The New Year

Posted on January 2, 2011 by freda

At this time of year some bloggers post about New Year Resolutions, others concentrate on their most popular posts and some have even given predictions for 2011. It seems there is a common urge to make a significant impact at the start of a new year. I simply want to share a quotation with you and to wish you and all those you love, a very special New Year.

This is by Raymond Carver. He was an American poet and writer, much of what he wrote seems sad to me, but he chose this to be the inscription on his tombstone.

Late Fragment

And did you get what
you wanted from this life, even so?
I did
And what did you want?
To call myself beloved, to feel myself
beloved on the earth.

A worthwhile epitaph, and one that reminds us of how important it is to accept one another and to share love. For those with faith, I like to think it gives the added bonus of always being loved and accepted in spite of our flaws.

It made me wonder what I would like on a tombstone (or book of remembrance.) What about you?

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Priorities

Posted on December 31, 2010 by freda

I’ve written before about the traditions that surround Hogmanay. Of course it all depends on upbringing and what has been passed down through the ancestors. Mine were a funny lot, being a mixed bunch varying from Baptist tee-totallers to those who embraced anything which would give an excuse for a party.

There were a lot of things which led into superstition. In other words, if your house was clean and you got rid of all the dirt it meant good things for the coming new year. Similarly, it was traditional for bills to be paid. In my own case, I liked to get my desk clear and in order. Yes – I’m the kind of person who feels better when the bits of paper are filed away and the to-do trays are emptied as far as possible.

As our cat, Fox, came to the end of his life this year, it seems appropriate to show him in one of his favourite poses. The other one, was sprawled on top of the computer keyboard. He was a fine cat: good at mousing, too good at catching birds and in his elder years becoming more and more stubborn.

Isn’t it strange the way that superstitions can creep into our lives even when we know intellectually that there is no basis for them in actual fact. Yet I have to confess to having this terrible propensity for “touching wood.” I’m not bothered by the throwing salt over the shoulder when you’ve already spilt some. And as for ladders, I look for the best option – ie under the ladder or round it, whichever looks safest.

But here we are on the last day of the year and the urge to clear up, dust, pick up dog’s toys, empty the rubbish………… are all high on the priorities and things to do list. Well, this Hogmanay I am instituting a new regime. Take things as they come.  All the best for 2011 to you and yours.

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Blog round up

Posted on December 29, 2010 by freda

This is something new for me, but I thought I would give it a go to include some of the best bits I’ve found in this post-Christmas rest. (Nothing too serious allowed, there’s the rest of the year for that.)

MadPriest has a wonderful story here, specially for animal lovers. (I did think of half-inching it, but thought better of it.)

There’s a quiz here to take if you are interested in seeing if you will cope well with retirement. Mine was kind of average – think it is too much good food.

Dr Bill Thomas has a youtube video here – it’s worth a look at BBC Newsreader Blunders. I like seeing Jeremy Paxman being just as curmudgeonly with the producers when something goes wrong for him. Refreshing to laugh at him for a change.

If you are grateful for the holidays being almost over, you might find a quiet place here at Friko’s Blog. She is a fine writer and has a pithy, original viewpoint on life.

I love keeping an eye on Sara’s Blog because she writes about her two dogs, takes lots of photos and videos of training them. Yes I do love dogs. And there is a fabulous snow video here.  Just in case you’re not fed up with the snow.

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The sand moves

Posted on December 28, 2010 by freda

I almost want to say the sand moves and so does my heart – but it seems a bit ott. If you’ve got a few minutes, do have a look and let me know what you think. Thanks to Grumpy Old Ken for the link. He makes the comment that he is glad that he is still able to be amazed.

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Avatar

Posted on December 26, 2010 by freda

Hope your Christmas Day was as enjoyable as mine. All the usual ingredients: church, presents, a gorgeous meal and time with loved ones.

In the evening it was a case of flop before the telly. We had been saving up Avatar for just such an occasion and I was looking forward to seeing what all the fuss was about. I certainly wasn’t disappointed. It has got to rate as a 20 out of 10 for sheer ingenuity, imagination, special effects and gripping storyline.

The viewer was drawn into an alternative culture and planet in a compelling way. The director and main force behind the film is James Cameron, he says it took his life over for four and a half years. I’m not surprised – it took me over (in a good way) for 142 minutes of amazement and pleasure. I don’t want to say too much, just in case you’ve still got the pleasure of watching it to come.

What can you say about a film that gained so many awards and was surrounded in superlatives and hype? If I had to choose one thing, it is to say that there is a deep and moving case made for human beings (and all creatures) to be at one with the environment which nurtures them. Religious? Yes – but in the best meaning of being aware and connected to all beings and plants.  In fact, a wonderful film to see at Christmas when we have been celebrating God’s love becoming at one with us.

