Birthday thoughts

It's been a week of celebrations and it's not over yet! I have really enjoyed this significant end of a decade birthday and given myself up completely to celebrating it !
It's been particularly good hearing from old friends I haven't see for a while and from family members who don't usually contact me - thank you Facebook.
Still cold out there but I am noticing new shoots and realising that the days are getting noticeably longer so Spring is about to be sprung.
In the Hunt Museum at lunchtime saw Jan Morris' book Venice on sale so immediately bought a copy as I am looking forward to going there next week and seeing Padua, Venice and Verona - also listening to 'easy' Italian tape in the car, not so easy when it goes beyond repeating single words.
Bought muscari bulbs in the supermarket last week and brought them in - it's great to see them losing their green and moving gradually into blue every day at the moment.

Another Monday

So it's another Monday afternoon and I really can't wait to go home today because it's so cold in this building. I am really glad that my afternoon clients haven't turned up as they would be frozen! Thank God I am working in Ennis tomorrow and will have a new dynamic and energy to move me up there.

The story of how things have reached the stage that they have in this economy continues to unfold and perplex as it does so. How can people who have major debts in this country for which we are all now paying begin a new life as entrepreneurs in the U.S and get a U.S Visa for so doing - without prejudice as it appears.How can it become daily more evident that there was collusion between the politicians and those ruining the economy without at least causing the resignation of the politician concerned?

On the upside as I get more used to it I like using Facebook to communicate especially with distant family; it seems friendlier than email although I guess that is just perception.

What will the New Year bring? So far it's been a quiet start, back to work and full of good resolutions. What keeps us from keeping them? The comfort of old habits even if they're bad habits is surprisingly strong. It's easier to stay on the sofa than to face up to challenges that take an effort- yet that's where new energy comes from. The joy of throwing out clutter, of letting go of legacy items, of feeling lighter because those heavy old 'things' have left the house for good-even letting go of friendships that no longer fit- all of these things create space in which we can feel free. The simple power of breathing, of stepping back from impatience, of forgiving oneself for mistakes...it all feels good.

New Year's Day

It's been a mild day with the sun trying to break though as we walked from Killaloe to Ballina Marina and back. There has been no 'development ' of multi storey apartment blocks at the Marina so far but it all looks run down and on the verge of dereliction. Looking down on the river and upwards towards the lake was magical, and strange to see ice still floating on the surface of the canal. Waterways Ireland seems to be constructing a walkway along there although the work is proceeding very slowly.

This evening we will pay our last respects to Frida who after a long and heroic battle with cancer finally came to rest on December 30th. May she rest in peace, and may her courage and thought for others inspire us all. Remembering death is a good way of inspiring us to live life to the full and not to waste the gift. My wish more than anything for all of us this year is to enjoy good health, both mental and physical.

Life as someone has said starts at the end of your comfort zone or perhaps when you move out of your comfort zone. I saw that in Belfast last week and the thought has stayed with me - not sure how it will manifest just yet. Blessings to anyone who reads this today.