Thinking…. | 1000 Fields of Roses

Love Story For The Ages?

Last day of term today – yay!
Sweet Bean has worked very hard, with the result being that all his assessments were in on time and today we were able to watch “Romeo and Juliet“, his English text for next term. The link he was given wasn’t very useful, so we ended up watching a BBC adaptation from 1978. Here’s the balcony scene…

It’s nearly three hours long, so we made popcorn and brought out the bikkies. I inadvertently put the subtitles on, but that ended up helping us keep up with the dialogue.
What did I think of it?
It’s the play most people think of when they think of Shakespeare, and the epitome of doomed love and great romance. And yet…
Perhaps I’m getting old. I found myself getting irritated by all the teenage emoting. When I was apparently meant to feel the weight of their great love through flowery speech I just felt like shouting “Get a grip!! Where’s your sense of PROPORTION!!!” I also may have shed a tear when Juliet’s parents (and nurse) find her “dead” on the morning of her wedding to Paris – that affected me far more.
On the other hand, I do appreciate the poetry and artistry involved, and that there are layers to the play. All in all, it was worthwhile watching it, and interesting to discuss later. But… young love? More like an infatuation of less than a week, with six people dead by the end of it. Hardly a story to aspire to.

Well, tomorrow’s the start of the holidays. Sweet Bean’s excited about being able to sleep in (and so am I!) Lots of books waiting to be read!

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on April 4, 2019 at 10:20 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Romeo and Juliet

Back To Basics, With Cabbage In Hand

Yesterday we finally got around to doing an experiment, using red cabbage to find the pH of various household liquids. Pouring boiling water over red cabbage and leaving it for 30 minutes or so produces a purple liquid (the indicator) that can be used to find out whether a liquid is acidic or basic. The indicator changes colour depending on the amount of hydrogen (the H in pH) in the liquid. The pH scale goes from 0 to 14, with 7 as neutral. Below 7 indicates an acid, above 7 indicates a base.
We decided to line up glasses with various liquids in them in what we thought would be acids to bases, with plain water (neutral) in the middle.

All substances were diluted in water. From left to right we had – vinegar, lemon juice, apple juice, sugar water, plain water, milk, dishwashing liquid, washing powder and bicarbonate of soda. We were unsure how the slight colour of some of the substances (especially the dishwashing liquid) might affect the results. In the end it didn’t make too much difference – the milk was the hardest to read, but the others were OK.

The red cabbage indicator made the water purple, as there was no reaction to change the colour, but we were unprepared for how quickly and dramatically the colours changed, and how beautiful the colours were! Generally acids range from reds to pinks, and bases from blues to greens/yellows.

It was quite exciting! 😀
As you can see, we got some wrong. The sugar water needed to go to the bases side, and the dishwashing liquid to the acids. The washing powder was extremely basic, and we were a bit undecided on the vinegar and lemon juice, but eventually decided to swap them round – the lemon juice seemed a bit redder. Here’s the finished line up.

It’s an easy experiment which doesn’t really take that long for the practical work. Part of science learning this year is improving the documentation of experiments, so there’ll still be some research to finish writing it up. It was a satisfying end to the week, though!
Here’s another view of the lovely colours, with the jug of indicator tucked into the top right corner…

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on March 23, 2019 at 9:13 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Acids and Bases, pH Scale, Red Cabbage Indicator, Science Experiment

A Smile Back In The Day

Having a mini wallow – it’s one of those mornings…
(I have written myself a list so I can jump back into the day quickly – there are things to DO!)

For some reason it seemed the perfect time to wander YouTube listening to 80’s music. Of course I needed sustenance…

Yes, totally indulgent. I’ll probably feel it later, but I consider it’s worth it, just for today!

Sweet Bean and I enjoy a show called “Would I Lie To You”, which we find quite funny. I’d never played him the song (it’s not really related to the show) so thought I should rectify the oversight the other day. Everyone should have the chance to encounter the Eurythmics at least once in their life. Of course, once I start playing him one song, I can’t resist moving on to others that I’m reminded of, until I remember that there’s other stuff to do or I realise I’ve turned into a slightly manic reminiscent middle aged person and Sweet Bean is looking bemused while trying to sidle away quietly…

I was a teenager in the 80s. I sometimes can’t believe I dressed like that (the clothes! the hair!). It’s fun to look back, and it’s a quick burst of cheer.
(Possibly not The Smiths. They’re good if you want some company in misery.)

