Thursday 26 March 2009

News Flash!

What is it they say on the television? "We are interrupting this programme with an important announcement....." Well, I am doing just that!!
Yesterday I drove to Tesco on the Garrison at Catterick (our nearest supermarket) sandwiched between two armoured personnel=carriers and two tanks on manouvres. It was quite a journey but it set me thinking. And this is what I thought......
"Aren't we lucky to live in a country where army personnel, men in uniforms with guns, tanks, other accoutrements of war, hold absolutely no threat to us whatsoever?" I thought of the countries in Africa where there has been genocide for years; countries whi ch are oppressed by armed gangs and warring tribes; countries where there has been "ethnic cleansing."
So - I am interrupting my series of blogs on Swaledale/ Arkengarthdale and back to Swaledale, and putting on today instead:-
TEN REASONS TO BE HAPPY.

1. The sun is shining and the buds are bursting.
2. I am quite healthy at the moment.
3. I had a very happy first marriage.
4. I have an equally happy (but completely different) second marriage.
5. I have a loving family around me.
6. I have had a fulfilling career.
7. I have so many labour-saving devices around me that I can go off for the day whenever I feel like it and know I am not leaving household jobs undone (three cheers for the dishwasher!!!)
8. I can get into the car and drive myself wherever I want to go. When I think of my mother
during my childhood - an outing by bus to see an aunt who lived fourteen miles away entailed going on two separate buses and there and back took up the greatest part of the day. Yes, I know we knew no other life, so were happy then - but how we have "come on."
9. I live in very beautiful countryside with plenty of fresh air.
10. I can blog my way around the world.

Who could ask for more that that?

35 comments:

EB said...

Yes yes and ... aobut 6 more more yes's! We had a rather adventurous holiday a few years ago which left me very glad to be home again, although I do have many wonderful memories of it. Thank heavens for English rain, was my main thought.

Pat Posner said...

Shame on you, Weaver *smile* but you didn't name your Tess in your reasons to be happy.

BT said...

And what a wonderful 'news flash' it is. I thoroughly agree with you. A little while ago I watched a documentary on Ruanda and the genocide that happened there. It made me think just the same, aren't we lucky to live where we do? Have enough food/too much food, have wonderful surroundings and on the whole not be frightened of a knock at the door, or someone coming into your village.

Blessings indeed.

BT said...

Sorry it's of course Rwanda. Thought it didn't look right.

Heather said...

Amen to that, Weaver - I do so agree with you. I even have my own Grenadier Guard (son, now retired from the Army) and Royal Marine (son-in-law, also retired) should I need protection, and as many if not more reasons to be happy. We are indeed very fortunate and grateful for it.

Teresa said...

How right you are. Only when we truly appreciate what we have do we realize how much we have.

Elizabeth said...

Totally agree with you.
There is so much doom and gloom around it behooves us fortunate ones to celebrate the good things we enjoy.(Not crow --just wave and smile)
When we were in India, troops were camped out on the Pakistani border....hmmm.....
We have so much to be grateful for.

Sal said...

I'd probably write exactly the same ten reasons to be happy!;-)

Arija said...

This little voice would like some rain please...

Seth said...

So nice to take time to think about the good things in our lives!

Leenie said...

Reminds me of a quote: "Sometimes in our search for happiness we need to stop--and be happy." Have a great day and thanks for the cheer.

Dave King said...

It's amen to all that. Well said.

Caroline Gill said...

What a positive announcement, brought home all the more to be after talking to US war poet, Brian Turner, last week. What a lot of blessings we have to count.

P.S. I have joined Seth's art project ... thank you for the nudge!

Caroline Gill said...

P.S. typo alert ... that should read 'to me' - sorry!

Acornmoon said...

I agree, we are very lucky to live in this country. I enjoyed reading your other reasons also.

Tess Kincaid said...

Four cheers for the dishwasher!!

Red Clover said...

I do think Happiness is the way to go...

Raph G. Neckmann said...

You've spread happiness, too, by posting this, Weaver - it is infectious! I often read a phrase, 'What you focus on you get more of.'

I think I'll go and write a list too!

Dominic Rivron said...

Living near an army training area with its tanks, flares, gunfire, etc., often puts me in mind of areas in the world where that kind of thing goes on for real.

Michala Gyetvai (Kayla coo) said...

It's good to hear positive and happy thoughts.
We are lucky,the media is full of gloom at the moment.

Grizz………… said...

You are so right, Weaver. Here's a few reasons from me.

1. This morning I got up.
2. No one is shooting at me or threatening me in any way.
3. I have food to eat, and can buy more whenever I want.
4. I can drive or walk or travel from one side of town to another, county-to-county, state-to-state, for literally thousands of miles and no one will ask me for "papers", documents, permissions, or keep me from going wherever I wish.
5. I can go to church on Sunday…or not.
6. I'm not as healthy as I once was, or would like to be again, but I'm healthy enough and not getting worse.
7. I live in a modest but big-enough cottage beside a lovely river, with birds and various wildlife for neighbors.
8. I can play my piano at 3:00 a.m. and no one will complain.
9. My bank account isn't great, but it is sufficient to meet my needs; I want for nothing.
10. I have people who care about me—and whom I can care about in return.

How could anyone ask for more?

Woman in a Window said...

That's it. Stop and count them because they are all around us.

Hildred said...

Doesn't taking time to count blessings energize you in the best way possible!

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Oh, you are sooooo right. So many more reasons to be happy than unhappy! Life is such an incredible gift, isn't it?

Cloudia said...

Just a lovely post!!
Aloha-

The Weaver of Grass said...

Yes = EB I do so agree.

Pat - sorry I left Tess off - she should have been at number one!

BT - The news from places like Rwanda is sickening and yet one feels one must watch and learn about these atrocities.

Heather - I expect you are also glad they are retired and not in Itaq or Afghanistan.

Teresa - I think we all need reminding now and again - I know I do.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Elizabeth - that border is notorious isn't it? I remember seeing film of the changing of the guard both sides of the border there - the posturing was ridiculous.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Sal, Arija and Seth - let's all join together and do a rain dance in the hope that Arija soon gets some. Seriously, I believe the drought in your part of Australis is very serious now, Arija.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Leenie - I have a fridge magnet which says "Life is what is happening while you are planning what you are going to do
Dave - any more to add?
Coastcard - I am sure that would be an eye-opening experience. Glad you have joined Seth's project.

The Weaver of Grass said...

To the rest of you - there doesn't seem need for individual comments but it is heartening to find so many positive statements. Let's keep it up in spite of the credit crunch and the awful things that are constantly happening everywhere/

The Weaver of Grass said...

Scribe - Love the piano one. For two years I lived alone in a house on its own and I used to practise in the middle of the night - Got the Schubert Impromptus up to a really high standard (for me) - it was a wonderful time to practise with no interruptions.

Rachel Fox said...

All that happiness without even mentioning Tess! Your cup runneth over and all that...
xs

Jinksy said...

re no.10 - better than blagging yourself around anywhere...
BTW, love the tree roots pic. x

Janice Thomson said...

Hear! Hear! Well said Weaver. We really do have so much to be thankful for.

Cloudia said...

I just had to return and re-savor this post again! Thank you, Weaver