Getting the balance right

Posted on April 5, 2011 by freda

Yesterday I was talking about how knitting and crochet calm the soul. As you can see from the photo (excuse the chins!) I am more inclined to be waylaid by technology. And even more so now that I have been given a new shiny bit of kit. (That was the real highlight of the Birthday Month.) I’ll leave you to guess what it is, but can tell you that I am not referring to the iphone I am using in the photo with such concentration.

What does instant communication and instant gratification for knowledge mean in the context of the modern world? Those of us who are internet savvy, tend to expect to know what is going on all over the world. We even expect to know what people around the world think of, and how they react to current events. It’s true to say that the internet has played a huge part in spreading the word about the possibilities for revolution and demonstrations for greater democracy. But what toll does that take on our human brains? Or is it the case that we adjust to the faster pace of life and communication?

Some older people are coming to the end of their patience with internet gadgetry. I haven’t reached there myself yet, in fact, I am still a sucker for sleek, shiny toys. It does worry me a bit that people who shut down over progress will be left with less of a voice. However, my own reaction is to slow down sometimes and see the grass, watch the birds and smell the seductive scent of spring…….. terrible alliteration there – that’s what happens when I gaze out of the window instead of at the screen.

Yes – the spring really is here, and I might just indulge in some blending with nature.

 

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Charity Knitting

Posted on April 4, 2011 by freda

This is an idea for charity knitting that is used by Oxfam and various other charities. My knitting friend assures me that it is very easy and can be varied very easily. If you are interested, the instructions are here. The picture on the left is of one side. The one below is a finished garment.

KF has been happily knitting up some of my left-over wool from projects of long ago.  There was a huge bin-bag full of it – sitting waiting to be taken to the charity shop. KF saw it and offered to be the knitter. What a tremendous way to contribute to charity. The jumpers are organised to go out in batches, and are of all different shapes, sizes and colours. It’s a novel use of the wool and a change from knitting squares for blankets.
Knitting and crochet are both ways of keeping the hands busy whilst at the same time calming the soul and spirit. I still remember my Granny showing me how to use a crochet hook. She used to scour jumble-sales and wool shops to find bargains. Her favourite garments were shawls, scarves and berets. When she died, we found a pile of about 25 berets (hats) waiting to be given to a good cause. Over the years these have come back into fashion again and again.

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April again

Posted on April 1, 2011 by freda

Aha! So the Birthday Month is over; and what has been the non-treat of the day? – Going to the dentist. This was only my fourth or fifth visit to this new dentist since the trusted and faithful practitioner retired.  At least my jaw did not shake, nor my knees; I even managed to admire the new super-reclining surgical chair. The good news was that I only have one small filling to be replaced – the old one had simply worn out.

Later in the day I discovered that Son #3 had trouble with his tumble-dryer. Much to my surprise we found an advert in the local magazine, made one phone call and 2hrs later the machine was repaired. And no, it wasn’t expensive by modern standards. Another advantage of living in rural Scotland, it seems.

The day was going from worse to better – what could happen next?

Here I have to go back several weeks to explain that HBTW likes to be able to see the level of the water in the electric kettle. The old kettle was looking rather dowdy and a bit dodgy, so Himself decided to search out a new one. He duly arrived home and unpacked the new one, whilst making noises of appreciation and satisfaction. (For sake of clarification, the noises were made by HBTW and not the said kettle. ) As the kettle came to its triumphant boil and switched itself off, the most horrendous whistling noise ensued causing everyone, including the dog, to take evasive action. You know the kind of thing: hands over the ears, paws wouldn’t reach so high-pitched barking was the dog’s response. Mine was hands over ears and various expletives – mild ones of course.

Over the weeks I have been heard to mutter – That kettle must die – and of course when we discovered that the whistle was not even coming from the kettle itself, but from the separate base……. well, I leave it to your imagination.

Today – joy of all joys – HBTW discovered that the whistle can be switched off. Peace is restored at Dalamory and many happy cups of tea and coffee will follow.

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Slowing down to appreciate beauty

Posted on March 31, 2011 by freda

I found this on Ageing Gratefully and felt I had to pass it on. It marks the end of the most glorious Birthday Month and I want to say thanks to you, Dear Reader, for sharing it with me. I hope we get to do it again.

At a Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about forty-five minutes.  During that time, approximately two thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
After about three minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then hurried on to meet his schedule.
About four minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
At six minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
At ten minutes:
A three-year-old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.
At forty-five minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only six people stopped and listened for a short while. About twenty gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.
After one hour:
He finished playing and silence took over.
There was no recognition at all.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3-5 million. Two days before, Joshua Bell had sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play the very same music.
This is a true story.
Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the DC Metro Station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people’s priorities.
The experiment raised several questions:
  • In a commonplace environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?
  • If so, do we stop to appreciate it?
  • Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made . . . how many other things are we missing as we rush through life?