Time to head back in to real life.
I know you want to listen to a little bit of Annie Lennox first, though.
Because why not?

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on March 19, 2019 at 11:42 am Leave a Comment
Tags: Eurythmics

Shining In The Dark

When terrible things happen, we bow our heads to mourn and pray, as is only right.
We can also remember that this world still has beauty, and the majority of its people want to love and show kindness.
Walk lightly.
Be kind.
Love.
Morning is coming.

God’s Grandeur
by Gerard Manley Hopkins (1877)

The world is charged with the grandeur of God.
It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;
It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil
Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?
Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;
And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;
And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil
Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

And for all this, nature is never spent;
There lives the dearest freshness deep down things;
And though the last lights off the black West went
Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs —
Because the Holy Ghost over the bent
World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.

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on March 16, 2019 at 5:46 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Gerard Manley Hopkins, God's Grandeur

Hear Us Roar!

It was International Women’s Day yesterday, and I was reminded of this song…

I didn’t spend any time with other women yesterday, although I talked with Sweet Bean about women in history, and globally today.
Today I went to a breakfast for the Women’s Ministry at church, where we talked together, heard inspirational stories, and gained strength in worship.

This afternoon I caught up with some great friends who I haven’t seen enough of recently. We talked, and laughed, and ate black forest scones…

I am happy when I’m alone – I like my own company. But we are made for community, and women are generally quite good at that. Together we can bring healing, encouragement, and inspiration. And yes – we can roar!

And we can do all that in the context of beauty 😀

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on March 9, 2019 at 8:39 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: I Am Woman, International Women's Day

Good Things Come In Variable Sized Packages

…not just small packages!

A recent windfall meant that we are now the proud owner of a brand new, pillow top, properly sprung mattress! Yay!!
This may not sound earth shattering, but when your sleep is punctured (or withheld) by deep hollows in the bed that cause the spine to sag, or rogue springs making ominous noises when rolling over, a new mattress is a cause for celebration.
Here it is!

Our shopping foray also uncovered a bargain in a pawn shop – series 2 of Doctor Who (new version) for just under a fiver… I’ve been resisting getting these box sets because of cost – there’s a lot of them to catch up on, and I have seen them before. Seemed too good a deal to miss…

Is this a sign that I need to lounge in bed and watch a bit of sci-fi goodness?
Seems like it to me! 😀

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Thinking....

on March 7, 2019 at 12:25 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: dOCTOR Who

Fragrant Ephemera

Most mornings lately we’ve been going down to the pool for an early exercise session – a good way to start the day, but it’s been getting a little chilly…
There are two frangipani bushes by the pool, and there are often fallen flowers. They have brown edges and spots, and don’t last long, but they spread a sweet fragrance long after they’ve completely browned and shrivelled. Such a small thing, to give such joy… on days when everything else seems to be falling, a tiny flower in a miniature vase lifts the heart and raises the spirits…

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Thinking....

on March 1, 2019 at 10:08 pm Leave a Comment

My Onion Heart

IMG_3740_1

I’ve had this photo hanging round for a few days, waiting for me to use it. My plan was to write a poem to go with it – and I have most of one. I’m struggling with a line that just won’t go right…
PROCRASTINATION!
(which means that nothing gets done if not perfectly…)

Here is my onion heart. Without poem.
I’ve written before about the hearts God leaves for me – clouds, leaves, various places. This was one that was left on the floor after a trip to the markets – a random onion skin proclaiming love.
I wanted to share it in a perfect setting, but that often means it just doesn’t get done.
Here is love, in imperfection, amongst the cares and responsibilities of the day!

