I have just had a conversation courtesy of msn with a very good friend in the TRNC, she is a wonderful lady and heavily involved in the childens charity SOS out there. She just told me that they are busy planning and making arrangements for a Santa and presents for the children being looked after by the charity. This prompted me to write my blog because at this time there are a few councils who are 'worried' about the effect of our (British) traditional celebrations such as Santas, decorations, public holidays (religious ones), the public singing of carrols and many more equally pathetic examples. Their concern? Well, apparently just in case muslims and other non christians are offended! Please note it's not the non christians who are complaining by the way, it's the brits in the council who are coming up with these totally ridiculous objections. Why, when there is so much 'real' suffering going on in the world do they expend their energies dreaming up these ideas? Would I think about complaining about the celebrations of Bayram and Ramadan in a muslim country? or in fact even in my own country! Surely the human rights issue here is that people should be free to celebrate their traditions freely. So why are we being forced to drop our form of celebrations, don't our human rights matter anymore?
So, it was a 'breath of fresh air' to learn about the Santa that the British expats are organising for the children of the TRNC, well done to them all and I look forward to the time I can join them and work alongside to help. It's just a shame I think that I have to look forward to my retirement so that I can leave my country due to the fact that nearly everything about it is fast becoming so alien to us. I'm sure the brave men who lost their lives fighting for freedom for our country and people in the wars are turning in their graves. Not to mention our lads out in Iraq and Afghanistan - what are they fighting for? - Don't get me started on that, I need to take the dogs for a walk!
Thursday, 15 November 2007
Monday, 12 November 2007
The joys of Winter.............
As the nights are drawing in and the weather getting unmistakably colder I take delight in our evenings in front of our big open fire. Years ago we did all we could to get central heating and a fake gas open fire with glowing 'coals' so that we could pretend we had a real fire but without the mess of ash to clear out each morning. The thing is, it was never quite as cosy as we remembered the old real fires when we were kids.
So when we moved last year and we found the real fireplace that was hidden by a hideous old gas appliance we were absolutely delighted and (like now) spend our evenings in the beautiful warm glow of our blazing fire. It's no problem to clean out, I do this each morning and lay the fire ready to be lit when the temperature starts dropping rapidly outside (around 5.00pm ). We all look forward to the ritual of lighting it and locking the doors against the elements and the outside world.
It's a sort of primitive instinct, the feeling of warmth, safety, security and I am thankful for being able to enjoy such simple pleasures in life when so many are unable to. I also remember my Grandmother who had such a hard life in bringing up her 6 children single handed after my Grandfather died in the war. My mother tells me of how nan had to sew by candlelight to help pay the bills. It must have been so difficult to keep everyone fed and clothed. When they were evacuated nan joined them in a little village called Great Glen where she became a housekeeper at 'the big house'. In those days they had fires alight all day. In fact I also remember during my school days when I started at my secondary school at 11 years old we had a coal fire in the corner of each classroom and in Winter these were always lit before we got in and we would all gather round the fire before the teacher came in. Memories.................
So when we moved last year and we found the real fireplace that was hidden by a hideous old gas appliance we were absolutely delighted and (like now) spend our evenings in the beautiful warm glow of our blazing fire. It's no problem to clean out, I do this each morning and lay the fire ready to be lit when the temperature starts dropping rapidly outside (around 5.00pm ). We all look forward to the ritual of lighting it and locking the doors against the elements and the outside world.
It's a sort of primitive instinct, the feeling of warmth, safety, security and I am thankful for being able to enjoy such simple pleasures in life when so many are unable to. I also remember my Grandmother who had such a hard life in bringing up her 6 children single handed after my Grandfather died in the war. My mother tells me of how nan had to sew by candlelight to help pay the bills. It must have been so difficult to keep everyone fed and clothed. When they were evacuated nan joined them in a little village called Great Glen where she became a housekeeper at 'the big house'. In those days they had fires alight all day. In fact I also remember during my school days when I started at my secondary school at 11 years old we had a coal fire in the corner of each classroom and in Winter these were always lit before we got in and we would all gather round the fire before the teacher came in. Memories.................
Sunday, 11 November 2007
On corruption and principles...............
Someone mentioned to me recently that she would not be happy to live in a country where corruption went on daily and though everyone know's about it no one DID anything to stop it, I said where on earth did she live then (as I was under the impression she lived in UK). "Yes", she said, "of course I live in the UK", "and there's no corruption going on here?" I asked, "well, maybe a bit, but certainly not on the large scale that it is elsewhere" she conceded.
It boiled down to the fact that she was miffed after her last trip abroad where in a hot and stuffy airport she saw some passengers go from the rear of the long queue straight up to the barrier where they were warmly greeted by an immigration official and let through without waiting.
I think we have all witnessed similar ocurrences to some degree and possibly thought how unfair it seems, or maybe how lucky those passengers are? (if we're being honest?). So yes, I sympathised a little BUT to say that there is no corruption going on in the UK? This is not just naive it's stupid! The coverups that go on in policing, government, the royal family, the nhs, social services, education, not to mention if you have cause to sue a person then a barrister will ask if they could be a member of the Freemasons, as it's not worth it, because the case will not be successful!
