Bookmarks

I don't often use the Bookmark tool on my browser anymore since I've started using Diigo.  However, tonight I wanted to mark something that I didn't need to keep track of for long and so bookmarked it.  That's when I thought that perhaps I should look at some of my long forgotten bookmarks.  It turned out to be more interesting than I supposed it would.  I discovered a world of Internet use, which hinted at all sorts of interests, some forgotten and some still lingering on in one way or another.  This blog entry is a record of those sites I visited in the past and what they may mean or have meant to me.

Smith and Gore

We had a number of friends who lived in houses owned by the Crown Estates.  They had very expensive accommodation, some of it in the Windsor Great Park; and accommodation at reasonable rents in less luxurious surroundings, for key workers in the community.  I used to visit the site on a regular basis, hoping that we might find such a dwelling, especially in the park.  It never did happen.
These days all the property on the Crown Estates seems to be expensive.

A 1000 days at sea:
 One night quite late, I seem to remember, I somehow came across the website of a man who was trying to sail for a 1000 days without coming ashore.  During this time, he met his future wife and they had a baby.  It was fascinating following the voyage.  I had forgotten about them until tonight.

Bread Matters

I bought a bread book during the Christmas holidays.  It's wonderful and has revolutionized my baking.  Apparently at some point in the past, I came across the website of the book's author.  I think that I was looking for bread making lessons.

Democracy and Proper Drains

From “In Westminster Abbey” by John Betjeman

Think of what our Nation stands for/

Books from Boots' and country lanes/

Free speech, free passes, class distinction/

Democracy and proper drains. 

I met a lady at Othona.  She's a librarian and lives in Dudley.  I remember her talking about drain covers, which were manufactured in Dudley and sent out all over the world.  She started a photo blog with pictures of all the Dudley drain covers she encountered in her travels.  I look out for them whenever I see a drain cover of interest. I see that she hasn't added any in 2 years.  What a shame!

Merrick Pedigree

Two years ago, I suddenly became interested in my family's connection with the Betjemans (see poem above).  I found this site and then started corresponding with the author.  

Betjeman and Barton

As part of my research, I discovered a tea company owned the a branch of the Betjemans.  From what I remember a Merrick married into this branch of the family.  Some day when I go to Paris, I shall visit the shop.  If you look at the site you will see that today the business is run by a remarkable group of women.

Marshalls

I must have been looking for plum trees!

Muji Online

The Guardian runs an article every Christmas on interesting presents.  That is where I found this website and from what I remember I bought a lot from them that year.  New York in a bag, a garden tool of some sort, skittles, and more.  I've just had a look at the wooden toys.  They still have New York in a box but I think my favorite is A Railway Station in a Box.

More another day!

That time of year again...New Year's Resolutions

I thought at first I might check and see what I had written in previous years about resolutions and then I decided that I would write this first and then check back to see what I had written before.  So, here goes!

I don't believe that New Year's resolutions are worth writing.  However, I do think that it is important at some point in the year to reflect on where you are in life. 


So here are some reflection since I started this post: (January 23rd)

1. Life seems to be going along quite nicely and then something happens and it all falls apart.  I know that you can't live life in expectation of things falling apart but it is good to be reminded that it can and probably will happen.  A close friend was forced to resign from her job due to untenable work conditions.  That in itself is bad but then her parents decided to visit her to give her support and say goodbye before she moved, they were involved in a horrific car accident in which her mother died.

2. No matter what you do, there will be consequences, either direct or indirect.  If my friend had been supported at work instead of being left to flounder, her parents would not have been coming to visit.  I suppose we can't dwell too much on possible consequences of everything we do, as we go through our lives, or we would be paralysed by in action.  However a little reflection would not go amiss. 

Action, reaction.  I hear those words...from a French film, I think but I don't remember which one.  Look at Tunisia.  A young man sets himself alight and the whole country follows, figuratively not literally!  Now the same is happening in other countries of Africa and the Middle East.  It would be nice to know what the 'reaction' would be in advance.

Christmas Card

Christmas Card

Click above for our family Christmas Card!

Silence

One of the aspects of my life I recognize after my visit to Othona in October is a need for silence.  I do have times of silence in my day but often they are taken up by thoughts of work.  What I need to find is time for silent reflection.  I realized this immediately we arrived at Othona and have been thinking about it ever since.  Co-incidentally, a programme started on BBC on the Friday we returned, about 5 people who had gone into a silent retreat at a monastery in north Wales.  The 3 part series followed them through the time at the retreat and their re-entry into their daily lives.  If you live in the UK, you can watch the programme, which is called The Big Silence, on I-player.

So, have I found silence.  I came to realize that in fact I do have some silent times already.  One of them takes place when I swim.  I haven't swum regularly for nearly two weeks.  First it was because James and Naomi were visiting, then because I got a cold and either couldn't or didn't want to over do it.  I was very on edge and now I realize that it was not just because I missed the exercise but also because I missed the silent, reflection time.

(If you are reading this and the following comment is still here, it is because I haven't finished this post and will be back to it later.)

Having fun making movies!

I have been spending time at work looking at various websites to find the best, most interesting and most useful for our teachers.  Yesterday I was rather drawn in my Animoto.com and made two videos, one of my sister's wedding and one of our holiday in Wales this summer.  So now to show them to the world!

A relaxing week away

Last week was half term (6 weeks or so into a term we have a week's holiday) and Cliff and I went down to Othona, in Dorset to chill out and make chutneys, jams and breads.  What fun!  And what a lovely break from all media, including the Internet.  I highly recommend it to anyone.  Not knowing what is happening in the world and not being interrupted (by oneself or others) via various applications, is a heaven sent blessing.  Just alone with your thoughts and enjoying the simple conversation of others is a balm for the soul.

Sitting in silence.  I had forgotten how good that can be.  Each evening at Othona there is a chapel time.  On each occasion we sat for varying periods of time in silence.  There were moments when there were no thoughts going through my mind whatsoever.  No multi-tasking.  No trying so sort out several things at once.  Nothing!

Off on holiday for some reflection

It is interesting reading over what I have written recently. The first item I mentioned in my last posting - visiting Othona - is about to happen today. I am really looking forward to getting away! We were to have left yesterday but things came up and so we depart this morning. In that short time that we had at home yesterday instead of driving down to Dorset, I felt compelled to do work around the house. I really need a bit of a rest and I know I won't get it here. I also need some space to think and I always find that at Othona. So, more on the experience when I get back on Friday. In the meanwhile if you are interested in Othona, click here!