Posh Boys

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Prime Minster Cameron & Osborne Chancellor
Coalition Government

Thursday 3rd of May  was the local election day in Britain.  A third of the councillors  have to go to the Polls every year.


Since I have had the vote I have never missed voting in an election.  I feel that I owe a duty of respect to the generations that fought for the right to vote.  I also want a say in who represents me in Parliament, Europe and in the Local Council.


This year I found it hard to muster enthusiasm.   We have a Coalition Government made up of  The Conservatives and the Liberal Democratic, the cabinet is comprised of 21 millionaires and Multimillionaires -  Mainly Very Posh boys:


" who do not know the cost of a pint of milk or loaf of
bread!."


How can these people represent the ordinary people!


MPs are now drawn from professional politicians.  Many new MPs' career start as  political researcher, then advisor to  Party Leaders, and they then are put forward as preferred candidate to local parties in safe seats.  They have no knowledge of the the working world.


Anyway enough of that back toThursday.  It was a grey day with continuous chilly drizzle and biting winds.  I was cold and wet when I got indoor.  I did not feel like turning out again to vote but I had a shower washed and dried my hair put on dry clothes and set off to the polling station.  I walked there, it was still drizzling a cold miserable evening.  When I got there there was not one member of any party outside to greet people and take the poll cards  which traditional they have done and shared the information between the parties.  Each party armed with that information would then go out and knock up  their voters who had not turned and get them to the polling station.


Never in all my voting life had this happened before.  I was fuming and almost turned round and walked off.  The council seat was marginal but the parties had not mustered any one to do this essential work.  My ward has often been won with only 50 or a hundred votes between the parties!


I was incensed because I had bothered to turn out and the Parties' members had not.  I could not walk away however because  I have the right to vote while  people in Burma and other countries  have faced prison and torture for  demanding the right to vote!  I value  my freedom to cast my vote.


The number of people who voted was less than 30 percent. The majority of people no longer see how their vote will change anything. Such a sad indictment on our Politicians. 


The House of Commons Speaker John Bercow said:


" Voters feel let down by political parties because they are "suspicious or even despairing" about the political system."


I feel disillusioned.  I feel  the political parties are merging together into a elite grey mass that has no comprehension of the majority of peoples' lives and the hardship the current recession has caused to so many of us.

Got-cha

I was so tired when I came back from my plot yesterday.  I had hoed and cleared the Willow bed of brambles and weeds, sown, some flower seed and tied in the blackberries to the wires.  I was glad to tumble into bed at 11. o'clock.  I put on Radio Four Extra  and set the sleep button.  The next thing I know the cats are both standing on top of me demanding breakfast.  I felt as if I hadn't slept at all.  I slept through the alarm but the serial that starts at six am. was still playing on the radio.  I got up and stumbled down the stairs.  I felt exhausted. 


The day was rainy, gloomy and very,very overcast.  I put on the cat fish, made a cup of tea and went and sat on the settee. Next thing the smoke alarm was going off and I could smell the fish burning I jumped up rushed to switched off the saucepan and found the broom to turn off the smoke alarm.  I did manage to save some of the fish but got out the chicken and gave them a plate of that each as well. 


My kitchen clock had stopped at ten past two - The batteries were all up stairs so I went up to find them and there was my Radio alarm clock showing the time as 2.15 am.  Ray and Tids had woken me  and and I had heard the serial  being repeated at 1.00 am not six am.  I hadn't pressed the sleep button! I climbed back into bed and fell asleep.


I woke with a start Radio four Extra playing the serial but this time it was six o'clock in the morning and was time to get up.


Love you Tids and Ray yes Got-cha very clever.

With Reiki blessing to my beautiful cats and everyone

Merryb

Golden Jewels

I walked to the plot with Pops on the first fine morning after a week of torrential rain.  My thoughts were quite gloomy as I wondered how much damaged the Easterly gales and heavy rain had done to my fruit trees' blossom.  After greeting other plot holders, who had also emerged with the sunshine, I was relieved to find  that the trees were OK.  Some of the blossom looked bedraggled but it was still on the trees.


