How to alleviate symptoms

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.

Newt dream!

I just woke from a weird dream. I was in a wooden hut/ nature reserve and was with a large group of strangers. The team leader bought up the question that people were asking about, could we go canoeing?

I put up my hand to speak, but whilst other people voiced their opinions I was studiously ignored. Suddenly I saw a newt in a corner and I didn’t want it to get trampled. I went over and gently picked it up, wondering if I was allowed to. Don’t you have to have a licence for newt handling?

I came outside by the front door into a lovely natural wood, but the newt had dissappeared. I had to find it again. Meanwhile I was in a garden with a pond. I saw the newt and picked it up. I placed it in the foliage by the pond, and as I stood up I saw the newt tail in my hand.

Then I woke up! I have no idea what it meant. I was just glad that I remembered it. I don’t think it was a lucid dream but it was interesting. I wonder why I dreamt it?

Dilemma? Esther Chiltons blog prompt.

Dilemma? Shall I stay or go?
Balance up the positives and negatives?
They balance out precisely!
Canvass friends and family?
Some say yes, some say go.
How do I feel?
Pleased and alarmed in equal measure!
How to decide?
Flip a coin!

Dilemma? Shall I stay or go?
Balance up the positives and negatives?
They balance out precisely!
Canvass friends and family?
Some say yes, some say go.
How do I feel?
Pleased and alarmed in equal measure!
How to decide?
Flip a coin!

My dilemma today? I’ve posted this twice!

Do I delete?

Life’s an empty book

When we first started our lives we were empty books. At the end, perhaps we are the same. When the memory dwindles and is gone. Thousands of days or years pass by. How can we be remembered? Our belongings may be passed down through generations, but eventually they just become remnants of a previous way of life.

I not trying to be melodramatic about this or emotional. I’m just contemplating my place in history, a short blip in a continuous spectrum of time. I’m trying to grasp as much of life as I can for as long as I can. Continuing to take an interest in the world and the best of humanity. I hope you are too.

Esther Chiltons Blog prompt “surprise”

Surprise!
One night I dreamt that I would meet some friends on a road nearby, but since they lived 40 miles away and only cycled that seemed unlikely. I also remembered the dream was on a wet day. Things seemed very clear. But as usual I couldn’t remember the details when I woke up. Then a few days later we decided to ride out and meet some other friends on their farm. It was an overcast day as we started out on our 5 mile ride to visit them. But SURPRISE! In the distance we saw our friends cycling towards us. They must have had the same idea. But they were with some others. It started to rain and as the friends drew closer I realised they were with the people I’d dreamt of! Then we all took shelter under cover of a bus stop. Thunder rumbled and lightening flashing! I realised it was my dream!

2 cats

Medium cat (left) and large cat (right) like to sleep on this chair. Usually there is a single occupant, but tonight they are sharing. The little cat is on the floor just exploring to find somewhere to settle down.

I’m glad they tolerate and cope with each other, the small cat is nervous and sometimes has a paw raised to her, but there’s very rarely a squabble and usually they chase together to pay. I think I will go  and settle down too. I’m struggling to keep my eyes open, the cats have the right idea. X

Seahorse

For years I drew seahorses on the sand

A holiday tradition.

He would watch while I drew

Happy in admiration

Sunny, bright days,

Soft sand

Holding hands.

I started doing this

30 years ago

Seahorses gallop into the waves

Dragging my memories

In the undertow

Last week I walked towards a beach

Did not step onto it

Did not pick up a stick and draw

Did not depict this watery creature

I don’t know if I ever will

Again….

Sand particles washed and blown

Away…

Has my tide turned?

I don’t know…

Under trees

The trees are full of leaves, bulky and heavy laden. They clean the air, drawing in carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. I hate to think of when these trees will be gone. They may become aged and diseased. I think of them 50 years ago, how big were they then? Saplings or bigger? How old are they. What is their life expectancy? I hope they see the next century safely. Their dark green canopies giving continued shelter even as the climate heats up.

Face in a landscape

Painting from a few years ago. I sometimes come up with ideas I like, but I don’t keep doing the same things over and over again. I’m not sure if I could keep repeating an image with just little changes. Once you start doing that you might as well be creating Christmas or birthday cards.

I like being experimental. I might not always get it right but if I continue I learn with each effort. This acrylic on canvas is quite surreal, but why not?