SEASONS

The bags are packed, food and wine in the cool-box. The weather forecast here in the UK, sunny with some cloud covering. So that's us all set for a chill-out weekend.
Its strange how the seasons affect me, I've often wondered if I suffer from S.A.D. The sunshine really suits me, I have more energy, my skin looks good. Whilst in the winter when its damp and cold, my joints ache like an eighty year old, and I find it an effort to pull myself out of bed when its still dark outside.
Nevertheless, I do enjoy all four seasons, each one has its job to do. Similar to our lives in a way. I saw these words by the Buddhist meditation master Chogyam Trungpa, they inspired me , I hope you like them......

"There are seasons in your life in the same way as there are seasons in nature. There are times to cultivate and create, when you nurture your world and give birth to new ideas and ventures.
There are times of flourishing and abundance, when life feels in full bloom, energised and expanding.
There are times of fruition, when things come to an end - they have reached their climax and must be harvested before they begin to fade.
Finally, of course, there are cold and empty times, when the spring of a new beginning seems like a distant dream.
"Those rhythms of life are natural events. They weave into one another as day follows night. If you realise that each phase of your life is a natural occurrence, then you need not be swayed, pushed up and down by the changes in circumstance and mood that life brings.
You find you have an opportunity to be fully in the world at all times and to show yourself as a brave and proud individual in any circumstance".

Have a wonderful weekend everyone, back on Monday............................................................

SMOKE FREE ZONE, day 5

My younger sister, who may I add at this point is a staff nurse, drove my mother over to see me yesterday. This was a lovely surprise as I'm always pleased to see someone to break up the monotony of the day. The first thing my mother asked for was the ashtray. I explained to her that I had stopped and the ashtray was outside. She then proceeded to go outside and bring the ashtray in. I said, " mum, your not going to smoke in front of me are you", to which she replied "its you who's stopped not me", "but mum I have to do this because I'm having a major op, and it doesn't help you smoking in front of me".

Then unbelievably my sister offered me a cigarette, "Sally, what are you doing" I gasped at her. "Its medically proven that if you stop smoking two weeks before your op, your healing will be the same" she preached. Thank goodness I'm getting more support from my blogger buddies, as it seems to be getting harder. Forgot to say, I did decline the offer and they stood in the doorway to smoke.........

HEARTS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

Having been set home-work by akelamalu yesterday, I didn't do a post about Tuesday and my facial. So I thought I would do it today.

It doesn't take a lot these days to get me excited, maundering around the house Monday to Friday, waiting to go to the coast at the weekend. I'm almost wishing the week days away, which I know is a deplorable thing to do, I am fully aware there are many who would swap places with me.

If I say so myself I'd not scrubbed up to badly. I had ordered a grey pinafore dress from Next, which gave an illusion of a slender frame (really, honest it did), and I wore a white three quarter sleeved t-shirt underneath it, a pair of black ballet pumps (the detestable built up shoe, was staying in the closet today, I wasn't walking far). No make-up on as I was going for a facial, the sun had caught my face at the weekend. It had given me a healthy glow. Having had the central heating on during the winter months, this seems to drag any rosy cheeks to a sallow beige shade.

Whilst waiting for my friend to pick me up, to take me into town, the news was on the TV, and images of the horrendous events at the Virginia college were flashing in front of me.
That sick heavy feeling filled my heart, disbelief at what I was seeing.

Its not so long ago my own son was at university, and strangely whilst he was there I was under the misconception that some how he was safe, being cared for, whilst away from home. I heard my friends car horn peep, which shook me from the impact of the visions playing in my mind, and the frightend shocked faces of the students on the screen...


The beauty salon is on the main road into town, fortunately there is a pedestrian crossing right outside. I convinced my friend that I could make the short journey across the road, whilst she parked her car in Sainsbury's car park.
With the elegance of a beached whale, I disembarked from her vehicle, elbow crutches firmly in place. Luck was with me today, the green man was flashing (there is no law against this on a pedestrian crossing). Eyes fixed on my destination the other side of the road, my journey started with that first step onto the crossing.

Okay, okay, how was I to know how dam long he had been flashing. Suddenly he was flashing even quicker at me and beeping ten to the dozen. Arms and legs akimbo, I looked like some sort of demented albatross trying to reach the other side before the little man went red. Miserably I failed, in fairness, no one papped their horn, they just sat there tapping their steering wheels, staring and thinking 'IDIOT'.

Destination reached, I was escorted into one of the downstairs rooms (thank goodness), laid on a beauty couch, and wrapped in warm snugly towels. Pan-pipe music gently playing away in the background, my treatment began.

It was a strange sensation I was feeling, I was finding it hard to relax and enjoy the attention the beauticians hands were performing on my face. Images of what I had been watching previously on the TV appeared in my mind, there was nothing I could do. How are those parents going to cope, their live's and futures had ended today, my god this had really happened. Tears just started to stream down my face, I apologised to the beautician through my sobs.
The reality had hit me, I hadn't been watching some sick film, no, this was the sick world I live in.
I can't explain why it suddenly affected me that way, maybe it was a panic at how useless I felt, how little I can do to help. One of my fellow bloggers, Greg, helped unknowingly by some words in his post when he said, "I am somehow going to spread a little joy and happiness. The changes won't be earth shattering but they will be positive". Also he said "there are things I can change. I can influence my children and others around me. I can love and nurture them, guide them and help build their future".
These words helped, I still have grandchildren to look forward to and I feel my son is a caring loving person, maybe all our little bits and bobs we do as as parents and grandparents, will help to make this a nicer world to live in............

