A Sister is a Little Bit of Childhood that can Never Be Lost*

Good Morning Dear Friends!

and welcome to Friday the 24th of February which, as all good people know, is the very day on which -  a not inconsiderable number of years ago - the world first caught a tantalising glimpse of the delightful Sister Cate; she has been delighting us and filling it with her love and selflessness ever since and so, as an extra special treat and in order to celebrate this most marvelous of events, we're going to have a slice of Victoria sandwich with our tea in the study this morning . . . perhaps fresh cream and strawberries are a bit of an indulgence  but I think a deserved one, so please help yourself and sit down . . .

In reality, I actually met up with the above mentioned sibling yesterday for our fast-becoming ritual which happens most Thursdays. We spent quite a while with the lovely people in Costa who, as usual, looked after us royally, and were joined briefly by Dominic Littlewood - he of consumer watchdog fame from TV land - who popped in for a secret cuppa, pausing only to have his photo snapped with the ever-pleasant Vickie who then delighted us with her "dad-dancing" - ah, youth! 

And, speaking of such matters, I shall be there again today with my own example of the species as my son and I meet up for an all-too-rare get-together; he now towers over me and speaks with the manly reassurance that I somehow never seemed to master . . . it does seem to be a rather cake-based reality these days (which, in my book, is No Bad Thing!) as I believe I am to have a Sunday Morning Sojourn with Mr and Mrs Gecko aka Sam and Andrew, neither of whom I have clapped eyes upon for many a long month. This is due in part to a rather unfortunate operation Sam has had to endure which left her less than mobile, and my own inability to manage my diary properly! So with any luck - and given the fact that I will be visiting Deer Crossing in Cheshire once more on Saturday where the table always groans under the weight of comestibles - come March I shall be totally unable to see my own feet, ah me!

Even as I write these words the day is changing; I awoke to a greyishness which transformed almost immediately into a bit of blue sky and sunshine; now a scurrilous wind has arisen and promises a splash to accompany my dash into town later . . . I know it is a sign of impending (if not already achieved) Victor Meldrew-ness but I find myself loathe to carry an umbrella as I inevitably leave it somewhere and have to dash back breathless and bothered to recove it and also find it difficult to manage when carrying bags . . .  I can't believe I have just forced you to read such self-pitying piffle dear readers but, alas, 'tis true! I shall simply have to rely on my Craghopper coat (another loathsome item of apparel) and the fact that I do live practically on the doorstep of town . . . it could be Much Worse and, thankfully, I shan't be at sea to witness the worse things that do happen there!

Anyhow, the real reason I invited you here this morning was, of course, to pass on felicitations to my beloved sister and wish her the very happiest of birthdays; I hope she finds a way out from beneath the mountains of cards and gifts heaped upon her and manages not to slip under the taxi coming out of the pub tonight! She has, throughout her life, always looked after me as only a big sister can and I should like to regale you now with a glimpse into my childhood and an example of her beneficence . . .

When I was very young -  maybe four or five years, maybe less - I noticed for the first time a thumping noise coming from within my chest.  I asked my Biggest Sister what it was and was told it was my heart and that it would always make this noise and movement unless I went to sleep with my hand on it . . . . but what would happen then I enquired full of curiosity; she then announced with, it has to be said, a kind of glee rarely seen except perhaps on the face of Jack Nicholson as he smashes down the door in "The Shining", that - should such an unfortunate occurrence take place -  my heart would stop and I would die and be gone forever.  Childish nonsense of course, and one that, some nearly fifty years later, still prevents me from going to sleep with my hands anywhere near my chest! 

Still, scarred as I am from this albeit unintentional malevolence, I shall manage to put it all behind me, continue to love her unconditionally and shower her with Useful and Acceptable Gifts** - everyone really loves the Reader's Digest deep down, don't they?

So with birthday greeting ringing in our ears - or is it simply the batteries need changing again? - I shall wish you all a simply Fantastical Friday and a Wondrous Weekend!

'til next time

Be Seeing You !

ॐ




*   Marion C. Garretty
** A wonderful monologue by the inimitable Joyce Grenfell 

A Room without Books is like a Body without a Soul *

Good Morning Dear Friends!

Welcome once again to the early yawny morning study at Myrtle House where Yours Truly sits and taps -  this being at present my only form of possible communication beyond the occasional squeak due to the unbounded kindness of Sister Cate who came to Sally-sit at the weekend and left behind sufficient air-borne molecules of My Lady Malady to strike me down with a most terrific lack of performance in the vocal chord department; however I have my revenge planned and ready to implement and I intend to re-infect her over tea and cake later this morning - they do say revenge is a sweet best eaten cold and I take it that the Coffee and Walnut cake courtesy of the delightful creatures at Costa, slips seamlessly into this category!

