May i always be the kind of person my dog thinks i am.
Friday 8 June 2007
Friday 1 June 2007
Stolen 11 ( for GW )
"People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be."
- Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
Stolen 9
"The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good."
- Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)
- Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)
Stolen 8
"Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws."
- Plato (427-347 B.C.)
Stolen 7
"Reflect on your present blessings, of which every man has many; not on your past misfortunes of which all men have some" - Charles Dickens
Stolen 5
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart."
- Helen Keller
- Helen Keller
Stolen 4
What is home?"A roof to keep out the rain? Four walls to keep out the wind? Floors to keep out the cold? Yes, but home is more than that. It is the laugh of a baby, the song of a mother, the strength of a father, warmth of loving hearts, lights from happy eyes, kindness, loyalty, comradeship. Home is first school and first church for young ones, where they learn what is right, what is good, and what is kind, where they go for comfort when they are hurt or sick; where joy is shared and sorrow eased; where fathers and mothers are respected and loved, where children are wanted; where the simplest food is good enough for kings because it is earned; where money is not as important as loving-kindness; where even the tea kettle sings from happiness. That is home. God bless it!" - Anon
Stolen 3
"The world is not respectable; it is mortal, tormented, confused, deluded forever; but it is shot through with beauty, with love, with glints of courage and laughter; and in these, the spirit blooms timidly, and struggles to the light amid the thorns."
- George Santayana
- George Santayana
Stolen 2 ( the revenge ) ;-)
"Any change, any loss, does not make us victims. Others can shake you, surprise you, disappoint you, but they can't prevent you from acting, from taking the situation you're presented with and moving on. No matter where you are in life, no matter what your situation, you can always do something. You always have a choice and the choice can be power."
- Blaine Lee ( The Power Principle)
- Blaine Lee ( The Power Principle)
Stolen from an excellent blog.
"Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results."
- Anon
this is the remarkable young person with an old soul's web site. It gives me hope for the world.
http://thesimplesthings.blogspot.com
- Anon
this is the remarkable young person with an old soul's web site. It gives me hope for the world.
http://thesimplesthings.blogspot.com
Friday 25 May 2007
Thursday 24 May 2007
Tuesday 22 May 2007
Monday 21 May 2007
Stuck in Low Gear
Well, after owning my Defender for two months i finally learned how to use the second gearbox and the diff lock. How impressed was i, that is until i tried it ...........I put it into low box and had a play , it worked beautifully, got a feel for it, tried diff lock, that worked fine, then i tried to put it back into High box, it wouldn't move, the lever just flapped in the wind.
I found my myself driving around for 36 hours in low box, in real terms this means that in fifth gear my top speed without hurting my engine was about 25-30 miles an hour. !!
I sought advice at a brilliant website called www.landyzone.com and also of a fellow owner/driver. the outcome was that majority opinion pointed to the gear linkage falling apart , after stripping the inside of my toy out , the picture above is what i found, for the sake of one nut falling off i had all this work to do, but do you know what ? i enjoyed it.
Wednesday 16 May 2007
Im Here !
Well that's it then, 18 months and what you see below here are the real gem's the rest has now been deleted, from this point forward everything will be new.
I hope you find something here you like.
I hope you find something here you like.
Desiderata
Go placidly amid the noise and haste and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are a vexation to the spirit.
If you compare yourself to others you may become vain and bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your career however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself, especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture the strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline , be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with god, whatever you conceive him to be; and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul.
With all its shams, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful
Strive to be happy.
As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are a vexation to the spirit.
If you compare yourself to others you may become vain and bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your career however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself, especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture the strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline , be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with god, whatever you conceive him to be; and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul.
With all its shams, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful
Strive to be happy.
Thought's for Tonights
1.Man cannot discover new oceans until he has courage to lose sight of the shore.
2.Men are disturbed not by things but by the views which they take of them.
3.A man who fears suffering is already suffering from what he fears.
Michel De Montaigne Essays (1533-1592)
4.My life has been full of tragedies, most of which never happened.
Michel De Montaigne Essays (1533-1592)
5.Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Pan American Day address, April 15 1939
6."Trouble is a part of your life, and if you don't share it, you don't give the person who loves you a chance to love you enough"
Dinah Shore
7.Because the sage always chooses to confront difficulties, he is never stuck with the experience of them.
