ABC Wednesday L is for Laughter, Life and Love

Laughter, Life and Love - these are three words without which we could not, should not live (especially the second)

Are they intertwined, mutually dependent? I thought long and hard superficially about this as I attempted to sleep last night. The thinking wore me out bored me so I soon fell asleep.

I wonder whether I could spend any appreciable time with a humourless person. I haven’t met many who belong in this category though several have fitted the ‘takes him/herself too seriously’ set but then what makes me laugh may leave other people cold and vice versa. When others are rolling in the aisles chortling at slapstick or practical jokes my face is stony so then I’m the one without a sense of humour. I do know that the people with whom I spend most of my time – my family – frequently have me gasping for air as I giggle inanely at something one of them has said or done. Unfortunately, once I start guffawing I find it very hard to stop even though my face is wet with tears and my sides are aching and I’m attracting attention from strangers. I know that sharing my life with someone lacking a sense of humour, of the ridiculous, would be impossible for me.

It’s generally agreed that I’m quiet a misery in the mornings. I am either silent or aggressively monosyllabic. I couldn’t live with someone like me! On the extremely rare occasions that I start the morning in light-hearted mood I can guarantee that the day will not end well but when I’m in a bad mood Barry makes me laugh in spite of myself. He laughs a lot which belies his serious, deep-thinking character.

Life – of course we can’t live without it but the life I mean is enthusiasm, interest in others, a desire need to learn new things and different skills, to experience and try to understand what makes other people the characters personalities they are. Living in a rut is safe but the world is full of surprises and by that I don’t mean that travel is essential. To some people, of course, it is, but travel means little when interests may encompass space and deep sea, the inner workings of microbes or the deep resonant singing of a Russian basso profondo.

Love – it makes the world go round, apparently! There are many different aspects to love. Self-love is the most destructive and equally love or faith that becomes fanatical is dangerous. The Prophet Mohammed said, ‘Beware of extremism in religion; for it was extremism in religion that destroyed those who went before you.’

We love our family and our friends and also our pets, but we profess to love inanimate objects too and nature. Maybe it’s a different kind of love in each case but it fulfils a need in us and makes us feel happier. If we are happy we interact more kindly with each other. If we can make others happy there is at least a double benefit. Marcel Proust wrote, ‘Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls bloom.’

Finally, (‘At last’, you sigh, if you’re still reading this! And if you are, thank you!) Laughter, Life and Love need expression in activity, in play.

Friedrich Nietzsche – ‘In every real man a child is hidden that wants to play.’ Amen to that and long may it be so.

Laud and thanksgiving to the Lovely Denise Nesbitt and her Loveably Loyal Lads and Lasses who organise and host this sometimes Loquacious meme. To see more Ls on earth, please click here.

Monday's Child #15 Fever!

The child tossed and turned in her tangled sheets. She had been so grateful to slide in between the cold cotton covers and rest her aching head on the smooth pillow. Her mother had tucked her in and kissed her and told her to sleep.

She was a good child and tried to obey but her throat hurt and her skin burned and everything around her had taken on an unusual and frightening aspect. The woodland animals on the wallpaper no longer looked amiable and endearing. Their teeth would tear at her fragile flesh and their paws revealed sharp claws to rake at her hot, dry eyes. The fairies, so pretty and delicate on other days, wore malevolent expressions and prepared to dance round her, poking and pinching, pulling her hair. She shut her eyes to deny them reality then cautiously opened them again, determining not to look at them. She raised a hand to ward off the sight of them then watched in terror as her thumb grew out of all proportion. She stuffed it in her mouth to prove it was her own small digit but it seemed almost too large to fit. She drew it out and stared at it in horrified fascination.

She wanted to cry, she wanted her mummy, she wanted to be anywhere but in this bed of nightmares. Her eyes closed as she started to sob and a short while later she felt a hand on her forehead and a cool cloth dabbing her face. That felt so good. Cautiously she glanced at the wallpaper. The woodland scene was as it had ever been, fairies with gossamer wings dancing with rabbits and foxes, badgers and birds. Still wary, she peeped again at her hand and was relieved to see her little thumb returned to its normal size.

Years later, she could clearly recall the strange experiences of that time. It helped her when nursing her own feverish children and yet she was never quite sure that it had merely been delirium. It was as real to her as the belief that she really had been able to fly. Dreams and nightmares – an interpretation of actual events?

Thank you to BKM of 'Monday's Child' for organising and hosting this prompt-led exercise.

Did you know?

Susannah just sent me the link to this video and I thought it was interesting and slightly scary enough to share. It was recently played at a Sony conference.

My World Tuesday - Wildmoor Heath

It may sound like something from Wuthering Heights but Wildmoor Heath rarely looks threatening and thunderous. An area of mixed woodland, heath and bog, it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, one of three SSSIs within walking distance of our house. The Nature Reserve covers 99 hectares (just over 244½ acres) We took the dogs there yesterday, the first time we’ve visited for about a year. Between March and September rare birds breed on the lowland heath and dog walkers are asked to keep their dogs on leads or away from possible nesting sites.

