What's the Story in Dalamory

Kindle Update

freda — Sat, 12 May 2012 07:17:48 +0000

The Kindle is proving to be a great friend. In only a few short weeks I have got to the stage where I actually prefer it to reading a heavy book. The only exception is when the book is one with lots of illustrations, or pictures in colour – that just doesn’t work. The Kindle’s advantages are made all the better by having a battery that seems to last for weeks. (Of course that depends how much time one has available for reading.)

This week, HBTW bought me a psychedelic cushioned cover/pocket. It is to make me feel more comfortable with Kindle-on-the-go, the last thing I want to do is to crack the screen now that I am a convert. Talking of converts, I have even downloaded the Good News Bible. Instead of trailing a bag of books away on holiday, it is going to mean a fully charged Kindle. Amazing what modern technology offers.

The Saga of the Dentist

freda — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:16:46 +0000

Perhaps this should be the Tale of the recalcitrant molar. Around 7 years ago, whilst on holiday in Ireland one of my large molars cracked ominously and started to throb. It meant a quick search for an emergency dentist, and navigating the back streets of whatever town it was – trying to find the dentist’s surgery. It seems to be an unwritten law that the dentist works out of an office or surgery in as inaccessible a place as possible.

OF course it is never easy to organise all of this a) in a separate country, (though thankfully we speak more or less the same language,) and b) whilst caravanning in the hinterland of an unknown place. In the event, the said tooth was expertly repaired with a temporary filling, which lasted for 5 years. My own dentist back home in Scotland took the view that it was best to leave well alone. Since then, the filling has broken on 3 separate occasions; and now, the remaining quarter of the molar has disappeared down the plughole. (Don’t ask ….. it’s not worth it, though it did involve tweezers and swearing when I failed to catch it.)

Now – I discover that I can either phone for emergency appointments each day at half-past eight in the morning in the hope of a cancellation, or wait until the end of May. Herein lies the dilemma; although the tooth is all jagged and cannot be chewed on, it is not sore. So what constitutes an emergency? On top of all that is the fact that making a decision about an appointment early in the morning is problematic. Getting there is a trip of almost an hour, so mathematics comes into the equation. Grrrr……

Never mind the fact that I suspect this will involve decisions about crowns, root fillings, extraction and dentures. I guess we all go through this as time goes by.

Sheer Bliss

freda — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:06:45 +0000

This is a bit of a cheat photo – because so far our cherry tree is not yet fully into bloom. We had a few days of summery weather 5/6 weeks ago, then it turned back into winter with frosts, wind and rain, so the buds were badly frosted. Today is a balmy 21C so I stood under the tree hoping for the same sense of spring, but it is not quite happening yet. The blossom will probably not be as beautiful as last year, though I shall keep my fingers crossed.

Tabor at her blog has been asking readers to describe their favourite place or situation. Mine always includes sunshine and usually involves a clean terrace, cool drink and a sun lounger under a brolly. But I am always happy when I look up into the heavens through the branches of a tree. And that works whether it is summer or winter, wet or dry. There is a sense of peace and being at one with creation. My favourite place on any day is a tree celebrating spring with a riot of flowers. Looking up into the colours and shapes makes me feel rich beyond belief.

How about you?

Contemplation

freda — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 06:55:10 +0000

There is a contemplative
in all of us,
almost strangled
but still alive,
who craves quiet
enjoyment of the Now,
and longs to touch
the seamless
garment of silence
which
makes whole.

Alan P Tory
Celtic Daily Prayer

Politics

freda — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 16:50:45 +0000

The last ten days have been full of politics and sleaze. It seems to me that the apparent surprise shown by many with regard to phone hacking, favours and access to influential politicians, is ingenuous at least. Anyone who has read a holiday blockbuster knows that money passes hands in exchange for information or favour, and that cover-up is used as an incentive to bury bad publicity.

It being only a few days until the Local Government elections, I wonder what stories will surface next. So far we have had almost a full turnout of hopeful councillors in Dalamory. They are working very hard to try and ensure votes. Mike Russell, the Education Minister at Holyrood, turned up at the door with the local cohorts. The Scottish Nationalists are throwing tremendous energy into these local elections. I never used to understand how important they are in the grand scheme of things. Politics in Scotland is an interesting mix-match between London and national affairs and Edinburgh for Scottish devolved power plus the very local councils. It has taken a long time for most of us to get to grips with how it all works. And we seem to be getting a great deal of media coverage for elections in Europe, the United States and throughout the world. It takes a lot of energy to keep up.

