miramiramazing

some references from my report

Ausubel, D., (1968), Educational Psychology: A Cognitive View, Holt, Reinhart and Winston, New York.

Barsch, J., (1991), Barsch Learning Style Inventory, Academic Therapy Publications.

Gardner, H., (1993), Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences, Basic Books.

Gawain, S., Creative Visualization, (1982), Bantam Books, New York.

Hellige, J., (1993), Hemispheric Assymetry: What's Right and What's Left, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

O'Connor, J., and Seymour, J., (1995), Introducing NLP: Psychological Skills for Understanding and Influencing People, Thorsons, Hammersmith, London.

Ornstein, R., (1997), The Right Mind: Making Sense of the hemispheres, Harcourt Brace & Company, San Diego, California.

Springer, S.P., and Deutsch, G., (1998), Left brain, Right brain: Perspective from Cognitive Neuroscience, W.H. Freeman and Company, NewYork.

Sperry, R.W., (1982), Science and Moral Priority: Merging Mind, brain and Human Values, Vol. 4 of Convergence, (Series editor Ruth Anshen), Columbia University Press, New York.

Sperry, R.W., Gazzaniga, M.S., and Bogen, J.E., (1969), Interhemispheric Relationships: The Neocortical Commissures; Syndromes of Hmisphere Disconnection, In Handbook of Clinical Neurology, P.J. Vinken and G.W. Bruyn (Eds.), North-Holland Publishing Co., Amsterdam, Vol. 4, pp. 273-290.

" Mira , you are Balanced-brained, which means that you rely equally on both the left and right hemispheres of your brain. "

well thank you www.tickle.com

I also got a full length report on how to improve my brain function.

A few titbits from the report :

Your test results show that you are a visual learner.

Strengthening the left hemisphere: makw the details count
Make lists
Learn to consciously relax
Pay attention to details

Another way to focus your mind upon details is to engage in mental gymnastics, such as trying to think of every prime number between 1 and 100 (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 11...). Such a process will get you to pay attention to the minute details since the focus of such an exercise is upon each and every individual number between 1 and 100. Alternately, you could recite the alphabet backwards, or count to 20 by adding 2 to each number and then subtracting 1, all the way (1, 3, 2, 4, 3, 5, 4, 6...). These sorts of mental exercises take familiar sequences of information — numbers, letters or what have you - and have you relate to them in an unfamiliar way, thereby ensuring that you see each element as distinct and individual.

Change your immediate environment
Your world is made up of a wide variety of tiny, not-so-insignificant details. Strengthening the left hemisphere is all about focusing upon these details.

It goes on and on

You have to register and then they send you a test now and then. It's all free too.

Cooker has done it's job well over the years.
Hot plates old, cracked, rusty and not so hot any more
Time for retirement.

Landlord inspects, takes notes and says " Thou shalt have a new cooker , lass ."

 *MIra's happy face *

.. and adds " thou shalt clean behind the cooker , ( you filthy wench implied )

So Mira sets too with help of Cillit bang huffs and puffs and removes grime and grease as much as she is able

Two strong men arrive with brand new cooker and have a quick look.

" NO CAN DO " shaking their heads
" THou needest an electrician and a thingumygig on the wall where the cable comes out "

*mira's face shows disappointment *

The two men dump new cooker in the hall and leave.

End of Cooker Story , Part 1

... to be continued .

It has... Which means...
A blend of frankincense, cumin and patchouli are natural deodorising oils that combine to combat odours and keep you fresh.
Aloe vera gel is renowned for its soothing properties.
A quick-drying formula means you don’t have to wait after application

.. as part of her birthday present from Amazon .co.uk . She likes Charlotte Church , Andrea Boccelli and Songs of Praise , which my sister got her not long ago. She calls is " songs of prizes " bless her -she renames her favourite programmes . Emmerdale is " Aimingdale "

She will get Andrea Boccelli as well ,cos I also like Andrea Bocelli we'll have a sing along

So .. night night again ... two posts today

X

I've cleaned behind the cooker, well most of the muck and grease is gone . I'll finish it off tomorrow morning. That Cillitbang spray does cut through grease and grime. I think it might have lots of nasty stuff in it

Spoke to Penny for nearly an hour today, Listened mainly talk about the funeral, arrangements and her feelings - very different losing one's mother. There is nothing like it. A strange heavy feeling that is physical. Heavy arms. Waves of heaviness. Existential stuff. Bless. Unimaginable for me. Difficult to know what to say or how to be,

From one thing to another - I realise I've run out of deodorant. All i want is one that DOESN'T contain aluminium and they ALL contain this chemical EXCEPT for one really nice one that I discovered for MEN - and it's from The Body Shop For men, note.. not women Smells lovely too. I shall have to go into town to get it tomorrow. A must have.:yes_

Finally .. a quick glimpse of the Oscars . A bit of a non event this year, I thought. Most of the gowns were lovely apart from the black woman in a white dress that totally covered her big boobs.. horrible .. what was she thinking ?

Post done .. off to bed now. night night Blogland ..sweet dreams

Goodafternoon Blogland ... and it has been a beautiful sunny day- Very spring-like . There's spring in my step today.

Neighbour Elizabeth stopped by around lunchtime to ask if I could help smudge their new flat when they moved in.They move into Astrid's flat while I am away. I get out of carrying boxes up and´down the stairs. Thank you Universe

13:00 I've got a new extrajob . Han's idea for me to help his daughter- in- law study for her driving test.WOT ? Says I ? " You know that I don't drive, don't you Hans "

*hearty laughter *

The theory is in Swedish too. BUT .. blind leading the blind works sometimes.Anything for an old friend. There's usually some reason behind H's schemes.

A. arrived , we had a nice chat over a cup of tea and decided that she would come again tomrrow and Wednesday.She found our session helpful and I think we both learned something. I know one thing for sure - I will never learn to drive in Sweden OR take that test. The theory part is very difficult. Not only do you need to know the highway code, signs and all that but you also need to know parts of the car , the engine and how it works, maintenance and a lot of technical stuff. The multiple choice questions in the workbook are very tricky I tell you ... this was quite an experience for me.

In other news - the washing machine has been repaired so I've booked a laundry time.

AND ....

My new cooker arrives on Wednesday between 11:00 and 12:30 !
*makes note to buy new rubber gloves and sillitbang * needed to shift the grease and gundge behind the cooker ...

TTFN

This sort of thing really gets my goat.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/save-pervez-global-protests-to-save-afghan-student-from-death-sentence-776783.html

An Afghan student faces the death sentence for reading article on women's rights. It's outrageous!

