Stop a while and listen

In Memory of Patrick

IN MEMORY OF Patrick Gilmore 06-02-1976 - 23-01-2009

" ....... so clearly, I cannot understand time. It is eternity now. I am in the midst of it. It is about me in the sunshine;

I am in it, as the butterfly floats in the light-laden air. Nothing has to come; it is now. Now is eternity; now is the immortal life.

Here this moment, by this tumulus, on earth,now; I exist in it.

The years, the centuries, the cycles are absolutely nothing; it is only a moment since this tumulus was raised; in a
thousand years it will still be only a moment.

To the soul there is no past and no future; all is and will be ever, in now. "

(from The Story of my Heart - by Richard Jeffries)

China - window on the world

Once in a lifetime something happens that changes you, something happens that changes your outlook on life, that changes how you relate to people, to yourself, to one another.

Having been privileged to have the opportunity to travel to China, thanks to your donations, a window opened and I saw with my eyes, felt with my heart and touched by the warmth, generosity, charm, courtesy and spirit of the Chinese people....

From people in the TianTan park ( Park of heavenly peace) at 7am in the morning doing Tai chi, to the Mongolian Wall seller, to the man at the corner shop, to the waiter, to the bicycle repair man on the street, to everyone we met, there shone through the indomitable spirit of the Chinese people.

A blaze of colour, reds and yellows, swept through the countryside, an order, a chaos, a cacophony, a silence, a beauty, a shyness, a fierceness, a tenderness, an unfamiliarity, a friendliness. One stranger meets another.

I dived into China, at the deep end. (I can't swim) I came up gasping for air. I struggled to the side and a stranger said , " you are my brothers and sisters'.

.... to be continued...

Writing

There is a book in all of us, waiting to be written.

I went to a recently formed Writing Group so they could critique some of the stuff I had written.

Well frankly I was gobsmacked on their comments on two of my so-called 'poems'

It just goes to show that if toss your pebble in the pond of life, ripples come back.

They may take time, but they do come.

So if there is a book in you , get writing!

Who U spending your money with?

Times are tough, suppport your local company.

Here are a few I have come across and would recommend.

At the end of the day they are just blokes like you and me keeping family & kin together.

1. Buckinghamshire Chinese Language School
Evey Sunday 10-30 - 12.30 Bassetbury Manor, Bassetbury Lane, HW HP11 1QX
Contact: MaiSim Merry 07976 835968
www.bucksinfo.net/buckschineseasso

2. Buckingham Hotel/ Wendover Arms
156 West Wycombe Road, HW 01494 474747
Contact: shaf@buckinghamhotels.co.uk
www.buckinghamhotels.co.uk

3. Berkeley Chauffers - maybe u have a prom coming up?
Contact: 0845 423 8975 (Ian) admin@berkeleychauffers.com
www.berkeleychauffers.com

4. Bloc 3 - 4 Cornmarket , HW HP11 2BW
David Jones runs Bloc Brazilian coffee/sandwich bar in HW and Henley on Thames and Wallingford. All FAIRTRADE coffees. All freshly made sandwiches/cookies on premises.
David: 07812 101604


Bythe way, I should be publishing a book on Ireland in the 1960s - Recollections..let me know if you want to see it and let me know what you thinkbefore the rest of the world gets its hands on.
it.

Manzou - Chinese for take care.