I recently joined the 21st Century by joining Facebook, I am still getting to grips with all it can offer (and what to avoid!) but today I joined a few fan groups.
On the Amnesty page someone had posted the following that I remember affecting me deeply when I first read it, which was when I was doing Theatre Studies A-levels (about 3 million years ago!). It still has that same power today.
When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;I wasn't a Jew.
When they came for me...
there was no one left to speak out.
Bertolt Brecht
Sunday, 26 October 2008
Monday, 20 October 2008
Time Management
Oh how I wish I had some! I have a pile of important things to get on and do this morning and yet, here I am, blogging rather than getting on with them, why is that? At least one of things has gone from mildly important to really rather urgent and yet still, here I am, blogging!
The therapist in me says its all a bit of a Water issue (in the 5 element model) I sit here and plan and decide and know what needs to be done, but lack the oomph to actually do it, my Kidney Yang energy must be low, leaving me short of the required oomph to carry out my planned activities. So what to do? Some Chi Kung to get the Chi flowing would be good, maybe coupled with a couple of moving activities (put a wash on, empty the dishwasher) may give me the boost I need, so off I go to try and boost my Kidney Yang energy, wish me luck
Therapist, diagnose and sort thyself out :-)
x x
The therapist in me says its all a bit of a Water issue (in the 5 element model) I sit here and plan and decide and know what needs to be done, but lack the oomph to actually do it, my Kidney Yang energy must be low, leaving me short of the required oomph to carry out my planned activities. So what to do? Some Chi Kung to get the Chi flowing would be good, maybe coupled with a couple of moving activities (put a wash on, empty the dishwasher) may give me the boost I need, so off I go to try and boost my Kidney Yang energy, wish me luck
Therapist, diagnose and sort thyself out :-)
x x
Monday, 22 September 2008
That'll teach me....
I am the first to say we should listen to our bodies, treat them with respect, if we learn how to listen, our bodies will tell us everything we need to know to look after them properly. Well, finally I am starting to heed my own wise words(!)
I know that refined sugar is not good for our systems, and if we overload with sugar, the body struggles to deal with it. I succumbed at lunchtime to way more sugar than I should (OK 2 toffee filled waffles, I know, I know!), plus a coffee (I rarely have caffeine) and have felt jittery and sick for the last 5 hours, so finally the lesson has hit home. When I have a hard morning and need a lunchtime pick-me-up, dried fruit, herbal tea, and possibly one or two small squares of good quality plain chocolate is the way forward.
Blimey, you don't think I actually learnt something today do you?
x x
I know that refined sugar is not good for our systems, and if we overload with sugar, the body struggles to deal with it. I succumbed at lunchtime to way more sugar than I should (OK 2 toffee filled waffles, I know, I know!), plus a coffee (I rarely have caffeine) and have felt jittery and sick for the last 5 hours, so finally the lesson has hit home. When I have a hard morning and need a lunchtime pick-me-up, dried fruit, herbal tea, and possibly one or two small squares of good quality plain chocolate is the way forward.
Blimey, you don't think I actually learnt something today do you?
x x
Sunday, 21 September 2008
we're all going on a .... sing along please!
Yup, Dear Reader, it's true, I am now going to Greece for my week of lying on a beach, hurrah and hurumble!
It's been an amazing weekend, yesterday was the phase 1 launch of Plastic Bag Free Chesham, the weather was amazing and the whole event was really fun and successful. Then I log on this morning to a message on Facebook (get me, how young and trendy am I?!) to say the friends I was holidaying with have managed to re-book, so off I trundled to the Thomas Cook website and booked the same holiday, I still can't quite believe it!
But if any potential house-breakers are reading this, the house will not be empty as I am leaving Mr Old Nonsense at home to guard the ancestral pile, hopefully also to clean and tidy it, well, a girl can dream.........
x x
It's been an amazing weekend, yesterday was the phase 1 launch of Plastic Bag Free Chesham, the weather was amazing and the whole event was really fun and successful. Then I log on this morning to a message on Facebook (get me, how young and trendy am I?!) to say the friends I was holidaying with have managed to re-book, so off I trundled to the Thomas Cook website and booked the same holiday, I still can't quite believe it!
But if any potential house-breakers are reading this, the house will not be empty as I am leaving Mr Old Nonsense at home to guard the ancestral pile, hopefully also to clean and tidy it, well, a girl can dream.........
x x
Saturday, 13 September 2008
Insomnia
Morning Dear Reader,
Here I am at 6.20, not able to get back to sleep, so thought I'd pop downstairs and fill the time more usefully!
