Simplifying Life - Mark II

firework

today i had to go to town about 9 miles away and whilst there decided to wander the shops - i don't do wandering shops anymore! so bit of a novelty for me... in the most part i could see why i don't bother anymore - lol, although i did actually enjoy the walking part and looking up at the tops of the buildings which are almost always far more interesting than the bottom part at eye level. but i did happen to wander past a lovely little shop called GURU which has been there for donkeys years - me and me mates all used to go in when we were teenagers. it always smelled of patchouly and incense and was always full of the most weird and wonderful stuff. today that wonderful old familiar smell was wafting out of the door (took me back a few years - i can tell you) and it drew me to the window where i looked in and saw the most beautiful pearlescent blown glass angel looking back at me. something about her just made me smile, she is very simple in design and looks kind of peaceful and instantly gave me that peaceful feeling i find on here so often... so i bought her (i never buy ornaments normally). for the princely sum of £3.50 .

i've put her on my table next to my lappy for now ... and she's sending out positive, peaceful vibes which will hopefully pass on to you all here...:A :A :A :A




... barking mad or what? (obviously been sniffing that incense a bit too much)lol!

ceridwen

Not at all "barking mad" Firework. My mother is very prone to giving me angels of one description or another - and I take it that she means well by it. I do tend to think there probably is such a thing as angels - and they could be the reason why I've quite definitely had a few "odd" incidents where someone or something has clearly been "looking after me" - maybe it was a guardian angel, maybe it was a guide, maybe my own Higher Self...These days I just mentally say "thank you" for any "help" I get and think "well - its not really that important to me just where the help comes from - I'm just glad of whatever help I can get...:D "

So - it sounds like it was a good buy - and only £3.50:D

Rowan9

(((Mary43)))
I kept a diary called 'a year in the life of someone whose mum has died'. I was 33/34 (15 years ago). I kept it to look at for a few years then burned it and felt I had moved on. It is very hard but you are doing all the right things. Sending very positive thoughts your way. have a candle burning for you.
W
,

Lula-Hula

Good evening all,

firework - I love that kind of shop & sounds like a very bargainous angel, thank for the vibes radiating in my direction - like ceridwen says I accept all with gratitude

ceridwen - interesting to hear that you have also had incidents where 'benevolence' has kept you from harm. It's happened to me on occasions when I really should ( in matter of fact terms) have not been safe, but instead felt very protected

mary - well, if I come out of counselling as calm & 'together' as you are, then I shall consider it a great success. It certainly sounds as though your brother 'needs' to behave as he is, whereas you realise that your relationship with your mother is much deeper than just how you arrange her funeral. It was interesting to discuss with my closest sibling how very different all our relationships with my mother were ( sorry, about grammar - just cant seem to put that in a coherent way ) & how this impacts on how we cope with bereavement. Still sending you positivity .


As to simplifying; I was at the tip by 9.15 this morning recycling my bags of weeds & have decided to create an area for my spiritual needs in the garden; cue ceridwen with useful link please . I'm rather excited by this & welcome any thoughts / ideas ...

best wishes to all

lula
xx

mary43

firework - barking mad ?? Never............anything that gives off good vibes or the 'feel good factor' has to be worth every penny - especially at that bargain price !

ceridwen - I've also had occassions when I feel 'someone is watching over me' - I tend to think it could just be my Dad - always say 'Thanks' anyway to whoever it is.

wmf - thanks. The diary/journal I decided to start in January - every year I've started one nothing worth writing about happened, the years I didn't became full of events, emotional and otherwise. I did think that starting one this year might keep these things at bay but not so..........maybe it's all meant to be in order that I can record my feelings about things and learn from them. So far its been easy to fill up with things that have happened involving either the kids we have, health issues, car problems, the weather and now mum.

