Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Today's 3 wishes

1. That my Microsoft Word programme will start working again when technical support call me back from Adobe - (I downloaded a 31 day free trial of Contribute 4 and it has done something to Word). (I had to de-install it to get Word working again!)

2. That the leaves will blow off the trees before too long, so I won't have to keep sweeping the path. (The leaves decide when they want to fall, have swept path twice more since this posting).

3. That today will brighten up soon and this drizzle (you know, that fine rain that gets you wetter than all the others) will stop. (It didn't).

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Today's 3 Wishes

1. That my wife won't shout at me too much for messing about with "this silly blog!" (She did)

2. That my grandson doesn't wreck the house too much this week-end! (He loves emptying the pan drawer and throwing the pans all over the kitchen floor!) (He did)

3. That people everywhere will show a bit more care for others and treat them as they would wish to be treated themselves. (They didn't - if reading and watching the news is anything to go by))

A Little Person's Query - Patricia Catherine Jones 1967

A Little person stopped and stared at Earth in all her glory
“I wonder if good Earth you would tell us your life story?
Would you please tell us why you were placed exactly where you are?
What useful purpose do you serve – why a planet not a star?
Did you feel pain or terror the day God gave you birth?
Knowing then that Mankind would call you “Mother” Earth?
You’ve nurtured us, sustained us and held us to you tightly,
But sometimes in your moodiness you’ve rejected us as lightly.
You’ve drowned us in your raging seas, swallowed us in ‘quakes
Tortured us with raging thirst – shown us mirages of lakes.
To give us bliss with one hand, with another give us Hell
What sort of Mother are you who should do all things well?
Please speak to us dear Mother, our eyes look for a sign
In you we seek the signpost to show us the Divine,
But brother turns on brother and hatred scars your face
Oh! Can you not do something these errors to erase?
Our voices cry in longing “Dear Father send again
The Shepherd who can lead us to where Truth and Beauty reign.”
He will lead us to green pastures and by quiet waters lie
“We do not ask for greater wealth” – Earth answered with a sigh“
You turn to me for comfort and I have none to give
I can only give you sustenance so that your bodies live.
It’s true sometimes I have reared up and sacrificed my young,
Drowned them in my hungry seas and lashed them with my tongue.”
“What Mother does not oftimes chastise her dearest child
When his foolish stupid antics are apt to make her wild?
You call for the Good Shepherd to walk the Earth once more
Think you Men would listen in these days of hate and war?
My purpose in the scheme of things is plain for all to see
And those having ears should hear and those having eyes should see.”
“But having eyes that see not and hearts that know not Love
How can you read the portents and omens from Above?
Another cycle has been turned and now the crucial thing
Can you dear children of my Soul survive the upward swing?
Mankind doth stand pinned on his Cross, braced on the lower arc,
Together you must rise – together make your mark.”
“Love ye one another babes, for Love unlocks the Gate,
Ye cannot pass unless you do, but only stand and wait.
To wait in fear with trembling limbs and anxious beating hearts,
Fearing the coming of each day and what that day imparts.
Unleashed Powers lurk around and several have a Key
To unlock those hidden terrors for all Mankind to see.”
“Then who would see, or who would hear and who would even live?
I say to you my children my bosom could not give
A place for you to lay your heads, or food for you to eat.
My soul would weep in bitterness to witness Man’s defeat
A bereft Mother I would be – my family departed,
Aeons of time before I’d see some other offspring started.”
“The ripple on the water’s face I’d eagerly await.
From water came you long ago, but perhaps another gate
Would open up to let you thro’ – not Earth but in the air
Your new bodies would be formed and they’d be wondrous fair.
Perchance another Shepherd would come to lead you Home,
Maybe this time you’d follow Him – not hankering to roam.”
“Why stray when in your secret hearts you know you are Divine,
Can you not see the way lies clear? – hold fast to what is thine.
The act of Creation lies in thee, a gift from God most High.
Create a Heaven here on Earth and no longer will I sigh
For gifts for all my children, for nothing will they need.
Love, Peace and Beauty will be yours if only you would heed.”
“Listen to a Mother’s words, then no secrets will be hidden
And treasures I will offer in abundance when I am bidden
By Him who, in his greatest Love and Wisdom bid me hide
Until such time as ye are grown and working side by side
To bring about his Holy Plan in all sincerity
Knowing that your aim is Love, shared in Humility.
Written by my Mother – Patricia Catherine Jones in July 1967.

