Simplifying Life

ms_london

ceridwen wrote: »

Yep - M & S are going to charge for bags :T . Hadnt heard owt re where that money is going to go - but if its in an environmental direction - then cant be bad - but what we really need is for shops to stop stocking these plastic bags altogether. If the shops dont have them - then people cant take them.

Thankfully - for the last few months all sorts of places have been falling over themselves to produce attractive and cheap permanent-type bags - I've spent the last year being complimented enviously on my favourite hessiany one every time I use it.

I am in NZ at the moment, and just spent a year in Aussie too - they do have plastic carrier bags, but most people use the hessian bags, the supermarkets sell them for $1 and you just reuse them. They are mainly green (funnily enough) but you can also buy coloured ones, and themed ones! I prefer them aswell because they are sturdy, you can fit more in them, as well as the obvious advantages to the environment. I'm going to bring them home with me, will be a memory of my trip too !!

mary43

Well, started off my morning trying to 'simplify' my shelves...........put all the folders on one shelf and move some of my shoe box size storage boxes.........did that............smiled to myself at the result then realised I had a box with no place to go !!! How did that happen ? It had a 'home' before I messed about with my shelves ! Oh dear me..............now I've got to have a re-think...........might give me the motivation needed to paint a little cupboard I was going to put in comp. room but that won't solve the problem of 'homeless shoe box' ! I'll just end up re-shuffling again and not knowing where anything is ! Also got very pretty index box for family tree names thats currently 'homeless'...............could sit it on my filing drawers but then I would see baby grandsons smiling face as I sit here typing away................lol
Did empty one 'shoe box' that will do for someones 'christmas hamper'........its a sort of wicker one with leather handles.

Now I'm sounding like I'm obsessed with wretched storage boxes !! (Mental note to shut up about them !)

Other events so far today...........OH got up about 4am and found our lad had gone out........just as he shut his window and checked locks, light tapping noise on the door............lad had come back after so called 'errand of mercy' to help his mate who'd broke his leg ????? Ummm.......have severe doubts there...........questions will be asked when he emerges from his 'pit' (can't describe it any other way.............lol)
When I got upI breathed sigh of relief my trees were still in place but not so when I saw our chimenea had blown over and smashed to bits!

So good start to the day I don't think....................

Still, at least I'm not in the rocking chair.......................lol
Decided there's no point and will re-think 'organisation' later:j

ceridwen

Well...mary43 - not a good start to your day, as you say. "Errand of mercy" - in the middle of the night?! Right - of course - well, I dont think so somehow;) .

Am wondering all round if the phrase "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans" is quite an apt one at the moment for a number of people. Is it "something in the air" do you think?

I shall be off in a minute to have my secondlot of deep breathing and calming thoughts of the day. The first lot was when my aged (and far from well) father announced "Its time they called me HOME I think" in quite a decided manner - two guesses at what he means by that - so I had to go off for a mini-break and take some deep breaths and then go back and try and pretend I hadnt been crying. I feel I have to "give him permission" to Leave - and obviously he has had my "permission" for some time - but do I actually have to say so - and how? There ought to be some book out there called "When its time to say goodbye" - maybe there is and I dont know about it. So - I have no idea how much longer there is - it could be hours, it could be years yet. I dont know. I presume he made this remark to me to see if he does have "permission" so to say - of course he does - its his life and his decision.

So - I take my deep breaths and calming thoughts on that one and then something else has come up and I've just been accused of having done something I havent. I think you can safely say today is "one of those days".

Ever get those days when you think "Crikey - thats 2 darn things I could have done without. I think I'll just lock the door/take the phone off the hook and not use anything electrical for the rest of the day.....just in case. You know what they say about things going in 3's. I aint tempting fate."

So - I'll take some more calming breaths in a moment, when I've done some sorting-out of episode 2 of today and its early night tonight with some nice calming music and deep breathing.

Tomorrow is another day.

We all get "bad patches" dont we?

Hope everyone else is having a better one.

Bobbykins

Oh Ceridwen, my heart goes out to you about your father.

Sadly, I was in a similar position a few years ago with my Mum. In the end, she was SO ill, and SO tired, I know she was just ready to go but she was hanging on, for my sake. By then, she was beyond talking coherently but occasionally she called out to my late Dad's name. It was very hard for me to do, but I managed to tell her that if she wanted to go with Dad, then she shouldn't hang back for me, that I would be OK. Shortly afterwards, she left us.

It's so touching to think that your parent's love for you is holding them back from getting their final rest when they are ready to go and yes, that they feel the need to seek your "permission".

I hope you find the opportunity to tell your Dad that he is free of responsibility to you, even though it will break your heart. I will be thinking of you and sending you strength.

love
Bobby

vivw_2

ceridfen, my heart also goes out to you. Use the time to tell your dad, how much he means to you, and how much you love him also, before you give him permission to go. I wish I could have told my father but he died very suddenly in bed of a heart attack.

ceridwen

Thank you for those thoughts. Well it happens some time to all of us doesnt it? Who knows how much longer there is? There is always the chance he might go on for years yet - who knows?

I thought I'd better get in quick and say "Thanks for all the work on my house - I couldnt have bought an old dump of a place without you". You wouldnt believe the state my house was in - well okay - take that back. A lot of people have bought an old wreck. Very telling that I can recall the first DIY book I bought was "Doing up a dump". Anyway - thats said. That'll do for starters.

boredofbeingathome

My thoughts and best wishes go out to you ceridwen, how does one say these things? so hard but i'm sure anything heartfelt will be accepted as such.x

lilac_lady

ceidwen - lots of positive thought to you to keep you strong. It's a compliment to those whose parent(s) waited for them before they let go. My mum asked me shortly before she died if it would be all right to take the new medication given in hospital which she knew would ease her into a coma and out of pain. I said "yes" and she said that if I thought she should, she would take it. She died peacefully the next day. I'm so glad I gave her "permission" to go. I miss her every day, although it's over 20 years since she died.

Hardup_Hester

Hi Ceridwen
When my Dad was dying of liver cancer, my stepmum (lovely person, very new age & airy fairy) kept whispering to him, 'Go towards the light, there will be no pain if you go towards the light' I think my Dad's dying words were 'Go towards the light? I'm not a bloody moth you know' poor Dad, he loved her dearly, but he did admit he didn't hold with all her beliefs.

groatie_queen

Just came across this poem by a poet called Pavi

Sometimes I'm a thread woven into this world,
Sometimes I am yarn that's unravelling.
Sometimes I'm a river that knows it's own way,
Sometimes I'm a stream that is babbling.
Sometimes I'm a wanderer lost on the path,
Sometimes I'm a pilgrim who's traveling.


Best wishes

GQ xxx