I've signed and I hope you will too

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Savejournalist/ERsMfCBlfpOuAV4eZQA1kHx

The petition was created by Siobhan Qadir and reads:

'We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Ask the
Afghani PM to intervene on behalf of Sayed Perwiz Kambakish.'

Link :

Peace , in all dimensions !
X

I tried to copy and paste the code for this meme once already... no joy ..

Truth is , I don't like Cilantro / Coriander very much
I want to be Basil !!

First persimmon.
Bought 3 the other day and just had one now.
What a delight !

The taste reminds me of something between mango and a ripe fig , but the texture is crisp on the outside and soft on the inside.

I always thought they looked like tomatoes.

It's no use , I'm going to have another one This fruit is wicked - it leaves you wanting more

Night night

Which of these Bob Marley songs are you?

You are Could You Be Loved. You are an independent person with firm beliefs and strong opinions. Even when it seems like the entire world is against you, you keep on going. You may have a rough time about it, but you always stay true to yourself in the end.
Take this quiz!

Quizilla |
Join

| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

Listen... respect mon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUUwCW4ClPo&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYSxy32kDLQ

Have changed my avatar
Have had fun commenting and reading on blogs
Discovered St Polycarp - see
http://nesmose.blog.co.uk/2008/02/23/saint_of_the_day_february~3768510

There seem to be so many saints - at least one for every day.

I've learned tha woodpecker's donät just dine in trees.
Getting to know my friends through reading their 100 facts is a treat.
Ther's nawt as queer as fowk People are so interesting. Everyone ticks differently. Everyone is unique.

I'm glad the sun is shining

I should COULD go out

I love simply enjoying the day .. indoors our out. It's my frame of mind and mood that count.

I did it , esspee

http://esspee.blog.co.uk/

*cough*

Good afternoon , my friend

X

Happy Birthday , ozzzy ! http://oscarswilde.blog.co.uk It's a bright and sunny day here , so I'm sending you sunbeams from this morning and moonbeams from last night.

The moon was glorious last night or rather in the early hours of this morning. I opened the balcony door and there she was , right above me, all and wondrous silvery light. Lots of silvery moonbeans and a soft halo - a bit like this

My friend amaletska http://dreamsblog.blog.co.uk/ wrote in her comment to me today

" OOh, and tomorrow there is Amma Spain group meeting - the results of 2007 program. I'll say hello from you if you don't mind "

We have Amma in common. Dear sweet Amma ! A saint who lives and works in her Ashram in India but also travels around the world giving hugging blessings.Amma is the closest thing to a personification of God that I have a met. Mother God.

" Of course you must say hello to Amma for me " I said , though I doubt she will remember me , it was in 1996 in Stockholm and then again the following year I think.

It was a chance meeting with Michael Ackerman that lead me to Amma. Santorini at sunrise , it was. I was going to Folegandros and Michael to another island.

Michael told me about Amma in the crowded rickety old bus on the way down to the harbour. I scribbled my address on a tiny bit of paper and he sent me the details of Amma's visit in August that year. Michael's letter arrived on my birthday, which I thought was significant too.

I looked him up in August and he gave me two healing sessions that completely cured of my asthma for 6 months ! A miracle. The healing was so powerful that I think I also fell in love with him, I remember writing a long letter to him in India pouring my heart out !!! Michael very kindly wrote back and gently brought me back to earth ! lol

So I this evening I decided to "google" Michael and the fickle finger of fate led me to his website ,

He now appears to have a practice in California , USA . It is a pity that he is so far away , since I would definitely love to have his healing again. The two
sessions I had were , without doubt the most powerful that I've ever experienced.

Read more about Michael and his work here :

http://www.depthhealing.com/testimonials.html

01:45 phone call from NG who is now in Florence

Around lunchtime popped in at Marie's (my hairdresser's ) to put in more blond highlights. She combed them in this time, didn't use the hat . It looks good . I'm blonder now, but with all sorts of colours going on .. very close to the fox fir effect that I'm after

Popped into the shop on the way hoke to get some fruit and eggs.

Landlord came round to inspect the stove. I'm going to get a new cooker and also new house keys as the locks are being changed. We will then get a new code for the front door

Landlord also spoke about major work to be done in the house ; cellar - new laundry room etc and also complete change of plumbing. *gasp * This is planned for a time when most people can be away as for a while we won't have loos and fascilities .HORRORS . I hope it doesn't happen for a while yet. This also means that óour rent can sky rocket when the renovations are complete. This sort of talk always makes me feel nervous.Will I be able to manage financially? " yes of course " ...no worries .. the Universe always provides I have to remind myself

Ok .. my curry's ready , time to eat . TTFN

It's Friday , and nearly 5 , so here are my five

1 What was the last thing you cooked?

Cualiflower and lentil veggie curry

2. What was the last thing you tried on?

A dress I hadn't worn for a few years.

3. What was the last thing you purchased on credit?

Haven't bought anything on credit.

4. What was the last thing you put a postage stamp on?
My VAT report

5. What was the last thing you took a photo of?

A sunset .

Now wasn't that interesting ?

The Next 25 Years in Tech By Dan Tynan, PCWorld
This caught my eye . sounds like real sci fi .

" PCs may disappear from your desk by 2033. But with digital technology showing up everywhere else--including inside your body--computing will only get more personal.

The future ain't what it used to be. In the pre-PC era, futurists predicted huge changes in transportation. By 2008 we would be flitting about in personal jetpacks and taking vacations on the moon. But the communications revolution spurred by personal computers and the Internet wasn't on anyone's radar. "

Not sure I want to be around for this . read more here : clcik on " night night " lol don't know how that happened .. I've never done that before

Night night

I just read Old-Nick's painful tale and it reminded me of the email I received earlier today :

" The accident occurred mainly because I had given in to my wife's wishes to adopt a cute little kitty.

Initially, the new acquisition was no problem.

Then one morning, I was taking my shower after breakfast when I heard my wife, Deb, call out to me from the kitchen.

'Honey! The garbage disposal is dead again. Please come reset it.'

'You know where the button is,' I protested through the shower pitter-patter and steam. 'Reset it yourself!'

'But I'm scared!' she persisted. 'What if it starts going and sucks me in?' There was a meaningful pause and then, 'C'mon, it'll only take you a second.'

So out I came, dripping wet and butt naked, hoping that my silent outraged nudity would make a statement about how I perceived her behavior as extremely cowardly. Sighing loudly, I squatted down and stuck my head under the sink to find the button. It is the last action I remember performing.

It struck without warning, and without any respect to my circumstances. No, it wasn't the hexed disposal, drawing me into its gnashing metal teeth.. It was our new kitty, who discovered the fascinating dangling obj ects she spied hanging between my legs She had been poised around the corner and stalked me as I reached under the sink. And, at the precise moment when I was most vulnerable, she leapt at the toys I unwittingly offered and snagged them with her needle-like claws. I lost all rational thought to control orderly bodily movements, blindly rising at a violent rate of speed, with the full weight of a kitten hanging from my masculine region.

