New Quote

 

“Life is a tragedy for those who feel, and a comedy for those who think.”

― La Bruyere

Pain and suffering are always

inevitable for a large intelligence

and a deep heart.

The really great men must,

I think, have great sadness on earth.

~ Fyodor Dostoevsky

I get a lot of insight and sometimes direction from quotes from other people. I have just spent my precious time, two hours of it, searching for a quote which I thought was pinned up on the wall in my writing room. Lucky me having a 'room of my own' in fact a house of my own. The problem is Virginia I still don't write enough because I also have a garden of my own. Anyway back to the point. The quote I was looking for was about choosing everyday whether to be alone or to be with other people. That was my problem for a long time. Now my problem is to garden or to write.

The search for the quote started firstly from a comment from a friend who had been feeling down through loneliness but at the same time wanting to get on with jobs at home. Secondly I opened a book this morning, a biography of Georgia O'Keefe and was bowled over by a quote from her. This set me off on my search.

One works because it is the most interesting thing one knows to do. The day one works are the best days. On the other days one is hurrying through the other things one imagines one has to do to keep one's life going. You get the garden planted. You get the roof fixed. You take the dog for a walk. You spend the day with a friend...You may even enjoy doing such things...But always you are hurrying through these things with a certain amount of aggravation so that you can get at the paintings again because that is the high- in a way it is what you do all the other things for...The painting is like a thread that runs through all the reasons for all the other things that make one's life.

This applies to me except the 'work' has changed from weaving to painting, to writing and now it seems to be gardening. And also for the past ten years learning French.

 The interesting idea which has come through is that the first quote comes first. No matter what the 'work' is I have to be alone and when I go to bed I like to know that I have achieved.

Blogs Blogs Blogs

 I began my first blog in August 2010. It was called "Living and Gardening in Brittany". Up until then I had hand written several journals. I found blogging difficult at first due to the fact that I am fairly hopeless with technology and my first laptop needed 3 new hard drives in a year. It then needed a fourth when the guarantee expired.  Then there was a thunderstorm which lead to the loss of a great amount of work. I was further exasperated when in an internet café, I read an email advising me by Wanadon't to unplug my laptop during a thunder storm. Too late, by then I had thrown the said laptop through a third floor window and stamped on it.

I acquired a new laptop and resumed blogging. 

Patch's Story Chapter 6

Patch 6

I have been living in the garden and the greenhouse for a long time. It seems like years. The French woman puts food for me every day but I always hide until she goes back into the house or leaves in the car. 

Today something else is happening. Two big vans arrive just like the ones when the Boss and my sister's left. Great I think they are coming back. I position my self so that I can observe everything. The vans are emptied and they drive away. The Boss doesn't appear and nor do my sisters.

The French woman and a man, I think he is her husband, visit often. I don't really care now as long as they continue to feed me. There is a lot of stuff happening like new windows and an extension has been built. I watch everything from afar and I am sure that when all these alterations are finished the Boss will return. I am never hungry or cold so I am used to things.

Just as I think things can't get worse the French couple arrive with--- and you'll never guess what. They arrive with cats. I count the baskets as they are carried in doors. Six, yes six. I thought they were going to live indoors but no. After a few days they come out, one by one and sniff around the house. This happens everyday. Each day they widened their explorations. I was afraid that they would attack me. I kept my distance and observe them from afar. 

Round the World in a Lifetime

 France     Spain    Belgium     Italy    Holland

Luxembourg     Russia     Germany     Portugal    Iceland

Brazil      Cyprus     Tunisia      Mallorca 

Ireland   Wales  

Orkneys   Outer Hebrides  Isle of Wight

Isle of Skye 

Letter from the Virgin Mary

 Bethlehem

Israel

Dec 25th 

Hi There, 

                 I bet you're really surprised to get this letter--especially after all this time--well it must be almost 2'000 thousand years I guess. Anyway hope you and your family are well. Joseph and I are getting on much better now after that bit of trouble earlier this year-you know-breaking the news about me and that angel wasn't easy, especially when neither of us could see the whole thing as a simple case of rape or a suitable circumstance for abortion seein'  as how it was God's baby an' all and Joseph such a strong church goer. 

Well it seems to have all blown over now and we've been able to go about our business in a civilised way for the rest of the pregnancy. Rather like you describe in your last letter about living with 53 atomic missiles bases practically in your back garden Chernobyl, Bhopal, and the Ethiopian crisis as well as the wars in Lebanon, Iraq, South Africa, Afghanistan and the Northern Ireland situation etc, etc, etc. amazing isn't it the power of the mind? 

