Blogs, Books and other Stuff.

Hi to all my friends. 

300 pages into Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman and the book is finally holding me in it’s vice like grip, about 133 pages to go. Hoping to finish it in two days. It has been one of the longest fiction books to read. Since finishing my studies, it has taken me ages to get back  into reading for pleasure again. Kathryn wanted me to read it – a tale about apartheid and injustice, only the other way round. The blacks have the power this time, they are the crosses. The whites are the noughts. The struggle for justice, freedom and human rights is a strong one, particulary after the first half of the book. At first, I struggled with it and was bored and put it down – this is aimed at an older child audience, but  I am  determined to show my daughter that I would read it to the end and discuss it with her. That I took the time and bother, to read something she thought was good and wanted me to read, is important to me.

Whilst reading this slowly, life is great and I’m doing lots. Recognise that I can’t quite fit in all I want to do. Itching to do more reading again, both fiction and non-fiction.  Blogging is a struggle with time restraints. Onevoice needs to be the priority now and that is hard with the time available. So this blog is taking a long summer recess. I just can’t do both and this was never meant to be a time pressured thing.

Books beckon me in the book shop. Angles and Demons- Dan Brown looks thrilling. The kite Runner, can’t spell the author, and it’s sequel look appealing. The History of God by Karen Jones, an ex-nun looks fascinating. But it all takes time.

On flickr, an exciting new potential contact emerges. Geoff, my dear flickr friend, brought to my attention a guy who was talking  in pictures and words about the slum children in the Philippines and their survival, sifting through rubbish last night.   This needs to be blogged about. The human rights abuses of children in Irish care homes by Catholic nuns and priests has not left my mind. Haven’t forgotten about that either. And of course my interest in FGM will never be extinguished.

Combing that with family, gardening, running and yes, of course there’s the 30 hr per week job to do and  life is full and brimming. I am not complaining. Plan to return to onethoughtful in the autumn and going to have a very good summer.

Take care everyone and please visit me on onevoice1freedom when I can get there to write.

An Evening with a Speaker

Yesterday evening was very exciting. I nearly didn’t go. It had been a surprising up-hill week in someways. It shouldn’t have been. I had only been working since Wednesday. But that was the problem. Having enjoyed a lovely long weekend, I just could not get back into work.

Anyway, I decided to go with Mr E  to see Jonathan Neale, a climate change speaker ( author of Stop Global Warming, Change the World) who was speaking at the old Quaker’s Meeting House in King’s Lynn. It was bit of a dash, the tea dishes had been cleared five minutes before heading out the door. Boy, it was worth it.

Jonathan spoke with a clear American accent, a voice of  mighty expertise dripping from his lips. He spoke with passion. He held us and interested us. He spoke with such an insightful view. The little meeting house was packed. He did not drag on – 25 mins in total, but we could have listened to him all night. Question time next. I was not shy in the least. I held up my hand and asked.

” Given that you state that 40% of carbon dioxide is absorbed by plant-life and oceans, as examples, how will  this figure be affected by the Indonesian rain forests and those of Brazil being chopped down at an ever alarming rate? Surely, this figure will be reduced, say over the next 10-20 years? “

We gave him all our questions, on mass and he selected a few to answer. Mine was the first to be answered. His answer surprised me. Yes, it would be noticeable but not to the extent I had thought: interesting.

Afterwards was just as good as the event itself. Drinking tea, some of us, me right up there in the group, gathered around him and talked some more. Two other guys, I and the speaker, talked about population expansion and it strayed into women’s issues. I also spoke to an ex-teacher who had taught in Zambia. Our conversation was mixed around Charcoal holding in Carbon Dioxide and his thoughts over girls education. He had taught environmental science.

And, if that wasn’t enough, I also learnt the history of the Friends building by someone before the meeting. I was eager to impart this information to my dear friend Geoff who loves Listed buildings, of which the Friends Meeting House is grade II listed, C16- 17th and has stones within it from the old priory. It used to be a pub called The Old Hulk.

What a night it was. From that meeting I met a Humanist and I hope to attend a Humanist meeting on the 24th June, all about global education.

This may float very few people’s boats. But crazy or not, it’s certainly floated mine all the way down the  Quay where the Friends house is situated nearby.

A great evening. And Mr E got a lot out of it too. But that’s his tale and not mine.

A Lovely Birthday

At first we were hoping to go away for the weekend but for various reasons that was not on the cards. Then Mr E saw an advertisement for a sustainable living exhibition at the Forum in Norwich and he wanted to go there instead for his birthday day out.

