Category: Life

Dear Lily…..Thank you x

Joey Jones11 Comments

Describe a positive thing a family member has done for you.

Today, once at again I’m tapping away on my tablet, with my left hand only. The dog currently commandeering the whole of my right side. Lily would smile at this comical stance, I’m sure. She liked dogs and had a lovely thick coated crossbreed called Darkie. There was a cat at her house too. Liquorice a tabby plus.

Genetically I wasn’t related to Lily, but she did more for me in the years she looked after me than anything my blood relatives ever did. Today I would like to honour her and give thanks for everything.

I was only two weeks old when this wonderful soul came into our lives. With two young sons and a new baby my mom was struggling to cope. I am sure my dad would have been of little or no help at all.

And so it was when Lily’s own daughter fled the nest ( more about her (SB) in a future post) that I was invited into the void she had left behind, her bedroom became mine and I was safe. At the same time my own mom had fled, too. Without the safety net which was Lily I don’t know how I would have coped, at all.

There is so much more to write about her and my life with her, but for now to answer the DP. What positive thing a family member has done for me? The answer is she did everything she possibly could do for me. I thank you. R.I.P 💜

*Also, thank you SB for sharing your mom with me x

Arthur….I haven’t forgotten you x

Food for the soul

Joey Jones3 Comments

What is your favorite restaurant?

It is called ‘ Francis de Sales ‘ by the owners, but’ Franky’s ‘ by the many regular customers.

In a decommissioned chapel, set back from the road and in the shadow of a mighty oak, stands  this beautiful building with the original stained glass windows and pews. The stone floor and decorative tiles are a sight to behold.

Open from 12 noon to 8pm, 5 days a week, it’s wise to book if you are intent on eating there. If not rock up and hope for the best.

No meat or dairy but impressive cocktails and delicious food. In keeping with the changing seasons the menu varies throughout the year. Comforting soups, tagines, and old school veggie meals  are favourites throughout the winter and spectacular Buddha Bowls when the weather is warmer. All the usual suspects; sesame tofu, grains, beans, lentils and rice dishes. The bread is made locally and as many ingredients as possible are sourced from as close to the building as possible.

Children and dogs are welcomed and always the accompanying adults do a great job of keeping the ambiance calm and pleasant. With immediate access to an adjoining side room big sofas and drawing equipment and toys are available to the kids to chill.

There is background music, loud enough to distract from the conversation of other parties, but quiet enough to be able to relax and enjoy the moment.

Outside the old graves are still tended to and an unspoken respect attaches itself to the customers as they come and go.

The key to this environment is balance….and I’d say they’ve got it in spot on!

Wishing your life away? Please don’t

Joey Jones2 Comments

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

It was probably a warm and sunny morning in late May 1995,when Christopher Reeves set off to participate in an equestrian event.

The American actor is well known for his role as Superman. He may even have felt pretty confident the day would go his way.

Little did he know his life was about to change forever. He fell from his horse, landing on his head and leaving him paralysed from the neck down for the rest of his life.

I think we should think about and remember this true story, from time to time.

I would like to change the word ‘ Where’ in today’s Prompt, to ‘ How’.

In 10 years time I would like to be breathing. Healthy and mobile. Secure and content.

Carpe Diem

Joey Jones4 Comments

What are 5 everyday things that bring you happiness?

It makes me happy to stand at the open door with a cup of coffee listening to and watching the birds go about their day. I love that.

To be out in nature with my dog. Especially now that Spring is kicking in and the world is coming to life, and there is warmth in the sun.

After a busy times, it makes me so happy not to have to be anywhere…or should that be somewhere? Lol. Freedom is a wonderful thing!

Between my home and next door, out front,  is a raised bed. A few months ago my neighbour gave me permission to do with it as I will.I planted bulbs and various young plants. It makes me happy to tend to that and generally pottering around

And…gratitude. Being grateful. Counting my blessings. How can that not make you happy?

Whilst I am on the subject of gratitude, I would like to thank you my subscribers. For those of you who read and acknowledge my posts.  That ‘ like’ tells me you were here and where you are from. I love it when you comment, so please do say hello. ‘ til next time..

…This is Anna

Joey Jones5 Comments

What book could you read over and over again?

As we are given a Daily Prompt and not a ‘ Brief’, I want to tell you about a book I was given over twenty years ago. Take into consideration I have lived quite the transient life and for this to still be in my possession says a lot.

