Consider, Consideration.

All colours are beautiful.

We are one but we are many.

“Smile Sweetie you are on ‘candid camera’. so are you baby.”

 The Canberra Floriade was a joy not only because of the flowers. The weather was perfectly  tempered warm sunshine. That made the flowers dazzlingly brilliant in a beautiful area by the lake. Everyone was in a friendly mood that match this spectacular free show.

Life is a picnic to enjoy.

There were people from many different lands all mixing friendly and happily. Australia is a multi-cultural land. I was reminded of the song ” We Are One But We Are Many”.

Their love shows.

I took almost as many photos of people as flowers. Because I knew I would do a post showing how we are really all brothers and sisters.

They are bubbling with love.

We all enjoy  Natures beauty, we all feel the same joys and the same sorrows.

It is times like the Floriade that we forget our problem and unite in the appreciation of our good fortune.

I hope this post with my poem spreads the goodwill felt on this wonderful occasion.

A loving scene.

 Consider, Consideration.

Beautiful flowers every to look at.

No one is bad for having a different view.

I do not want to change the world it is such a lovely place.

There is something we may want to change and that’s the human race.

Slow down life is not a race,

we all end up in the same place.

This was taken at the National War Museum.

If I raise my voice in an angry shout,

Tell the people what it’s all about.

To argue fight protest and start a war.

These things have all been done before.

To let them be is a good decision.

There can be no war without division.

Slow down and enjoy.

The whole cosmos is interconnected,

This is a thought to be reflected.

All that is needed is to love one another.

Then a wonderful world we discover.

In nature everything changes,

Nothing is lost it just rearranges.

Our body consists of atoms of matter,

When we die those atoms scatter.

Smiling beautifully.

Wasting time grieving about anger, envy and hate.

Enjoy this fleeting world before it is too late.

Unbiased living, loving, kind and caring.

Appreciate the world we are sharing.

Carried away with flowers.

Chew on these words of nourishment.

Changing ourselves should be our intent.

We cannot force other people to agree.

Show by your example for them to see.

A load of beautiful flowers.

With this understanding of life,

We are free from trouble and strife.

There is no problem in the world it is in us.

A change of attitude stops the fear and fuss.

Love is everywhere.

Improve yourself every day.

To show the world a better way

If some are too ignorant to see.

It is their problem, do you agree?

If you know of a better way,

Please do not hesitate to say.

Enjoying life with out a care.

We must stay calm to hear another person’s views.

Be unemotional and put ourselves in the others shoes.

If we could stand in their position.

There would be a whole transition.

Our view would alter in perspective.

We would become more reflective.

He looks happy has he found contentment?

We do not have to agree,

Only understand and see.

No one is bad for having a different view.

It becomes a problem when forced on you.

Love flowers everywhere.

One must consider with an open mind.

Leaving judgemental prejudices behind.

Weigh up the facts then understand,

You are now right the world is grand.

Happy serving lunch a great attitude.

Take time to consider and appreciate the other side of the equation.

Love, compassion and consideration are all that is needed as persuasion.

Read Full Post »

Blues.

On the bridge a man emerges, we says good morning as we pass.

The Blues

Fitness out of the fog.

I woke up with the blues the Robert Johnson blues. No sun-beams flooding through my window, it was cool and foggy out there. I knew exactly what to do, to sing is the thing. I popped out of bed like a Champaign cork with the bubbles of enthusiasm pushed me to Pauline’s door. “Come on Sweet Heart, out of the cot we got things to do, me and you!” She needed no prompting, she knew what great opportunities a foggy morning brought.

Professionals knows fogs are photo opportunities.

I could not keep her from the Burl Ives ‘Foggy foggy dew’.  On with our cloths and up up and away like Wonder Woman and Clark Kent, I am being mild-mannered and modest. Don’t get carried away, we took off in the car; I want this to be believable. We parked at the lake and took flight on foot. Two fast guns shooting all in sight, here are some of my trophies. To give you an idea of what Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra is like at seven, on a foggy morn. Pauline will show more in her blog and put more information.

Teaching baby good habits.

Invigorating.

Well balanced dogs.

Recognise anyone.

Kayak or palindrome kid.

Hero of the day.

Today is first day of Canberra’s Floriade day.

We return the sun now shines,

Christen and Spencer are visiting us to see this spectacular flower display.  After breakfast it was back to the lake but by now parking was limited but Pauline had it all planed to we parked at the gallery and walked back across the bridge. I just go with the flow, wu wei, Pauline is the planer. I go with the flow and trust my luck, I got heaps of that.