It's been a funny old 24 hours. This time yesterday (as I was still asleep then) I knew I was going to Greece for a week of relaxation at the end of the month. By 9am I knew I probably wasn't going anywhere, as my flights were on an XL Airlines flight and by mid-afternoon I was resigned to the fact that I would not be going anywhere near lovely Stoupa, as no other method of getting there had been found.
So, as you can imagine I was feeling pretty hacked-off, not about the money, but about losing my one bit of sunshine before the autumn and winter set in, but then I received an email from a friend who lives just north of Houston, Texas. As I type this she, her husband and their drugged-up dog (he hates thunder) are taking shelter for up to 12 hours in their walk-in wardrobe, with canned food, bottled water, torches, important documentation and any precious photos etc, all in a waterproof box, as hurricane Ike is due to hit them anytime soon.
Suddenly a missed holiday is brought sharply into perspective.
x x
Here I am at 6.20, not able to get back to sleep, so thought I'd pop downstairs and fill the time more usefully!
It's been a funny old 24 hours. This time yesterday (as I was still asleep then) I knew I was going to Greece for a week of relaxation at the end of the month. By 9am I knew I probably wasn't going anywhere, as my flights were on an XL Airlines flight and by mid-afternoon I was resigned to the fact that I would not be going anywhere near lovely Stoupa, as no other method of getting there had been found.
So, as you can imagine I was feeling pretty hacked-off, not about the money, but about losing my one bit of sunshine before the autumn and winter set in, but then I received an email from a friend who lives just north of Houston, Texas. As I type this she, her husband and their drugged-up dog (he hates thunder) are taking shelter for up to 12 hours in their walk-in wardrobe, with canned food, bottled water, torches, important documentation and any precious photos etc, all in a waterproof box, as hurricane Ike is due to hit them anytime soon.
Suddenly a missed holiday is brought sharply into perspective.
x x
Monday, 8 September 2008
Timing and other Universe-related fun and games
I spent the afternoon sitting in Wellspring Clinic (details on my website, book now to avoid disappointment!) waiting for an onslaught of clients and using the time usefully, mulling over a few bits and pieces that have been knocking around my head.
Firstly Tai Chi, I have been going to classes for a little over 3 years and when the summer break finished last week, I didn't know whether I wanted to go back. So there I was mulling, writing notes, trying to sort out how I feel about Tai Chi, me, my Chi, what I want out of a class, what I am actually getting out of the class etc etc and not getting anywhere, frankly. I get home and there is an email in my inbox from a Shiatsu-friend inviting me to weekly Qigong classes. This may work better for me, as the mix of people in the class sounds good and it also sounds like they intend to foster a supportive and friendly group dynamic, which really is just what I need.
Only one problem left, what to do about existing class, don't want to burn my boats, nor do I want to string along, a carefully worded email should do it, I hope!
As some point soon I will be posting about my kinesiology sessions, as they have been amazing and rather life changing, I just need to get some more mulling out of the way......
x
Firstly Tai Chi, I have been going to classes for a little over 3 years and when the summer break finished last week, I didn't know whether I wanted to go back. So there I was mulling, writing notes, trying to sort out how I feel about Tai Chi, me, my Chi, what I want out of a class, what I am actually getting out of the class etc etc and not getting anywhere, frankly. I get home and there is an email in my inbox from a Shiatsu-friend inviting me to weekly Qigong classes. This may work better for me, as the mix of people in the class sounds good and it also sounds like they intend to foster a supportive and friendly group dynamic, which really is just what I need.
Only one problem left, what to do about existing class, don't want to burn my boats, nor do I want to string along, a carefully worded email should do it, I hope!
As some point soon I will be posting about my kinesiology sessions, as they have been amazing and rather life changing, I just need to get some more mulling out of the way......
x
Saturday, 23 August 2008
Baking as Therapy
I have just finished baking some banana and blueberry muffins, I was having one of those 'ho-hum' days and needed a lift, so headed straight for the cake bowl and muffin tin. I don't know what it is about cooking non-essential things that is so calming and uplifting, maybe it's the the very word 'non-essential' that does it for me. I try and make a mix of naughty and good in the same cake, so my muffins are naughty, as they contain butter and sugar (brown and Fairtrade though) but they also contain bananas and blueberries, also (when I remember) I also add nuts and seeds, adding to the good side, then when they are day or so old, splitting and buttering them (naughty!!)
