How do you express your gratitude?

To express gratitude in life is to show one’s thankfulness for any morsel of kindness. I express mine often with a smile 😊 because I know that smile can travel many miles as I explained in a poem I wrote

There are many things I do from thank you to buying small gifts and cards, to being just one call away. But a smile can convey more than words at times.

There is another way of course simply say “Thank you”

Take care

What are you most worried about for the future?

Hello my dearest readers, no I am not being blasé with the title to this piece. I had thought long and hard, well 15 minutes to be precise and all I heard was the words

‘Don’t worry, about a thing, cause everything little thing’s gonna be alright’

No I wasn’t have some sort of episode it was playing on my playlist and I must have zoned in at that point. That then got me to thinking along a different route, I don’t look to the future in a way to worry about anything because what will be will be. I have in the past worried myself into a frazzled ball of fried noodles about, wars, economy, ecological disasters, humanity, my family, next week, global warming, heating my home, my disability, and in general everything there is that I can worry about for the future.

One day a light just flicked on or off I have no idea which and the worry stopped, because worry is stress and stress is added pressure none of us need, plus I don’t like writing this but it has to be said, stress is a killer. So now I don’t worry what the future holds I take life day by day. I do everything I can to be conscientious to the planet within my ability.

I hope this make sense to you. I am just saying I’m done with the worrying about what could be, or even what was, but maybe being more conscious in the NOW is the way forward because it ends most worries immediately.

Except for was that curry too spicy 🌶️ ‘last night’ and is the bathroom empty

Am I writing this but really it’s another form of ‘talking to myself’

I need to finish reading this book today just incase‘tomorrow never comes’

Oh and all the little phrases in bold are also song titles, seeing as it was the song Three Little Birds sung by Bob Marley that gave me the title for this post

Don’t worry, about a thing
‘Cause every little thing, gonna be all right
Singin’, don’t worry, about a thing
‘Cause every little thing, gonna be all right

Rise up this mornin’
Smile with the risin’ sun
Three little birds
Pitched by my doorstep
Singin’ sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true
Sayin’, “This is my message to you, whoo-hoo”

Have you ever had surgery? What for?

Now I don’t mind sharing my life because misery loves misery, or to put it another way a problem shared is a problem halved. But wow what can be learnt about a multitude of caesarean sections, an ample amount of appendicitis’s, and hernia’s herniated or otherwise by the 1000s. Oh not forgetting the toenails, teeth, cysts, and stents. I am in no way belittling any operation but if you want to get the best out of people make the daily prompt interesting, thought provoking, imaginative and just that little bit different. Really guys with all the topics in the world and all the topics that stem from those topics, wow. Then the imaginative and fantastical and the universe and beyond , what about pushing and helping develop minds and ideas.

But I will answer the question because I am not so rude, yes I have had surgery, I have no idea how many times I have had a general anaesthetic nor can I give you a number on the local anaesthetics. All I can say is I have had my fair share of the knife and part of someone else’s as well.

What for? A range of reasons but that I do believe is going a little too personal for a first time date, wait until we have been dating for a while and are thinking of a future. Then we can swap scar stories and if you beat me all I can say is well done my friend …. Adiós mi amigos.. till the next time

What are your daily habits?

I am not a creature of habit, I no longer have a set pattern to my day. My routine in life many years ago thanks to a violent thug of a now ex husband.

As long as I wake up every morning I give thanks for another day. I remind myself how lucky I am to be be here and to try to focus on the positive parts of my life. That whatever happens, happens, just let all the crappy things pass on by. I wriggle my toes( oh I do so) to make sure my feet still hear my brain or that they haven’t fallen off in the night. After all that I inch my way too sitting position. So I guess that is a habit shall we call it numero uno.

My day falls into a whirl of activities just no order one day get up got to bathroom, all the necessities then let the dogs out

Next day let the dogs out, feed them. Use the downstairs toilet. Moan how tired I am. Stairlift back upstairs, bathroom wash, teeth, back to bedroom to find dogs asleep so I crash out as well

Or worst case scenario wake up to dogs barking bleary eyed I see a person in my doorway, the big dog is pleased to see her. Oh damn it’s my carer I have overslept another none routine/habit forming done

Conclusion I don’t think my brain is ready for forming habits of any kind at this moment. My mind needs to be free of constraints to be free of time and everything that is habit forming . So as long as I wake every morning and am always thankful for another day that I am breathing for me that’s jobs a good un,

Oh and not forgetting my toes still wiggling. When they no longer wriggle, things change, it will be wheelchair during waking hours and then bed, crutches will be redundant. Oh look that will become a habit 🤔😎 not one I want be forming anytime soon, part time is bad enough from the old active me.

By the way I woke up this morning and my toes wriggled, so that makes today a good day no it makes it a brilliant day. ✅✅✅😎😎😎

Are there things you try to practice daily to live a more sustainable lifestyle?