Most of Joseph's relatives told him I probably dreamt the whole thing to get  the ritual stoning of sluts and harlots- -I ask you who would do such a thing like that?  Anyway enough of this history. I really wrote to tell you the news. It's a boy, of course, born last night, stable, star, and angels flitting in and out, taking messages up to his Lordship and me lying cursing him half the night and most of the day wondering why he had to be quite so literal at my expense with his entry of love into the world.

Thinking back, it must have been the journey that started me off two weeks early ( forgot to say we are on our way to one of those Roman censuses in Jerusalem). We got to within a few miles of this place called Bethlehem when I started with this cramp in my shoulders.

I didn't say anything at the time. I didn't think anything at first then I remembered what Elizabeth about her sister-in-law, the one with twin girls. She said that before her last one she had always started in the shoulders like she had been doing to much knitting or goat skin wine bottle sewing. So when I remembered this, I got a bit scared and said to Joseph, "I think I've started". Well that was a mistake. He just panicked about how he was going to get his meals cooked if I was on my back for 24 hours. Once I'd talked it out of him why he was looking so ill

 I was able to put his mind a rest by promising to get him some ready made kebabs or half a cooked chicken when we got into Bethlehem. I said how sorry I was and that I hope that it wouldn't happen to often.

He soon cheered up got off the donkey to give me a go which is really unusual because he doesn't  like my driving and says walking is bad for his image.

It wasn't long before we got into town which was a good job because my waters broke two minutes just after this innkeeper rented this stable to Joseph. Joseph said that he had no other rooms but I know Joseph better than that- he hates being in with a crowd and he hates even more parting with his shekels. Actually I didn't mind being a bit private except for the angels at least I could scream without too much worry about other peoples feelings. 

Joseph went off to find the local midwife called Ivy and to get some take away snappin' while I cleaned up the cow muck from one corner of the stable and put down fresh straw. 

Ivy turned out to be a real good sort. When she arrived I wasn't far from tears but we ran through the expected procedure together and practiced panting through strong pains.  I said how glad I was that drugs and gas and air hadn't been invented yet so that I couldn't choose not to experience the excruciating pain of labour that often resulted in death.  No. I was pleased to do my penance for Eve's transgressions in the Garden of Eden and it never crossed my mind,  once every five seconds that God was misogynistic or sadistic. I was just sorry that Joseph had to be put through this inconvenience and I was hoping the publicity would boost trade back in Nazareth and make up for all his trouble.

By midnight the kings had arrived with their presents. I was sorry that they hadn't come with their wives since we could have shared our experiences after the delivery. As it was we just sat together while the pictures were painted for the cards and wrapping paper and I talked to the kings about the local problems about oppressing people.

It was quite amazing to me how such a large object as a babies head could get through an opening normally a quarter of the diameter. i can remember Ivy saying start panting and don't push too hard. I was so surprised by the stretching sensation and I just shouted, " Jeeesus," as the head appeared. So that's what we decided to call him. Joseph insisted on Joseph Henry after himself, for middle names. I am toying with the idea of Gabriel but worried about how he will cope in exams or with forms even if tablets have gone out in favour of papyrus.

Well I must sign off now. I have promised to let Jesus spend a few minutes with a flock of shepherds that turned up last night. Jesus is very forward for his age. You'll probably notice that in the pictures.

I am feeling a bit tired now after all the excitement. Hope I can get a few hour sleep   before Joseph goes on at me to do exercises to get my figure back. Do you know that before last night I thought that God's wife, the Holy Spirit would be dead jealous of me having Jesus and not her. But I overheard one of the angels say that she had left the old man ages ago. apparently she lives with this girl friend. 

 

Winter Draws Nigh

 I am still preparing for the tulips which are to arrive today but my word it was cold this morning. My fingers were freezing and I changed gloves frequently. I had my two cups of tea in between digging up plants to make room for the tulips. I came inside to have my breakfast but now an hour later I am still cold. I believe it is going to get warmer tomorrow. I certainly hope so because I am not looking forward to being this cold again.

I hope next years will be as good as these.

Morning Cuppa

  It was cold this morning but there was a concert in my garden.

I took my tea, installed the cushion on my favourite chair.

There was dancing and singing and bell ringing,

 I am right in the middle of town.

The trees were dancing and waving about. 

Surly showing me their seasonal gowns.

Yellow and gold and scarlet red, twirling and twisting as they float to their bed. 

The birds were singing and flying up high, higher than the roof tops into the sky.

The clock rings out, nudges me aware that it's time for breakfast,

No more time to dream and stare.