Having always had a leaning towards unorthodox solutions, I find, in my current circumstances, that I am even more inventive about competent management.
At one point in my life, I had a little studio in my home county. This, in itself, is unremarkable. However, it meant that of many things I have two. For instance, I have two small travelling clocks. What makes more sense than having one at either side of the bed so that, on whichever side I am lying, I can see what time it is Some examples are quite ordinary and no doubt apply to everybody. In every possible place of need there is a box of tissues. There are, by the same reckoning, rather too many telephones distributed where I can pick them up two rings post first one.. I know, I know, why not just have one mobile phone one can carry in one's pocket? Where's the challenge in that? I remember, as a fairly little one, confusing my Mother by asking for a second bar of soap: one to rest on the hand basin and one by the bath. My experience having been that the only bar of soap found itself at whichever site I was not. As an 'accompanying other' in my earlier life I travelled a great deal. I had two complete toilet bags and two make up bags so that all I had to do to be ready was pick them up and go. Mind you, there is a school of thought that suggests there is something therapeutic in picking up one's toileteries to pack one by one as a way of taking leave and of replacing them, similarly, as a way of coming home. This method would probably help even a bad case of Transition Anxiety. Perhaps I havent told you about this phenomenon for which I humbly (not too humbly) take credit. While I was working and met many performing musicians who moved about a lot I identified a situation where one was neither still at the starting point nor yet at the destination. For instance, waiting for a taxi. You are sitting in your hall but can''t feel still at home in your spirit but not yet on your way to wherever. This situation can cause feelings of real distress and anxiety. Clearly, it matters more the greater the gap between the here and the there. A better example of that may be if you emigrate from your home country to live in another. With your old home emptied by the removers you can't feel as if you still live in it but you have yet to arrive in your new environment: (nowt nor somat, as I've pointed out before). You are, thus, in transition and must treat yourself kindly and with respect. Actually, the truth seems to be that what I really relish in all this is that very challenge to find a solution. . Bore da
Sunday, 30 April 2017
Saturday, 15 April 2017
Dichotomy
Before I wander off to other spheres, I feel compelled to add one more 'Commonplace' to the ones in the previous post and to elaborate on another. The latter first: there were so many words around choclate that I lost the will to choose so it ended up reading just like stuff from my 'bucket list' without quotes, academically annoying. . The addition comes from one of the many cat-related books you won't be surprised to hear that I have been given over so many feline-worshipping years "All around the world people are enduring great discomfort in order not to disturb the cat." A Commonplace collection is without end but I do think it is time to return to the main theme which should still be the dichotomy between chronological age and the age of the spirit.
I suppose there is a variation, now, though. It has to be more to do with the on-going consistency of the age of my inner world alongside the knowledge that both that and the outer world are earmarked to come to a predicted end in due course. It should go without saying that there will be an end for us all: it does feel a bit different, though, to have been told when that is likely to turn up - as in toes, if you believe the old saw. There are amusing side issues. Dear friends involved in the planning of a wedding are facing problems of numbers. There are separated parents and steps and the young all to consider for a small venue and I hesitated to say that I could be left out of any problematic arithmetic since it was towards the end of this year. I am daring the appliances in my kitchen and laundry to break down. I have no intention of replacing anything expensive at this stage. There is a sense of relief in letting go of certain domestic duties. After all, this and that in disrepair will either have to be dealt with by the young or represent a not too serious lowering of a potential selling price. It is too late to respond to the advertisements for Life Insurance although the television is always urging me to buy this or that scheme to " save my family from excessive funeral costs". I never notice these ads other than in the afternoons. Does the advertising world consider it is only young children and Mothers, making up the afternoon audience, who would want to subscribe to such schemes? I struggle to make order in a tsunami of paper and have already consigned one huge black rubbish bag to the brazier of another friend. Would it be fairer to leave behind three tonnes of out of date documents instead of five? I confess I came across papers relating to a car I havent owned for twenty years. Go figure as I am told they say over the Pond. The trees of the neighbour who wouldnt let me pay to have them lowered so that the summer sun would not leave my garden at 2.45 because " where was the benefit to (him)?" are coming in to leaf. Potentially one less irritation to be endured. Bore da
I suppose there is a variation, now, though. It has to be more to do with the on-going consistency of the age of my inner world alongside the knowledge that both that and the outer world are earmarked to come to a predicted end in due course. It should go without saying that there will be an end for us all: it does feel a bit different, though, to have been told when that is likely to turn up - as in toes, if you believe the old saw. There are amusing side issues. Dear friends involved in the planning of a wedding are facing problems of numbers. There are separated parents and steps and the young all to consider for a small venue and I hesitated to say that I could be left out of any problematic arithmetic since it was towards the end of this year. I am daring the appliances in my kitchen and laundry to break down. I have no intention of replacing anything expensive at this stage. There is a sense of relief in letting go of certain domestic duties. After all, this and that in disrepair will either have to be dealt with by the young or represent a not too serious lowering of a potential selling price. It is too late to respond to the advertisements for Life Insurance although the television is always urging me to buy this or that scheme to " save my family from excessive funeral costs". I never notice these ads other than in the afternoons. Does the advertising world consider it is only young children and Mothers, making up the afternoon audience, who would want to subscribe to such schemes? I struggle to make order in a tsunami of paper and have already consigned one huge black rubbish bag to the brazier of another friend. Would it be fairer to leave behind three tonnes of out of date documents instead of five? I confess I came across papers relating to a car I havent owned for twenty years. Go figure as I am told they say over the Pond. The trees of the neighbour who wouldnt let me pay to have them lowered so that the summer sun would not leave my garden at 2.45 because " where was the benefit to (him)?" are coming in to leaf. Potentially one less irritation to be endured. Bore da
Tuesday, 4 April 2017
Commonplace
First, I should explain the break in transmission. This technophobe, in process of writing a post looked up to see that what I had typed was now on the screen in letters two inches high. If I could touch-type I might have caught it earlier but I was rarely looking at the screen Anyway, after a couple of weeks of despair - no Guru: too busy - I started to click on this, that and the other and finally discovered how to change the font to one that made more sense. I have no idea which of the clicks-on brought this about so couldn't do it again no matter what size the Wizard were to send next time, That having been explained, to business.