In the meantime I am glugging a most marvelous concoction which I am sure I must have mentioned before ... I was introduced to it by the wonderfully talented and fantastically voiced Frank Halliwell of Dennis Delight fame many years ago; although a brilliant vocalist, he was often beset by hoarseness and relied heavily on this mixture's amazing efficacy and recuperative powers to get him through a gig when the old chords were twanging less than usual and so, dear reader, I pass the secret on to you . . . it is available at most old fashioned chemists and goes by the name of Sanderson's Specific.  I warn you it tastes fairly noxious but is an amazing restorative . . . there is the usual nonsense on the label about sipping a teaspoon but, following Frank's wisdom, I simply glug it and, lo and behold, the squeak becomes a squawk almost instantly . . . try it, you'll be amazed!

Whilst I seem to be in the business of product - placement this morning, I'd like to draw to your attention the eatery (awful word!) of another chum; I refer, of course,  to The Coven Deli, which is based just around the corner from Myrtle House in Wigan's Victorian Quarter and is receiving the most amazing and richly-deserved reviews for its astounding range of specialist foods . . . if like me you are part of the Twitterverse you can follow @TheCovenWigan and keep up to date with all the events and delicious goodies available . . . yum!

Whilst glancing at the short blurb which accompanies these ravings I notice that I refer to Myrtle House as my "new home" which is something of a misnomer; it's now fast approaching a year since I moved my chattels across town to this oasis of peace amid the hustle and bustle of the hurly burly and what a strange year it has been . . . not the best in many respects but I have to say that the peace and serenity I have found here has helped immensely and given me strength to continue when it all seemed rather tiresome and pointless . . . of course,  being here would not have been even thinkable without the constant help, love and support I have received (most gratefully) from all those who shall remain nameless - you know who you are! Anyhow, come the 17th of March, which is St Patrick's Day, I shall be celebrating - albeit soberly due to my 2 year anniversary on the 28th of this month - my first full year 'neath these sequestered slates and so invite you all to say "Sláinte" on my behalf.

Concerning the environs of Myrtle House, plans are afoot - or 30.48 cm for you youngsters out there - to remove the teetering obelisk that is rumoured to be a garden shed but is fast approaching a return to its constituent gluons and leptons, and put in its place a wee little chicken house for three wee little chickens; names being bandied about for said birds include Korma, Tikka and Samber . . . which I think suggests a subtle encouragement to them to produce sufficient eggs to ensure their continued good health - what do you think? It is, of course, part of my long-held desire to be self-sufficient and live the good life . . . I wonder where I could put the goat?

The morning progresses and my tea has become a tad chillsome and, like my good self, needs hotting up somewhat! However, before I go I thought I'd mention some of the books I'm reading or have reviewed recently; last time I posted I said I was away to buy "The Snow Child" by Eowyn Ivey which I subsequently did and which is more than living up to its promise . . . a most marvelous story and so beautifully crafted . . . incidentally,  I also received a lovely tweet of thanks from Eowyn for mentioning her book which I thought was a really nice gesture;  I also got the chance to meet the very sweet Jane Rogers - she of Mr Wroe's Virgins fame - at Wigan Library a few days ago and got a copy of her new one "The Testament of Jessie Lamb" which I haven't begun yet but has quite an intriguing premise, I should check it out if I were you! I can't remember if I told you about "Putting Alice Back Together" by Carol Marinelli which is due to be published in around a fortnights time - it's a really good story but has the most appalling cover I've ever seen on a book! Don't let yourself be put off though, the read within is well worth it.  

All the links I've included will whizz you through the ether to the Waterstones ( no ') site but I do recommend that, if you don't mind paying a few coppers more, you visit the actual shop - the one in Wigan is staffed by the nicest bunch of folk this side of the asylum wall, though which side they should be on is debatable!  You can also follow them on Twitter by searching for @WaterstonesWN1 or simply Waterstones Wigan

Ah well, all things must come to an end and so I must show my face to the world - thus ending what had been quite a nice experience for the world until that point.  I hope your day is good and that you've enjoyed reading my scribblings; why not leave a comment, just to let me know that there is someone out there and it's not all in my imagination!

'til next time

Be Seeing You !

ॐ

* by Cicero but recently brought to my attention by my mate Chris - Cheers :)

Tempus Fugit . . .

Good Morning Dear Friends!

and a very joyful White Rabbity x 3 Day to you* . . . welcome to February and a fond farewell to two-faced Janus at last - I could be mistaken but I had the feeling that last month consisted of at least 62 days . . . anyhow, a whole new month stretches before us with the promise of unseasonably early Spring flowers alongside lower temperatures to chill our bones though, as I look out of the study window at Myrtle House, sky is is sapphire blue and a lot of light seems to be bouncing around heaven this morning . . . which can only be good!

