Our Shower Loving Tortoise

Gwin is a Herman tortoise who we have had since he fitted into the palm of my hand.

He has an obsession with biting feet and will chase you all over the garden to bite your toes, shoes or the dog’s paws. Don’t ever let it be said that Tortoises’ are slow, Gwin is truly speedy for a creature with little legs.

Gwin loves showers. During the summer months he will stand for hours if he gets a chance underneath the spray from the hose, spreading out his legs and stretching his head up and out as far as it can reach!. In the winter he has showers inside. He has a heat lamp in his enclosure for the winter as we were advised not to hibernate him by the vet. The only affection he likes is a quick tickle under his chin.

Yes our shower loving tortoise, plays an important part in our family life.

Heat Exhaustion (Fin)

The icebergs are melting,

“World catastrophe resounds;”

Sore, burnt people

Heat exhaustion’s all around.

Animals are struggling

With no place to go and hide

But still the people sun bathe

Until completely fried.

But in a desperate country

Filthy water makes you ill

No choice but to drink it

Why is it dirty still?

People starving, filthy water

World struggles are found;

Let’s see if we can help

Heat exhaustion’s all around.

ORLA -a German Shepherd (fin)

 

Orla the Shepherd with eyes sparkling bright

A coat so dark, as black as the night;

Ears pointed, the biggest I’ve seen

The way she looks- she thinks she’s a queen!

 

A very long nose, to seek and to find

Whatever it is she doesn’t mind;

Persistence she has she just keeps looking,

Black nose everywhere- look out for your cooking!

 

She barks when she shouldn’t and also jumps up,

It’s hard to stop her she believes she’s a pup;

Her excitement levels are always sky high

Orla can’t stop bouncing, even if she tries.

 

When Orla runs fast she bounds along

Checking on me in case something’s wrong;

I love to see her bounding graceful and free

A Shepherd so  beautiful for all to see.

 

Orla looks  sad, when requested to calm down,

She hates to upset you, to receive a “No” or frown;

She really wants to please, but manners are forgot,

Orla thinks she’s a puppy… but she’s almost not!

 

But Orla is sensitive, and senses when your sad

She leans her body into you, and tries to make you glad;

She licks you if she gets a chance, and cuddles up so tight,

Whatever Orla does in life, it’s done with all her might!

 

So if ever you are visiting, don’t be surprised when met

By an Orla special welcome, it’s one you can’t forget;

She’ll make you feel so special, you’ll believe she is the best,

And after her excitement you’ll be glad to have a rest!

 

Orla will never be forgotten, she makes quite sure of that,

She”ll nudge you, bring you presents, expect a treat when sat;

She is a special Brood Bitch now that is plain to see

Larger than life is Orla; I hope she stays with me!

The Robin

Little Robin brown and red

Looks at me as he tips his head,

If what people say is true

Perhaps he brings a message too.

Again he sits upon a hedge

Another time a window ledge,

Another time I hear him sing

Peace to my hurting heart he brings.

For people say he is a sign

Sent by my husband to say he’s fine,

But whether it’s true or an empty hope

His frequent appearances help me cope.

So little Robin brown and red

Come once more and tip your head,

You’ve helped me live now off you fly

It’s time for us to say good-bye.

My pain is less you’ve helped me see

Though griefs still there I’m breaking free,

The future beckons me to come

Thank you Robin your work is done.

****** ***** ****** ***** *****

The Robin is one of the signs that many bereaved people find comfort in, and believe their loved one may have sent it to say they are ok.

An Acrostic Brief Reflection on Anglesey

Have realised that this is on the wrong blog page since I sorted them, so thought I would forward it here instead. This is an acrostic written in the style I would get clients to write when bereaved; not bothering about punctuation just the grief feelings and emotions.

An Acrostic Brief Reflection on Anglesey

Awesome Anglesey peaceful and calm

Never been touched by pressures and rush

Green fields full of sheep and cows sandy beaches and those with stones

Loads of colour many different shades burial grounds and Roman remains

Each day something new to discover

Special memories to keep for ever

Everyone friendly most with time to chat

Yes Anglesey’s a favourite I will be back

“Acknowledge all your feelings and make peace with them”

How we feel affects the whole of our lives.  In today’s world with all the pressures in our lives it is so easy to succumb to stressful emotions and allow them to make us miserable. Life can be very tiring and everything seems too much like hard work. Only moments of relief give life purpose and a wish that there might be more positive moments… but wait a moment…

Life has an alternative … prayer and mindfulness can make big changes and sitting on a bench looking at nature and taking time just to be can make all the difference! Being in the present and not thinking and stressing all the time means that worries can melt away and there are plenty of apps, books and teachers to inspire you and help you find your own way.

Yes, acknowledge how stressed you feel and then strive for the peace that is available and can make all the difference to your life and through you being more aware of living in the present  and your new found peace, can change the lives of those around you!

A Solitary Red Rose

The sky was bleak and the the view was bleaker, but the weather was the bleakest it had been! Everywhere looked dark and almost grey, and the only colour was the brilliance of the sparkling white snow. Returning with Orla a black shepherd (no bright colour there), I was walking up the road longing to be back in the warm on this freezing cold day, when I suddenly noticed some red which made me stop and have a look. There it was, a slightly bedraggled red rose standing out, and surrounded by this black and white shades of grey world. Indeed, I thought it more beautiful than maybe in reality it was, as it stood so bravely and a sign of hope there alone against the elements. I had to take a photo and I hope in some way it captures what I’ve tried to describe.

It made me think of those of us who don’t stand out in a crowd but plod on trying our hardest to do what is right. We will never be the bright perfect red rose that everyone admires but hopefully can play a small part in creating a better world for those who live in it. One doesn’t have to be the centre of attention but we can shine out in a small way just like this little rose did, and which brightened and lightened my steps home.

Autumn Leaf

Many people talk about living in the Autumn of their lives! Sometimes it is almost said in a way that makes you feel quite sad! Yet walking around during the start of Autumn there is so much beauty, strength and almost wisdom to be found in the nature around us.

I look at the beautiful colour in the leaf above or the shiny richness of the red berries and admire their beauty.

Getting older in the Autumn of people’s’ lives is a time to enjoy the richness of life; the memories you have built up and the new ones to be made! This is just like the tree whose leaves are changing colour and are soon to be past memories; and the new memories that will be made by the tree in the Spring. Even if life hasn’t quite worked out as planned, remember that winter is building up the energy for creating new buds and  leaves,  and we too can start again just like the tree in early Spring! After all, I sincerely believe that while we are breathing  it need never be too late!

The Curious Lamb

I love this picture of this lamb who spent a lot of time looking at me while the two older ones in the background pointedly kept eating and looking in the opposite direction! 

In our lives we too can be a bit like the older sheep concentrating on the tasks we always do- just because we have always done them; there is safety in that and it may be simply that we haven’t lifted our heads and looked at the world around us for a while; sometimes we even smile at those “young ones” around us who are like the lamb,  full of curiosity! We could also be like the two sheltering under the tree happily settled in their lives, and having a tendency to watch the world go by! 

Perhaps sometimes we need to sit and watch; but perhaps most of the time we too need to be curious of the world we live in and try new things but also change the way we look at it. One way I’ve done that is by trying to take more unusual photos (needless to say not this sheep one);  to get out into the world and study it from different angles and to be curious about our beautiful created world.