At the gate our meeting place.

Meet back here at the gate at 12.30 if we get separated Pauline suggested. I was back at the trysting place early and people watched for ten minutes and they were ten minutes early.

A sample of the flowers.

There is much more than this.

I suggested back in a taxi as we had already done a fair hike. Pauline had also taken the dog for its walk while I did the washing up and set the fire, ready for a match tonight. No taxis allowed into Floriade area well it was not in Pauline’s plan anyway. What happened to my luck well we needed the exercise. Here are some photos to give you glimpse of Floriade.

Entrance to the museum.

We went to the National Museum of Australia, as they have a choice menu and it is a fantastic monument  of architectural splendour. We savoured delectable dishes while gazing out the windows on to the lake, the fountain was now pumping and sail boats and ferry were out there enhancing the scenery.

Feasting the eyes while savouring lunch, this is true nourishment.

Then explored this fair dinkum  Aussie museum .

Do not miss the garden of dreams.

The charming guide is needed to describe.

With a couple of rest stops at the Revolving theatre with Aussie history and a lay-back relax in the there showing Aussie life style. My camera was clicking like a cricket hyped up on coke.  Get an eye full of this sample.

Next stop the Nishi building.

We drive to New Acton area for Cappuccino.

The clock is wrong but we are having a goodtime.

Looking at the aria.

Every move you make, I’ll be watching you.

Up the steps for a cappuccino.

 We enjoyed the day, especially as we were with our friends. Back home they watched TV and chatted while I caught up with my blog friends, but get carried away with a You Tube video in Zeebra’s post. That got me tuned in on the Cajun swamp music and the Blues. All the old guys that I have enjoyed throughout the years, from our wild days, to now when the music still lifts us up and gets us revving.

 I was there with those blokes jamming, winding up with J. J. Cale till after midnight.  It was a real blues day, a blue skies day. With good friends who have travelled the world as show people, both musicians. Spencer actually jammed with Jagger when he was only a pebble not a big rolling stone.

Read Full Post »

winners survive.

I held a high position on The Snowy Mountain Project.

Do What Ever You Like.

No digital photos then

only black n white film.

How I won the rat race, doing what I liked and being paid to enjoy myself.
I never needed a fast car when I was young or to take up some extreme sport to get my adrenalin buzz. I was paid to ride a crane hook and show-off high up on the steel purlins, what a buzz and no danger of snake bite.

There were other thrills.

I love the smell of bread baking and getting my work done early. So my first job was in a bakery the work gets done by midday and I could go swimming. I also like money and labourers on building sights were being paid more than I was earning in the bakery.

Young Jack in the Snowy Mountains.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowy_Mountains_Scheme

I gave up the bakery job and chased the gravy train for a fatter pay packet in the construction game.
There was a down turn in the building boom, I was retrenched, that was the word used instead of put off. As often happens what looks like a problem turns out to our advantage. One should never get upset when things do not go as we plan, it often turns out better in the long run.

Their boy back home for a night out.

I left my home Sydney and went to Port Kembla steel works for work.

Tongariro Development NZ.

I got a job with the Riggers they were working long hours and getting paid over-tine rates.

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=open+hearth+furnace+pictures&biw=983&bih=483&tbm=isch&imgil=qvJ_V01abVD0rM%253A%253BExIFJma74LyRMM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.britannica.com%25252Ftechnology%25252Fopen-hearth-process&source=iu&pf=m&fir=qvJ_V01abVD0rM%253A%252CExIFJma74LyRMM%252C_&usg=__n5VcehG3YOOAiRnPhKZdqCa1W0o%3D&ved=0ahUKEwirp9K2np_LAhWBwZQKHRS3DRIQyjcIMA&ei=WmnVVquSLIGD0wSU7raQAQ#imgrc=_

I was taken to the open hearth furnace where a 250 ton gantry crane was being built. I followed the boss up a series of wooden ladders lashed to the end column. It was scary up there walking along the crane track. I thought if I trip on the hog-ties I am going to get electrocuted on the wires and  fall in the soaking-pits where the steel ingots softened for rolling, if I escape that the sudden stop after falling about 80 feet would be really bad news.
We had to reach out to a ladder then step on to it, that was a real challenge. I made it and I had never felt so hyped-up.