 

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Census and other things

Posted on March 30, 2011 by freda

Filling in the census form this year was so easy it was not true – online that is. I looked at the form with its many pages and little boxes for each letter and groaned – individual boxes slows down the writing to frustration level for me. However, help was readily available on the website. A quick fill in of the online registration number and we were off. It was simply a matter of clicking little boxes and if you got something wrong it was easy to go back and correct the mistake. Most impressive of all was the ability to be able to tick multiple boxes, should it apply. For example, I rated myself as both Scottish and British for nationality – (apologies to my late English Father )- I have lived in Scotland for nearly 50 years now.

The “modern” census has been carried out every 10 years since the early 19th century, apart from during the 2nd World War. The information changes slightly each time, but is supposed to help governments with all sorts of planning and organisational strategies. The information is due to be kept secret for 100 years, thus we are awaiting the release of details from the 1911 census later in the year. It’s a fantastic resource for people researching family history. There’s a special thrill in finding the page of a document which lists all the family members and visitors residing or staying over on a certain night in a dwelling long ago. It makes me want to know more about those people. Needless to say I get diverted by other things – especially technology.

The Birthday Month is coming to its glorious close, the special event today being the collection of a special piece of kit, guaranteed to keep me happy for many an hour. It is black and shiny and very slim and smaller than A4…… so I am off to play.

What do you think about censuses in general? Helpful or intrusive? Bothersome or worth it for posterity?

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A taste of the past

Posted on March 28, 2011 by freda

Our local hotel came up trumps on Saturday evening with an authentic 1811 banquet-style menu to start off the church’s bicentenary celebrations. The lounge-bar was laid up with three long tables to seat 50 of us and the food just kept coming. Wine, too if you so wished!

The first course was a hearty potato soup accompanied by a type of soda bread; I suspect the soup itself was enhanced with the flavour of marrow-bone stock. It’s amazing how olde-worldly it tasted. We were eating by candlelight which added to the atmosphere and being a church group it was rather a noisy affair – lots of fun and laughter. (Not nosy – that’s not allowed.)

Then came maidens and masters bearing grand dishes of chicken, salmon and mussels, stuffed pork, dough-balls, braised leeks, kale, apple sauce and gravy. Yes – all at once. There was much merriment as people helped themselves to the various dishes, and we ended up with an interesting  concoction on our plates.  Puddings followed: clootie dumplings, ginger cake, pomegranate tart, apple pie, custard and cream.

I haven’t dared go on the scales since!

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Busy doing nothing

Posted on March 26, 2011 by freda

I really have been busy doing nothing and very nice it has been too. I am making the most of the last few days of my Birthday Month. When it rains or I feel like drifting away into the post-Edwardian Age, I look at some of my Upstairs Downstairs series on the computer. I am also reading a Kate Morton book, The Distant Hours. It was chosen for me by the Librarian from the Library Van. (I have to confess to being still in bed when he called the other week at 9am.) It is an interesting book – some 650 pages – and typical of Morton’s style. Some paragraphs are so elegant that I want to write them down. However, the author has the habit of writing about different characters in different periods or years, using multiple flashbacks. The secrets that give rise to the plot are deeply buried in the narrative, inducing in me the tendency to drop off and have a wee snooze. Then I wake up not knowing where I am, either in the book or in real life. Not a book for the faint-hearted, though that is more to do with style than scary action. In other words, it is quite a difficult read.

In between I have done the odd bit of light dusting, imagining I am wearing the uniform of an Edwardian Housemaid – nothing kinky there, by the way, merely a device to encourage myself into getting on with something useful for a change. It’s amazing how much dust has accumulated since I had the ‘flu. And it has been taking ages to get fully back to rights.

Today’s BMT is a meal out at our local hotel. The local church building is 200 years old this year and there are a number of special events throughout the year. The meal this evening is to be with a menu from the 1800’s. Sounds interesting. I just hope it will be easy on the digestion.

Who else has been as lazy and indolent as me?

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Cairn terrier puppies

Posted on March 22, 2011 by freda

No – they are not mine – but watching them on youtube is my BMT today!

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Growing older

Posted on March 21, 2011 by freda

Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be,
The last of life, for which the first was made:
Our times are in His hand
Who saith “A whole I planned,
Youth shows but half;
Trust God: see all, nor be afraid.

Robert Browning

Today is the Birthday Month Treat.

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A rainy day

Posted on March 20, 2011 by freda

The Birthday Month is passing very quickly, so I need to remember to take advantage of it. The trouble is that with HBTW still poorly, we can’t manage to get out for treats. However, something good has come out of it all. I was unable to drive for a while due to health problems. I’ve had the all-clear on the driving front for a while, but it is amazing how easily one gets out of the habit. I’m fortunate enough to have a willing driver – anyway, he is like a lot of men and prefers to be in the driving seat himself.

Needs must, and we needed a some heavy shopping from the village shop, also, you-know-who was desperate for some exercise……… thus, twice this week I’ve taken the car out. I couldn’t manage church myself today, but I did take the car down to the carpark and gave Misty some exercise on the Glebe. Yes, in the rain. A happy dog and a happy Birthday Month Treater.

A blessed Sunday to you and yours.

 

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