Describe a random encounter with a stranger that stuck out positively to you.
There is a beauty
that walks in the darkness,
makes its way
among the bombs
and broken lives,
offers blankets
and shoulders to cry on
puts on kettles
and bandages,
mends what it can,
and asks
for not one thing back,
as it wraps
in its arms
the troubled night,
and waits
for morning
and its pale sunlight……….
* The Kindness Of Strangers was written by Bill Bilston
Describe a decision you made in the past that helped you learn or grow.
Goodness WordPress ‘a ‘ descion ?! Learning and growing has been a bit of a theme that I’m happy to say continues with me to this day and hopefully will accompany me until the end of my life.
‘ Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever’ – Mahatma Ghandi
Like everyone I’ve made good and bad descions and hopefully will have learnt from those choices along the way. Not always though! It can take a while of trying and getting the same results, before it sinks in.
‘What doesn’t kill you….’ and all that.
By listening to my beloved LBC London Radio every day I’m learning something pretty much from the off. This commercial station is mostly unbiased, though there are a couple of presenters I find a bit off. But there is light and shade everywhere, I guess. The early morning show with Nick Ferrari ( yes, I mention him a lot, don’t I? Lol) is the immediate news going on and from that I get the shape of the day. It starts my engine and from there the doors to my mind are open. Deep thinking, day dreaming, remembering, changing my mind.
Perhaps one of the latest descions I made was to get back into blogging here at WordPress. I’d started before but somehow lost momentum along the way. This time it’s different and I love the daily prompt to kick start the process.
I don’t use all the bells and whistle available here because this space provided is enough, for now. I just do my stuff and along the way I’m crossing paths with some interesting people, which I am really enjoying.
Thanks for reading this far…The encouragement I get from you acknowledging my existence is nice, very nice x
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
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!
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.
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..
Describe something you learned in high school.
Resilience
Describe one positive change you have made in your life.
‘If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write ‘ Martin Luther King JR’
Change has been my middle name, but for now I shall change that and just breathe…
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.
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…..
IN THE BOOMER PIGEON HOLE? 
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