I thought I had better put a post on before you all think I have gone for ever. I feel alright but am a bit frail - not eating all that much but still walking about the bungalow and walking in the garden when the weather allows. I can't go out on windy days and obviously not on wet or cold days and we have had plenty of those.
I am sorry not to have posted. I like to read the posts of anyone on my sidebar who has posted and answer them if I can. But as for putting a post on myself - my philosophy has always been to put on something to make you think. And at present my brain doesn't seem to be throwing up anything. Not that I personally have stopped thinking. World affairs at present make me wish I could stop thinking sometimes - don't know about you.
Life is precious. If only our World leaders thought that. When they meet to discuss what to do next do they think of maimed children, homeless hungry people, terrified people, those left to die under bombed buildings, those dying of starvation? They can't do, otherwise this awful conflict would not be going on.
Their philosophy at the moment seems to be 'an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth'- no sign at all of anyone thinking 'these are all people - let's talk, let's all pull together in the same direction.' ' Enough is enough'. As Winston Churchill said, 'Jaw, jaw, jaw is better than war, war, war'.
Where have all our 'great' men (and women) gone - suddenly everyone 'in authority' everywhere seems 'past it', seems more than ready for the scrap heap? I begin to think there ought to be a world-wide law saying at the age of sixty everyone should take compulsory retirement if they are in a position to be able to have their finger anywhere near the nuclear button.
Sorry about the rant but like Peadar on his Facebook this morning - I needed to get it off my chest.
My gardener has come to attach a storage unit he has made to house my green and black bins. Wherever I put them the vicious winds of the past months of this winter have blown them over. As I write this he is drilling holes to attach the unit to the garage wall. It is a typical spring day here - as one of my carers said in a text earlier this morning as she arrived home from Spain "bloody cold" -glorious blue sky one minute, heavy sleet the next and so black you need the light on if you want to read the depressing news in The Times.
Let's cheer up everyone. It is Spring after all. Maybe things will get better. As my father always said (he had a brain full of sayings) 'Nil Desperandum'.
Off to make my gardener a hot choc (and me too of course) (sitting here typing this next to the garage wall is sending my ears into meltdown.)
.JPG)
47 comments:
The weather here this morning is nothing short of atrocious although at 7am it was sunny and the military jets circled round and round once again in and out of the clouds. I laid in bed listening to them until I got up. Then at 8.30 the jets went away and the rain came, then the sleet, and then the hail. The wind is from the north and very cold. I feel the same as you as expressed in your post.
Good to hear from you. We had snow early this morning..gone now in the village but still chilly
After a weekend that felt very much like early summer with temperatures up to 27 Celsius, a lot of sunshine and enough Sahara dust in the air to cover everything with a thin yellow layer, we're down to 12C today and rain. It is supposed to get rather windy by the afternoon, but the rain should stop and so I might get a chance at a walk before or after my last appointment for today, which ends at 6:00 pm.
It is good to see you posting, Pat, but please do not ever feel you "owe" us a post - if you don't feel like writing much (or anything at all), it is entirely your own decision. You know we think of you and tend to worry when we don't see you around for a few days, because you have spoiled us over the years with (almost) daily posts.
Good to read your post this morning and know you are OK.
The weather is dreadful here in Suffolk too.
Thank goodness my vegetable plants are in the greenhouse out of the wind and rain.
Oh your poor ears, drilling into brickwork is the noisiest thing ever, I hate it.
Our weather is terrible, there was a raging storm all night and now we are left with high winds and intermittent heavy showers. Ginger the cat plucked up courage to sit at the door and ask to be let out in between showers and I had literally just opened the door for him when it started hailing. The look of disgust on his face as he turned back inwards was priceless.
If only more world leaders were women, I think there might be a bit more common-sense and compassion as the elderly men running the world don't seem to be showing any whatsoever.
'Nil Desperandum' - I shall try and find an opportunity to say that today .
After enjoying three warm and sunny days over the weekend at my partner's in Surrey, I returned to Sheppey early this morning to be met by "everything but the kitchen sink" weather.
A cold and very gusty W. wind was blowing and at 10.30 that gave us a monumental rain storm, with associated mega hailstones and gusts of wind that peaked at 70mph. Not nice and quite scary for a while.
The conflict in the world will always be there and will always go on, best we can do is be glad that it's not on our doorstep.
