What is the legacy you want to leave behind?
There will sadly be no monetary legacy I can leave behind…but if I could be remembered, just fleetingly even, for being kind and compassionate…for giving a damn about the planet and the innocent folk and animals who try to live peacefully upon it, then I will have left behind something.
How do you balance work and home life?
Work and home life are no longer a thing for me. Being retired means finding balance in my life in other ways.
Born under the astrological sign of Libra suggests equilibrium, harmony and justice are important to me….and I know they are.
This is a topic that interests me a great deal, but ahead is a busy day. I would like to find the time to come back and add to this post later .
What sacrifices have you made in life?
I sometimes find the word ‘ sacrifice’ smacks of martyrdom in today’s world….and I’m not sure what to replace it with….forfeit? forego?
‘ Gave up’. Maybe that works a bit better? It’s still not perfect!
Once upon a time I had a well paid job overseas, a comfortable lifestyle and savings….and then I didn’t, because a Street Dog came into my life and changed everything. My Tony and the foster puppy Joe (who stayed forever) became my focus. My world.
It cost me everything, but I wouldn’t change a thing. That’s not totally true. I do not regret for one second bringing them back to the UK…but I wish I had done things differently.
In the end the young pup stayed by my side for 15 years, with unconditional love and a continuity in my life I knew neither before or since.
I loved those boys……and I miss them.
J.R.R. Tolkien
I sit beside the fire and think of all that I have seen
of meadow-flowers and butterflies in summers that have been;
Of yellow leaves and gossamer in autumns that there were,
with morning mist and silver sun and wind upon my hair.
I sit beside the fire and think of how the world will be
when winter comes without a spring that I shall ever see.
For still there are so many things that I have never seen:
in every wood and every spring there is a different green.
I sit beside the fire and think of people long ago
and people who will see a world that I will never know.
But all all the while I sit and think of times there were before,
I listen for returning feet and voices at the door.
Are you a leader or a follower?
List your top 5 favorite fruits.
Okay WordPress, a simple task for us today…..
I’ll start with watermelon, without a shadow of doubt, is my all time favourite fruit. Cool, crisp, sweet and succulent. Ticks all boxes
Do you remember as a kid at Christmas time dates appearing amongst the fayre? Those white, slim, long boxes with a thick see-through wrapper. Inside were dark, dried.. the strangest of fruit. Grown ups did not encourage us to try and we feared to tread. And there that weird fruit stayed for years. Now I buy them regularly. £5 for a box from the supermarket. Better to dip in and have a couple a day instead of chocolate or biscuits or other snacks that call out our name from the cupboard. Delicious! By far the leader of the pack are Jordanian ones. Yes I am somewhat biased…but they are not all born equal. Jordanian ones are superior, hands down. Soft, succulent and sweet. At the moment the ones in my kitchen are from South Africa and they are doing a grand job of coming second, by choice….
…….. ( Last night my dog was playing with something. Trying to chew it, spitting it out and then throwing it around … I tried to get close to see what he had, but if you know my dog, you will know it’s probably best not to do that!….When he barked momentarily at the Amazon delivery guy at the door, and dropped his fascinating new find, I got to see what it was. A date stone. We are clearly getting value for money here
I’ve not had a custard apple/cherimoya in twenty years, but the memories linger on. Soft, sweet, pulpy …custardy. Lush.
Bananas. Interestingly the one food stuff the price of which never seems to rise. Tasty and filling and containing approximately 9% of our daily potassium requirement. Good to have daily.
It is so hard not to pick one straight from the bunch when you buy some..but washing grapes before consumption is crucial. Bacteria and pesticides ( unless guaranteed organic) lurk in every crevice. Removing the waxy coating and debris will also preserve their shelf life. Black or green they are nutrition dense; vitamins, antioxidants and fibre The only thing to be mindful of is the sugar content.
There is a mango in my fruit bowl….breakfast is served
What is your career plan?
Hey WordPress, a bit late in the day to be asking about a career plan! And anyways, in the words of the Scottish poet Robert Burns ‘ The best laid plans of mice and men ….’
What was the last live performance you saw?
It certainly wasn’t the last live performance I saw and what was escapes me completely. But going to see Tom Petty and his band play at Wembley in London two nights in a row, March 1992 for the Great Wide Open Tour was simply the best thing ever. Exceptionally vivid and precious memories made there. RIP Tom 💜
What do you do to be involved in the community?
I’ve been missing out on all these lovely prompts, over the last week or so. But now with a diagnosis in hand, I should be able to move forward…and get back to do what I love ..
What’s a job you would like to do for just one day?
I would like to join Dian Fossey, in the late sixties, as she began her intensive research into the lives and well being of gorillas, in Rwanda..
IN THE BOOMER PIGEON HOLE? 