As a Christian, I am drawn towards fairness and good manners towards human beings and the planet. Thus, I look out for hints of that in the speeches that are going the rounds. What I find hard to stomach is the stirring up of hostile attitudes towards the less fortunate in society – especially the disabled. So I am glad to read that some senior Conservatives and LibDems are thinking of actively campaigning against the next round of cuts. People are frightened enough about how they are going to manage their finances. When a big bill comes along it can be a choice between staying out of debt or eating. Many charity workers have been reporting that more and more parents admit to skipping a meal each day, so that their children can be fed. This is horrendous in this supposedly civilised country.

Can you tell that I am starting to get mad? I suppose this all seems a bit remote for readers not in the UK, but for those of us who live here the constant warnings of yet more financial hardship are very wearing.

Misty and Sergei

freda — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:53:30 +0000

I have to confess to being a lover of the meerkat commercials. In fact I have been known to stop a run-through and scroll back to see them several times. Youtube is easier.

Can you see why I love Sergei so much? This is Misty with her new spring hair-do.

Confusion.com

freda — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:00:14 +0000

This has been a bit of a confused time for me regarding reading blogs. A fair number of bloggers have either changed their systems, or rather their blogging programme has insisted upon a different form for signing in to leave comments. I end up totally confused, trying to leave comments and going round in circles because I’ve forgotten passwords – maybe I never had a google mail account in the first place. So I read a blog, am interested, want to comment and then fail at the post. Sorry to be so absent from the commenting blogosphere. I can only hope it resolves itself soon.

The other thing I am noticing is that some bloggers, and I count myself as one of them, are posting less frequently. Have we said all we wanted to say? Is it the fact that the days are longer and the weather has been more clement than usual? Or are we getting lazy? It could be that the advent of facebook and twitter has drawn some bloggers into a new type of mini-blogging, so that there is less time for a reasoned and thought-out post. Twitter pops up all the time demanding a response. This isn’t my excuse, I reckon my life as a retiree is not interesting enough for constant bulletins.

I admire those people who manage to juggle it all. And there are some blogs I log into, pleased to read the thought of the day and to be granted the privilege of entering into another’s life and feelings. Recently I seem to have had too many rants in my head, perhaps it would help to put them down in print. That, however, is for another day.

Let me know what you think.

The Lucky One

freda — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:09:19 +0000

Nicholas Sparks is an author I shall look out for again, though I have to confess that The Lucky One has had me in a state of high tension for the day and a half it took to read the book. Not exactly a restful read then, but gripping all the same.

The author uses the technique of telling the story through the eyes of different characters, which only serves to enhance the drama, especially as the characters are so well drawn.

At the point where we join the story, Logan, an ex-marine is coming to the end of a trek across the United States to look for a girl in a picture. Her story is gradually revealed at the same time as we find out more about the principal character. Very quickly, tension is established in the form of an emotionally abusive ex-husband and a sensitive child. In other words, it is a good, robust novel.

I’m not sure whether to give it an 8 or a 9 out of 10. Perhaps it should be an 8 because it kept my heart in my mouth. Anyone else read it?

Good Friday

freda — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 18:25:25 +0000

Today has been very special; being on my own has meant that I have been able to have a Good Friday devotion, which has consisted of reading this book. To be honest, I was barely able to put Jesus Freak by Sara Miles, down.

It is a collection of stories about everyday Christianity, as lived as part of the ministry of the church of St Gregory of Nissa, San Francisco. The stories are challenging, beautiful, mysterious, funny, hopeful and full of living faith.

It’s hard to do justice to such a book, which is part biography, part theology and part narrative. It is compelling in its frankness and it pulls no punches about Christianity and faith, inclusiveness and the true cost of forgiveness. To coin a term, it is liberation theology. Life as it is in the raw.

If you get a chance to read it I would love to know what your thoughts are – particularly in relation to the ideas of Jesus being the one who wants to revolutionise society, family and church through us, by taking Jesus at his word. Go feed, go heal and go and forgive.

Photo round up

freda — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 18:39:32 +0000

Now that the Birthday Month is over…… Here are some photos

Misty needs to see Emma the mobile groomer – a date is fixed for later in the month.

This is a favourite picnic place. All that river and nobody in sight.

I’m fascinated by tree trunks and the play of light on them.

This is a landscaped lochan – amazing.

It’s ok Misty, there are lots more treats and picnics to come……

What's the Story in Dalamory

Kindle Update

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