This is what I am needing right now.
I thought you might like to hear my choir singing Kokoleoko but then I found an even more beautiful interpretation of the Liberian folk song. I really love this.
Category Archives: philosophy
A Good Way to Live
Possibly the Most important thing you’ll read this Year…
The following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the ‘Peanuts’ comic strip.
You don’t have to actually answer the questions. Just ponder on them. Just read it straight through, and you’ll get the point.
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners.
How did you do?
The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields.
But the applause dies.
Awards tarnish.
Achievements are forgotten.
Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
Easier?
The lesson:
The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money … or the most awards. They simply are the ones who care the most.
Source: Weird and Amazing Stuff
I had a small surgical procedure yesterday and am resting up for a few days so this is taken from my collected nuggets of wisdom. It is, obviously, American but the lesson is the same wherever you live.
Roasted Rainbow and Another Good Read
One of our favourite meals tonight, a rainbow of roasted vegetables with halloumi cheese – scrumptious!
Red Pepper, Sweet potato, Carrots, Yellow pepper, Broccoli, Red onion
My lovely book buddy, H, brought me up another good read yesterday and I have just spent two days reading! I thought I would just read a page or two and then get back to the various things waiting for me but I haven’t been able to put it down! 
If you haven’t read this, then I suggest you do. The story is quite remarkable, very moving and is just chock-full of human kindness.
Flowers, Micro Space and A Poster
We made a lovely bunch of white flowers from the garden for our visit to our Dear friend,T. She loved them.
One of the lovely independent shops in Redruth, Make A Mends, has a little box outside that is a Micro Space for very small exhibitions of local makers. When I called in yesterday to offer some fabric I no longer need, they invited me to put some of my glass in there. There is a Like O Meter on the box and passersby who like what they see can turn a little handle to register their like!..
Inside the shop there is a poster/ statement of intent – not sure what to call it…… It pleased me. 
Life is Beautiful
I found this today and it touched me.
I looked up the author and found this “L. R. Knost is an  award-winning author, feminist, and social justice activist, is the founder and director of the children’s rights advocacy and family consulting group, Little Hearts/Gentle Parenting Resources ( http://www.littleheartsbooks.com/ ), and Editor-in-Chief of Holistic Parenting Magazine. Her work has been quoted from Hollywood to D.C. to South Africa, most notably in an address on children’s rights to the South African Parliament by the Minister of Justice. She lives in Central Florida with her husband and the youngest four of her six children.”
I have posted some of her wise words before. Put her name in the search bar for more.
Desiderata, Clematis and A Web
I am preparing for a Humanist Wedding ceremony this coming Saturday and as I started work this morning, a message came in from two of my colleagues who did a Wedding last weekend (no, not that one!) where  Desiderata was one of the readings. I was reminded of how special it is.
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
Desiderata by Max Ehrmann
Our Nelly Moser Clematis has its first flower and something is eating the petals!
Nelly Moser
I was sitting enjoying the sunshine when I noticed this circular web and wondered what creature may be responsible.
Who made this very neat web in the wall?
Smiles, Mixing Deck and André Gide
On my march along the street to singing this morning (trying to get my steps level up!) I went past this smiley invitation to go into the Hospice shop.
Smiles
We have had a number of pieces of HiFi equipment which have been replaced and rather than sell them, took them along today to our local Radio Station, Kmf, Kernow Music Foundation, at The Venue, where they were very happily received.
KMF Radio
I loved the colours on the mixing deck.
Mixing deck
Yesterday I promised to share some of the words from my precious notebook. From Andre Gide come these beauties:
‘You who will come when I have ceased to hear the noises of this earth and to taste its dew upon my lips, it is for you I write these pages; for perhaps you are not sufficiently amazed at being alive; you do not wonder as you should at this astounding miracle of your life.’
I hope his words touch you as they did me.
Humanity, Sweet Dreams and Knitting
These words of Bertrand Russell say it all.
I have mentioned before that we are doing some research for a project about St Euny churchyard. This stone is our latest discovery and this is the first time we had seen music like this on a stone. Isn’t it lovely? Elsewhere on the stone are scattered notes and a b flat.
Sweet Dreams
This little cartoon came my way the other day and made me smile!
St Clements’ Cake, Tongs and Be Not Inhospitable
I had a request for cake today and this one was in the freezer needing only its icing with orange zest and juice. It’s a lemony cake with orange icing – hence St Clements.
St Clements’ Cake
I love these silly little tea-bag tongs!
Tea bag tongs
What good advice this is, just the first line alone whether they be in disguise or not. Be kind, be welcoming, be generous – indeed, follow the Golden Rule of treating others as you would wish to be treated. I wrote before of the Golden Rule here and here. Do check out these pages too. I just love this whole picture as well as its words, an environment I would love to be in. Almost any bookshop is a good place to be!
Be not inhospitable
Paper Roses, Musical Cloud, A Poem and Kath
I still have on the mantlepiece one of my birthday cards six weeks after the event. It is so lovely, I think it may be there all year!
Paper roses
I have at last found somewhere pleasing to hang my musical cloud, a delightful birthday present from last December – and it looks just lovely.
Musical cloud
I have loved the poem, ‘When I am an old woman’ by Jenny Joseph since I first read it many, many years ago and I have been remembering it recently, thinking, when I am an old woman, I shall wear purple and lime green and pink and turquoise and yellow and orange – and all together!
Walking without crutches 7 weeks after my second hip replacement
When I am an old woman by Jenny Joseph
When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I’m tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people’s gardens
And learn to spit.You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.
Today is the birthday of my beautiful friend Kath whose too-early death inspired this blog. She also was going to wear purple and we did both practise in good time. We enjoyed singing and laughing together, sharing recipes and good food together, being in France in their Meyssac home, and always supporting each other and she is much missed. She would have loved my blog.