Wild animals are sometimes faced with a 'fight or flight' syndrome. Men, in this predicament, choose only the 'flight' option. I know this from experience I was fleeing straight up into the air when the sink and cabinet bluntly and forcefully impeded my ascent. The impact knocked me out cold.

When I awoke, my wife and the paramedics stood over me. Now there are not many things in this life worse than finding oneself lying on the kitchen floor butt naked in front of a group of 'been-there, done-that' paramedics.

Even worse, having been fully briefed by my wife, the paramedics were all snorting loudly as they tried to conduct their work, all the while trying to suppress their hysterical laughter......and not succeeding.

Somehow I lived through it all. A few days later I finally made it back in to the office, where colleagues tried to coax an explanation out of me about my head injury. I kept silent, claiming it was too painful to talk about, which it was. 'What's the matter?' They all asked, 'Cat got your tongue?'

If they only knew! "

These messages are driving me bananas .. all gobblidigook to me !

Sorry, the " Embed " text didn't work here's the link.

http://www.flixxy.com/hang-gliding-eagle.htm

I wish I could be an eagle for a day. When I was 14 I saw eagles fly high in the sky above the mountains in Delphi , Greece. I bet they helped the Oracle a lot

Grrrr I don't understand these messages

Sometimes , a gal's got do what she has to do.
Sometimes, something happens and I tell myself :

" Just do it "

So .. I made 3 telephone calls I'd been putting off.

One of these was to my landlord who is is coming to inspect the cracked hot plate on my cooker that hasn't been working for about a year. It takes me forever to report things Now the big hotplate is taking forever to heat up , I can put this off no longer. This means of course I need to clean the cooker so that is presentable. I've cleaned a third of the kitchen now and - going to tackle the stove in a minute.

Blog again later

I'm not sure that I will be able to see the lunar eclipse as it's not a very clear sky

Still .. we know that even if she is behind the clouds she will be magical and look something like this.

Night night

Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

I like this one !  

Before this I thought I'd have " To be comtinued "

A friend of mine , Beth , was telling me about her energy work yesterday.
" I can give you some healing " Beth she says " how's tomorrow for you ? "

" Fine with me " is my reply .
I am quite receptive to energies and a good guinea pig as I can give useful feedback.

So this morning I have to pick Beth up at Hemköp as she's lost. We drink tea and then she gives me healing in the blue room.

I'm lying on my back on the couch , eyes closed . I ask if it's ok for me to speak and I'm told it's fine. There is no touching , but as soon as she begins I feel energies moving in my body . I feel as if someone is holding my head and toes. The energy moves up my legs and thighs. It is deeply relaxing. At one point I feel a sharp pain - like senstation on the inside of my right knee, the one that is injured.

I fall into a trance like state. I can hear the clock ticking and sounds around me but I am totally relaxed, hardly needing to breathe .. deep meditative state .. stillness .. even my thoughts are still. It's so pleasant. Then Beth taps me on my shoulder " Are you awake ?"

I snap back in my mind while my body takes longer to wake up.

Amazing

The Shadow of the Wind is a dream date for those who love books.'

Says the review :

" It starts, in 1945, with the introduction of the young narrator, Daniel, to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. Daniel’s father, a dealer of used and rare books in Barcelona, tells the young boy, “When a library disappears, or a bookshop closes down, when a book is consigned to oblivion, those of us who know this place, its guardians, make sure that it gets here.” In the Cemetery, “books that are lost in time, live forever…. Every book you see here has been somebody’s best friend.” Mourning the loss of his mother, Daniel befriends a book he finds there, The Shadow of the Wind, written by a certain Julián Carax.

Entranced by the novel, young Daniel sets out to discover who this Carax was, and what else he wrote. Daniel’s father, the book dealer, has never heard of Carax. Together they consult other dealers. One offers Daniel a considerable sum of money for his copy of The Shadow of the Wind—but won’t say why he prizes it so highly. Daniel, though, refuses to sell the book. "

My friend Beth says it's a magical book

Learned about this from J.P who has decided to do this seminar in London at the end of March. She's succeeded in raising the course fees against all odds and is going to finish off with a couple of days at a luxury hotel to relax and celebrate her birthday. Sounds like a good idea.

http://www.hoffmaninstitute.org/process/negative-love/author.html

The Negative Love Syndrome and 
the Quadrinity Model©
A Path to Personal Freedom and Love
by Bob Hoffman
Robert Hoffman (1921-1997)

Written by Bob Hoffman, this entire booklet offers substantial insights into the principles on which The Hoffman Quadrinity Process is based. It is available in its entirety via web links below, as a PDF download and as a free printed booklet upon request.
Renowned for his intuitive capacities, Bob Hoffman was a gifted and generous man dedicated to awakening people to the awesome power of love that dwells within each of us. He believed that unconditional love was the birthright of every human being. Mr. Hoffman embedded his profound yet elegantly simple theory of the Negative Love Syndrome into a powerful experiential learning modality known as the Hoffman Quadrinity Process.

Hoffman’s basic insight came to him in 1967. For the next five years he collaborated with psychotherapists and psychiatrists to help individuals on a one-to-one basis. In 1972, he and noted psychiatrist Claudio Naranjo, M.D., began presenting Hoffman’s method as a 13 week course in a group setting. He called it the "Fischer-Hoffman Process" in honor of the late Siegfried Fischer, M. D.. Over the next 12 years, the Fisher-Hoffman Process gained a reputation for producing deep and lasting results.

In 1976 he authored Getting Divorced from Mother and Dad, published by E. P. Dutton and Co., Inc. It was later republished under the title No One is to Blame, Freedom from Compulsive Self-Defeating Behavior, available from the Hoffman Institute Foundation.

In 1985 Hoffman reformatted his program into an 8-day residential intensive, renamed it the Hoffman Quadrinity Process, and then initiated an eight year period of inspired development and refinement. Today the Hoffman Quadrinity Process is presented in twelve countries to some 5000 participants each year.

Mr. Hoffman retired from teaching the Process in 1991. He remained active in his work until his death in 1997.

Hmmmmmm

How time flies - it's early midnight.
Trying to collect my thoughts, gather them all up , and fluff up the cushions on the sofa before I go to bed.

I leave for Manchester next week - 28th.

This " 100 facts about me " me that is going around is interesting. What do I want people to know about me ? Who would want to read this list ? Why would I want to do it ? Would I want The Prof to read my list ? Would I be truthful ? would I be creative and lie ? Would it matter ?
Would I care ?

