A Scratch Card

Spend a £1, Win a £1.  Not much sense in that but we all dream of winning the lottery, don't we?
It's the big question we love to ask, "What would you do if you won the lottery?"  The answer is usually: buy a house, car, holiday, share it with family and friends, give some to charity.  But we all know money can't buy us health or happiness.

We take for granted our sight, speech, hearing, walking, bodily functions etc.   Moments of complete happiness are perhaps recorded on Facebook, in a photo album, written in a journal, shared on the 'phone or secretly stored in our memories.  There is no price of worth for these things.

As we turn into another year let us be mindful and caring to people who, for the coming year, life will be a trial through illness of themselves or of someone close to them.  When we raise our glasses and cheer 'Happy New Year' don't think 'out of sight out of mind' regarding troubles of family or friends.

Let us resolve to be encouragers, helpers, supporters of those who have not won the lottery of taken for granted life but who have randomly been afflicted with cancer, strokes, dementia, autism, miscarriage, sudden death syndrome, grief of any form.  Resolve to visit, write, give to the charities, do what you can when you can.  These New Year resolutions are more meaningful than 'I must diet, I must exercise more, I must stop smoking'.  We all know that resolutions soon get broken and old habits die hard.  Perhaps making a resolution that doesn't look inward, but looks outward may be more inspiring to both yourself and those around you.

I have had some wonderful highlights in 2014 but also great saddnesses for some very dear friends.  Life is a two sided coin, like the one I used to do the scratch card, there are highs and there are lows, that is the complete picture.  You can't have one without the other and no doubt 2015 will have ups and downs too.   If you are celebrating, stay safe, and if not Peace to You and yours........

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60 DAYS ON...

60 DAYS ON from my 60 day challenge the following has occurred:

• I pulled a muscle in my side and then in my back which I attributed to the sit-ups, so that went out the window.  However, I continue to go to the gym weekly and have enlisted the help of a personal trainer who gave me some more, easier exercises to do at home which I have managed three or four times a week.
• A friend, having heard about my 60 day challenge, took on a 30 day challenge for herself before Christmas.  She wrote emails to record her daily progress.  I was so encouraged by the fact that another person found this way of working on personal development helped.  May be there is a book in my blogs?
• There was one whole week where I didn't cook a SW recipe and I really missed it!  Still enjoying food shopping and cooking - the challenge changed my mindset.
• The biggest thing is the writing - I have always had a desire to be a published writer.  Doing the blogs is a great discipline for me.  Having comments is an encouragement to keep on keeping on.
• I met a fellow (new) author and will be meeting her again in the new year.  I have booked a very adventurous Writer's Holiday on the Greek island of Skyros in the summer and have declared to myself that 2015 is going to be my big 'Write' year.

The above picture, and my 60 day challenge, proves that all things are possible if you put your mind and energy into doing what you want to do.  Thoughts and obstacles WILL whisper in your ears or even shout in your head but keeping focused on the goal brings rewards.  My dear friend who did a marathon cycle ride in Tanzania fell off her bike three times during her trip but she got back on each time and completed her challenge.  We can choose whether to give up or carry on, we can choose to manage our lives according to our negativity's or our dreams.  I am all for making dreams come true, and if they don't there are good things to be had instead.

• Oh yes, I nearly forgot, I have lost a further 1kg, so total loss is 7kg, one pound off a stone, which is what I was aiming for.  Trouser tops are now loose and I feel more comfortable.  I don't have a desire for pigging out and even Christmas foods have not phased me, I just choose what to eat, when to eat, mindful of portion size and product contents.  This has been helped by my man having a dairy allergy diagnosed, so we are having to check labels.  We are becoming a healthy option household!   
• I also wrote to three of the main supermarket managers asking them to have a designated area of shelving for dietary items rather than place them throughout the store next to tempting alternatives.  It will be interesting to see what response I get.

Snow

Slowly, slowly, silently as I sleep It falls dusting my path with white
Each flake a beauty, unique, special
To melt on contact, or to stick to another
To form snow.
It grows like candy floss, soft, fluffy
Cotton wool and a tender blanket
Covers the cold earth, making light In the darkness.
It fascinates and thrills, it delights And chills.
Winter arrives and it's still Christmas.
Warm clothes, hot drinks, Log fires and gloves. Snowmen to build, Sledging to enjoy. Trains and planes will stop and roads be a trial.
Winter came in the dead of night,
Whilst warm beds beckoned and embers glowed
The cat stirs, the tele and presents no longer the focus.
Tree lights off and all is calm save for the sneezer, awake with the flu.
The season is not without grit.

