What’s the Story in Dalamory

No water again today. Apparently it has been off since 11-45pm last night. This means that I am hardly awake, as well as feeling dirty. My routine in the mornings is to wake up under the shower; without the gushy, fresh, warm water it takes me till bedtime to come to.

Zzzzzzzzz………..

This is the last Sunday in the Christian Year, so I am getting a bit ahead of myself in suggesting you take a look at the cartoon o­n http://www.cartoonchurch.com/content/cc/category/cartoons/

Well I did say I had to take notice that Christmas is fast o­n the way.

Ben Fogle – ex Taransay Castaway –  has been going to some extreme lengths in his progression towards celebrity status. His latest is an attempt to row the Atlantic with Olympic rower, James Cracknell, in aid of Children in Need. To avoid the perils of chafing, they are rowing naked. Seems a bit desperate to me. Pretty pictures of the said Ben are to be found at http://www.benfogle.com/ 

It should be noted that I have never, ever, not even in my farflung silly youth, or in my wildest dreams considered braving fifty foot waves. No matter the good cause.

It had its moments. Best of all were the stories of children and families who had been helped. It does worry me slightly that charitable giving has become such a glitzy media event, but it certainly does work. I just hope it is not to the detriment of other worthwhile charities. Someone confided to me today that they were shell-shocked with all the natural disasters throughout the world and the resulting overwhelming need. All we can do is to give what we can and then seriously consider giving a bit more.

Perth was good value yesterday – apart from the nativity set at ?275…… It is from Italy and the salesperson told me this as if to explain what seemed the very high price. Coming from the wilds of Dalamory I was somewhat taken aback to see the shopping centre festooned with decorations and lights. And we were all being assailed with a noise from Debenham's which announced their Extravaganza…. they were even staying open until midnight for 2 days.

I let the crowd take me into the store and then tried hard not to trip over everything. Didn't buy anything from the Christmas Displays, but bought an Elderperson's wrap….. to festoon myself with whilst I fall asleep over the Christmas Catalogues. So you can't miss Christmas – but the stress can be minimised with mail order and the internet. Hope it is not too late!

To Perth for some shopping today.
Perhaps I had better start trying to think Christmas.

OK I give up.
What is the convention for sorting stamps into GB, The Commonwealth and the World?

I have written previously about Women's Rights issues and feel compelled to do so again having read about Nadia Anjuman in the Sunday papers. Nadia was killed, apparently in domestic violence (her husband is accused of her murder.) She was a 25yr old poet and took part in a clandestine intellectual literature group under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Her murder was reputedly because by writing, she brought dishonour o­n her husband. Her first book of poems was published recently and she was writing her second. This poem speaks eloquently of the daily struggle that women suffer under oppressive and unjust systems of male dominance and hierarchy. I know that there is still injustice in the west, but at least nominally we have equality with all human beings. The whole thing has moved me to anger and to tears, so I want to remember Nadia here.

From Dark Flower:

There is no desire in me to open my mouth to sing
Whether I sing or I do not sing, I am condemned to be hated
What should I say about sweet things when I have bitterness in my mouth?
What should I say about this cruel blow to my mouth?

I am caged in this corner, full of melancholy and sorrow,
Thinking that I was born for no purpose and must keep my lips sealed
I know that it is spring and a time to rejoice
But my wings are closed and I cannot fly

May Nadia Anjuman rest in peace and be able to use her voice for all eternity.

Watching TV Soaps is something I have studiously avoided, not wanting to become addicted; however, last week we had a visitor who likes to watch Eastenders. o­n Friday I duly sat down to watch with her. The whole episode was about an elderly woman's visit to her husband's grave in Normandy with her 41yr old grandson. The story of her falling in love, getting married and having a baby was told in a series of flashbacks. Her young husband of age 21 was killed in the D-day landings in 1944. What a cathartic weep I had. Probably something to do with age and time passing by. But it did make me think about the whole process of remembering, particularly in the context of war.

I hope we never forget, but sadly, we don't as a race, seem to learn much from it.

They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them……….

Yesterday Him Behind the Wheel, his sister, myself and two dogs went for a Pensioner's Outing in the Campervan. This entailed driving across to Inveraray, parking almost o­n the beach, having a walk in the castle grounds, going out for lunch and enjoying the few shops in the rain. We did wonder at the size of the waves in Loch Fyne, and right enough it was rather blustery. It was o­nly when we got home that we discovered there was a bad storm warning and the recommendation to stay at home unless really necessary.

Oops!  Then this morning we discovered the garden bench had been upended, however, there was no other damage so we have been lucky. All is calm now, but I did notice there is snow o­n a couple of the nearby peaks.