Zen thought of the day " Feel what is going on in the moment "

Want to find out more about Bob Hoffman 's courses and seminars.

Admission to the Maritime Museum in Stockholm is free for pirates during the winter sports holiday.

http://www.sjohistoriska.nu/InEnglish/about.aspx

Only 10:30 and yet I can hardly keep my eyes open.
So , why fight it ?
Off to dreamland - to sleep perchance to dream.
Let me know if anything exciting happens in Blogland, won't you ?

Huggles Night night

Don't do today what can be done tomorrow and learn to know the difference between what can be left and what can't without serious consequences.

Some things , like painting a painting or writing a book can be left. The idea of book or the painting already exists in another reality. It exists in my imagination and is just hanging around waiting to be born. This process is organic and cannot be rushed without serious consequences.

Paying a bill cannot be left without having to pay a fine or worse.

The " baby" needs to gestate. It knows how to do that on its own without any outside interference . When the baby is born ,it is then in need of rational practical , organised help; feeding , washing, clothing etc

I have a project that already exists in another reality and is waiting to be born when conditions are right. This happens in its own time, It cannot be forced. When the time is right the birth process happens quickly and smoothly with the minimum of effort .

Thinking that I must do " A" before I can have " B" is not always so. If we always waited for the ideal conditions things would not get done.

You know that delicious hot and garlicy scent that hits your nostrils as you enter a good Italian restaurant ?

Ah hmmmm .....that's what my flat smells like now while the aftertaste and memory of hot garlic chilli prawns lingers on.

I marinated them in chilli, salt , olive oil garlic and a little tomato pasata and then threw them into a hot cast iron pan. What fun mopping up the garlicy sauce with homemade bread.

MMm orgasmico !

X

Yesterday was A_S's friend's vernissage in the Old Town. We walked  there from Odenplan popping in at shops on the way. It was really icy cold and a huge  contrast  to the sauna - like  heat of the gallery, packed with people. Only tiny thimble size glasses of wine and a few snacks. Not  ideal conditions for appreciating art.  Some of the art was colourful oils and some pale pastels oil on canvas with collage and texture thrown in. Bits of old letters, receipts, lace .. an idea to pinch. I am inspired to go through my souvenirs and make them into a collage.

This is Odenplan - where we started.

It was  freezing cold and A-S. was late so I took a few pics while waiting. The walk to  Gamla Stan  felt like a hundred miles. My knee started to ache.

9:00 A-S bright and chirpy phones and wakes me up. Talks about how embroidery has changed her life. She’s joined a group lead by a wonderful old crone who seems to organize , inspire, motivate and mentor all in one go.

The idea sounds good. Their theme is “ The Sun” and they are all embroidering cushion covers. Each one chooses their own fabric and colour and starts sewing. After a time they change and pass it on to someone else and this has given rise to all manner of feelings and thoughts.

Anyway , it’s now 11 am , I ‘ve showered dressed and had my breakfast . The sun is shining brightly and the roof tops are white with a thin layer of snow.

I’m told that the pollen season has started already.

I'm off into the Old Town , Gamla Stan, to see a Vernissage .

TTFN

Laundry done Involved several trips down into the bowels of the earth , this time . Only one machine working

Had some delicious pasta and red wine afterwards as a reward and crusty homemade bread dipped in extra virgin olive oil as a starter Sounds weird but absolutely delish especially since I don't eat bread that often.

I've now imported a whole load of pics into my mac so I'll be able to show mum when I go over at the end of this month.

Got a text message to say that the David Richo book I ordered has arrived and ready to be picked up at the shop. Will be reading this weekend

Ok back to vino and films

TTFN hope you are all enjoying your Friday evening

Bright and sunny again today . Woke up at 10:00 got up at 10:30
Read Deepak Chopra's " Path to Love " and meditated on a few things.
My dear friend Penny Gave me this 2000 - that's 8 years ago - crikey - and it feels like yesterday !

" You are the only means love has for conquering its opposition: therefore , you are infinitely precious in the eyes of spirit. "

" When you fall in love , you fall for a mirror of your most present needs. "

Time consuming.

Next: Laundry

You represent the best of life - vitality, success, and and truth.
You tend to have a strong, centered, balanced personality.

Inspiration and discovery are your fortes. You are very mentally strong.A talented mind, you tend to excel at maths,( RUBBISH ) philosophy, and music. ( Can relate to most of that )

Your fortune:

As well as you have done in the past, the future is going to be filled with more success.( WOO HOOO !! )

A new creative project is coming your way.( how nice ) Feed it, and it will grow into something huge. ( ah ha ! )

Great riches, recognition, prosperity, or happiness is coming your way. ( YES YES YES !!! .. me likey )

And it's possible that a fantastic vacation, or a new baby, is coming sooner than you think. ( OOOOOO la la )

Or share this Blogthing with a direct link:

http://www.blogthings.com/whattarotcardareyouquiz/

Well .. this is all very nice , except that I KNOW that I am " THE FOOL " of the Tarot .

Still on another level I also know that I am all 22 cards

A brilliant day today; blue skies and sunshine and ventured out for a walk. Th Had to put my hood up and for the first time this winter because of the icy wind and wished I was wearing gloves. Fortunately could nestle them in big pockets, bulging with camera, wallet, mobile phone and keys.

What I saw along the way

Lots of ducks swans and a young swan

It's not easy to see the sun rise as it rises behind our house. First picture was taken 6:59 and the second 8:08 by which time the sun had well and truly risen and shining brilliantly through the trees. Today was lovely . Blue skies and sunshine. One of those rare crisp days.

Your Five Variable Love Profile

Propensity for Monogamy: Your propensity for monogamy is medium. In general, you prefer to have only one love interest. But it's hard for you to stay devoted for too long! There's too much eye candy to keep you from wandering.

Experience Level: Your experience level is high. You've loved, lost, and loved again. You have had a wide range of love experiences. And when the real thing comes along, you know it!

Dominance: Your dominance is low. This doesn't mean you're a doormat, just balanced. You know a relationship is not about getting your way. And you love to give your sweetie a lot of freedom.

Cynicism: Your cynicism is low. You are an eternal optimist when it comes to love and romance. No matter how many times you've been hurt - you're never bitter. You believe in one true love, your perfect soulmate. And if you haven't found true love yet, you know you will soon.

Independence: Your independence is high. You don't need to be in love, and sometimes you don't even want love. Having your own life is very important for you... Even more important than having a relationship.

The Five Variable Love Test
http://www.blogthings.com/thefivevariablelovetest/

8:18 now , but I've been up for over an hour commenting on posts and watching the sunrise . Had to see what all the fuss was about It is actually one of those rare clear blue skies days. The sunrise was bright and golden peachy , too bright for my camera.I took a photo , may post later.

