Too Busy to Work

Thank god I didn't get the job at the Carer's Centre- I don't know when I would have fit it in! (there's a low sob hiding somewhere in last week, but we Buddhists don't look back...) Well, except to tell you we had a great time with Chris, Elaine and Lauren, as well as Robyn and her mom Leon who came along for a Hallowe'en playdate (and stropdate by Mae) on Saturday.

Then we had a brand new guest! Really Brand New! Baby Claire visited with her mom, the one with the big gazoongas. As always, an enchanting day; slightly broody but only slightly. Then I think Mae spat on me. That always does it, thanks Mae!!!

We are looking forward to a nice winter, a few weeks with just the three of us, chilling. Hopefully not fattening up like this Robin, who is munching in our back garden. He is so round, his wings don't lie flat!! I'm not actually sure if it's body fat or bravado. He had a bit of an attitude.

I think I'm a Buddhist

The evidence?

Well, there's Samye Ling, a lovely Tibetan Monastery in the hills of Dumfries and Galloway. I love visiting there, it's so peaceful. Plus, yaks. (cool)

Next? Well, earlier in the year I read 'Mao- The Unknown Story' as I have no knowledge of history (any era, area, philosophy of, etc) and was quite interested in China's history.

The book is a slog, but very interesting. I took me about two months to read. An average sized book usually takes me 4 days to a week. Ususally when I read a book it leads to other ideas and a quest for more knowledge. In this book it was Tibet and Taiwan, history of.

Also for the longest time I have been wanting to connect with a 'cause'. But nothing really spoke to me. There is/was:

Amnesty International, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Christian Aid, Send-a-Cow, Bernardos, NSPCC, Mind, Shelter, and so on.

Last week, when browsing in a cool bookshop with Sharon (check her blog) I came across a book called 'For Tibet with Love' (a Beginner's Guide to Changing the World).

It's written by Isabel Losada and is a personal story about her quest to change the world. It's funny, emotional and true. I like her. It's the kind of book that I would liked to have written.

I won't tell you any more, I will just tell you to buy it and read it. Soon. Now.

So she has started an organisation called Act for Tibet. And the very last bit is when she gets to meet the Dalai Lama. And she asks a question about the courage to change the things that you can. (To me this was- what do we do? and who do we do it for?) 'But how do you know the difference? Between what you can change and can't?'

And the Dalai Lama says (and I quote):

'Through experiment. Research. Calculate what you can acheive on a mental level, then experiment.'

I really liked that. I can identify with that. And now, more experimentation.

Happy Birthday Geoff!

Holy Birthday month! Loads of Birthdays, and new arrivals.

Geoff isn't a fan of Birthdays (why? He got a great new bike), but my view? One year closer to Enlightenment.

Dammit Days

These are the opposite of salad days. A term coined by Mae, as in 'Mum, when you are at John and Sharons it's my dammit days'.


I bet Sharon is having more of a dammit day than us, Mae!!

What's Eating Gilbert....?

From the land of Sawney Bean. Reduced to dogs.

Ode to Heather

Well, I am comfortably ensconsed in the Reid household, no baby yet, so shopping, cafe-ing, watching movies and chilling with my new best friend, Heather.

Only a year ago this little girl wouldn't come near me, now I am being mentioned in grace at dinner, being shown how well she can wipe her own bum, sitting on my knee at dinner and wanting me to put her to bed.

On the other hand, each time I call Mae in Edinburgh I get hung up on- 'no time to lose! I am going to the park! Daddy how to I hang up the phone...?'

Maybe I will stay here.....

Birthday Business

Well, October is the month of birthdays. Dad and Penny are here, both of whom are celebrating their birthdays.

Geoff's birthday is this month as is cousin Seans.

And we are waiting for a new birthday of a very special person. Here is the before picture.

Here is Geoff on his birthday bike, with his new birthday glassess (for those of you who know racing, he looks like a handsome Eddie Jordan.)

And here is Mae helping her grandpa blow out his candles. She, as usual, drew a picture of him and her ice skating in his birthday card. Grandpa was skating with a walking stick.

And as usual, dad brought the weather with him again. Here we are after a long tartan-y day in the tartan capital, Moffat, looking at the Devil's Beeftub. Does anyone want to know why this area is called the Devil's Beeftub?

Two questions

One, why do we have toenails? They are the stupidest part of the human body.

And two- why is there no house numbered 13 on our street? I just realised this after the people at number 15 lost their cat. Then I tried to figure out where their house was- it is where number 13 should be. So, number 15 is unlucky, right? Because it is the 13th house! Stupid planners. Would somebody not BUY the house called number 13? Stupid, stupid, stupid.

somebody answer these questions.

Free Burma

Unite

let's all get together and support the peaceful revolution in Burma.