The Parting Glass

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My friend, Deb, introduced me to this song. She chose it for her son, Alex, who passed away suddenly on the 2oth of March 2007. I've used it myself before, in memory of my cousin Frank, who died on St Valentine's day in 1997.

Today I'm putting it up for another friend, Ritva, who lost her dear cousin Petteri, last Friday.

If you want to read Ritva's beautiful tribute to her cousin you can find it on her blog - here.

Oh, all the money e'er I had, I spent it in good company.
And all the harm that ever I've done, alas it was to none but me.
And all I've done for want of wit to mem'ry now I can't recall;
So fill to me the parting glass, Good night and joy be with you all.

Oh, all the comrades e'er I had, they're sorry for my going away.
And all the sweethearts e'er I had, they'd wished me one more day to stay.
But since it falls unto my lot, that I should rise and you should not,
I gently rise and softly call, Goodnight and joy be with you all.

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Gest Joking...

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Last week I had the strangest dream. I dreamt I was looking down at a pudding or baked tart thing. It was in an oblong dish and a lightly golden colour.

It had this little paper sign stuck into it, like church bazaars do when they're selling baked goods. I pulled it out to read it.

It read:

All you ingest; makes you blessed.

I even woke up saying it over and over. I told a few friends and they all came back with really interesting suggestions.

One friend thought it might be a spiritual message - that all we experience in life is from God and therefore good. All we experience blesses us and helps us grow.

Another friend pointed out that is not a line you're going to read from Weight watchers! LOL

A third friend noticed the word play I'd overlooked... INGEST = IN JEST.

All you "in jest" makes you blessed? That really made me laugh!

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And that made me think... how often in life is it that laughter and smiles pull us through dark times? Scientific studies have proven that laughing helps our immune systems and makes our bodies heal faster. Some hospitals even play old comedies on TV to help the patients get better quicker.

So, this Monday, I'm wishing you all the blessin' of in jestin'!

glitter-graphics.com

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I want to be a Bird...

Creature Comforts interviews real everyday people and then works magic... ;-)

Irish Drums for the Weekend

I was pottering on my old blog posts and found this... Drums for the Weekend

Which led me to this...

First Light... First Anniversary

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13th February 2009 I finally received copies of my new book, First Light. What an amazing exciting day that was! Since then I haven't sold as many copies as I'd hoped, but I have had reviews that went beyond my hopes and expectations. I might not be a best seller, but those who have read the book liked it. That is still a big thrill for me. :-)

To celebrate my 1st anniversary I'm posting my book video and two of my favourite reviews from Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Excellent Read!
June 8, 2009: I picked up the book gingerly, wanting to like it, but afraid I wouldn't. I know and love the author's other written works. Would this one meet the challenge? Without a doubt, yes! From the start, I was drawn into the strange mystery of a world that, while it was so foreign to my concept of living, was also uncomfortably familiar... a world about hope in dark places and how one person at a time can make a huge difference. I wanted to know why the characters felt and behaved as they did. I wanted to dig deeper into the book to find the thread that pulled them together. This book kept me turning pages, eager for more. What I loved about the book is how the author wove a thread through so many lives, connecting them in unexpected ways. I sincerely hope Michelle Frost writes again if this is what she's capable of!

A book to keep your mind busy!

2 Sep 2009: In her book Michelle Frost paints a world with no hope. Or as she declares on the book's cover: a world, where colour is a crime. Oh horror! Her writing makes this unthinkable world take shape to a point so realistic that you can almost taste the dust and feel the harsh light of this world on your skin. Luckily, the colour still lives in the hearts of a few people in these alien surroundings, and it is the destinies of these few we follow throughout the pages.

The characters being so utterly vivid, almost as if you had known them forever yourself, and the very idea behind the story being woven into a pattern, where at times you know exactly where the story is headed for, only to realize on the next page that you haven't got a clue, make this book a true page turner. And Michelle keeps you guessing, of yes, she does. All the way to the last few pages, where she finally reveals her bigger picture. Which, I might add, is breathtakingly beautiful!

All in all, an extremely enjoyable read. But this book has it's downside also: it ends. Just when she finally sheds light to the true colours of the story... it's over. As luck will have it, the end leaves the door open to a sequel, and I do hope she is busily working on volume two!

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Prayers for Haiti

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... and all affected by the latest Earthquake in that region.

A Breath of Fresh Air...

Andreas Vollenweider ~ Airdance

Old Year Revelations

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This last week I've been busy dealing with a lot of loose ends from 2009. To do that I've had to spend so much time remembering that it feels like I've walked backwards into this new year!

So, I'm starting 2010 with Old Year Revelations rather than New Year Resolutions. ;-)

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2009 certainly was a busy year, even a bit crazy. I had a book published. Hubby was retrenched. We had two bad tyre punctures... both on Friday 13th on two separate months! I finally had surgery for my hernia. Some people I knew died and some fought off illnesses. Some had babies, some didn't. Some lost their jobs... some found new jobs.

I lost old friends and gained new friends. I even found long-lost friends and made a few new enemies, but most of all - I found out a lot about of myself along the way.

I found out I was stronger than I thought, as well as more vulnerable than I wanted to admit to. I found out I cared far more about writing and being a writer than I'd even admitted to myself.
My health troubles finally made me realise that I can't function properly if I don't take care of myself first. So, last year I learnt that being self-loving isn't the same as being selfish. I learnt that it really is okay to say, "No. I don't want to do this."

No wonder God said, Love others as you love yourself.

I learnt that life is too short to stay mad and way too short to waste time or words on people who don't care about you or don't hear you.

I learnt I have fantastic friends and wonderful loved ones... which I already knew, but always love to be reminded of! :-)

I learnt that even the bad years come with blessing, but I still hope that this new year brings us all more rainbows and less storms.

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Fun for the New Year. :)