It is rose season. They are in bloom everywhere, and smell sensational - something the store bought cuttings rarely do these days.
I stop and inhale the aromas as I walk the dog, and the heady flowers hang over the fences.
It is joy in olfactory pleasure.
Even my own rose bush, that for years gave me a single flower each year has given me 12!
I'm not sure who said this, but I will attribute if you can clarify for me. “Where roses rise, hope follows.”
I do think with everything going on for me personally and in the world at large, when I inhale the rose fragrance, I feel a sense of calm, if only momentarily.
I have a rose tea and I've taken to smelling the buds before I add the hot water as it's divine! Interesting to note that in terms of smells, it is said that Rose offers a gentle floral aroma that uplifts mood while calming the mind, so it's not entirely in my head. It's a quick instant boost. And the tea is delicious - like a sweet treat without the calories.
As I saw the roses this morning, I thought "What a good year for the roses" and then, of course, got the song stuck in my head.
However, this is my preferred Roses song. (Song starts at 1.20 mark - they blanked out the swear word)
And here we are for another week of #Allseasons
#Allseasons linky runs from Thursday to Wednesday each week.
Link one post that shows something seasonal. Traditional weather wise, a seasonal nature marker or a seasonal celebration or event. Please link relevant posts only.
Make sure you link back to this #AllSeasons post.
Please comment on the post before yours and the host. Don't dump and run.
For bookclub we did My Brilliant Friend - this is one of my mum's favourite books, and she's watched the series and read all the others. I don't really get that reaction to it. It didn't really grab me, beyond the curiosity as to why my mum loved it so much. It's not bad, I just felt I was working through it to have it read for bookclub. That said some of my book club have mentioned they are enjoying it the second time so what do I know?? I did get a buzz when she got a prize from the teacher and it was Jerome K. Jerome's Three men in a boat.
I've read a number of books written by climbers on the expedition, plus David Breashears book who was also there on the IMAX expedition. This is basically just explaining events at a children's level. I didn't really understand the point to be honest. I listened to it and I'm guessing there are drawings in the paper format.
Someone had recommended this so I thought I'd give it a go. Her opening rants did make me laugh. It's a bit of fun - it's obvious but enjoyable enough. Fun holiday read for older women.
Rereading this before sticking it into the street library. Just a little book on how to reduce waste - from packaging to reusing items. I clearly won't become zero waste in 30 days, as I didn't before, but I might be inspired to retry a few alterations in my behaviour....
Halloween reminded me of this play I saw in the 1980s at school. I discovered an audio version online and listened to it. A few attitudes had dated, on class etc but it still is very, very creepy and given the Manosphere, it still seems relevant. You can listen here if interested. I do think our school drama teacher really was smart to pick this play for school kids to perform, and for me to remember it 40+ years later.
This was picked at random - free on audible. It's really interesting looking at a family that is impacted early in the AIDS epidemic, and the fallout that causes, throughout the children's lives, well into adult hood. It's hard to talk about without giving things away. Non fiction, using recordings and interviews as well as journals and memory. I found it engrossing.
Went to see Jon Ronson live - he's always so entertaining. It was hilarious, and great to see some of the videos that went with the places and events in the book. (Review of book here)
Not picked it up since last time...so still not started book 3. Will read that before chucking it in the street library but it's not really motivating me to get back to it....(Previous mentions are here and here)
I am, more or less, an existentialist. I say more or less as there are some things that I can't help myself believing that are illogical.
I have a terrible fear of flying. I have since I was about 16. It gets worse and worse each year. I think it started with an emergency landing due to a bomb scare when I was about 12, and then at about 15 I watched Hotel New Hampshire and the scene on the plane got merged into that experience et voila, my next flight was a nightmare for me....and so it goes. So to counter that, I have a St Christopher medallion that I wear when I fly and have done so since 1993 when a friend gave it to me for my first solo overseas trip - I don't wear it when I travel by any other means, and not while I'm overseas - purely when I'm in the air. I am aware St Christopher has been diminished by the church but it's like my lucky charm. I know it's nonsensical but I can't not fly without it. I didn't take it to the Maldives because they have rules about bringing in other religion iconography into the country but it really distressed me and I was agitated for the whole flight, almost to tears. I almost didn't board a plane in Melbourne when I thought I'd left it in the hotel, but fortunately I'd put it in my purse...