Breakfast now *yawn* mornings aren't my thing
Bless you as you work and play today .

X

A friend sent me this just now. Did you know that your phone has a long ID number ? Amazing what this gadget can do. I don't know about unlocking the car door - could someone else do that as well ?

Here ya go :

Here are four things that can be done in times of grave emergencies. Your mobile phone can actually be a life- saver or an emergency tool for survival. Check out the things that you can do with it:

FIRST Emergency
The Emergency Number worldwide for Mobile is 112. If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile; network and there is an emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly this number 112 can be dialed even if the keypad is locked. Try it out.

Also in Australia, the Australian emergency number 000 can be dialed while your mobile phone keyboard is locked. This is another reason why 000 receives so many false emergen -cy calls!

SECOND Have you locked your keys in the car?
Does your car have remote keyless entry? This may come in handy someday. Good reason to own a cell phone: If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home, call someone at home on their mobile phone from your cell phone.

Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on their end. Your car will unlock. Saves someone from having to drive your keys to you. Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other ?re-mote" for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk).

Editor's Note: It works fine! We tried it out and it unlocked our car over a mobile phone!"

THIRD Hidden Battery Power
Imagine your mobile battery is very low. To activate, press the keys *3370#. Your mobile will restart with this reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery. This reserve will get charged when you charge your mobile next time.

FOURTH How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone?

To check your Mobile phone's serial number, key in the following digits on your phone: * # 0 6 # (star-hash-zero- six-hash) . A 15-digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. When your phone get stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless. You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either. If everybody does this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones.

Not only the above, but also in Australia your stolen phone is added to a "Stolen Mobile Phone" database, so if your phone is found later on it can be returned to you.

What would it be like to be able to do anything on a whim ?
I mean, if money were no object , I could just zoom of to London for a few days and stay at a lovely hotel- a room with a big comfortable bed and a bath , a must.

While I continued this fantasy I remembered the Waldorf hotel in the 80s. Friends and I would meet there for breakfast and enjoy the luxury of the Palm Lounge in peace and quiet before doing Christmas shopping in the mad hectic world outside. Affordable luxury.

I decide to take my daydream into reality and google the Waldorf.

http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/LONWAHI-The-Waldorf-Hilton-London/index.do

Disappointment :L( iT is now The Waldorf Hilton .. WOT ??? Gone is that old charm as the hotel appears to have been revamped with the help of plastic surgery. All modern and posh , but where is the charm ? The ambiance ?? Sad.

Having all the money in the world no longer means a thing. THIS is not what I want. Surely there must be somewhere else in London that still retains the old charm and ambiance and that has not been doctored

Woke up at 4 am with a headache and stiff neck
Build up of tension during the day or the pillow ?
Took Alvadon x 2 and back to sleep .
9:30 still headache so took another two.
Now feeling fine but tired.*yawn*

Dream last night was so enjoyable . Daz meets me as I get off a big wooden ship , a bit like the Wasa 1600s Felt so good to be greeted by him , Daz is now in NewZealand in real life. Felt similar to the time in real life last April when he met me at the airport in Dublin. Felt deeply loved and happy.There was something else in the dream to do with wooden barrels .. vats pf wine ? ru, ? and or marmalade !! you know what dreams are like - don't always make sense.

NG phoned last night from London. I thought he might. One of the things I said to him was " I wonder what I will dream about tonight" Told him about my recurring James Bond dream - it's a recurring dream where I am briefed about my mission and given the gadgets in a briefcase or small suitcase.

Go to :

http://sportsfan.blog.co.uk

http://sportsfan.blog.co.uk

Brilliant--- he's good !

I think this has been around before , but still worth a chuckle

An older lady [ per chance a Crone] gets pulled over for speeding .
>
> Older Woman: Is there a problem, Officer?
>
> Officer: Ma'am, you were speeding ..
>
> Older Woman: Oh, I see.
>
> Officer: Can I see your license please?
>
> Older Woman: I'd give it to you but I don't have one.
>
> Officer: Don't have one?
>
> Older Woman: Lost it, 4 years ago for drunk driving.
>
> Officer: I see...Can I see your vehicle registration papers please .
>
> Older Woman: I can't do that.
>
> Officer: Why not?
>
> Older Woman: I stole this car.
>
> Officer: Stole it?
>
> Older Woman: Yes, and I killed and hacked up the owner.
>
> Officer: You what?
>
> Older Woman: His body parts are in plastic bags in the trunk if you
want
> to see
>
> The Officer looks at the woman and slowly backs away to his car and
calls for back up. Within minutes 5 police cars circle the car. A
senior officer slowly approaches the car, clasping his half drawn gun.
>
> Officer 2: Ma'am, could you step out of your vehicle please! The
woman steps out of her vehicle.
>
> Older woman: Is there a problem sir?
>
> Officer 2: One of my officers told me that you have stolen this car
and murdered the owner.
>
> Older Woman: Murdered the owner?
>
> Officer 2: Yes, could you please open the trunk of your car, please.
>
> The woman opens the trunk, revealing nothing but an empty trunk.
>
> Officer 2: Is this your car, ma'am?
>
> Older Woman: Yes, here are the registration papers.
> The officer is quite stunned.
>
> Officer 2: One of my officers claims that you do not have a driving
> license.
>
> The woman digs into her handbag and pulls out a clutch purse and
hands it to the officer.
>
> The officer examines the license. He looks quite puzzled.
>
> Officer 2: Thank you ma'am, one of my officers told me you didn't
have a license, that you stole this car, and that you murdered and
hacked up the owner.
>
> Older Woman: Bet the liar told you I was speeding, too!!!!
>
>
> Don't Mess With a Crone!

The sun is setting as I type this 16:28 which is BRILLIANT! Our days are getting noticably longer. Wasn't too long ago when it was 14:30 and 15:00.

While researching archetypes and chakras I rediscovered 2 old accounts . One at Myss.co and the other at Live Journal Fun when that happens. I actually remembere my log in name AND password for one but not the other and had to ask for help. Then spent an hour or so customising and changing bits and pieces. Didn't have the heart to delete even though there are only 4 entries from 2004, 2005 and 2006

GJLM meeting was ispiring as usual. L.kept going on about " 2nd chakra issues " which is what took me to www.myss.co . and J is still obessed with A, but seems there is a soul purpose to them being to being together. Sadly G and Jn are splitting up , but are still best friends and soul mates. G is so very close to buying her perfect flat in town. Fingers and toes crossed and prayers sent to the Universe and Angels.