LIVING IN A SMOKE FREE ZONE
Day four, slight hic-up last night. Thought I would update my music and move a few things around on my blog before I went to bed. The computer has been acting strange, like just switching itself off or on for no apparent reason. At the moment with anything electrical, nothing surprises me, I seem to just jinks any appliance that needs voltage to work.

I digress, nothing was going right and that nagging urge for a ciggy became very strong. Before the air would turn blue, words of advise and support from annelisa came flooding back to me. This was just before I was about to beg Math to fetch me ten Marlboro from the 24hr garage, I remebered she said "chew a Nicotinell gum". So I did, and pathetically it worked. The agitation I felt slipped away and I was once more my calm, serene self (stop laughing).
So I was still smoke free, but unfortunately had 4mg of nicotine, via gum..........

(PS the picture is called 'Hearts for future generations' by Vladimir Kush).

ARRGH! SHE GOT ME...............

Mmmmm, she said I'm her best friend, why do this to me then? Akelamalu is a whizz on the old computer (she has had a lot of practice), me, I am an imbecile. I'm trying to learn new skills each day and she very kindly told me this would help . I usually cock-up on the simplest of things, so here I go, wish me luck...

I have to choose five of my favourite blogs on to this tag. This is hard has each one is unique in their different ways, but here goes.

Cathys resurrection corner. Her humour and quick wit, are a daily giggle.

Leelee-thoughts and meanderings. A woman who seems to have a genuine compassion, and humour.

Libby-thoughts...usually with attitude. Honesty and strength, again with humour.

Nea-southern view. Her patience's and intelligence, show a grace of her own.

Gardener Greg- General stores. A wise man with a lot to share.

Hope you don't mind me tagging you (blame akelamalu, who said I need the practice), and will join in. Good luck choosing your five, its very difficult...........


Day three without nicotine, still doing it cold turkey. Have moments when the thought passes my mind, 'time for a ciggy'. I'm keeping myself busy, and trying to keep my stress levels down (hope you read that akelamalu!!). Thanks everyone for your support..........

PAMPERING

Short and sweet today, I mean my post not myself.
My friend is picking me up today to take me for a facial, at a beauty salon in town. It makes claims that I will look years younger. I will of course be commenting on this later.
I have decided to go cold turkey, with my quiting smoking. The nicotine replacements are there if I need them, but for now I feel this is the best way for me...


My heart goes out to all the people connected in anyway to the horrendous murders at the campus in Virginia. I am lost for words to say...........

HELP........

Have I offended some great and powerful electric circuit out there? If I have, I apologise, I have no idea what I've done, but I'm sorry, sorry a hundred times sorry.
This vendetta, against me started a couple of months ago. Firstly our computer and screen,was no more, it had died and gone to that place where all burnt out computers go. Thanks to my son who had a spare one, which needed £90 spent on repairing it, we were back in the Google world. Then my hoover decided it was fed-up of doing a low level job, and went to enlist with the computers in the sky.
Next, my washer (with a full load in it, of course) went kerput half way through a wash cycle, water everywhere. I was a little more fortunate with the washer than the hoover, Math replaced the belt and hay- presto its working again.
Both our cars have been taken into garage care, due to electrical faults.........
Finally (please, please, let this be the end), we returned home last night after a fantastic weekend. Having my son and his girlfriend join us on the Friday night, had been a bonus. We never stopped laughing, it did me the power of good.
Math unlocked the door, the burglar alarm started to activate, he pressed in our code to cancel it. The red active light was still flashing furiously at us, then the sirens started screeching, and all the internal and external lights flashing.
Math repeatedly pressed in our code to deactivate the alarm, it was having none of that, and continued to deafen us and provide disco lighting (as if this was the time for dancing).
After a good 10 minutes of trying this method, it was decided (in sign language), that a more serious approach was needed.
So with pliers in hand, the loft ladders were extended and Math climbed up into the loft.
A few moments later, Maths face appeared in the hole in the ceiling, looking pleased with himself.
"But darling the sirens still going" I yelled. Knowingly he nodded his head and started to climb down the ladders. Apparently we now had to wait for the 'back up' battery to run down, this took approximately another 10 minutes. Ears ringing, eyes blinking, we both took a deep sigh of relief when its fading screeches finally came to an end.
So please Mr electric circuit, or whoever is in control of this, can it end now?????????????????

I must point out one thing, this little episode must have lasted a good 25 to 30 minutes, not one of our neighbours came round to enquire about our welfare. Also depending on the cost of repairing the system, I can't see any benefits of rushing to repair it......


ON A MORE SERIOUS NOTE.
I must confess that I partake in the disgusting , smelly habit of inhaling the odd Marlboro Light. In fact sitting around here most days, the amount is increasing.
Not only because of the million and one widely known reasons, but also due to my impending forth-coming operation, I have with nicotine patches and gum, stopped today.
So would you please excuse any mad moments of insane blogging, whilst I quit this seriously harmful habit.
Also any advise or support you may have, I would be more than grateful.
Thank-you..........