It is one of those days! My eyes have been drinking in beauty and wonder and I am walking around with a heart brimming over with delight that I am alive.
I am going to Australia! I am going to see my gorgeous Goldfinch! I am singing in my heart and out loud! So excited!
Tomorrow, I am working, but when I am back at the little nest – I am going to start packing! How exciting!!!!
For some time, I have enjoyed the Friday Follies posts published by 
So last week when I was near the River (Thames) with some friends, and I walked past a sign that made us chuckle (we carried on towards the zombies I have to admit) I suddenly decided to run back and take a photo so that I would at last have something to contribute to the brilliant Friday Follies!
Here is a sign making clear what awaits those who risk continuing their journey along the Thames River Path.
In case you missed it, here is a close-up:
https://proscenium.me/2019/05/24/friday-follies-season-3-episode-8/
It has taken me a while to finish my SHARE-YOUR-WORLD post this week. Melanie asks such interesting questions! So I am warning you now, if you are short for time, please don’t feel you have to read the whole post (or any of it) – I know how challenging it is to keep up with all the lovely bloggers out there. I just like to do Melanie’s questions justice.
Here is Melanie’s original SHARE-YOUR-WORLD post with the questions for this week:
https://sparksfromacombustiblemind.com/2019/05/27/share-your-world-5-27-19/
Well…I think I am in between – can I claim that is being a realist??? Or a pragmatist? I don’t know.
I am not blindly optimistic and positive. But I am not at all pessimistic and negative. I know that some things work out well and others not so well. It’s important to be resilient. And it’s also important not to let doubts hold us back. We should live life with gusto! Usually my frame of mind – whether it is hopeful or doubtful is formed on the foundation of a solid reason. I try not to be influenced by people who, despite being sure of themselves, are not able to supply a reason for what they expect to happen.
When I was a child (I know it was before my primary school was burnt down so I must have been six or seven) I remember a comprehension exercise we had to do at school. It argued that pessimists are happier because they think that things are going to go wrong, so when things don’t turn out as badly as they imagined they feel very relieved and are happy. It claimed that optimists fancy that everything will be wonderful, so face repeated disappointments when actually things don’t work out as well as they had hoped. I remember that comprehension made quite a big impression on me, to the point where almost thirty years later I still remember it!
I do have a huge amount of confidence that the best really is yet to come. But I do also believe that we are near the brink of a great deal of turmoil in our near future. The warning signs are clear. They are like labour pains of an expectant mother – they are becoming more intense and more frequent. Deeper divisions are becoming manifest. People are becoming louder and louder in expressing their dissatisfaction. I think violence on a big scale is around the corner. But, that will not be the end of the story. The end of the story is a fresh start for mankind, united under one government that looks after the entire planet and the entire human family…I can’t see a future for borders, passports and visas. And for that matter I doubt weapons, armies, sprawling cities, skyscrapers, huge polluting factories, fracking operations, or a whole host of things that mar the world we live in, will be around.
Oh wow! Melanie – what a question. I am going to have to think carefully about this one. As someone who loves peace, and hates violence, I would love to say an outright no. But I don’t think that would be a fair answer. So I am going to let this question stew in my mind before I attempt a proper answer. I will work on the rest of my post first and then come back to this one.
OK…I HAVE AN ANSWER TO THIS ONE…BUT IT IS VERY LONG! SO I HAVE TAGGED IT ON TO THE END OF MY POST IF YOU REALLY HAVE THE PATIENCE TO READ IT! DON’T FEEL OBLIGED.
Probably not enough! In the past I know I did more. But since my head injuries, one of my missions is just not to be a burden to my family.
After I was attacked, I stayed with my family for almost a year. I was very conscious that they were feeding me etc at their expense. So three months after I was attacked, I went down to the local Job Center and asked if they might be able to help me find a little work so I could contribute something to my family. The advisors at the Job Center did not really do as I asked. Instead, they asked me to fill out a bunch of forms so that the government would start paying me money. They also arranged for it to be backdated. Well, it brought in some cash to be sure. But now I started to feel like a burden to the government and the British tax-payer. I was frustrated with the situation.