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on February 20, 2019 at 3:27 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: hearts

The Passionate Life

❤ Valentine's Day! ❤
Went out with my Babe this morning for a cuppa…

I didn’t have breakfast beforehand, so I could really enjoy the white chocolate cheesecake 😀
We love going out, chatting about whatever. Remembering the past…looking to the future. It seems that advertising for Valentine’s Day wants us to buy flowers and chocolates – to adhere to a version of “passion” that is narrowly related to romance. We did discuss running off to Paris for the weekend…

😀
A passionate life can include extravagant gestures and wild departures from the everyday, but it needn’t be defined by the big things. The word “passion” has a few different meanings, one of which is “an intense desire or enthusiasm for something”. Why can’t we feel that about plain, basic life? Every day is an opportunity for wonder – for taking the ordinary and infusing it with light…

On another note, I treated myself to a new Bible this year – the Passion translation of the New Testament with Psalms, Proverbs and Song of Songs.

Isn’t it lovely?
I know it’s about what’s inside, but I don’t see why I can’t also have a beautiful outside…
I’m enjoying using this in my devotional time, although it benefits from having another translation (NIV, NKJ etc) available to check understanding of texts. It jolts me into seeing certain passages afresh, but I have also had years of reading the other translations, so can pick up where there’s something that’s a bit different… as in the Message translation, I would not recommend using it as the sole study source, but in combination with others. Still, it’s good to be jolted out of complacency 😀 .

I’d still like to go back to Paris (and Rome, Venice, Tuscany…) some day, to have a proper look round. I was there in the summer 25 years ago; the sky brown with pollution, and not enough money to eat properly (three days on water and a bag of pain au chocolat). I’m glad I got the chance, even if the experience was budget rather than extravagant…

Let’s go forward with passion, cheesecake, and love! ❤

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on February 14, 2019 at 2:55 pm Leave a Comment
Tags: Edif Piaf, Paris in the Spring, Passion translation, valentines day

Journeying Back To Forwards

On this wet, grey day, I will look back on my day out on Tuesday (also wettish, but interspersed with sunlight). I had decided to visit some of my old haunts, something I’ve done a couple of times since we came back to Australia sixteen years ago.
It’s never the same. The places I remember were colourful, eclectic, full of people… the places I encountered were quiet and mostly devoted to commercial blandness. There were a few bright spots, but the old places seem to have aged along with me! I enjoyed going back, and was happy to have my coffee and remember…

I travelled further than I thought I’d have the energy for. Made up for it yesterday with a very un-energetic day…
Took the train to the Valley, then the “buz” to New Farm.

Sunlight through the trees…

Treated myself to a scarf from the RSPCA shop with some of my birthday money – pink butterflies, which seemed appropriate. Had an iced coffee at the New Farm Deli, but didn’t linger… got on the bus to the ferry terminal, but got off just before so I could walk down Hazlewood Street, where I used to live. This is where I found my favourite “gift” to myself – a polished stone of green and pink, found on the footpath in the long grass, not far from where my old house used to be.

You can’t really see the colours here… this is my scarf, and a sleep mask as well 🙂
Here’s a bit of my walk… I had to pick up some frangipani flowers as well along the way for my hair and buttonhole.

Enjoyed the ferry, although it’s a very short journey. The ferry attendant was quite cheerful, as well!

On my way to the Mall I stopped at St Stephen’s Cathedral to have a look.

I was just in time for the start of mass, so stayed for that. I hadn’t realised that I needed a service sheet, so I had no idea what the responses were. It was quite echoey as well, so I couldn’t hear very well. If I concentrated, though, on the readings, I could hear them – probably because it was one voice rather than many. It was the feast day for St Agatha on Tuesday, and there were also prayers said for the people of Townsville.

I didn’t spend long in the Mall, so there was time to stop at Milton on the way home. Had a cappucino at La Dolce Vita, which also seems quite different to my memories of 25 years ago… the mini Eiffel Tower is still there (the metal outside the window).

It rained fairly heavily while I had my coffee, so I lingered a bit longer than I thought I would. Still got back on the train early enough to go in to Ipswich to look around before going home. A good day, all in all… enjoyed visiting the past for a bit, but it’s back to walking forward now!

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