Monthly Archives: November 2024

The Beach is Best

Beach or mountains? Which do you prefer? Why?

River deep

Mountain high

The beach is where

I choose to lie

For mountains are  cold and close to heaven

A steeply  climb

For devoted brethren

A pretty  sunshade and  picnic blanket

The beach is for everyone

A happy place to have some fun,

To rest,recline and soak up the sun.

I enjoyed writing this as actually it’s very cold and threatening to snow where I am.,❤️😉

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My Three Favourite Meals

What are your family’s top 3 favorite meals?

Fish and chips;Steak Pie and chips; Egg and chips. In no particular order.

What makes them my favourite are the chips.

What would make them even more my favourite if I could donate them to any hungry person in the World who needs a decent meal to share.

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A different one each week

If you could meet a historical figure, who would it be and why?

It would be a long list, and I would turn it into a weekly podcast.

…..Starting with  Empress Theodora wife of  Emperor Justinian the First.

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Instinct

Do you trust your instincts?

Instinct is a bad adjective It describes a feeling that is based on unquantifiable reason,and innate belief in right.A distinctly human belief that we must follow.

Instinct as a noun  refers to animal behaviour. Instincts are part of the make up of animal behaviour whether learned or genetic An animal who has lost its’  instincts will probably not survive in the wild.

A human who purely relies on instinct in our algorithmic and logical world will probably not thrive,yet can survive.

We can all quote our successes when we follow our instincts.They probably don’t bear too much critical analysis; but if the result was a success then who can argue with us. Our instincts won the day.

In summary instinct is part of our natural world and one of the many tools we use  to negotiate our challenging life. They can guide or misguide,but they are always there.

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3 Simple Wishes for a Fulfilled Life: Contentment, Health, and Kindness

You have three magic genie wishes, what are you asking for? Embracing Life’s True Essentials Imagine being granted three wishes. What would you ask for? A dream job, endless wealth, fame? What if true happiness lies in something simpler? Let’s explore three essential wishes: a content life, good health, and kindness toward others. These may […]

3 Simple Wishes for a Fulfilled Life: Contentment, Health, and Kindness

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Metageitnion

What’s your favorite month of the year? Why?

“Metageitnion” is the ancient Greek for July and September,so I get two months instead of one.

July represents summer to me and September is the beginning of fall,when days begin to get shorter and growth begins to slow down and the temperatures start to drop.

Both months complement each other.September is a good time to start  looking  back at the long days and warmth of summer,perhaps even the dryness of summer,where the hard labour of watering plants was necessary.Eight watering cans full on my allotment from our communal water pump.

September doesn’t seem so bad,it’s time to prepare for the next  growing season’s and finish harvesting  that of  last of last year’s.

In September the schools have gone back ,so it’s time to have our annual vacation.Usually we are very lucky and the weather suits us perfectly.Even the sea water is warm due to the Gulf stream.

Still , I love the heat of July and enjoy it  sitting in my garden,sipping iced cranberry juice and sparkling water.

It’s a shame that the Ancient  Greek word representing July and September “Metageitnion” sounds like the trigger to a nuclear disaster.Still what’s in a word,it’s all Greek to me.

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City Life

Daily writing prompt
What is your favorite place to go in your city?

There’s a bar called City Life I like to go to. Maybe I go once a month or so, usually on film night. They have a small cinema in the back, seats about thirty people and usually it gets about two thirds full.

We have drinks and snacks before the film and there’s usually a break halfway through for more snacks and drinks. I don’t bother eating in the evening as the snacks are really good, onion bhajis and battered prawns with all sorts of exotic dips.

The films are a good mix , but always something worth watching, and after the film , we usually sit around chatting and discussing whatever has happened since we last got together. The closing time is very flexible , usually someone says.

” I’ll have to go , got to get up early tomorrow”

That starts the gentle trickle out the door. There’s never any trouble with people overstaying their welcome.

It’s a nice atmosphere and really clean and friendly.

Long may it continue.

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Jack , Sara and Seann(A Christmas Story)

It was Christmas Eve and Jack, Seann, Dolly and Mildred had made their way through the desolation of Bedfordshire.

   They fought  their way  through the snowy slush and the mountains of rubbish to reach the safety of Sara’s house where they planned a surprise visit with gifts and some out of date mince pies from Aldi’s. (Jack not liking to waste anything)

Luckily enough Sara was at home  ,her husband had taken the children out for tea, so  Sara could get on with the preparations for Christmas Day.

“Hello Jack, Seann” She said somewhat frostily. ” Come on in.What a nice surprise.” Though Sara wasn’t best pleased as she had a lot to do.

Then Sara , saw Mildred and Dolly and brightened up. “Hello , you two, oh Juniper will be so glad to see you”.

And so it was, Sara,despite having a million things to do, made some tea and the three friends sat down in the living room and ate their mince pies and chatted.

The dogs were excited to see each other, they ran around and  around outside making a lot of noise and  having fun.

Juniper tried  to show them the hedgehog in the garden,but the hedgehog was hibernating and was well hidden and fast asleep.

It was only after Seann, Sarah and Jack had been talking for some time about their plans for next year and Jack had eaten the last mince pie. That Seann said.

“It’s very quiet , listen.”Sean said.

“How can you listen to quiet?” Jack said sardonically but grinned at the same time.

“No,we better check what the dogs are up to!”Sean said excitedly.

“I know where they’ll be!”  Sara said.

So they all went into the utility room where Juniper had her comfy space and sure enough the three dogs were in there. On Juniper’s bed.

They were reading a book together and they were so caught up in the story that they didn’t notice they were being watched,even when Sean loudly said

“Oh how cute!”

Sarah said to him “Shh…let’s, leave them be.”

Sara,Jack and Seann went back to the living room and opened their presents to each other and eventually it was time to say their goodbyes.

Dolly got in her rucksack and fell asleep immediately ,Mildred as usual was just happy to be walking with Seann.

After Jack, Seann,  Dolly and Mildred had left and Sara was tidying up.she checked in on Juniper who was fast asleep in her favourite bed.Juniper was dreaming and her little paws were going like the clappers. The book had fallen onto the floor and Sara picked it up and read the title.

                “The Planet of the Wolves”

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Home is Where The Heart Is.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

People who endlessly want to travel bore me silly.What are they looking for?

So,if you’ve been everywhere,where would you choose to live?Surely that would be an impossible choice Sea over mountain;City over plateau, Forest over lake.

Do you hate your home?Does it not enlighten your spirit, where do you feel most comfortable?

For me,it’s at home ,surrounded by familiar things and with plenty of opportunities to be creative.There my heart beats pleasurably and I am at Peace with myself.

To live in a Home,where I am safe and is a haven for myself and others close to me is my attainable desire.

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An Acorn

What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever found (and kept)?

I found this on one of my dog walks two years ago. It’s on my table beside my computer. I think it’s cool and maybe a lot of people wouldn’t see it as anything special ,but to me it’s a miracle of nature and always makes me feel good.It’s nice to hold and look at it’s slightly deranged symmetry.

Namaste

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