So I kept looking for work myself. Almost all of the jobs advertised were full-time. I knew I could not attempt a full-time job. I just wanted to do maybe ten-fifteen hours a week to start with to build my strength back up and bring some money in so I was not an expense to my family. I had a major set-back when I became very ill due to the effect of the painkillers on my organs. I was in hospital for a long time during the December. When I left hospital I decided to start my search for work again from January.
Searching for work up north was demoralising I have to admit. My optimism was badly knocked! Hardly any part-time work. The only suitable jobs were some distance away from where I was staying. I looked for work in three different counties (where various family members lived) but regardless of where I looked the part-time work was usually in the city centre. Well I was not able to drive because of my head injuries, so I would have had to use public transport. One twelve hour per week job (that I applied for, was interviewed for, and was offered), would have taken me two and a half hours to reach by public transport (forty minutes to drive there, but that was not an option).
That frustrating situation added to my many reasons to feel that returning to London (with the best public transport network in the country by far) was my best option. Although that brought other challenges, some of which I have written about, it means I can support myself and my family do not have to support me financially. While I am unable to drive, it would be hard for me to support myself nearer to my family because they are all in rural areas where jobs come along infrequently.
My family feel like my best friends. We know each other so well. We are always in touch with each other about what is happening in our lives. When we are together we always have a great time, it’s really as if we were never apart. Ideally we would all be closer geographically. But thanks to modern technology, we can be a part of each lives everyday.
And then there is this blog…which is all for my family, so that if my head injuries take me away from them…they can look back at what I have written (if they want to 🙂 ).
I am. I can’t not be! Physically, my body has a very loud way of telling me what it needs – especially my head. It bullies me with intense pain when it is not happy!!
I am careful about what I eat, but I am not pedantic. I have been vegetarian for thirty years and now eat an almost vegan diet. So beyond that I don’t worry too much about what I eat because it is a naturally healthy diet. I have to make sure treats are very occasional these days…and I have made a vow that I won’t have any cake or naughties until I am back from Australia.
I cannot do as much sport as I used to, but I still enjoy walking and swimming and I do what I can only describe as gentle jogging. There have been to many occasions when my brain has not told my heart to beat faster…and I end up conking out!! I had a couple of times when I was trying to jog faster and I blacked out and collapsed on the pavement – thank goodness for kind strangers. So I prefer to go with a friend, and I jog gently so that my brain has no problems with making sure my heart can keep up with my legs. (So frustrating for someone who was as active as me!)
I am also conscious of looking after my mind’s health – I don’t expose myself to entertainment that would disturb my happy way of thinking. I make sure I do things that are positive and wholesome for my mind.
I make sure I have a very healthy social life, with people who are really good for me. I make a little time for things I enjoy – a little music, lots of writing, lots of outdoors.
So many beautiful things to be in awe of, in wonder at, grateful for and moved to deep joy – amongst those that mean the most to me are: Goldfinch, my wonderful family, this beautiful planet and it’s amazing creatures, mountains, forests, lakes, oceans, sunsets, rainbows, flowers, music and a million other things!!!
Well, now it is time to come back to the question I thought I should think carefully about before I answered it:
There have been many unjust wars. How do I define “unjust”? Well, the whole concept of an aggressive nation invading other lands and attacking people, killing them, forcing them into slavery, taking their land, and all the awful acts like rape and arson and torture and other unspeakable acts – it is all absolutely abhorrent.
So what could be defined as a “just” war? I guess only if it is highly selective, and it is targeted only at those who have been committing heinous crimes. I don’t need to define those heinous crimes do I? When the superior power warns those committing those crimes that there will be consequences to their actions, that justice will be executed for their crimes, and gives innocent people a chance to escape and separate themselves from those who ought to be punished for their abhorrent acts.