This blog is just to say how simple things can often lead to one the best days out for a long time. We had a wonderful time and the day went ahead like clockwork. There were a few things to do first, always stuff to do first, but after picking up our friend at 9.30, who was looking after our daughter for the day, we were soon off.

The exhibition was good, not as many stalls as we thought there  might be, but enough to keep us interested for an hour. We saw Norwich Transition Town stand but sadly no one was Manning it, at that point, for us to talk to anybody. We are part of the King’s Lynn transition movement, but that’s another blog. I will explain what that means another time.

We had lunch in Subway. Mr E gets hungry early and then a bit of shopping. My husband was determined. No way was he going to use his Marks and Spencers voucher I had got him for his birthday.  A lovely dress beckoned and he was delighted to part with his voucher and for me to give him money instead. I was hoping he would buy clothes but that is like taking a horse to water and he just won’t drink it. So the dress was bought and he was pleased.

We took tea, wandered around Waterstones, visited the Belgian Monk pub, where I had been with three dear twitter friends a few months before. He enjoyed his two beers. Then it was off to see Star Trek. Mr E has always been a trekie fan. The film was exciting and excellent with great special effects. We saw pick-a-mix sweets before going in and laughed and scoffed some before the film had even started. Waiting for the film we sat by some tables, savouring a view of a park and the cathedral. We laughed and joked and felt like two school kids eating their sweets.

After the film, I took us for a meal. Not wanting the car to be shut in the car park for the night, we hastened back to the car, paid our £11 parking fee and headed back out onto the A47. I had just the place in mind, for a not- too- expensive bite, before the trip back. The Showground pub and restaurant by the Premier Inn provided us with a simple prawn and Salmon salad.( We were still quite full from the sweets but knew we needed to eat something).

Returning at 21.30, we finished off with a cup of tea and a tea light placed on top of his chocolate birthday cake. We sang happy birthday. By just after 22.15 Mr E, very content, was asleep.  He gets tired with his heart condition after a long day. However, he went to bed happy and with a lovely feeling of  a nice day. I am glad we have the memory of yesterday.

Today, we are out for lunch with our daughter, the friend who provided the flowers, cake and balloon pictured above, and I will be wearing my new dress, bolero matching top and beads that I bought yesterday with my pressie for Mr E. He has the cash equivalent in his pocket and I know what he will be spending that on, but that’s another blog and story.

Today

Funerals can sometimes have a weird and unexpected effect upon me. Even though I knew little of the person whose funeral I attended today, it evoked a moist eye and reflective response. It brought back times of another funeral I attended about three years ago. This generated a huge grief response from me. Again, while I was not closely related to the diceased person, the experience left me numb, frozen and in tears.

Today it did the same, only to a lesser extent, and the feelings were different. Before, it was a huge reaction to all sorts of losses and experiences that I had encountered and were learning to cope with through professional help. Today, it was more about a sense of urgency, to be thankful for life, love and friendships that I have. Also, to celebrate the progress I have made in my own life’s journey- since that last funeral.

Three years ago, I was a Christian. Today that statement, definition is very hazy. The term I give my feelings now is an agnostic position and this feels comfortable for the time being. I am not sure about where I will end up after this life. It’s not scary but it is unknown. All I do know is the incredible urge to seize the moment and live life by the day.

I could see myself laying in that box, as I looked down at the chancel, and I thought about all the people I love and care about. No one knows how much time we have.  All I do want to say, for the purpose of this blog, is what ever you want to say and do, do it. You don’t know how much time is left.

For Tomorrow.

I thoroughtly enjoyed creating the pictured floral wreath for a funeral tomorrow. It felt pleasing to have not lost my touch since my floristy training over 10 yrs ago. There is not much time to do this kind of work very often.

I thought back to my days as a florist student in the shop as I snipped and created. I loved the smell of the flowers and foliage and the company and busyness as we were all working, say on Mother’s Day.

After yesterdays frustrations with technology, it was good to be back on familar and lovable ground tonight.

Another thought was why don’t I try to combine this interest with my other passion of women’s issues. To use this skill for the good for others. A flower work shop with a minimal charge-donated to charity, or simply a women’s awarness day. I could teach people to create and wear their own buttonhole or corsage for Women’s International Day as one example.

My hesitancy and lack of confidence in people being interested often get the better of me with this kind of thing. I should just be bolder. What do you think?

This piece is for a man I hardly knew as I attend his funeral tomorrow in Lincoln. But I know I have created many pieces which have both brought joy and comfort to people’s lives. My husband is thrilled to bits with this, for his late Uncle, and it has only cost £6.OO, plus having an already existing wreath base in my workshop. Much cheaper than inter-flora and with a personal touch.

