Chipped Tooth

I hate this damned cold weather! The streets and roads were treacherous
today. People walking like puppets on strings in an effort to stay upright.
Unfortunately I didn't manage to stay upright and slipped not once but
twice. The second time causing me to chip a tooth.

I arrived home at 7pm, so too late to call the dentists, which means I will
have to call from the office tomorrow. Which in turn means I probably
wont get an appointment until near the weekend or even early next week.

Furthermore, the weather is forecast to get colder, icier, and more snowfall.
My dentist is based some six miles away from where I live. So, if the roads
are to get worse, then I have to consider if it is safe to travel on the roads to
attend the appointment.

Luckily the chipped tooth is the third from the left on the bottom row, so not
that noticeable. If it is icy where you are, please be careful out there.

Best Ever Christmas Gift

Christmas is fast approaching, which got me thinking, what is the best
ever Christmas gift you ever received?
Mine is a small wooden flute. Sometime ago I wrote on here about a
wonderful man named Josef. He was an amazing man, a real hero to
me. Anyway, for Christmas of 1979 he gave me the wooden flute for
a gift. Why is a flute so special? Because he lovingly made it himself,
he must have worked for some hours to carve it.

To be honest, it's more like a penny whistle than a flute, but Josef called
it a flute. All this fits in nicely with my previous post. Josef passed away
many years ago, but he lives on through my memories. For me, it's the
simplest things that are the greatest of treasures.

Always Here With Us

Hello Again,

I read something on another blog which made me think. The blog
concerned is written by Joice Maduaka, and is well worth reading
should you get the chance. She had posted a quote along the lines of
'It's sad when people we know become people we knew.'

It really stirred my emotions. Suddenly people I once knew came flooding
back into my memory. How would you define the phrase 'once knew?' To
me it means two things, people we have loved and who have passed away
and people we have loved and known who have simply moved away and we
have lost contact with them.

However, are they really gone? Yes, of course physically they are no longer
with us for either reason, but it made me think. If we remember people, all
the times we spent together, the good times, the sad times, the tears, the
laughter, then I believe in a way they are still with us.

As long as we remember them, they are never truly gone. They are always 
here with us. Who knows, perhaps the people we once knew are remembering
us too.

Thanks, Joice, your quotes often inspire me.

Where are you heading?

Ever get that feeling 'where is my life heading?' I've had one of
those days. In fact so much so, that I got very little work done.
I guess it's up to ourselves to determine how our lives develop.
We shouldn't rely on others, I'm sure they will help if they see
we are struggling. We need to look into our own hearts and minds,
for nobody knows us better than we know ourselves.

Don't take things for granted, if you're not happy, don't accept that
things can't change. For change does happen, if we seek it out, if we
allow it into our lives.

Some people are happy, settled and content. Good for them. They have
determined the course of their life, found love, perhaps, maybe have a
family, a loving home life.

Others, myself included, are more restless. They tend to ask questions,
yet often fail to find the answers. I believe those answers live within us,
if we a truly true to ourselves, then we will finally understand where our
lives are heading.

Take care.

Snow Is Coming

I have just read a weather forecast saying that parts of the UK will be hit by snow
the latter part of next week. Last year's snow and cold spell was the coldest weather
we had experienced for 30 years. Perhaps this year we can expect more of the
same, if snow will be falling in late November!

I don't mind snow, it can be very picturesque. Unfortunately, the councils in the UK
seem totally inept when it comes to wintry weather. Usually the UK comes to a
standstill! Makes me wonder why we pay out taxes!

If the forecasters are correct and snow does fall, please be careful. Enjoy it, but be
careful.

Thirty Three Years

Hello Again,

I can't believe that it is 33 years since my grandmother passed away.
How quickly time passes us by! From being a young boy to being
in my forties in what seems no time at all.

I have missed my grandmother everyday since she died. Looking
back at events, I can now see that she knew she had very little
time left. I was only young and didn't notice how ill she had become.

I remember visiting her on the Sunday before she died. When it became
time to say our goodbyes she just hugged me as usual and whispered
'don't worry, I'll always be your nana.' The last words I ever heard her
speak. She was correct, she always will be! :-)

R.I.P. Grandma.

A Villanelle Poem

Born free?

Can this kangaroo court judge me?
With their smirking, snarling, sneering
Is not a man born free?

No crime committed, can’t they see?
Will a witness be appearing?
Can this kangaroo court judge me?
No jury here to hear my plea

They’re the judge and jury I am fearing
Is not a man born free?
What law was broken, by what decree,
Is this hostile crowd jeering?

Can this kangaroo court judge me?
No mercy shown, so let it be
Hang him! They are cheering
Is not a man born free?

Led to the gallows, the hanging tree
My fate with God is nearing
Can this kangaroo court judge me?
Is not a man born free?

(c) Graham Andrews.

The repeating of the lines is to emphasise the drama, the
emotion of the piece.Hope you enjoyed reading it. If so,
please feel free to leave a comment. I would appreciate
your feedback. :-)

Nature

Isn't the power of Nature a wonder to behold? Yesterday here in the
UK we suffered some terrible gales. The wind was mighty, billowing
around my house, bending the trees, and more irritatingly, setting of
car alarms!

I know that here in the UK we escape relatively unscathed as far as the
weather goes. Yes, we get plenty of rain, occasional snowfall, but all-
in-all, considering we're an island, the weather is rarely severe. In saying
that, I have to sadly report that a lady died yesterday because of the gales.
It is reported that the car she was a passenger in, was struck by a falling
tree.

May she R.I.P.

Greer Garson

I have long been a great admirer of Greer Garson. She had such elegance and
grace, was a lovely person and a wonderful actress. For the majority of her movies
she starred alongside Walter Pidgeon, and they proved to be an enigmatic
on-screen couple. If any of you like to watch old movies, then I would recommend
you look for Greer Garson movies, Mrs.Miniver, Goodbye Mr. Chips are just
two of her movies which were well received at the time, and to this day are worth
watching.

Graham.

November 5th

REMEMBER REMEMBER

THE 5TH OF

NOVEMBER GUNPOWDER

TREASON AND PLOT,

I CAN THINK OF NO

REASON THAT GUNPOWDER TREASON SHOULD EVER BE FORGOT!!

Today is the 5th of November, also known as bonfire night here in the UK.

It is in remembrance of the plot by Guy Fawkes to blow up parliament

and kill the King. Of course he didn't succeed, unfortunately some may

say! Traditionally bonfires and fireworks displays are attended to by many

people. If you are one of them, please keep safe!

November

WOW! This year has really flown by. I cannot believe it is already November!
This is also a difficult month for me emotionally. I have lost three grandparents in
this previous Novembers over the years. So remembering them is utmost in my
mind at this time of year.

Wishing whosoever reads these words a happy fruitful November.

Graham.