Words fail me....
Its nine o'clock in the evening and we just got a cell phone call from DD - (middle), who went away on holiday today with friends.

As the phone rang near to where I am sitting at the computer keyboard, I realised that the ring was so faint as it was secured inside my Dh's work briefcase, just under the desk. I struggled to open the case quickly, to answer the call, and saw that it was from DD - the first thing I wanted to know was - if she was ok....my mind just beginning the first run of the 'OMG I hope nothing has happened ' movie in my fertile imagination.
After being reassured that all is fine, she asked to speak to her father.

Her question being - 'what should they do with the fish they had caught earlier in the day' ?

What can a parent say?

Its officially...
Now Playing: We're all going on a summer holiday - Cliff Richard
the first day of summer!

Broken dreams
I first read this poem many years ago, and it often pops into my mind I guess when I'm having problems and feel that no one, not even God is listening to me. I recently found it on the web and wanted to post it here, as I find the words to be quite inspirational in those dark moments.

Broken Dreams

As children bring their broken toys
With tears for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to God
Because He was my friend.

But then instead of leaving Him
In peace to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help
With ways that were my own.

At last I snatched them back and cried,
"How could you be so slow?"
"My child," He said, "what could I do?"
"You never did let go."


Addendum -- Matthew 14:31
"Immediately Jesus reached out
his hand and caught him.
You of little faith, he said,
why did you doubt?"


[ Author Unknown ]

Pause for thought - blue sofa
Today, I'm just going to sit on my blue sofa and think. Nothing more, nothing less, today will be a good day to pause.
Maybe.... I'll even stop to ponder on this quote which often comes to mind at about this time of year.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all doing direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only. (Charles Dickens - a Tale of two cities)

Dusting it down
My hayfever and allergies are playing up doubly bad tonight, due to all the dusting I did today.

Over the last few days we have been converted.

Not, not in THAT way - lol, we went over from being all electric to having gas installed in the kitchen, and a new gas heater for the lounge. Not that we NEED a heater just yet, well not for at least the next 6 months or so while we heat up towards summer this week. So the faux gas logs and faux embers will have to wait a while longer, before we ignite them.

The gas man was here all day Friday, and some more today, each time leaving a trail of wall dust, scraped off paint, mortar, and other unidentifiable debris all over the floor, in small footprint trails as he walked around welding bits to pipe and wall. I wanted to follow behing him with a dust buster, but desisted the urge. He DID tidy up a bit in one of the cupboards he drilled in.

After he left, I took this oportunity to dust out the whole place, and take down any knick knacks that are not associated with Christmas, and later on in the week will replace the empty spaces with Christmassy ornaments. I even played my first Christmas flavoured CD today, just to get me into the mood. It must have worked as it got me thinking about cold weather,and snow so much, that I almost lit the new gas heater. Lucky it hasn't been connected yet - and Summer officially starts on Wednesday the 1st of December. Christmas is very confused in the land down under.

Through the lens
looking through the lens of my sunglasses.

Linking with this theme is another of my poems -


'Sushi'

In a changing world I used to be a person
Now I'm a statistic

I used to be a religion
Now I'm a karma

I used to be a body
Now I'm a temple

In a changing world

I used to be an opinion
Now I'm a vote

I used to be eccentric
Now I'm a fashion

I used to be magic
Now I'm an illusion

I used to be a song
Now I'm a prayer
In a changing world

I used to be raw fish.


Hope you liked it. Whats the link to the glasses?

This poem reflects a personal point of view, of what I see when I look at the world. Maybe I should have made the lens rose tinted?

Natural - De-fences
Hiding our horrible but practical back fence, which every garden has here - its made of asbestos, is my natural form of defence against anyone trying to scale the fence. It's our blackberry bush. Some years it produces enough fruit to freeze, other years, two berries and its done. The climate here is actually too hot for a good crop, but at least it survives our summers.

And the pumpkins aren't really doing much better, just providing us with some greenery. We grew one large pumpkin last year, which ripened in February! A tad too late for Halloween?

Purple flowers on the trellis, look like tiny purple cups. Once they ripen, they have tiny green berry seed pods.

Things I am looking forward to
... summer days that stretch in endless blueness

...days out to places, I've usually got no time to visit.

...no shopping for 'just in case'

...easy peasy salad days

...sketching to relax

...watering the garden - the act of hosing things down is like a meditation for me

...playing with blog dog as dh swings in his hammock (nothing on earth will induce me to get into it though - lol! A fear of falling I guess you can put that down to.

...easy lazy conversations about plans

...the incredible lightness of just being

Sweet and Sour
'Cos life's like that at the moment.

A bottle of sweet chilli, and Soy. I'm not fond of either condiment but they are daily staples on the supper table at our house. The 'powers' that be, usually apply generous lashings of chilli on every meal.

I just lost this post twice before managing to load it up. I think we've had a few power surges, as its a very hot day today, and as usual the power grid is not able to cope. We had the same problems last year, and it almost lead to some sort of civil unrest, as the local gov. is unable to provide us with a stable power source. Everyone was saying that it almost felt like we were living in some third world country. I think its high time the local governing mob got their act together!

Sweet or sour? pass the sauce.

Mini celebration....
I knew it - the blue skies, and sun DID blow away the blahs....and I've been accepted into the illustrated blogs ring!!!
I am pausing to 'draw' breath with excitiment! Thank you madge, that was just the incentive I needed!