The End in Site..2010 the end is nigh.19 Days Until New Years Day 2011

We all end the year in different ways with varying rituals. here are just some of the traditions from around the world.


New Year Traditions

Australian New YearIn Australia they celebrate the New Year on January 1. This day is a public holiday and many people have picnics and camp out on the beach. They have parties that start on December 31 and at midnight they start to make noise with whistles and rattles, car horns and church bells. To ring in the New Year. In Australia New Year is a day for outdoor activities such as rodeos, picnic races and surf carnivals.

New Year Traditions

Scottish New YearThe Scottish New Year is known as Hogmanay and both New Year's Eve and New Year's Day were also known as Daft Days. The first Monday in January is a holiday and is referred to as Handsel Monday. In Scotland New Year's Eve is called Hogomanay or Night of the Candle. Foods such as three cornered biscuits called Hogmanays are eaten. Other foods that are special at this time of year are wine, cordials, cheese, bread, shortbread, oatcake, currant loaf and scones. After sunset people are known to collect juniper and water to purify the home. The Scots prepare for the New Year by cleaning their houses. This was believed to have been a purification ritual. They would perform a ritual of burning juniper branches which they carried throughout the house so as to remove any lurking germs and diseases. The food they would eat at New Year was Haggis, shortbread, scones, oatmeal cakes, cheese, whisky and wine as well as traditional New Year black buns. The first person to rise in the morning used to take Het Pint spiced ale to those members who were still in bed. In Scotland an old tradition that still is relevant today is that of the first footer which is said, that whoever the first person to set foot into your home on New Year's day decided the family's luck for the rest of the year. This was based on the belief in the magic power of beginnings. The start of the New Year controlled its future course. The person most welcome on new year's morning was a tall, dark haired man and especially if he bought a gift as this was considered magical as his handsome features would make the year a pleasant one and his gift of a loaf of bread, or a shovel of coal would ensure that there would be no lack of food or warmth in the household. Any other type of person who was to set foot in your home on New Year’s morning would spell disaster. Therefore people would subtly arrange for the right person to arrive. They would light bonfires so as to dispose of the old year and sometimes a straw figure known as "the Auld Wife" which represented the old year would be thrown onto the bonfire. One method used in the old days to remove evil spirits was to banish the evil to a cat or dog and scare them away. On New Year's Eve they all link arms in a circle and sing the traditional New Year songAuld Lang Syne. After welcoming the New Year, all the people of the household would wait to see who the first person to enter the house after midnight will be, as this person would indicate whether they would have good luck or bad luck for the coming year. The first person must be a dark haired male, young virile, good natured and prosperous. He should not be empty handed and was supposed to bring with him a small gift such as a piece of coal, bread, salt as they were symbols of life. On New Year's Day children from Scotland rise early to make the rounds to their neighbors singing songs. They are given coins, mince pies, apples and other sweets for singing. This must be done by noon or the singer will be called fools. In some Scottish villages barrels of tar are set on fire and rolled through the streets. This is done to burn up the old year and to allow the New Year in.

Opinions

Opinions........My thoughts on them.

everyone has one, an opinion that is, on pretty much everything.

There is an art to having an opinion. I have an opinion on anything you may wish to converse about, my opinion could be  knowledge based, or it could be that in my opinionI don’t know enough on the given subject to have any opinion at all, still an opinion.

If I express my  opinion on any given topic, then that is exactly what it is, ‘my opinion’; if you have similar thoughts or value systems you may agree  or disagree with my opinion, to any extent dependant on your own knowledge being more or lesser to mine.

Then again you may wholeheartedly disagree with my opinion. Does that make either of our opinions wrong? I think not, that is why it is yours or mine to own as our individual opinion.

I accept with respect your opinion as yours, even should it differ from my own. Can you say the same?

If I give my opinion and it differ from yours, accept my opinion as mine, I own it and have no expectation of you to change your own opinion to suit mine nor do I have the expectation that if yours differs from mine you should become angry or defensive as if my opinion has attacked you.
This is why it is an opinion.

12 days to Christmas

The Twelve Days of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the second day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the third day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree! 

A new phase beginning

I have moved from my cosy country cottage, with engaging in the wider world as the plan. I am set up and am in the process of collecting all my writing’s and putting them on this blog. I started this  blog but have not followed through, time to do so. I’ve much to share and I hope to find some one who cares, enough to read my ramblings at least. So if that is you with naught else to do, enjoy be entertained and leave a comment so we know you were here...

