Like fish and chips, salt and pepper and like bread and butter.
My friend and her daughter.
They are beauty at work. They are a team.
They work together.
One hurts, the other cries
One has an idea, the other loves it
One makes a joke, the other laughs
One wants to say something, the other listens
One is cold, the other already has something warm at hand
One makes pizza, the other finds it delicious
One designs a dress, the other wants to wear it
One is only whole, with the other
One is incomplete, without the other
This team is unstoppable.
This team is destined for great things.
This team is part of my world.
Without them, I am not complete.
Top 5
A game I like to play with friends is, list your top 5 friends.
Usually we exclude spouses and family members.
There is no particular order, nor ranking, although number 1 is usually pertinent.
And a new rule, included for the first time this week (although I do struggle a little with it) is the person can be dead or alive.
On the face of it, this game seems easy, but it isn't at all. Sometimes, we realise we don't actually have five friends, but only three. Sometimes we want someone on the list, but when we really think about it, the friendship has drifted and doesn't warrant top 5 anymore.
The game can be played often and the names can change, typically the top two don't. They are pretty much lifers.
So who are your top 5 friends?
Are there 5?
Do you have a family friend top 5, a local top 5 and a world top 5?
Or does it come down to the top 5 people anywhere in your life.
Usually we exclude spouses and family members.
There is no particular order, nor ranking, although number 1 is usually pertinent.
And a new rule, included for the first time this week (although I do struggle a little with it) is the person can be dead or alive.
On the face of it, this game seems easy, but it isn't at all. Sometimes, we realise we don't actually have five friends, but only three. Sometimes we want someone on the list, but when we really think about it, the friendship has drifted and doesn't warrant top 5 anymore.
The game can be played often and the names can change, typically the top two don't. They are pretty much lifers.
So who are your top 5 friends?
Are there 5?
Do you have a family friend top 5, a local top 5 and a world top 5?
Or does it come down to the top 5 people anywhere in your life.
Coping with heat
We are thoroughly enjoying a heat wave right now. It's splendid.
Luckily I am on holiday too, which allows me to enjoy every single minute of the glorious sunshine.
However, as its Friday, I need to tell you about how heat affects alopecians.
You see alopecians don't have it easy in the heat. Maybe you know this, but hair absorbs any sweat and without hair, you really appreciate this function.
So what we alopecians, in the heat get, is a very sweaty head.
Really it's unpleasant.
As I have mentioned many times before, I often wear a hat outside of work. But my hats get sweaty too, which isn't either pleasant nor practical.
So all today's blog is about is sweaty heads.
The alternative of a wig in this heat, would be unbearable. Nothing short of heat exertion.
The real alternative, which believe me sounds very attractive, is going bald.But that ain't gonna happen now is it!
Turning point
Over dinner, we played a game. It went like this.
Assuming you had never left your hometown, what would your life have looked like?
We described who we thought we would have married, what kind of jobs we think we would have had, the amount of children and spouses, and the kind of hobbies we think we would have enjoyed. Purely speculative. And highly entertaining.
None of it was bad. In fact much of it sounded like a good life. But fundamentally different to what we found ourselves doing now.
So what was the turning point? Why was it that instead of leading that life, we led this?
Clearly this was an impossible question to answer, but there were a number of ideas, as to what the inflection point could have been.
Mine for example, was the German teacher from my secondary school calling my parents, asking them to encourage me, to keep taking German lessons. You see, I had told her that I was stopping taking the morning lessons, as they were too hard. As a result of her (boldly and unusually) calling my parents, I ended up continuing with my German classes. I then went to Germany a number of times and during one of those trips, I met my now husband.
Other examples included car conversations about cities and based on those chats, choosing their university. Which subsequently meant meeting friends and wives.
The film "Sliding doors" with Gwyneth Paltrow reflects this phenomenon beautifully. Remember that classic?
So what was your turning point?
What would have happened if you had chosen the other way?
Glad you didn't? Wish you had?
Why is it that we went this way, and others the other? My friends theory is simple, it all depended on the water you drank!
Thoughts anyone?