A week or so ago a friend lent me a Commonplace Book. In case one or other of you has not had the pleasure of perusing such a volume let me tell you that it is a collection of sayings, poems and other wordy, audio or pictorial memorabilia thought to be worth anthologising by she/he who subsequently does so It seemed like a pleasing end-of-term occupation so I thought I'd think of a few for myself. I am not sure I can attribute them all so I am hoping I shan't be at risk of a charge of plagiarism - a heinous fault in my book. About left-over food "Put it in the freezer until you don't feel guilty about throwing it out". (Cousin) On a very small 't' shirt "Keep calm and ask Mum". "The co-operation of factors which are random and fortuitous varies in inverse ratio to the urgency of the need". (A lawyer friend and yours truly. Eg There are numerous taxis rolling by except when you are late and it is raining chats et chiens). "Do not despair for Johnny head-in-air, He sleeps as sound as Johnny underground. Fetch out no shroud for Johnny in the cloud and keep your tears for him in after years. Better by far for Johnny the bright star to keep your head and see his children fed" ( John Pudney's war poem) ."Mae Hen wlad fy Nhadau etc" (Welsh National Anthem). "When with rosy feet the dawn...." (Handel's Theodora) Lorraine Hunt Lieberson in any shape or form. A voice and presence to make you believe in ultimate alrightness. "Opitimism, as in: A box of three bath-sized, hand-made soap given to she of the terminal illness. In response to being called "An angel-faced darling" a small child asking if her pet were a "cat-faced darling". Otherwise known as the cherishable clarity and innocence of the very young.....D.V. Edith Piaf. "Une |Chambre a Louer" if you have to choose. Music, music, music ad infinitum. Hope expressed by the French 'suite a la prochaine'. And,finally - for now- as goes without saying,, CHOCOLATE (Yours truly)
Bore da P.S. Piaf's song is actually called "Les Amants D'un Jour"
A week or so ago a friend lent me a Commonplace Book. In case one or other of you has not had the pleasure of perusing such a volume let me tell you that it is a collection of sayings, poems and other wordy, audio or pictorial memorabilia thought to be worth anthologising by she/he who subsequently does so It seemed like a pleasing end-of-term occupation so I thought I'd think of a few for myself. I am not sure I can attribute them all so I am hoping I shan't be at risk of a charge of plagiarism - a heinous fault in my book. About left-over food "Put it in the freezer until you don't feel guilty about throwing it out". (Cousin) On a very small 't' shirt "Keep calm and ask Mum". "The co-operation of factors which are random and fortuitous varies in inverse ratio to the urgency of the need". (A lawyer friend and yours truly. Eg There are numerous taxis rolling by except when you are late and it is raining chats et chiens). "Do not despair for Johnny head-in-air, He sleeps as sound as Johnny underground. Fetch out no shroud for Johnny in the cloud and keep your tears for him in after years. Better by far for Johnny the bright star to keep your head and see his children fed" ( John Pudney's war poem) ."Mae Hen wlad fy Nhadau etc" (Welsh National Anthem). "When with rosy feet the dawn...." (Handel's Theodora) Lorraine Hunt Lieberson in any shape or form. A voice and presence to make you believe in ultimate alrightness. "Opitimism, as in: A box of three bath-sized, hand-made soap given to she of the terminal illness. In response to being called "An angel-faced darling" a small child asking if her pet were a "cat-faced darling". Otherwise known as the cherishable clarity and innocence of the very young.....D.V. Edith Piaf. "Une |Chambre a Louer" if you have to choose. Music, music, music ad infinitum. Hope expressed by the French 'suite a la prochaine'. And,finally - for now- as goes without saying,, CHOCOLATE (Yours truly)
Bore da P.S. Piaf's song is actually called "Les Amants D'un Jour"
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