Good to read your post, Our snow has finally melted and it is very dusty everywhere, so for us a good rain would settle the dust and start things growing a bit. I like Churcill’s jaw jaw jaw not war war war, Jean in Winnpeg
Should also add, that after violent gusts of 70 mph, I doubt that many Rook's nests high in trees have survived.
It is always wonderful to hear from you, it makes me happy.
I value your wise thoughts and words.
Best Wishes,
Kay
I am glad to see a post from you.
There is a tension in the air with all the bad news, I can see why you do not want to write. And you should not feel that you have to by the way, we are all so glad when you do write some pithy blog. Here also the wind whistles, the rain storms are fierce and it is coooooold!
Good to know you are looking after yourself, and pacing yourself where needs be.
Lovely as your posts are that 'make us think',( and there's been a few that have thrown the cat amongst the pigeons!) I also enjoy your recounts of earlier years of your life...family, travels, career...joys and sorrows. It has been one of my delights to go back into your posts over many years. You are wise and fair-minded Pat, and I have appreciated your company many times over a cup of coffee on the computer. Breath of fresh air. - Pam, S. Aust.x
It's been warmer here and it is wonderful to celebrate the flowers that are popping up everywhere. Glad to see your post and wishing you nice days so you can enjoy your garden.
Despite the world tensions...I agree, let's enjoy Spring and all the rebirth in the garden. It is still a bit cool and we continue to have more rain than we need but the buds on the trees are swelling and will soon be showing leaves and flowers. I look forward to a more green landscape. Sharing a hot chocolate is lovely and warming on a cool day. Your builder must be pleased with the chocolate and his project completed.
https://youtu.be/KxhWQgg-VpY?si=BMEW8TaSrjsklt0J
Spring is coming
with sounds and blossom
Kathleen Ferrier contralto
ENJOY !
So good to hear from you! If you don’t post every few days I check Rachel’s blog and see if you commented .
Hello, Pat! It's always a delight to see a new post from you and read the interesting, common sense, and worthwhile things you write about.
I agree the nations of the world seem to have far too few capable leaders who would choose to tax the wealthy (and businesses) to care for the hungry, find warm, dry, and safe homes for the homeless, and wage PEACE.
From my long ago Latin: "Dulce et decorum est desipere en loco." Which means "It is pleasant and proper to be foolish once in a while."
Hugs!
Strangely I was thinking last night about NZ's WWII conscription criteria (no one in my immediate family served): men over 40 and men with families of three or more children were excused. If you think about the future of a community they are exactly the men that should go - the young on whom all our hopes are pinned shouldn't be killed off before they have had a chance to realize their potential. In a broad generalization I blame wars on old men, but the truth is that with age also comes (to some) wisdom, acceptance, tolerance. We can't label everyone of mature years a grumpy old warmonger.
I’ve got a patient that flicks me the V from his window when I park the car every shift I’m on
I flick one back
It’s become a silly habit for him to say “ I’m still here”
So thanks for the v
Jxx
I am glad to see a post from you but I notice when you have commented on John's blog and realize that you are simply posting occasionally as you wish and that is how it should be. Georgia USA has gone from pleasant spring weather to hot. I am enjoying the honeysuckle and wisteria though! Jackie
Not sure about the 'over 60' - policy, quite a lot of the wanton destruction of the past quarter century has been at the instigation of younger politicians like the Bush's, Blair, Cameron etc. it's more a question of finding some wiser heads amongst the dross that we seem to saddled with as politicians these days.
As always, it's great to see a new post from you! I don't let the news about current events discourage
me.Being raised by folks that believed all will end well by God's grace I just
pray for us all to be as kind as possible to each other
Delighted to see your post today!
As others have said, I see your comments on the blogs of others and that brings a smile to my face. I always enjoy your posts as they provide food for thought, paint such lovely pictures of your bungalow & garden, and I am grateful for that which you share with us.
May the weather improve so you may spend more time outside enjoying yourself.
Rain first thing, then sunshine here, but I was surprised by the strength and chill of the wind. The rest of the day has been mostly bright for the third day in a row, so we can't really complain. However, the ground is still sodden and in some areas flooded. A nightmare for the farmers and growers. The news around the world is ever more depressing and I try not to let it affect me, which then makes me feel guilty. About the only thing I can do to help is to sign petitions. I am also conscious of my good fortune and count my blessings every day.
