The Witching Hour

The witching hour approaches and, despite the eyelids heaviness, it seems no time since I emerged into todays first light. Well, to be honest, the first light I experienced was many hours after the days first light but, it was still some fourteen hours ago. This all suggests a sense in which I am well and truly content; if I was really as depressed as I sometimes feel the days would never fly by!

It really is quite amazing how such a psychosomatic mess as yours truly can still find contentment. Certainly recent days have found a much calmer me. Physically I may still be in free-fall but, apart from a concentration deficit, mentally I'm feeling stronger.

Time spent with ma belle Helene is always a blessing; we are so fortunate.

I must remind myself : "In everything give thanks .."

A Touch Of The Numinous?

Do you ever get the feeling the fates are conspiring against you? Admittedly, for some fortunate creatures such as myself it's not too major a problem; but ... it's sometimes just the odd little niggle that starts the process of suspicion.

Today, this happened to my alter-ego Heterocon who, on several occasions attempted to access his blog only to find it being either "upgraded" or "updated"; unfortunately the distress was so great that even now he's afraid to carry out a further check on the current status! How fortunate were the earlier generations who never had to face such trauma.

So deep was the distress caused by these instances that, even now, he feels unable to share with me the profundity of the text he intended to inscribe upon that sacred space. This truly is a case of the "mysterium tremendum et fascinans", the numinous quality possessed by web-servers; one can only bow down in the presence of such transcendental forces.

Perhaps my dear Heterocon will soon be revitalized and enabled, either in person or through Sinna Luvva's humble service as his amanuensis, to scribe once more his "Broad Thoughts"upon the space of msn!

The day condensed ...

Just as well I did an early blog because, as so frequently, it's been a fairly uneventful day. A trip into town to transfer some funds and, buy a couple of books from a remainders shop then back home to prepare a tuna pasta for lunch.

Got out for my brief brisk walk later in the afternoon, before spreading some grass seed on the now adequately watered lawn. Did a bit of largely unfruitful graphics work earlier this evening then attempted to get my e-mails read!

A quiet day indeed ... a gathering awareness of the body's discomfort; perhaps quitting smoking has proved quite injurious as far as my health's concerned. Confusion and concentration lapses have certainly become much more evident of late, the memory ain't as efficient as .... sorry, what was I saying .... ! To put it another way ... just as well I did an early blog .... at least I think I did ...

Let he who first gets stoned ....

Malcolm up, and semi-alert, bright and early; sounds like a health problem to me! As I'm already sat here, exercising the digits, thought I ought to take on this persona as well as Heterocon. The cause of this disturbing incident can be explained: see 'The Postman Calls' on Hets "Broad Thoughts".

Too early to make any sense of the day as yet so, maybe I should talk politics. On the other hand, there is a line that goes "let sleeping dogs lie" but maybe "let lying dogs sleep" is more fitting at present!

When Pots Call The Kettle Black

Talk about pots calling the kettle black .... the Tories are calling Blair a liar!

I've yet to encounter an honest Tory politician; sorry I was forgetting the unfortunate Flight ... but they soon kicked him out!

It's not too difficult to think of one or two prominent Tories who've been imprisoned for dishonesty in recent years either.

If the populist tactics seem like backfiring, let's make it personal. We know what you're thinking, you cynical vampire. Why should you regret the war at any cost of Blair, he learnt a lot from your gallant Iron Lady!

Are They Even Thinking?

The Thought Vampire (aka Michael Howard), having seemed to have washed his hands of his parties plans to combat MRSA [see todays entry on Heterocon's Blog] , will perhaps now turn his attention to a Tory run education authority which has today been attacked by the Tories!

Do they know what they're thinking?

My Soul - An Abbatoir Of Beauty!

