Finish line to the blogathon!

Was supposed to be at a church website meeting but wasn't up to it but I did manage to do a fair few things at home and also prepared some ideas on an email so I could send in my input.

This is the last day of September - I made it, I did a blog post for everyday. Will I keep it up ... no it's too legalistic. I think it is good to just blog when you want to//have time to. Has it helped my writers block? Yes I'm feeling more free at the keyboard now. It's definitely a good exercise. Give it a go.

Will write again  ... hope you come back.

“So perhaps the best thing to do is to stop writing Introductions and get on with the book.” 

― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

Patience

This is making boring blogging, I'm a bit better this evening but wasn't up to going out to church, gutted to miss my friend's baby's baptism. Blocked up ears don't make for easy socialising.

I usually have a few girls around on Sunday night to watch Downton Abbey, but cancelled except for one friend who I knew wouldn't mind seeing me a curled up on the sofa in my PJs. Trying hard not to be grumpy ... talking of grumpy, my dad emailed me to say they are going mad in the states over the 'grumpy cat'. I looked him up on YouTube, it's very unfortunate he looks so grumpy as he is clearly and affectionate little thing.

This little chappy has definitely gone viral though, you can by 'Grumpy Cat' merchandise. Cookie, when are you going to go viral for me?!

"If the person you are talking to doesn't appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear." 

— A.A. Milne (Winnie-the-Pooh)

Still not right

Don't know what it is just feeling well not right. Wish these things didn't get me down cos I always pull through, but when everything feels a big effort... never mind.

Got an email from my parents in Arizona, they've been away 3 weeks now, I'm missing them. Arizona must be so dry but I know they're having fun and my dad will be enjoying the clear starry nights with his keen interest in astronomy. Wonder if they'll bring a cactus or two home?

Monument Valley

Downloaded Michael Buble's new album to cheer myself up. Lots of cover songs but he sings them good.

“Pooh," said Rabbit kindly, "you haven't any brain." 

"I know," said Pooh humbly.” 

― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

Under the Weather

Felt really tired most of today, did as much work as I could then popped out for a coffee in town - sanity check!

My Bible reading have been interesting lately, using a book called streams in the dessert and the main theme that's been coming through is dealing with waiting and how when we feel hemmed in like we can't do anything although it feels horrible, like we are out of control. It is often an opportunity to see God at work as we are not able to attribute anything to our own strength.

“And how are you?" said Winnie-the-Pooh.

Eeyore shook his head from side to side.

"Not very how," he said. "I don't seem to have felt at all how for a long time."

"Dear, dear," said Pooh, "I'm sorry about that. Let's have a look at you.” 

― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

Visiting and Visitors

Today was really busy seeing friends ... but nice busy. This morning a friend came round who is a real animal lover, so we talked animals most of the morning and about their funny ways. I learnt that tortoises can actually go quite fast in the hot weather. She cut Cookie's claws for me for which I was very grateful - the only thing I can't do for him. Tricky operation.

Then another friend and I went to see a two week old baby girl of a family in church., They also have two little boys one 3 yrs old, one 18 months, We took some books for the boys and I gave this little bunny rattle to the baby, which seemed to be a hit as there were lots of bunnies in the house.

Then this evening I had home group at mine and Cookie was a right clown jumping on people's laps but we had a good Bible study together.

“I might have known,” said Eeyore. “After all, one can’t complain. I have my friends. Somebody spoke to me only yesterday. And was it last week or the week before that Rabbit bumped into me and said ‘Bother!’. The Social Round. Always something going on.” 

― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

Gloucester Cathedral

The room we were supposed to have our  lecture in was booked for a board meeting. Our tutor took us down to the Cathedral to look at a few things related to the old testament. Some of the intricate artwork of the stained glass windows of pictures that took us through the Bible. Would have been great for the school children to ponder at as they went from the school through to the main Cathedral for choir.

The artwork on the floor tiles that you look at as you go up for communion also tell a story, they were very mindful of illiterate people when building the cathedral, how mindful are we today? Does the church expect people who come to be literate, this was the question left on my mind.

“My spelling is Wobbly. It's good spelling but it Wobbles, and the letters get in the wrong places.” 

― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

Back with Cookie

Had another very lazy day, we got up about 11am to have breakfast then watched a few old dramas on TV, read a bit, wrote a few emails. Had lunch, packed and then in came my sister with my two nephews and kindly took us to the station.

