, hmm, that is a change from 30 years ago. Off to google when I can summon up the interest. This whole topic is more medical than ethical or psychological. Actually, is it even true? Maybe I am being told all sorts of tall tales and believing them all.

I am fighting back with a new love of tadpoles. There must be 100 in my tiny pond. They move, but on the spot. They have not yet moved away from their bobbles.

Family Friday

Since we don't have a weekly drinks party or Saturday dinner together as we did in those not so glorious 1970's......memories of smoky Ovington Square coming back....I have decided to try an email catch up with my 2 parents and my brother.

Will they tell me my news is too much, not frequent enough, not enough info about the boys?

At least I will not be circulating those annoying jokes people used to send to their whole address book, sexist, everything-ist.

When my father was very ill I did a brief and encouraging daily update on him for the wider family. So this is a version of that, but meant to be sustainable and just for us 4 to start with.

Lunch for Bees

It is so obvious when stated: my mother wanted some lavender to attract more bees to their garden in London, so she stood there in the plant shop and looked to see which lavender plant was buzzing!

The one with the happy customers was rather dull looking she thought, but not so to the bees. When she took it home it was immediately spotted by a large bumble bee. So that plant is the Lamborghini of lavenders, instantly yummy.

Something mysterious

I came back from the drawing Lent session and was clearing up the kitchen. I have rough hearing so when I heard a repetitive and unearthly noise I assumed it was the fridge at first.

Then I stood at the back door and listened to it coming from what seemed like several streets away. A bark or scream every 3 seconds. I'm not easily scared so put on my coat and gloves to walk round the village to locate it, at least to do something rather than ignore it.

All that walking and listening did me no good, as it got fainter as I walked round our block, then stronger as I got back. I decided it was in our own back garden! I walked with a surly sort of stomp towards the pitch black, giving off "I'm a human and I will eat you" vibes, it stopped immediately...I stayed there scowling at the dark, though have no idea what it might have been.

Once I was back inside again, busy whizzing soup and filling my hot water bottle it started up again. It knew I had given up being threatening I assume. I wonder what it was. Owl, fox, badger, deer??

Knocked off course

Today I did my finances for the first time since workmen came to do carpentry and paintwork 12 days ago. Why does such an event in the household knock me off course like this?

No answer, it just does...

I then realised that I had lost my FlyLady way of life for an awful lot longer. I think that fell by the wayside in the autumn as Advent started. So as one new event arrives in my life an essential part of my routine nips away!

So today is my restart day for the FlyLady zones, I have written a number, 1 to 5, in my diary beside the Monday space. I have also thought up a little rhyme to remember each zone by, eg zone one = close to the sun, ie the top floor of the house. The idea is that each week of the month has a number and I do enjoyable tasks in those areas of the house in that week. Then I am to let it go and only think about the next zone of the house.

The phrases she uses are so simple: Jump In Where You Are; You Are Not Behind; You Can Do Anything For 15 Minutes.

My monthly reviews of how home education is going disappeared at the start of October 2011. I think the reason for that was the shock I felt at Troy Davis' execution. It has taken me all this time to realise why I might have stopped doing these helpful reviews. So it is not a lack of will power or focus, but a profound shock to my system.

My unconscious reacts to events immediately, but my conscious mind cannot join cause and effect accurately for days, weeks or months. So I find myself wondering why I am acting in a certain way and having to wait patiently and faithfully for my times of reflection to produce answers. I don't think nature planned my mind very well! What purpose does this delay in understanding serve?

Phone call to the US

I phoned the US for the first time in my life last Thursday. I called the office of Governor Fallin of Oklahoma, to ask for a stay of execution and for DNA testing for Timothy Stemple.

The good thing was that the office was taking calls, I heard plenty of ringing and receiving of calls in the background, so it wasn't just one line being answered.

The bad thing was that it was of no use to this particular prisoner or his family. At least I know I have acted along with many others campaigning to abolish the death penalty in the USA, state by state.

In our part of the world Belarus is the only one which still uses the death penalty. I do not think it is right for judges to be expected to issue such penalties and for prison staff to be expected to carry them out.