Monday, January 15, 2018

Me on A Monday - January 15th

 
Morning Sky

 Greetings and good morning.  Hope everyone is well & had a weekend of delights & pleasures.

I have worked on my Winter Reading List & I have a final selection list, all I can borrow from the library.  Several books I have on my list I got from others' blogs - so in advance thanks for the reading referrals.  In no particular order, certainly not in reading order & some were on the list early on &  I have now read:

Tanya Talaga - Seven Fallen Feathers, Racism, Death & Hard Truths in a Northern City
Jeffry Archer - This Was A Man
Ian Rankin - Set In darkness
Ruth Hogan - The Keeper Of Lost Things (read)
Doublas Coupland - Eleanor Rigby
Meik Wiking - The Little Book of Hygge (Read)
Meik Wiking - The Little Book of Lykke (Read)
Jamie Ford - Love & Other Consolation Prizes (Read)
Anne Frank's Diary
Alexandra Kuykendall - Loving My Actual Life (on request)
Alexandra Kuykendall - Loving My Actual Christmas (on request)
Elizabeth Buchan - The New Mrs Clifton
Rachel Jeffs - Breaking Free; Escaping FLDS Polgamy (read)
Raquel Jaramillo - Wonder
Rick Yancey - The Last Star

I just finished "The Keeper of Lost Things" by Ruth Hogan. (thank you to Ruth at:This West London Life, for recommending the book).  This is a delightful book, one that you wish the people were real & could enjoy tea with.  I particularly like the little short stories within the story, which help to tell the main story.  
 Last weekend Mr Man & I decided we had been too cooped up & the weather was not pleasant enough for any outdoor fun, so off we went to wander the closest mall to us.  After a couple of laps around, we got cups of tea & decided to sit & people watch.  While we sitting in the food court area, an older gentleman asked if he could sit with us.  We gave each other that knowing look of "oh boy" but it turns out Wilfred was a delightful stranger.  He is 81 years old, been a widow for 8 years & was once a professor at the university teaching plant biology having retired 6 years ago.  We chatted with him for about an hour & in that time he told us all about his research which Mr Man found most intriguing because Wilfred used lab equipment that Mr Man's company built/builds, services & installs.  A most delightful hour & we both thanked The Universe for such a diversion.  Wilfred reminded me of the character, Anthony, in the book "Keeper of Lost Things".

Another hot topic in my life is that I am exploring hypnosis for my anxiety issues. It's part of Focus & Intentions for 2018.  I know a couple of people that have done hypnosis for smoking cessation & had much success with the process. I cannot find anyone to give me their experience with hypnosis for anxiety.  Have any of you ever done hypnosis?

In the shopping cart this week I bought this DVD, on sale: Restorative Yoga.  I have been looking everywhere locally for an actual yoga class that has restorative elements.  Right now everything is hot yoga and/or stone yoga, neither of which appeals to me.  Makes me wish that teleporting was a real method of travel so I could participate in Deb's yoga classes;  My Yoga Friend Deb 

Also this week in the shopping cart my latest craze & crave:  Baked Original Goldfish, not the flavoured kind, the plain delicious ones!




"Lasting change does not happen overnight.  Lasting change happens in infinitesimal increments, a day, an hour, a minute, a heartbeat at a time."  Sarah Ban Breathnach




16 comments:

  1. I've never tried hypnosis so I can't offer any help or advice,

    Wilfred sounds like good company; I like the coincidence of the connection with Mr Man's workplace. It's a small world sometimes, isn't it?

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    1. Oh I agree, the world is a small place (after all) & I am daily reminded & amazed what The Universe presents to us - timing & everything. I have an initial hypnosis appt. to see if I am a good candidate for hypnosis.

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  2. I love how Wilfred tied in with The Keeper of Lost Things! Have a great week!

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    1. I think Keeper is a book I will buy as I would like to re-read. My best friend & I use to see stuff on our walks & make up stories about it but never wanted to take it home (col).

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  3. I've just started the Keeper of Lost Things too - and I also got the idea from Ruth.
    I've not any experience of hypnosis, but it's crossed my mind to try it to help with my phobia with lifts. I can get round it now because I still have the energy and knees to cope with several flights of steps, but what will I do when I don't? let us know how you get on.

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    1. I do hope you are enjoying Keeper. I try to use stairs for the extra steps on my counter (col). Closed tight spots - oh yeah, that's an anxiety on the loooong list.

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  4. Thank-you for the book recommendation: I've promptly opened a new document on my computer called "BlogFriendBooks" :). What a lovely encounter ... Your 81 year old must have had a splendid time with you both, and how nice of you to share yourselves with him. I'm awaiting a book on restorative yoga, so smiled at your DVD (must look that up). (Over here, CBT is recommended for anxiety and I have some links to good online self-help resources so do email me if you'd like them).

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    1. Thanks Alexa - I have sent you an email. We have to go to the mall this weekend & I said to Mr Man, let's keep an eye out for Wilfred, I would like another chat with him ...

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  5. I remember when we first discovered Goldfish crackers, and I still like the originals. I do yoga at home. I'm just not willing to be at a class at a set time on a regular basis. But I do love yoga :)

    Your book list will set me googling :) I have read and enjoyed Ian Rankin and look forward to hearing as you read through this list.

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    1. My only wish for Original Goldfish is a salt reduced version. So far my new yoga DVD is proofing to be a good fit.

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  6. Lovely morning photo. Great encounter with Wilfred. I love talking to elderly people. As for yoga, I too want to get back to it but finding an appropriate course isn't plain sailing...

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    1. Thanks Ella. I too like chatting with the elders, years ago when I did some volunteer work, I visited with an aged shut in & it was some of the most interesting conversations.

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  7. A beautiful photo, and such an interesting post. I'm not familiar with most of the books on your list, and haven't read any of them. I'm almost afraid to start checking them out since my own list is so long. How wonderful to have had that encounter with Wilfred. Seems meant to be; I hope you are able to reconnect with him. I don't know anything about hypnosis. There is a great gentle yoga class at our gym. I'm having enough issues with one knee right now that I haven't been in several months. I'm hoping to get back to it this spring.

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    1. Karen of all the books on my list I would recommend that you add The Keeper of Lost Things. I'm looking for a restorative yoga class that has lots of stretching in it, since my fall last October my neck & shoulder are really stiff. I'll send lots of healing thoughts for your knee.

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  8. Oh, what a great list of books to read. The only two I've read are Anne Frank's Diary (so glad you've decided to read it!!!) and Wonder (which I read several years ago based on my niece's recommendation -it's wonderful & they did a great job with the recent movie adaptation).

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    1. My book list are only books I can get through the library system. I have a self imposed ban on buying - no room! My friend's daughter met some of the stars of the movie as she is part of the About Face group that Jacob Tremblay talked with.

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