Sunday, December 31, 2006


What a week for music .....

I am the only human I know (trying to get to know him) who records music from 'listen again' radio
auto into iTunes
auto into iPod
once I plug in .......

But if you cannot do that you can at least listen again to some great programmes::

1 The Bono Interview which I mentioned in a blog below - only available to listen again to for one more day.

2 Anders Trentemoller - I have raved about his album over the last couple of months.Maybe it will be my album of 2006 - such a difficult decision for me. His Essential Mix Radio Programme, now on my iPod, which I have played so so often over the past weeks has been voted as the best mix so it is NOW available for one more week to listen to on radio one. So if you wish - you can tape it, CD it, digitit or just listen::



3 Giles Peterson who litters my website and blogs ........... he is my long time favourite DJ and the programme on 'listen again' until next Thursday morning (2 am) This programme has all the voted best tracks from his shows all year. I have heard it three times already - that is 2 hours x 3 = six hour heaven ............hey hey


All this stuff is my taste ....... but you may not like Champagne or a good curry?
But now you will have the chance to taste to see if it good for you .............

YOU CAN HEAR THIS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.......



.


Digit ..........

...... the digit moves on and it is a time of change they say ....

They, whoever they are, know as we do::
CHANGE is is constant - like a needle in the groove - the music plays on ........... and we can listen or not .....







We look here at::
TWO DOORS

1 Door - Instant Perfection
2 Door - Gradual Growth

Which one will you choose?


This decision has a major influence on how we live our life ....
The Daily Digits will keep changing
without us
but will we?

Or do we depend on the Loto win?
Do we depend on the Instant perfection coming
just around the corner?

Back at the Wilson Mansions
I know that reality means choices
the road much travelled
the Road Less Travelled?



....... someone once asked me::
"Where do you get your wisdom from?"
( Paul? - I have you always on my mind ............ )
I dug deep and said
something like::
"....... being amongst those beautiful humans who are in a struggle - in pain - have nothing ... .... ... ..... that, somehow, knees me in my soul. Demands that I refresh my uncomfortable - refreshes my senses ....... refreshes my soul "

..... whatever you choose
you are beautiful


.

Saturday, December 30, 2006



...... my Blob Friend has just come home from a visit to France hey hey ....
Have been away and tired from enjoying myself.
Reims France hmmmmm ........

Let me know if you are planning a visit
I will tell you about some great places.

Last night we ordered a set menu - three courses

we received eight!

all small

all colour-full
style
I take photos of every course

Joan tuts me every time I click

but I want to remember and it is so easy to forget.


Juliet Bravo
=========

We have a family buzz word
as above.
Juliet Bravo comes out with us
us two and the Sheilas - whenever we are out - together or apart.
Juliet Bravo was the name of an old UK TV series about a policewoman called
Juliet Bravo.
She is ever present because Joan is always talking to me
but looking at everyone else in the room.

The Sheilas do it too

(come on - you do it too!)

people watching ........


Last night we had a table for two in this restaurant - in the centre of the room.

It was a place with several rooms and as well as us,
there was a table with five, in my eye line,
and a table of eight who had wires attached to Joan's eyeballs.

They were an extended family with a new girlfriend invited.
She was the one, Juliet Bravo told me, who was slowest at ordering her meal - slow to talk - quiet all the way through.

My eyeballs drifted towards the five who were a nuclear family.
Mum Dad and three grown up children.
Even with the help of Juliet Bravo - we had difficulty in keeping track of the eight courses we were served AND the eight served to the other 13 humans!! :-)

Interesting - they all had Champagne with their meal .........
and we did of course!

We had some fun as well as some good grub.
All these extra courses were little taster type things.
WOW - these French humans know how to eat-out!

One amazing course was the cheese trolley.
It had a choice of 20 cheeses.

I could go on a rant about it all - but I will spare you ......

We really had a great time and the hard driving home - through the driving rain ......... no problem.

With iPod music of course.


