Saturday, 23 April 2022

the Colour of Friendship

 

Mariupol before and after.


THE COLOUR OF FRIENDSHIP

Once upon a time the colours of the world started to quarrel. All claimed that they were the best. The most important. The most useful. The favourite.

Green said:
"Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority."

Blue interrupted:
"You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing."

Yellow chuckled:
"You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun."

Orange started next to blow her trumpet:
"I am the colour of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and papayas. I don't hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you."

Red could stand it no longer he shouted out:
"I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood - life's blood! I am the colour of danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire into the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the color of passion and of love, the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy."

Purple rose up to his full height:
He was very tall and spoke with great pomp: "I am the colour of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me for I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey."

Finally Indigo spoke, much more quietly than all the others, but with just as much determination:
"Think of me. I am the colour of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace."

And so the colours went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own superiority. Their quarrelling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening thunder rolled and boomed. Rain started to pour down relentlessly. The colours crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort.

In the midst of the clamour, rain began to speak:
"You foolish colours, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me."

Doing as they were told, the colours united and joined hands.

The rain continued:
"From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of colour as a reminder that you can all live in peace. The Rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow."

And so, whenever a good rain washes the world, and a Rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another.

Author Unknown

 










 

 

 


Saturday, 16 April 2022

Bring back the Apron


 Bring back the APRON.

 

I don't think most kids today know what an apron is. The principle use of Mom's or Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath because she only had a few. It was also because it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and aprons used less material. But along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids..

And when the weather was cold, she wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, she walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men folk knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.

 

REMEMBER:

Mom's and Grandma's used to set hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.

They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron.

I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron - but love

Author - Unknown

 


Standing with Ukraine in the unprovoked war.

So far 1962 civilians killed, 161 of them Children and many more injured. 



Sunday, 10 April 2022

Plant a seed of Peace for Ukraine

 We shall overcome : 


Madeleina Kay


I haven't written a song for a long time... But, those of you who know me well enough, will know that when I feel passionately about an injustice, my emotions pour out into song lyrics... And to say that I felt strongly about Russia's completely unjustified and barbaric attack on Ukraine is an understatement. Knowing people who have been personally affected by Putin's heinous acts is one of the reasons why I truly value Peace in Europe. And the value of Peace, is precisely why we should all care about what is happening to innocent victims in Ukraine. I said this over and over again, whilst I was campaigning against Brexit and the fracturing of Europe: Nothing is more valuable than Peace.

I haven't been able to make a recording of this song yet, but I wanted to share the lyrics with you (typed below for those who can't read my handwriting!):
'A dove, shot out of the sky,
But no-one will admit to his crime,
A fall so far from grace,
The burden of loss, carried by the displaced.
CHORUS:
Plant a seed into the Earth,
Remember what a life is worth,
The waste of the damage done,
By a man's ego and a loaded gun.
Watch it rise into the Sun,
Love it like a father, a brother, a son,
Lost to such a cruel act of hate,
They live on in memories we create.
Toxic minds falsify their proof,
To disrupt communication of the truth,
Justice has been paralysed,
By the folly of subservient minds.
CHORUS
Storm clouds gather over hostile ground,
Where no sanctuary is now to be found,
But wise old women know, that
One day, in this sodden Earth, sunflowers will grow.
Who dares rise up?
Who dares speak out?
Who will pay the price?
Who has no doubt?
Who values above,
The life of the fallen dove,
The truth, freedom, love and Peace.
The truth, freedom, love and Peace.
CHORUS
Mothers will cut the stem, and
Lay down sunflowers, to remember them.
To remember them.'





Sunday, 3 April 2022

Ukraine - Peace and Welcome + well done Charlie Bird.


 

We must continue to speak out against this War & fight the Disinformation in Russia - use art, music, writing, culture - use your voice 🗣 We cannot remain silent on this!
This artwork commemorates the incredibly brave act of protest by Russian woman #MarinaOvsyannikova

OPEN DOORS

And just like that, doors everywhere were thrown open.

Everything, but love and justice, was cast aside.

You’re welcome here, came the resounding cries.

And sure enough, kindness was in abundance, wherever you cared to look for it.

Despite the struggles of the years just gone, people had not hardened or grown more cynical, my friends.

They had, in fact, grown more warm, more wise, and far more aware of what really matters.

They saw it in the lockdown, you see, what a gift freedom is, and how quickly the world can turn.

And so, just like that, doors everywhere were thrown open,

You’re welcome here. You’re welcome here.

Donna Ashworth



While at the top of Croagh Patrick, Charlie lit five candles with each one holding significant meaning to him.

1st. is for one the amazing human being Vicky Phelan.                                                               2nd. is for everyone who has a terminal illness.                                                                               3rd. candle will be in honour of those battling to fight their mental mountains on a daily basis.                                                                                                                                          4th. candle  is for everyone who helped out in the great battle against the pandemic.               The last one is for the people of Ukraine who are going through a living hell the moment.’

give a little time to listen to the song " Shine a Light" by Michael English. 

Here is the link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1keB01rAnk&ab_channel=TheLateLateShow

                              


Forgiveness

  Forgiveness  My father once said, “If they hurt you, forgive them, but never forget what they’ve done.” This has always been a reminder ...