Staring into 2026 which hideous monsters stare back? Will things continue along the lines of this year… War, starvation, animosity, selfishness…
Do we even have the capa to change. Why are we signing over our lives to tech and billionaire masters. Why is it OK for AI to make up facts and misrepresent and tell us “unfacts” (lies).
We need old fashioned education, knowledge and hard work to improve the situation. Caring for and guarding the information we have hard won over the years. Trying to explain and explore, not fight.
Turned a block built stone wall on the back of the cottage scenery into a creepy cave today…. With the help of three other people. It was so good to get help. I’m physically shattered and would have struggled for days to get this done. But with a little help and much appreciation it’s done. It needs a bit of wood to support it. By the way it reminds me of Cezanne in a way. X
My three cats keep me calm. I took my blood pressure today and it was considerably lower when the cat came and sat on my knee.
Each one has a different purrsonality. Calm and relaxed, cheeky and quick to pounce, one that would trip me up if he got the chance. They love being close to me and they are a comfort during some difficult times.
In fact I think they have helped me keep my sanity over the last few months. Keeping them fed and watered, giving them love and attention. I need the love they give back. X
My hubby always fed the birds at this time of year. I just realised that I need to take over. But I rarely get out in the garden because of being so unsteady and the fact that there are uneven steps,and the pathways are covered in leaf mould. I must make a plan to try and get out and feed them, other than that I think I will ask a friend.
What details of your life could you pay more attention to?
When you have lots of illnesses it’s hard to keep track of what’s going on. Different things go wrong and you take medication, but it’s hard to know how to manage things. Which symptom is the most concerning, how do things interact, should you exercise more or less? What diet would improve your health?
But also don’t rely on Dr Google or online miracle workers. Many people have been affected by malpractice and con artists. Use your intelligence and listen to what professionals say, but with a pinch of scepticism. If you are unsure don’t be afraid to ask questions. Not the “I want a second opinion” type maybe? But try and get a sensible answer. Doctors are not infallible, they can make mistakes, but I do try and communicate with them. Fingers crossed by doing this I can pay more attention in how I look after myself.
There are too many people who think they have what it takes to be a leader. But you can do other things, like being a follower, a loner, a supporter.
If you care about people or things think about using your compassion and being a supporter in some way. That could be financially, or morally, or emotionally. By supporting others you can reinforce friendship, but also possibly productivity, or yours and theirs emotional wellbeing. As the saying goes, love one another as you would like to be loved yourself. X
Write about a random act of kindness you’ve done for someone.
Whether someone is a few pence, or a couple of pounds short when they are shopping I don’t mind offering to help out.
Why not? They might be short on funds, or just unable to pay because of a computer problem. Maybe they chose the same as normal but prices have increased because of inflation? Let’s face it, life is getting harder for everyone.
I think what goes around comes around and the world needs a little more generosity. You have to be aware of problems though, I think I have to be sensible, but that shouldn’t stop me or anyone else using a random act of kindness to help others.
Long afternoon at the hospital, had to have scans and a biopsy. Now I’ve got to wait a couple of weeks for the result. Got home and look who is keeping me company? Sitting next to me like a sentinel.
I don’t know what the outcome will be, but I have three cats that need me. I intend to recover from whatever I’ve got. I’m grumpy and stubborn enough to look after myself. And I have my little friends for company.
I also have a brilliant lot of friends who have helped and supported me. I would have struggled without them. I’m thankful everyday for their help. Feeling a bit overwhelmed. X
Dr Who would be real (what a character!). Scientists would have solved global warming. People would be kinder to each other. There would be enough food to feed the population of the world.
No one would be called a bleeding heart Liberal, because everyone would be. Things would unfortunately happen as normal, like death and taxes, but maybe they would be organised a bit better rather than taking from the poor to give to the rich.
There would be a hypocrite law, basically if you acted like a hypocrite you could be fined for deliberately gaslighting people. I guess there would still be freedom of speech but hate speech would be banned. In my alternative universe we would be in touch with good aliens who wanted to help us survive.
Life would be benign but not boring. And all animals would not be hunted or pushed into extinction. I’m a bit too much of a pessimist though to believe all this could happen.
(I sound like a Miss World contestant from the 1970’s!)
The weekend before last was lovely, we went out with an art group and enjoyed visiting am old house. I walked round the grounds despite having a sore foot, it made climbing slopes difficult but I was OK.
When we got home the car door swung shut on my other leg. The wind had caught it and the corner of the door sliced into my calf muscle slightly, it bled but I put a dressing on it and it seemed OK.
THEN, I was walking upstairs a couple of days later, something seemed to snap in my bad foot. I rang the doctors and they said ring an ambulance. Which I did. They said it wasn’t broken and there was nothing to do but weight bear on my bad foot. Hubby even bought me crutches so I can hobble about. At that stage my other leg still seemed fine, I even got the paramedics to look at it. But over the last couple of days it’s started to weep. I don’t know what to do. Hubby says it looks a bit messy but I can’t see round the side. I will ring the doctors in the morning.
Life is strange. I’ve gone from being the carer to being cared for. Which means I can’t do things for myself like cooking and cleaning, but I have to give hubby instructions. I feel like my head will explode with frustration. I don’t know if the doctors can help. I can’t drive anywhere or even get out of the house down the step. Oh I’m fed up!
Mallaband-Brown 