Assuming you had never left your hometown, what would your life have looked like?
We described who we thought we would have married, what kind of jobs we think we would have had, the amount of children and spouses, and the kind of hobbies we think we would have enjoyed. Purely speculative. And highly entertaining.
None of it was bad. In fact much of it sounded like a good life. But fundamentally different to what we found ourselves doing now.
So what was the turning point? Why was it that instead of leading that life, we led this?
Clearly this was an impossible question to answer, but there were a number of ideas, as to what the inflection point could have been.
Mine for example, was the German teacher from my secondary school calling my parents, asking them to encourage me, to keep taking German lessons. You see, I had told her that I was stopping taking the morning lessons, as they were too hard. As a result of her (boldly and unusually) calling my parents, I ended up continuing with my German classes. I then went to Germany a number of times and during one of those trips, I met my now husband.
Other examples included car conversations about cities and based on those chats, choosing their university. Which subsequently meant meeting friends and wives.
The film "Sliding doors" with Gwyneth Paltrow reflects this phenomenon beautifully. Remember that classic?
So what was your turning point?
What would have happened if you had chosen the other way?
Glad you didn't? Wish you had?
Why is it that we went this way, and others the other? My friends theory is simple, it all depended on the water you drank!
Thoughts anyone?
Polite and correct
From an early age, children in Switzerland are taught to behave in a certain way. I am not sure if it is a form of politeness or a form of respect. But it is drilled in. Non negotiable and very expected.
Each day when the children, starting at kindergarten age, arrive at their school, they shake hands with their teacher, before entering the classroom. They line up, if there are a few children arriving at the same time.
As they shake hands with their teacher, they pause, focus and look their teacher straight into the eyes and say "Good Morning Mrs xx". She/He then replies " Good Morning xx.
Only when these pleasantries have been fully exchanged, are they able to proceed to take off their coats and shoes and go into class.
It is very civil and very cute actually.
It seems to instil a certain respect for elders and hierarchy and general nicety in society. And you do actually see this play out when the children are older. For example teens may be goofing around at a tram stop, being loud and brash, however when the tram stops, they would help a lady with a pram board.
Is there any other culture that does this so systematically with school kids?
Each day when the children, starting at kindergarten age, arrive at their school, they shake hands with their teacher, before entering the classroom. They line up, if there are a few children arriving at the same time.
As they shake hands with their teacher, they pause, focus and look their teacher straight into the eyes and say "Good Morning Mrs xx". She/He then replies " Good Morning xx.
Only when these pleasantries have been fully exchanged, are they able to proceed to take off their coats and shoes and go into class.
It is very civil and very cute actually.
It seems to instil a certain respect for elders and hierarchy and general nicety in society. And you do actually see this play out when the children are older. For example teens may be goofing around at a tram stop, being loud and brash, however when the tram stops, they would help a lady with a pram board.
Is there any other culture that does this so systematically with school kids?
Angelina Joli's boobs
Actress Angelina Jolie announced in a New York Times article a little while ago that she underwent a preventive double mastectomy after learning that she carries a mutation of the BRCA1 gene, which sharply increases her risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
The article read:
"My doctors estimated that I had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer, although the risk is different in the case of each woman," Jolie wrote. "Once I knew that this was my reality, I decided to be proactive and to minimize the risk as much I could. I made a decision to have a preventive double mastectomy."
Wow, I was shocked when I read this.
Really shocked.
At a dinner, with some wonderful friends, we debated this at length, and it seemed that I was the outlier. You see, I don't think I woud do this. The other females, said they would.
Clearly when faced with the situation, I could imagine I may think and behave differently, however my objective, rational and removed-from-the-situation brain, said I would not do this.
Let me explain my thinking.
Hair is part of a human, maybe more so for females, that defines them. Hair defines people.
It plays a large role which no one even considers, until its gone.
Now whilst I know that I am not faced with such a life threatening illness, I am very much aware of the hidden side effects of losing a big part of my body, and I would go as far to say, personality.
The psychological effects need to be considered.
Remember an earlier post when I talked about the suicide rates of alopecians, nearly half have considered suicide.
