All Out Of Sorts Today...The aftermath of that plane crash.

Good morning, Dreamers and Other Peaceful Folk!
Today I am torn between grief and happiness. Grief for the victims of that Malaysian plane with innocent tourists and happiness because of the glorious sun and balmy temperatures.

"You may call me a dreamer, but I'm not the only one..."

Words of the late great John Lennon. I wonder what he would have said about the world of today...

How will I get this message out into the world? I'm not a well-known person, so who will listen?

The only thing I can think of is to send my thoughts of peace into space. Which is what I will do tonight. Again.

Perhaps you will join me?

Peace, Peace, Peace! All it takes is You...

Good evening from the sweltering Wetlands. We are experiencing an official heatwave, and that is SO rare in my country that everyone is out of sorts.
You simply cannot win, can you? Our normal wet & windy weather makes us complain, and this hot & sunny weather ditto...
Personally I love it! After 3 days of non-stop painting our living room is pristine white and very peaceful, and as from noon today I have been lounging under my garden umbrella-ella-ella.

Artwork by Taylor McCormick

But what I want to talk to you about, is not the glorious sun, but the news today. I only read the headlines on the internet just now, and they almost made me weep.

Israël and Palestine are killing each other's citizens. A never-ending story of hate.

Ukraïne seperatists shoot an airliner out of the sky (which left from Schiphol= Amsterdam Airport) with my fellow countrymen on board. What on earth? What wrong have these tourists done to you?

Some guy beats up an old couple after he (!) has first caused an accident and they have the temerity to complain about this.

Some other guy abducts an 15 year old retarded girl in the Rotterdam tube and takes her to a house where he and 3 friends abuse her.

I stopped reading then.

There's nothing I can do about all of this. So I could shrug and put it out of my mind. And concentrate on my lovely garden.

Instead, I am going to do something and then I will take a walk through my garden and let all negativity flow from my thoughts.

I am going to send thoughts of Peace to all of you.

PEACE!

Use them wisely!!!

Time for the Swami Again: Integrity!

Hey you. It's Monday, and I've spent the day painting our living room. So now it is time to unwind with a post about the "Ity" of the week.
And the subject is a good one; one dear to my heart.

How many people do you know that have this quality?

Perhaps I have told you before, but I am very like Mr Darcy. My good opinion once lost, has been lost forever. And there is nothing that will affect my good opinion as much as integrity. And if you have lost your integrity in my eyes, boy, are you in trouble. It is not a very attractive trait of mine...But I cannot help it.

Like all felines, I have claws...

On the other hand, if you show integrity, you have my admiration for all time. 

Some people have this inner strength that helps them to steer a straight course, always, no matter what others say or do. It's a pity that many of us are governed by politicians who should have integrity, but haven't got it...

All we ordinary people can do, is strive for truthfulness and an inner compass that shows us the way. And to look to examples that history has shown us to be worth following.

Holy Moly! Suddenly over 6,225 readers?!

Hellooooooooo, Ukraine! I don't know what has prompted you to read my stuff, but a very warm welcome to you over there!
My stats (always nice, stats) show that 150 readers from your country have visited my blog this week. Gosh.

So, especially for you, but also for all my other readers and fellow-dreamers, a couple of thank-you pics and, as usual, a song.

Great to see you, do visit again, won't you?

Old Friends - by Simon and Garfunkel