I also ordered David Richo's " HOW TO BE AN ADULT IN RELATIONSHIPS "

see http://www.davericho.com/

How To Be An Adult in Relationships

A Handbook on Psychological and Spiritual Integration

Shambhala, 2000

This book provides ideas and practices that help us as individuals and couples to build intimacy. We learn to address, process, and resolve relationship issues such as fears of abandonment or engulfment, anger, jealousy, infidelity, disillusionment, endings. We learn how to be intelligent about choosing partners and how to handle the phases we go through: romance, struggle, and commitment. We find out how mindfulness can help us be compassionate and no longer held back by the past. We discover the spiritual potential of loving.

In Spanish: Como mantener relaciones estables y duraderas (Amat: Barcelona)

Order from your favorite local bookstore or click here to order online.

So .. armed with all this knowledge I can move into that special intimate relationship that I feel is waiting just around the corner

How do I know this ? Well my Tarot Card yesterday was " The Star of Hope " no less

Hope springs eternal

Meanwhile my favourite Rat is in London and has started to call me again. THe show is obviously not over until the fat lady stops singing

Happy Monday , bloggety friends

My dinner guests last night , Kjell and Pether have both stopped smoking !! It's been just over a month now , they told me and the whole process has gone every so smoothly . Breaking a 20 year habit is not easy. I am so impressed. THey attribute their succcess to Champix " sounds like Champagne ... easy to remember ... " little blue pills

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/53058.php

Apparently they've not had cravings like on previous attampts with patches and various meds. Pether has started to eat fruit and they both say that they are enjoying a heightened sense of smell and taste. Wine went down quite nicely last night. I have a few bottles to recycle at the bottle bank )

May they continue to be non- smokers !

A cloudy day today. A wee titter at piccies sent by Brigitte who lives down under in Oz . They are actually Japanese and part pf an email titled " Only in Japan" There were more , but I can't be bothered posting the rest .

So now , with two chaps coming to dinner tonight, best do some grocery shopping and get some wine in before the Systembolaget closes for the weekend.

We are having potage creme de chouflluer , hot n spicy prawns, and gayatri cake , which is my favourite right now and they haven't had it yet

have a good Saturday , everyone !

Published at February 7, 2008 in news.
Turns out that global storyteller Paulo Coelho (”The Alchemist” and many other bestsellers) pirates his own books online.

“Publishers have a tendency to try to protect the content. It’s a lost battle“, he says. And tells of his own experiences. In 2000, he released on his website the full text of “Stories for parents, children and grandchildren”, which he wrote specifically for the web. In five months, the book was downloaded over 1 million times. “But until today I’ve never got a comment on that book”. Which he explains as follows: often “people download, but don’t read. They download to have the impression to own something that one day they’re going to read. But when people really want to read, they go buy the books”.

Around the same time, “I found a pirated Russian translation of “The Alchemist”, and we were selling 1000 copies a year in Russia, that’s not very impressive, so I said OK, let’s put the pirate edition online for people to download“. In 2001 “it sold 10′000 copies, and everybody was puzzled, and the next year we went over 100′000″. His publisher had not done any particular promotion. “It was, believe it or not, the free-for-download book. People downloaded it, started reading it, liked it, and bought it”, Paulo says. “In the third year we had over 1 million copies, now we’re over 10 million copies in Russia”.''

read more here :

http://www.flux.com/04EFAFFFF00991CB200080006A099/

Have you noticed the groups tab ?

Oh la la .....

*wonders what group to belong to *

A play group, perhaps ?

I might as well move into Blogland permanently.

Well done Blog Team !

X

February 6, 2008
Turn It Around
Laboring Under A Label
We live in a culture that uses labels as a means of understanding the world and the people living in it. As a result, many of us find ourselves laboring under a label that has a negative connotation. Unless we can find a way to see the good in such a label, we may feel burdened by an idea of ourselves that is not accurate. It is important to remember that almost nothing in this world is all good or all bad, and most everything is a complex mixture of gifts and challenges. In addition, different cultures revere certain qualities over others, but this does not mean that these qualities are inherently good or bad. For example, a culture that elevates outgoing behavior will label an introvert in a negative way, calling them antisocial. In truth, the ability to spend time alone is one that most great artists, mystics, and visionaries share. Owning the positive side of this label can lead us deeper into our gifted visions and fertile imaginations.

When we look into the lives of any of the great people in history, we always find that they had quirks and eccentricities that earned them less than ideal labels from the societies in which they lived. Many famous artists and musicians were considered to be isolated loners or disruptive troublemakers, or sometimes both, yet these people altered history and contributed to the world an original vision or advances in our understanding of the universe. If we can remember this as we examine our own selves and the labels people use to describe us, we find that there is a bright side to any characterization.

If you have been labeled, remember that all you have to do to see the positive side is to turn the label around. For example, you may be considered to be overly emotional, and the fact that you are perceived this way may make you feel out of control. But notice, too, the gifts of being able to feel and express your emotions, even in a world that doesn’t always encourage that. You might begin to see yourself as brave and open-hearted enough to stay alive to your feelings. You may also see that there are certain paths and professions in which this is a necessary ability. As you turn your label around, the light of your true nature shines to guide you on your way

For more information visit dailyom.com

This article is printed from DailyOM - Inspirational thoughts for a happy, healthy and fulfilling day.
Register for free at www.dailyom.com

I just signed an important global letter to the US Presidential candidates. The outcome of the next US election will greatly affect the world and I thought you might want to sign this letter too. Here’s the link:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/us_change_course/98.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK

Yesterday, the final candidates for the next President of the United States became clear. They are Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain. The winner will decide whether the nightmare of the Bush foreign policy is reversed or continued for another 4 years.

All around the world, including in the US, people want to see the next President change course. Although only US citizens can vote in the election, we can still have a voice. Global public opinion matters to US citizens -- they know that US respect in the world has plummeted under Bush. That’s why the Avaaz global community has sprung into action. In the next few days, we can influence the candidates as they develop their campaign strategy. Click below to read and endorse the letter to the candidates. And, if we get more than 100,000 signatures, Avaaz will publish it in US newspapers and deliver it personally to the Clinton, Obama and McCain campaigns--sign and forward this email to friends right away:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/us_change_course/98.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK

I think this is a great idea on an important issue, and I hope you'll join me by signing up!

Thanks!

( from Avaaz )

Happy Thursday , everyone.

I've spent the greater part of the morning researching the ego. More about that later but in the meantime , thank you all for your comments and take on the subject, all greatly appreciated.

On a lighter note , I received this from a bloggity friend - spiritual humour, which I thought was Fucking great

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=6D7rWLzloOI

TTFN
xx

Yesterday a friend of mine got upset when a gift was returned.
" That's so rude !" she said and many agreed with her.