So, baking as therapy, I can highly recommend it, perk up your ho-hum days with a tray of naughty buns, or slightly good flapjacks or even a deliciously sinful chocolate cake!
x x
So, baking as therapy, I can highly recommend it, perk up your ho-hum days with a tray of naughty buns, or slightly good flapjacks or even a deliciously sinful chocolate cake!
x x
Wednesday, 20 August 2008
Website Relaunch
Very exciting news, my website (www.onsiterevival.co.uk) has been revamped and is now live on the interweb. The bad news is that it links to here, so I really need to get my finger out and blog more often!
Since I last blogged, I have discovered the joys of kinesiology (a whole entry in itself!), taken on doing Shiatsu in a local acupuncture and alternative health clinic once a week and agreed to start doing seated massage in a local health food shop in the Autumn, so I have not been idle.
But blog more often, I must, so here's hoping I can get into the habit of findiong something interesting to write about!
x x
Since I last blogged, I have discovered the joys of kinesiology (a whole entry in itself!), taken on doing Shiatsu in a local acupuncture and alternative health clinic once a week and agreed to start doing seated massage in a local health food shop in the Autumn, so I have not been idle.
But blog more often, I must, so here's hoping I can get into the habit of findiong something interesting to write about!
x x
Monday, 28 April 2008
Is it the end of April already? How did that happen?
Despite the fact that I will sound like the old fart I am inevitably turning into, where has the year gone? I know I 'missed' most of February dashing back and forth helping to look after my Dad, hospital visiting and so forth, but still, end of April? How did that happen?
Time to put into action all those winter plans.....
Maybe I'll just have a cup of tea and some banana cake first though :-)
I am already walking more, in preparation for a 12 mile night walk in June, which may well kill me (the actual walk, not the training!) but as always I feel I should be doing more
Maybe that's my plan, stop trying to do things I feel I SHOULD be doing and do thing I WANT to do?
Easily said and hard to implement, though
x x
Time to put into action all those winter plans.....
Maybe I'll just have a cup of tea and some banana cake first though :-)
I am already walking more, in preparation for a 12 mile night walk in June, which may well kill me (the actual walk, not the training!) but as always I feel I should be doing more
Maybe that's my plan, stop trying to do things I feel I SHOULD be doing and do thing I WANT to do?
Easily said and hard to implement, though
x x
Saturday, 19 April 2008
Mark Steel, speaking my language......
Recently I re-read 'Reasons to be Cheerful' by the socialist comedian and
writer Mark Steel. It chronicles his life as a left-wing activist, attending
all the marches and benefit gigs that I used to dream of going to when I was
a young thing in the 80's.
The nearest I got to being an active agitator was standing outside Barclays Bank in Ormskirk in 1986 trying to get people to move their account, as Barclays supported aparteid (we also were mentioning the consumption of Outspan oranges as a side comment!) oh, and I went to see the Red Wedge Tour in Manchester the following year, both of which I feel hardly qualifies me as a full-on threat to Society.writer Mark Steel. It chronicles his life as a left-wing activist, attending
all the marches and benefit gigs that I used to dream of going to when I was
a young thing in the 80's.
I was really struck by his thoughts and comments at the end of the book, and I am going to quote the last 2 paragraphs verbatim...
My advice is to value yourselves higher. Follow the instinct, don't be
sensible. Massive events are made up of tiny acts. At the next act of injustice,
take a gulp, open your mouth and be the one to run down the muddy bank, to start
the booing, to stand in front of the tank, to refuse to get on the train - to kick out the irritating idiot at the party.The happy ending is that one of the most popular films of all time is Spartacus Whereas I wonder whether that film would have been as successful if the Romans had come into the field, asked 'Which on is Spartacus?' and received the answer 'It's him over there mate. He's nothing to do with us. You see, we're New Spartacus'
Saturday, 5 April 2008
A good reason to eat seasonal (And organic) food
Saw this http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/american-songbirds-are-being-wiped-out-by-banned-pesticides-804547.html in today's Independent about songbirds being poisoned by pesticides to satisfy Europe's need for grapes and melons in the winter and it made me think.
There is a reason for seasons and we should have more respect for that. If we go too far away from that the consequences are usually fairly nasty, but initially not for those who show the disrespect. There is a cost and consequence for everything and we should try and find out what that is, so we can make informed choices.