New Plymouth Power Project, things get serious.

I was introduced to the head rigger. Then Sam Treseter, the man that led the way up, said. “There is an easier way up here I took you short cut.” I think he said that so my new work mates would know I had passed the test.
Rigging has more ups than downs, no pun intended, from then on I was paid for exercising and getting a buzz, showing off.

On top of the world, N. P.P.P.

As a 20 year old, I was driven by the pursuit of money and the pleasure of spending it, having what I considered a good time.
It was not all wasted on frivolous things. I went around the world in the 60s, not as a tourist, I got off the beaten track hitch hiking and mixing with the locals. I only speak English so it was a real adventure at times.
I learned a smile is the same in all languages, A smile will get you a ride where a worried look makes you look desperate and perhaps dangerous.
That smile became a habit with me if I am finding the going tough I smile.Then I believe my own smile and feel good.

A column being erected using two cranes.

then the Manitowoc takes over and

the column is stood up by Manitowoc.

When you can earn a living doing what you like, you have it made. You have  escaped the rodent treadmill and life is a work of joy. When you love what you do you do it so well you get promoted. This change was all for the best, I was no longer capable of being the admired show off. The young blokes won  the show-off title from me. I became the brains of the outfit or mother hen.

More responsibility.

Mt. Taranaki, paid to tour North Is. NZ

Pipe liners bury their troubles.

My job to see it done right.

My three sons on weekends.

Arapuni pipeline site.

Caravan office by lake.

Work in progress.

Wet steal and rubber sneakers are deadly, so on rainy days I would run a class on rigging safety. Based on a “Guide to Riggers.” by the Australian Labor Department, New Zealand had no equivalent in the seventies. A lot of the fun went out of rigging. I applied for a job on quality inspection on the Maui Pipe Line Project http://mauipipeline.co.nz/ and to my surprise was successful.

That is a story I should tell you as it shows how lucky I am.

My 3 sons had to be on the

My sons with me on weekends.

Read Full Post »

The language of Uncle Sam.

Drovers use motor bikes and helicopters nowadays.

The words of Uncle sham.

What is for dinner?

Uncle Sam never lies; instead he invented a fertilizer and spread it all over the world garden and production flourished. USA, Us of A, us of Australia, have changed the English language, calling this type of fertilizer advertising. As in the conversation Humpty Dumpty had with Alice in. “Through the Looking Glass” by Lewis Carrolls. “When I say a word,” Humpty said in a rather scornful tone, “It means just what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less.” “The question is“said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many things.”

Pauline questions Humpty Dumpty.

The slaughter–house was demolished and in its place the abattoir was established. The meat industry still was not happy with sales. Meat processing plant was the phrase adopted, cut short, with a sharp knife, to processing plant. Flesh covered in hair has no resemblance to meat wrapped in plastic. The rainforests in Brazil are becoming grass lands for vast cattle-stations. Livestock use up more than a quarter of the earth’s surface and contribute to polluting precious water systems.

What is for lunch.

Ronald McDonald decided to dress up as a clown and put play grounds in his fast food outlets. If we can get the kids in mum and dad will follow. Advertising invades almost every area of our garden. Our only escape is a date with Mother Nature, to meditate and gain control of our thoughts. How much fertilizer can be put on the garden before it destroys our source of nourishment, killing our garden paradise, banishing us once more from Eden? Too much of a good thing is growth without attention to sustainability. There is a difference between useful necessities and luxuries or useless trinkets. We horde and want too much and share too little.

How about that?

TV is a habit, especially if you have been on the tread mill all day trying to keep up with the Joneses. Leaving no time to quietly meditate or think is this really a good way to live? The Joneses are not content with all their toys advertising keeps showing them a new and better version they must have. This is dynamic lifter (The trade name for chicken manure) and is being tipped in our lounge rooms via the TV. TV is the secret weapon for the effluent that is spread to the affluent. Politicians keep you in a job so you will keep them in a job. The buy-buy materialistic economy is unsustainable. 

I don’t want to be The Red Rooster.

Too exhausted to cook a wholesome meal, take the family to Ronald’s or to Colonel Saunders if you prefer eating dead chicken. There is no cleanup after, just dump all the superfluous packaging in the rubbish bin, if you can muster up the energy. Then home to sit back and watch TV commercials, interrupted by a frivolous show that some viewers value more than the ads. No need to think, the canned-laughter and applause from the studio audience will let you know how to react; they are shown sign boards so they know when to laugh. This is an example of the vicious tread mill where the rodents train for the rat race.