Is a human army or government qualified to go in as a judge and execute justice impartially on another nation? Are they capable of making sure that innocent people are protected and safe? Are they truly indiscriminate? Are they truly righteous in their way of judging? Who can be certain that there are no other factors driving them – monetary, political, or the notion that it would be better for another country to have a form of government closer to that of their own?
Who is qualified to judge the violent acts that governments, political and military leaders, armies and individuals are responsible for? Your answer to that question probably depends on whether you believe in a Creator.
For those who do believe in a Creator, the following words describe how He has made it clear that He will act as Judge and punish atrocities that have been committed. The scriptures also make clear that He will act decisively to end oppression, warfare and violence once for all time. He will do so in a war. A highly selective war that he has warned of for thousands of years. He has given people to opportunity to make sure they are protected throughout this war.
Return evil for evil to no one….
Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but yield place to the wrath;
for it is written: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay,” – Romans 12:17, 19
You will not need to fight this battle.
Take your position, stand still,
and see the salvation of God in your behalf. – ” Chron 20:17
From oppression and from violence he will rescue them,
And their blood will be precious in his eyes. – Psalm 72:14
I saw heaven opened, and look! a white horse. And the one seated on it is called Faithful and True, and he judges and carries on war in righteousness. His eyes are a fiery flame, and on his head are many diadems. He has a name written that no one knows but he himself, and he is clothed with an outer garment stained with blood, and he is called by the name The Word of God. Also, the armies in heaven were following him on white horses, and they were clothed in white, clean, fine linen. And out of his mouth protrudes a sharp, long sword with which to strike the nations, and he will shepherd them with a rod of iron. Moreover, he treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his outer garment, yes, on his thigh, he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. – Revelation 19:11-16
He is bringing an end to wars throughout the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the military wagons with fire. – Psalm 46:9
So…there will be a war to end all wars. No more weapons of war. That war will mean the end of wickedness. It will mark a permanent change for the human family as we come under the rule of a loving Creator. Of vital importance is the detailed description in the scriptures of what leads up to that war, and how we must act. One thing is made very clear. Those who take up violence in the trouble ahead (and there will be unprecedented trouble ahead) will not have the approval and protection from their Creator. Anyone who is obedient to their Creator and yet suffers harm – any harm, whether it be injury or death, will be undone.
After wickedness has gone, then the wonderful promises of healing for mankind, the planet and the future resurrection of those who have died can begin. Our Creator is longing to see a happy healthy human family thriving on a beautiful planet Earth.
In the meantime, the wars that are fought now are not with the Creator’s approval, even when some may feel they have a noble cause. It is utterly futile for opposing sides in a violent conflict to be praying to their Creator – for He will not be listening to those prayers. Ultimately, those who have disobeyed Him and have been drawn into violent conflicts will be judged by Him. As the giver of life, He alone has the right to take life. He says “wait for me”. He can undo all the effects of the suffering of innocent people. And He will.
So….in conclusion…
I am very optimistic that the future of mankind will be very wonderful. But I know that there will be some who will persist in what our Creator views as wicked. Before that war, during which wickedness will be eliminated once for all time, some will actually fight against our Creator and those who trust Him. Can you imagine? In fact, did you know that what actually starts the war of Armageddon is the attack on those who have been obedient to and have put their trust in Creator?
‘Whoever touches you touches the pupil of my eye.” – Zech 2:7
Teresa, aka The Haunted Wordsmith gave us a sweet picture, a story starter sentence and the genre of romance. So I have plucked Annabelle and Robin from another post and let them be the stars of this little story. Here is Teresa’s original prompt post:
https://thehauntedwordsmith.wordpress.com/2019/05/29/fiction-prompt-may-29/
“We haven’t even started yet Annabelle.” he smiled and kissed my forehead tenderly. I had just told Robin that I could not remember ever being so happy, and that this was the best day of my life. And I meant it. The whole cavity within my chest was full of the sweet nectar of happiness and love. I felt as if I would never be hungry again, while I was full up on feeling loved and safe and warm.