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Desert Sunset - Dubai 2005


The Spider and The Fly

This year our garden, like many others has had more than its fair share of spiders. Most of the week-ends have been spent clearing the cobwebs to be able to get down the garden without have a few of our little friends crawling over us!
The early morning sun highlighted a myriad of sparkling webs with jewels of dew adorning them. Obviously spiders enjoy flies as a staple diet and here is one just beginning to cocoon her prey.
This is part of my therapy as I hate them! Sorry if anyone else feels the same. But "Feel The Fear and watch them anyway!"

Cabo Roig -Gary's Villa, pool area - 2006


Collage - France New Year 2005/06


My Mother (circa) 1938/39 aged 17 or 18

Mum passed away in 1993 aged 71

Dad & I (circa) 1976 at Liverpool Bowling Club

Dad died in 2003 just before his 92nd birthday.

Tamariu - August 1968

The girl in the yellow bikini is sat on my knee (Pam Thompson).

Monday, October 23, 2006

Is This The Way To Amarillo?

Click here>>>>Is This The Way To Amarillo?

Great Peter Kay video as shown on Comic Relief 2005. (3 mins)

Saturday, October 21, 2006

In My Life - The Beatles

Click here >>>>>In My Life - The Beatles

A great video and a great Beatles number.

Alter Ego Bar - Hoghton Street Southport

(click on image to enlarge)
Great little bar in Southport, run by my son and his girlfriend. If you are passing by, call in for a drink and listen to some music!

Sunday, October 15, 2006

October Quiz

1. Who played JR Ewing in the TV series Dallas?
2. How many wives of Henry VIII were beheaded?
3. Where were the 1992 Summer Olympic Games held?
4. Who wrote Tarzan of the Apes in 1912?
5. Which Japanese martial art translates into English as "empty hand"?
6. Who played the Toymaker in the 1968 film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?
7. Who wrote the novel Chitty Chitty Bang Bang : The Magical Car?
8. What is the chemical symbol for Copper?
9. In what year was Margaret Thatcher elected as Britain's first female Prime Minister?
10. Which of these countries does NOT border the Russian Federation a) Georgia b) Armenia c)Azerbaijan d) Latvia?
11. What number is represented by the Roman numeral XLV?
12. In which field was Frenchman Eugene Ferdinand Victor Delacroix famous in the 19th Century?
13. In physics, what letter is used to represent to fundamental constant that is equal to "9.80665 metres per second squared"?
14. What is the capital of the US State of Florida?
14. What sport is played in the USA by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers and Houston Rockets?
16. What is the orbital period of Halley's Comet?
17. At which battle on August 1st 1798 did Nelson destroy the French fleet, 7 years before doing it again at the Battle of Trafalgar?
18. What football club play their home games at Brunton Park?
19. Which US state's flag has a Union Jack in the canton?
20. From which plant do we get Vanilla?

Answers in Comments

Saturday, October 14, 2006

Tony's 60th

Held at the Bergamot & Spinner in Comberbach, near Northwich. Thanks Tony, we had a lovely day and it was great to share it with you. Great to meet up with old friends from the 60's too. Ron referred to it as Last Of The Summer Wine!






















Bev from Singapore at Tyndall's Southport

Babs & Bev (Click on photos to enlarge )

Victoria & The Boys!

Click on Photo to enlarge

A Day at Southport Beach with Ella & Hayden






Click on photos to enlarge

Alex With His Endeavour Award


Well done Alex!

Mr Busy tidying up the towel drawer for Grandma!




AJ Looking solemn

Hello Grandad

3 Wishes For The Week-end

1. Everton win at Middlesborough - THEY LOST 2-1

2. The weather stays fine - SO FAR SO GOOD

3. My office tidies itself up- NOPE - GUESS I WILL HAVE TO DO IT MYSELF!

Friday, October 13, 2006

Today's Busy Day


It was busy! Long day. Up at 5.30 a.m. and got home at about 5 p.m. which wasn't too bad I guess. Overall, I was pleased with the day and I am looking forward to the next workshop on Nov 3rd.
The big bonus was the fact that I got to see my grandson at 6.45 a.m. as I had to take his push chair to my daughter's house on my way to the college. So a quick hug and a kiss set Grandad up for the day!
Here he is in his new wellies that Grandma bought him the other day!


Thursday, October 12, 2006

Busy Day Tomorrow

Got a busy day tomorrow. First of a series of workshops to be delivered at a college of further education in the North West. We are covering off Interpersonal Styles and Reducing Tension in Relationships in the workplace. I am looking forward to it. We are running two sessions; there will be about 40+ people in total, so it should be lively.

Our House & Garden




This is our house and our garden. We have been here since 1991. We live in a village in Lancashire called Halsall. It is about 15 miles north west of Liverpool, where I was born. Hope you enjoy visiting the blog.