Simplifying Life

ceridwen

Aril wrote: »

Hello virtual friends:j
Nothing but a quote from me today as am on my lunchbreak and will be due back soon. I read this on another forum someone had posted back in 2002 so can't attribute it I'm afraid.
"When you come to the end of everything you know and the next step is into the depths of darkness of the great unknown you must believe one of two things: Either you will step out onto firm ground or you will be taught to fly.!
Aril

And we are to some extent "looked after". I had my little example of this today (not for the first time). There is a "hassle" type situation going on at present in my life (long story) and one person in my area who I need to play a tiny little part in rectifying this. I dont actually know this person - its a workman who I need to pay to do a specific task for me and I was walking along wondering how on earth to contact him, as I dont even know his name - and he was walking along the road towards me. Sometimes - we get "helped out" - even if its only in tiny little things. But every bit helps.

So - two things I asked for help with have now been given to me - that little task arranged with a workman on the one hand and the book I needed to read will now be en route to me from one of my "virtual friends" on this Board (when I didnt even know if it had been written).

mary43

More productive day............small things have been done...........three coffee pictures (those square block type ones)are now on the kitchen wall, as if my chicken on canvas, dried seeds in a frame and two wall plaques............one saying 'grumpy old *** lives here with a beautiful woman' and the other says 'Come in, relax, sit down and converse.......our house doesn't always look like this, sometimes its worse ' - how applicable is that ...................lol Moved jars of dried seeds from a 'hidden corner' so they'll be displayed on top of the new old pine dresser.............now I've got an empty space where they used to be...............oh panic buttons starting !!!!!!!! Must fill that gap and soon.............lol
Also rescued my tester pots of paint that OH had chucked in a bin bag in his mad moment of de-cluttering and painted a retro tea town holder my son had bought me. It was rather a vivid turquoise...........almost shouted at you..........so Ive toned it down with a nice sage green that blends in with the picture on it. So.............not a waster day at all..........not great things but little steps in the right direction.

Think big bruv must have taken last nights e mail telling him I'm turning into a 'nutcase' seriously...............he's e mailed and offered to deal with any paperwork that needs sorting out when he comes back at Easter !!!!!!!
Too late Big Bruv..............Mums friend is posting to me what there is and I'll sort it................:rotfl: Is Big bruv having guilt pangs I wonder having dumped all the paperwork in my lap ? Not that I mind doing it, I don't at all, it's just that when Mum first was ill he had to take 'Control' over everything, make every decision and would not let me have a say in or do anything other than what he told me. I offered to share Power of Attorney with him, after all she's my mum too..............he agreed and when I asked what I could do to help he handed me all the paperwork, lock stock anbd barrel................and off he went back to Spain ! Oh well, its his life.........long as he let me lead mine (and for the first time ever, he has stood back and not criticised my lifestyle ! Both in our 60's and its taken till now ??? Oh what are family's all about I wonder sometimes.)
Ooops.............sorry didn;t mean to go off on a 'winge' tangent...........I;m just so pleased I've picked a paintbrush up for the first time in an absolute age...................:T

mary43

Oh dear.............today not such a good day as yesterday.
2am this morning I find OH in heap at the bottom of the stairs - fell en route to the loo in half asleep state. Gashed his toe so bled all over the carpet (Thanks OH !).............said no to abulance -I was worried in case he'd broken anything. Cleaned him up and got him back to bed around 3am.
7.30am alarm goes off so up I get to get lad off to school leaving OH in bed.
8.30am..............feeling washed out, shattered and tearful, ring ex foster lads girlfriend for help and burst into tears on the phone...........she panics and rushes up..............flood gates open once more ! Two cups of coffee while I explain whats happened and would she collect my pension and get shopping as I didn't want to leave OH in bed in case he needed something or worse still, fell down again.
11.30am...............OH comes down stairs, rubs his back -says it ached a bit and no need for any help - the walk will do him good !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Remarkable recovery from last night...........my back aches where I had to help him up and I'm whacked with so few hours sleep..............
So, all the positive vibes I had yesterday have now turned to being negative ones, or at least feeling that way.
It'll get better, I know it will and this setback is a temporary one (better be -told OH so !)
Tomorrow I'm booked for a facial, eyebrow shape and lip wax -part of voucher OH got me for christmas...............good job it wasn't for today -I'd have had to cancel it.
Letter arrived this morning with appointment for counsellor.............at last........so thats a positive thing.
And at least OH is ok.............no bones broken, despite my extreme banadaging of his big toe he can still get his shoes on - just need to find 'blood stains on carpet' thread now..................

Rowan9

Aril wrote: »

Hello virtual friends:j
Nothing but a quote from me today as am on my lunchbreak and will be due back soon. I read this on another forum someone had posted back in 2002 so can't attribute it I'm afraid.
"When you come to the end of everything you know and the next step is into the depths of darkness of the great unknown you must believe one of two things: Either you will step out onto firm ground or you will be taught to fly.!
Aril

Think this is Jonathon Livingstone Seagull by ??Richard Bach?? Not 100% but fairly.
((((hugs)))) to all who need them. WRONG - it's Claire Norris. Thanks for this quote Aril - it certainly got to me as it has made me search it!!
Will catch up with this wonderful thread later
w

Rowan9

hhhmmmm.....my edit is below my grocery challenge - will try to track down this quote