£1 to £20,000

THE ONE POUND CHALLENGE

Our friends' son, Alan Radbourne (AJ as we fondly call him) gave himself the above challenge upon finding a £1 coin and turned it into £20,000 gross profit within a year.

Yes, you have read that right!  How resourceful, how amazing, how inspiring is this?  He has even printed his own book sharing how he did it.  For a copy, email Alan at: onepoundchallenge@gmail.com or look him up on: www.myonepoundchallenge.co.uk.

One to Ten

Anyone younger than myself may not remember the UK £1 note.  I have been reminded of it this Christmastide as I wonder what my teenage relatives would make of receiving just one pound for a present.  It seems like only yesterday that tucking one of these green notes inside a birthday or Christmas card was quite an acceptable gift.  Did I get older or the money reduce in value, or both, I wonder?  Not so long ago too, a five pound note was adequate, but now it seems that not much can be bought with a tenner either.  So for pensioners with lots of grandchildren, great nieces and nephews that could mean a small fortune.  At what age is it acceptable not to expect a monitory gift?  When one child reaches 18 or 21 there is another two or three behind or even new babies born, another generation. I guess the giver has to make harsh decisions as to when to stop.

In my work I have often used the scale of  'One to Ten' to measure how people are ie. on a scale of     1 - 10 how happy are you?; on a scale of 1-10, one being low and ten being high, how depressed are you?  Five, being the middle number, is often the reply but sometimes a 2, 3 or lower is offered.  "What would make you a 4 or a 6" I ask depending on the reply, and they answer whatever is missing from their life.  I have used the scale myself: when energy levels are lower than a 5, I know I need to rest and recharge my batteries; "in the grand scheme of things how important is this problem or that decision?"  Giving it a number helps to put it in perspective and perhaps motivate some action.

Things change, nothing stays the same forever.  All things come to pass, they don't come to stay.  So whatever is troubling you today will be a distant memory very soon, or it is something that you learn to accept and live with rather than resent or struggle with.

As one year ends another begins. We can't stop progress, time, change, years, monetary values but we can use our resources wisely, give generously and lovingly whilst we can and receive the joy which comes from doing so.  Christmas cheer, dear readers, may your festive season be joyful and may angels whisper in the wind for you to hear good news and strengthen your soul. 



Charity

I'm not adverse to giving to charity.  I do prefer to choose which organisation, how much and when I give.  I understand that 'tin shakers' are part of trips into town, on the sea front and in supermarkets. 

Once a year Santa visits our street in a motorised sleigh, loud Christmas music chiming and bucket shakers walking alongside.  My 'other half' generally takes care of the giving to the Roundtable\Lions as it means leaving the cosy light lounge to the dark, very cold, wet and wintery windy evening in the street, which I am loathed to do.

However, thinking of my £60 challenge I rose to the occasion.  Now the doorbell had rang alerting us to look outside.  I grabbed a coat and a pound coin but no-one was about to relieve me of my donation.  Santa was 'parked' at the top end of the street and no way was I going to run up there and cheer Santa whilst in my slippers.  I waited, thinking he would be slowly driven past my door in a few moments.  Ten minutes later and chilled to the bone the sleigh sped past with all but one of the collection personnel aboard!  A single bucket lady ran to avoid getting left behind. 

We shouted out 'did she want some money?' and she kindly crossed the road to meet us at the roadside.  Not even a 'thank you' or 'merry Christmas' as she fled after the vehicle wondering if she would be missed.

Next year I will stay warm indoors as there are hundreds more Charities that would be more grateful.

Off My Trolley....

A trip to the supermarket invariably means fumbling in my purse for a £1 coin to use a trolley to wheel around the aisles.  Some people use a 'fob' coin which probably cost £1 to purchase, but nevertheless useful on these occasions especially if you have it to hand on your keyring.  In my experience, however, these said 'fobs' work in some trolleys but not in others.  So, the pound coin is inserted, the chain linking and locking it releases your trolley of the day from the rows of stored contraptions and away you go, list in hand, into the industrial unit with its mirage of clothes, household items and shelves of foods for all occasions and tastes.