For example, if you don't give a rats arse about killing North American Songbirds, then please feel free to continue eating 'cheap' supermarket grapes and melons all year round. On the other hand, read a label or two, find out where your fruit is produced and then decide.......
x x
There is a reason for seasons and we should have more respect for that. If we go too far away from that the consequences are usually fairly nasty, but initially not for those who show the disrespect. There is a cost and consequence for everything and we should try and find out what that is, so we can make informed choices.
For example, if you don't give a rats arse about killing North American Songbirds, then please feel free to continue eating 'cheap' supermarket grapes and melons all year round. On the other hand, read a label or two, find out where your fruit is produced and then decide.......
x x
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
Durrr!
This from the BBC website
Learning to control your anger may may also speed up the healing process after surgery, US research suggests. They suggested that therapeutic strategies such as relaxation, or even cognitive therapy, could help those at risk make a swifter recovery.
Full story at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7252415.stm
But the bottom line is that positive touch, relaxation and generally not getting stressed (by being in a dirty impersonal hospital or treated by a different doctor every time you go to your GP) can help you heal.
For those of us who have done any study into complementary therapies, Chinese Medicine or the way stress affects the body, this is not news!!
End of rant for today....
x x
Learning to control your anger may may also speed up the healing process after surgery, US research suggests. They suggested that therapeutic strategies such as relaxation, or even cognitive therapy, could help those at risk make a swifter recovery.
Full story at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7252415.stm
But the bottom line is that positive touch, relaxation and generally not getting stressed (by being in a dirty impersonal hospital or treated by a different doctor every time you go to your GP) can help you heal.
For those of us who have done any study into complementary therapies, Chinese Medicine or the way stress affects the body, this is not news!!
End of rant for today....
x x
Sunday, 20 January 2008
Chick chick chick chick chicken lay a little egg.....
Like a good girl I was glued a couple of weeks ago to Hugh's Chicken Run and I even managed to sit through Jamie's Fowl Dinners, both of which tackled the subject of chicken welfare. I have not knowingly bought anything other than free range eggs and chicken for some time, so felt quite smug watching them, but not for long.......
It never occurred to me where the egg in my egg mayo sandwich may come from (doh!) so Jamie showing the 'side products' of battery egg production, wet egg and long egg gave me pause for thought. So that's it, as I already don't eat any meat that I don't know the welfare origin of it and you have to be a bit careful about tuna, although most is dolphin friendly these days, I am reduced to plain cheese sarnies when having to buy them pre-packed, what fun!!
Mind you, this made me smile, within 48 hours of Sainsburys being notable by their absence at Jamie's Fowl Dinner, I received a letter from their Brand Director outlining how lovely they are to their chickens and how they've won 2 Compassion in World Farming awards, one for Most Improved Retailer (which just means they have gone from totally abysmal to vaguely better) and one for Best Volume Retailer (which, frankly, just made me ask what the *£$? does that mean?!) I can honestly say that this consumer is not impressed by this piece of supermarket spin and I will continue to get my meat from Devon Rose (www.devonrose.com) as I know their meat is free range and British and, best of all, really really tasty!
x x
It never occurred to me where the egg in my egg mayo sandwich may come from (doh!) so Jamie showing the 'side products' of battery egg production, wet egg and long egg gave me pause for thought. So that's it, as I already don't eat any meat that I don't know the welfare origin of it and you have to be a bit careful about tuna, although most is dolphin friendly these days, I am reduced to plain cheese sarnies when having to buy them pre-packed, what fun!!
Mind you, this made me smile, within 48 hours of Sainsburys being notable by their absence at Jamie's Fowl Dinner, I received a letter from their Brand Director outlining how lovely they are to their chickens and how they've won 2 Compassion in World Farming awards, one for Most Improved Retailer (which just means they have gone from totally abysmal to vaguely better) and one for Best Volume Retailer (which, frankly, just made me ask what the *£$? does that mean?!) I can honestly say that this consumer is not impressed by this piece of supermarket spin and I will continue to get my meat from Devon Rose (www.devonrose.com) as I know their meat is free range and British and, best of all, really really tasty!
x x
Friday, 11 January 2008
I'm back!
Been busy with the plastic bags, but although we have a blog on our website (www.plasticbagfreechesham.co.uk/blog) I have to be a bit careful what I blog on there and as I still get nicely worked up about things (don't get me started on cheap chicken battery eggs and processed meats!) I thought I'd return here and start ranting here instead. Doesn't matter if no one reads it, it will let me get things off my chest and sorted in my head!
x x
x x
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