Simplifying Life

mary43

ceridwen -

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?

First off............yes this quote is so apt and could be there's something in the air.......earthquakes, gale force winds, rain , life getting in the way - or is it plans getting in the way of life ? Whichever, sometimes there seems so little point in planning and maybe its better then to act on impulse and gut feeling.

I do feel for you with your Dad. My Mum had been very poorly for a while now - since her stroke four years ago she coped very well considering she was totally dependant of someone for everything but since last August she's gone downhill but keeps hanging on ..............why I've no idea...........so every time the phone rings my heart skips a beat and despite many 'near gos' and me weeping buckets thinking 'this is it' then feeling I've wept all I can...........I'll be able to deal with it when the time comes............I know full well I'll be in bits. Still, thats then.............this is now................maybe Mum's waiting till she feels I'll cope a bit better ? Who knows ...........
No words seem to be the right ones for you ceridwen but you know I'm thinking of you and your Dad, Bless him

As for our young lad........well his errand of mercy was to rush out =leaving his window wide open in gale force winds that could have wrenched it off - to 'rescue' someone who had crashed their car (not badly) and couldn't drive home...............so, they ring out lad (who has no license, prov. or otherwise) and ask him to drive them home as he and his wife are three sheets to the wind so daren't call ambulance/police or anyone. Our lad takes them home (he says) and their parents bring him back ????? I query why the parents didn't do the act of 'rescue' ?...............answer as yet unknown...........I think myself its all a little bit made up...........will I ever know ? Maybe not. He's now under the impression he's leaving anyway as he's got a job (an interview ) and got a flat ( hasn't seen it yet/terms of lease which he's not yet old enough to have)............so bit pie in the sky methinks.

groatie queen - love the poem. I'm going to have to print that one out. Thankyou for that.

Ellidee

Ceridwen just wanted to let you know I'm thinking about you and sending positive thoughts. I think that the right time for your Dad will come when it is meant to come IYSWIM and I am sure that when it does you will have or be given the strength to deal with it. All of your friends on here will be 'there' for you and I hope you know that already. :kisses3: Take care XX El

do_it_today!

Hi all :hello: happy mothers day to all you mothers out there
this morning I am attempting to simplify my wardrobe!

Aril

Hello virtual friends:j
Am sending out hugs to those who are in need them especially Ceridwen.
I myself am having a quiet day today...my idea of bliss on Mother's Day is just to be at home with my family with as little to do as possible. OH and I need to pack the small person's stuff for tomorrow [he's off on a school trip this week] but other than that we sorted out today's meal in the cookathon we had yesterday afternoon. I've picked up on the freecycling lark again and have had three lots go this weekend and it's also reduced the amount of stuff that I need to take to the charity shop.
I feel overall with all the decluttering that's gone on that I have a far better grip on what I actually do own and where it's all located. It's also had other benefits and has saved me money as it's allowed me to make cards from what I've already got snaffled away and make meals from stuff I had forgotten I had amongst other things.
As the mood on the board seems to be reflective today I shall leave you with a couple of calm quotes that I like:
Celtic Benediction
Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet Earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace f the son of peace to you.

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm on you face.
The rain fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the hollow of his hands.
Traditional Irish Blessing
Aril

mary43

Beautiful quotes aril - particularly love the last verse...........perfect for putting in a card to someone you really care about.

Well, Mums Day (or should I say Mothering Sunday) is much like a normal day here. Had a card from the eldest son that in no way reflected me........woman in a kitchen with washing on the go, ironing, hoovering
Can't be me...............maybe he was being a bit sarcastic..............lol He's into music and he and his mate are always messing about writing songs etc. and he's put a load on a CD (printed label, the lot).............so I'll play that later on when I get some proper 'me' time. Not heard from youngest son.........but then we never do make a big thing about these sort of days. I love my kids and they love me and its something we all feel we instinctively know and don't need to display it really. I don't feel I want to be treated any differently just because of a date on the calendar...................but thats just my thoughts on it. Everyone has their own and I respect them for it.
I went along with the tradition for MIL (even though she insisted I don't bother ) and my Mum, though I doubt she'll be aware of what day it is.