Scrap metal collector.

The endless growth of materialistic economics combined with the imbalanced distribution to regions where life’s needs are lacking, has caused the increase of global temperatures and hostility between people. Freedom-fighters, guerrilla armies or are they terrorists it depends on whose side you are on. Today let us not call a spade a spade that would be ruled out-of-order. Social justice must prevail. Spade and Sambo are derogatory terms for Afro-American.

Can Barak Obama clean up the mess or is he going to be blamed for the chaos left in the wake of the Bush administration.  Someone is always the fall guy. I would like to see Uncle Sambo out-wit the tiger as in the cartoon link. Those old cartoons full of racial slurs were considered harmless fun by white people. As a child I could not see how harmful and hurtful they were.

All car parts of a days work.

It is a war of words it takes our mind off the real issues. Words have become weapons of mass deception. Uncle Sam needs you to fight for truth and justice and the American way. Play it again Sam, you cannot have it both ways, it is either truth and justice or the American way. Ironically many Americans would agree, they have lost faith in their political system. Intent on promoting the American way in the world and neglecting the flood banks in New Orleans. Where mother Nature put on a little demonstration of her power.

Just a wave from Nature.

Australia is indebted to America, in that it saved us from the Japanese invasion. Supplying us with armaments at a reasonable cost, then when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor they actually entered the war to save Australia. The war took a decided turn when Uncle Sam arrived with the cavalry. In typical Hollywood fashion they were heroes to the rescue, no vengeful motives. Japan was on her last legs when America dropped atomic bombs on two cities that ended the war days, perhaps weeks, quicker than it would have. I am not going to say it was wrong to drop those bombs or the methane bombs on Vietnam or any of the other conflicts Sam has entered into in the name of truth and justice. I do know the armaments industry is big business also the construction industry. Well-off nations are always ready to help rebuild demolished cities and they are conversely expert in demolishing them.

Think food for thought, food for all.

We are all involved in the biggest battle in history. Can America help in the fight Mother Nature has declared on the human race? I do not think we will win without the super powers contributing. The best thing we can do is surrender our materialistic way of life. Giving what is surplus to our needs to those who are ravenous for life’s necessities. Saying the words clean air, food and shelter, will not help one deprived of these necessities. You may give to charities but how much cream is skimmed off your milk of kindness.

All he needs to be happy.

A cliché is an overused phrase, but often true. Charity begins at home, another is if you want to change the world start with yourself. Try to live an exemplary life, I say try, as I try to follow the Buddha’s wise philosophy and I find it is very easy to step off the path he taught. With all my harsh criticism of Uncle Sam I am no doubt straying, hurting some people’s feelings. But it is the intention more than the action that governs the merit of an action. My intention is not to be hurtful they are ideas to assist people with good intentions, stop and think how can I best help the suffering in the world today. Without violently protesting or getting distressed. It is impossible to win a fight with Mother Nature, we must cooperate. Some of my ideas I hope may be a step on the path to understanding.

Awesome sky, watch it.

  

   

 

Read Full Post »

Something Good.

 

Pretty and small.

 

Something good.

Grand

He’s got the whole world I his hands, Come on let us sing. You know who we are singing about. That’s right god, your God. The God you have in your heart. Without that goodness there is no meaning to life. The whole cosmos is kept in equilibrium by the one and only, the inexplicable one, of many, God, Allah, Jesus, Brahman, The Tao, and The Force spoken of in Star Wars. Words, nouns and adjectives cannot define this all encompassing something.

Is anybody home.

When this something good that exists in you and me brothers and sisters and the whole world. When we recognize, acknowledge and appreciate this, we have a goal to aim for, a standard to meet, a blue print to build on, a rudder to steer us, a map to guide us and a star to aim for. We then know to go with the flow of this superior force and aim at excellence.  When the force is with you and you are working with this force for the wellbeing of all creation, you feel like singing Joy to the world and you feel good and the world is wonderful.

Joyful music.

The ego is subdued by the force of right, no longer is I am so important it is you and others, we are one but we are many. No longer looking for points of disagreement we look for and see the many things we agree on. All the important things in life we agree on and we can respect other people’s ideas on what we find difficult to understand. My ego tells me I am right and I should not stand by calmly and let others make ridiculous statements. But my understanding tells me that I am not infallible. So long as others believe in promoting peace and harmony why make a big issue of technicalities.