He who is attached to things will suffer much. A contented man is never disappointed. He who knows when to stop does not find himself in trouble. He will stay forever safe.
Lao Tzu
2.Men are disturbed not by things but by the views which they take of them.
3.A man who fears suffering is already suffering from what he fears.
Michel De Montaigne Essays (1533-1592)
4.My life has been full of tragedies, most of which never happened.
Michel De Montaigne Essays (1533-1592)
5.Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Pan American Day address, April 15 1939
6."Trouble is a part of your life, and if you don't share it, you don't give the person who loves you a chance to love you enough"
Dinah Shore
7.Because the sage always chooses to confront difficulties, he is never stuck with the experience of them.
He who is attached to things will suffer much. A contented man is never disappointed. He who knows when to stop does not find himself in trouble. He will stay forever safe.
Lao Tzu
A brilliant verse
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud,
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
WIlliam Ernest Hemmingway
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud,
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
WIlliam Ernest Hemmingway
Making a difference to a child does not require much.
There is a story many years ago of an elementary teacher. Her name was Mrs.Thompson. She stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, and told the children a lie. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. But that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he didn't play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. And Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers. At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However,when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.
Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners...he is a joy to be around."
His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle."
His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken."
Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and sometimes sleeps in class."
By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped inbeautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present which was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to."After the children left she cried for at least an hour.
On that very day, she quit teaching reading, and writing, and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children.
Mrs.Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became her favorite.
A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors.He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer-the letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, M.D.
The story doesn't end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he'd met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit in the place at the wedding that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom.Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, theone with several rhinestones missing. And she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together. They hugged each, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs.Thompson's ear, "Thank you, Mrs.Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference."
Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."
Touch and Warm someone's heart today.
Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners...he is a joy to be around."
His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle."
His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken."
Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and sometimes sleeps in class."
By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped inbeautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present which was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to."After the children left she cried for at least an hour.
On that very day, she quit teaching reading, and writing, and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children.
Mrs.Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became her favorite.
A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors.He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer-the letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, M.D.
The story doesn't end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he'd met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit in the place at the wedding that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom.Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, theone with several rhinestones missing. And she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together. They hugged each, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs.Thompson's ear, "Thank you, Mrs.Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference."
Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."
Touch and Warm someone's heart today.
I am Not Religious at all but this Makes you Think
Teacher on Evolution
One day a 6-year-old girl was sitting in a classroom.
The teacher was going to explain evolution to the children.
The teacher asked a little boy:Tommy do you see the tree outside?
TOMMY: Yes.
TEACHER: Tommy, do you see the grass outside?
TOMMY: Yes.
TEACHER: Go outside and look up and see if you can see the sky.
TOMMY: Ok. (He returned a few minutes later)Yes, I saw the sky.
TEACHER: Did you see God?
TOMMY: No.
TEACHER: That's my point. We can't see God because he isn't there. He doesn't exist.
A little girl spoke up and wanted to ask the boy some questions. The teacher agreed and the little girl asked the boy:Tommy, do you see the tree outside?
TOMMY: Yes.
LITTLE GIRL: Tommy do you see the grass outside?
TOMMY: Yessssss (getting tired of the questions by this time).
LITTLE GIRL: Did you see the sky?
TOMMY: Yessssss
LITTLE GIRL: Tommy, do you see the teacher?
TOMMY: Yes
LITTLE GIRL: Do you see her brain?
TOMMY: No
LITTLE GIRL: Then according to what we were taught today in school,she must not have one!"
FOR WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT"
IICORINTHIANS 5:7
One day a 6-year-old girl was sitting in a classroom.
The teacher was going to explain evolution to the children.
The teacher asked a little boy:Tommy do you see the tree outside?
TOMMY: Yes.
TEACHER: Tommy, do you see the grass outside?
TOMMY: Yes.
TEACHER: Go outside and look up and see if you can see the sky.
TOMMY: Ok. (He returned a few minutes later)Yes, I saw the sky.
TEACHER: Did you see God?
TOMMY: No.
TEACHER: That's my point. We can't see God because he isn't there. He doesn't exist.
A little girl spoke up and wanted to ask the boy some questions. The teacher agreed and the little girl asked the boy:Tommy, do you see the tree outside?
TOMMY: Yes.
LITTLE GIRL: Tommy do you see the grass outside?
TOMMY: Yessssss (getting tired of the questions by this time).
LITTLE GIRL: Did you see the sky?