Now this friend is a kind and generous soul who gives freely with good intentions. I don't like to see my friends upset but on the other hand I couldn't help feeling that it was a lot of fuss about nothing."What's the big deal? "

" don't take it personally " was my advice, knowing that it is easy to say but more difficult to put into practice.

It got me thinking and reflecting about good manners, being polite and courteous and why we do it .

What are good manners ?
Why do we have them ?
What are bad manners?
How do I react when someone is being ill mannered, in my opinion ? We all have our own opnions.

Everyone will have their own opinion of what is good manners and what isn't.
So what happens when you get it wrong ?

There are cultural differences too. Burping after a meal, I'm told ( are they having me on ? ) is considered good manners in some countries as a sign of appreciation for a good meal Burp in front of the vicar and you will be in disgrace.

I used to get so upset here in Sweden when noone said " excuse me " or " sorry " if they bumped into you or brushed passed. It wasn'tr done in the way I was used to in England . Mind you , things might have changed a bit now, but Swedes still remark how polite the English are BECAUSE they say " sprry " or " excuse me " and " please " and " thank you ".

Surely practising good manners is a way of making comfortable and as pleasant as possible while in relationship with others. Still it is not easy to get it right as the rules keep changing and opinions vary.

I remember on Christmas when my sisters and I clubbed together to but a gift for my mother - something we thought she would like and waited to see her reaction whic was very blunt to say the least

" Oh WHY Have you spent all this on me ?? I DON*T WANT IT ! "

I remember at the time I felt hurt and started to cry and through my tears started to say something on the lines of well we all really tried and wanted to give you something special because we love you and it hurts to have it thrown back like this "

On remembering this , I still feel sad and tearful, when "love" or " giving " is seemingly rejected.

I would like to think that I practice unconditional giving - giving without conditions attached - but in this case , what I am actually saying deep down is

" you'd better like and appreciate this gift and show your appreciation even if you DON'T like it or else I shall be very upset and will cry"

That is also manipulative , isn't it ?

Hmmmmm will stop there

Love doesn't just sit there, like a stone;
it had to be made, like bread, remade all the time, made new.

Ursula Le Guin

"The artificial self is made up of self-centered
thinking,negative feelings and unconscious actions."

Vernon Howard

The answer depends on whom you ask.
There are so many definitions.
What's yours ?

YOUR SUCCESS DEPENDS ON YOUR ENJOYMENT

You'll never achieve real success unless you like
what you're doing.
What you do is more important than how much money
you make.
How you feel about what you do is more important
than what you do.

The more you love what you're doing, the more
successful it will be for you.
Don't set compensation as your goal.
Find the work you like and the compensation will
follow.

You don't pay the price of success, you enjoy the
price of success.

www.thedailyguru.com

Eating Semla on shrove Tuesday is a Swedish custom .
Pancakes later, British custom, Pancake Tuesday

This year ,The Semla of the Year award went to Sundbyberg - which is where I live !!

I took Mac , who appeared to be in a coma , to the docs at Macoteket- the local Mac centre where he was examined by a nice doc man.

I am happy to report that Mac is now out of his coma and being recharged as we speak.

Thank you thank you thank you !!!!

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE
At midnight GMT (7pm EST) on the night of Monday 4th February, The Beatles' song Across the Universe will be the first ever to be beamed directly into space, NASA said.

Join us by listening to the song at the same time, wherever you are:

Feb 4th 03.00pm Anchorage
Feb 4th 04.00pm Los Angeles
Feb 4th 05.00pm Guatemala
Feb 4th 06.00pm Chicago
Feb 4th 07.00pm New York
Feb 4th 07.00pm Montreal
Feb 4th 08.00pm Rio de Janeiro
Feb 4th 11.00pm Reykjavik
Feb 5th 12.00am Liverpool & London
Feb 5th 01.00am Europe
Feb 5th 02.00am Baghdad
Feb 5th 03.00am Moscow
Feb 5th 04.00am Karachi
Feb 5th 05.00am Dhaka
Feb 5th 06.00am Bangkok
Feb 5th 07.00am Shanghai
Feb 5th 08.00am Tokyo
Feb 5th 09.00am Sydney
Feb 5th 10.00am Vladivostok
Feb 5th 11.00am Suva
Feb 5th 12.00am Auckland
Feb 5th 01.00am Kiritimati

The transmission of the song over NASA's Deep Space Network will mark the 40th anniversary of the day the band recorded the song. The song will be aimed at the North Star, Polaris, 431 light years away from Earth, and it will travel across the universe at a speed of 186,000 miles per second, NASA said.

In a message to the space agency, Sir Paul McCartney said: "Amazing! Well done, NASA! Send my love to the aliens. All the best, Paul". Yoko Ono added: "I see this as the beginning of the new age in which we will communicate with billions of planets across the universe."

Fans have been invited to participate in the event by playing the song around the world at midnight GMT on Monday night - the same time it will be transmitted by NASA.

The event will also mark 50 years of NASA, 45 years of the Deep Space Network and 50 years since the founding of Explorer 1, the first US satellite. A NASA spokesman said many of the senior scientists and engineers involved in the project were among The Beatles' biggest fans. Dr Barry Geldzahler, the network's programme executive at Nasa Headquarters in Washington, said: "I've been a Beatles fan for 45 years - as long as the Deep Space Network has been around. What a joy, especially considering that Across the Universe is my personal favourite Beatles song."

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/universe/features/across_universe.html

John Lennon on 'Across The Universe' (1980):
The words stand, luckily, by themselves. They were purely inspirational and were given to me as boom! I don't own it, you know; it came through like that. I don't know where it came from, what meter it's in, and I've sat down and looked at it and said, "Can I write another one with this meter?" It's so interesting: (sings) "Words are flying out like endless rain into a paper cup, they slither while they pass, they slip away across the universe."
Such an extraordinary meter... and I can never repeat it!
It's not a matter of craftsmanship; it wrote itself. It drove me out of bed. I didn't want to write it, I was just slightly irritable and I went downstairs and I couldn't get to sleep until I put it on paper, and then I went to sleep. It's like being possessed; like a psychic or a medium.

Words are flying out like endless rain into a paper cup
They slither while they pass, they slip away across the universe
Pools of sorrow waves of joy are drifting thorough my open mind
Possessing and caressing me

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world

Images of broken light which dance before me like a million eyes
That call me on and on across the universe
Thoughts meander like a restless wind inside a letter box
They tumble blindly as they make their way across the universe

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world

Sounds of laughter shades of life are ringing through my open ears
Exciting and inviting me
Limitless undying love which shines around me like a million suns
It calls me on and on across the universe

Jai guru deva om
Nothing's gonna change my world
Jai guru deva

http://www.IMAGINEPEACE.com

BEAUTIFUL ! OMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM !

