Friday round up

It's been a week of ups and downs, beginning with a down on Sunday when after keeping the news at arm's length for a fortnight, I decided it was time to brave it. I was so overwhelmed by the suffering and darkness I couldn't write my own words on the blog, I could only supply quotes and give you links. 

Since then I've come across a really helpful piece on how to deal with this feeling. If you sometimes feel the same, it's worth a read.

On Monday I cancelled a treat trip away with a friend because Dave pointed out it 'wasn't safe.' The friend I'd been going away with reacted better than me, saying we have to respect others' fears in this chronic pandemic scenario. 

I bounced back with fish and chips for tea in our garden with my dear friend Chrissie the next day. Our garden is on the edge of the village and exposed, and it's rare for us to be without a chill wind, but on Tuesday it was warm enough to stay outside talking till 8. 

On Wednesday I spent four hours editing our Quaker newsletter. This time the question we had to answer was "What brings you joy?" and I had more contributions than ever before. It's a very uplifting edition.

I answered this question on the blog some weeks ago, but here is my up-to-the minute answer:

Reading there was a 3000% raise in donations to the RNLI after Nigel Farage criticised them for rescuing asylum seekers and refugees in distress while crossing the Channel.

Picking sweet peas in my pyjamas before breakfast

Spending time with my grandchildren – the ultimate bringers of joy

Cycling down the Monsal Trail on a sunny summer teatime after the tourists have gone home

When I got off the bike and sat under the trees by the river

Playing table tennis in the back garden with Dave

The first glimpse of the sea between the sand dunes at Embleton Bay

Going out to lunch with my adult children - just me and them - so rare and so special

Dancing to music from the sixties

Vivid blues and greens and oranges

Drinking margaritas with Wendy (my daughter-in-law) in Boulder

Someone telling me that one of my books made them laugh or cry, or both

Licking out the bowl after making chocolate brownies

Hearing our blackbird sing while I’m watering my pots outside in the evening

Laughing with Dave

Getting a text after a Bakewell refugee hospitality day to tell us what a wonderful time our visitors had

That's it. Tonight I'm going to an open air art show and I'm very excited!

I hope you're all finding sparks of joy in your days to get you through.

Any Morning

Just lying on the couch and being happy.
Only humming a little, the quiet sound in the head.
Trouble is busy elsewhere at the moment, it has
so much to do in the world.

People who might judge are mostly asleep; they can't
monitor you all the time, and sometimes they forget.
When dawn flows over the hedge you can
get up and act busy.

Little corners like this, pieces of Heaven
left lying around, can be picked up and saved.
People won't even see that you have them,
they are so light and easy to hide.

Later in the day you can act like the others.
You can shake your head. You can frown.

William Stafford