New Years Eve - we have some friends around for food
and Champagne at midnight.


Hope yo are ok as the clock turns tomorrow ........... it would be great if we could stay close .....


I leave this as we step into a new digit
which is always
a step along
The

Road

Less

Travelled .........
"Grace strikes us when we walk through the dark valley
of an empty and meaningless life…
when,
year after year, the longed for perfection does not appear,
when the old compulsions rage within us as they have for decades,

when despair destroys all joy and courage.

Sometimes at that moment a ray of light breaks into our darkness,
and it is as though a voice were saying,

‘ You are accepted.

You are accepted,

accepted by that which is greater than you,
and the name of which you do not know.

Do not ask for the name now;
perhaps you will find it later.

Do not do anything now;
perhaps later you will do much.

Do not seek anything,
do not perform anything,
do not intend anything.

Simply accept the fact that you are
accepted.’

If that happens to us,
we experience grace."


paul tillich

Friday, December 29, 2006











.... Wilson Mansions was cold and dark at 6am when we alarmed ourselves from slumber and hit the road.. ...

It is only one hour and a wee bit to get to the Chunnel - that is the car-carry train that takes us under the English Channel in about 30 minutes.

Then it is a sweet and clear two hours drive to Reims. The French pronounce something like 'gggrumm' - well - it sounds like that to an ignorant me!


The first stop was our favourite Cafe in France - The Cafe de Palais'. A bit like the New Piccadilly Restaurant in London but this was designed in the 30's and the NuPic is concreted into the 50's.
It is zero/-1. It is wrap up stylie for Joan and me.

After a few drifting hours around the vibrant city centre, not a bit like Romford, we changed and went out to the Le Continental Restaurant and enjoyed a beautiful three courses of small portions - with some great style. To add to the pleasure we asked for a recommended Champagne which we sipped through all three courses .......... Hmmm Iloveitloveit ................

Prejudice.
Met with prejudice at the Hotel we are in.
The wifi you had to pay for was only able to work on those dull gray boxes called PC's - and not on my Mac ........ STINK!
So I could not post my pix to show all of you who are in distant lands - the scenes-of-Reims.
stink .....

Day 2 - our only full day here, we just hung out speaking my only French word 'bonjour' a lot.
We vibe-shopped and bought nothing.
We found another New Piccadilly of Reims for breakfast.
....... And in the afternoon we jumped on a little train, with one carriage just for me and Joan, and we travelled three floors deep underground in the cellar of the Champagne House - Piper Heidsieck.
It is a big set-up.
A free glass of Champagne at the end and no hard sell.
(But we did buy something for the Sheilas shhhhh).


And tonight we visit a Michelin Rosette Restaurant - only ever done this three times in our life before. These have been spread over about fifteen years............ hey hey

(and I have found a cyber cafe hey hey).

I feel good.
Maybe I can relax?
I am aware that yesterday I said I was feeling 'weird' and that is not a descriptive word.
I suppose it means vague/uncomfortable with myself - and I was ..........

Hope you are working things through during this time of the year - with the pumpkin shaped year about to turn into a glittering coach and horses for you - the Cinderella who is really a Princess/Prince .....

Make sure you keep that pumpkin handy as I would hate you to miss the coach!

You are beautiful
and that does not depend on a fairy tale ..........

.

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

.... and I have mentioned that I find Christmas a bit weird ......
Today you find me a bit weird.
Don't even feel like blogging.
Sometimes I feel like blogging and I don't know what to click.
I just hover over the keys and dig into my soul .....
something comes out .........

I have turned off
life
bit of a slug
un-generated
unwound
un-interested
I suppose you might say that is good
relaxed?
but I feel weird

5 Words from Katie about her life right NOW::
Relieved,
Saddened,
Hopeful,
Wondering
Feeling the way

Me x 5?
weird
awake but dozing off the planet
see a bird in the sky of my gigs coming up in 2007 and that bird will do it's droppings on me before I know it .....
grateful for humans around me
wondering - about the humans I know who are 'frayed' in life

..... and Joan just said to me "Wash your eye out!
My left eye - the one that didn't have surgery in November, all the white background has gone blood red!
My worst eye - the one which the surgeon hacked away at - is not working propa.
I think the op was not successful ......

