Buddha Knows Best

waiting for first coat to dry

pegging out clothes on the line

ivory tint in ponytailed hair

clotted cream scones tasting fine

 

pen and a coffee at hand

doodling flowers in the sun

soda and lime and ink on a page

ecstatic that summer has come

 

music chosen by kids

buddha sat under tree

lotused repose in semi-closed eyes

replete and contented like me

 

windows of soul opened wide

faint breeze to filter on through

leaves of green gratitude canopies all

wishing the same for all you

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Ode To Those Toes

To the toes that crushed the grapes

Upon that first day

To those that tasted juice upon ferment

To wine in all its – thank you, fuck, it’s Friday –

To those toes, and Aldis, bless you,

Heaven sent

No Dress Rehearsal

Who would shun the chances that life offers,

Negate potential gain because of fears?

Who dismisses what each chalice proffers

But begs with thirst and cries for wasted years?

Why would any soul still fond of living

Draw blinds when sunbeams herald daybreak’s gift,

Huddle down in darkness, scared of shining,

Allow all fleeting moments then to drift?

A sullied sort of existential ruin

That wishes for and prays then barters grief,

Wails their woeful howls at waning moon, with

Persistent yet but absent self-belief.

‘No dress rehearsal’ – words fit to ponder.

Gratitude and action make for wonder.

Matins’ Bell

‘I’m tired now’, he said, by light of darkness,

mumbled into night his waking thoughts,

a plaintive sort of fatigued exaltation,

no defeat but crushed by earthly knocks.

A glimmer in the darkness listened keenly,

spluttered into life to ease his pain,

descended on his forehead as he struggled

pasting joys in desiccated pains.

In dreams he saw a dancer up above him,

then dancing on the parquet floor of hairless pate

and, in the gentle tapping of her footsteps,

he traversed back in time through all life’s gates.

To childhood days that merged with church’s bell ring

and infant hands so soft within his grasp,

sunshine holidays and harder times when

they’d pulled in belts and wondered if, perhaps,

the work and want, the endless, restless passage,

fraught with cares and doing all he could

were worth the love of all that gathered round him.

He sighed in sleep and smiled at all the good.

The dancer danced and then lay flat upon him,

impressed herself, as light, into his mind,

bestowed the recollected visions of his voyage

and whispered tunes he’d carried deep inside.

His breathing eased and slowed to mellow movements,

shallow sighs belied the deeper well,

exchange of life, the price became apparent,

sleep on in peace or ring aged matins bell.

Light maintained its presence in his mindset,

centred on his soul when he awoke,

he smiled at love that lay asleep beside him

and whispered thanks to angels when they spoke.

Something About Fridays

If God,

or someone,

hadn’t invented Fridays,

or something,

I’d have had to run away,

somewhere,

to recharge,

somehow,

or I’d go crazy,

somewhat.

I could,

sometimes.

Astounded

The response to my last post has left me just as my title states – astounded. I have never had so many comments or likes on any one single post. And every comment was so positive.

I have had maybe half a dozen professional massages in my life and, each time, I have been wiped out by them –slept for hours afterwards.

I did this again yesterday. After returning from work I slept. Fully clothed on top of my bed. Woke, changed, crawled under the covers and slept right through until 6a.m. More than 12 hours sleep!

Utterly wiped.

Perhaps there’s a connection between having every muscle of your body eased and having your mind eased. The effect was identical.

If I dreamed at all I can’t remember.

Hopefully, the cathartic effect of ‘coming out’ has left me renewed.

I’m usually fairly quick to answer comments but there have been so many it may take more time. I am on it and will answer every one.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for the responses from everyone.

I feel I have been massaged from every corner of the globe!

So much sleeping also means I’m way behind on my post reading. I will catch up there too. This blogging/writing could be a full-time job. I wish!

Many thanks again to all of you who read and/or commented. It truly feels like hands and minds across the world. And that is such a beautiful thing.

My Love

Lost in contemplation of your eyes,

A smile escapes, then followed by my sighs.

You lie with me and pools of liquid gleam,

I snuggle close and close my own to dream

 

Of love we’ve shared so many years like this,

Of passion, slowly followed by such bliss.

In dreams, you run to me and hold,

To warm a heart, once frozen so with cold.

 

Your trust in me fills all I am today

And makes the woman work at keeping all this way.

For none should take such precious love for granted,

It’s effort, work, combined with seeds we’ve planted.

 

If dreams turn other thoughts to mind,

Remember, in my life, you’ll always find

Arms wide to welcome all you are:

My lover, friend, my constant shining star.

Mortified

Right, I don’t know which to be more embarrassed about.

You decide.

I had to check back there but it would seem that I started this blog on June 13^th this year. And I have posted 215 posts. What a red neck! My family have always said that I could talk for Scotland. I just thought I liked a good natter and I love ‘heavy’ discussions. It would appear, however, that they know me better than I know myself. At least, with regard to my ability to rabbit on about everything and nothing in equal measure.

A few people have asked me to thank my brother for setting up this blog for me which is probably one of the nicest compliments I’ve ever received.

I am now beginning to suspect that he may have set it up so that he wouldn’t have to listen to me yakking on interminably.

Notably, many others have not asked me to thank my brother which I choose to take as them being remiss rather than being too polite to tell me that I should slap my brother on their behalf.

So, Phil, thanks again. If you’re out there reading this. Chances are he’s got his headphones on as he cycles hither and thither, thanking his lucky stars that he is no longer obliged to listen to my drivellings.