Good train ride back. Had a very enthusiastic welcome from the cat who my friend's son kindly fed while I was away. He couldn't wait for me to sit down so that he could jump on top of me!

It is lovely to be missed, to have someone waiting for you at home, even if it is a cat.

Christopher Robin: You're next, Tigger. Jump! 

Tigger: Er, jump? Tiggers don't jump. They bounce. 

Winnie the Pooh: Then bounce down. 

Tigger: Don't be "ridiccorous". Tiggers only bounce up! 

Sleep

My friend did lots of sleeping today and we made the decision not to much. I went in my Dad's did quite a bit of reading while my friend was happy in the land of Nod! When she awoke we walked over to the White water rafting centre for a coffee but the coffee shop was closed so we went across the way to the big swimming pool and ordered big lattes and cakes while watching the people on the other side of the glass being extremely active and healthy in the swimming pool. It was good to see my friend chill as she realised all her responsibilities had been left behind,

As for me, well it was good to have an excuse to do nothing in particular, I could happily make a career out of giving people a rest! (Not really I get bored easily!)

I remember being very touched though when one of my best friends says she always relaxes when she comes to stay with me as I can't do life in the fast lane, my brain does it but my body won't! It's kinda nice to feel I have that affect on some friends, to help them stop and smell the roses. Rest is so important in today's fast paced society.
We had pizza for tea - we both love pizza and then we settle down for the evening and watched two films. Miss Potter and An Unfinished Life, both lovely stories and easy watching.

“Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering.” 

― A.A. Milne

A break with a friend

A good friend of mine has a pretty full on job and family so a few weeks ago I suggested we both go and stay in my parents place while they are on holiday in America. So after church we caught the train to Cardiff. I love travelling by train and I never tire of the trip from Gloucester to Cardiff which goes along the river Severn. It's beautiful.

When we arrived we had a cup of tea, unpacked our stuff and headed to the pub over the road for tea. She had a big grill and chips and I had chilli. We both had the yummy cheesy garlic bread as a side. A treat! Then we headed back to the flat, put our PJs on, opened a bottle of wine and settled down to watch the long awaited first episode of series 4 of Downton Abbey. A very relaxing evening. My mission for the next few days is for my friend to have a well deserved relax.

“Friendship," said Christopher Robin, "is a very comforting thing to have.” 
― A.A. Milne

Saturdays

Saturdays are usually cosy days for me if I can help it .. Starting the day with watching Saturday Kitchen in my PJs with a cuppa tea - there's something I find quite relaxing about watching cookery programmes. I've observed that Saturday Kitchen disproves the theory that blokes can only do one thing at a time. How that bloke can be a Mary and a Martha by cooking and interviewing his guests at is beyond me. I'm a Martha by the way ... I'll natter away to my friends until the smoke alarm tells me to stop!

Then I did a few houseworky things like, put out the washing, clean out the cat's litter tray, vacuum the lounge. Then something cool happened the sun came out! I walked into town with one of my best friends, we ended up exploring the 99p shop and both of us were quite taken to discover these foreign Cinnamon biscuits and bought a pack each along with a big pile of other biscuits for Sunday school. We both picked up a few other bits on our random lists and ended up drinking lattes in a sunny spot sat at an outside table of a well down coffee shop on the main street, chatting, watching the shoppers go buy.

I did intend to do more write more of my story today but it didn't happen, that's okay though, Saturdays, ideally shouldn't have rules nor room for feeling guilty and besides I have a cat needed cuddling too!

Saturday evening for me is often pizza and a glass of wine evening. Watched Miranda interview Bruce on TV which made a very interesting combination followed by an episode of Grand Designs, which to my frustration the cat and I fell asleep to and never got to see the end result. I now I find myself wide awake at bed time, why does that happen? But all in all it has indeed been a cosy Saturday, how do you spend yours?

“What day is it?"
"It's today," squeaked Piglet.
"My favorite day," said Pooh. 
― A.A. Milne

Sunshine

I decided to put aside the morning to get my head down and work, sometimes I find it helps motivate me if I have something arranged to do later on so I texted a friend who lives about half a mile away and has a very cute 18 month year old and texted to see if I could pop over in the afternoon.

It was a cloudy morning but in the afternoon the sun came out so she invited me to join her in the lovely garden where we drank tea and ate her lovely still warm, freshly baked apple cake from the apples in her garden, so lovely to have sunshine on my face again,, we both laughed watching her extremely agile little boy climb the climbing frame with no fear at all. I was kindly given some apples from the tree to take home. A lovely hour out and came back home feeling all the better for it. Then back to more working at home.