Weighing it all up against the above I yearn to live in a place where I may get a little frustrated due to waiting in line, after all if I were in their place would I really say "no, it's ok, I prefer to wait here for the next 45 minutes rather than passing all these other people!" - I do have principles, I'm being honest!!!
Wherever we choose to live in this world I think we have to realise it's very much WHO you know not WHAT you know that matters EVERYWHERE however flawed that may seem to the idealist.
It boiled down to the fact that she was miffed after her last trip abroad where in a hot and stuffy airport she saw some passengers go from the rear of the long queue straight up to the barrier where they were warmly greeted by an immigration official and let through without waiting.
I think we have all witnessed similar ocurrences to some degree and possibly thought how unfair it seems, or maybe how lucky those passengers are? (if we're being honest?). So yes, I sympathised a little BUT to say that there is no corruption going on in the UK? This is not just naive it's stupid! The coverups that go on in policing, government, the royal family, the nhs, social services, education, not to mention if you have cause to sue a person then a barrister will ask if they could be a member of the Freemasons, as it's not worth it, because the case will not be successful!
Weighing it all up against the above I yearn to live in a place where I may get a little frustrated due to waiting in line, after all if I were in their place would I really say "no, it's ok, I prefer to wait here for the next 45 minutes rather than passing all these other people!" - I do have principles, I'm being honest!!!
Wherever we choose to live in this world I think we have to realise it's very much WHO you know not WHAT you know that matters EVERYWHERE however flawed that may seem to the idealist.
Thursday, 8 November 2007
On communal living........
Back in 1971 I travelled Europe with hubby (though he wasn't at that time). We spent a few months in West Germany and really enjoyed ourselves, literally working for food, beer and ciggies, we were young, and carefree and it was certainly a character building experience. I'm not sayng we didn't have some difficult times but all in all it taught us a lot about life and how to appreciate stuff. We decided to go through from Germany to Turkey and managed to get a lift through Austria, (the then) Yugoslavia, Bulgaria to Turkey. We stayed in the magical city of Istanbul with all it's hustle and bustle of life, a true 24 hour city. We met up with many friends along the way and thought about going on to Israel to work on a Kibbutz for a while. Instead we headed off from Turkey to Cyprus on a ferry (it's only 40 miles away), we got married there and spent 3 months working. I packed grapes biound for the UK and hubby dug holes for telegraph poles. The hours were long the pay minimal but we could even afford to go into town on a Saturday night.
In all of our times of hardship, neither of us did anything illegal nor claimed any benefits, it just didn't enter our heads to.
I often wonder what would have happened if we had decided to go to the Kibbutz instead and I must say the thought of communal living has always appealed to me, not so to hubby though. But I would love to live on a large farm or such where all friends and family that were like-minded could live and work and be totally self-sufficient.
How good it must be to prepare meals for so many with home produced veg etc and sit at a massive table (or tables) sharing the meals. To be able to bring children up in a safe environment with trustworthy people - of course it's only a dream to me now. Maybe in my next life................
In all of our times of hardship, neither of us did anything illegal nor claimed any benefits, it just didn't enter our heads to.
I often wonder what would have happened if we had decided to go to the Kibbutz instead and I must say the thought of communal living has always appealed to me, not so to hubby though. But I would love to live on a large farm or such where all friends and family that were like-minded could live and work and be totally self-sufficient.
How good it must be to prepare meals for so many with home produced veg etc and sit at a massive table (or tables) sharing the meals. To be able to bring children up in a safe environment with trustworthy people - of course it's only a dream to me now. Maybe in my next life................
Monday, 5 November 2007
Heavy stuff..........................
This post should maybe have been titled 'On reincarnation and Group souls....' but I thought it might sound a bit heavy, so I decided to call it just that.....
I am not trying to persuede anyone to change their personal beliefs so I want to begin by stating that this blog is all from a personal perspective - it's MY ramblings from MY Autumn years. As always, take what you want and leave the rest!
Throughout my life I have given a great deal of thought to 'the meaning of life', as you do. The theory that best makes sense to me is that of reincarnation where we go through many lifetimes, learning and evolving spiritually in each of them until there is no more to learn - but what then? this I'm not sure of but I'm quite happy to go along with the general idea that we choose the life we are going to live according to what lessons we need to learn. This could be in direct relation to what we have experienced in previous lives and I think on our journey we atone for whatever wrongs we have done. Therefore the 'what goes around, comes around' feels right and it allows us the ultimate self-responsibility in that if you are aware that your actions will determine what happens in your own life you are more likely to make wise choices. This is in line with the universal law of 'cause and effect'.
Along with my theory of reincarnation I believe that our existence in bodily form is not a solitary one, I think we belong to a 'soul group' in which we meet up time after time with the same souls in all different relationships with each other. This I find best explains how sometimes you can meet a person with whom you have an instant bond, regardless of what age difference, colour, creed or nationality. You each recognise that there is 'something' very deep between you, of course to the more enlightened of us we know what it is and accept it at once. This theory also explains how some couples get together even though they live thousands of miles apart and stay together despite overwhelming odds, I think it also explains how complicated some relationships are in families at times too.