Beauty is every where.

It is essential to contribute to the welfare of everything that exists in our world, every person, every creature and our whole environment. As we are all interdependent nothing exists unaided without a chain of events; to damage one link weakens the whole chain. He has the whole world in his hands but some of us are singing out of tune. Come on listen to life’s melody get in tune and sing along. Be in the flow, share in the beauty, sing with all your heart.

The old violin.

This is a request from all the needy, altogether in tune, one two three, give it all you’ve got. Joy to the world, what a wonderful world and all my loving I will give to you. All the discord is blown in the wind. We have to believe we are magic nothing can stand in our way. Everybody loves somebody, somebody to love. Like the Blues Brothers, we are on a mission from God. You have to do the right thing or the almighty all powerful force will retaliate. It is up to you, to get in tune and sing along to find happiness, joy and contentment.

They are also making music.

Read Full Post »

How to find peace.

Rainbow Lorikeets in love.

Finding peace.

kookaburra pay a visit.

The white dove, symbol of peace, will not land on a grasping hand. Everyone is chasing after the blue bird of happiness. Hunting the elusive blue bird of happiness, we realize if you succeed in capturing it you cannot imprisoned it. The happiness soon diminishes and dies and you are off on safari again. Happiness needs to be let free for everyone’s pleasure. There is not much rest for a person obsessed with desire always wanting pleasure and happiness. Pleasures are fleeting the only joy is in being free and sharing.

Corellas stand in for white doves

To have the pure white dove alight on your open hand is a truly worthwhile goal in life. The line between these metaphors and actual reality merges. An open hand like an open heart brings peace and contentment. Relaxed, calm and tranquil not wanting to possess offering a welcoming open helpful hand. I have found birds and most creatures sense danger and recognize kindness. With time and patience we can create peace around us. To quote Confucius “One step is the beginning of a thousand mile journey”. Opening our hand and our hearts brings us one step closer to a world of peace.

Blue Wren for happiness.

The blue bird sings for our happiness and we should recognize the power of a song. I am occasionally over taken by a negative frame of mind. To be mindful of our thoughts is the first step in the process of correcting unhelpful thoughts. The way to peace and contentment is to control unsavory thoughts that arise in our mind. For a quick short-term fix I use music. To cure the blues, I may get Fleetwood Mac to give Doctor Brown a call, he is that loving man if Doctor Brown doesn’t cure you, nobody can do you no good. With Credence Clearwater Revival and Jeremiah the bullfrog it is joy to the world all the boys and girls, joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea, joy to you and me.

A bird on the head is worth two in the bush.

I call some songs mood music depending on the mood I want to encourage. I may want recovery music if I am fatigued or get-up-and–go music if I am lethargic. I have music that inspires me. According to Doctor Brown with music you don’t need any prescriptions you don’t have to pay no bills. You can choose the music that presses your buttons, we all have different tastes. Music can temporarily alleviate minor upsets. For prolonged peace and contentment it takes meditation practice. This is the aim of meditation to calm and gain control of the mind. Thoughts can invade our minds arising from conscious sensory input and also subliminal causes. Thoughts precede actions repeated actions, become habits that form our character. Understanding basic things that govern our life are often overlooked in the frantic hunt for, the passing blue bird, the fleeting pleasure of possessing.

Love at first sight.

A long time ago a million years it seems. The best things in life were free. But no one appreciated a sky that was always blue. And no one congratulated a moon that was always new. So it was planned that they would vanish now and then. And we must pay before we get them back again. That’s what storms were made for and you should not be afraid for, that is the beginning of an old song that helps me appreciate what a wonderful world it is. Although it is not always as we would like it to be. But every time it rains it rains pennies from heaven. Since the days of pennies, it seems a million years now with the flood of inflation; it is now a deluge of dollars.

Birds of a different feather get together.

The sky is not always blue, not only because of rain clouds but because of carbon emissions into the atmosphere. The best things in life are becoming polluted. Air the number one free necessity in life, cleansing fresh free water and wholesome vegetables to sustain life are no longer free. Is it in natures plan or God’s plan that we must pay before we get them back again? Is that what the extreme weather is made for, should we be afraid for, this being the end to our carefree sing along?

I lend my friends a hand.

There is a true blue bird of happiness. Life is sweet tender and complete when you find this blue bird of happiness. You will find perfect peace of mind when you find the blue bird of happiness. When he sings to you though you are deep in blue you will see a ray of light come shining through. Yes somewhere over the rainbow blue birds fly, so why can’t you and I.