Whilst removing the breasts has clearly huge obvious health benefits and eradicates risks, I would assert that this is too easy. We don't know what we are getting into, when we begin playing around with the body.
Yes I know easy to say when I have a clear bill of health. but I would be very concerned about the hidden effects, the ones no one talks about, the ones that have pscychological impact and the ones that peeople don't consider.
I truly hope Angelina and other such followers, lead a balanced, long and healthy life because of their interventions. However I really hope that they are responsbile enough to tell the true story of this over time.
My fear is that we won't hear this side, which makes me sad, because I am 100% sure that there is absolutely another dark side to this.
The article read:
"My doctors estimated that I had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer, although the risk is different in the case of each woman," Jolie wrote. "Once I knew that this was my reality, I decided to be proactive and to minimize the risk as much I could. I made a decision to have a preventive double mastectomy."
Wow, I was shocked when I read this.
Really shocked.
At a dinner, with some wonderful friends, we debated this at length, and it seemed that I was the outlier. You see, I don't think I woud do this. The other females, said they would.
Clearly when faced with the situation, I could imagine I may think and behave differently, however my objective, rational and removed-from-the-situation brain, said I would not do this.
Let me explain my thinking.
Hair is part of a human, maybe more so for females, that defines them. Hair defines people.
It plays a large role which no one even considers, until its gone.
Now whilst I know that I am not faced with such a life threatening illness, I am very much aware of the hidden side effects of losing a big part of my body, and I would go as far to say, personality.
The psychological effects need to be considered.
Remember an earlier post when I talked about the suicide rates of alopecians, nearly half have considered suicide.
Whilst removing the breasts has clearly huge obvious health benefits and eradicates risks, I would assert that this is too easy. We don't know what we are getting into, when we begin playing around with the body.
Yes I know easy to say when I have a clear bill of health. but I would be very concerned about the hidden effects, the ones no one talks about, the ones that have pscychological impact and the ones that peeople don't consider.
I truly hope Angelina and other such followers, lead a balanced, long and healthy life because of their interventions. However I really hope that they are responsbile enough to tell the true story of this over time.
My fear is that we won't hear this side, which makes me sad, because I am 100% sure that there is absolutely another dark side to this.
The preparation of being alone
Recently I have been talking to people about how the re-energize and get themselves back in form. It’s a great conversation starter.
What my "bar" research is showing me, is that people do this, in two ways. They either spend their time with their favourite people, doing their favourite things, or they draw back from society, and recluse for a few hours or days.
What’s funny about the two camps of people, is that either side, finds the other ideas most unpleasant, if they are looking for regeneration.
So for me, I am definitely the type to go amongst the people, most likely selecting more intimate settings versus larger groups, so as to have a good chat.
A weekend checked into a Spa ON MY OWN would be my version of hell. Despite all the pampering, I reckon I would be asking newly married couples, if I could join them for dinner, just to gain human interaction. I may even end up asking the reception if I could do one of her shifts, just to kill the time.
So this week, my family has gone to stay with grandma and grandpa, which is a fantastic way to start the Summer holidays. I was out travelling during the week, so I didn’t really notice they had gone, but then came the weekend came and they were not there. This was THE WEEKEND ALONE!!!
Knowing myself well, I began preparing for this solitary occasion, a few weeks in advance.
I polled my friends,on what they would do, and got inspired with many ideas. Some really appealing, others less so.
However I decided not to overdo it. My usual reaction would be, to fill my time full of events and meets and end up being exhausted and stressed and having had no down time.
Instead, I compiled a list of my favourite things to do, possibly considering things I would not normally get round to doing, in a usual weekend, here is what I ended up with:
1. nice yummy and healthy food
2. bit of exercise
3. lots of reading
4. even more TV
5. something I don’t get the time to do
6. meet with someone I wouldn’t normally
7. a treat
So as you can see from”Shredding Ginger”, I did 1.
For number 2, I went to the outdoor pool to do lengths, taking my new book “Cutting Stone” that ticked number 3 aswell. Plenty of telly in the evenings, got number 4 done. I squeezed in a pedicure, that would be number 7, I baked a baguette, that’s number 5, and then on Sunday morning I met up with a newly made friend for brunch. Hurrah thats number 6, the last one ticked off!!!