“You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.“

― Winnie the Pooh

Good Company

Had a lovely lunch out today with 2 friends from church, mother and daughter. Daughter is due to go back to uni on Sunday for her second year, so it was a privilege to spend time with them. We ate in this lovely coffee shop in a little town/village called Newent. I had homemade quiche and coleslaw followed by a rockyroad - their cakes are very popular! The coffee shop is in a Christian bookshop so after we had lunch we looked around the cards and pretty bits and pieces - lots of things with owls on for some reason - coasters and the like. I find owls quite disturbing for some reason, I wouldn't like anything 'owlish' in my house. My friend and I had arranged to visit another friends new baby the following week so we chose some books to buy her older brothers so they didn't feel left out which was a great idea.

We then suddenly remembered the original reason why we came - to look for some study books to use for church home group, one jumped out at us so we bought that one. We had a very leisurely time all in all - good company, good food, a good mouch and no rush - my kind of outing for a cloudy day. Then when I got home it was nice not to worry about cooking. I had a bit of a rest. Then off out again to home-group where we successfully and agreeably made a plan of what to do up til Christmas, which I thought was quite an achievement!

“It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn’t use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like “What about lunch?”

— Winnie the Pooh

Back to School - for me this time

I started a 12 week college course today going through an overview of the Old Testament. I really appreciate the opportunity to learn with others again with a Tutor who has spent endless hours studying the complexities of it. When I read parts of the Old Testament, it's really hard to recognise the God I love, particularly in the bloody parts.

I have loads of questions and I'm looking forward to being able to ask them, particularly as our tutor reassured us there is no such thing as a silly question.

I can't wait to get stuck in. Judges is an example of a book that gives me nightmares! I really enjoyed being in the academic environment again though.

Then this evening I finished something completely different - setting out a website proposal for a new charity - also exciting stuff!

Good day - incase you're wondering I've set myself the challenge of writing a blog post for each day in September to try to get over a block I've developed in writing. Thank you patient reading friend for reading my ramblings!

Stuff like Gideon slaughtering his own people needs explaining to me

“But it isn't easy,' said Pooh. 'Because Poetry and Hums aren't things which you get, they're things which get you. And all you can do is to go where they can find you.”

― A.A. Milne, The House at Pooh Corner

Chaos in the kitchen

When people come to visit for the first time I want everything to go right - particularly if I like them so they'll come again. My friend and I had been trying to fix a date for months but what with holidays n stuff.

We finally did it, this morning was free.

I put two questions out into cyberspace.

1. Why did the tea bag have break in the mug?
2. Why did the cat decide he needed the loo just as we were chatting in the kitchen!

Apart from that all went well, enjoyed seeing her Kenyan snaps. Lovely to see her.

Had a good laugh about the mishaps to my sister on the phone that evening!

When late morning rolls around and you're feeling a bit out of sorts, don't worry; you're probably just a little eleven o'clockish.

-- Pooh's Little Instruction Book, inspired by A. A. Milne

Shoes

Spent this morning ticking off my to do list then popped into town for some shoes as my sloppy old comfy ones are getting really bad for my feet.

I came back with these!

Tigger: Come on, Rabbit. Let's you and me bounce, huh? 

Rabbit: Good heavens! M-m-me bounce? 

Tigger: [joyfully] Why, certainly! Look, you've got the feet for it. 

Rabbit: I have? 

Tigger: Sure. 

[dances hurriedly with Rabbit] 

Tigger: Come on, try it. It makes ya feel just grrreat!  

Lost and found

This morning's sermon was about the parable of the lost sheep. Jesus used stories a lot to reveal deeper truths. I suppose it depends on your personality but I love pondering over a good metaphor/analagy and find that is the way Jesus usually speaks to me as opposed to giving me the literal facts.

It happened to me a few weeks ago when my cat escaped through a window a friend had left open. Cookie is a house cat - he's not streetwise at all. I called my friend across the road and she brought her boys out to look. It was dark. We eventually caught sight of Cookie, sitting about 500 yards away from my flat in the communal gardens. As soon as we called his name he got startled and darted down the dark alley and nobody could catch up with him.

I thanked everyone and suggested we just have to leave him to find his own way back.

