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 The simplicity of my day to day. |
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This is where I write my thoughts, feelings and my daily trials, tribulations and happy things
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Tagging Ẃeβ࿚Ẃỉtcĥ  and StephBee  I was speaking to someone today and the term ‘peace of mind’ arose during the conversation. It led me to thinking, what actually is peace of mind and how can it be achieved? It is of course a state of being, yet as simple as it sounds I wonder how many of us actually live with it. I discussed it with my husband to assess how he was feeling, and asked did he have this elusive state of being. We spoke of times when we had found peace which had lasted more than a fleeting moment. It seems there is always something/ somebody which/who disturbs our equilibrium. My extended period of worry free time was when we took our tiny caravan and travelled to the Kimberley Region of our beautiful country. We were both over sixty and retired from the business we’d had for forty years. We both felt we were too young to retire and while we were in Broome in a caravan park we both took a course at the local Technical College. John achieved his Coxwaines certification and I a certification in tourism. We both joined the local gym and picnicked each evening at the beaches. We lived like that for six months until the impending Wet Season sent us back home to Perth. I loved that time, just the two of us, away from family dramas. There were no mobile phones at that time, or at least we hadn’t found the need for one. So not being able to be contacted, day and night, gave us peace. Perhaps it’s the endless phone calls, texts and emails which are robbing us of the all of the very important ‘Peace of Mind?’ |
| Prompt: "We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they're called memories. Some take us forward, they're called dreams." Jeremy Irons In what ways and how do you think memories and dreams are related? This is a great quote from Jeremy Irons, I never thought of memories as time machines before. But yes, that’s just what they are. We can close our eyes and step into the Time Machine and choose which ever past era we wish to visit. Of course the longer one has lived there are more of those eras, or perhaps we might refer to them as decades, to choose from. On first reflection I thought there was no connection between memories and dreams, after all aren’t memories factual? But the mind plays tricks and those memories are probably not trustworthy but have morphed into the stories we tell ourselves. As for dreams, these night time imaginings are uncontrollable and daydreams are simply wishful thinking. |
Tagging Ẃeβ࿚Ẃỉtcĥ and StephBee I often mention in my writing items of news I find interesting in Australia and wonder if the same concerns are happening all over the world. I realise that WdC members mostly come from the USA but there are many who live in various parts of the world and often what’s affecting us, usually is affecting everywhere. What caught my interest this week was the way our children write. Apparently cursive handwriting is not being taught as well or insisted upon as it was years ago. It makes perfect sense to me that children have lost, or never had in the first place, the art of beautiful handwriting. Their constant use of the keyboard precludes them from practicing handwriting. My grandmother, born before the last century had very little schooling. She left at aged 12 yet until the day she died her penmanship was something she was always proud of. Does it matter that people simply print these days when they’re forced to write something other than a list? Are we willing to accept it, that’s what I’d like to know. Perhaps it’s just in Australia that our kids are missing out on being able to write in cursive handwriting. But I read an article today which suggests when we are using cursive writing it gives our brains time to think. Please let’s not lose this, or outsource it to AI. https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/04/30/should-schools-require-children...  |
Tagging Ẃeβ࿚Ẃỉtcĥ and StephBee Entry Nine. Bard’s Hall. It’s winter here in Australia and although we don’t experience the low temperatures and snowy winters as some countries do, after a very hot long summer we do feel the cold. The nighttime temperatures are down around five or six degrees centigrade now. Of course winter means illnesses, we are in the middle of a flu and Covid epidemic at the moment in Perth. My husband and I have had both our flu and Covid boosters during the last few weeks. I know many are sceptical about vaccines, especially the Covid one, but if they are effective in preventing us from getting really sick then I’ll keep on having them. We’re so fortunate in the fact that science keeps coming up with new medicines and cures, yet I still believe one day there’ll be a virus which succeeds in getting the best of us. Covid tried but failed thanks to the vaccine. One way of ensuring one will become sick it seems, is to travel by air. We always wear masks when we fly. We’ll be flying in five weeks when we go to Queensland visit our son and his family. Thankfully it’s not a long flight, but the only direct Perth to Cairns flight is the red-eye—as the midnight flight is called—and flying at that time when I should be in my bed, doesn’t agree with me. But the things you’ll do to see your grandchildren. |