It was quite a tremendous weekend.
In addition I cleaned the girl's rooms, polished my winter boots, did the laudry, cleared the surfaces of stuff (big job) and started packing for next weeks holiday.
I am feeling extrememy proud of myself and wait for it.............completely re-energized.
So there you go, I was able to switch to the other side a bit. I survived beautifully well on my own (with a little exception of brunch with a friend!)
So when are you next spending time recharging the batteries??
BBB says get it in the diary!
What my "bar" research is showing me, is that people do this, in two ways. They either spend their time with their favourite people, doing their favourite things, or they draw back from society, and recluse for a few hours or days.
What’s funny about the two camps of people, is that either side, finds the other ideas most unpleasant, if they are looking for regeneration.
So for me, I am definitely the type to go amongst the people, most likely selecting more intimate settings versus larger groups, so as to have a good chat.
A weekend checked into a Spa ON MY OWN would be my version of hell. Despite all the pampering, I reckon I would be asking newly married couples, if I could join them for dinner, just to gain human interaction. I may even end up asking the reception if I could do one of her shifts, just to kill the time.
So this week, my family has gone to stay with grandma and grandpa, which is a fantastic way to start the Summer holidays. I was out travelling during the week, so I didn’t really notice they had gone, but then came the weekend came and they were not there. This was THE WEEKEND ALONE!!!
Knowing myself well, I began preparing for this solitary occasion, a few weeks in advance.
I polled my friends,on what they would do, and got inspired with many ideas. Some really appealing, others less so.
However I decided not to overdo it. My usual reaction would be, to fill my time full of events and meets and end up being exhausted and stressed and having had no down time.
Instead, I compiled a list of my favourite things to do, possibly considering things I would not normally get round to doing, in a usual weekend, here is what I ended up with:
1. nice yummy and healthy food
2. bit of exercise
3. lots of reading
4. even more TV
5. something I don’t get the time to do
6. meet with someone I wouldn’t normally
7. a treat
So as you can see from”Shredding Ginger”, I did 1.
For number 2, I went to the outdoor pool to do lengths, taking my new book “Cutting Stone” that ticked number 3 aswell. Plenty of telly in the evenings, got number 4 done. I squeezed in a pedicure, that would be number 7, I baked a baguette, that’s number 5, and then on Sunday morning I met up with a newly made friend for brunch. Hurrah thats number 6, the last one ticked off!!!
It was quite a tremendous weekend.
In addition I cleaned the girl's rooms, polished my winter boots, did the laudry, cleared the surfaces of stuff (big job) and started packing for next weeks holiday.
I am feeling extrememy proud of myself and wait for it.............completely re-energized.
So there you go, I was able to switch to the other side a bit. I survived beautifully well on my own (with a little exception of brunch with a friend!)
So when are you next spending time recharging the batteries??
BBB says get it in the diary!
The bounties are unfolding
I am getting very excited about our harvest.
So excited I am sharing it with the world.
With minimal effort and lots of rain, this is what has happened to our garden.
I have to start with the progress of the beetroots as here is where I feel I have watched them the most. Anyone got any tips on when I can eat them? Getting impatient now!
As you can see, its early days. We will need a lot more sun and watering before our produce is ripe and ready to enjoy. But it is soo exciting.
I am already planning for more for next year. Maybe I could get into this after all..
Happy days!
So excited I am sharing it with the world.
With minimal effort and lots of rain, this is what has happened to our garden.
I have to start with the progress of the beetroots as here is where I feel I have watched them the most. Anyone got any tips on when I can eat them? Getting impatient now!
 |
| Beetroots |
 |
| Mint, thyme and rosemary |
 |
| Basil, jalapeno peppers |
 |
| Apple (Boskop) |
 |
| Redcurrant |
 |
| Tomato |
 |
| Blackcurrant |
As you can see, its early days. We will need a lot more sun and watering before our produce is ripe and ready to enjoy. But it is soo exciting.
