Let us learn to give
but not to give in.
This should probably read
'Let us learn when it is right to give, and then, give.'
and 'Let us learn when it is right not to give in, and then, not give in.'
but, of course, it's not so succinct (or poetic)!
I add this because there are times when it is right not to give
and, conversely, times when it is right to give in (or so husband says, anyway!)
Sunday, 22 November 2015
About realising our own worth
We are not extras but main players
in the film of our lives.
In our own lives,
we will always be a part of the team.
There is no substitute's bench.
I realise that this may read as being somewhat egocentric, but my purpose in writing it is to address the problem that people like me may have of always feeling that everyone else is more important than we are, or that we won't be picked for the team, that there will always be someone who is better than we are, that other people's ways of doing something are more likely to be right than ours; (or as I have put it before, in my case, forever self-doubting, looking for affirmation, being a pain in the neck!!).
If you are a bit like that, I hope the words above may help.
in the film of our lives.
In our own lives,
we will always be a part of the team.
There is no substitute's bench.
I realise that this may read as being somewhat egocentric, but my purpose in writing it is to address the problem that people like me may have of always feeling that everyone else is more important than we are, or that we won't be picked for the team, that there will always be someone who is better than we are, that other people's ways of doing something are more likely to be right than ours; (or as I have put it before, in my case, forever self-doubting, looking for affirmation, being a pain in the neck!!).
If you are a bit like that, I hope the words above may help.
Friday, 20 November 2015
A postscript on the soup
Today, I added a sweet potato as well as a parsnip to the veg and it was really nice, we thought.
,
,
About 'cold calls': a post script
After the 'oh so cool, calm and collected' account of my dealings with the above, two days later my poise, such as it is, was dented by a call on my MOBILE, would you believe! (How do they find our numbers?!)
A voice, which addressed me by name, as far as I can remember, before I could say anything, launched into "I believe you've been involved in an accident which wasn't your fault".
Well, I just found myself putting the phone down immediately, in real annoyance; the civil and studied politeness disappeared through the window!
The outrage was compounded by the fact that not only was it lunchtime, a much treasured time in the home of this branch of the early-retired, a group of which husband and I are grateful members, on top of that, the call interrupted "Bargain hunt"! I rest my case!!
PS I would like it known that the said programme is, of course, our only recourse to daytime television and is time-shared, be it noted, with eating. (Otherwise, I'd never get anything done!)
A voice, which addressed me by name, as far as I can remember, before I could say anything, launched into "I believe you've been involved in an accident which wasn't your fault".
Well, I just found myself putting the phone down immediately, in real annoyance; the civil and studied politeness disappeared through the window!
The outrage was compounded by the fact that not only was it lunchtime, a much treasured time in the home of this branch of the early-retired, a group of which husband and I are grateful members, on top of that, the call interrupted "Bargain hunt"! I rest my case!!
PS I would like it known that the said programme is, of course, our only recourse to daytime television and is time-shared, be it noted, with eating. (Otherwise, I'd never get anything done!)
Monday, 16 November 2015
About dealing with 'cold calls'
My first tactic, when I've realised the nature of the call is, ignoring the caller's opening gambit, to say, politely and calmly, "What do you want, please?" If he or she persists with the spiel, I persist with, "What do you want please?!"
If the caller continues, not having recognised that this particular approach is unlikely to achieve much, I say, again, very politely, "I'm not interested, thank you; good-bye." and put the phone down. I must add here that nothing incenses me more than an enquiry as to 'how I am'! I feel like shouting down the phone, "What's it got to do with you."
I feel heart-sorry for the poor folk who are reduced to trying to earn a living in this way and have no wish to be rude. I really wish that someone would tell them that all we want (or don't want usually) is to know the purpose of the call, not an enquiry as to the state of our health!
All I can say is that this is the most successful tactic I've come up with so far and I hope it may be of use to someone else.
If the caller continues, not having recognised that this particular approach is unlikely to achieve much, I say, again, very politely, "I'm not interested, thank you; good-bye." and put the phone down. I must add here that nothing incenses me more than an enquiry as to 'how I am'! I feel like shouting down the phone, "What's it got to do with you."
I feel heart-sorry for the poor folk who are reduced to trying to earn a living in this way and have no wish to be rude. I really wish that someone would tell them that all we want (or don't want usually) is to know the purpose of the call, not an enquiry as to the state of our health!
All I can say is that this is the most successful tactic I've come up with so far and I hope it may be of use to someone else.