So........my day was going to be a bit of painting..............little pine cupboard that didn't strip well is crying out for a coat of paint and I'm crying out for storage but OH has now gone to the pub for a pint or several and I can't lift it on my own...............so, plan B...................made Easter cards for grandchildren and ex foster lad. Don't normally do one for him but he's had some mental health issues over the last year and I think he might appreciate a card and a little 'retro sweet box' like I've done for grandchildren. In fact I know he will.:j

Am sneakily eyeing up my little bookcase -never did get around to proper thinning out of books in it...............umm.................just might have a go at that.

You're right............this de-cluttering definitely has a positive impact on us.........I'm starting to feel that I control my 'stuff'.................it doesn't control me !:T

Aril

Hello...erm I'm back again:D
Thought I'd share with you the quote I have chosen to go inside the card the small person and I are going to make next weekend for my sister's Civil Partnership celebration [they actually had the ceremony on 22nd Dec but with only 2 witnesses for reasons too complicated to list here] However, the two families are coming together on 15th March. Yay I have just gained a fab new sister in law:j
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of life can contain your hearts.
And stand together yet not near together:
For the pillars of the temples stand apart
And the oak tree and the cypress tree grow not in each other's shadow.
Khalil Gibran.
Right that's your lot from me for today before I drive you all to distraction:D
Aril

mary43

aril - you never drive us to distraction (I'm sure I'm ok saying 'us'........lol)
Lovely words you've chosen for your sister.................she'll love them:j

ceridwen

Seconded mary - Aril you definitely DONT drive us to distraction. We look forward to your quotes - and hearing how the small person is getting on.

And - if you dont mind - I'd rather like to dedicate that verse of yours to JennieO. I was thinking earlier today of the way we can "share" things here and that, at some point, there'll be some happy news again (as in from JennieO's direction - telling us about her wedding plans hopefully - hint).

So - thank you personally to everyone who has expressed good wishes and thoughts for me - and I'll keep you informed if there is owt to say. And - for myself - I'd be pleased to hear of any further happy news anyone else has.

mary43

Wish I had some happy news ceridwen - spent the last hour blubbing away...........care home phoned where mum is and I spoke to Mum (just after thinking to myself this is the first mums day ever we've not spoken). I thought she was going to thank me for the card -which took an age to make- and photo that I'd sent - but no, she was asking me to go down to see her as soon as possible...............she was like this when she first went into the home and if I'd gone every time she asked I'd have had no life of my own.I've tried to keep things 'normal' seeing her when I would have in the past to try and maintain some degree of 'normality' in what isn't really life as we knew it. It seems Mums card hasn't arrived (posted it last Wednesday morning) yet my brothers card from Spain got there ok.
MIL said she'd heard of some delays with postage at Milton Keynes which would be where Mums card would have gone but I can't find out anything about it on the post office site so I've e mailed them and I'll phone in the morning to see whats happened.
Stupid me didn't send it recorded or registered post either and I was so mad with myself..........cross I hadn't gone down to deliver it myself but with stuff to do here -crumbling plaster off the walls etc. - I couldn't then of course the guilt factor creeps in.
So. sorry ceridwen, no good news from me............except that I have a smashing OH who bought me some Irish Cream Cappacinos (bless), an ex foster girl who gave me a box of lovely chocs and a son who sent me loads of photos of baby grandson plus his CD of music he and his mate had recorded and strangely spelt text from youngest son who is recovering from his mates birthday bash.
So, all is not doom and gloom.................just for about an hour or so it was and now I feel somewhat washed out...............I'm sure you know the feeling.
But I keep thinking of my 'five blessings' - there are far more I know........must always but always keep them to the front of my mind

do_it_today!

Hi :hello:
v productive day and a nice mothers day treated her to a mini spa and massage treat so that was nice!

I have a full-ish black bag of clothing and have been re-organising where things go - the task isnt finished but have made good progress - the thing that has really struck me is the whole 80/20 principle.... I have shaggy jumper and jogging bottoms that I wear 80% of the time when actually I have quite a few other nice alternatives - so I will make an effort to wear those more often instead!