I am already planning for more for next year. Maybe I could get into this after all..
Happy days!
hat removal
I decided it was time to find out the rules on hat removal in airports.
You see at each security gate, there is varying treatment. Sometimes the hat is fine and I can go through like most other people, sometimes I am just quickly touched on the head by a female guard and then let through, other times I have to remove it in a little cabin with a curtain.
So in an attempt to find I out, I wrote to one airport. Here is the answer I received.
Now what I find bizzare with this answer is that I wonder how I would need to prove my religious reasons. A letter from my mum? "Dear Securityman, My daughter believes in God, Allah, Budda and lots of other deities. Please let her leave her hat on. Yours nicely, Mum x"
I am tempted to pretend its for religious reasons next time, just to see what happens. Not sure I will, but maybe I feel irritated enough once to try it.
The other bizarre thing is that in Zurich airport, they have a different rule. They do NOT ask you to remove it at all.
So my 5 minute research, has suggested that I should comply a little more when asked to remove my hat, but only when they explain to me that it is necessary.
Sigh.
You see at each security gate, there is varying treatment. Sometimes the hat is fine and I can go through like most other people, sometimes I am just quickly touched on the head by a female guard and then let through, other times I have to remove it in a little cabin with a curtain.
So in an attempt to find I out, I wrote to one airport. Here is the answer I received.
Now what I find bizzare with this answer is that I wonder how I would need to prove my religious reasons. A letter from my mum? "Dear Securityman, My daughter believes in God, Allah, Budda and lots of other deities. Please let her leave her hat on. Yours nicely, Mum x"
I am tempted to pretend its for religious reasons next time, just to see what happens. Not sure I will, but maybe I feel irritated enough once to try it.
The other bizarre thing is that in Zurich airport, they have a different rule. They do NOT ask you to remove it at all.
So my 5 minute research, has suggested that I should comply a little more when asked to remove my hat, but only when they explain to me that it is necessary.
Sigh.
Shredding ginger
Shredding ginger
Crushing garlic
Grinding cloves
Crumbling bayleaves
Picking raspberries
Plucking redcurrants
Squeezing lemons
That’s what went into my meal made in heaven
Menu:
Balti Butter chicken curry, followed by fresh fruit in natural yoghurt with a lug of maple syrup from our friends cabane a sucre! Accompanied with fresh lemon and grated ginger tea.
All prepared and made listening to Rebecca Ferguson’s album, Heaven. Very fitting.
Having time alone, knowing its temporary, is indulgent and oh so very marvellous.
What are you indulging into today?
Crushing garlic
Grinding cloves
Crumbling bayleaves
Picking raspberries
Plucking redcurrants
Squeezing lemons
That’s what went into my meal made in heaven
Menu:
Balti Butter chicken curry, followed by fresh fruit in natural yoghurt with a lug of maple syrup from our friends cabane a sucre! Accompanied with fresh lemon and grated ginger tea.
All prepared and made listening to Rebecca Ferguson’s album, Heaven. Very fitting.
Having time alone, knowing its temporary, is indulgent and oh so very marvellous.
What are you indulging into today?
The mix up
So when you get a new boss, a bit of effort goes in to making a good first impression. I have to admit that over the years this effort has been decreasing, but I am happy to say that it is still there.
I think it dropped an extra notch at forty, which I find rather funny.
But a little thought and preparation still goes in, it isn't good if the new boss thinks you are a complete loser and a waste of space now is it??
So our first meeting in person was to be before a critical team meeting. So breakfast in the hotel seemed fitting.
To my displeasure (disgust seems a little harsh) he suggested 7am. Gulp !
I don't do 7am dressed and talking meets.
However I amicably agreed. (Don't think there was much choice, otherwise I might have debated)
So the night before I set my alarm for the latest possible time. You see I only have to spend one minute in the lift to get to the hotel breakfast bar and my hair well, that is a time saver. Have a shower the night before, lay out my clothes, do all the required prep, so that means alarm is set for 6.50. Yep a 10 min turnaround is fine.
