Category Archives: Short Stories

Thank you to Wendy Hurrell BBC Online News for the Headline

Nice to know that Sir David Attenborough loves his home town , particularly the area he was brought up in London, which is Richmond, South-West London , on the door step of the borough’s Royal Park which Sir David has been enthralled with since a child.

He is nearing his hundredth birthday and still making wildlife films , but this one “Wild London” must be a labour of love. From the humble hedgehog to the introduction of Beavers by the Ealing Beaver Project.

There have been, over the years ,films made about wild animals in London, I remember seeing one about foxes after the scare stories of foxes entering peoples houses in London. I think some woman thought it was after her young baby. Truth is if people in Cities can learn to live with their wild animals everyone will be better off and if the Powerhouse of energy and knowledge that is Sir David Attenborough is behind it then all the other organisations’ promoting wildlife are being helped too.

Lovely to hear that Sir David is still as enthusiastic about the Wild as he was when he started out and that he got the chance to make a programme in his own home town.

Namaste and Thank You for Reading. 🙏

Thanks to Aurelia Foster from BBC Online News for this Headline

There’s nothing better when ancient bastions of power and influence and secret societies start throwing their weight around.

In recent times the Freemasons have tried to improve their public profile from “weird handshakes and secret initiation ceremonies” by telling everyone their main role is in raising monies for their favourite charities.

However, the Met has proposed asking all their employees to declare that they are a member of the Organization. This is to ensure that it is crystal clear that the Freemasons are not able to influence any investigations, which is perfectly understandable. Do you really want a “Secret Society” involved in criminal investigations?

The Met’s decision seems perfectly reasonable to me and I am concerned that having tried informal methods the Freemasons have decided that they will go to court and sue for discrimination.

Not being a lawyer, I don’t know what there chances are. I suppose it depends how many judges are freemasons.

Namaste and Thank You for Reading. 🙏

Thank you for BBC Online News for this Headline.

I had to check it was not April the first for this headline , but one look out the window at the drizzle and the fact that the heating is on made me realise that although the story may be a tongue in cheek it is actually a genuine warning issued by Food Standards Scotland (FSS).

Quote “Consumers are being urgently warned to not drink whisky or gin products from an Orkney distillery over fears they may pose a risk to health.”

The Kimbland Distillery has not been producing spirits for the last eighteen months due to building work , so it’s quite possible that all of their products that they have sold for the five years prior to the building work starting; through wholesalers and their own website; have been drunk. (If so then they must be good). If they haven’t then the recommendation from the FSS is that they should not be; due to safety concerns and the fact that Kimbland distillery cannot provide evidence that their spirits were distilled to the necessary safety requirements whatever they are. Alcohol after all is a poison. At least the distillery has decided to halt production during the building work, we should be grateful for small mercies. No dust in the whisky! It probably wouldn’t make much difference to the gin. I mean what are sieves for?

Whether they used peat and sheep poo in their processes we will never know, we just know that the likelihood is they didn’t fill in the right paperwork.

Well that’s a good Christmas story.

Namaste and Thank You for Reading. 🙏

Thanks to BBC Online and Craig Duggan and Aled Scourfield BBC Wales for the Headline

The list of respectable people involved in illegal dog breeding in Wales during a period of eight years that the Trading Standards were able to investigate and bring charges for is appalling. One of them is a local Councillor who you would have hoped would know better. Although, perhaps that is a misguided hope.

Either way, it gives me the opportunity to give you some information that was shared to me and really impacted me about all animals and how we should care for them and not abuse them. It was shared by Peter Egan, a talented actor and a phenomenal advocate for all “animals”, though I like to think he has a particular fondness for dogs.

What is Kahu?

In Hawaiin culture , you do not call yourself your pet’s owner. You are referred to as their “Kahu”. The word Kahu has a deep meaning and is defined as the sacred role of a guardian, protector, steward or honoured attendant. Essentially, someone entrusted with the safe keeping of something precious- something cherished. What a Kahu protects is not their property. What they protect is a part of their soul. We become better when we truly love an animal. We embraced the connection of all life when we embody what it means to be a Kahu.

Exert Courtesy of BanffWellness.com

Thank you for Reading . Namaste 🙏