Remembrance

Today was the 11th of the 11th of 2010. I always try to have a minutes silence at 11.00am on this day and I am always very moved by The Last Post. It is a beautiful piece of music and I always think what pressure it is on the bugler to get it note perfect. Wouldn't you feel like a fool if you  got it wrong?

I don't think that we should be involved in wars at this point of time as all those who made it through the world wars say that war is useless and a waste of life and time. I believe them as they have lived it and they fought in a war that really did involve us, at least in the 2nd World War.
I am not going to get too bogged down in those controversial topics as I haven't thought it all through enough and governments will do what they do. I am fairly sure that those who join the services do so in order to fight so I guess they are happy. Who am I to query it then?

I am very tired at the moment to the point of being quite weepy. I get like that when I am overtired so I need to take some time to meditate and still myself. It is so easy to get back on the mouse wheel and start running in order to survive. I have started drinking some beautiful herbal teas that really do seem to be helping me settle.


Try some and learn about them by going to this web site. Lovely lady and lovely organic or wild grown herbs.  http://www.inaleafherbs.com

I hope you took time today to be quiet for a minute and remember! Remember whatever you want. I nearly always remember my school days on this day as I can recall so clearly the announcement coming over the sound system and the lessons being suspended and everyone standing quietly and respectfully - not even any giggling from the girls or jostling from the boys.

So if you haven't stopped today, do so now and stand in quietness for one minute and be grateful for the life we have and the freedoms we have.

Poppies in Flanders Fields.

In Flanders Fields

Lieut-Col John McCrae, 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amidst the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

My respects to those whose efforts have allowed me to be here in this wonderful country called Australia.

Lest We Forget!

Red Sky in the Morning Shepherds Warning...

I was nearly late for work this morning as I just had to get a photo of this spectacular sunrise! Remains to be seen if the 'warning' is justified.

I had lunch with a group of women yesterday who were so interesting. They all come from very different backgrounds with different reasons for being in the grou,p but that is what makes a group so good. I am very pleased that this group has been started and I certainly hope it will continue.

I believe that in this society we miss out on the community and support of other women. Everyone is so busy trying to earn a living that we are losing sight of the real riches of life. I know that it is becoming very hard to earn enough just to live a simple life, let alone if you are trying to raise a family and buy a house to live in. I listen to all the talk on TV about the banks and the huge profits they are making for the share holders and the utility companies who just keep putting up their costs but no-one is actually addressing the fact that this behaviour is really hurting people. I wonder where it will all end.

Will there be thousands of homeless people and will Australia become a place of poverty and desperation? I find that I just don't think about it as I don't have an answer, so I might as well just get through each day and enjoy the little things that don't cost money - like beautiful sunrises!

The company of great women also helps me to enjoy my day and I have terrific friends who make me smile. So really I am rich and so are you if you have people who love you and care about you. 

Only after the last tree has been cut down,
Only after the last river has been poisoned,
Only after the last fish has been caught,
Only then will you find
That money cannot be eaten.
CREE INDIAN PROPHECY.

I try to keep these words in my mind always and they help me keep positive about the future. Then we will all be equal except that if we know how to live with very little and without relying on money then we are the ones who are rich. Teach your children the wisdom of your elders. It was a mere 80 years ago that the Great Depression had the world in its grip and people took care of each other and themselves. We can do that too!

Money isn't everything though I understand that it does make living easier if you have enough to feed and warm yourself inside a dwelling.

Spring and Flowers

I have been picking many of my roses as they are so full of open flowers and buds that the branches are hanging down to the ground. I try and have only plants and trees and shrubs in my garden that are edible, useful or have a lovely scent. My roses are filling the house with their perfume and it is wonderful.




Sweet smelling roses.

I have lots of herbs and they are all flowering and growing with vigour and strength with the great rain we have had. The long range forecast for Victoria is to be a wet and cooler summer. As I am very human I feel a little groan inside me as that means lots of grass mowing and work in the garden to me. Now there are lots of people who will be very glad of such a forecast and for many different reasons. I am not a big fan of great heat but I am looking forward to sitting under the tree in the shade and it being hot. Even as I write that there is a little voice inside my head that knows it is weather and it will do what it wants to do, so I should just accept it and get on with it!

I think it is another lesson like the one I have learnt in my latest job. I have finally got the hang of the fact that it will take as long as it takes and that there is little likelihood of any changes happening that will improve the situation, so I might as well get on with it and not even think about it! Like the weather. So if I can do it in one situation then I can do it in another. So I will just fit in my day around the weather and not worry about it.
I am busy trying to figure out all the things that I can make for people for Christmas. I have decided that I have more time than money and I want to give of myself to friends. I love giving presents but I am very much a person  who loves to give 'Unbirthday" presents and 'Unchristmas' presents. I think it is fun to give someone something randomly. I love the presents that are given to me for no reason except that the person was thinking about me and thought that I would like the gift. I find that to be a lovely thought.
I am also busy sorting through the stuff that I have and sorting out what needs to go and if I want it to stay then I need to be very clear as to why I want that. My mother always used to say ' a tidy room,house, desk, etc. is a tidy mind. ' I am starting to believe that now and I find that as I am finding myself again after being firstly a mother for so long, that I am able to look at things and say no I want that gone as it no longer fits me. I find it fascinating how we seem to continually change and grow and maybe go back to what we thought we had moved on from. Life is so short that we must remain flexible and tolerant, of ourselves and others. There but for the Grace of God go I. That is a truth of life I believe and I am grateful that I only have my life to deal with and not the life that some other people have. It is all relevant though isn't it? Be good to yourselves and enjoy your day no matter the weather. Keep in mind that Christmas is very close though.