And Another Thing

Why is it that those about to spread salacious information often begin with the statement, 'I'm not one to gossip, but . . . '?

Taking Action

There is so much going on in the World - locally, nationally, globally - that it is certain some things will not be to your liking.

This is definitely the case for me.  There are lots of things that happen that I have a strong negative response to that I feel helpless to stop, e.g. war. 

However, there are some that I do feel able to make a positive stand against, e.g. local council plans to build large developments on prime farmland; AgroChemical companies that are trying to make farmers worldwide dependant on their GM seeds; advertising; Nestle; the way disabled people are treated - and the list goes on.

Why am I unhappy about these things?

Many of the activities, occurrences or actions that I have listed are being done in the name of profit, not improvement.

GMOs, e.g., wheat or corn seeds, concern me for many reasons, here are some of them: adverse effects on wildlife; increased crop yield is unproven as being an improvement on 'normal' seeds; growing them does seem to involve using one heck of a lot of chemicals - which I would have thought unnecessary, given their alleged laboratory-created 'toughness'; the need for farmers to buy seed each year, rather than being able to save seed from their crops (some GM seeds are infertile to prevent farmers from being able to do this) and the lack of proper testing on the end product to ensure it truly is safe for those who consume it.

I am not against hybridisation improvement of plants (see information on Gregor Mendel http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/374739/Gregor-Mendel) as this does not involve introducing changes at a genetic level.

By UK based artist Mobstr

Advertising is insidious and seems to have crept into almost every corner of our lives - on TV, online, via text messages on mobile phones, posters everywhere, magazines, newspapers, in supermarkets and on public transport. Apart from anything else, so many of these adverts contain erroneous information and most are aspirational in form. As we live in a world where resources are becoming stretched and finances are often limited, is consumption really the message that should be being pushed across?



How do I take action?

I have joined a couple of active anti-GM Facebook groups and have signed some petitions. I am hoping to be in a position to join the next March Against Monsanto in the Spring, but even if I cannot it won't stop me from writing letters to my MP, researching information on the subject, sharing knowledge and taking part in responses to GM Trial reports (where possible). I also only buy organic dairy products.

I have stopped watching adverts on TV - which is quite easy, especially when you can pause television programmes as they are aired, or record them and then fast forward through the ads. In the cinema I don't look at the screen (!) and in magazines, newspapers, online etc. I just do my best not to see the picture/read the text. It can be hard, especially online, as advertisements are meant to be eye-catching - I just do my best!

Thoughts from the Shower #2

Whenever change is proposed to a system, whether a controlled one or a widely diverse one, it always attracts strong feelings which can be negative, positive or even a bit of both.

However, change for change's sake is never a good idea and fiddling with something that isn't broken is usually considered foolish, at best.

The worst kind of change (or changes), in my mind, is that proposed by a person/people or body of people (whether elected or unelected) who have little or no knowledge or understanding of the system that they intend to fiddle with.

What is it that drives this desire to prod and poke unnecessarily?

Time for a Change? #2

Much to my great surprise in the last week I have managed to spend a decent amount of time on activities that I wanted to do for myself - quite something given that I have four children and Home Educate the youngest two! 

So, following on from my Time for a Change post of the 11th January 2015, I thought I would share what I have achieved so far.

I have spent some time crafting and have learnt to knit and am currently working on my first project, a pair of wrist warmers. I will post a photo of them when I complete them - hopefully in the next few days.

In Astronomy I am following a course called In the Night Sky : Orion via The Open University's Future Learn arm. I am finding it very informative and useful, given that Comet Lovejoy is passing close to Orion at present. Here is the link if you think you might be interested in joining in: website https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/orion

December and I have managed to spot Comet Lovejoy with a pair of binoculars and the guidance of a map supplied by Southdowns Planetarium.

I have not had time to focus on my foreign language skills this week and will probably leave it until February now, as I feel the knitting and astronomy are going to take all of my spare time up.

Have any of you made changes that you would like to share with me? If so, I look forward to hearing what you have achieved.

Thoughts from the Shower

How many people, whilst showering, have all sorts of amazing thoughts and ideas - only for them to melt away on stepping out of the cubicle?