TOMMY: Yessssss
LITTLE GIRL: Tommy, do you see the teacher?
TOMMY: Yes
LITTLE GIRL: Do you see her brain?
TOMMY: No
LITTLE GIRL: Then according to what we were taught today in school,she must not have one!"
FOR WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT"
IICORINTHIANS 5:7
Children Learn What They Live.
Children Learn What They Live (1959)
If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn . . .
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight . . .
If a child lives with fear, he learns to be apprehensive . . .
If a child lives with pity, he learns to feel sorry for himself . . .
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy . . .
If a child lives with jealousy, he learns to feel guilt . . .
BUT
If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient . . .
If a child lives with encouragement, he learns to be confident . . .
If a child lives with , he learns to be appreciative . . .
If a child lives with acceptance, he learns to love . . .
If a child lives with honesty, he learns what truth is . . .
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice . . .
If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith in himself and those about him . . .
If a child lives with friendlienss(sic), he learns the world is a nice place in which to live . . .
WITH WHAT IS YOUR CHILD LIVING?
If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn . . .
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight . . .
If a child lives with fear, he learns to be apprehensive . . .
If a child lives with pity, he learns to feel sorry for himself . . .
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy . . .
If a child lives with jealousy, he learns to feel guilt . . .
BUT
If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient . . .
If a child lives with encouragement, he learns to be confident . . .
If a child lives with , he learns to be appreciative . . .
If a child lives with acceptance, he learns to love . . .
If a child lives with honesty, he learns what truth is . . .
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice . . .
If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith in himself and those about him . . .
If a child lives with friendlienss(sic), he learns the world is a nice place in which to live . . .
WITH WHAT IS YOUR CHILD LIVING?
Why Defender (90) of England ?
Defender ( 90 ) is the make of the landrover i have waited twenty years to own and love almost as much as my wife now that i have it.
Defender of England is something close to my heart, now i am not a right wing activist but when i travel abroad i respect the customs and traditions of the country playing host to me, i do my best to join in with there traditions and make a point of learning prior to my visit what common mistakes i could make that would be a normal way to act here in England.
I am getting to the point if you had not already guessed.
I am a proud Englishman, i respect all people and cultures, why then is it that my local Oxfam shop can not put up a Christmas tree in its window for fear of offending Muslims ? Why is it that there is a cafe in town with a sign in the window saying no English ? could you imagine the outcry if i were to open a cafe and put up as sign saying English only ?
I believe in live and let live 100 %
To be frank i am tired of being a second class citizen in my own country, it seems that an Englishman's opinions and values no longer hold any value in England, although the tax he pays week in week out is still quite happily absorbed by the Goverment and used to support the very people who would decry and stop our way of life.
Phew that feels better
Surmon over. ;-)
Defender of England is something close to my heart, now i am not a right wing activist but when i travel abroad i respect the customs and traditions of the country playing host to me, i do my best to join in with there traditions and make a point of learning prior to my visit what common mistakes i could make that would be a normal way to act here in England.
I am getting to the point if you had not already guessed.
I am a proud Englishman, i respect all people and cultures, why then is it that my local Oxfam shop can not put up a Christmas tree in its window for fear of offending Muslims ? Why is it that there is a cafe in town with a sign in the window saying no English ? could you imagine the outcry if i were to open a cafe and put up as sign saying English only ?
I believe in live and let live 100 %
To be frank i am tired of being a second class citizen in my own country, it seems that an Englishman's opinions and values no longer hold any value in England, although the tax he pays week in week out is still quite happily absorbed by the Goverment and used to support the very people who would decry and stop our way of life.
Phew that feels better
Surmon over. ;-)
Hello
Well i guess my first post should cover what i hope to do with this blog, i hope it will become a record of every feeling of joy , success, peace, happiness that i encounter along the way, i have had a blog going for about 18 months previously but it had some of my very negative views in it and the fact is i probably shouldn't have shared some of them with the world.
If i stick to my guns then this blog will be a castle of common sense , normal thinking and everything in it should be viewed from a positive perspective.
In the hope that when i look back in years to come i will enjoy everything i read here and not feel mildly ashamed as i do when i look at some of the drunken drivel i have written in the other one.
Don't get me wrong those feelings portrayed were genuine in the moment i wrote them but not how i really feel day to day.
I hope you enjoy what i create here over the years.
Kevan :-)
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