So the morning arrives and I jump up as the alarm buzzes (or chirps). I head straight to the bathroom and start the surgical drill. No time to spare. Every second counts.
By 7.01, I was already at the table. Waiting.
I slowly got my breakfast choices and then piled the papers for discussion in the order of priority.
Strange. Still waiting.
I then realise I have left my phone in the room. Drat. As it is nearing 7.10 I figure I need to get it as the chances are, I will have a text to explain the lack of appearance.
I decide to run upstairs, grab the phone, then return.
As predicted, a missed call and a text. "Sorry will be 5 mins late".
But it's now 7.15. I then decided to call, something was fishy. He stated clearly that he was sat on the right next to the cornflakes. But he wasn't.
Then it dawned on him. He was in the wrong hotel. Oopps!!! At least he was in the wrong location, not me!!
Then the next run of events then happened, which are not very exciting to report anyway.
But I am truly glad to say that my eyes are now fully open, I feel awake and ready for him to arrive at 08.10. A more human time anyway. (So as you can see I am using the time to blog)
That will teach him to ask me for 7am meetings.
I really hope he has learned his lesson!
I think it dropped an extra notch at forty, which I find rather funny.
But a little thought and preparation still goes in, it isn't good if the new boss thinks you are a complete loser and a waste of space now is it??
So our first meeting in person was to be before a critical team meeting. So breakfast in the hotel seemed fitting.
To my displeasure (disgust seems a little harsh) he suggested 7am. Gulp !
I don't do 7am dressed and talking meets.
However I amicably agreed. (Don't think there was much choice, otherwise I might have debated)
So the night before I set my alarm for the latest possible time. You see I only have to spend one minute in the lift to get to the hotel breakfast bar and my hair well, that is a time saver. Have a shower the night before, lay out my clothes, do all the required prep, so that means alarm is set for 6.50. Yep a 10 min turnaround is fine.
So the morning arrives and I jump up as the alarm buzzes (or chirps). I head straight to the bathroom and start the surgical drill. No time to spare. Every second counts.
By 7.01, I was already at the table. Waiting.
I slowly got my breakfast choices and then piled the papers for discussion in the order of priority.
Strange. Still waiting.
I then realise I have left my phone in the room. Drat. As it is nearing 7.10 I figure I need to get it as the chances are, I will have a text to explain the lack of appearance.
I decide to run upstairs, grab the phone, then return.
As predicted, a missed call and a text. "Sorry will be 5 mins late".
But it's now 7.15. I then decided to call, something was fishy. He stated clearly that he was sat on the right next to the cornflakes. But he wasn't.
Then it dawned on him. He was in the wrong hotel. Oopps!!! At least he was in the wrong location, not me!!
Then the next run of events then happened, which are not very exciting to report anyway.
But I am truly glad to say that my eyes are now fully open, I feel awake and ready for him to arrive at 08.10. A more human time anyway. (So as you can see I am using the time to blog)
That will teach him to ask me for 7am meetings.
I really hope he has learned his lesson!
Longing for a haircut
I have had an intense week to say the least. Lots of tough discusssions with signifcant people implications. So as the week closed, I wanted to go for a treat.
I wanted to have some "me" time and do something nice.
My first thought was to think about how nice it would be, to go to the hairdressers. Something as simple as that. Something I imagine you all take for granted.
I fancied just walk to the nearest salon and popping in to have a trim and a blow dry. Maybe a magazine and a coffee while the highlights were being put in. A chat about celebrities or the local community center. And best of all, walk out looking and feeling like a million dollars.
It's true, such events can really trigger a momentary feeling of beauty and lightness.
But today, I couldn't realise that simple wish. My hair appointments are planful and need a lot of effort. There is no lightness about them and no spontaneity. They dont make me feel a million dollars, they just remind me that I am bald.
.
So after a bit of thinking, I decided that it was not to be, so, I booked a pedicure instead!!!
At least I have toes!!!
I wanted to have some "me" time and do something nice.
My first thought was to think about how nice it would be, to go to the hairdressers. Something as simple as that. Something I imagine you all take for granted.