My wild Aussie friends.

 

Read Full Post »

The value of smiles.

Both beauties.

Lucky Jack.

The Captain and Cabin Boy.

I have often been called Happy Jack or Lucky Jack. I wonder is it because I am happy that I am lucky or am I lucky because I am happy and smile a lot? People ask, “Why are you always smiling?” “It is vanity the wrinkles are rearranged and I look better.” I joke. In fact I am advertising a good emotional state. People know I am friendly it is a win-win situation that promotes good.

Not this young, this is my grandson, but similar smile.

I hitchhiked most of my way around the world in the sixties. I was young the world was mine; mankind was at the peak of extravagance, before thoughts of conservation, I had not realized there was a limit to the world’s resources. Success in thumbing a ride relies on your appearance, clean and tidy, not too big a bag and most important a smile. Choose an easy and safe place for your lift to pull-up and it is a good idea to display a sign showing where you going to.

Happy jack smiles run in the family.

When the lifts are scarce and the sky is clouding over it is easy to forget to smile and instead get a worried look on your face. The driver has to make a snap decision and cannot decide what the desperate grim look means so does not take the risk. I learned a smile is the same in any language it says “I am happy, at ease and friendly.” People are attracted and respond positively to a smile.

Smiles are like boomerangs they return.

I feel sorry for people who look for sympathy airing their troubles with a dismal gloomy face. Many people burdening others with their hard luck stories. What they do not realize is they are keeping their troubles alive, magnifying them and turning friends away. I feel admiration and compassion for a person that smiles when plagued by misfortune.

Smiles are beautiful in any language.

The way to improve your chances, not only in getting a free ride, is a sincere smile. By caring, being helpful and being friendly your chances of making new friends increases and it starts with a smile. When you increase your circle of friends you increase your good fortune. The more friends you have the more chance you have of hearing about opportunities that can benefit you. It is called networking in business circles in religious groups it would be fellowship and in all walks of life it is commonsense. Smiling, being helpful and friendly promotes happiness and luck.

Smiles love and peace a bit of reggae.

An example, Pauline and I went to at a music venue we got there early. Sat at a table in a good position all available tables were soon taken. There were no empty tables but some unoccupied seats. Two seats were available at our table. Four people came in looking for a place. I smiled and said “There is room at this table you just need two more chairs.” After introductions we became friends, Terry belonged to a ukulele club and invited me along next time they met. I was looking for a ukulele club but none were advertised in the area. I went along and made more friends willing to pass on their knowledge. I am really lucky and the nicer I am to other people the luckier I get.

Be happy smile don’t worry.

The music was lively blues guitar; everyone was rocking or tapping their feet to the music. I let the music take me out on to the dance floor and did a solo uninhibited dance. I am not worried if people think I am a crazy old bloke or high on loco-weed. Musicians play better if they have an appreciative audience. I am the detonator that set others off dancing, it only takes one and others lose their self-consciousness. I do not need any stimulants other than the music, two beers is my limit. As for marijuana, one must be careful as it is sometimes mixed with other substances. You are pushing your luck if you try drugs to make you feel good. All that is needed is music a smile and good attitude.

Music, and loving smiles it is family trait.

Music is a good way to psyche you into a good mood. On a treadmill in a gym is a good cardiovascular exercise but dancing is also a great workout. I am no longer young and fit but I now realize the world is not mine to exploit. Simple pleasures are the best the higher you go the further you can fall. Sharing a meal with friends is one of the most enjoyable things you can do. Smile and be kind to others, if you are lucky the meal you share will not be your last.

Smiles make us one loving family.

Read Full Post »

The art of enjoyment.

 The art of enjoyment.

Rosny Cottage front view.

 

I avoid work yet I have got a lot done. I rarely ever toiled doing something I do not want to do. I have played all my life. As boy I enjoyed helping my mother on our poultry farm. It was a pleasure feeding the fouls. Chickens are a joy to look after. On cold nights our chickens were kept warmed by the heat of an oil lamp. It was nice and warm in the brooder shed and Mum let me sleep in there so I could stop those fluffy yellow chickens from huddling and crushing up too close to keep warm.

 

Rosny Cottage as sketched no enhancement.

I was not all that happy about school education. I only did seven years interrupted by as many excuses as I could find. I liked the social side of school as I was the biggest boy in my class consequently I never experienced any bullying.