...... and it is good for me to do these 5 words.
I know it is tough when things are tough.
I feel for you out there.
But at least we are facing reality!
Behind these masks being worn around the world
there is so much pain.
That is why I love Caroline's blog - she is so damn real ....
http://onepedestrianaway.blogspot.com/


We had a great time over the two Bank Holiday days. The Sheilas did all the work and we bought each other some great little presents.
My favourite is a small/cool teapot. I drink a lot of Peppermint tea when I am working at home.
Now I have the tools for the job!!

6 am in the morning me and Joan are driving to Reims in France
The heart of the Champagne region.
Two nights - three days hmmmm
I love the culture.
I love to see big families eating together and having
Champagne with the starter
Champagne, another kind, with the main course
Champagne with the Desert .........
after all - it is their local brew

I hope to blog from there .......

When we get back we have friends round for New Year with some good food and - CHAMPAGNE!!

Bitbittytoday - doyouthink?

I loved the way Big John describes Christmas::
the shackles are undone
the bullets quit the gun
the heat thats in the sun
will keep us when theres none

The rule has been disproved
The stone it has been moved
The grain is now a groove
All debts are removed

Oh can't you see what our love has done
Oh can't you see what our love has done
Oh can't you see what our love has done
What it's doing to me

Love left a window in the skies
And to love I rhapsodise

Yo love I rhapsodise..........

And another great man writes - Martin::

God
within
and
without

God
underground and over ground
everywhere and nowhere
always and never
sometimes and all times

God
inside
and
outside

God
here
with
us
now



...... and I have been bitty enough - but do know how I feel?
(more important - do you know how you feel? - reality is a good place to start!)

Last bit::
Well worth a listen or download free .......
Interview with Bono
broadcast Christmas Day
There for 7 days


stay beautiful

piploveology


.




Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Come and see...
The Grotto becomes Ghetto!
Despite the thick Walls surrounding your home,
We are shivering from cold…
Winter is bleak…
Summer is beak
Fall is freak
Spring is weak

The animals are no longer allowed to warm up your Grotto
The magii are not coming again..they are forbidden from visiting.
The Magi couldn’t climb up the wall. It is too dangerous and risky.

Herods are controlling the roads from Persia to Palestine.
It is unsafe...
Gifts are stolen…
More .....

Generous for actions ........

Buy Ethical Palestinian olive oil



.

Monday, December 25, 2006


.... just a few photos from our away-day ....

..... trust you are OK - whatever you may be thinking and doing ....... bBlessed









What If God Was One Of Us

If God had a name what would it be?
And would you call it to his face?
If you were faced with him
In all his glory
What would you ask if you had just one question?

*And yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah

What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home

If God had a face what would it look like?
And would you want to see
If seeing meant that
you would have to believe
in things like heaven and in Jesus and the saints
and all the prophets

Trying to make his way home
Back up to heaven all alone
Nobody calling on the phone
'cept for the Pope maybe in Rome

Just trying to make his way home
Like a holy rolling stone
Back up to heaven all alone
Just trying to make his way home
Nobody calling on the phone
'cept for the Pope maybe in Rome


Joan Osborne







Sunday, December 24, 2006



Greetings you beautiful human
thanx for clicking this way
on Christmas Eve

or
later than that?
- is it -? hmmmmmm


What did Adam say to his wife today?::


"It is Christmas - Eve"

(What a beautiful message, photo seen here, I save on my mobile inbox ...... Congratulations to Bono )


Just had some guests pop in to a home which was smelling of roasting ham and freshly baked mince pies ..........
...... see the photos of these beautiful humans:: Lilly and Molly and their beautiful human Father .......... it is great that they pop in every Christmas - they have family in Romford ....... otherwise who would come here!!