When you move around you cannot ‘ hang onto things’, to be a hoarder would be a luxury. Well, perhaps not. But you get my drift. When a person gifts me with something I’m grateful for their thoughtfulness and generosity. The item becomes precious, as is this, for several,reasons. (I thank you PN)

For clarity, transparency, call it what you will, I will state here that I am not a religious person, but I do respect the path some folk take. You would be more likely find me in a book shop eyeing books about Paganism or Buddhism. Each to our own.

Mister God, This Is Anna, is an extraordinary little book of less than 200 pages. Published in 1974 and written by Sydney Hopkins with the psudonym Fynn.

In the book Fynn then aged 16 finds an abandoned and neglected four year old girl wandering the streets of docklands, on a cold and foggy night in 1930’s London. He takes her home to his parents where for a few years she amazes everyone around her with her intelligent, lively and curious precociousness. She has a luminous innocence and wisdom which dazzles Fynn. They bond quickly and become the firmest of friends.

It is a religious book, yes. However it is defiant of unscientific dogma. Physics, biology, maths are all of interest to Anna. Herself an instinctive theologian.

Her luminous innocence, wisdom and infinite relationship with Mr God and her friendship with Fynn are woven together in this story, which totally undercuts adult pretensions.

This is a fine book, which I am now ready to read again.

The heartbeat at my feet

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What animals make the best/worst pets?

Dogs,dogs,dogs……and more dogs! Having said that if granted enough time on this planet and the opportunity to do so I’d would love to give a good home to a cat and some chickens.

The following was written by Billy Collins in 1998. Twice US Poet Laureate….

*Dharma*

The way the dog trots out the front door

every morning

without a hat or umbrella,

without any money

or keys to her doghouse

never fails to fill the saucer of my heart

with milky admiration.

Who provides a finer example

of life without encumbrance –

Thoreau in his curtainless hut

with a single plate, a single spoon?

Ghamdi with his staff and holy diapers?

Off she goes into the material world

with nothing but her brown coat

and her modest blue collar

following only her wet nose,

the twin portals of her steady breathing,

followed only by the plume of her tail.

Ir only she did not shove the cat aside

every morning

and eat all his food

what a model of self-containment she

would be,

what a paragon of earthly detachment.

If only she were not so eager

for a rub behind the ears,

so acrobatic in her welcomes,

if only I were not her god…..

The Earth dies screaming

Joey Jones4 Comments

What job would you do for free?

Good morning WordPress/Daily Prompt. You ask us about doing a job for free. From the off let’s be clear one would have to be pretty much financially secure to take on such a commitment. Sadly most of us aren’t, so what we do instead is volunteer, when and where we can. I’ve had a few such jobs/activities/the right word being? over the years. For now I’m having a breather between lives, chapters, if you will. Most likely when I find my final resting place (no not that one!) ( still in transient mode?) I shall pick up the threads of ‘ helping out’, once again.

With that question answered I shall go off piste a little.

Whilst I was considering this morning’s prompt my mind wandered to a dear friend of mine. We live in different parts of England but message each other often. Sometimes we chat about screen time. What we have seen and enjoyed, or not, if that is the case.

To said friend I recommend a programme and she responded that her eldest son had also mentioned it and she was going to decline. To be fair it wasn’t easy watching, but not a horror story either. Not in the Stephen King sense of creepy. She was right, in some aspects it wasn’t that pleasant to watch, the story I mean, not the performances. ‘ I’m too scared, to see it ‘ she said. A certain kind of ‘ hell on Earth’ exists in varying forms all over the world, sadly, and having devoted her whole life to children, her own and as a professional in Child Services, she had witnessed sad and difficult times in the families she monitored and assisted. So I didn’t push her further.

That hell on Earth, is now so widespread, it’s breath taking. Whether it be pollution on the most massive scale imaginable in our oceans/waterways, skies, land ( think pesticides ) and beyond. Destruction, cruelty, intolerance, greed, inequality.. ambivalence. There is no end to the ways Man finds to destroy the world which he depends on. Crudely digging up all the preciousness and literally filling those holes with rubbish.

What exactly is being put back, to enrich and enhance our existence on the beautiful planet we are intent on destroying, inside out?

If only all the power and energy and resources to do so where ploughed back in, it could surely be a place to be proud of. And wouldn’t the gods be happy? It’s what they intended, surely?

Shouldnt we all be paying some form of rent to reside here?

To all the beautiful souls who do volunteer ( especially you SB), I thank you.

Gabby

Joey Jones3 Comments

What Olympic sports do you enjoy watching the most?

I certainly respect all the sports people aiming high.   The hours of dedication they must have put in. Maybe a talent they were born with? Their dedication is admirable. But for me this is the best race ever…..