Picture Perfect

30 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , ,

Bahamas? - No, Sunny DorsetJust how lucky are we? Taking a week off in the UK at the end of March would not strike you as the most likely time to find blue skies and sunbathing temperatures, but that’s what we’ve had all week. They are promising snow for next week, but right now we could be in the Bahamas.

With the sun peeping through the fresh green leaves of Spring, we chose a perfect spot for breakfast next to the stream that meanders through Branksome Chine. It was beautifully tranquil, very few other people around and the sound of birdsong supplying the soundtrack to the first meal of the day.

We sat on the balcony of the beach restaurant with a large coffee each, and surveyed the scene. Mile upon mile of golden sand, bathed in sunshine from a perfect cloudless blue sky, and dotted with a handful of other people out enjoying the unseasonably warm weather.

A couple of hours later, having combed the sea shore for shells and other interesting flotsam and jetsam, we made our way back up through the Chine. Seeing nature in all its picture perfect beauty really is a chance to appreciate the wonders in life. No matter what else is going on, there are always moments in a day when you can just take it all in, and smile.

A Proper Curate’s Egg

25 Mar 2012 1 Comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , ,

Kingfisher On The River FromeToday has been proper strange. It started fairly early with breakfast whilst watching the the start of the Grand Prix, Then off to the Co-op to pick up pastries for a second breakfast round at Hannah’s new house.

It’s a lovely property, big rooms, lots of space for the family to spread out. Nice and modern but in a traditional style, if you get my drift. Charlotte and Oliver came over too, so it was a nice family morning.

Back at the cottage, it was beautiful sunshine and a soft warm breeze. B hung the washing out while I set the ladders up against the end wall to investigate some loft insulation that was protruding from the barge boards. It seems that birds have been collecting it through a hole under the boards, so we placed a piece of wood over the hole, to try to deter them.

Having secure the ladders, and with half an hour until the roast lamb was due to come out of the oven, we went for a stroll down to the site of one of the old snuff mills, on the banks of the river Frome. The sunlight formed dappled pools of light through the spring foliage and the babbling river made a perfect soundtrack as we made our way along the riverbank.

We were busy watching a pair of yellow wagtails hunting amongst the rocks and boulders below the weir, when my eye was caught by an electric blue flash. It was a Kingfisher, elegant, sleek and arguably Britain’s most beautiful bird. We watched as it sped up and down it’s territorial stretch of the river, coming to rest on what appeared to be it’s regular perching points. It was so beautiful, in the setting of a perfect Spring day, that we lost track of time and had to hurry back to rescue the lamb from the oven.

Whether it was the walk, the fresh air, the excitement of seeing the Kingfisher or just possibly the glass of red wine that helped wash the Sunday roast down, I could not say. Suffice to say that another ‘recharging’ snooze ensued, so soon even the extra hour of daylight was also gone.

Just to complete the gamut of emotions, I found out tonight, that my mum has picked up this accursed norovirus and was feeling proper poorly. It’s really doing the rounds at the moment, but being in her early eighties, we are concerned that she is safe, doesn’t get dehydrated and can get help if she needs it. She will call tomorrow to let us have an update, and has an emergency pendant if she needs assistance in the night.

So as I said, a proper curate’s egg of a day, good in some parts, not so good in others.

Super Sunny Smiles

23 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , ,

Sunny DayWhat a beautiful day!!! I know we have a water shortage here in Dorset, as do many areas of the UK, but it’s difficult to wish for rain on such a glorious summer-like day. The sun is streaming down, warming the shoots of Spring and putting a smile on everyone’s face.

Just to make things even better, our company results were released today, showing we have turned a decent profit, even in these austere times, and it’s my last day at work for a whole week. Marvellous!!!

Sunshine, good news and holidays are great at raising your life-state. It’s very difficult to be in hell-state when the world looks so warm and inviting. In a similar way, when we are chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, we feel the warmth of our faith and that also gives the world around us a sunny disposition.

