Gratitude

What's with this gratitude for a limited time only thing? It's doing the rounds on Facebook. Three things you're grateful for listed for a few days and then suggest someone else do the same. A bit like a chain letter. Is this really something people haven't thought of before? In my youth ( a fading memory) we sang "Count your blessings, name them one by one..." and even the Saturday Advertiser quoted that, as though it's a present fad.
Surely even on the worst of days there are things to be grateful for. It's good to stop and breathe deeply for a minute and acknowledge them; to take mental snapshots (no, you don't need to whip out your phone) of wondrous moments.
I love that Heather has a regular Gratitude Friday post on Facebook. I talked to an old friend recently. She is an artistic type so has a lovely book where she has recorded for many years the things she is grateful for. Has  her life been pain free? Of course not. But the record is there of the good and lovely things.
As I doze off I like to think of the good things of my day and give thanks. We all have dark days among t he sunshine. But even on the dark days may there be things to lift our spirits and delight our hearts and let's notice them. Not just for a few days but every day, starting today.

No weekends

This was the title of a book I thought I should write when I was a new Mum struggling with the 24 hour, 7 day a week demands of a new baby. Things just churned relentlessly onward day after day with no difference in the routine of feeds and nappies and sleepless nights.<br />
In my former life as a school teacher I had looked forward to Fridays (although not last lesson!) and the promise of weekends with sport and church and relaxation if there wasn't heaps of marking to do. Now home with a tiny baby, there was no familiar weekly rhythm. Just &nbsp;more of the same day after day.<br />
Later when there were three children and a demanding mix of activities to fill my weeks, Saturday was the day to sleep in. During the week I got up to our children in the night (3 or 4 &nbsp;or more times a night until they were 2 or 3). But on Saturdays David got up and made breakfast - green pikelets anyone) and I slept till 10am. Bliss!<br />
The circle continues to turn and now unemployed (or semi-retired) I can sleep in most any day. Somehow it doesn't have the same appeal. And we're back to 'No Weekends'.

Shopping and Food

(Apologies: this was was written in 2010 but only published now.)
Yesterday we went to the famed Victoria Markets (forgot to put it in my 'Sunday' blog. What did I buy? Not one thing. Yes, I'm not feeling 100 percent but what's this about. Others describe shopping till they drop. But did I want/need anything? I saw some cute red shoes with a zip front and high heels but wasn't really tempted.
Not at all interested in Bridge Road etc precints. Maybe I've got to the stage where i want to get rid of stuff not add more.
BUT and this is a big but. I love looking at food. There was heaps at the markets - rows of fish and meat and small goods. Too much for me. But I love peering in all the eating place windows. Today I thought i'd like to try the braised hoof - the picture looked good! As we wandered along past China town the cariety was amazing and last night we passed the Pie Place - open 24 hours a day. And so it goes on. I love it. So what did we eat for lunch today?? Our sandwiches made before we left and an apple. Boring!!

"Are you excited?" the well-meaning car salesman asked as we arrived to collect our new car. For heaven's sake, it's a car. It should get us places reliably. It's red. Nice. The old one is 10 years old. The new one will have depreciated the moment we drive it away. The old one is comfortable. All the scratches were mine, so no big deal about adding a few more.
"Got to treat yourself occasionally," he followed up with. Nup. A treat is nice cheese or a good book. I just don't feel cars are like that. Glad to have one that has safety features and is comfortable - and did I mention red?