After settling Pops I opened my shed and was greeted by the sight of hundreds of tiny golden spiders abseiling down from the roof of my shed.  The sun was glinting on them catching them with light and it seemed as if I was being showered with minute jewels  I stood still and stared in awe at these tiny being as they float past on gossamer threads.  Some paused on my coat before the began again the descent to the ground.


In a few minutes these tiny creatures had disappeared as if they had never been.  I felt so blessed and refreshed to have been present at a perfect moment, a wonderful moment of life's magic new beginnings.






I forgot to reach for my camera as I was so absorbed in the present moment so the picture is a gif.

With Reiki blessings

Merryb

Tids, Ray and Pops an hour in our life on 29th February 2012

Home at 5.55 p.m  – put the Coley on – play football in the Hall with Pops dog while it cooks.  6.10 put the fish into three bowls and start up stairs;  Pops streaks past me and hangs over the gate to the dog free haven of the cats Tids and Ray.  I put down Pops' food  which she gulps in seconds.  I carefully open the gate and slip in to wake up Tids and Ray.  They pounce on the  coley ignoring me completely. As I leave the room they have their heads in their bowls and are eating with deep concentration.  I have half hour before I have to give Tids her insulin injection.  I wash shower and dress to go out.

Tids demanding attention

Time for Tids injection run down the stairs at 6.40 followed by Pops and get the insulin ready.  we run  back up stairs.  I prise Pops off the gate slip in and catch Tids and give her the injection after which she stalks off and hides in the linen cupboard.   Ray rolls over on his cushion to express his in sensual delight at having a full belly of fish.  Pops is hanging over the gate whimpering. I manage to  unhock her from the gate. I slither  through it  and rush down stairs as usual I am beaten by Pops to the bottom.  To distract Pops I give her a piece of of dried Tripe - ugh  the smell is disgusting.


I quickly rinse my hands and as the Guildhall clocks strikes seven rush out of the door to my friend Jeanette’s 16^th Birthday Party. Whew that was a hectic hour now iit time to relax , however I will have to leave about ten to walk Pops before she goes to bed! Then Peace will descend and the cats will lounge and potter around quietly.

With Reiki blessings

Merry B

Tree Lore and the Celtic Ogham

I have used the Celtic Tree Ogham for many years but recently I have been studying in more depth about  it and Tree Lore through Ovate course. Over the past two months I have written about the Yew, the tree of the Ovate, and  also I have written about the Yule trees and Ivy.


These are short post exploring my feeling for the tree, or plant, reflections and memories of walking amongst them, their history and lore. I have also shown a glimpse of their meanings in the Ogham. These writings, while based on my study of Trees and the Ogham are not definitive.


In the weeks and months to come my knowledge about trees and the Ogham will expand and develop,  and I will have more reflections on Native British Trees. 


As I go out walking with my dog on this blustery, grey and wet day I will  pass a group of Silver birch trees. These trees will  bring a glimmer of the light of the young sun into this stormy and gloomy winter day. 

 

Links to  Posts on Trees and  The Celtic Oghman


The Scots Pine -Alim
Ihol - The Yew
Holly Blue and Ivy -Gort
Tinne - Holly

A Reading List

Pine - Pinus sylvestris - Alim in Celtic Ogham

Scots Pine Rannock Forest 

Scotch Pine is one of National Emblems of Scotland which is the only place that it occurs from native seed. It formed nearly all the trees of the Caledonian Forest which once covered most of the Scottish Highlands. In England and Wales there are  archaeological records showing the Scots Pine grew there until about the 16th century. In Ireland this tree became extinct  and as result there is very little about it in Irish folklore. The only reference I have seen is that Fionn Mac Chal  had a secret  pine forest where he and his band of warriors would recuperated hunt and relax.


The exploitation of this tree  for timber, for fire wood,  the overgrazing by sheep deer the deliberate clearance to deter wolves and the dispossessed  Scots all contributed to the decline of Caledonian Forest which once covered much of the Scottish Highlands. Today only 1% of this ancient forest remains but there are plans to restore some areas with trees grown from the seeds of native ancient pines only from Scotland.