We started and finished our walk through areas of tall, old sweet chestnut trees. 

The ground was littered with the prickly husks of chestnuts, some with two to four nuts still inside, others empty. It's a good idea to wear a hat at this time of year as the nuts regularly fall from the trees!

Many areas of the forest are grazed by Highland cattle and ponies and are fenced and accessed by kissing gates, stiles or weighted swinging gates. At the end of this ride there is a padlocked gate to allow access to forest maintenance vehicles. A pedestrian weighted gate is adjacent to it. This worried Gus, so he scrambled through a hole in the fence. By the time we had completed our walk he had become accustomed to following us through these strange devices. 

The next part of the forest was dominated by silver birches. Jenna and Gus didn't mind where they were so long as they could play. Frodo was at my side as usual, but enjoying all the sniffs.

First Jenna had the kong . . .

. . . then Gus carried it.

Shortly afterwards we went through another gate into a boggy area. A notice informed us that livestock were grazing in this part but though we saw signs that they had been there we didn't see any of them. On the right there is evidence of the fire last year that destroyed much of the habitat of Silver-studded Blue butterflies. It was believed that the butterflies would not have survived but a few males and females were observed and thus fears were allayed.

There’s a great deal of water . . .

 . . . which Gus and Jenna thoroughly appreciated. Frodo went in for a cooling paddle too.

The water table is very high – in places it is higher than the board walk but contained within a bog system . . .

. . . and draining into ditches.

Passing through yet another gate we walked alongside a fenced-off body of water, full of interest for botanists and entomologists. It gives way to heath and heather where roe deer are safe from questing dogs, although the deer easily leap the low fences and can be seen anywhere in this part of Berkshire.To the other side were puddles and ponds, all of which had to be splashed in by the dogs.

Simple benches are placed at various places, some overlooking valleys, others positioned to allow people to watch the world go by.

Boards are laid down at strategic points where the ground becomes very soggy. Wires are criss-crossed over the boards to give grip.

Out into more open countryside again we were struck once more by the colours. There are many shades of green and the bracken is mostly brown now. 

The leaves are beginning to change as they lose their chlorophyll and allow the reds and yellows to show.

The heather that was so vibrant just a short while ago has lost most of its colour. With the young Scots pine saplings and the tall bracken it is a wonderful place for Labradors to practise their retrieving skills . . .

 . . . and everywhere the spiders set their larders. 

Thanks go to the My World team for organising and hosting this meme. To see more corners of this wonderful world please click here.
I'm also linking to Watery Wednesday as this is quite a 'wet' post! Thank you to 2sweetnsaxy

Macro Monday

Thank you to Lisa from 'Lisa's Chaos' who organises and hosts this meme. Click here 

to see more macros.

If you don't like spiders or their webs now is not a good time to venture outside, particularly in the forest. Gossamer abounds, strung three to four feet above the ground between tall grasses and small trees where myriads of insects fly in the warm early autumn sun. The sun's rays catch the morning dew and make it sparkle.

A web in the garden

Fragile webs, so easily destroyed by unseeing animals, human and wild, blundering through them are nonetheless surprisingly strong, resisting heavy downpours of rain. The supple silk is weighed down until the nets resemble necklaces of precious jewels but as it dries it resumes its intended purpose of netting tasty small morsels for hungry arachnids.

Madam Spider in the forest waits at the top of her web in this young Scots pine or maybe she is too hungry and has started to weave another trap.

Another web, spiderless this time, suspended between the needles of a sapling.

Microfiction Monday #51

Lovely Susan from ‘Stony River’ organises and hosts this weekly meme. Thank you Susan J She provides a picture and the challenge is to create a story in 140 characters or less – including punctuation! Click here to read more marvels of microfiction – and perhaps join in. It’s fun!

Here is this week’s picture accompanied by my offering.

She knew one day her prince would come and thought he’d ride a white horse but Pegasus was unexpected.  Quoth the raven ‘Nevermore’ but why?

(140 characters)

Homecoming

It is sometimes said that the USA and the UK are two nations divided by a common language and I have been pondering this recently. I have heard and read a lot about homecoming parades. To me, this means a parade through the streets of troops returning from theatres of war. Homecoming may also describe family members or friends arriving home after a holiday or an extended period away and perhaps being given a welcoming party.  

I have been thinking what a homecoming parade for schools may mean. Is it simply a ceremony to mark the beginning of the new school year? Why would there be a homecoming queen? Is there a king? It all begins to sound like a summer fête or the build-up to a carnival. Perhaps it is designed to welcome back students from their summer camps or holidays, to emphasise the recommencement of the common purpose and experience of learning together under the same roof after weeks of individuality. Do all schools have homecoming parades or is it a practice restricted to institutions in smaller towns? Surely it doesn’t happen in New York? Or does it?