Back view and a seat to use while drawing.

My first steady job was in a bakery that was a nice job the smell of bread baking is one of my favourite smells.  Up early you never miss a sun rise, and that is a good habit to get into, baking completed you have plenty of daylight left to play.

Back view artistic licence taken with stone wall.

Then I found a livelihood I loved and Rigging became my game. Before the safety regulations, now carried to extremes, spoiling a challenging job. When a man could climb around on the steel without being unencumbered by a safety belt and ride the crane hook I enjoyed being a dare-devil now the young have to do things that endanger others to get their buzz.

Photo of sketch no enhancement.

What I am getting around to saying is, “Find something you like doing and you never have to work for a living.” Rigging was my game out in the fresh air getting good exercise and some excitement and being paid to do it. When I becoming an overseer I enjoyed passing on easy safe ways to get the job done. I held classes on wet down time days, making them into productive days.

Some P C help.

Art, if you can call what I do art, is just another game I playing with the things available at hand, in the now absorbed in art. Let me show you the fun I had with my drawing, for me it is all learning.

Sketched with 4B and 8B.

I learn to be more observant trying to record what is before me with a simple sketch pad and pencils. You can use all the range if you like. From H being hard to B black softer and darker to B 8 there is no end to how you can play and learn. I play with whatever is at hand.

Flowers enhanced.

Without a printer I used my camera to convert my sketch to the computer. Now the fun starts it needs a bit of contrast, Photoshop is used.

Then why not have a game with the other tools available, learn what these graphic designers use to make their advertising look irresistible.

Added enhancement, same drawing.

Explore more with the yellow and green highlighter pencils could give my flower a lift, may be?

Colour added with high lighters.

Now that prompts me to head further into unknown territory. Why not, what is life for but to try to puzzle out, appreciate and enjoy.

Photoshop fun my art all done..

     Thanks Lisa for the opportunity to offer some ideas for Time out for art.

Read Full Post »

No Fairy Story.

This is a Photoshop mirical.

   Do you believe in fairies?

down to earth view of our garden.

If you have read my blog you will know I do not believe in the supernatural, just the facts. So there are no fairies at the bottom of our garden. But some strange things are happening a photo of a dish of fruit was gmailed to me from Google, taken on my iphone, great idea, Google you have done it again. This is not magic but it is close to it.

The wonderful world.

Things these days make it hard to believe our eyes. Working on my P.C. and out of the blue a message comes up on the monitor telling me not to switch off, updates are down loading from Microsoft. Has the machine got a mind of its own? There is a logical reason I just do not know all the tricks. I do know some of Photoshop’s tricks that look like magic.

The Hyacinth flower lasts only one day.

I want you to reassure me there are no fairies, elves or little people invading my home. I have some little people decorating the garden made out of clay they are not to blame. You can check them out if you like.

In our water garden.

Could some mischievous goblin have taken my camera into the garden and had some fun at my expense. Look at these pictures; I am now over eighty years young, could I bend down low enough to take them.

Under our van Matilda.

Pauline my pommepal believes I am capable of getting up to many things but doubts that I could get down that low. There has to be a logical explanation, may be I am getting old-timers dis-ease. Do you think Pauline is having a joke with me? This is something for you to explain, who took the photos? How could someone take photos from an ant’s perspective? When I put photos in my blog I always use my own or acknowledge. As I did in the post The Montage of Religion to make that montage I got some of the pictures from the internet.

Reflect on this photo it is not Photoshoped.

These photos are a different way of seeing things. We get attached in the way we view the world. The world is constantly changing and we need to try and adjust. Accepting the useful logic and rejecting the unacceptable nonsense. Believing in the logic of today not stuck in obsolete old ways. Consider all the visual angles and other aspects of our life. The detrimental parts of the old myths and fairytales can then be discarded.

This is the low down on fairytailes.

Fairy stories can be entertaining and may have some moral lessons we can use. As long as we understand what is fact and what is fiction we will not argue about irrelevant stupidity.  Magic and miracles all have an explanation if we can see through the trickery, sleight-of-hand, deceit and subterfuge. Mysteries exist that man cannot explain and a hypothesis is put forward to work by. With advancements in understanding the old ideas are replaced by feasible ones.

A fairytail or a naughty gnomes trail.