My friend came back to my flat with me which felt strangely empty without him, she made us a cuppa, I surprised myself how upset I was feeling, I never thought I'd love a cat (I'm a dog person!) and my friend said she was "feeling sad and it wasn't even her cat." Now he'd gone.

"Six months ago I chose Cookie, now it's Cookie's chance to decide whether or not he wants to live with me."

I left my window open with my old t shirt I kept in his bed hoping the scent would follow in the wind. Unable to sleep I got up to get a drink and was overjoyed when walking towards the lounge  door which was open ajar to see a ginger tail with a white tip. Cookie had returned, this was home for him.

The feeling of seeing him back made me see something of God more clearly. If someone had caught him put him in a box and brought him to my door I would have been happy but having him come back on his own accord was just so special and reassuring.

When God made us humans he wanted a true relationship with us but in order to do that he had to give us the freewill to go our own way, he wants us to chose him (even though he first chose and adopted us), For me, the experience of some of the dark results of the selfish ways humanity has caused and made me realise, heaven is my real home and that's why I try hard to follow Jesus.

Cookie safely at home asleep in his bed

We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19)

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)

Writing and smoothie making

I am in the process of writing a short Christmas story and want to get it finished this month. I had a good day on it today, I felt inspired.

Then I decided to try my new mini blender which I"m reviewing for Lakeland  I made an energising smoothie with blueberries, spinach, bananas and grapes. It took far to much energy to make though!

Tasted great, look terrible, hence stock photo!

Food maze

Wanted to bring a bit more interest and challenge to my cat's life so... I bought him a food maze but can't get him to have a go, most frustrating. Especially when I woke up this morning to discover he had found the box far more interesting. The food maze remains untouched!

Maybe I should just give him boxes!

A-ha ... I've just found a youtube clip showing the cat's maze in action. I think I've learnt more about cat's and their personalities, my cat Cookie is like the cat on the left. Made me laugh!

Love is taking a few steps backward (maybe even more)...to give way to the happiness of the person you love. - Winnie The Pooh.

Be yourself

Courage

I can finally see a few opportunities opening up for the coming months. Feeling excited but very nervous too. A good friend simply said to me "ENJOY!" ... Perhaps that's the key to being and feeling confident. Focussing not on trying to be brave but rather to enjoy the challenge, have fun!

For anybody who is feeling scared:

“It is very hard to be brave," said Piglet, sniffing slightly, 
"when you're only a Very Small Animal." 
Rabbit, who had begun to write very busily, looked up and said: 
"It is because you are a very small animal that you will be Useful in the adventure before us.” 

 ― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

The Sulk

I told the cat off today for being naughty, he went off in a sulk. He curled up in a ball, face to the wall, shut his eyes and refused to come out. Even when one of my best friends (who also happens to be one of his too) came round, he stayed put.
"Where's Cookie?" she asked, as he always races up to her and jumps on her lap to greet her.
"We've had a row." I laughed. "It's very teenage like behaviour!"
"Come on out Cookie, it's all forgotten about now"" I called out in a high cheery voice.
No response.
About an hour later he still hadn't moved an inch from his sulking spot. I picked up my bag to the go out to the shops (quickly checking in to see he was still breathing!)

When I returned, all was back to normal and he gave me his usual greeting of jumping on my lap and kneeding my stomach with his paws.

You daft old cat Cookie ... How I wish you'd known I forgave you 2 seconds after I'd shouted at you .. which was the very moment I'm sure you said sorry in your own feline way!

“It looks like a bothering sort of day.” 
― A.A. Milne

Rainy days and Mondays...

I didn't see anybody I knew today, and by the end of a day alone I often feel like I loose a grip of reality a bit and negative thoughts start coming into my head and I start to feel useless. I've been reading this really good book though called 'In Search of Significance' by Robert McGee. He points out how irrational negative thoughts can be and their power to be quite destructive really. Thinking good thoughts is important, even when there is nobody around to bounce them off and affirm them.


I did have some lovely emails in my inbox today, including one from a lovely friend I made on a sailing holiday on a tall ship. That bought back lots of happy fun memories, like having to go on Watch on shifts at all hours. I once took turn to steer the ship whilst the sun was rising, that was beautiful. Another shift we did was on a clear but rather rough night (gale force 7 winds). I remember looking up and seeing this amazing blanket of bright stars.It looked like the sky was wobbling, but it was of course the boat. I think that's how I see God sometimes, it seems like he is 'wobbling' when actually it's me, my thoughts, perspective and emotions. God is always steady as a rock.