On this wonderful sunny day it’s impossible to feel depressed, and my practice simply serves to make a good day even better.

Techno Trouble

20 Mar 2012 2 Comments

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , ,

My Blue Truth HeadcaseIt’s lunchtime, I need to pop into the town to shop and get cash, I jump in the car and head off. I decide to try to give B a ring. She’s probably busy, but I try anyway. I double click the call button on my Bluetooth headset, last number redial and I hear the ringtone.

‘You’ve been forwarded to the voicemail box for 07********, please leave a message at the tone’ says the lady on the other end. I was right, B’s busy and can’t take the call. Shall I hang up, or shall I leave her a message. I decide to do the latter, so in my huskiest voice I say …

‘Hi Bumble, it’s only me. I just called to tell you I love you, but you knew that already. Have a lovely afternoon and we’ll speak later. Love you, bye’

By now I’ve found my parking spot and I trundle off round town, pick up a few groceries and ask for cash-back so I don’t have to join the ruck at the bank. I stop to buy a Big Issue from the lady who always sits outside Sainsbury’s, then back to the car and the office.

No response from B, but that’s not unusual, she has precious little time to call or even text during the day. But then Guy, my boss says ‘I had a missed call from you at 1:05, was it important?’

‘Missed call? I don’t think so’ I say, and I check my phone. Sure enough, there’s a record of a call at 1:05, to Guy, and I wonder why. Then the penny drops. I had called him on my way to work, the traffic was bad and I thought I was going to be late, so he was my last call, and he was the unwitting recipient of my message to B !!!

I confess to the crime, praying that we won’t play the message in the office, he does. Well he starts to, and then decides that discretion is the better part of valour and deletes it. So another lesson learned. Don’t trust technology in matters of the heart, it can go horribly wrong and could get you into a lot of hot water. It was pretty funny though and it’s no secret anyway.

Mothering Sunday

18 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , ,

I ♥ My MomWhat a lovely day, spent with three mothers, B, her mum and mine. The journey from Bristol to Sutton Coldfield was made all the more pleasant with Scheherazade playing on the CD player accompanied by copious amounts of Love Hearts.

It was the first time B and her mum had met my mum and it was nice to hear mum relating the stories about how she met my dad and tales about our family homes around Sutton.

A lovely lunch and a guided tour of the garden made the time fly by and soon it was time to say our goodbyes. Having dropped B’s mum back home, B’s children Sam and Josie and little granddaughter Merrin came round to the cottage for the evening, so a lovely Mother’s day was had by all. Mum’s are the most important people in the world, for without them, non of us would be here.

Doom And Gloom

15 Mar 2012 1 Comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , , ,

My Fundamental DarknessWhen life’s road gets a little bumpy, it’s easy to let it get you down, and that can have a series of knock-on effects. When the (whatever the opposite of ) rose-coloured spectacles go on, when all glasses are suddenly half empty, it a sure sign that you are in, or heading straight for, Hell state.

Hell state isn’t all fire and brimstone, as Christianity might suggest, it’s where your negativity takes over, where your Fundamental Darkness holds sway. In my case, my Dark Passenger has been rather too vocal over the last couple of days, making up ridiculous scenarios and basically forging my own little hell.

The side-effect of that can be that I tend to take others there with me. I’m less rational, more irritable, less approachable than usual. That’s not a very nice way to be, but it’s even less nice for those around me. If you’ve been on the receiving end, over the last few days, I am very sorry. I’m going to take steps to put things right.

So it’s time to take myself off somewhere quiet, a secluded spot where I can be alone, somewhere I can chant my head off !!! Just writing this is making me feel better already, because I know that chanting will definitely do the trick. It always does. So I’ll see you later. I’ll be the one with the smile on my face.

The Best Of Times

14 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , ,

Cancer Research UKAnyone who has lived with cancer, or is related to someone who has, will know that it lurks in your mind just as much as it does in the sufferers body. Even after successful treatment, that niggling doubt remains, is it gone, or just hiding somewhere, ready to spring back up at some time?

