As this is a daily writing prompt and not an assignment, I shall start off changing the word authority for passion.
Somewhere, I have two certificates( in an old box, collecting dust). I worked hard for : Advanced Canine and Feline Nutrition and Animal Assisted Therapy…and I shall keep on learning about dogs, about anything and everything. I’m wired with a curious mind.
So, if you have dogs and stand still long enough, the chances I will feel the urge to chat with you about them. It is the emotional health of dogs and all animals, really that concern me the most…but I’m not sure everyone is aware, so I’ll just listen for clues
There are many dog-related classes you can attend, experts to guide you with this and that.. but I have yet to come across anyone talking about the animal’s mental health, their feelings. You may mock, but they are sentient beings.
There was a time in history known as the Romantic Era. Generally thought to be roughly from 1780-1850. But obviously, lines do blur along cultural timelines.
It is the Post Romantic landscape that must have been a wonderful time to be a Creative. Especially as there was a strong reaction to the Industrial Revolution bringing about emotions, which could be perfrctly expressed through the arts.
Although there were plenty of jobs and people flocked from the rural areas to the cities, it was soul destroying to witness. The poets, designers, philosophers, and dreamers saw only soot and smokestack. A spiritual unravelling.
Think Arts & Crafts, Pre Raphelites, Gothic Revival, Realism, Modernist.
Early this morning, I whispered ‘thank you’ into the ether. A cool breeze had crossed my face and at my side lay my dog peacefully. This heatwave we had was a lovely surprise, quite exciting, but I hated seeing my boy suffer.
Yesterday, I gave thanks to St Anthony. The patron saint of lost/stolen items. My keys had gone AWOL. I asked him for help and voila, there they were. That makes people smile, but hey!
The day before that alone in my car, I sang to the Parking Faries and managed to pull into a space not far from where I wanted. I then thanked them out loud 😆
Worldwide, Harvest Festivals are observed by diverse customs and traditions. All giving thanks. It was by far my most favourite of assemblies at school. It naturally resonated with me as a child.
Gratitude can be expressed in many ways, in whatever may be appropriate at the time. As long as it is done in an authentic manner and the gesture heart felt.
A powerful tool is gratitude.
Last but not least- thank you for reading this far x
Goodness me, WordPress! How long have you got? To answer this daily prompt would take hours and continue over many pages.
Unstable world leaders! How’s that for a start? The planet is set to implode, and there aren’t enough selfless grown-ups in the room to stop it.
Do Putin, Trump, Netanyahu, and the like give a damn about the 2.2 billion people worldwide without access to clean drinking water? No, they don’t give it a second thought. They are too busy lining their pockets, ego-tripping, and slaughtering children.
They turn up, day in day out, despite the odds against them.
There must be days when they feel they have chosen the right career path. Moments when it all seems worthwhile, but I wonder how many moments like that there are? Kind words from a parent, a pat on the back from a superior/colleague, a child who has been struggling with something and then ‘ gets it’, a thank you.
These people do not go home at 3.30 pm and enjoy endless stress-free wholesome holiday breaks.
There are lessons to plan, homework to be set, and piles of books to mark. A board of governors to contend with, endless assessors sitting in to criticise and disgruntled parents to appease. Then there may be a head teacher who is not supportive? Professional development courses to attend..
.. and that’s on top of the daily teaching of a class that may or may not be attentive or even want to be there. There are strugglers who need extra help, maybe the bright kids who become easily bored and then disruptive and, importantly, the children they worry about.
Plus, the teachers have their own personal lives, maybe medical issues and difficulties they have to push to one side.
They need to be patient and kind, nurturing and enthusiastic every single day.
It’s a big ask to put all this pressure on their shoulders.
It’s another summer’s day in England. It’s a bit overcast and breezy, but warm. The dog has had his walk and is now eating his breakfast. The blackbirds are kicking off, so I’d better feed them and then decide what I’m going to do with my day.