Tagging Ẃeβ࿚Ẃỉtcĥ and StephBee It’s been a sad day today. A dear friend of mine has passed away. She left us, as her mind deteriorated, almost two years ago. The dementia slowly took her away. Now her earthly body has gone. My feelings were mixed when her partner told me yesterday that Yvonne would die today. She had fallen and suffered a brain bleed. Her partner had to make the decision to turn off the oxygen this morning. I was relieved it wasn’t me who was asked to make the decision, but knew in my heart I would have made the same choice. Of course events such as this causes one to reflect on one’s own life and death choices. In Australia we are allowed to choose and request euthanasia, if one has a limited time to live. This law was passed only after years of campaigning on both sides of the debate and a referendum. Many are still against the law but I agree with it. A few weeks ago we made the decision to have our old dog put to sleep after seeing her suffer seizure after seizure. Although we were upset and sad it was so peaceful to die like she did. She was totally relaxed as we fed her treats and gave her kisses. We told her what a lovely friend she’d been to us and thanked her. That is how I wish to leave this earth, not in pain but with my family by my side. So I farewell my friend Yvonne and hope she’s found the peace she deserves. |
| Describe a mid-morning day where you are? Many of us talk about sunrises or sunsets, but what is special during the middle of your morning. This is my favourite part of the day. By 10.30 I have been awake and busy for four hours. Breakfast has been dealt with, dishes washed, kitchen cleaned and beds made. I usually book appointments for in the morning, as early as possibly. So if a dentist’s visit or a doctor’s appointment has been organised it’s usually been done. But no matter where I am it’s coffee time. If my husband has been doing outdoor work, he’ll pop his head in and say; ‘it’s coffee o’clock.’ I think these moments which break up a day are important. I’m not even sure it’s about the coffee, more about giving yourself permission to stop what ever it is you’re doing, just for 20 minutes or so. |
| Use these words in your entry: fog, sea, wind, desolate, seagulls, thunderstorms, and use this quote as well: “There is peace even in the storm” ― Vincent van Gogh. Have fun. ‘There is peace even in the storm isn’t there?’ My husband whispered during a break in the claps of thunder. Our dog, hiding in the cupboard under the stairs would have disagreed, I’m sure. He hates thunderstorms and prefers to go anywhere to avoid hearing the sounds of the wind whistling under the eaves. I looked out of the window to the desolate sea, at the seagulls swooping and screeching on the thermals in the leaden sky, the view limited because of the fog rolling in. Soon there’ll be a white nothingness blanketing our home. Perhaps then I will agree with my husband’s use of Van Gogh’s quote. |
Tagging Ẃeβ࿚Ẃỉtcĥ and StephBee My story
On a much far larger scale than a local group of lady writers, here on WdC when we share our words we are seeking the opinions of many others, most of whom may be better or at least more impartial than ourselves. I love good reviews and are often disappointed with the ones which just ticks the box. I often wonder why I write and feel so strongly about my stories as I’m writing. However I might be in the minority, for when a story, on which I’ve spent many hours composing, editing and putting on display for the scrutiny of others, has done the rounds, I lose interest in it. I do nothing with it or even have a desire to do anything with it. I have hundreds of stories which I’ve been told I should self publish into books of short stories. I suppose the fact I’ve no interest in the publication side, must mean I write purely for personal satisfaction. |
"The Bard's Hall Contest"  Tagging Ẃeβ࿚Ẃỉtcĥ and StephBee Today I decided I’d write an alternative ending to my contest entry into
This morning I spent making cakes for tomorrow’s singing group. Although there is satisfaction in seeing the finished product, my preference would have been to sit and write. The house is full of the smell of baking, which is rather nice. I rarely bake these days as there is just the two of us now and we truly can do without eating cakes and slices. My husband has just returned from his annual driving health assessment. He’s just given me the thumbs up, so he must have passed with flying colours. On attaining the age of eighty it is mandatory to have this every year. The test includes mental acuity, ECG, and sight and hearing. My neighbour is 93 and still drives, although I’ve never been a passenger in her car so I’m unsure of how competent she is. At eighty-one I still like to drive but not at night. I suppose it’s a good thing we oldies get tested but those yearly test come around too quickly for my liking! |
| Prompt: Have fun with these words- subitaneous, reflect, address, wave, fuss, restrict, key, waist, and chronography The subitaneous arrival of my grandaughter from the other side of the country surprised us all. It caused me to reflect on the fact that all the fuss which usually occurs when expecting overnight guests is unnecessary . She just waltzed in and made herself at home. She even has her own key to our address. She gave me a kiss and gave a nonchalant wave to everyone else. It seemed to me as if she’d lost weight and I asked her if she’d been restricting what she had been eating. She said she’d been trying to lose an inch or two off her waist. She had no need to of course she has a wonderful figure and is really smart. I asked her what chronography meant but she had no idea. |
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