Still living and breathing in Queensland

I suppose that I have been slacking off lately on my Blog postings, this is to be expected I suppose once one settles into a comfortable routine anywhere...and we are people who love; no

I will rephrase that, Regent and I LOVE an established routine! We rejoice in structure even while attempting to be spontaneous! When we spend a week in an all inclusive resort in the Caribbean, the first order of business will be staking out our place on the beach, the restaurants, the show place, the markets, etc...and then we can have a great time and just relax...because we went there to get away from our daily routine! The one we had in Canada, not the one we put in place on vacation!

A lot of things (good and bad) that we have no control over have been happening in Canada, so our hearts have been torn in this regard. Was it not John Lennon who said that "Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans". How very true...

Right now Regent's project is demanding a lot more of his attention, so weekends are mostly spent resting up for the week to come. The great thing here is that a two hour walk on the beach to the sounds of the Ocean is truly the best medicine for whatever ails ya and does lead to much meditation and soul searching and planning for the future... ahhh, the luxury of downtime.

At my favorite second hand bookstore, I picked up a collection of Poems (Poem for the Day-

that contains 366 poems, one for each day of the year (including one for leap years). The person who compiled the collection suggests that memorizing poems is immensely valuable for times that might scare you (like when the plane takes off or the dentist drills into your tooth), one can close ones eyes and silently recite something.
I have never really delved into poetry since my school days; when we had to learn them by heart or suffer the dire consequences! So with this book I realised that not all poems are stuffy and inexplainable, but rather a piece of literature that is very much open to interpretation. The same poem may mean to the same person something different on any given day depending on how you are feeling in your heart and soul.

So I would like to share my favorite "specimen du jour" that I have found with you for your enjoyment! Feel free to memorize to your hearts content:

Warning, by Jenny Joseph

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple

With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.

And I shall spend my pension money on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired

And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells

And run my stick along the public railings

And make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain

And pick the flowers in other people's gardens

And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat

And eat three pounds of sausages at a go

Or only bread and pickle for a week

And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we have clothes that keep us dry

And pay our rent and not swear in the street

And set a good example for the children.

We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised

When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

By Jenny Joseph (May 7th, 1932- )

Scary...but I have hoarded pens and pencils my whole life!

This one is for my dear sister-in-law, Noreen

New Every Morning

Every day is a fresh beginning,

Listen my soul to the glad refrain.

And, spite of old sorrows

And older sinning,

Troubles forecasted

And possible pain,

Take heart with the day and begin again.

Susan Coolidge (January 29th 1835 - April 9th 1905)

Love you and cant wait to be picking out red hats and purple frocks together!