Check me out!

I got up early this morning and was in the swimming pool by 7.15am. Yes that's a fitness related activity before work. Admittedly, it was a struggle to get up but well worth the effort. I feel great (and I didn't feel guilty when I had a piece of cake with my coffee at 11am!).
Love
The Smug One

Who's in your garden?

We had a pheasant in the garden the other day.
How exciting!!
Didn't manage to take a photo but this picture is pretty much spot on. Beautiful aren't they?!

17th March 2010

I know I'm a day early with this, but tomorrow is a public holiday (hurrah!!) so we're off on a day trip to the wild north west corner of Ireland where "remote access" means a muddy dirt track and the internet is unknown. Bliss.
Happy St Patrick's Day to you all!

Forgive...and forget

We had a really good home group last night led by me, though that's not why it was great! (On that point, I got an awful shock when I arrived at the lady's house where it was being held. There were cars parked everywhere. Could it be that the whole church had come to the study?! Actually no! There is a primary school near by and the cars belonged to the parents attending the school's concert. Phew....)

Where was I..? Yes, the study. It was on John 21 and the theme of forgiveness and we had a great discussion which I shan't go into in detail here. However I was really challenged by a couple of things which might give you pause for thought:- 1. I find it relatively easy to forgive people but do I actually forget what they've asked forgiveness for or do I store it up in the back of my mind ready to cast up at them (maybe only in my head) at a later date? 2. When I offer forgiveness and it is accepted, do I let the matter go or do I continue to beat myself up about it and refuse to forgive myself even though the matter has been dealt with? I think this is a particularly female trait.

Forgive AND forget. That's the key. That's what I need to learn to do friends!

E

"Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been."
Mark Twain

This is such a funny picture! I am not sure where I got it from but it makes me laugh and, as Mr Twain, amongst many others says, laughing is the way forward. (Mind you, I am not advocating cigar smoking as the most holistic way of life!)
I was worried recently when I saw feint lines on my face. My carefree youthful 20s are way past!! However it is clear that wrinkles are a good thing. As well as indicating where smiles have been, they reveal a life that has been lived and each line probably has a thousand stories to tell. Also, did you know, you use more muscles smiling than you do frowning? It's official: it's better than a work out. Now put that in your pipe and smoke it!

Later
E xx

“Courage is grace under pressure.”

~ Ernest Hemingway


Hi Everyone!
I've been gone a long time I know but I'm back ready to blog again and cath up with you all.
Hope you have survived the long cold winter. Here's to spring!
Edith

I Have Not Gone Away (but I have been having a Face Book flirtation...)

Hello.
Haven't I been horribly remiss? Sorry my lovely little chums but I have been a busy little bee, plus I went to a university reunion (I was terrified - but had a great time) and at that was encouraged to get into Face Book and, basically, am now addicted. Also my house is a mess and my husband tells me he has swine flu. (He doesn't; he has a cold and is regularly being dosed with hot honey & lemon. However he is male and therefore not able to deal with little illnesses in a grown up way!!).

On the messy house front, I have decided life is too short to clean (so have employed someone to do it for me...!!) OK to be fair she's a girl in the village with 2 small kids and a husband who doesn't work. She likes cleaning and is happy to help. I need help and am happy to pay. It's beautful!

For those of you feeling guilty about the layers of dust and the piles of ironing, I bid you read below and feel free!

More soon (promise)
E

Dust If You Must (Anon.)

Dust if you must, but wouldn't it be better
To paint a picture, or write a letter,
Bake a cake, or plant a seed;
Ponder the difference between want and need?

Dust if you must, but there's not much time,
With rivers to swim, and mountains to climb;
Music to hear, and books to read;
Friends to cherish, and life to lead.

Dust if you must, but the world's out there
With the sun in your eyes, and the wind in your hair;
A flutter of snow, a shower of rain,
This day will not come around again.

Dust if you must, but bear in mind,
Old age will come and it's not kind.
And when you go (and go you must)
You, yourself, will make more dust.