So, that’s embarrassment number 1. Just how verbose am I? Answers on a postcard to an address that I will not be disclosing. Do you really think I’m going to dry up now? Not a chance. I have found an ear and it’s a big one. I’m going to bend it like Beckham.

Embarrassment Number 2 is actually an embarrassment of riches.

I am mortified to post here the numerous awards that I have not yet answered although accepted. A bit like accepting a present, thanking for it and then not using it.

But, in order to maintain my flow of prattle, I’m going to post them all here as one otherwise I’ll never get to garble on again.

I am sure I am in no way as deserving as these awards would suggest and it’s going to look like a big raspberry and a, ‘Nah, nah, nah, nah’, moment.

It’s in no way intended to be that.

But I go back to work in exactly one week. Shiiit. I don’t know how I’m going to teach all day without running to the computer to check for posts and comments here. But, I’ll have to.

This little time I have left I have so much to do with so, yes, I am cheating.

Below are the awards and I will add them to my award page. Have you checked it out? It’s smoking. And it’s smoking because it’s been lit by the fire of generosity from so many others who have liked and passed on their approval in a heartening and much appreciated way.

Suzie at  http://suzie81.wordpress.com/ nominated me for the Versatile blogger award and the Medallion of Awesomeness. Suzie, big hugs and kisses. You have been a source of support and enjoyment. Fellow teacher and new friend.x

 

http://klsullie78.wordpress.com/ at Winding Road awarded me the Bouquet Of 3. A mum on the journey as so many of us. Having fun on the way and a few tears. Thank you.

Goldy Gal at http://goldyigal.wordpress.com/2013/07/30/super-sweet-blog-award/ said I deserved the Super Sweet Blog Award. This young lady is one of the sweetest. Great pictures and sincere  with it.

http://belsbror.wordpress.com/2013/08/04/delight/ has outdone himself in generosity here and awarded me the Quintet of Radiance. He’s a lovely chap with a gentle, endearing humour that is so charming. He makes me giggle too.

  

Bdh63 at http://friendlyfairytales.com/2013/08/04/lets-party-like-teenagers/ had a party and invited guests to take an award from those displayed. Since I’ve never had the Loyal Reader Award I’m snaffling that one. Thanks.:)  

EJ over at http://whimsicaleclecticist.wordpress.com/2013/08/06/best-moment-award-for-meeee/ has awarded me Best Moment.

EJ has a lovely solution which I think I’m going to adopt to cope with the multitude of awards. More on that at the end.

Shaun at http://prayingforoneday.wordpress.com/2013/08/01/shine-on-award-6/ has awarded me the Shine On Award for which I am very grateful.

Now, I’m supposed to put a song in here. Not personally, although you never know. I have been known to. It’s a James Blunt song called Shine On but I’ll be buggered if I can work out how I’m supposed to put the video here. So, to check it out, look at Shaun’s link.

And, that’s it

If I have omitted anyone who kindly nominated me, ping me and I will correct it.

I want to thank everyone for all these awards. I am stunned to have received them.

Now, back to EJ.

EJ has had the idea of distributing these awards over a period of time which I think is a fab idea.

As you can see from the above, I wouldn’t surface for days, maybe weeks if I tried to link to answer all the requirements. So, I’m thinking. How about if I distribute these as and when I read someone that I think deserves it and who is totally new to the game (unlike this old hand here of 8 weeks or so)? I know that I felt so encouraged when I received my very first one. And they are a lot of work. So, I’m going to look out for newbies to pass on the encouragement and the love.

I go back to work exactly one week from today. Those teacher holidays certainly fly in. *Ducks*

Once, I’m back I’ll be up to my neck in work and the flow will probably slow down. Aww. I know I will not be able to answer any awards in full. Should I receive any more (hint, hint) I will link them to this page and pass them on whenever I meet a new blogger.

Is that ok? Can I do that?

Well, let’s see. I’m putting in a poll. I’ve so wanted to do this.

A Debt or Two

I owe a debt of gratitude to the following blogger. 

http://mythoughtsonapage.com/2013/07/07/ireland-if-only-you-knew-what-my-family-has-done-for-you/

Without her, I would be having a whole other summer experience.

By booking her summer holiday in a land of assured sunshine, she has inadvertently blessed the British Isles with what is currently promising to be (touch wood) a lovely summer.

Without her, I would not be able to hang outside the multitude of washing that is usually draped indoors.

Without her, I would not be able to replenish my seriously-depleted levels of Vitamin D. (I’m even taking high-dose tablets for that.)

Without her, I would be a pasty white colour instead of acquiring a golden glow.

Without the selfless measures of this woman, I would be unable to take my gang on a camping trip that was cancelled last year because of constant precipitation. (Yes, it pissed down for the whole summer.)

It is because of the generous act of this fellow blogger, and her adventures in sunnier climes, that our part of the globe is sizzling in sunshine, perspiring in puddles and feverish with fun.

I foolishly commented on her post that had I known that sending her off on a jet would have ensured clement weather, I would have paid for it myself.

I have already assured WI at http://tracesofthesoul.wordpress.com/category/whispering-reflections/    

that she will have a share in any lottery win once I convert Canadian dollars to real money. It would now appear that I am obliged, as per my word, to make a Euro or Irish punt calculation at the same time.

 I will gladly buy a winning lottery ticket, if anyone can lend me a pound, ‘cos all this sunshine is costing me a fortune in ice-creams and lollies.

But, I can live with that.

P.S. Could you give me exact dates of your holiday please, tric, so’s I know how much sun cream to stock up on?!                              

x