A landscape by Michael Fleming and a handsewn bag from Grace.

Share one of the best gifts you’ve ever received.

I know i have answered this question before,  but things have changed and there now are at least two special gifts i have received.

If im totally honest everything  that Susanna gave me is special and of great significance but I will talk about two other special things I have received.

Whilst Michael Fleming was still on this earth 🌎 he gave me one of his paintings, a smalll landscape in blue shades.  It is my all-time favourite painting and is up on  my lounge room wall   It is the birthday present that means so much to me because Michael was an established artist who gave freely to me of his talent.

A  gift that means a lot to me is the little shopping bag that my niece Grace gave me for Christmas 🎄 this year. She had just received a sewing machine and made beautiful sewn lined shopping bags for all the special women in her life. It was a gift 🎁 that is special to me. Grace is so lovely to use her new sewing machine to make lovely, well made gifts 🎁 for her loved ones. How kind and unselfish of her. The thought in that gift was lovely.  I will treasure it forever.

Am I a patriotic Australian?

Are you patriotic? What does being patriotic mean to you?

Up to just recently i have been a very patriotic Australian . I love the country I call home, it is such a vast varied land and seascape and in many ways we are truly the lucky country. Events over the past few years has taken away my rose coloured glasses view of my homeland. I am sickened by the racist views of some of my compatriots and saddened by the behaviour of some people who call Australia home.  The rise of the right wing concerns me. The popularity of the right wing is on the rise. I am sickened by both the anti Semitic views, the Bondi massacre and the treatment of our indigenous Australians. We pride ourselves as being a multicultural society,  but more and more a feel that there is great opposition to that multicultural element.

I long to be part of a nation that has said sorry to the past treatment of our indigenous people and a non racist inclusive society where peaceful values are at our core. A society where everyone is included and feels safe. I think we are very far off that mark.  I feel incredibly unsafe on our streets but know the best way to counteract that is to model peaceful,inclusive non racist behaviours and surround myself with good people with like minds. I hope the good people of Australia model that too, so we remain a lucky country 

What I believe about Valentine’s Day

Today in the world 🌎 we celebrate Valentine’s Day and I choose to spend it showing love ❤️ 😍 to my loved ones.  At the moment I don’t have a romantic partner,  but I share my life with my loved one’s and experience love in its many forms.

Probably the most pure and innocent love in my life is the loving ❤️ bond I have with my dog 🐕 Lily. Everyday is,Valentine’s Day for Lily and I cherish her particularly when she jumps on my lap or chest and our heart rates become synchronised and when she sleeps 💤 in my bed beside me.

Today i have had contact with quite a few significant friends 🧡 all spreading the love and goodwill of the day.  I have had a quiet peaceful day and watched 3 of my favourite programs on the ABC,  those beibg Call The Midwife,  The Piano and Extraordinary Escapes with Sandi Toksvig.  Call The Midwife is just so historically significant and relevant.  The Piano is very moving and Sandi Toksvig shows just what a lovely fascinating and intelligent witty lady she is. She is like everyone’s lovely Aunt and her gentle intelligent humour and wit make her one of the most genuinely good women on television.

All in all I have had  peaceful and joyful Valentine’s Day. Life is what you make it. I choose happiness and a glass half full.

Food for thought

I just heard a wonderful quote from a young woman on YouTube that I wanted to share. It is as follows

“Being alone is better than being with the wrong people “

It applies to me because I choose to live alone, but with Lily obviously, and I now consciously surround myself with good people who have good intentions.  It isn’t a compromise, it is a conscious choice. My life is quiet and peaceful and I can hear myself think in the serenity. It keeps me grounded and mentally well.

The present is all we have.

I firmly believe that we should not fret about the past or worry about the future because the present moment is all we have and the only thing we can do anything about.  Try not to focus on rhe past and don’t let painful memories or feelings dominate you and make you unable to rejoice what life brings us in the here and now. Don’t waste precious energy worrying about what the future will bring,  ibstead focus your energy on making the present day a good one. Spread love and goodwill to those around us in the present moment and then the future will take care of itself.  It’s mindfulness in its most pure form and leads to peace calmness and serenity in your everyday life  God has plans for us all

Groundhog day

Do you need a break? From what?

I know I have answered this question before but today i feel like writing anotber answer. I feel like my life is Groundhog Day, the same day over and over again as I wait for word about The Haven the social housing that I hope to move into soon. My life feels like it is set to repeat,  whereas i am hoping to have it be reset to random or shuffle of a more positive kind. Oh well all I can do is wait and see. Patience is a virtue after all.