Sunshine

The Sun and Me

The sun shines on a nose with a glow

Long endless hot nights wishing for snow.

Hibernating away from the heat

Cooling off those blistered feet.

Never ending weeding

And all day sneezing

That is what bloody sun means to me.

Friendships Are Hard Work.

“Everyone is busy, and life happens. I have learnt you have got to text people when you think of them. A simple “thinking of you” text can go a long way.” Rob Lowe

Since I have stopped paper crafting, I have found that I have not been keeping up with friendships in the way I used to. Very often, I would be making a greetings card and suddenly a friend would pop into my head and with the help of my husband, who always remembers to post items, the card would find its destination.

Very often a friend would pop into my head and I am in the middle of doing something so I often say, “I must ring Mary/Isolde…when I am finished”. And what happens? Yes, you are correct, I totally forget.

Now you may say that friendship is a two-way system, and of course it is. However, the interaction must start somewhere, so why not with me?

I was trying to work out how I could put a stop to “I will ring/text later” thoughts while sipping a cuppa on the back door step early this morning. My initial response was to set up a time and then send a text to friends on a rota system. Firstly, I am not that organised (I used to be). Secondly, it feels very contrived.

While watching the garden birds and mentally organising the back garden with bikes overflowing with flowers, buckets with herbs and walls with climbing plants it suddenly hit me. I always have a notebook and pen on me no matter where I am or what I am doing. So why not note down the name and in the evening when reading through my notes I will be thus be able to send a text or a note. Which reminds me I have a few emails to send……names for emails in my notebook.

Like everything which is important to us there is a need to review how we do it. There is a need to review how we nurture and develop. Friendships are important no matter how long they last for. They need nudging but more important than anything they need active work.

My note books are becoming even more important in the nurturing friendships. I had always looked on Skype, video calls or face to face calls as tools for those who have family who may live thousands of miles away or for work. Perhaps this is another way for nurturing friendships……

In what way are you going to nurture your friendships?

World Book Day

World Book Day. What a day to celebrate.

Could you imagine not having a book? It is something I really can’t imagine. However, in saying that I know, I am privileged to be living in a country where books are readily available.

In fact, I can walk down the road for about twenty minutes and be welcomed into the Public Library. Or I can walk in the other direction for about 30 minutes and come across another Public Library. If I take another route for again about a 30 minute walk I come to a recycling center where there are free books.

I was brought up with a love of books. Mrs. Collins my fourth class teacher really instilled in me a love for the written word. As she often said “the world opens up to you through each and every book you read”.

As the American novelist George R.R. Marin wrote ” A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies….The man who never reads lives only one”.

My favourite book has changed as my life has changed. I used to love reading “Anne of Green Gables” by L. M. Montgomery. The “Chalet School Books” by L. M. Brent-Dyer allowed me to fly to Austria. When I finally visited Austria it lived up to everything I had imagined. Middlemarch by George Eliot strangely led be to the Jane Austen books which I must admit I still enjoy.

I could continue but there are so many books which through the years became my companions and saw me through difficult times that I could never possibly name them all.

I hope you have has the privilege of enjoying the wonder of books.

Mother’s Day?

With world Poetry Day in mind I thought I would share some poems which I have recently come across. World Poetry Day is 20 years old. One its aims is to celebrate linguistic diversity.

A tongue can accuse and carry bad news
The seeds of distrust and hate, it can sow,
So unless you know that it is the truth,
Be careful of stones that you throw.
( Larry ”Dutch” Woller )

During my school days we had to learn poetry by rote. It was something I could never do. Each and everytime although having spent at least an hour memorising the various poems by the next day I had totally forgotten every word. I dreaded being asked to recite the homework.

Choosing Shoes

by Frida Wolfe

New shoes, new shoes,
Red and pink and blue shoes.
Tell me, what would you choose,
If they’d let us buy?

Buckle shoes, bow shoes,
Pretty pointy-toe shoes,
Strappy, cappy low shoes;
Let’s have some to try.

Bright shoes, white shoes,
Dandy-dance-by-night shoes,
Perhaps-a-little-tight shoes,
Like some? So would I.

BUT
Flat shoes, fat shoes,
Stump-along-like-that shoes,
Wipe-them-on-the-mat shoes,
That’s the sort they’ll buy.

This poem on shoes I came across on https://suth2.wordpress.com/2012/12/04/new-shoes-new-shoes-red-and-pink-and-blue-shoes/

However, not being able to remember poems has not hindered my love of poetry. I really enjoy finding a new poem. Reading it a few times to listen to the rhythm of the poem. For me it does not matter that I might not know what the poet intended by the poem. I do not need to delve into every line and stanza to enjoy a poem.

the sun
and her flowers

this is the recipe of life
said my mother
as she held me in her arms as i wept
think of those flowers you plant
in the garden each year
they will teach you
that people too
must wilt
fall
root
rise
in order to bloom

Rupi Kaur

I have enjoyed the poetry of Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill for years. This is one of my favourite of her poetry.

An Crann

le Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill

Do tháinig bean an leasa
le Black & Decker
do ghearr sí anuas mo chrann.
D’fhanas im óinseach ag féachaint uirthi
faid a bhearraigh sí na brainsí
ceann ar cheann.

The following is a poem which I came across in an anthology of poems. I often wonder how it would sound in it’s own language. Is there a difference between today’s language and when it was written in 619?

Flowers and Moonlight on the Spring River

Yang-Ti, Emperor of Sui Dynasty

Translated by Arthur Waley

The evening river is level and motionless —

The spring colours just open to their full.

Suddenly a wave carries the moon away

And the tidal water comes with its freight of stars.

Have you come across a poem which has stirred something in you. Perhaps you might like to share?

Those Little Irritations

Do you have a pet hate? You know what I mean, that little something which just aggravates? Now I am not talking about major hates that just is a waste of energy.

No I am talking a bout those little niggles. Perhaps it is those Blonde jokes or those Paddy jokes. Perhaps it is someone chewing gum with their mouth open. Perhaps it is someone pronouncing your name incorrectly. Perhaps it is someone wish you “happy holidays” instead of “Happy Christmas”. T hey are not major things just annoyances.

Well one of mine is to do with Saint Patrick’s Day. As most people are aware, March 17th is Saint Patrick’s Day which celebrates one of the national saints of Ireland. It is a national holiday here and it is celebrated worldwide. The day itself is known as St. Patrick’s Day or Paddy’s Day but NEVER EVER Patty’s Day. The reason why is rather simple. A patty is a piece of minced or ground meat mixed with seasoning and fried😂 ( it tastes very nice).

Then I came across this today and it says it all

No photo description available.

May I wish you a very Happy St. Patrick’s Day wherever you may be.

the sun and her flowers

Flowers and Moonlight on the Spring River

the sun
and her flowers