People are naturally reluctant to change and some people have ulterior reason to not want change. Men in high positions of power suppress the facts that would put them out of business. They suppressed truth and their followers are encouraged to continue in their ignorance. Fear and promises are used to keep their gullible supporters under their control. Greed, fear and ignorance are the three poisons our magnificent natural world is stressed by. If as individuals we do not yield to the evil of greed, bribery or fear, remaining reciprocal, unbiased and learning from all of life teachings, the world will benefit.

looking up at all the angles.

While greed and lies prevail and men fight over the small issues of power, the hungry starve and nature suffers under the pressures of a system based on acquisition. Fairies in our garden are for the enjoyment of children. Adults can have a laugh too and then look at all the angles without fairies, angels and divine messengers. Arguing about who created our wonderful world is destroying it. By taking only what you need appreciating and sharing natures wondrous free gifts. Our individual personal actions may make our world a better place. 

Follow The Path to contentment.

http://www.thebigview.com/buddhism/eightfoldpath.htmlto  I would recomond following this path.

Read Full Post »

Change your luck.

This was home not so long ago.

Good fortune.

Ring of friends or birds of a feather.

Your luck depends on your attitude. If you throw a smile into a pool of people, it will radiate out same as a ripple from a stone would in a pool of water in ever enlarging circle. Smiles are very infectious if you smile, somewhere in that pool of people, a smile will bounce right back. That is a link in your chain of luck.

Linked together.

The more links in your chain of luck the more you will smile. This increases your circle of friends like ripples around you changing your luck. It is a chain reaction that changes your outlook. A positive optimistic attitude increases your popularity and you will want to respond with cheerful kind and caring actions. You will attract positive like-minded people increasing the links in your long chain of friends. Here is a cliché ‘friends are worth more than gold’ this has been repeated so often because it is true. Friends have your welfare at heart they tip you off to good stuff and warn you of dangers.

This spider is beautiful and not dangerous.

Smile, be mister nice guy and you will have luck, but for your luck to last you must strengthen those links in your chain of friends. To do this you need to be reciprocal by caring and sharing. Out in the big pond it is the people with the right attitude, honest and trustworthy that are always welcome. The irony of luck is when you share your good fortune your luck increases. When you achieve this you will be respected and opportunities will pop up from unexpected places. The more links in your chain the more chances you have of winning and the stronger the links the luckier you will be.

Everyone is beautiful when they smile.

In business this is called networking, like a web stretching out in all directions, catching food for the big business spider. Statistic shows that networking pays off for business people but this is not luck this is a numbers game and not always sincere. Links built on genuine unselfishness that are of mutual benefit will bring rewards of happiness and contentment. Sales people who work in a forthright way do well in the long run by referrals. To share and help others does have a chain reaction that brings good fortune.

Don’t push your luck.

These are old hackney clichés ‘It is better to give than receive,’ ‘As you sow so will you reap’. We have stopped repeating them because they are not original. You do not have to be a parrot repeating them, you only need to remember them and practice them and you will have good fortune. If you want to become a lucky person you must share your good fortune. Then you will not want luck you will have all you want in abundance, no chains attached, a free windfall, a winner without even buying a ticket you will be a smiling success. You will live a charmed life protected from harm and be a positive force attracting favorable conditions.

Like a web attracts morning dew drops.

Your destiny is governed by your deeds. Knowing yourself is to become aware of your moods and feelings. With this knowledge you can control your thoughts. Your thoughts have the power to elevate you from depression to joy. Think of all you have, not what you are lacking. Concentrate on the blessings in your life and be thankful. There are many less fortunate, concentrate on how you can help them. Forget yourself and your attitude will change from ‘poor me’  to “I am lucky”.

Beauty reflected in the circle.

Unaware of your feelings of impatience you will become agitated, and then get angry. Ignorant of your feelings of anger you blame others. When you are mindful, observing your feelings, you will change your thoughts and stay calm. Look at inconveniences as an opportunity to practice patience and self-control. No one makes you angry they may irritate, annoy and test your patience, but you are at fault if you allow yourself to lose your temper. When people criticize you do not be upset, if it is valid they are doing you a favor, as when you are aware of faults you can take steps to fix them. If the censure is groundless or hurtful it is foolish to get annoyed, stay calm and composed. Thoughtful, right actions contribute to your wellbeing as well as your good fortune. This is how to become one of the lucky ones.

Don’t worry he will not hurt you.

Does worry help, most of the things we worry about never happen?  

   

Read Full Post »