Decorations up?

An angel and a moose reindeer ornament and a boxing hare, a string of red beads, some shiny holographic card and two cat ornaments? Will that do?

I don’t have a tree because of the cats, and I’m feeling very minimal this year. I will put any cards I get up on the mantelpiece.

No I’m not turning into Scrooge, just feeling a little flat and I can’t climb to hang things up. And if I did, then I’d have to take them down again afterwards. Oh well…

I remember years when I used to put up a tree, I have boxes and boxes of glass ornaments, Christmas tree lights, I would hang paper streamers, presents were put under the tree. Not much to put there now, a couple of calendars. But I don’t need anything, my house is full.

Kindness

Tell us one thing you hope people say about you.

I hope people see that I am kind

That I care about things

Wrap my heart and soul

Round those who need.

But if they don’t see it?

Not important,

as long as things improve

Kindness can be hidden too

Who needs recognition?

If you can help anyway.

And yes, I am soft hearted.

Heart felt

Every so often I find a heart, and I smile and remember, I’m not alone.

Memories grip me, I remember clear days, driving through country lanes, visiting old houses, happiness, times spent together.

It doesn’t have to be a leaf, I see hearts in swirls of coffee, puddles, holes in crumpets, flower petals, it’s just some random pattern that leads me to loving feelings, caring, comforting, companionable love.

And I’m glad.

Where are you?

I saw you in a dream

Echoing through my head

High on a hill,

Climbing a crag

Cycling on narrow roads

Blossom twined in your hair

Life in the 70’s

All love and peace

Working at Machynlleth

You saw Dylan

At the isle of Wight

Your free spirit

Was my joy untold

When I met you, so bold

Never enough time to be

In that world with you

Dragged into work

Instead of adventure

With you.

My bike

Name the most expensive personal item you’ve ever purchased (not your home or car).

45 years ago I bought myself a ladies mixtie frame 10 speed bike.

It cost £120 which was a lot of money then and as a student I had to pay monthly to get it. I think it took me 6 months.

But it got me through college and into the first jobs I had. It was my method of visiting family and friends. I must have ridden thousands of miles on it.

Bikes are a means of transport for all sorts of people. Who needs ebikes. Keep cycling.

X deleted

After 14 years and about 200 followers I’ve left X/Twitter. It was feeling pointless and I rarely used it.

I decided to try out Threads and it just felt friendlier, and then as I tried to post to both apps, X seemed more and more boring. Endless silly questions about where you went to school, were you around during the moon landings? Do you know one word that explains making bread? Trivial stuff. I’m not saying my new choice will be any better, but I’m giving it a go.

Anyway it’s nice not to be supporting Musk. X(kiss)

Fifth of November

Annual celebration in the UK.

Looking forward to seeing fireworks on November 5th, bonfire night in the UK. Also known as Guy Fawkes night when he tried to blow up the houses of parliament several centuries ago. Children say the rhyme “remember, remember the fifth of November, gunpowder, treason and plot”. Nothing to do with the American General Election thankfully! And something people actually enjoy X

Names?

From the fuzzy grey of my brain I seem to have developed a need to think of an unusual name that I could, if I ever wrote a novel, use as a character.

This normally happens when I’m half asleep, it might be a continuing dream. And like a dream, I think of a name and then almost immediately forget it!

I don’t have a list, I didn’t think of writing names down. But I think each name is a little complicated, perhaps having several syllables. Is this normal? Is there a name for it? (like nominative determinism, where a person’s name relates to their job… A Mr Kitchenn as a cook for example?)

I am trying to think of names….

Buttercup Sylvester

Pamela Praline

Humphrey Othello?

Or maybe

Martia Stephinkos

Greg Carlos Carlisle?

I think I come up with better ones when I half asleep.

Peace, prosperity, care

You have three magic genie wishes, what are you asking for?

If a genie arises and I can beg

3 indulgences to make life better

I would ask for Peace

As Julian of Norwich wrote

“All shall be well and all shall be well

And all manner of things shall be well. “

Let peace arise and calm the world.

Prosperity?

Let people have sufficient for their need

With less greed.

Finally, the ability to care.

For trees and plants,

For birds and fish

Animals of all kinds

Insect, arachnid, mammal, marsupial.

Care enough to save our little planet.