Dance Me To The End Of Love* - Blogtoberfest: jour trente-et-un

 Blogtoberfest is done! 

I have survived Blogtoberfest for another year. I am proud to say that while I didn't blog every day, I posted for every day. When I forgot I made it up and when the internet conspired against me - I posted belatedly.

This is my best Blogtoberfest effort so far. Apart from that it has been an action packed month. Today I was planning to look back at the month being the last day of October. I have decided against this approach for the simple reason that you can look back and see the events of the month!

It has been a time of ups and downs this past 6 months in our home but I believe that things are shifting and we can look forward with hope to what is around the corner.

I have enjoyed Blogtoberfest this year despite being sick for some of it. The school holidays were a positive thing for my blogging, as I had more time and was able to think about and prepare some posts in advance. This made it heaps easier.

I wanted to thank our lovely host tinniegirl for once again hosting this festival of blogging.

I began this post yesterday, but in the end I changed my mind, so really there is no point to this post now, but I felt the song was appropriate, so here tis!

Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin
Dance me through the panic till I'm gathered safely in
Touch me with your naked hand or touch me with your glove
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love 

*Dance Me To The End of Love - Leonard Cohen

The Book Of Love* - Part X - Blogtoberfest: jour trente-et-un

41. The Saving Graces - Patricia Gaffney

 sourced at Google Images

42. There But For The - Ali Smith

 sourced at Google Images

43. Maximum Impact - Jack Henderson

 sourced at Google Images

44. Dark Lady - Richard North Patterson

 sourced at Google Images

And you
You ought to give me wedding rings
And I
I love it when you give me things

*The Book of Love - Peter Gabriel

Earth Day Every Day* - Blogtoberfest: de trente jours

Today I lay down and hugged the Earth

it fed my soul

  
and it was good!

Celebrate morning
The cry of a loon on a lake in the night
the dreams that are born in the dawns early light
Celebrate morning

Celebrate living
The laughter that sings in the heart of a child
The freedom that flies at the call of the wild
Celebrate living

Celebrate evening
The stars that appear in the loss of the sun
Whispering winds, We are one, we are one...

Celebrate earth Day, every day
Celebrate earth Day, every day
Celebrate land and sea
Celebrate you and me
Celebrate earth Day, every day

*Earth Day Every Day (Celebrate) - John Denver

Shiny Apple* - Blogtoberfest: jour de vingt a neuf

Thwarted, derailed, stonewalled, hindered and obstructed by the internet yesterday, in my attempts to post this!

igot

ithink

ilove

ima

itragic :)

Shiny apple rotten on the inside
Skin is smooth but you soul is soft
Oh you look so appetising but
Taste the truth it’ll make you spit

*Shiny Apple - The Waifs

Old Friends* - Blogtoberfest: vingt-huit jours

 One of the things I have missed, while I have been unwell, is seeing friends. I am a very social person, and my illness has prevented a lot of getting out and doing things. 

Of course things are changing now as my rehab continues, but I had a chance to reflect on this after a visit from an old friend this week.

I've known Linda since we were at Uni together and played in the same cricket teams for years, back in Canberra, so I guess I have known her about 25 years or more. Linda lives in Sydney, and we haven't seen each other for four years. This week she was in town and it was looking for a while as if we might not be able to get together, but happily, she was able to come over on Wednesday and ended up sharing a meal with us.

It was such a great night. I remembered what it is like to hang out with people who I know well and who know me well, it was brilliant. It is comfortable, fun, honest and extraordinarily ordinary!

I had the best time and it reminded me that I need to rekindle some old friendships. It's time to let my friends know I am available once more for chatter and eating and drinking (although maybe a little less red wine, might be better next time!)

I do not want to forget again,  how important it is to have people in my life who know me well. I am blessed with many such friends and so thankful to Linda for reminding me.

 

 

Old friends, memory brushes the same years,
Silently sharing the same fears

*Old Friends - Simon and Garfunkel

The One Thing I know* - Blogtoberfest: de vingt a sept jours

This last week of Blogtoberfest, I am being inspired (and saved from having to think) by post ideas from others. Today's post is inspired by an invitation from 74 Lime Lane to share some favourite quotes.

I have already shared my two favourites here and another one here, but I have many different ones that inspire me. I made up a sheet that is on my pinboard next to my desk and here are my top picks.

Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle

(The origins of this quote are attributed to Plato and this wording in particular to JM Barrie)

And I love the wisdom of Maya Angelou ...

I've learnt that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on and it will be better tomorrow. I've learnt that you can tell a lot about a person by the way she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I know that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've discovered that making a living is not the same thing as making a life.

I know that life sometimes gives you a second chance and you shouldn't go through life with catcher's mitts on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back. I've learnt that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I know that even when I ahve pains, I don't need to be one, and that every day you should reach out and touch someone - people love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

I've learnt that I still have a lot to learn. I've also learnt that people will soon forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Not a quote per se, but wisdom to share!

One thing, the one thing, the one thing I know
The one thing I know to be true
I'll never, I'll never wherever I go
I'll never finish loving you 

*The One Thing I know - Kate Miller-Heidke

Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)* - Blogtoberfest: jour de vingt a six

Today I am inspired by 2 of my favourite bloggers and their respective lists of good and bad stuff! Thanks for the idea!

Good Stuff

My friend who has been fighting for her life, is winning the fight!  

 

Finally feeling better today after 5 days of being average or below

Enjoying work again

Getting into photography and looking forward to Photo Meditations starting next week

Getting back to doing some exercise after a week of being sedentary

Melbourne cup next week

Seeing my friend from Sydney today

Lots of time for reading

Time to think about the future :)

Less Good Stuff 

Getting sick after two weeks of fighting it off! 

Missing work, meaning no income

Feeling like things are looking up only to find they are not

Not being able to influence something I really would like to be able to

Feeling like I have my illness well managed, only to turn around and find out that it is managing me!

Having to work hard every day to make my life better

Time to think about the future :)

Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go
So make the best of this test, and don't ask why
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time

It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

*Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) - Green Day