I do try to make changes in my life to lead a more sustainable lifestyle sometimes I succeed and a lot of the good intentions are lying dead upon the ground. But the best bit about that the seeds of hope that were within those fallen intentions will grow and bear fruit again someday.

I love my physical books, but they are all second or third hand as far as my brain is concerned at least they are not going to landfill. Plus I do have a kindle for anything new. I have to say don’t forget writers/authors also have a right to make money and books are something to be appreciated a world without books is a scary thought

I recycle ♻️ as much as I can even at the tip it all goes into section, not just general waste

Led light bulbs. Lights out when you leave a room. Oven used if it’s full mini oven for small portion . All that sort of things

Now I don’t drive due to health so bonus to me, no car that is good and manual wheelchair ran by people power

My clothes, I have too many I am told I guess that goes back to the days when I hardly had any and I have just come out of a phase of making sure I never get like that again. My friend and I clothes swap so that’s my way of recycling and I do wear until most things die a natural death.

I could live a much more substantial life but at the moment I am finding it tough enough to get through every day, without the added pressure of how wasteful I can be, how un ethically sourced my clothes are,that my food is not organic or more plant based. I do try to grow a few vegetables 🥕 sometimes with success and sometimes not. Not because it’s hard to do but because my health lets me down

Most of my home is secondhand or hand me downs and I have learnt the learnt the old adage make do and mend. I have had trouble with a hoarding issue because I couldn’t stand to see good things thrown to scrap, but I’m over that now. It’s a difficult thing when you can’t stand to see good things thrown away and you know you can repurpose and maybe sell on, in the meantime the house takes on the appearance of a scrap pile so much for me trying to do something good for the environment.

In the process of my house being sorted my shed being turned into a workshop and art room and I have been promised nothing will be scrapped in the remodelling of this.

So here you have my troubled road to living a substantial life

What’s the most delicious thing you’ve ever eaten?

Wow where do I start in a world full of delightful delicacies, where each mouthful can bring new wonders of tasty mouthy tingling treats or the odd disappointment.

I can’t pick one so here goes. Home baked bread is a taste of childhood, without the bad memories. Warm not hot cheese and onion and cucumber sandwiches remind me of hay making down the the fields with dad as a kid. Roast dinner again echoes of my dad cooking for us kids and the best dinners ever

Miller & Carter the ultimate best 3 course meal I have ever had, I can remember every taste of every mouthful, it was so good we have been 3 times just to make sure it was the same each time and not a fluke. This is in the UK in a place called Bromsgrove and all I can say is it was a very good contender to making love, actually it pipped the post , as we had no dishes to clear away

So there you have it memories of childhood and seductive food that is my take on the most delicious things I have ever eaten.

If you were forced to wear one outfit over and over again, what would it be?

Ok one outfit that I can wear over and over again, but for how long? A month? A season? A year? Or till it falls apart into rags? And what then do I get to choose a new outfit?

My first thought was well let’s go back to basics here and I will choose my birthday suit apart from the odd scar it fits perfectly I can clean it very simply and don’t need to change it if I put on weight or lose weight. But it’s not a pretty sight even for me so let’s move on from the naturalist style.

Ok this was difficult, I have spent the morning and afternoon pondering over this and my final answer is I’m not sure. Oh come on it’s not easy

I am torn between my comfy to the knee nightie loose style with little cap sleeves. It is the most comfortable piece of clothing I have ever worn and just to be sure I went and bought another 3. So that is a strong contender and re bra well not bothered either way as I reckon I could rock this little number in most places

Failing the nightie it would have to be a little red dress with snag tights and a red cardigan/jacket that way in summer I can wear the dress no tights etc, in cooler times well say no more perfect outfit. Why red because I think it suits me, and this dress I tend to wear a lot because it’s comfy looks dressy, but not too dressy.

Ok three options rule out

No1 because I would be done for disturbing the peace.

No 2 nice idea to be forever in sleepwear but even I couldn’t be so lazy as to wear my nightwear all the time. So that means

No3 idea is probably the best option.

After saying all that it has made me realise I have far to much choice and need to cut down my wardrobe by half. Less clutter Clearer mind.

Well little red dress you are safe ….. for now ……. Well who knows what else is in my never ending wardrobe.

How important is spirituality in your life?

Short or long version?, ok short first.

Very important

Now the longer version. Enjoy

I never gave this subject much thought until maybe 15 yrs ago I prayed for an answer to a problem in my life. Now I was bought up in strict C of E home, church on Sunday, and any other notable holy days. Into the church choir, at the time was the youngest female to be confirmed in the diocese oh it was shall we say by the book 📖. The book being the bible, prayers on our knees every night by our bedside and before meals, how wholesome. What a lie we lived , my dad was a good honest Christian man, my mother draw your own conclusions, let’s just say I decided that if a god could allow a good man like dad to live like he was then screw this I am no longer sending prayers to this weird cruel thing that people pray to. I stopped praying.