Having lived in a little Cypriot village for three years where the only store was a shack with one type of most essentials, the UK shopping experience still overwhelms me.  Do we really need 20 types of soap powders to choose from or several brands of Baked Beans?  Hence my list, go in, get what you need, pay and come out.  Job done.  Well that was before my '60 day challenge'.  Now I like to browse and see what is available and I walk miles just trying to find one ingredient for the recipe I am planning on having for tea.

Anyway, back to the trolley.  No doubt it has happened to us all - sometimes you get a trolley that will not go in the direction you want it to.  You consider taking it back and getting another but decide you can master this metal monster.  The wheels all seem to work against one another until you let go of the handle to reach for some butter from the fridge, then it careers off and crashes into someone else's trolley all of its own accord.  You apologise profusely or laugh and make a joke about having 'L' plates on your back. (Learner driver)

Yesterday I noticed a trolley with a newborn baby in a seat attached to it and a toddler sister was standing inside the said mobility device for parents to shop with.  Mom was carrying a basket for their purchases whilst Dad pushed the children alongside his wife.  I cooed and asked where I could purchase such lovelies only to be met with a silent stare, so I guess a free sense of humour was not available at the baby and children section.  I did wonder about the hygiene of the situation - the toddler had outdoor shoes on and the trolley after all was meant for food purchases.  The next customer would be totally unaware - perhaps I should take disinfectant wipes next time I shop.

In the checkout queue, the trolley again has a dickey-fit not wanting to go into the narrow space between the tills.  I knock the person in front who was holding a dozen eggs ready to place onto the moving counter.  Yes, you guessed, the trolley caused the person to jump, the eggs went flying and the cashier rang a loud bell to get assistance to clean up the mess.  Of course it drew everyones attention to my situation, I flush bright red in the face and hope I am not sued for damages.

So, a long delay in getting through the tills yesterday and when I finally rammed my disobedient trolley back into its storage, retrieving my pound, I decided the plastic baskets on two wheels might have been a better choice for the small amount of purchases I had! 

Note to self : next time steer well away from metal basket trolleys.



In for a penny in for a pound.

What the heck does this mean?  It's an English colloquium, which tumbles out of our mouth from time to time.  It sums up what I hope to do in the coming year.  For example, over many years I have ‘tinkled’ at being a writer.  I self-published a children’s religious book some 30+ years ago and have stored somewhere a series of ‘toys coming to life’ stories that were sent to various publishers but never made the grade.  Since then ‘life’ got in the way of my becoming an author but the desire to write and be published has never left me.  Over that time I have used a journal to vent frustrations, to record significant events, to jot down new learnings, to write anything and everything that my pen leads me to write – some of it, no doubt, neither use nor ornament (another colloquium – meaning rubbish!).

Also during that time, I wrote articles for the local church magazine, entered writing competitions, attended writing workshops, had articles published in a magazine for professional counsellors, and won a prize for a ‘letter to the editor’ of a health magazine.  In 2001-2003 I was a founder member of the Paphos Writers Group, Cyprus and a booklet of our work entitled ‘Write On’ was published in aid of the local Children’s hospital raising over £500.  In 2004-2006 I was a member of the Association of Christian Writers group situated in the Lake District, UK and from 2010 I formed the ‘Writer’s Block’ group in Staffordshire, which gets together in blocks of six fortnightly sessions in the spring and autumn each year.  These groups have been invaluable in keeping up with something that seems to be a natural part of who I am.  Writing exercises and seeing your work in print encourages you to keep doing more - learning new words, punctuation, requirements of competition organisers or publishers, talking the talk of the writing business.  It can be a bit of an obsession rather than a hobby which I experienced during my recent ’60 day challenge’ blog, but the enthusiasm grows and grows so I guess eventually it must blossom or bear fruit.  Where we put our positive energies, so shall our rewards be. 

I started blogging two years ago, I’m not really a ‘techie’ but like to try to keep up to date with all the younger folk – texting, Facebook, twitter, blogs etc.  Being a secretary in my earlier life I find typing is still very much also a part of who I am and what I am able to do comfortably.  Using my faithful laptop is the only time I get to whiz words out on a ‘qwerty’ keyboard as iPads/tablets don’t cut mustard really (3^rd colloquium – means not as good as).