Lovely to see you here today Pat. Sorry your weather doesn't appear to be very 'springy' - whereas here in North Carolina it's more like an August heatwave - almost 5 pm and 91F (37.7C) outside!!!
Gardens seem so advanced this spring - everything changing by the day, many things a true surprise but of course the intense heat will see some suffer and blooms perhaps shrivel up in the hot sun.
Hang in there dear Pat - you know how we all love reading your great posts, so keep them coming on the good days - we'll wait.
Love, Mary -
I agree with you...why are we so cruel to each other on this tiny planet? We are like children squabbling over a toy, but this toy is the very thing we rely on for our lives.
I was in the mountains over the weekend, and it was so cold one day, even sleeping, with heavy rain, flooding creeks and rivers everywhere, and high winds. It went down to about 2°C, then in 24 hours it was bright, clear and almost 80°f! How a body is supposed to adjust i do not know. But the mountains were beautiful with so many white-blooming trees: sarvisberry, wild cherry, dogwood, wild plum, and a few pinkish aplle blossoms just starting to open. Magical.
Oh Weaver, I am so glad to read your post, you are one of my top 5 favorite bloggers to read. I picture you as a woman who loves farms and fields and nature, and you inspired me to buy many poetry books. Good your handyman is securing those fly away bins, the world can be a cold hard place and I treasure blog friends like you.
Your posts do make us think about things. I wish some our buffoon politicians would take a look at your posts and think about things.
Keep up the good work.
Enjoyed the blog…comments too. Hope you will get some better weather…beautiful here today near Chicago. Daffodils, bluebells are blooming. Other spring flowers finishing and blooming trees coming. It’s very nice but I would love to be in a more rural area. All the best..have enjoyed your blog for sometime and you are very interesting! Kathy
You are always missed because your posts do make me think and to appreciate simple things and to see through the eyes of others.
Reading your comments gives me moments of pleasure - and laughter -yes Barbara Anne I am still 'foolish once in a while' and Yes John GG - I send a metaphorical v sign to you this morning.
I don't know that age should be the sole criteria in determining a person's fitness to wield power. I'd sure trust you around that nuclear button a lot more than I would respect many of the political megalomaniacs we have in power right now. I am more inclined to think that there are powermongers who should be kept out of power altogether, no matter what age they are.
Have a good day, Pat. I think you should allow yourself at least one foolish episode a day!
Sorry for the anonymous Weave, but it’s the only way I can comment from my phone. T.S. here. We’ve still got wind down here. Ooh-err missus! X
Too cold where you are. Too hot where I am (Seville!)
From Margaret Butterworth.
I can't say I agree with imposing an age limit on politicians. I am in the US and congress squabbles like small children. The main goal seems to be making sure they block what the other party proposes. It's all about party power & ensuring they have party support for re-election. It's been years since they worked across tha aisle and got things done.
Oops sorry. Pat in Pennsylvania
I loved this post. I wonder where our heroes and strong, honest leaders have gone too. I’m grateful you are well enough to post.
The Churchill quote, "Jaw, jaw, jaw is better that war, war, war," is simple yet profound. I wish more world leaders would think along those lines. I am new to reading your blog and want to thank you for sharing your life in the countryside and your gentle but powerful thoughts. You are an amazing lady.
We had thunder and a hailstorm this evening (Tuesday) while the sun was still shining from a distance. I'm glad I wasn't out in it, but the sun shining on the hailstones as they fell through the air was spectacular.
An absolute treat to hear from you dear Weave.
Wendy (Wales)
TS Oo'er indeed!!
Tasker - that is the trouble with hailstorms - they are so beautiful if the sun is shining at the same time. We had one here last year which damaged a lot of cars - not so beautiful.
Thank you for all your replies - it is so good to have these two way conversations now that I am slowly - very slowly at present - leaving this world. Still feeling quite perky most of the time.
Well, I'm glad you're still on the right side of the grass, as my patients say with a smile. The world is awful right now and I wonder if it's always been so and I just didn't notice as much. I have three children and it seems that when I was pregnant with each one, there was a war going on somewhere.
The weather here is changeable, which is the kindest way to put it. Twenty celsius a couple of weeks ago and now snow, to be followed once again by warm weather next week.
Take care Pat.
Thanks for the mention Weaver, and yes, Nil desperandum, though I've never known so much to be desperandum about!
Post a Comment