Then 15 years ago I didn’t know what to do I tried to pray but I just couldn’t so I asked if anyone could hear me just a little guidance please. My mind went so calm and I felt at peace for the first time in years, I couldn’t explain. It sort of made me sit back and look at this problem with a calm open mind and see which path I should take.

So after this little incident I looked into what I had felt and come to the conclusion it was a moment of clarity helped by spirit guides on further delving I came into this world of spirituality and so many paths and meanings to it. Spirituality to me is a a feeling or sense that there is something greater than ME. I happily acknowledge that now in my head, I am at peace, not all my questions are answered, but the sense of calm I get from this is amazing . It’s a combination of seeing the world differently, understanding life in a way I was never taught, respecting not just people but nature our home. I’m not saying oh look I’m a perfect human because of this, I’m not. But I appreciate things so much more than I did years ago and I appreciate the fact that you may have read this far if you have big hug for you

To be honest I have based my thoughts on the following ;

1. Respect for those that have walked before me… Be they my elders or deceased
2. .Start right here, where you are now.
3. Be at one with your surroundings, create a calm peaceful environment . …
4. .You cannot follow in someone else’s footsteps create your own path … …
5. There is no right or wrong way of thinking, live true to yourself and yes to god or to Mother Nature if that is who you so wish. But don’t be drawn into thinking you are wrong and everyone else is right.

A

How do you practice self-care?

Me Time not self care is how I see it. I think it’s second nature to try to give yourself some me time and as you get older it becomes easier. What I mean is not massages and the gym and health foods although brilliant is you can afford to.

My Me Time is making a peaceful environment for my mind, body and well everything.

My Mind has to be occupied so I read and write, I find ways to keep my mind active and learning as much as I can. Me Time

My Mental State I try to make sure I have someone to talk to, someone I trust, in this day and age talking has became a forgotten skill and that is sad. Me Time

My Body I try to eat healthy but it doesn’t always work that way, but the intention is there. Exercise is a subject for Me that is difficult to manage. I am a disabled lady and this was caused through domestic violence. Movement is difficult so exercise of the body is limited to toes, ankles, stretch the legs all while sitting down. Neck and arms flex but not while holding the crutches 🩼 otherwise it will be a trip to A&E. Just do what I can do Me Time.

To Sum up Me Time

1. Meditation

2. Enjoy Life

3. Talk More

4. I can do this

5. Mindfulness

6. Energy needed from a healthy diet Me Time

?? How do you see it what do you think? This is not meant to be a selfish approach but if I said I was off for some self care my son would be what on earth!!! Because I say I need some me time, I get peace and quiet and no one dares disturb me 😂❤️

Which food, when you eat it, instantly transports you to childhood?

What food transports me back to childhood I give you four.oh dear, not all food contains good memories. Are you ready?

1. Roast Dinner UK 🇬🇧 old fashioned British style roast, not my mothers cooking but my step fathers. Mother walked out when I was about 13 so my step dad who was a farmer not a cook, tried his hand at the Sunday roast. Please dear friends remember not only was he traumatised that his wife was gone but he had his two young step daughters and his 6yr old son to care for. I digress. So all was going well with my help the meat and roast potatoes were about cooked, and the vegetables were slid to the side of the old Rayburn (like an aga but smaller). Now came the gravy, now there wasn’t these gravy granules then we had proper gravy as some like to say. Meat juices, flour, oxo cubes, vegetable water and maybe a bit of gravy browning. None of us knew the quantities so in the pan it all went and it was the first time I have ever had a slice of gravy, but it was tasty. Best Sunday Roast ever from there dad got better till his gravy was just right. I think that’s where my love of a roast dinner came from.

2. Lamb . I try it every now and then and it takes me right back to being a kid and saying I had finished and being told to eat everything on my plate . And as time went on I had tried but when you are so full you gag that was me then. So the plate was in front of me, congealing fat globules growing around the meat, and I remember crying as I was told I would get it for breakfast and evening meal for the next week. I tried but I heaved and was sent to bed. Yes it was given to me for breakfast and placed there in front of me, cold congealed lamb and cabbage with a tiny amount of potatoe on last night’s dinner plate. I went to school hungry, thank goodness for school dinners back then. That night mum served up our food and everyone recieved plate and mine came back to haunt me she had kept that plated remains of the congealed fatty lamb and i sobbed. My step-dad put an end to this fiasco. Needless to say lamb and I do not have a good relationship, one bite and I am that little girl crying again

3. Homemade cakes 🍰 ie melting moments, rock cakes, Victoria sponge cake, transported back to my Auntie Babs kitchen, she taught me to Cook to crystallise flowers for cakes and so much more

4. Strawberries 🍓 straight back to Auntie Babs garden, sat with a huge glass of homemade lemonade and a dish full of summer fruits and ice cream. Mine was always Strawberries and Raspberries with a sprig of mint on top. Wow would have been from the age of about 10 onwards I suppose