Lula -Big Bruv has now put on his 'Mr.Nice Guy' hat !!
He's rung me to tell me what he has done today so far -Building soc., -needed Grant of Probate (I almost said I told you so but held back.......lol)
Funeral Directors - he's now cancelled the extra car -sigh of relief ! The whole thing was beginning to turn into something resembling a farce !
He's also asked if me and OH will take mums flowers and put them on Dads grave on the way to my sons - I'm happy to do that no problem.
As for the 'stuff' in the flat - the care home are having a boot sale so that will take care of a lot of it.........he's accepted the fact that the flat won't be cleared by the time he goes back to spain and is quite happy for me to be 'entrusted ' with the paperwork he has to sort through while he's away.
And a real turn up for the books - he wants the furniture to go to a place in Bedfordshire where homeless people work, polish up furniture and clean up bric a brac etc. to sell in a large shop area where they also work. I've been there with my son for pieces for their house.Lovely place and such a worthwhile cause. Very odd considering my brother has always made a point of saying those without jobs or homes have brought it on themselves !
So now I'm totally muddled by this personality change from barking at me to being civilised !! Do I start to like him I wonder ? If only I thought the 'nice guy' hat would become a permanent fixture..............but history tells me it won't so for now I'll go with the flow and at the end of it all, bow out gracefully.

Rowan9

Ceridwen - I had one of those moments a couple of years ago - driving in the dark, wood on both sides of the road and a sudden sense said to slow down. I braked and within a minute a massive stag leapt out and crossed the road. I said 'thank you'.

ceridwen

Mary

Re Bruv's "nice guy" attitude currently - okay-dokey....it may well not last - but while it does then just say "thank you" and work with that. It may be that the sum total of positive vibes being aimed in your direction right now might just be effecting a temporary change/it may be that they are effecting a "sea change". I guess the thing is to be glad of it for what its worth - and, as I said, work with it.

ceridwen

"creating an area for spiritual needs in the garden".....hmm......

Well....to me there's several different choices as to how one could style such an area:

- like a mini forest garden (a style I like personally)

- a Zen style garden (all raked gravel/few large rocks/etc) (if wanting somewhere a bit more "Buddhist" style)(wouldnt do it for me - but would suit some people)

- a Moroccan riad style garden (complete with fountain in the middle) - a style I personally rather like

There is a clip of a roof garden that I put on my gardening blog that might spark off a few ideas:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW-ODlTuqqM

I wish you luck with getting somewhere suitable together. I've only got an awful little space that - with the best will in the world - its not possible to make anything attractive from. So - I've made a virtue out of necessity and am getting it together for as much foodgrowing as possible and totally forget any aesthetic considerations - darn it!

If I had a suitable type garden for having a bit for aesthetic pleasure - hmmm.....then water in some shape or form would be one of my first considerations. There's gotta be some water element in a decorative/relaxing type garden in my book - "its the law" to quote a virtual friend. Could be a Moroccan-style fountain, could be a pond, could just be one of those flowing water gadget thingies. There's got to be seat or two - set up to be as secluded as possible: underneath a large old tree or in a bit of an arbour. There's got to be a lot of greenery. Maybe some white flowers (preferably ones that gave off a nice scent). Well - thats just my own idea of a "dream aesthetic type garden"......<sigh> maybe one day.....

mary43

ceridwen - I'll go with the flow regards big bruv and make the most of it while it lasts.

Good luck with your garden idea.............I wonder what I did before we had our little wild life patch............it's lovely just to sit there and enjoy the stillness of it all. Yes, we have neighbours both sides and over the wall in the next street but somehow its like they're not there..........its my little bit of countryside.
For a calming atmosphere you can't beat still water, as much greenery as you can find room for, let nature provide any colour, get a nice old rustic bench, sit back and enjoy....................:o
Mind you have to admit to not sitting by the pond this time of the year.......bit on the chilly side for me..............lol

pagangirl

Hi folks - Ceridwen -your garden oasis idea sounds lovely - couldn't do without some sort of a water feature, like Mary I think it has a calming effect - just wish I had a garden, any sort of a garden.......... have decided to have a 'virtual' garden - well it's better than nuffin ! :rotfl:

Mary - glad your 'bruv's'attitude has changed (even if it is only temporary) - at least it will make for a better atmosphere on Friday - it will be traumatic enough for you without him giving you more hassle. More positive thoughts coming your way.