"The beauty of the soul shines out when a man bears with composure one heavy mischance after another, not because he does not feel them, but because he is a man of high and heroic temper."- Aristotle

The above remark features as 'quote of the day' on one of the sites I frequently visit. I can only think that, in recent weeks, my soul must be shining out like a cesspit hidden under a bushel. That aesthetically pleasing image apart, I still know that 'I am valued just as I am'! If we cannot learn to love ourselves what's the point of trying to love others.

Sunshine and Shadows!

Every morning of late I seem to have woken up with a sore throat. A good grating clearance of same physiological atrtefact goes someway to easing the irritation but, obviously, provides no longer term solution. Anyway, 'tis not my intention to complain (it simply comes naturally, some may say) so I'll attempt to look at the positive.

For the last couple of sunshiny days I've felt so much more positive but, I always feel the real test comes when I encounter any problems which my "short-fuse" is able to blow-up out of all proportion. But, let's look on the bright side; at least I recognize the problem. Perhaps, recent weeks have seen a few too many (of more routine than the norm) problems and, my over-reaction was in fact quite normal! I actually know that my response was quite over the top but also, I realize it was much more sane and normal than voting Tory would be! You see, every cloud could (potentially) have a slate-grey lining.

For the last three days I've managed my routine brisk-brief-walk without too great an effort of will or musculature! Whether I have the courage, or will, to attempt any greater endeavour remains to be seen. Who knows, it may be possible for me to get out of bed, feeling refreshed, before 9.30AM if this type of progress continues!

In everything give thanks!

From Fillings To Killings

At least yesterday's visit to the dentist sparked off a new insight/ hypothesis, a silver lining to the grey pigs ear! For this wonderful insight see item "HEALTH QUIRKS" on 'Broad Thoughts from Heterocon'.

Today is another sunshiny episode in my life and, I have enjoyed the luxury of a more relaxed start to proceedings. It was good to receive a 'phone call this morning from Cathy, currently in Melbourne having moved on from Thailand; she still has a bit more travelling to do before returning home to settle down, for a while, with her boyfriend Ken back in blighty.

The six weeks appointment with ENT, which had been arranged for seven and then re-arranged for nine weeks [see entry for 13 April "Curses and Blessings"] will now take place at the beginning of July. Partly a problem of my own (health) making as I couldn't face up to the extra travelling involved to go to the sub-station, the earliest date available at the local (main) hospital is July.

It really is difficult to plan ahead; I have a tendency to go on impulse within my neurotically/physiologically imposed limitations. Superficially I appear quite fit, only a deeper reality prevents me from being a Super-Hero-Action-Man! But then I may even think that slaughtering people in the name of democracy is in keeping with the Gospel of Christ.

How on earth I made the leap from dental inspired health hypothesis to the illegal war in Iraq, my old mate YHWH alone knows. Anyways, must go and look at the sunshine .. be back soon.

An Ordinary Day e-mailing the Pope

Just an ordinary day, set off at 7.55AM to go for my 8.20 appointment with my GP. After this appointment returned home for a coffee and then, off again this time to see my dentist for a 10.00AM visit. Two deep fillings required but, being a sensitive soul required further shots of novocaine during the procedure. By lunchtime my cheek was well and truly puffed-up; I could hardly recognize the stranger sharing the loo with me when I looked into the mirror.

Prepared a quite exquisite tuna pasta for lunch, then polished my halo before settling down to see if I could manage to eat. Pasta proved so easy to assimilate but, managing a hot drink proved altogether more perplexing.

Did a bit more wood-preserving in the garden and, a minute bit of tidying up ... all in all not too bad a day by recent standards. No doubt the sunshine proved encouraging.

This evening is proving more relaxing, sending off e-mails to Benedict XVI and sundry other persons. As I'm just ready to watch the final part of a series (whose name eludes me at the moment) based on a Patrick Hamilton trilogy, I'll have to love and leave you for the time being. Doubtless I'll be back!

The text of our e-mail to Benedetto XVI can be read on Heterocon's Blog!