I may be little use with computers and gagets sometimes, but perhaps, I don’t have to feel so inadequate when there are other skills one possesses. I was pleased that I had not lost my ‘nack’ with this anyway and wanted to share my thoughts and feelings with you.

Blog Changes

OneVoiceIfreedom

Having deleted this post accidentally last week, let’s have a another try now.

This blog is to announce some important changes, for me anyway, as to how my posts will continue to be written and organised. Approx six months ago, I set up a new blog OnevoiceIfreedom to highlight, research and write about my deep interests in human rights, women’s issues and health. This has been sitting on the back burner, due to all sorts of reasons, but now the time has come for those concerns to take priority and be on the boil, rather on the back burner of the stove.

Onethoughtfulwoman will continue and from time to time will have general posts about other interests.  I do believe blogs are like like living things, they need to be fed regularly to sustain them, so onethoughtfulwoman will not remain idle. My wish is to use this platform  as a mini diary/ slot. Posts for the light hearted things, thoughts, pondering and rather like a log of events.

This is done with so much style and skill by one of my twiiter friendshttp://sallyinnorfolk.com/ who writes while conducting an equally busy life with great charm, wit and sustains those of us who read it with great effectiveness. I enjoy reading her posts, simple and quick to read, as you speed through the day.

Blogging for me has been such a great experience. Meeting new people, making comments, helping others and improving my writing and thinking ability. I shall still continue to reply to other blogs. However, the time has come for the focus of my own work to change. It has been easy up to now to write about things which interest me, yet which takes little time to research. Now, the harder part is yet to come with this new project.

It will still be an infant blog for some time yet. I hope readers will see it grow in statue, strength and effectiveness to a mature site over the coming months. This will require motivation, focus and a lot of effort on my part. It is so easy for the day to be squeezed with the endless things, repetitive jobs we all have to do in order to live, keep a roof over our head and pay the bills.

For me, I live a hectic, all go, yet in many ways a simple life. I appreciate that what can I really know about human rights and conditions, overseas problems when my day consists of living and working in sleepy Norfolk. UK. The dog walk on the fen or driving all around the countryside looking after people, meeting deadlines is hardly a setting for real work in human rights.

Sometimes, I WISH I could just release all those chains of mortgage, the school day and earning a living and just fly, fly away to do some good somewhere. I hope one day I can. But for now, there is much I can do and learn, network and so forth.

I am very, very serious about all of this. I don’t have forever either. Being in a health-care setting I know how fragile life is, how it can be their one minute and how the next a serious diagnosis of illness can blow you away. It is a fine line we tread. I may have years, I may have only months. What ever time I have. The starting line can really wait no more.

Ok, in order for me to organise this, some foundations have had to be laid. Having I hope finished a three and half year course, there are tons of jobs to be done in the house. Over the last three weeks, I have had a blitz on the domestic front and the way it is run. So I have a more solid base in which to organise my time. I can not work in chaos. But the dust, dishes and decorating will always be there. No environment will ever be perfect.

So here goes. Please wish me luck, and for my regular readers I already know your encouragement is with me. My writing isn’t going to become so boring, serious and all about strife and suffering, we all need a balance.

Hence on here, this will be the lighter side to life.

Why no Computer?

A quick post for me.

Wanted to see how it would feel like to be without the computer for  5 days, a week seemed too long, and also to do those tasks that I have been meaning to get done. Apart from 5 mins of e-mails that would be it. Planned to phone some long-distance friends, plant some stuff in the garden, read, do some cleaning and spend some more time with my family.

The Result:

I rang non-stop all week, late off work every night, took work home. Had commitments 4 out of 5 nights, went to a meeting, swimming, shopping, school commitments and last night, once ban off, had an evening out with friends.

Did I achieve what I wanted in the ‘ getting- on- sense?’ Not one single bit.

Did I enjoy being off the computer? I hated it mostly because I missed my friends and wanted to know what was happening on twitter.

Did I learn anything? Yes, the computer can be addictive. I had a sneak look on Twitter Wed night, after one of my girlfriends e-mailed me.

Would I change anything now? Yes, I am going to be more constrained about twitter time, do less but would never do another computer ban again for as many days. Perhaps a weekend, nothing more.

Anything else learnt? Yes, life is too short to make yourself have bans and denial for things we innocently enjoy. There is no point in self-sacrifice or fasting on things which are harmless fun.

You see you give up something and life will fill it up with more work and jobs. It can soon be filled. I achieved a sense of distance but that distance I didn’t enjoy. What was the purpose of that distance? I didn’t get anything I wanted to do extra done.