There will always be thoughts on dragons to slay, but also of fun, sun, laughter and play...

So tomorrow with thoughts anew some more writing I will bring to you.

Response to a fellow writer and dragon slayer

http://www.facebook.com/notes/eva-day/the-gift-of-fire-by-eva-day/482899083178


This is my reply to a fellow writer who is on the home run


Like a bear we hibernate, alone in in our cave of despair. Waiting for the sun of our lives to reappear.. The golden rays to shine down on us, to renew and energise.

our distorted mind tells lies, says we will never feel those rays, we are changed for all our days, and nights will never bring respite. We are warriors, we are champions we tell ourselves, why then can we not win this fight.

We have battled with with more monsters than the Dragon on his own for he brings with him compadres we have never known, the creatures that he brings his partners in crime, fear pain,doubt just to name a few, itching twitching a dreadful brain ague..

I know the battle for I have fought it twice, both times I fell at the feet of this dragon crowing my defeat.. No Surrender No Retreat Is my warriors call.. I will kill you, destroy you, I will make you die. Alas he says you have no chance for I live strong within you.

There are more ways to kill a dragon that fill it up with drugs, I decide my next battle will be to kill the beast with love.

I love my Dragon with all my being, He is unclear uncertain he thinks about fleeing..Love you say... Is not my way, I feed upon your pain, you have nothing to win and nothing to gain, go on, go on, take those drugs again let me feel your anguish fear & Pain.
But I will not subscribe to the dragons deep desire, I will take another tack to get this monster off my back..

I laugh I smile I fill my world with Joy, for the dragon hates the brightness of laughter love and Sun. he quakes and shakes and withers in the light of joy, his warriors post a swift retreat. To neat, to sweet, to light to fill their bellies.. They need the pain they want our fear, to decimate us.

Victory we cry as we withhold the repast they desire.. I am a dreamer, a high wire flyer... So as you count these last days down. fill the space with smiles again, use your loving wiles to deny this dragon his last repast starve him of anger, of fear of pain. feel the sun coming back and learn to smile and feel joy again.
This is the last battle of the dragon you fight, perhaps the hardest, definitely the most light..So open the curtains, arise from the couch, remind yourself what it was like when your world was bright, smile at your man and start a new day for you soon you will have the energy required to play...

The campaign is done, you amongst us have won, you have fought in the trenches, battled at the front line..Rise up Rise up...The War you have won........A new life for you is waiting to be done....Practise your skills and make yourself smile...30 days or less my beautiful child....

Home, Homeless and back again

this is a link to a story I wrote about my journey during treatment,

I want to publicly thank two  of the very important women I met on that journey, for if I had not met them I doubt I would be here today, for they were and still are my role models and the angels I kept in my head with the thought that if they could come out of this still sane,  compassionate and still have a sense of humour then I could also....

Sharon M... that morning for the first time in what seemed like eternity you made me laugh with your tales of phobias, fears and pubic hairs;  you gave me hope that I to would one day be able to laugh at the insanity we call medication and treatment. But more important you helped me to see that life did go on, we could still be productive and that WE ALL could make a difference... I thank you for these gifts...<3 <3 <3
And to Ms Rose...... well honey, I know you know how much your friendship and support has meant to me as I have been fortunate enough to tell you in the flesh more than once. I  pray I can return the favour a mzillion times over......You know my heart is with you on this most difficult day and that I love you muchly.

And to Miss Dotty who is totally technophobic and has read the story in hard copy but will never get here. You are the world to me, as you have been since the day I met you 23yrs ago. You were my spiritual mentor, my doorway to a different way of thinking, and even though we were lost to each other for some years Swami (Satythia Sai Baba) brought us together again just when I needed you the most...

You show everyday that UNCONDITIONAL LOVE is possible, and you practice what you preach....
I know this because I have been blessed in this lifetime to be a recipient of your love and acceptance..

Yours were the arms that held me and allowed me to heal...


And last but not in the least, to Tracey Grace not only for inspiring me to write but also for posting the story on her Blog (link below) and most important for all that she does to raise awareness on the issues of Homelessness..Thank you Tracey...




http://traceygrace.wordpress.com/

Curra Country Cottage

This is Curra, My lovely convalescence in the country.

Just one of the lovely creatures that I share my day with

My little Cottage

I have been so blessed to be surrounded by not only peace and quiet but the beauty and divinity of Mother Nature.