“Come on Beautiful, I have a surprise for you.” Robin took my hand and led me from the terrace garden where we had been gazing at the blushing sunset sky. There were some worn stone steps leading down from the top of the cliff towards the secluded bay below. Robin helped me whenever the steps looked crumbly. “Careful Belle, there is no rush.”
The stone steps gave way to soft white sand. I slipped my shoes off and let my feet sink into the cool sand. Robin ran ahead of me. I watched him running. So often he reminded me of a young boy with his energy for life. But he had what a youngster lacks. He had charm and he cared so much. He was so kind and thoughtful.
I walked towards the water’s edge and gently kicked the little waves that were rolling in. I did not want him to see the tears that had welled up into my eyes. The kind of tears that being deeply happy and not wanting a perfect day to ever end provokes within you. I hated that my time with him was nearly up. The next morning I would have to head to the airport and go back to the mundane hum drum life which was too far away from Robin. Only seeing him for one weekend a month was becoming harder to endure. But I didn’t want him to know that I was becoming more and more unhappy. I wanted to make sure that he enjoyed every moment I was with him. He would not want to see me crying, especially not after the wonderful day we had spent together.
“Annabelle, over here!” I could see Robin waving his arm, so I ran towards him. As I drew close, he held out his arms and then lifted me up, as if I was as light as a feather and turned with me holding onto his shoulders.
“Well, is this what you had in mind?” Robin asked me while he pointed with his arms towards an old sail boat that was resting on the sand.
“It’s so charming Robin. She needs a bit of love, but she is a delight. I wonder who she belongs to.”
“Well, she used to belong to Big Sam who owns the Flying Fish Cafe. But yesterday he sold her to me.”
“You bought a boat!” I cried in astonishment.
“Sure I did. She is ours now Annabelle. We can start living the dream.”
“The dream?”
“Yes, the dream, your dream. How many times have you said to me you wanted to build a boat with the man of your dreams and then sail around the world with him? Well…I don’t think we have time to build a boat from scratch, but I am sure we have the time to give this beauty a lick of paint…and then, we can set sail for our trip around the world.”
I laughed at Robin. “I wish we could.” I felt a tear well up into my eye and immediately escape down my left cheek.
“That’s why I bought the boat Annabelle. To make your wish come true, to make your dream come true. I love you Annabelle. I love your dreams. I would love to be the man you sailed around the world with.”
I turned away in tears. I couldn’t control myself.
“What’s the matter Belle? Don’t you want to?”
“I can’t hear these words Robin if this is just a joke. I can’t hear them if they are not true. Please don’t say these things, not like this, not unless you mean them. I can’t bear for it not to be true.”
Robin grabbed my hands and squeezed them, “Come with me Belle. Sail away with me. I want to be the man of your dreams and I want to share your dreams forever.”
Will it be the same? Will it be the happy place it has always been? Will it be the safe and warm haven where I forget all pain and fear and anxiety? Will it be the the paradise of pleasure where spines fizz with wild delight? Will it be the sweet rest-place where two breathless and racing hearts collapse in joy and abandonment?
I want to be wrapped up tightly in those arms, feeling your chest expand with each breath you take and fall as you exhale. I want to sleep with your heart beating inches away from mine. I want my legs to become entangled with yours in the midst of sleep when we are too tired to make love. I want to be woken up by your kisses teasing the back of my shoulder and my neck.
I want you to force me out of slumber by grabbing my hips and turning me round, so that I know that you are hungry for me. What a start to the day. Then after being driven into a dazzle of ecstasy to be able to rest and recover for another hour or so before it is time to get up and face the day.