I  acknowledged how much you can rely on the computer for company which fills you with intellectual fulfillment and a certain buss feeling. That feeling is quite different from the love you receive from your family. I felt like a limb was missing.

So here I am. Back on line, well and happy. The carpets still need cleaning once again and the friends still need phoning. Guess I will get those things done in the end and still Will be able to dabble on here.

PS: The husband had part of a computer ban too and he said it was great to be off it. He uses the computer differently to me though. His usage is not for social pleasure. My use has many functions, the same apply to many of us I suspect.

How would you feel reader if you gave yourself a computer free week?What would you do with that time? I would be interested to hear from you.

Final word: boy it’s good to be back!!!!!

Easter

Oh, daffodil and bells.

The garden blooms and swells,

With new buds, a new life,

The birds are flying,

as high as kites.

 

Oh Easter, rejoice now rejoice.

The birds sing in chorus

winds whisper a love song,

of new and old tales,

young lovers take hands

and walk along the Easter dawn.

 

Be fresh in our hearts,

on Easter tide,

of noon and sun,

and joy with pain.

 

Along the lane we face the day,

of come what may.

Kiss the flowers of dew,

like honey, it melts too soon,

Easter be gone again,

another year, another day.

 

The clouds drift by,

soon goodbye.

We should not mourn,

For the day dawns again,

and spring cascades on.

 

The march of time.

Like a fine wine,

we behold the Easter time,

and drink from her cup,

to be satisfied,

and be still to sleep.

Another day peeps,

from our pillow.

 

onethoughtfulwoman April 2009.

Looking out to Today

Today, I go to a library return some books and find the last pieces of information to tweak an assignment. Three and  a half years of study is drawing to a close-well, in this chapter anyway. But of course my commitment to life long learning goes on but also to learn not just out of books.

I am giving myself nine short- term goals to now focus upon and this also embraces an opportunity to get out more and have some fun and social life with family and friends. Within these goals there is a more serious side: to do some good as well, or at least try to. They are as follows:

1) To continue my pursuit of my concerns, those being human rights and specifically women’s health. I will continue to develop my other blog site and to contact FOREWARD- Foundation of Women’s Health, Research  and Development. My aim is to initially visit this organisation in London.

2)  To create further an environment of care and peace at home and to cherish relationships. On a very practical level to get some basic home decorating done, encouraging the others here at home to do this with me.

3)  To improve my photography. This includes editing, shooting, days out and the theory of the camera and what makes a good shot.

4)  To take up the subject of the history of art. I figure that if I am to understand life, think and observe more and create better images I need to understand this subject further. To stand still and look at something long enough to form an impression. (I can be too busy, both in my head and in my actions to stand still and notice sometimes.)

5)  To continue to improve my writing and English skills.

6)  To get back out onto the garden again and also grow some vegetables.

7)  To not give up on the swimming, given the progress I have made, and also continue, to walk, run and cycle.

8)  Continue my new involvement with King’s Lynn Transition Town.( I’ll blog more about what that is another time).

9)  To have a better relationship with money and continue to save some more disposable income.

 Just because something has been written first or last, it does not neccessarily mean it does not have an equal weight of importance.

These are goals drawn up for the next six months and I will record at the end what I have achieved. Interestingly, my aim was to have five and it has finished with nine. But these are all do-able. In fact, many are being done already.

Earth Hour

I was looking foreword to lighting my candles this evening to celebrate and recognise Earth hour at 20.30. The glass bowl for floating candles, not used for awhile, had centre stage on our dinning table this evening. At 20.30 I looked out of my window to see if people in our neighbourhood were observing this hour too. They were not.

I was disappointed. Perhaps, they had not heard about it. But it had been on the six o’clock news this evening. Not judging anyone but perhaps they simply didn’t care or didn’t want to bother. What ever the reason, I discovered one very lovely thing about this year’s Earth hour: simply the peace.

We had turned our TV and computers off too. The candles were errie but the quietness was bliss. My daughter and I sat together in the twilight. We were waiting to pick my guy up from work. We read in the candlelight, me looking at course work and my daughter at a magazine. We had a drink and talked quietly. Our conversation took us back to the Victorian times where pastimes in the evening would have been books, conversation, writing letters in the candle light or playing cards.

We didn’t want this Earth hour to end. But it did and then with husband back from work, the flurry of the microwave and the brewing of tea.

The important point to make. We can bury our heads in the sand, but this is truth. We have less than 100 months left to save our planet from irreversible global warning causing sea level rises, flooding and other environmental impacts and damage. Tonight, let that be suffice for now. Have a think about it. It will happen unless we all do something NOW!

Just wanted to share a few thoughts about Earth hour this evening.