So, NOW is the time for (this) brown fox to jump over the lazy dog.  (For those of you who are not typists – that sentence has every letter of the alphabet in).  Now I have reached retirement I will pursue my writing career more keenly.  I will continue to blog, enter short story competitions, be a member of Writer’s Block group, attend workshops and conferences and, best of all, allow myself the dream that has followed me for so very long – to go to Skyros, a Greek island, for a Writer’s holiday. 

Having written 27 thousand words of a novel some years back, it is time for this to be aired, readjusted, added to, completed, edited etc. ready to present to publishers.  If anyone out there has connections with other authors please do ask them to be in touch so that I can glean inspiration and direction.  If you don’t hear from me for some time, do contact me to see if I’m still working on it and not just sitting at the computer staring into space!  I am clearing the decks of commitments and pairing down my coffee shop visits in order to be - in for a penny in for a pound.      

Postage

FROM A PENNY TO A POUND

I used to collect stamps as a child.  I was copying my elder brother who later made this hobby his career which was very lucrative.  I loved the little blue album and the packets of clear gummed hinges that, when licked and affixed to the back of the stamp, secured the stamp onto the relevant page neatly in a marked square.

The album boasted pages from all over the world; places I had never heard of or, as a child, could ever imagine visiting.  The stamps were colourful with pictures of birds, animals or flowers, places or people of note.  They intrigued me and boosted my general knowledge.  I particularly liked stamps of a different shape - oblong ones with panoramic views on them.

The pages that held the most stamps were of course from my homeland of Great Britain.  It gave me pride in my own country seeing the Queen's head on each and every stamp, no matter what the colour, scenery or picture.  I am not sure I ever acquired the much coveted Penny Red or Penny Black that was spoken about as though it were gold dust.  My Stanley Gibbons price catalogue certainly showed their worth but, unlike my brother I grew out of the pasttime.

Stamps have changed over the years from being lickable and stickable to self adhesive; from small to large; from buying them in strips to purchasing books of six or twelve stamps; from plain colours denoting their worth to topical scenes.  Special Christmas stamps have added cheer to envelopes as has special occasions for the Royal Family.  I was not a collector of  'first day covers' but I knew people, even to this day, who are.  True philatelists. 

It was a Monday when I decided to post my first Christmas card and small gift to a friend in Lancaster.  The post office - well, the counter in the Co-operative supermarket - had a very long queue of elderly ladies (no men interestingly) who I presumed were collecting their pension (I have not reached this status yet!).  I waited and listened to their friendly banter about ailments and weather then approached the counter with my brown envelope.

"What's in it?" came the voice from behind the glass screen.  My mind went blank then I thought, "what does he need to know that for?"
"A Christmas card and gift," I replied.  He took it, weighed it, put it through a letterbox type plastic tool and grumpily stuck a very large gold coloured self adhesive stamp onto the package.  The size of this stamp would have covered a dozen squares in my little old stamp book.
"First or second class?" I was asked and, as I was early for Christmas posting I chose second class.
"One pound," he said without eye contact.  I handed him the coin and away went my post.

We are good at complaining here in the UK.  British people moan about the weather, politicians, our health service and our postal service but really we love them all.  It is what makes this island so Great.

From the days of Penny Blacks or Reds when Shank's pony delivered the post up and down our country, through to rail and road, towns and villages - all still receive post regardless of the growth of technology.  The computer, mobile phones, ipads, tablets etc have taken away the need for letters.  Another childhood occupation gone - no more 'thank you' letters after a birthday or Christmas.  Do children still have 'pen pals' I wonder?  I had two, both called Mary, who lived on the islands of Malta and Gozo.  I met up with them in my twenties when I began to travel for holidays.

It seems a lot to pay for postage but considering the journey of over 140 miles, the number of people who will handle it and the pleasure it will give to its recipient, it is a small price to pay.  So THANK YOU grumpy man at the post office, all the workers at the depot, the train porters and drivers, the sorting staff, the postman or lady on their bike or in their red van.  Thank you for delivering my package.  If I had to pay a pound for ALL THAT, it was worth it because if I had to do it myself it would have cost an awful lot more!