So what do the forthcoming days hold in store? Ah, if I but knew . . . though I'm fairly sure that I will shortly be, as the dear Mr Ian Anderson sings** " ...on trains, on trains, I seem to spend my life on trains . . ." ; today merely for a miniscule hop to the next halt along the line to look at some buildings that could serve a useful purpose in the coming months - of which more later !  Before that, and following my beautification process which increases in length and decreases in success with each passing day, my self and somewhat less than fragrant flower of dogdom with whom I share my life will be toddling once more around the Victorian Quarter for matutinal micturitions ( her, not me I hasten to add!) and have a quick peep at friends and neighbours . . . whoops! Tempus fugit and all that, I will be late . . . make yourself at home and see you shortly!

Hello again! Well, following a brief canter along the Corridor of Chronos  - or a pavane along the Passage of Time if you prefer - I find myself in the thrub of Thursday. Yet another crisp and cold morning beyond the study windows calls me to task as soon I'm off for a most welcome large green tea and, I suspect, a positively colossal slab of cake with Sister Cate in Costa - it's a hard life!

Whilst tootling around the Wigwam I also want to pop in and see the lovely creatures in Waterstones (who can be found in Tweetland under the guise of WaterstonesWN1) as I have a fever upon me to purchase a book; I have read a sample chapter of what appears to be an enchanting publication entitled "The Snow Child" by an unknown-to-me author named Eowyn Ivey who appears to hail from the frozen wastes (or waists, if your shirt's too short!) of North America . . . want to know where? Alaska***

I found the chapter beautifully written and moving; I  also experienced albeit vicariously Eowyn's undoubted joy and jubilation at the birth of her book - being somewhat of a scribbler myself I know first hand the frustrations and seemingly interminable delays that occur before publication - my own meagre prize winning epic "The Maelstrom" is still awaiting the light of published day nearly a year later! -and the magnitude of sheer hard work involved in the conception and birth is staggering. If any of you doubters out there are pshawing my words I can only suggest that you try writing the smallest poem or item of prose and see how it feels! Equally, as I tweeted earlier today, I feel I must thank all the writers who, over the many years I've been a reader, have populated my world with their words and images; I feel I must give a special thank you to Charles Dodgeson who surreptitiously sneaked into my consciousness when I was fast approaching five years of age and has refused to leave ever since.

I have almost given up trying to predict when The Maelstrom will appear; along with a host of my other titles, it is also due to be self-published under the auspices of Myrtle House but life seems to have developed a habit of getting in the way . . . maybe an idea would be simply to hand out e-copies to those willing to read them and hope that someone out there likes them? Hmmm . . . I shall ponder, cogitate and inwardly digest!  

In the meantime, it is that time again when an insistent wet nose presses against my shapely calf - not sure why there appears to be livestock in the study or why Sal is sniffing it - to inform that I must ablute and walk my hound as time presses once more . . .

So, in the words of the Incredible String Band, who, strangely enough I found myself listening to again this week: "May the long time sunshine calm you, all love surround you and the pure light within you guide your way out!"

'til next time

Be Seeing You !

ॐ

*    I began this epic on Wednesday 1st!

** "Trains" by Ian Anderson from 1983 cd "Walk Into Light"

***To which - according to the rules of humour - you must reply "And what did she answer?

Good Evening Dear Friends!

Honey Gatherers of the Mind *

Good Morning My Dear Friends!

Welcome to the study at Myrtle House on a quite damp and drab looking Wednesday; a bit of a blip in the otherwise clear-skied month of Janus we have come to know and love so well! I thought it was high time I brought you up to speed on events, happenings, thoughts and whimsies and simply invite you to pull up a chair, pour some tea and for us to spend a wee while immersed in each others company.

I've been attending to my lessons quite a bit recently; trying to ram stuff into the rapidly smoothing folds of my failing cerebellum and gain more comprehension of things I half understand as well as revisiting stuff of my school days with fresh eyes and perhaps a little more dedication than before.  This process is undoubtedly helped by the profusion of excellent television programmes recently which allow even a dimwit like myself some access to the fascinating areas of life which we live in but don't always acknowledge or appreciate fully. As is often the case in these matters, a relatively simple statement in one area of knowledge exposes one's complete ignorance of another; rectify this and yet another little anomaly pops up, allowing one to travel down another path in pursuit of the ever-elusive esotericness and, as I find often and most gratifyingly, "the reward is the journey itself" (Lao Tse) 

It is all a question of beauty and quality; if you've ever had the misfortune to hear or read my thoughts on the marvelous "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert M Pirsig you'll know that this concept is a major facet of my raison d'être and recently I have found myself truly appreciating for the first time the absolute beauty of Mathematics.  I have been interested and intrigued by the seemingly obscure and logic-defying quantum world for a long time but my ignorance of the basic language of science - i.e. Mathematics - has hindered my understanding and it was while writing copious pages of notes on the fantastic "Wonders of the Universe" programmes by Dr Brian Cox ( yes, I probably do need to get out more) that I realised that I really had to get back to basics and "do my sums"! 