Will it be the same? After all this time has passed – will you still be the same? Will I be the same? I can’t imagine it not being as wonderful as ever.
I saw the photo for today’s fiction prompt hosted by Teresa, aka The Haunted Wordsmith, and my thoughts became wrapped up in non-fiction real stuff:
https://thehauntedwordsmith.wordpress.com/2019/05/28/fiction-prompt-may-28/
Did you know…that it has been 24 weeks and 1 day (that’s 5 months and 18 days) since my last night with Goldfinch? Now that does not really mean anything to anyone else. Yet I have been thinking about my loss. I would have surely found a 23 hour trip to Australia very uncomfortable. But it would have been quite mission.
I am so glad I will be with Goldfinch again. I am aching for comfort from him. Everyone who knows has been wonderful, but it’s only him I really want to be able to shed a few tears with and receive his warm embrace.
Aaaah – it’s an odd thought. When I first asked Goldfinch if I could visit him this summer, I was thinking that it might be my last chance to travel for a long time. I felt it was very important to see him before my life changed. I won’t dwell on what might have been. I shall look forward to being with Goldfinch and wrapped up in his arms. That’s all that seems to matter right now.
I need to go to sleep. Long day at work tomorrow. Goodnight 🙂
And sometimes I think that the internet makes the world even smaller.
I had a very pleasant surprise last night. I will tell you what it is later. But I was thinking about what a completely random coincidence it was. And I was thinking of how things can spread beyond your control on social media. I had terrible experiences because of my connection with Jack. What happened last night reminded me of how quickly things can spread via social media.
Well…the surprise I had…I had an e-mail from a relative who lives in Australia and there was a link to a social group he is part of who have their own site and had published photos from an event. I scrolled through the photos not really paying attention (as you do when you don’t know the people in the photos)…and there, all of a sudden was Goldfinch. I could not believe my eyes!!! At first I thought I was imagining it because it was a photo from the side, so it only showed his profile. But I carried on scrolling through the photos and there were six more with him. It was him. No doubt about it! One of the photos is particularly lovely – such a gorgeous smile.
Had he had his arm round a woman in attendance at the event, I might have been rather irked by seeing that (he is completley free of course to enjoy life without feeling impeded by me). But he did not. He was just him, wonderful him. The kind of dress style I am used to and the same beautiful eyes and gorgeous everything else.
I have not told Goldfinch yet. I don’t know if he would be a bit freaked out by it. On the other side of the planet, he just happened to be at the same event as a relative of mine, and he did not even know it. Of course I should tell him. It would be better for him to know in case they cross paths again. It is such a small world.
Today’s non-fiction prompt from Teresa, aka The Haunted Wordsmith, is:
https://thehauntedwordsmith.wordpress.com/2019/05/27/nonfiction-prompt-may-27/
I have many ice-cream memories. Nowadays I tend to avoid ice-cream because I am not very good with dairy. But I made up for it by eating a lot of ice-cream as kiddo! Mum used to buy blocks of raspberry ripple ice-cream from the supermarket – yum yum! Then I discovered mint ice-cream was like a revolution for me.
We used to go to work with my Dad during the school holidays. Some of Dad’s customers were very kind to us. We were well supplied by Dad’s customers with juice and biscuits. They would even give us some money to buy sweets. One lady gave me £1 and told me it was ice-cream money. Dad crimsoned in embarrassment with my reply to his lovely customer. I held out my hand and said to the lady “have you ever heard of a thing called inflation?” Don’t worry…I now fully comprehend how cheeky I was! At the time, I was just trying to communicate my frustration, because back then it cost £1.10 to buy a Mr Whippy ice-cream with a chocolate flake and raspberry sauce and sprinkles from the ice-cream van…which at the time was the highest form of ice-cream perfection!!!
Visiting Europe and discovering a superior quality of ice-cream in amazing flavours like pistachio or espresso was the height of my ice-cream indulgence.