A lovely way to finish off a beautiful day.
Every Blessing to you and all those you love.

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The culmination

Posted on December 24, 2010 by freda

The final part of the BBC’s Nativity series had me spell-bound. If you have the opportunity to see it, please do. When it came to the part where the three Magi bow down in total humility before the child I spontaneously burst into tears.

Yes, it was that good. Well done, imaginative yet faithful.

A Happy and Blessed Christmas to you and all those you love. And that goes to all my Readers whatever your beliefs, doubts and hopes.

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The Holy Goat

Posted on December 24, 2010 by freda

Sad to say the order of the awaited Fontanini nativity figures has revealed that the Holy Goat is not coming this year. For some reason there are 2 dogs along with the drummer boy Jareth.

It’s no wonder HBTW is looking so puzzled.

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Dementia care

Posted on December 23, 2010 by freda

Thanks to Allen Power for this link to a BBC news story about a Care Home in Wiltshire. There is a video as well as the news story itself, and if you have a few minutes it is well worth having a look. Most of us will have contact with Care Homes at some stage in our lives, either through a relative, work or indeed our own long-term care.

I have been one of those who visited relatives and felt so helpless, especially in the case of my Granny who had dementia. Then, later on in life as a Parish Minister I was a regular visitors to Homes in my area. At Christmas time it was easy to judge the strength of the care in any given Care Home. At one place I visited there was dancing, entertainment, community singing and all sorts of laughter. People joined in and it was lively and bright.

Sometimes it was a pleasure visiting residents, sometimes it was challenging, often I felt useless, not knowing how to connect. In time I learned that any link to the past could often provoke an amazing response, and the old-old (as against the young-old like me) frequently had a connection with Bible Stories, prayers and hymns from their childhood.

The Marlborough Care Home has instituted a memory room focused on the 1950s where residents can sit and remember, prompted by artefacts, books, magazines, old radio streaming and best of all, help from staff and each other. I was interested in the video to see telephones, electrical appliances and other domestic items that I vividly remember using, and can well imagine how being able to see them, touch them and talk about them, stimulates older people to link into memories of long ago.

The resident in the video, apparently has severe dementia, but her life has been turned around by the memory room. She leads a much more active life. In addition many residents no longer need the drug regime they once used.

Let me know what you think.

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It’s the time of year

Posted on December 22, 2010 by freda

A little bit of mayhem this afternoon and You-know-who has been very busy. Misty still thinks Christmas is a tradition thought up purely for her pleasure and delight and insists on trying to get into the wrapping paper and in among the sparkly string. It doesn’t make for easy wrapping of presents.

At one stage this afternoon all went quiet so I went searching….

Photographs don’t (usually) lie, and here is the evidence. Little Madam had found her way into the bag of her own presents, (I had wrapped them while she was out for a quick walk with HBTW earlier.) There is no doubt but that her nose led the way, and she had deftly unwrapped the chocolate Santa. I suspect her look says that she knows perfectly well that this was not the right thing to do, but it is hard to scold a girl for taking advantage.

The photo on the left shows double trouble and also I suspect illustrates that she was pondering how to get the box open. In the end I opened it for her and rationed her to a small piece of doggy choc (carob based.)

As to who left the package on the spare bed in the first place, well no-one is owning up.

Later on, after a bit of a rest Misty needed to go outside. She stopped in her tracks at the doorway in an attitude of absolute shock and surprise…….. while a red deer reluctantly dragged itself away from the decimated ivy round the door; it slowly bounded away…….. yes, slowly……… and hopped over the fence. The poor deer must be starving in this extreme weather, but it wouldn’t be fair to start feeding them. In fact, there is probably a law against it.

The recalcitrant one has now settled back on the spare bed woofing gently to herself as she ruminates on her adventures. I, however, need a holiday.

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BBC The Nativity

Posted on December 21, 2010 by freda

I watched the first of the four episodes of The Nativity on BBC1 last night. (For UK readers it is available on iplayer, not sure if that works abroad.)

It was surprisingly moving; in fact I was captivated by the developing love story of Mary and Joseph, told in flashbacks from a stop on their journey to Bethlehem. We realise very quickly that all is not well with the young couple, and surmise that Joseph is having trouble coming to terms with this “miraculous birth.” It’s definitely a case of the “show don’t tell” beloved of creative writing teachers.

I didn’t expect to find it so convincing. In recent months we’ve been studying the Living the Questions course, and our thoughts on the happenings surrounding the birth of Jesus have been stretched and challenged. For me, the story is still as magical and mysterious and compelling.

Watch the programme if you can. It’s well worth it.

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