I like chasing down rabbit holes, learning strange and obscure facts.
And I like to think about them.
And now and again, share my opinion about them.
- Beauty (213)
- Friendship (317)
- Haiku (105)
- Pleasure (190)
- Project Worthwhile Life (167)
- Virtues (13)
- Wealth (112)
- Wisdom (239)
- Writing (5)
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March 2015 Progress Report
I can’t believe that March 2015 has been and gone already it seems only a few days since the February Progress Report.
Observations on Easter
While I was christened an Anglican, my family wasn’t deeply religious so I don’t know much about Easter, but I know for a lot of people it’s a significant event
Appropriating the Spaciousness of Silence
I’ve always spent a lot of time alone inside my head, and the silence of my alone time is where my creative ideas come from.
More String Theory
I was having so much fun with the Fates that I wanted to talk about more string theory; last time was old old school mythology so why not go ultra modern this time with the cutting edge…
My version of string theory
In previous posts I have referred to my life as being like a tangled ball of string – I wasn’t specific at the time, but I imagine it as the kind you get when you give a cat…
February 2015 Progress Report
February 2015 was a kind of up and down month. It’s hard bedding new habits down.
On International Women’s Day
I just found out that March 8 is (was) International Women’s Day. I only found out because I’m catching up on my reading (now that Stress Free Dinner Parties is on the market), and one of the…
Life is Like a River
I was thinking that in metaphorical terms, my life is like a river flowing from birth to death (I’m staying away from what happens next for the time being).
Short List of Annoyingly Long Productivity Suggestions
This time of year is productivity central. Annoying productivity suggestions in the form of lists of tips and hacks and apps are coming in thick and fast. I mean really…
Young Spirit v Older Body
I received a not-for-profit solicitation in the mail the other day. It’s an organisation that I believe does worthwhile work in the local and international communities. I have supported it for many years with donations of…
Perfidy of Modern Life
I am exercised today by the perfidy of modern life. That whole “We can get a man on the moon, but we can’t do x.” kind of thing.
Ten Ways to Make Guests Turn Up for Your Dinner Parties
Most people want to know how to make guests turn up. They are a great deal more interested in this than making them leave at the end of the party.
How to Manage Employment Misery
After hearing about some of Toseland’s workplace issues this morning I wondered whether I might in fact, be the lucky one. No employment misery.
How to Manage Unemployment Misery
I’ve talked before about the perils of long-term unemployment, and full-time unemployment (and unemployment misery) continues to rise…
5 Life Lessons Confirmed Through Painting
We’ve had some warmer days so I’ve been taking a break from the garden and catching up on some inside work instead. And learning 5 life lessons while I’m at it.
January 2015 Progress Report
January 2015; first month of the year, and first month of the new Project Worthwhile Life.
Me and Melbourne are Friends Again
As you know, I was quite sad to lose my feeling of kinship with the city. So I am really very happy to tell you that me and Melbourne are back on! Perhaps it was just been that…
When Shopping in Melbourne
So today I went into Melbourne to do a bit of shopping and meet Katy for lunch. That sounds very grand doesn’t it?
About Australia Day
Today (26 January) is my national day; Australia Day. On this day in 1788, our first Governor Captain Arthur Phillip arrived in Sydney Cove with the First Fleet to establish the first British Penal Colony.
Today, on Rabbie Burns Night…
For those who aren’t Scottish and don’t know, today (January 25) is Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759 – 1796) birthday. Or Rabbie Burns night if you are.
The Dread of Domestic Duties
You might recall that when I first brought home into the virtue of beauty framework, the goal was a comfortable, happy, cheerful, welcoming and calm home that reflects who we are right now. Odd now that I…
How to Make the Perfect Pizza
One of the rare pleasures of unemployment is the time you can spare to make “real” food. Today, it’s the perfect pizza.
Could You Do Fashion On a Budget?
I spent too much on clothes – most of them mistakes, and I still had nothing to wear! I needed a system to procure fashion on a budget.
Amazingly Unlikely Birth and Death
As you know, I’m working in the garden. Observing birth and death, but mainly just weeding the last few days… Which led to the appalling discovery that I can’t see well enough to weed properly without…
There was nothing more to do…
I received a kidney transplant in 2011. I was so sick for so long I wanted to stop treatment and let the end come. There was nothing more to do…
Who are the Home Grown Heroes of My Beautiful Garden?
When I first laid out my garden vision, I mentioned a need to develop habitats for native species – my home grown heroes.
How to Look Like you Know What You’re Doing
Dressing to look like you know what you’re doing is why we dress appropriately for our circumstances, isn’t it?
Virtue of Wealth
Cut and dried, the virtue of wealth is all about money (or maybe goods in lieu). It’s about being able to pay the mortgage and put food on the table. And not just for the…
What Wisdom?
What wisdom? I see it as a very practical kind of everyday thinking. A little book learning, the capacity to read a situation and the ability to use that information to make a wise decision.
The Virtue of Wisdom
So, wisdom huh? Not just nous, but a bit of book smarts too. A little something to have my back when I am out in the trenches defending my point of view.
Virtue of Pleasure
When I talk about excellence in pleasure, I’m not talking debauched sensual pleasures, fun though that sounds. I’m thinking about the satisfaction that comes from overcoming obstacles.
Virtue of Friendship; Contribution
I’m now proposing it’s possible to be friends with people we don’t know, by making contributions toward their wellbeing.
The Wisdom of Choice
Today I am taking a quick detour to talk about expectations, reactions and the wisdom of choice (or free will).
Virtue of Friendship; Family
At one end fo the continuum, a family is held together by duty, and the other by love. For one Christmas is rules and obligations, the other a good fun catch up. The child serves…
Virtue of Friendship; Friends
You can have a lot of friends, (some might be animals or relatives, and some not), but only about 10% off them will be special enough to be besties.
Virtue of Friendship; Creatures
I believe you can have friendships with two different kinds of creatures; your companion animals and wild animals.
Virtue of Friendship
I realised I had to talk about the Virtue of Friendship before I could get into planning for friendship with creatures in the next post. Mainly because we need to know about friendship before we…
Virtue of Beauty; a Beautiful Garden
My initial thoughts on a beautiful garden were lush flowers, abundant produce, weather protection and mystical threshold. It also has habitats for “wild” native and domesticated creatures. That sounds quite small and simple, but in fact it’s HUGE!!!
Eek! There’s a Spider in the Bathtub
A little off topic, but I had to share this. I recently watched BBC4’s Spider House, and it was absolutely fascinating!
Virtue of Beauty; a beautiful home
For me, a beautiful home is a functional home that works well. I said I wanted a happy home that was small and comfortable. I went so far as to say it would NOT be…
Virtue of Beauty; a Beautiful Presence
Your authentic self is initially seen through personal presentation – your beautiful presence; your clothes, hair and makeup.
Virtue of Beauty; a Beautiful Body
We would probably all agree that, in general, a beautiful body is a fit and healthy body the result of good diet, exercise and sleeping habits.
Project Life Worth Living
I’m trying to decide what makes a life worth living, and for me, this takes place in an ideal universe. And this ideal universe is organised by virtues (though some others might call them values).…
