What traditions have you not kept that your parents had?
There is only one thing that stays in my mind regarding a family tradition…
Ham and eggs for Christmas breakfast.
Many of you will be familiar with the children’s little piggy rhyme ( the original wording appearing in 1728) A counting song for babies and infants played out on their fingers or toes..
This little piggy went to market
This little piggy stayed at home
This little piggy had roast beef
And this little piggy had none..
Thing is, it wasn’t until fairly recently I believed the piggy that went to market had gone shopping… ðŸ˜
Yesterday I scribbled down some thoughts about an encounter I had with a power crazy individual. A farmer who really ‘ got off ‘ on killing things. He showed me how held his 12 bore shotgun ( read; dick extension) when he had a fox in sight…and the joy he felt as a kid killing rabbits. ( I’ve seen it reported many times that children who enjoy harming and killing animals often go on to hurt humans, especially domestic violence)
It sickened me what he was saying, but I listened, because that is what I used to do when I was collecting info for my local Sabs. Since I’ve moved to this area I’ve not seen a hunt out, causing havoc wherever they go, which is fine by me.
The worst thing we have here is a cyclist meet, every Wednesday morning in the market square….and that really p*sses Patches off… 😂
P.S Thank you Mae and Pat for your comments on the draft that got published in error. I quickly deleted it when I realised what I’d done ( I felt a fool allowing a scribble to go public) so your comments went with it. What I should have done is just edit it, so sorry about that, but thank you so much for showing interest. x x
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.
Im not ready to share with you how I lost my eldest brother, or what happened a few months later which completely floored me. How close can one get to the edge without going over? R.I.P lovely man.
What I can tell you though is in the aftermath I took a risk accepting a job in Saudi Arabia ( why I did is a also for another time). It was a risk. I was flying into the unknown. A country so far removed from anything I had ever known before. Very very strange. I would be joining a Saudi family. Not safe and secure in some expat compound, but bam! right there in the middle of things. I stayed two years and learnt a different way of living. What an experience! This is a strict Muslim country and I can’t still couldnt decide where I was between Paganism and Buddhism.
Let me tell you about one image from that time which will never leave my mind. Once seen cannot be unseen.
It was a Friday, maybe the start of Ramadan, possibly Eid. So long ago now I can’t recall. ( 1999?) What I do remember is being in their family car, driven by the Sheikh on our way to the beach house. It never rains in Saudi. Well, it does, but not very often. On this particular day it was pouring down and along the road was carnage, as drivers and cars unable to cope with the onslaught of wet weather crashed into each other and/or simply veered right off the roadway.
We made to our destination safely and on arrival the first thing I saw was a goat tied to a tree. I must have said ‘ Aww’ out loud. The Sheikh turned to me and said ‘dont get too attached’. I let that wash and every chance I had that day I spent it with the goat. Yes, I am the sort of person who goes to a party and seeks out any animals in the vicinity, to spend the time with.
Being either a holiday or a weekend we were to repeat the trip next day. It was especially busy on arrival, so I didn’t notice if Goat was there or not. As ever the place was filled with cooking smells and through the glass doors I could see the girls preparing the long table with huge plates of food. It was always like this when we visited. They know how to put on a spread these guys. I had some time to myself so went into the kitchen to see everyone. Over time we had become friendly. They obviously had a lot going on, so I didn’t linger and get in the way. Thought the swing doors I took myself into the dining room..and there he was, Goat. Sitting upright on a silver platter, roasted. Whoa!
And I cannot unsee that, or forget how I felt.
Going to Saudi was a risk and I don’t regret it for a minute….but then
came the perfect escape. With the stars aligned, I was head-hunted for a job in the neighbouring country of Jordan. Off I went and never looked back.
IN THE BOOMER PIGEON HOLE? 