But then the dairy problems came along, so now it is mango sorbet or lemon sorbet for me. I am always on the look out for indulgent non-dairy ice-creams. At the moment I am looking out for a peanut-butter flavour non-dairy ice-cream. When I return from Australia and feel so sad to have left my Goldfinch…I shall eat ice-cream and cake to my heart’s content!
Last summer I met Goldfinch in Coventry one morning. He needed to buy some new jeans but we had to wait for the clothing stores to open. So we went to Sprinkles Gelato which was just around the corner from the station where I had arrived. He ordered three scoops of ice-cream and devoured them for his breakfast. I loved seeing him tucking into the ice-cream – that man loves pleasure! I had coffee, black coffee. (Late night and very early start to get to Coventry.) That was just the start of the day. The rest of the day was wonderful, really really wonderful….as all my days with Goldfinch were.
Ice-cream memories are so sweet 🙂
I don’t actually have my own garden. I have a little courtyard outside my front door which is mainly in the shade due to the house above. But that’s nice, it helps to keep the flat lovely and cool throughout the hot weather.
But if you walk up the steps from the little courtyard and turn right you are in for a treat!
There is such a pretty garden belonging to the house above me. I help water the garden and mow the lawn throughout the summer. It has been especially pretty during the spring. Of course the daffodils and tulips are long gone. The magnolia and camellias have disappeared now, and I can see that the wisteria is fading away. The forsythia is beautiful at the moment.
But it is still a lovely garden. And there will be more flowers appearing throughout the summer, I think we are due some roses soon. There are also boxes and pots around the garden with pansies which seem to keep thriving whatever the weather, lavender and honeysuckle and various creepers trailing around the wooden trellises.
Very pretty, very lovely, very fragrant – a little pocket of paradise, a mini-oasis from the big choky smoke of London.
________________
This was my post in response to the prompt from Sarah Elizabeth Moore:
https://sarahelizabethmoore.org/2019/05/26/writing-prompt-21/
Jim Adams, aka Newepicauthor, the creator of A Unique Title For Me, is hosting SONG-LYRIC-SUNDAY and this week he has chosen a theme that I am sure will be great fun: COOL/GROOVY/HIP/NIFTY/RADICAL/SWELL
I almost forgot this week’s SONG-LYRIC-SUNDAY. For some reason I have already chosen my songs for the next few weeks, but missed today’s theme. Well…I can’t wait to see the songs everyone chooses!
This was the song the came to my mind! I love it! I especially love that line: “I gotta find a new place where the kids are hip“.
And I do believe that the very first time I heard this song was during the opening credits to a certain film starring John Travolta and Kirsty Alley, many moons ago. That certainly was like a human biology lesson.
I’m gettin’ bugged driving up and down this same old strip
I gotta find a new place where the kids are hip
My buddies and me are getting real well known
Yeah, the bad guys know us and they leave us alone
I get around
Get around round round I get around
From town to town
Get around round round I get around
I’m a real cool head
Get around round round I get around
I’m makin’ real good bread
Get around round round I get around
I get around
Round
Get around round round oooo
Wah wa ooo
Wah wa ooo
Wah wa ooo
We always take my car cause it’s never been beat
And we’ve never missed yet with the girls we meet
None of the guys go steady cause it wouldn’t be right
To leave their best girl home on a Saturday night
I get around
Get around round round I get around
From town to town
Get around round round I get around
I’m a real cool head
Get around round round I get around
I’m makin’ real good bread
Get around round round I get around
I get around
Round
Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah
Round round get around
I get around
Yeah
Get around round round I get around
Get around round round I get around
Wah wa ooo
Get around round round I get around
Oooo ooo ooo
Get around round round I get around
Ahh ooo ooo
Get around round round I get around
Ahh ooo ooo
Get around round round I get around
Ahh ooo ooo
Caramel 