First little Mac dying on me .. or hopefully it's only a coma.
Snow, blizzard , slush , wind, doom and gloom outside.

Think I'll do something really brave and go out for a walk round the block anyway. Can only get better , right ? Brain needs an airing

TTFN

LIFE RESPONDS TO YOUR OUTLOOK

The dreams you choose to believe in come to be.
When you feel in your innermost being
that you will achieve what you set out to do,
you open the way for miracles.

Choose to believe something good can happen.
Expecting it to happen energizes your goal
and actually gives it momentum.
What you expect to happen, happens.

If you expect to succeed, you'll succeed.

www.thedailyguru.com

I hate it when Things spin´out of control
I want energies to flow freely around my body and around my life in general

Why is this happening ?
Why has Mac gone blank ?
Nuisance. Frustration. Anger.

Is it something I've I done ?
Switched him on this morning , skype started to load , I left the room and when I returned the screen was black. Thought he was just resting , but no.. no response.

I turn on my loyal PC and the first message I read is from www.the dailyguru.com and it's about accepting change.

"We cannot live the afternoon of life according to the program of life's morning; for what in the morning was true will in evening become a lie." -- C.G. Jung

Life continually evolves. We’re always moving into new experiences, new possibilities. This constant change unsettles the personality, which finds security in stability. But with life always in flux, that security is an illusion. We experience pain by trying to hold on to things that are not solid. Life becomes joyful when we can open to the constant flow and ride freely with it. This requires us to let go of the need to control. We need to learn to trust.

"Can it then be that what we call the ‘self’ is fluid and elastic? It evolves, strikes a different balance with every new breath." -- Wayne Muller

"We’re never the same; notice how you’re called to write something entirely different about a topic you responded to weeks or months ago." -- Patrice Vecchione

Maybe this is the lesson here :ye: to let go of my need to control. Acceptance of what is. frickinbg nuisance though lol

::::::::

Mac has gone blank.

Switched him on, Skype started to load, I left the room . When I returned I found the screen blank and no response . Blank screen. Nothing works
Unplugged the mains – the cooling fan is on .. I can hear the inbuilt cooling fan buzzing , but apart from that no response, I can't even switch it off.

What could be wrong ?
Is it serious ?

Phoned the Prof, no reply.

Oh dear

" Year in the life meme.
by ajnspencer @ 02/02/08 - 13:19:46
Respond to this, ask for a year to write about, and write a post about what you were doing in that year. "

aj was given 1995 by landers , and I was given 1991 by aj

Funny that aj should pick just that year because 1991 was a very memorable and significant year . It was the year of initiations into the serious world of adults. It's when I seriously started to study in " The School of Life "

It was the year of the Gulf War and I started to tune in and pick up on suffering in the World Soul. Before that time I'd not really allowed world events to affect me.

1991 marked the start of my physical and psycho -spiritual transformation , It was an initiation by fire . At least that is how it felt.

It started with back problems in the spring, which I'd never had before and in July developed eczema on my face and chest which later spread to arms , and the insides of my thighs- huge weeping sores and scaly skin that itched and hurt like nobody's business.

Midsummer that year was gorgeous. Some friends and I got together and organised a white tie do at a castle. We had the works and were attended by a staff and caterers who prepared a three course meal. Afterwards there was dancing and a tour of the castle. The magical celebrations continued throughout the night. One friend in particular looked dashing in his tux that he'd bought specially for the occasion. It was to be Ove's last party.

When I returned from England in the middle of July , my face a mass of weeping sores , I was told that Ove was sick .- he had pneumonia and was in hospital. I found him very frail hooked up to tubes and machines. Ove had AIDS , but was not telling anyone. It was his secret. I don't think he ever came out if hospital. The last time I saw Ove was Friday , 13 October 1991 .He died the following Tuesday, aged 39.

I remember that day well. I was having a reflexology treatment. After the treatment I was left to relax for 10 minutes before getting up and had a distinct feeling that someone was sitting on the edge of the couch, I learned later that Ove died that day in the afternoon around the time of my treatment,

I experienced all kinds of treatments that year ; Zone therapy, acupuncture , deep tissue massage , homeopathy, colour therapy, dream therapy,healing and had the dentist remove all the amalgam mercury fillings. All in an effort to stop the itching and the soreness. In fact , each treatment helped but did not fix. Im retrospect I see this as hands on education in a range of alternative treatments and the symptoms were probably the beginning of burnout.

Today I started looking for my diary for 1991 and realised to my disappointment that there wasn't one only a small diary that I used for appointments. I have very few regrets , but I do wish I'd started keeping a journal in 1991. As a result 1991- 1998 are very vague. but 1991 was an unforgettable year; it felt like the loss of innocence in many ways. It was the first time I'd been to a friend's funeral.

How's that for a year , aj ? Good choice !

Still feeling muffled. My Self expression is muffled
It's not always easy to find a word to describe a feeling or a mood, but this word came to me as I was writing my morning pages this morning.

muf·fle 1 (mfl)
tr.v. muf·fled, muf·fling, muf·fles
1. To wrap up, as in a blanket or shawl, for warmth, protection, or secrecy.
2.
a. To wrap or pad in order to deaden the sound: muffled the drums.
b. To deaden (a sound): The sand muffled the hoofbeats.
3. To make vague or obscure: "His message was so muffled by learning and 'artiness'" Walter Blair.
4. To repress; stifle.
n.
1. Something that muffles.
2. A kiln or part of a kiln in which pottery can be fired without being exposed to direct flame.
[Middle English muflen, possibly from Old French mofler, to stuff, from mofle, glove; see muff2.]

Much in this definition is appropriate
The nose spray is not much good. Right nostril seems to be the worst. At least the left one is open .

It's annoying that I can't get on with my clearing of clutter but instead it's " acceptance of what is " that is the menu of the day .

Ha ... isn't life wonderful ?

Today has been a good day

NG phoned , surprise surprise.

Bought nose spray to unblock my congested snotty nose - price I pay for moving dust around and shifting furniture

Champagne lunch with an old friend, H, at Diplomat felt like a reward. Our meetings are always joyful and uplifting. Heartfelt sharing as always. H. is a good friend and guardian angel. I could actually taste the champers and the food.

Evening meal far less glamorous but tasty - pasta with garlic, brocolli , roast almonds, ricotta and parmesan

My life is so strange. Most of the time I am a nun or hermit in my cave and then something happens, I kick up my heals and enjoy the highlights.

*reminds herself to make and hairdresser's appointment *

Happy Imbolc everyone . I'm pff to play with candles and fire

X