Ellidee

Mary so sorry to hear about your traumatic night. Sounds as though you are in a worse state than your OH. Hope you both feel better soon and sending you a dodgy hug. :grouphug: XX El

mary43

Thanks Elliddee - OH now returned from walk into town and none the worse for it. Stll aches but at least the toe just needs a sticky plaster now and not the turban shaped bandage I'd put on last night................lol (the things you do in the wee small hours when the brains still asleep !)
He's announced he's doing nothing else today................oh lor..........that means I'm in charge of dinner !!! Me and the kitchen are not the best of friends so it'll be quick and easy..............hate to say it but I think Fray Bentos pie in a tin will be on the menu............hate the meat but love the pastry and with a few veg I'm sure even I can make a dinner out of it.............lol Unless I delve into the freezer and find something better.

ceridwen

Well mary43 - you're sounding like you are getting more cheerful again as day goes on. Good one - that that counsellor appointment is lined up - progress! As a friend (now moved away) used to say each time as she went out the door "Onwards and upwards" (which in her case got accompanied by a raised fist! lol).

Thinks....might go off now and look up the author/ess of Aril's last quote - see what else she has to say. I rather liked Jonathon Livingstone Seagull too.

This thread is sure a learning experience to me too.

I've been going and sitting contemplating hills myself - the phrase "I will look unto the hills - from which my strength comes" (well - I think thats the exact wording?) running through my mind. I dont know why - but I find there is a lot in that - and came back feeling much better.

mary43

Thanks ceridwen for feeling I seem more cheerful -especially after the horrendous night I had with OH's tumble downstairs..............lol He's currently playing the 'invalid' propped up on the sofa, getting up every now and then and becoming 'master of the deep sigh' as he does so...............bless him.............still, he took over the kitchen and produced fish and chips - far more edible than if Id dished up the fray bentos pie....................lol
Have to resign myself to the fact that the plaster that fell of the wall last week will be staying on the floor for a bit, the smashed up chimenea in the garden will resemble some modern art type rockery as pieces of clay are randomly strewn across the concrete that we call out 'patio' when feeling a bit 'posh' and anything that needed lifting or moving will be staying put..............for the time being anyway. Thank goodness he cleared out his books before all this and helped with the rest of the de-cluttering otherwise Id be bottom of the class now.
I shall now join the 'master of the deep sigh'..........contemplate whether he's in waking or sleeping mode - that might determine which channel I put on the tele.....................lol Not a clue what is on the box tonight but if its football he'll stay awake and I just might be blubbing up a corner !

Rowan9

Good morning everyone in this wonderful simplifying thread!
British Gas are not taking the simple route to things as we have to stay in from 8am to 8pm today as this is the time 'specified' when a gasman will come to change the meter and although it is outside, someone has to be here - paperwork to sign probably. So.....beautiful sunny day, dishes all done 9from last night though!!) and the kitchen surfaces cleared so it is all taking a more simple look.
I received a book in the post from a wonderful work colleague (I'm off at the moment, have been for some time but am beginning to plan my return!) - The Little Prince. Has anyone here read it? I was given a copy for a birthday about 10 years ago but never got round to reading it. Now this wonderful old hard backed copy (I love pre-owned things and think about their history!) has arrived and I feel that it will contain a special message as my friend is a very caring and thoughtful chap. I will continue my simplifying plan with donating my old copy to the charity bag. Who needs 2 copies of the same book?
Simplifying plans have also gone on with the new menu plan, using the last bits from the freezer which DD and I will defrost at the beginning of the week. It is wonderfully easy to just look at what is for tea each day without having to think! The shopping list has also been prepared and only contains half a dozen things so that is good for the budget.
We bought a sack of potatoes at the farmers market a few weeks ago and, again, it has proven a very good simplifying thing to do. We have to use them up so I'm not having to think...hhhmmm pasta, rice or potatoes? If you think you could use a sack, or even half sacks if your local places do them, then i recommend it. It is one less thing to buy regularly and they are soooo tasty compared to supermarket potatoes.
Final simplifying thing to tell you about is the new (to us) organic veggie box - we've gone for a one-off delivery which will come next Wed. I chose the winter box as it is all local stuff and seasonal eating seems a simplifying and OS thing to me. It costs just under £10 and I decided to try it because when I am back at work it just might be a good thing to come home to on a Wed (that's our local delivery day). I know it isn't very frugal and we certainly can't afford to eat all organic but I'm thinking that it will ensure I get enough good quality veg and might help energy levels when i go back to work. So, this is a toe in the water of simplifying my shopping while also supporting local farming (I'm from farming stock ).
I have been clearing out a lot of things and taking them to the charity shop, as you knoe, since I keep telling you!! But this quote from The Prophet has kind of made me think of the 'value' of our stuff, things that we think 'oh I can't donate that because ...blah blah' :
'You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.
For what are your possessions but things you keep and guard for fear you may need them tomorrow?
And to-morrow, what shall to-morrow bring to the over-prudent dog burying bones in the trackless sand as he follows pilgrims to the holy city?
And what is the fear of need but need itself?
Is not dread of thirst when your well is full, the thirst that is unquenchable?
There are those who give little of the much which they have - and they give it for recognition and their hidden desire which makes their gift unwholesome.
There are those who have little and give it all. These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty.
There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.
And there are those who give with pain, and that pain is their baptism.
And there are those who give and know not pain in giving, nor do they seek joy, nor give with mindfulness of virtue;
They give as in yonder the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space.
Through the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes He smiles upon the earth.'
The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran

Hope you all have a lovely day!
w