In Japan, I was told of this temple in Kyoto, Yasui Konpiragu Shrine - known for cutting off bad relationships, the stone also has the power to cut off growths. As I had a tumour that needed to be removed, I figured it couldn't hurt. I went and wrote the prayer and crawled through the hole and pasted the prayer to the rock. It worked! Well, it made the surgeon successful in complete removal and it hadn't spread. So this is 'do as well as western medicine not instead of' advice.
I also got the relevant omamori, which I still rub on the site almost daily, but especially before having another 'look & see' gastroscopy. I did get my dog an Omamori for her health too in July but apparently the magic may not be powerful enough (but it can't hurt!)
One of my favourite souvenirs from Japan is Billiken, the God of things as they ought to be. I rub his feet for luck some days, but I like that he watches over us all in the house (note lucky cat too, but I was given that).
I am often given superstistious totems from friends, which make me uneasy, as I feel I may not understand what I'm committing to. I was given this just before an operation and it really stressed me out, given the wording on the back. However, further research made me realise it was ok...
I was given this about 16 years ago and while I was told it was for happy family life or a long marriage or something good, and to keep it in the kitchen, I just have to keep it as I don't know what curse I'll unleash on myself if I discard it. So she watches over us. It came from Mexico and has a gold thing, plus some grain and decorative lady bugs in the back. If anyone knows more on this, let me know!
That's in the back of it
A lot of superstition is just common sense. I was invited to go into a cave in New Caledonia that was rumoured to be protected by black magic in the 90's. I declined. When the Thai Cave rescue happened, I thought of the New Caledonian cave and thought that was probably why there was the warning to keep people away. Walking under a ladder is obvious why it's bad luck, boots on the table is just hygiene - most superstition is logical dressed as illogical....but for me, don't go asking for unnecessary trouble. So no seances for me!
If I have a run of bad things happen, I do try to fix my karma by doing some good for others - I think what really happens there is you fix your mindset by focusing on helping rather than your own misfortunes.
I have some weird personal ones, like when we used to go on skiing holidays, if you saw three people in the banana boats (stretchers), I had to go home for the day before I saw a fourth one, as I may be it! The first could be a one off, the second probably meant the conditions could be attributing to it, the third meant I probably wasn't a good enough skier to void the statistical chance of an accident. And that is really what superstitions are - trying to control the statistical chance of something.
May the odds be ever in your favour....
I'm pretty sure I won't be the only one who got this song in their head while writing on this topic!
I have since discovered there is this podcast on Superstitions called Jinxed. I've only listened to the He Huang as I saw her at the Comedy Festival and she was very funny.
How are we back here again so fast? What was meant to be a great month with lots of celebrations turned into a pretty terrible one, with none. Lots of cancelled events. So I will try not to dwell on the drama which is a snore for everyone, and squeeze out what joy I can. Should be brief, at least.
Something I loved Went to Benjamin Clementine on a whim and he was excellent - what an excellent concert! Also, The Diplomat and Slow Horses. Made being at home worthwhile again! Bonus points for The Diplomat being dropped as the full season so we could watch it all at once in a week.
Something that sustained me Had to give away my ticket to Crooked Colours just as I was leaving the house to race the dog to the hospital, so feel I haven't been out dancing in months. I keep cancelling time with friends and on top of all the sad reasons as to why, it just adds to the weight of it all. Tonight I'm off to see Bunt, and I know what a frenetic energy that will be. I can not wait! I'm also going with my eldest, so that's the cherry on top! The thought of that has kept me going all month. I've told my husband it's his turn to step up if needed so nothing should stop me!
I did get to go to the Max Dupain exhibition at the State Library while waiting to pick up my kiddo. It is excellent, and there's a photo journalist exhibition, Lorrie Graham also on there. Both free, both well worth a visit. Seeing art always lifts my spirits a little.
Something I'm carrying forward from this month to the next Hopefully none of the bad. Only the good. Or even something better.
Something I'm making space for Me. Sounds simple but it really hasn't happened at all this month.
I didn't know the copyright on the photos in the exhibition so I'm not sharing those. Also some pics are fromMervyn Bishop Close Up. and Pamela Allen - a fabulous exhibition for the kids to play in! I did enjoy this quote as I feel this is what my Instagram is. It's my enjoyment of my environment, and it makes me happy to look at the pics in it. (Or it's a Diary, I use it as that too).
I had to include this - if there are copyright issues I'll take it down asap - because I took this exact photo back in . Left is Lorrie Graham's taken in lockdown. Below is mine. (EDIT I can't find the picture, but when I do, I'll put it in - however this is one I took in 2021 of the same roof - the other one is exactly the same as hers)