Near Aviemore Abernethy Forest, in the Cairngorm mountain, is the largest native Scots pine wood in Britain. It is National reserve which also includes a river, lochs and moor land.  I have walked in this forest in Scotland many times.  Here the Scots Pine is known in Clarsach Nan Craobh  - The Harp of Trees. When the wind blows through the pine needles and branches  it  creates  a very magical sound, and it is a magical place full of  the smell of the pine resin  fresh and invigorating  mingles with the  sweet smell of the heather.   In the heat of summer the sound of the pine cones exploding to release their seeds is quite startling. The wild life is in the forest is wonderful I have seen in forest crested tits, crossbills, red squirrels and deer.


Loch Garten, in the middle of the reserve, is famous for its ospreys. They nest nearby and can be clearly seen from the Osprey Centre.  To see these birds flying overhead is an awe inspiring experience. The parents can be seen feeding the chicks in the nest via the live video pictures relayed back to the centre, The Capercaillie woodland grouse is another bird that can be seen from the centre. These are endangered birds and  have shrunk from over  20,000 in Scotland in the 70s until it is now estimated that there is only 2000 left in the wild.  During April to May the Centre has early morning spring lek Caper-watch . The display of lekking by these birds is well worth the early morning wake up call.  The RSPB  manage the site so that people from hides can see these iconic birds without disturbing their mating rituals.


The Black Woods of Rannoch Forest near Pittlockery is full of native trees including the doughty oak, aspen, birch and hazel. There's a stand of ancient Scots pine, with their reddish trunks, near Airigh nan Cuileag where if you are lucky you may see three red animals - deer, squirrel and pine marten. The Pine martin hunts red squirrels through the tree tops.  The forest is jointly managed by the Forestry Commission and Scottish Heritage, and contains important communities of species characteristic of old pine woods, particularly lichens, fungi and a number of rare ferns, horsetails and club mosses.

Walking in the stand of ancient Scots pine you can imagine how the forest would have in when it was the haunt of cattle raiders and outlaws,rebels and the dispossessed from the clearances in Scotland. It is so different from the serried ranks of pine grown for commercial use which have caused so many people to despise  this beautiful life giving tree.


Pine - Alim in the Ogham  is contrasted with Oak in the Ogham Calendar both symbolising the Irish God of the air Lugh.  One is evergreen and represents the new born sun at the Winter Solstice and Oak represents the mature sun at midsummer.  To draw the few of the pine encourages you to put the past behind you to look ahead and plan for new beginnings.  It is a time for optimism and to look on the bright side of life. The Pine burns with a fragrant bright white flame.  Its flame it is believed in Scottish folklore will drive out ghosts and malicious spirits from a home or a heart.


It is now near the end of season of the year which begins with the burning of Yule  log  - traditionally Pine. The pine tree has become central to modern Christmas celebrations. The Scots Pine has now been replaced in popularity by the Norway spruce as a tree in the home at for Christmas.   I prefer the Scots pine in its natural habitat  amongst the fauna and flora it  supports.  

With Reiki Blessings
Wishing you a Happy New Year

Merryb

Wishing you a all a Happy, New Year

Before I sat down to write to my friends in the Stonehenge group, all my friends and family and followers, I  a drew a card from John Matthew's Shaman Oracle to help guide my wishes for you all for the next year. It was the Ancestor of Skill,  so here are my wishes for you. 

I hope you will;

find a sense of balance and wisdom

and how to channel this into whatever tasks you undertake.

I hope you will uncover latent skills which imbue you with positive energy

I hope you will live skilfully and be grateful for the joyful in life

that you will dance when others run

find joy in the skills you already possess

that your life will be enriched by those around you.

whether there for a season, a reason, or a lifetime

I wish you a very Happy New Year, a year full of of learning, love, and kindness. Be easy on yourself and others.

With Reiki blessings and light

Merry B