“Supposing a tree fell down, Pooh, when we were underneath it?'

'Supposing it didn't,' said Pooh after careful thought.
Piglet was comforted by this.” 
― A.A. Milne

The Real Jesus

In his sermon this morning the Vicar challenged us that our image of Jesus may have been distorted by pictures we have seen maybe as a child of him looking very angelic, cuddling lambs etc.

The idea of Jesus coming to live amongst us was to empathise with us, to feel the whole human experience and to engage with us, to set the example to follow. Jesus became a real man, he wasn't the baby who didn't cry, like the lyrics to 'Away in the manger' might have us believe. He fully embraced humanity, and lived the life of an anonymous carpenter for many years.

"He grew up before him like a tender shoot,

    and like a root out of dry ground.

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,

    nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

3 

He was despised and rejected by mankind,

    a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.

Like one from whom people hide their faces

    he was despised, and we held him in low esteem." (Isaiah 53)

 When Jesus said "Take up your cross and follow me." He wasn't expecting us to do anything he hadn't done. It's unlikely we will be crucified, but everyone has their own crosses, our own pain and we can carry it, but not alone we do so with the strength of knowing Jesus is carrying us.

For we have not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our weaknesses. (Hebrews 4)

Article writing

Spent a few hours writing my sixth article for the Access magazine. This month I decided to write a compilation  of ideas on how to make an accessible bathroom inviting. Occupational Therapists re usually good at giving practical advice but the person they are working for will want the place to look homely and not like a hospital! I hope it gets the go-ahead and my ideas help some people. Bathrooms are important places to feel good in and chill out.

I'm also a bit excited as I have been writing to big companies like Lakeland to ask if I can test and review their stuff for accessibility and they've been saying yes! Received another parcel today. Joseph Joseph have also sent me this soap Dispenser.

“Oh, Eeyore, you are wet!” said Piglet, feeling him. 

Eeyore shook himself, and asked somebody to explain to Piglet what happened when you had been inside a river for quite a long time.” 

― A.A. Milne

Visit and the Garden centre

Brilliant! My parents came up today, we had lunch in a nearby garden centre. We all had lasagna except they were all different sorts. Mine was fish, Dad's  was butter bean and mum's meat (hopefully not horse meat!)

I like looking around all the gifty things in garden centres.

Went back to mine where my folks kindly did a few jobs for me. finished the day with egg on toast and a episode of Jonathan Creek!

“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.” 

― A.A. Milne

Getting Away - Canals

I looked at the weather forecast today and it was looking like today would be the last sunny day so I decided to get away and clear my head ... just me ... spur of the moment thing. I went to Birmingham to find the canal walk It was very relaxing. People slow down on boats, it was lovely to see people smiling and looking so chilled out.

“Rivers [canals] know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.” 

― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

Letting new people in is hard

This past year hasn't been a waste though, I've learnt so many lessons this year. Let me tell you one.

When I first moved to here as a 'permanent' resident a couple of years ago life was pretty crazy. My boss was on sabbatical so I had taken on most of his role as well as doing my own, plus I had the added stress/excitement/busyiness of settling into my new flat, meeting new people etc.

I was being very cautious not to ask anyone for help in case people thought "I don't want to get involved being friends with her, she's the needy sort!" and I think I'd gotten myself pretty exhausted in the process,. However a year later when I had the news that my job had gone, I suddenly had a load of lovely coffee invites ... I was feeling so weak I could no longer put on an "I'm fine" front anymore and I accepted support offered.

I learnt to let people in a bit and to ask for help on the occasions when I needed it. It was through accepting support that I spent time with people, made and deepened friendships.

They in turn learnt my strengths as time went by they were soon knocking on my door asking me for help and support, it's great to be there for them too. I now have a new network of friends , outside of where I used to work and generally feel more established and settled.

Asking for help still doesn't come naturally to me but I've got much better at it. Most people, like myself love to be needed and lend that helping hand or listening ear and not forgetting to be appreciated and affirmed too.

I get by with a little help from my friends

A Strange Anniversary

This day last year I walked into the office all geared up for what I thought was going to be an exciting staff meeting, marking the end of holiday mode and making plans for the new year ahead.

I couldn't have been more wrong. It turned out it was not a staff meeting and I was told in so many words, I was no longer needed. It hurt. Something to do with restructuring the organisation.