I fancied just walk to the nearest salon and popping in to have a trim and a blow dry. Maybe a magazine and a coffee while the highlights were being put in. A chat about celebrities or the local community center. And best of all, walk out looking and feeling like a million dollars.
It's true, such events can really trigger a momentary feeling of beauty and lightness.
But today, I couldn't realise that simple wish. My hair appointments are planful and need a lot of effort. There is no lightness about them and no spontaneity. They dont make me feel a million dollars, they just remind me that I am bald.
.
So after a bit of thinking, I decided that it was not to be, so, I booked a pedicure instead!!!
At least I have toes!!!
Shower gel
A friend of mine choses her shower gel carefully. She selects the one for her mood. It could be mint, banana or strawberry. It is a thoughtful process for her. Very deliberate.
For whatever reason I have never indulged in fancy shower gel. Super hydrating was usually my criteria. Gosh how dull that sounds!
However, today I was inspired.
I stood for a very long time in front of the bath product shelves. So much choice. Wow.
Avocado. Honey. Vanilla. Lime. Berries. The choice was endless. Somehow I wasn't inspired.
I cheekily opened a few to take a whiff but nothing reflected my mood. Gosh this was starting to become overwhelming. Maybe super hydrating was just fine after all.
After further perusing, I came across a white and pink bottle, full of promises of pomegranate and verbena. It seemed fruity and fresh and a little exotic. Right up my street.
So in it went to the shopping trolley ready for tomorrow's shower.
So how do you select your shower gel?
What's your mood maker?
Anybody want to talk about the joys of showering in other people's bathrooms?
For whatever reason I have never indulged in fancy shower gel. Super hydrating was usually my criteria. Gosh how dull that sounds!
However, today I was inspired.
I stood for a very long time in front of the bath product shelves. So much choice. Wow.
Avocado. Honey. Vanilla. Lime. Berries. The choice was endless. Somehow I wasn't inspired.
I cheekily opened a few to take a whiff but nothing reflected my mood. Gosh this was starting to become overwhelming. Maybe super hydrating was just fine after all.
After further perusing, I came across a white and pink bottle, full of promises of pomegranate and verbena. It seemed fruity and fresh and a little exotic. Right up my street.
So in it went to the shopping trolley ready for tomorrow's shower.
So how do you select your shower gel?
What's your mood maker?
Anybody want to talk about the joys of showering in other people's bathrooms?
A borrowed book
A work colleague recently loaned me a book. I can't say I would have purchased it, but it was a lovely thought, considering we had been talking about how to keep calm during tumultous times. The book talked a lot about what it takes to be happy, how to quieten the mind and the benefit of thinking about others. It was a reasonable read.
One of the nuggets I took away from the book was the following. "The way we think about our teacher has a lot less to do with our teacher than it does with our mind."
Not an easy point to understand at first glance, but the more I thought about it the more I could apply this to all parts of my life. It made more sense to me when I didn't apply the definition of teacher in the traditional schooling sense but rather in its broader sense which is anyone with something to teach.
So thinking of a teacher as someone to help me out when asking directions to a place, someone who is helping me fix something or learn soemthing.
So the moral I drew from this chapter of the book was that if we find ourselves becoming disenchanted with our teacher, perhaps it's not the teacher that needs to be changed - perhaps it is our mind.
When the pupil is ready, the teacher will appear.
Lots of thoughts, need some time to order them and unjumble them.................
One of the nuggets I took away from the book was the following. "The way we think about our teacher has a lot less to do with our teacher than it does with our mind."
Not an easy point to understand at first glance, but the more I thought about it the more I could apply this to all parts of my life. It made more sense to me when I didn't apply the definition of teacher in the traditional schooling sense but rather in its broader sense which is anyone with something to teach.
So thinking of a teacher as someone to help me out when asking directions to a place, someone who is helping me fix something or learn soemthing.
So the moral I drew from this chapter of the book was that if we find ourselves becoming disenchanted with our teacher, perhaps it's not the teacher that needs to be changed - perhaps it is our mind.
When the pupil is ready, the teacher will appear.
Lots of thoughts, need some time to order them and unjumble them.................
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)