I am going to endeavour to share my own shower philosophies over an ongoing series of occasional posts - perhaps you, who are reading this, would share your own with me?

So, here is my first one:

I often hear the saying, 'You can't take it with you', in reference to wealth and possession and in particular to people who are rich and are perceived to either be mean or grabbing more wealth/power.

It occurs to me that, whilst this statement is true, these people would probably respond that they are aware of this and are planning on passing their wealth/power/possessions on to their children/other relatives (or maybe a lucky charity!).

So, does this negate the saying or does it tell you more about the person using it - perhaps that they are jealous or envious in thought? If this is the case, which is worse - possessing wealth or being jealous of those that possess it?

Comments and shares welcome. Thank you.

Epiphany

In the picture you can see Mary and Joseph standing each side of the manger and the three Wise Men paying homage. I made this crib when I was 5 or 6 years old and had completely forgotten about it! This was my second most favourite Christmas gift of 2014. My Father has been going through old photographic slides and discovered this picture from about 40 years ago and, without saying anything to me, had it printed and then mounted it in the card you can see surrounding it and gave it to me in an envelope to be opened on Christmas Day.

Above is a photograph I took on Christmas Eve of the Crib at our local church, which I thought I would share as I feel it is beautiful in it's simplicity.

Waiting

Waiting is something that we all have to do at some point in our lives and I have mixed responses to having to wait, much like most other people, I expect.

When I have had to have medical tests/examinations for a condition or illness not yet determined, I have got into a terrible state of anxiety whilst awaiting the results, with all sorts of possible outcomes running unbidden through my mind. 

The worst kind of waiting though has to be that which you endure when a loved one or close friend is in an accident or taken suddenly ill and you don't know what the outcome is, or will be.

At times like the above the support of your partner, or a good friend, is invaluable to help you get through what can seem like an interminable period of uncertainty.

However, at Christmas and on my birthday I am quite good at waiting, partly because it extends the sense of anticipation in a positive way and partly because wrapped gifts are a real object of excited curiosity - trying to figure out the contents is at least half the fun.

Time for a Change?

Time has been flying by here, whilst I don't feel that I have actually been doing very much, mainly because I am (hopefully) recovering from being ill over Christmas and New Year.

It occurs to me that whilst people talk a lot about what would happen if someone invented a Time Machine, we all tend to forget that we are already on one, though only travelling one way. The general consensus seems to be that having a Time Machine would somehow make life easier, though there is a wealth of evidence in movies and literature that shows the opposite is the case.

We all look so far ahead in time - having to be somewhere by a certain time; an event happening at a fixed time; deadlines for work, etc., that we often forget to be present in the time we are currently in and thereby miss it.

So many people talk about not having enough time to do what they need to do and then procrastinate by spending time on Social Media, for example (I know I am guilty of this myself!).

Perhaps we all need to stop, if only for a moment, review what is important to us and try to reduce the irrelevant or time wasting activities so that we can spend more time on what we enjoy, whatever that may be.

For me, it will be learning a foreign language; improving my knowledge of astronomy and being more creative.

Dark Thoughts

In the darkness can be found a spark of light. Many forget that the reverse is also true - in the light can be found a speck of darkness.

One cannot be fully understood without the other, much like only truly being able to appreciate a happy moment because of the knowledge of past sadness.

These things all make good times more precious and mean that we hold them close to ward off the dark, mean times which always seem to loom so much larger in January immediately after all the bright, shiny jollities of the Christmas period.

Keeping a loved one, whether a partner or a friend, in your confidance and knowing that you are supported is a huge boost, though if you have the ability to travel to a hot, sunny location for a little sun worship that is always helpful!

Keep a little light in your soul and let it be kindled by the slowly returning Sun. 

Enjoy the vagaries of the wintry weather, sure in the knowledge that bleak landscapes will soon take on a fresh, green mantle and the land will warm again.

1st January 2015

Today dawned pinkish grey, windy and soggy.

Unlike the last week, where we have had beautiful clear, bright, hoar frosted awakenings.

It's difficult to choose between the two, as the soggy day is warmer but the frozen one more beautiful and seasonal, though at least I can dispense with my thermals on the wet days!

Happy New Year everyone.