Anyway, I think I've rambled on enough for one day.
I am not trying to persuede anyone to change their personal beliefs so I want to begin by stating that this blog is all from a personal perspective - it's MY ramblings from MY Autumn years. As always, take what you want and leave the rest!
Throughout my life I have given a great deal of thought to 'the meaning of life', as you do. The theory that best makes sense to me is that of reincarnation where we go through many lifetimes, learning and evolving spiritually in each of them until there is no more to learn - but what then? this I'm not sure of but I'm quite happy to go along with the general idea that we choose the life we are going to live according to what lessons we need to learn. This could be in direct relation to what we have experienced in previous lives and I think on our journey we atone for whatever wrongs we have done. Therefore the 'what goes around, comes around' feels right and it allows us the ultimate self-responsibility in that if you are aware that your actions will determine what happens in your own life you are more likely to make wise choices. This is in line with the universal law of 'cause and effect'.
Along with my theory of reincarnation I believe that our existence in bodily form is not a solitary one, I think we belong to a 'soul group' in which we meet up time after time with the same souls in all different relationships with each other. This I find best explains how sometimes you can meet a person with whom you have an instant bond, regardless of what age difference, colour, creed or nationality. You each recognise that there is 'something' very deep between you, of course to the more enlightened of us we know what it is and accept it at once. This theory also explains how some couples get together even though they live thousands of miles apart and stay together despite overwhelming odds, I think it also explains how complicated some relationships are in families at times too.
Anyway, I think I've rambled on enough for one day.
What's wrong with our society?
Over the last week or so we have been subjected to sporadic bursts of fireworks and I am sure if past years are anything to go by it will go on for the next week or so. I'm all for tradition and cultural bonding but what I fail to comprehend is why these 'fun-loving' people have to leave all their litter behind them!
I have given much thought to this 'situation' in our country and I think it boils down to a lack of decent education AT HOME - why blame the schools? I have brought up 3 children and certainly not with a rod of iron or anything like it. But I am proud of each of them and their lifestyles, they are decent, honest, confident, hard working people. When they were children I never said 'No' to them without explaining the reason behind it. If they made mistakes or did anything wrong (don't we all at times?) I taught them to come to me and 'fess up so that we could sort it out and that way they learnt honesty, they learnt not to lie, they learnt to hold their hands up and say 'sorry, that was me' and it taught them respect - for themselves and honour. My children grew to value the basic decencies which are the foundations of civilisation.
So why is there such an undercurrent of disrespect, dishonesty, and a totally apathetic attidtude in so many of our young people? My opinion? Because they have not been taught the values of decency at home - we wonder why the young are so violent , could it be because they have so much frustration pent up in them due to not really being happy with their lives? They don't know the feeling of pride and this is so very sad, is it any wonder they feel so much apathy?
Education not only begins at home but is always ongoing at home by parents, grandparents, as I've said before the day I stop learning is the day I die I hope it will be the same for my kids and grandkids.
I have given much thought to this 'situation' in our country and I think it boils down to a lack of decent education AT HOME - why blame the schools? I have brought up 3 children and certainly not with a rod of iron or anything like it. But I am proud of each of them and their lifestyles, they are decent, honest, confident, hard working people. When they were children I never said 'No' to them without explaining the reason behind it. If they made mistakes or did anything wrong (don't we all at times?) I taught them to come to me and 'fess up so that we could sort it out and that way they learnt honesty, they learnt not to lie, they learnt to hold their hands up and say 'sorry, that was me' and it taught them respect - for themselves and honour. My children grew to value the basic decencies which are the foundations of civilisation.
So why is there such an undercurrent of disrespect, dishonesty, and a totally apathetic attidtude in so many of our young people? My opinion? Because they have not been taught the values of decency at home - we wonder why the young are so violent , could it be because they have so much frustration pent up in them due to not really being happy with their lives? They don't know the feeling of pride and this is so very sad, is it any wonder they feel so much apathy?
Education not only begins at home but is always ongoing at home by parents, grandparents, as I've said before the day I stop learning is the day I die I hope it will be the same for my kids and grandkids.
Thursday, 1 November 2007
The grass is always greener..............
The older I get, the more apparent it becomes to me that the old sayings are so very true; 'a problem shared is a problem halved', 'give an inch, they'll take a mile', more haste less speed', and of course 'the grass is always greener on the other side', etc., etc., but talking of which I am in a bit of a quandry with the latter saying. I have always tried to be satisfied with my life rather than wasting energy on wishing it to be otherwise and thinkig that if you are unhappy with your life then you must be ungrateful, restless souls. However, on examining these thoughts I feel if we were always satisfied with our lives then there would be no reason to move house, change jobs, move up the ladder, motivate our kids and surely that would be a state of boring tedium and apathy - certainly not conducive to a happy life. So next time I am in the place that I yearn to be in I shall be able to tell myself that in fact, even though I really am happy and satisfied to be there, I can also start off a new project because the day I stop learning and working will surely be the day I die.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)