Oh, I know what I’ll do, I’ll go and participate in today’s Daily Prompt on WordPress. I shall write about any medical procedures I may have had and then go read about everyone else’s.
Ah, but before I do that, there is a wall of wet paint I must watch dry.
*You cannot be serious ‘. In 1981, tennis player John McEnroe shouted this at the.umpire during a dispute, and for some reason, we have not forgotten it.
Are there things you try to practice daily to live a more sustainable lifestyle?
Aren’t we all trying to make the world a better place? By doing the right things to pay our rent for having this beautiful world to live in? ( Of course, it could be perfectly beautiful if it wasn’t for the absolute carnage Man is managing to bring to pretty much aspect of it.
I do my best daily; use a glass of water instead of having the tap running, whilst I clean my teeth.
A shower instead of a bath.
Boil just enough water for what I need.
Not eating meat or fish is my choice. I am aware that the water footprint for meat production is staggering.
Cold water washing is OK by me, with just an occasional hot wash, when necessary.
Of late, I’ve stopped buying anything new, instead enjoying what I already have or browsing charity shops if I feel in need of retail therapy.
Having said that if something has/needs to be bought new I will always support local/small businesses.
Being Earth-conscious is really important to me on a daily basis, but I do have one thing to work on, which needs improvement, and that is turning off at the mains, anything electrical. Must try harder. I will try harder,as of now!
What’s the most delicious thing you’ve ever eaten?
There is nothing on this Earth which beats a South Indian breakfast. Forget the toast and cereals, what they offer is an absolute feast.
Idli, dosa, samba and pongal. Pongal my most favourite ever!
I shall post a picture of it now in it’s cooking form, but what is then added to that totally rocks. I have some great photos of the whole shebang, but before I head off to find some, there are things I need to do…..
Oh, my beloved pongal. A dish made with rice and lentils cooked in boiling milk. Tempered with ghee, black pepper, ginger,curry leaves, cumin, and hing. Then topped with cashew nuts. Oh my goodness. Heaven sent!
You could also have a dosa. A thin savoury crepe, made with a fermented batter of ground black gram and rice.
There are also Idlis. A kind of savoury rice cake.
To accompany these dishes, there is Sambar. A thin lentil and vegetable soup, consisting of what is available; okra, tomatoes, egg plant, carrots. There is a wide choice of what it can be made of. Plus, the addition of Tamarind gives it an amazing zing!
Added to the feast can be coriander and/or coconut chutney.
And should you feel a bit peckish mid-morning, there will always be someone on the street to provide you with Vardi ( a savoury lentil doughnut) and a glass of chai.
A digression…Written yesterday
I dropped my phone today and totally wrecked it. Nothing, nada, a digital life completely wiped ( luckily, I have a tablet with some stuff on, which helps. But I need to now get my new device up and running. It’s my own fault. Until recently I had one of those black shockproof cases on it….but the other day I decided to take that off and enjoy the beautiful pale green back of it. Big mistake!… Anyways, because the device is destroyed I can’t transfer the data. ( Yes, I’ve lost some lovely photos, those I’ve taken and some sent to me) Sooo, I have to sort it manually. It may take a while. However, I didn’t want to miss today’s prompt. What I will do is come back and fill in the details of this amazing banquet offered at breakfast time in Chennai.
I’ve not eaten this in 20 years, but my goodness, I will never forget it!
I don’t expect you to come back to the edited version, later..but I want to honour this food with at least a little write-up.
P.S. I’ve not had time to read what you guys have written today, but I’ll get there. When the sun goes down and the birds are saying goodnight, the hood will be quiet and peaceful…and then you will have my full attention x
If you were forced to wear one outfit over and over again, what would it be?
A short n sweet answer to our daily prompt ..
A French/Belgian (they produce the best) linen top, of some description. The thermoregulation it provides will keep me warm in winter and cool in summer.
High waisted straight leg jeans, for ultimate comfort.
And some new Sambas/whatever, as mine have seen better days.
IN THE BOOMER PIGEON HOLE? 
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