Category: Life

‘Time keeps on slipping into the future … ‘ 🎵

Joey Jones4 Comments

Do you remember your favorite book from childhood?

A favourite series of books of mine were The Famous Five by English writer Enid Blyton ( 1897-1968) Her books were best sellers around the world since the 1930’s.

                                    Leisure

What is this life if, full of care

   We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs,

   And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,

   Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,

   Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,

   And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can,

   Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this, if, full of care,

   We have no time to stand and stare.

                 By W.H. Davies, pub 1911.

‘ Time keeps on slipping into the future’ is taken from the album Fly Like an Eagle by the Steve Miller Band. Released in 1976.

  

Desert Island Library

Joey Jones1 Comment

List three books that have had an impact on you. Why?

These three books have stayed with me since first reading them a lifetime ago. They would make perfect companions to be reread, should the stranded on a desert island scenario ever occur.

The Prophet by Kalil Gibran ( 1883-1931) This Lebanese/American poet and writer had this work published in 1923. The twenty six philosophical essay/prose poems over twenty eight chapters tell of sprawling topics including life, love, freedom, humanity, pain and passion. A truly spiritual and inspirational read.

Experiments with the Truth, is the autobiography penned by the Indian and London educated lawyer known as Mahatma Gandhi ( 1869-1948). He writes of the successes and failures of non-violent resistance. Suffering hardships and imprisonment for his beliefs. Mr Gandhi who was assassinated in 1948. He never forgot the principles of truth.

A Thousand Years of Solitude was penned by Colombian writer and journalist Gabriel Garcia. Martinez ( (1927-2014). His book covers seven generations of a family as they wade through the inevitable repetition of history in Latin America. The magical realism woven in here with experiences of being a journalist makes this an ideal Tome to have with you on a desert island, as each page is crammed full of detail to absorb and think about for a long time to come afterwards. You may even feel the need to read it over and over to truly capture its essence.

The Tide Rises the Tide Falls

Joey Jones6 Comments

What jobs have you had?…… and when the work is over

The tide rises, the tide falls,

The twilight darkness, the curlew calls;

Along the sea-sands damp and brown

The traveller hastens towards the town,

   And the tide rises, the tide falls.

Darkness settles on roofs and walls,

But the sea, the sea in darkness calls;

The little waves, with their soft, white hands,

Efface the footprints in the sand,

   And the tide rises, the tide falls.

The morning breaks; the steed in their stalls,

Stamp and neigh, as the holster calls,

The day returns, but never more

Returns the traveller to the shore,

   And the tide rises, the tide falls.

                             ***************

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ~ 1807-1882

Health, wealth, happiness and success….

Joey Jones3 Comments

What does “having it all” mean to you? Is it attainable?

‘Having it all’ must mean something different to everyone. Those who believe it is a myth, those who believe they have attained it and those who want it.

Katy Perry in a Monse designed spacesuit had to leave the planet for 11 minutes to fill a void in her life.

I’ll just go with contentment, being happy and grateful for what I have.

What a man….

Joey Jones6 Comments

Do you have any collections? I embrace minimalism

William Morris (1834-1896) designer, poet, craftsman, radical socialist, environmental activist. The first eco warrior of design, without a doubt!

He once said ‘ Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful ‘.

Another interesting take, said by Isabel Allende-1942- ‘ You spend the first part of your life collecting things and the second half getting rid of them’………A bit of a generalisation, but you get the drift.

Personally I’m not that comfortable being possessed by possessions.

Moving on

Joey Jones2 Comments

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.

Finding Zen

Joey Jones2 Comments

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 .

My Tamil pups

Joey Jones2 Comments

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.