Charlotte had a ‘routine’ scan last week, although in truth, there is no such thing following surgery, chemo and radiotherapy, and the results were promised yesterday. The whole family were on tenterhooks, waiting for the phone call from the hospital. So imagine the stress I was under when there was no news, so I chant, chant, and chant some more.

They say that ‘no news is good news’ but was all but climbing the walls waiting. There was still no news by the time I left work, so I was left in a quandary. Should I call Charlotte to find out? Had she received bad news, so didn’t want to call me? Going slowly crazy and preferring to know the score either way, I made the call.

‘Oh, I was just going to text you’ she says, ‘they haven’t called, though I did miss a call this afternoon’ … argh !!! Honestly, not knowing is far worse than knowing the worst. At least when you know, you can deal with the challenge. Talking it over, we managed to convince ourselves that the caller, who left no number or voicemail, was probably the hospital, and that made us feel a little better.

So imagine the collective sigh of relief, when just before 10:00 this morning, Charlotte sent a text that simply said ‘All clear :-)’ The very best news we could have had. So life continues to be a rollercoaster ride of emotions, and my practice, although being pushed hard, is holding up just fine.

Sunny Social Sunday

11 Mar 2012 1 Comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , ,

Cottage GardenWhat a glorious Sunday !!!

Early March but wonderful warm sunshine, a family breakfast and a relaxing time in the cottage garden, just perfect.

Compared to the hullabaloo of Saturday, this is just so chilled. Everyone has their little tasks to complete, but there’s no rush, so it’s a nice case of fun in the sun.

The pace of life is so hectic these days, everyone rushing around and trying meet crazy deadlines. So to be able to take time to slow down, surround yourself with family and enjoy life is a privilege. It really makes you realise how fortunate you are.

Super Saturday

03 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , ,

Spring SunshineThe plan for today had been to get up, chant and then get some DIY done so that we could spend time down by the river Frome tomorrow. But as with all plans, a degree of flexibility never goes amiss. The weather forecast says it’s going to rain on Sunday, so it made far better sense to chant and then enjoy today’s sunshine leaving the DIY for tomorrow.

Following an exploratory expedition into Plastic Wax records to see the one and only Mr Dave Kellard, we headed off up Gloucester Road to see what ethnic delights awaited us. For those who don’t know the area, it is an eclectic mix of small privately own emporiums with the odd corporate coffee shop thrown in for bad measure.

It was interesting to see that a chap had set up a one-man demonstration outside Costa, to express his feelings about the apparently unstoppable encroachment of coffee shops,  fast food and mini supermarkets. He has a point, without the little private shops, the whole character of the place would change forever.

Having bought a nice freshly baked loaf from The Bread Shop (imaginatively named) and taken it home for lunch with a selection of yummy cheeses, we took a not-so-leisurely walk along the river. B’s daughter Josie, is a very free spirit and took us off the path most travelled over fallen trees, through piles of leaf litter and up onto a rock escapement.

From there we could get a totally different view of the river, as well as the people and their dogs who were enjoying the warm spring sunshine. It was great to get out in the fresh air, to have the sunshine on our faces and to be able to make the most of such a beautiful natural amenity. No doubt the DIY will rear it’s ugly head tomorrow, but at least we have the memories of today.

Cheer The Folk Up !!!

02 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , ,

Be Their Sunshine

Life has it’s ups and downs, as we all know. Little things can make friends and family members unhappy or even depressed, so make it your job to make them feel better.

There are so many people, so many lives on this planet, too numerous, in fact, to count.

From this great multitude, we wondrously find ourselves together with those in our families, as parents and children, as brothers and sisters, as husbands and wives.

If we do not live joyfully and cheerfully with whom we share this profound bond, what is life for?

Should the atmosphere at home be sombre, you can be the ‘sunshine’. By being a shining presence, you can cast the light of hope on your mother, father, children and indeed the whole family.

Previous Older Entries Next Newer Entries