Dear Diary,
Political language. . . is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.”
George Orwell
1903-1950
It’s one of those days when I really feel like blogging but haven’t got a single subject in mind; instead I have several little ones going round and round in my head.
My Heart Is Heavy
My heart is heavy with many a song
Like ripe fruit bearing down the tree,
But I can never give you one --
My songs do not belong to me.
Yet in the evening, in the dusk
When moths go to and fro,
In the grey hour if the fruit has fallen,
Take it, no one will know.
Sarah Teasdale
It’s a day when I am thoroughly disenchanted with politics. Even more so than usual.
About what? How long have you got?
Non-joined-up thinking creating so-called progress. A drop in standards every which way. Bureaucracy gone mad. Threats to our services. Banging innocent people up for 42 days, banning demonstrations from Parliament Square to Downing Street against George Bush when he visits on Sunday.
Do you ever fear that so many folk are sleepwalking into a black tunnel that will be closed off at both ends one day?
On a lighter note these are my Blessings today.
Sleep and lie-ins. I had one of the latter today as Fridays are my Saturdays, well that’s what I tell myself as I have to work every Saturday morning (everyone say aaaaah).
It seems that every time I look out of a cottage window I see a parent bird feeding its baby. Be it a woodpecker, nuthatch, sparrow, tit or whatever, it is always a joy to behold.
I saw the jay for the first time this year. He flew into one of our pine trees. A beautiful shy bird but I do know he is a predator.
My garden, especially all my new David Austin rose bushes which are flowering now and their scent is heavenly.
The Dalai Lama book that I am currently reading. Details can be found on this page. The man is truly a special human being.
A new song that I have on my brain; my son’s new composition that he recorded recently. Anyone know any record producers?
And talking of guitarists…..
As I write this I am Listening Again online to Johnny Walker’s last Sunday show and Eric Clapton has rung up and is talking from the USA! What a treat to hear two of my favourite men together. My fave guitarist and my fave DJ (and both Arians, with the same birthday).
One more blessing before I go.
To aid my family history research I treated myself recently to a DNA test from the Ancestry website as they had a special offer, (as an adopted person I told myself I deserve it). I got the results today for my DNA Maternal Line and it is very exciting. Apparently I am what they call an European Traveller, a ‘J’ group. This group left Africa, moved to the Near East, went to Spain and I guess they ended up in the west of Ireland. We make up 10% of Europeans apparently. There is a lot of J group folk in Sardinia and also in Pakistan. Interesting stuff and I have a list of people to contact who have similar DNA.
Now I have requested the book The Seven Daughters of Eve (through the library) as it is meant to describe the different genealogical groups and their lifestyles in some detail.
I am eager now to do some more research…..when those blasted chores are done of course. The mountain of ironing, the weeding, the cooking.
But will I be able to wait?
Bye for now,
Go mbeannai Dia duit,
Cait
PS. Q. How can you tell when a politician is lying?
A. You can see his lips moving.
Hi Cait, thanks for dropping by my place. Glad you agree about the 42 day thing - McNulty on QT last night claimed that most people supported the govt., which I doubt somehow. Good luck with the research into your ancestry as well. Forget that ironing, have fun instead.
ReplyDeleteHi Cait - trying again to leave a message - the last one was long and preachy, so maybe being kicked off was a blessing! The short form is that I quite agree with you re that black tunnel towards which we seem to be marching.
ReplyDeleteYour roses are lovely - I have rose envy every time I read about rose gardens.
Your DNA test sounds interesting. Was it costly? Who did the testing?
I agree about the political happenings at the moment, there is much going on yet not very much being solved.
ReplyDeleteYours roses are truly beautiful.
CJ xx
My best friend does Eric's eyes - shall I ask her to gaze into them for you next time?
ReplyDeleteI will protest George Bush for you from here. Of course, that will be nothing very new . . . it's something I do on some level every day.
ReplyDeleteLove that you got your DNA tested. Fascinating stuff. I think I'd like to do that as well. I doubt I would be so interesting, though!
How fascinating about your DNA - I didn't know you could have that test, and get such detailed results. Wow.
ReplyDeleteNodding furiously at most o fthis blog - to politicians (what are they about?), to the joy of David Austen roses and baby birds, to Erik Clapton (oh yes!)....
Janexx
Pondside.
ReplyDeleteAncestry.com for the DNA test. The price was in dollars and I didn't convert but a friend had told me the rough price (which I have forgotten, probably just as well). I never was any good at maths I am afraid.
It's only money isn't it?
Chris.
Does Eric's eyes? Do you mean make-up? Or is she an optician? (Yes tell her to gaze deeply)
We used to live near Eric before we escaped to Wales.
Pondside.
ReplyDeleteAncestry.com for the DNA test. The price was in dollars and I didn't convert but a friend had told me the rough price (which I have forgotten, probably just as well). I never was any good at maths I am afraid.
It's only money isn't it?
Chris.
Does Eric's eyes? Do you mean make-up? Or is she an optician? (Yes tell her to gaze deeply)
We used to live near Eric before we escaped to Wales.
Oh Cait, I so agree with you regarding politics in this country when will it improve I keep asking myself? TFX
ReplyDeleteLovely David Austen roses, they are the best, arent they.
ReplyDeleteNice blessings. Isnt it good to count them every now and then.
Abolutley amazing about the DNA test, I didn't know you could use something liek that to trace ancestry but now that I've read it here I realise of course it can be done! Our family records were lost ina house fire and no one knows much past my great grandmother's stories. I'd like to look into it more.
ReplyDeleteCait, I am too tired tonight to really respond in the way that I would like to this blog. May I just say thank you for all that your thoughts and your writing are able to send out to the world.
ReplyDeleteMay there always be enough others who want the world to continue, and also want the people of the world to realize how connected we could be.
xo
I love all the Dalai Lama books. And your DNA sounds really interesting. :)
ReplyDeleteFascinating about the DNA. I'm a complete mongrel, though I have been told I have a Viking blood group.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on Eric Clapton!
Hello Cait,
ReplyDeleteFascinating about your DNA, best of luck with it.
I agree with you on Politicians, and they all churn out what better way is forward for us, all talk of course.
Love the David Austen Roses,would love to know what variety the beautiful Pink one is Cait.
Adore E.Clapton too, and love his music, still remember that great hit The White Room - Cream.
Thank you for sharing lovely Blessings with us Cait. Forget the laundry..... good book, glass of wine instead.
Camilla.xx