Tuesday, 20 October 2015
A very quick, easy and cheap soup (which tastes surprisingly good, too, we reckon)
On Fridays, having had fish and chips or some such meal at lunchtime, I'm always looking for a way to sneak veg into husband's, son-at-home's and my diet at teatime. Soup and sandwiches form the pathway and this is the soup.
Carrot and Celery Soup
Quantities:
I always reckon about 4 ozs (120g if you must) of veg per person.
Ingredients:
1. The outer stalks of celery
2. Some carrots.
(For the three of us, that's about 2 celery stalks and 3 medium or 2 large-ish carrots.)
Method:
1. Wash and chop the celery.
2. Peel, rinse and chop the carrots any old how.
3. Place in a saucepan with some water and a little salt and pepper.
(Hint, add less water than you think because you can always add more hot water to bring it to the consistency you like at the end of the blending.)
4. Bring to the boil and then simmer until the veg is softish. (Approx. 30 mins, I'd say.)
5. I pour this into a large-ish and fairly tall plastic jug to blend with my hand mixer.
(This stops it splashing everywhere and makes it easy to pour into the bowls.)
You can use any veg, herbs and spices you like. Sadly, onions and some other veg, and spices in general, don't agree with us very well but I usually use a fairly large parsnip with the other ingredients in the winter because I'm all for seasonal food.
PS I have tried 'sweating' the veg, as advised by Delia (Smith), for whose recipes I have a great deal of respect, but I can't taste the difference and this way's a lot easier (and, let it be whispered, doesn't cause as much heartburn - or as it seems to be known now, reflux!).
PPS I use water because I rarely have stock in and don't buy any processed cubes. I can't tell a great deal of difference but that may be my lack of discernment and expertise.
PPPS Husband even likes it, so success all round!
Carrot and Celery Soup
Quantities:
I always reckon about 4 ozs (120g if you must) of veg per person.
Ingredients:
1. The outer stalks of celery
2. Some carrots.
(For the three of us, that's about 2 celery stalks and 3 medium or 2 large-ish carrots.)
Method:
1. Wash and chop the celery.
2. Peel, rinse and chop the carrots any old how.
3. Place in a saucepan with some water and a little salt and pepper.
(Hint, add less water than you think because you can always add more hot water to bring it to the consistency you like at the end of the blending.)
4. Bring to the boil and then simmer until the veg is softish. (Approx. 30 mins, I'd say.)
5. I pour this into a large-ish and fairly tall plastic jug to blend with my hand mixer.
(This stops it splashing everywhere and makes it easy to pour into the bowls.)
You can use any veg, herbs and spices you like. Sadly, onions and some other veg, and spices in general, don't agree with us very well but I usually use a fairly large parsnip with the other ingredients in the winter because I'm all for seasonal food.
PS I have tried 'sweating' the veg, as advised by Delia (Smith), for whose recipes I have a great deal of respect, but I can't taste the difference and this way's a lot easier (and, let it be whispered, doesn't cause as much heartburn - or as it seems to be known now, reflux!).
PPS I use water because I rarely have stock in and don't buy any processed cubes. I can't tell a great deal of difference but that may be my lack of discernment and expertise.
PPPS Husband even likes it, so success all round!
Tuesday, 22 September 2015
About, I suspect, a little known and unusual aspect of using lipstick
I've never used a great deal of make-up but I've always loved using lipstick so I was fascinated to be told by one of my friends that everyone who does so, unknowingly shapes the end in a unique way.
I was delighted by this because the end of all my lipsticks gradually forms into what, to me, is a beautiful curved surface which, until then, I had assumed was the case for every other lipstick user.
Well no; apparently, this is not true; some end in flat surfaces, some in a point and, I now imagine, in a infinite variety of shapes. Ask your friends about their lipsticks. It could be an interesting study.
(I have to admit a sneaky sense of vanity that mine are so artistic as it's not a quality with which I'm generally associated!)
Postscript
The only other person I knew whose lipstick end looked remarkably like mine was - my Auntie Joan; co-incidence or what!! Could it be a family trait??
I was delighted by this because the end of all my lipsticks gradually forms into what, to me, is a beautiful curved surface which, until then, I had assumed was the case for every other lipstick user.
Well no; apparently, this is not true; some end in flat surfaces, some in a point and, I now imagine, in a infinite variety of shapes. Ask your friends about their lipsticks. It could be an interesting study.
(I have to admit a sneaky sense of vanity that mine are so artistic as it's not a quality with which I'm generally associated!)
Postscript
The only other person I knew whose lipstick end looked remarkably like mine was - my Auntie Joan; co-incidence or what!! Could it be a family trait??
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