A year later I'm still looking for a bit of  'out of the house'  work. Somewhere where that I can make a positive difference in an office. Being with hard working people who like team work, fun and a good brainstorm.

I struggle with working at home all the time - it can be very isolating and it eats away at my 'social' confidence a bit. Having said that  I have been learning a few coping strategies, like to just get out as soon as I feel the walls caving in on me, to a coffee shop or park, anywhere that helps me feel a bit less like lonely.

Today I've been trying to take my mind off all the bad stuff by thinking of all the good things about working and studying from home and it kind of helped. I've listed a few:

• You can take your pets to work with you!  A cat's vocabulary may be limited to a 'meow' but at least it's always a friendly happy sounding voice. My cat has recently taken to lying on the bed in my study while I work which is lovely and when I;'ve spent a  while at my computer he'll meow for my attention, even if it means sitting on my desk in front of the monitor!
• You won't be misunderstood as being disorganised by a messy desk. Us creative sorts can find a clear desk ... well, in my opinion,  so uninspiring.
• You can meet up with friends for coffee, cuddle their babies and help them keep sane by engaging in a bit of adult company and generally be around for stay at home mums.
• You don't need to organise holidays with your colleagues.
• You can wear comfy jeans and no need for shoes.
• You choose where you have your desk and you're not in danger of drawing the short straw and having to look at the wall.
• You get to use your own loo!
• You can play music!

My Boss
He's a laid back dude!

Love is...

This was what I was reading in the Bible today. I'm not sure I've ever read it from the Message version before. On the whole I prefer the NIV. For example "Puts up with anything" is not the same as the precious word "protects". Never the less an interesting translation. 

I want to love the way God does - selflessly.

Back to school

 My youngest nephew, starts big school today - he's grown out of the infants.  "Half my body is really confident and half my body is really nervous!" he said.
He'll be fine, as my sister said, he has a big bro to look out for him!
Lots of children start new schools today. I'm praying there will be many happy experiences and kids will cultivate strong friendships. Not every boy and girl will have a big brother or sister to look out for them.

“Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” ― A.A. Milne

Waiting and Watching

It was sunny again today. I got down passed the docks to wear the canal is. I sat for a while hoping a narrow boat would come chugging along so I could take a picture but nothing came.

A friend from church came passed on his bike on his way home and stopped to say hello, I felt a bit daft when I told him I was waiting, but it was an enjoyable wait, with the sun on my face. He smiled and asked if I thought of taking up fishing.

I guess it's okay to share the 'nothings' with friends because that's how life is. The reality is, it's not jam-packed with exciting 'somethings' all the time.

There is no music without any rests.

Perhaps the 'nothings' in life, as we see them then are just as important as the 'somethings'....

First of September

"I do hope this lovely weather takes us through September." a lady in church said to me. I know what she means, we were still wearing our winter coats in June, we did not have a Spring so we are longing for summer to last.

I find whenever I have the chance to go out when the sun comes out I clutch on to those sunny periods outdoors as if they were a species of animal about to become extinct.

I don't have a garden but what I do have is a lovely small park just across the road. It's just been given  a revamp and these wooden sculptures have been installed, I'm not quite sure what they are meant to be, Maybe the idea is you can make them whatever you want them to be., When I see the top one I think of a paw, maybe a dog's, maybe a cat's depending on what mood I'm in.


This one to the left looks to me like it's two  people about to kiss, but because it's a statue you know it's safe to stare, nothing will happen!

Looking through the circle you see different things at various angles, makes a neat frame. From certain positions all you can see is this brick wall which is not very good.

From other angles you get to see the depth of woodland and trees.  If you're feeling really philosophical it could be about changing your perspective when you can't change a situation ... being able to see a glimpse of life beyond and trust God will see you through to it, whilst the reality stares you in the face ... like when the person you love starts loving someone who's not you,

"Hope for the broken hearted".. I like that name.

And finally the flower beds ... these welcoming busy lizzies are still looking very happy to be alive to me. There's also a lovely oak seating area, curved and comfortable to sit on and read your book. It overlooks these flower beds but I couldn't shoot that as there was a chap occupying it, maybe next time - there are lots of other quirky things in this park, including interesting looking historic monuments and listed buildings.

More of that another when I take another wander around my friendly little park!

“Sometimes,' said Pooh, 'the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” 
― A.A. Milne