So, with the help of a marvelously mathematical and delightfully dear friend, I am slowly reinstating all the stuff I have forgotten - or never bothered to learn - from schooldays and am amazed by the sheer beauty of it all! 

I  experience real delight in actually using Pythagorus Theorem - y'know, all that "the square on the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the square on the other two sides" business  - something I have remembered from my time at the Grammar School but never truly understood or valued.** Even if there is compelling evidence that the theorem was around some 1200 years before our friend Pyth was born, it's still a cracker!

You must forgive my zeal; I am newly converted and positively evangelical - ah well, at least it seems to be a positive thing and so I am able to say with pride tempered by modesty that I am  carrying on with my nude ear's revolution to have at least one positive thought per day, a task which is proving much easier than I initially though it would be; it's quite entrancing just how rapidly these little bunnies of beneficence breed given the correct conditions, this being, of course, a positive and open frame of mind.

A similar ethos is also being applied to my writing; I am flogging my wares around the various marketplaces available and, despite little interest as of yet, I intend to keep at it.  I read in one of the trade magazines of one person who, receiving her first rejection letter from a publisher, was thrilled as she now considered herself a real writer; an attitude I admire and understand only too well.  It is also my intention to put aside some time for the long over-due development of the Myrtle House site which I find to my shame hasn't been updated since August last year! It will hopefully soon be used, as initially intended, as a publishing base for my work and that of other like-minded folk and you will be able to spend your hard earned spondulicks on my scribblings should you so desire.  Much of the neglect has been down to the fact that I've spent more time trying to develop my counselling site; my experiences there will undoubtedly prove to be of benefit.

A small wet nose on my knee tells me that my allotted span at the keyboard is nearly up; I must ablute and lead the Famous Sally Dog (for it is she!) on one of her matutinal micturating meanders, although a quick glance through the study window doesn't fill yours truly with the joys of Spring . . . ah well, needs must as they say!

I do hope you've enjoyed today's offering and that the sums haven't put you off; may today and the rest of the week be simply laden with love and laughter for you all.  Please feel free to drop me a line about this blog or anything else in fact and don't forget to pop in for a brew next time you are passing.

'til next time

Be Seeing You !

ॐ

*Our treasure lies in the beehive of our knowledge. We are perpetually on the way thither, being by nature winged insects and honey gatherers of the mind. 

Friedrich Nietzsche

**For those of you unfamiliar or terrified of the concept it goes a little like this: If you want to know how long the hypotenuse on the triangle up there is, you look at the other two sides and square them.  So the side that is 3cm long (we'll call it "a") becomes 3x3= 9cm; the other side ("b") becomes 4x4 = 16 cm, so we add these together and we get 25cm. 

If we then use P's theorem which says that a² + b² = c² we can work out that the hypotenuse squared ("c" x "c") must equal 25cm, so that we can work out which number times itself equals 25 (this is called finding the square root and you can do it either in your head for simple numbers or use a calculator) and so c=5

The Last Post ...

Good Morning My Dear Friends!

Welcome to the Last Post of the year; it has certainly been a good length of time since last we spoke and I offer no explanation for this other than to say it has been totally unavoidable and due to a whole series of events which are so breathtakingly tiresome as to not warrant mentioning further! Suffice it to say, there have been significant upheavals in both my personal and professional life; one knock-on of this is that this particular message is without the usual photographic accompaniment, this is due to being composed (with much eye squinting) on my iPhone !

Nonetheless, I wanted to take this opportunity to wish all of you an extremely wonderful, prosperous and happy 2012 and to reflect that, although this year has had some significant downsides it has also had many positives, not least the preserving and persevering love from family and friends which, as Lou Reed said " ... made me forget myself; I thought I was someone else, someone good".

So as this year ends and I ponder the coming 366 dawns I am determined to try and carry that love and its positivity forward; I have made some simple resolutions, all of which are SMART - you know: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Limited - and all of which I hope will benefit myself and those around me ... We shall see!

I'm not going to say much more; I have to brave the elements to pop out for some comestibles for a quiet NYE supper and so must get my act together. One final thing, I do hope this blog reads as the others; formatting is somewhat tricky at this scale - no, absolutely nothing to do with my age and failing eyesight, as if!

So all of my love and best wishes and

'til next time

Be Seeing You!


ॐ

Good Morning Dear Friends!