...... and also had a 44 minute conversation with Denis Carnaby who phoned from Portland Oregon.
Never spoke to him for yearsssss
He was a major figure in my, our whole family, journey through life. He invited me to apply for a job at Romford YMCA, some 23 years ago, and St Helens YMCA some 24-ish years before that.
We talked and talked about life now and touching so many things and memories from the past hmmmmm
I will post a picture of him as soon as he sends me one. He was a famous figure in the YMCA over here - for many years.
Great to talk to you Denis - hope to see you over there about this time next year!

We are out for drinks with dozens of others at the regular Eve bash at Steve and Gill's ............ then it it Church for the second time today.
In the morning we are off to d Sheilas.
I will bog a few pix from there.
....... and have the best Christmas Day that you can have - I recommend 'Loveology'.

How are you feeling?

5 Words to describe my life at the moment::
excited
expectant
troubled
yearning
positive

...... and you?



Saturday, December 23, 2006


A Christmas Blog

Here we see part of one of the 'Blob Tree'
tools from
'The Big Book of Blobs'
which is being re-published soon by Incentive Plus - they are so switched on that they are publishing four of our new products in 2007.


QUESTIONS FOR YOU
=================
1 Which of these Blobs describes how you feel RIGHT now?
2 Which will you be on Christmas Day?
3 Which of them would you like to be on Christmas Day?
4 Which behaviours shown - concern you? - disturbs you most? - triggers 'anger' in you? - triggers 'sadness'?
5 Who do you know who would/could be described by the Blob standing alone on the right?
6 What will make you jump for joy at Christmas?


Some clicks here
++++++++++++
This is a visible colourful exercise which helps you dig Christmas::
How do you feel at Christmas? Click and at least view the colours and textures.


This is something for you to enjoy - and sing along too if you wish::
Enjoy a carol service in the comfort of your own computer screen with a choice of 10 karaoke carols.


Try some Chocolate Theology::


And - The Last One for Today::

Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Tchestita Koleda
Bon Nadal i feliç any nou
Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok
Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun
Glædelig Jul
Mo'adim Lesimkha. Chena tova
Hyvaa joulua
Joyeux Noel
Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Kala Christouyenna
Gledileg Jol
Merry Christmas
Nollaig Shona Dhuit, o Nodlaig mhaith chugnat
Natale hilare et Annum Faustum!
God Jul, o Gledelig Jul
Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!
Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia
Feliz Natal
Sarbatori Vesele
Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom
Hristos se rodi
Vesele Vianoce
Feliz Navidad
God Jul
Froehliche Weihnachten
Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Srozhdestvom Kristovym
Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket ......

…e….. Buon Natale !

.

Friday, December 22, 2006

Link




.. Here at Wilson Mansions all is quiet.

What can I say ........

This is Jen and Richard outside our Church on Sunday - we were there with Mr Singh to Carol together. I counted them in and counted them out.
60 in the Choir.

Now this happy couple have split - Jen back to the US through the fog and Richard, never alone, is without her again. But they have become engaged with a wedding in December 2007.
Read his blog ............... see the engagement - on his knee to propose!
- on The London Eye !!


We are going to Sheilas over Christmas with both the Sheilas.
It will be great.

In between the two holiday week-ends we two are slipping away to Reims in France - the heart of the Champagne region.
We will sip a little of the local brew in the most wondrous of settings - just a drive away .......


I have sent out a mini eNews to about 3000+ humans who have registered on my eNews list (see/click my home page if you want one in the future).
Also to about 1500 others who are in my address book. (if you got two - sorry!)
I will create a proper eNews come January with all the news of the new publications and the Road Less Travelled adventures in the year ahead.

I am aware of certain humans in my life who are facing Christmas without many positives.
I feel deeply for them/you - if you have some tough days ahead.
You are beautiful
and
Christmas is here to prove it
that you are beautiful.
not the man made one
the first one
the real one.