I could understand a parade at the end of the school year, though I suppose the Prom is a more fitting celebration. Our secondary schools have now adopted this tradition and our eldest granddaughter thoroughly enjoyed her Prom this year, which was held near the end of term. It’s her sister’s turn next year. Our local school held its Prom before the GCSEs (public examinations) had been taken – that must have cut into revision time! I can’t imagine the students felt very celebratory at that juncture.

I don’t think our young people generally anticipate the beginning of another academic year with much delight so maybe a homecoming parade engenders enthusiasm together with a sense of community and a positive attitude to school. So, if I’ve guessed correctly at the reasons behind the homecoming parade, I think it’s another American custom we could assume quite happily.

By the way, is a BFF a Best Forever Friend (or Best Friend Forever) and if it is, what’s a BBFF?

Today's Flowers #113 Seeds and berries

Sunflower head with one remaining petal!

Close-up of developing seeds

Pyracantha berries - these will be eagerly consumed by blackbirds later on

Ripening holly berries on Ilex 'Golden King'

Blackbirds and thrushes will enjoy these. Sometimes a pair of Mistle thrushes will appropriate the tree and keep all-comers at bay!

Thanks go to the Today's Flowers team who organise and host this colourful weekly meme. Click here to see more flowers from around the globe.

Pet Pride Watch and Fetch!

 Watch the ball!

 They're off!

The race is on!

Tia is unlucky, Gus has a blue ball, Jenna's got a red ball. Will Foxy see the green ball?

Foxy searches underwater. 

Success! But this one is red too - did it change colour?
Thank you to Bozo and his human who host this meme. 

Shadow Shot Sunday #124

Thanks go to Tracy from 'Hey Harriet' who hosts this weekly meme.

The Common Carder-bee (Bombus pascuorum) is the commonest of the bumblebees in UK and the most likely to be seen. It flies from spring to late autumn - bet it's tired when it stops ;)

Camera Critters #130 Blue tits

The birds are decked out in their new plumage and feeding enthusiastically before the cold weather sets in.

The blue tits seem quite playful! Here is one attempting an alternative landing, coming in sideways. His friend at the top is looking askance but his other friend just carries on feeding.

This little chap has decided to jump down rather than fly!

Ah, I see now! He was practising so he could jump on his friend!

To see more critters visit Misty Dawn who hosts this weekly meme. Thank you, Misty!

Weekend Reflections #54

Thank you James for organising and hosting this meme. To enjoy more reflections please click here.

Winston knows how to get my attention and if this doesn't work he walks all over the keyboard.

Winston's Ist October blog 2010

Winston here . . . p’rrrrr, p’rrrrr . . .

I haven’t blogged since July but we was quite busy in the house, don’tcha know. Tia and Foxy come for the holidays and that was nice for Jenna ‘cos it meant Gus stopped mobbing her and jumped all over Foxy instead! Foxy don’t mind – she’s ever so soft.

I wasn’t feeling very chipper the other day. It’s all Mrs H’s fault – she changed my food. Now, I like the raw meat she gives us – chicken wings and beef heart and ox kidney and chicken fillets -  and I like my special food what comes in silvery pouches and has fish in it, but she give me a different sort of food what come in a little dish. Three of the dishes was okay but the last one give me a terrible tummy ache and put me off any food for a day. She won’t make that mistake again!

Buddy wasn’t feeling very well either, but Mrs H give him eggs scrambled in water and cooked his chicken for him and give him rice. He was soon all right again and wanting his usual food. He went out walking with the other dogs and come back all fresh and happy.

Two of the younger Humans come home the other day with their friends. All the dogs had to be shut away ‘cos the friends don’t like dogs. Jenna was allowed downstairs later ‘cos she’s quiet but I could go wherever I wanted and everybody liked me. I got lots of attention and lots of stroking and I purred so loudly. It was great! At last the other dogs come down and went out in the garden. Everyone was ever so tired when Bethan and Susannah and their friends went away again. It’s nice having extra people in the house.

There were more bodies in the house when Gillian and the children come last weekend. They always make a big fuss of all of us and I get titbits which Mrs H says is bad for me. I don’t know why – they taste good to me. Gus played with Foxy. He sat on her head but she didn’t mind. Buddy got lots of cuddles. Marnie and Gillian even bathed him in the humans’ bath and dried him off with towels and Mrs H’s hairdryer. He went out a couple of times with Callum and Kiri and Marnie and was a very cheerful boy. It felt quiet when Gillian and the children went home to Dorset but we’d all had a good time.

It all changed on Monday night ‘cos Buddy suddenly died and everyone was very sad. He wasn’t ill or nothing and he hadn’t hurt himself. The Humans said he’d been through a lot and I remember he was very ill when me and Monty was still kittens. It feels queer without him but I ‘spect we’ll all get used to it. Dominie died last November and then Monty went in April. We don’t understand what happens but Mr and Mrs H said something about stardust and that sounds rather nice to me. I’d like to twinkle in the night sky but I hope I don’t have to start soon.

That’s all I’ve got for today. Be good!

TTFN