Because I work with humans who say::
"I hate Christmas"
I feel things about Christmas which are beyond self and family.
To manage my step back from frontline work - and take a break
(for years Joan and me have worked to give many living in hostels the best possible Christmas)
...... to manage I have the a saying which I have clicked here before::
"I am responsible to people - not for people"



...... so I have clicked a few words from my stumbling fumbling soul.
Soul undressing ......

Stay with me over the coming days ...
Listen to the beautiful music here .....
Read a few words as I reflect the journey to and through the new year .......

Love came at Christmas
Into straw poverty ..........

.









In the Face of Christmas

------------------------------------------------------------
let us ask God for a good Christmas:
that no powerful nation
should tax the poor
or uproot them;

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
that no unmarried mother
should be put away in disgrace;

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
that no door will be shut
on those that need to find it open;

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
that shepherds and sheep and all of nature
need not be afraid;

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
that walls, barbed wire and angry soldiers
may not be found in Bethlehem;

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
that wise men and wise women
might appear in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in Africa, in homeless hostels
in my town
that children may be preserved
from those who would abuse them;

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
that this Christmas,
worship may become a manger
and that your home become a stable
and the rumour become a reality
that Christ has come among us.
Amen
------------------------------------------------------------------------


.

Thursday, December 21, 2006

A bit of group work at Christmas ......

I started by giving each member of the group a little Christmas tree, the size if a 5 pence coin.
Then I asked what feelings they had when - seeing - feeling this little symbol of Christmas.



(I am in a hostel which accomodates young humans
who have no other place to live.
They are on the bottom rung of the housing ladder.
At the bottom end of another ladder called 'society'.
They are in the foundations - below ground - no ladder visible.
Picking up the crumbs.
Their housing need is the easier one to meet.
Toothache of the soul ........... is the big one ........... )


As usual, many have difficulty in getting into contact with how they feel.
Out-slipped words like

'I hate Christmas',
'I don't like Christmas',
'I have no money to buy, - not even, one present'.

I then moved to asking them about who the main human characters were in the Christmas story.
The first word uttered was ::
'Santa'.
Soon after there was a list of eight mentioned - come on - you can do this too!

The names/descriptions of the characters went into a hat, Jesus too.
Each drew one and I went around the circle asking how they thought that one 'felt' during the Christmas story
- a feelings question.

Here are some stand out feelings which came out from the group members::

Mary - stressed
Joseph - scared/worried
Innkeeper - guilty
King - good-to-give
Shepherd - in awe
Angel - 'yes'! - sorted!

Three of the characters were named by the group as having negative feelings. They were the main focus of the whole story because they were responsible adults.
The rich - feeling good to give not receiving.
The tough rough/simple life style shepherd - awe - overwhelmed.

The last one was a dead pleased Angel who really knew that this was pretty good news ........... "YESSSSSSS"

Why do this with a group?
1 I am on a journey to cultivate in myself, and others, with an increasing ability to be able to get into contact my/their own feelings.
2 As we looked at each other and listened, empathising, we learn from each other. A learning process into awareness andsensitivity.
3 Articulating those feelings is then a process of 'owning' such powerful things as feelings.
4 A human identification with a powerful historical, spiritual and human story is a good place to start. Reality at Christmas - to escape the tinsel for some small moments ........ and it was stinking good .........

Why not try it on humans around you?
Adapt - of course.
You never know, they may be pleased to talk 'real' as we slide down the Christmas slippery slope.

During the past few weeks I have had my 'being' with humans ::
Visibly self harming
Severe depression
Lost and uncertain
Lonely and afraid
No place like home to go at Christmas
Refugee
Deep feelings and disturbed
(the last one is me and I want to be disturbed!)


Thanx for clicking this way.
I will tell you straight - I take value from you doing this.
You are beautiful .........

and



I
want
to
comfort
the
disturbed
and
disturb
the
comfortable


.