14 December 2016

Vacillation

Some days, you just don't know what to blog about. Memories flutter across your mindscreen and you wonder whether or not you should pick one and run with it. You think about recent photographs and consider posting  a few more with linking commentary. What about your method of cooking meaty rissoles? You could share that recipe. 

You think about that idea you had for a poem called "Stuff" and the way people gather things around them for comfort and defence. Ornaments, gifts, pictures, objects imbued with memories, books and natural things like shells and pine cones. But you're not in the mood for such a task today - all that careful chiselling and smoothing. Word choices, line changes, echoes, half-rhymes.

You think you might say something about Aleppo or Yemen. All that horror - man's inhumanity to man - and the way The United Nations have appeared impotent, impassive, hopeless - allowing the slaughter to continue. You see those highly paid UN folk flying first class to New York year after year, staying in the best hotels, eating in the best restaurants, sitting in the assembly hall, looking important. And you see images of children blown to bits. What the hell are they doing? Why does the UN even exist if not to act?

Perhaps you could blog about your parking appeal process or the rip-off central heating chap or the cost of postage stamps for Christmas cards or The Great Western Express music weekend at Bardney Lincolnshire in 1972 - The Beach Boys, Slade, Roxy Music, Wishbone Ash, Joe Cocker, The Incredible String Band and Don McLean. And all that straw we threw in the air just for fun.

Yes, there are some days when you just don't know what to blog about. Days like this one. Meanwhile, time for a shower methinks. I will be heading down to the Oxfam shop in an hour and a half. Business is brisk in the days before Christmas. 

26 comments:

  1. How intriguing - all those ideas for posts! I hope you will follow through eventually with most of them.

    Sometimes the "problem" is not a lack of ideas what to write about, but which one, and then in what direction to take that idea.

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    1. It is amazing that after these years of blogging, fresh ideas keep bubbling up... and you're the same Miss A.

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  2. I made a million lamb and beef meatballs last week (Okay...slight exaggeration, but it seemed like a million)...they're now cooling off in the freezer.

    My landlords are having their annual Christmas party next week - on Wednesday evening - the meatballs are part of my contribution, along with a sweet chilli dipping sauce and a tzatziki to accompany them. I'll also be putting together a large antipasto.

    I'm of the "old school"...I never go anywhere empty-handed...it was how I was raised. I don't have enough arms to carry all of the above as well as a bottle of red and a couple of cold beers to add to the mix, so I'll be driving up to "The Manor", even though it's only about 500 metres away...maybe 300...I'm not sure for certain. My tape measure isn't long enough to measure the distance. All I know it is too far for me to struggle up there trying to carry my load!

    See what you started by mentioning rissoles?? I love rissoles, by the way! :)

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    1. I am surprised that The Lord and Lady of the Manor allow one of their humble tenants to attend their Christmas soiree... or are they employing you as a waitress? You will look nice in your waitress uniform Lee. Will there be a frilly white apron? ...Time to practise your coquettish giggling and your respectful curtsying.

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    2. The only time I've ever worn an uniform, Yorkie, was when I attended High School.

      Their Lord and Ladyship always invite to their Christmas soirees...and I always arrived loaded with food (probably why I get invited), but then I just drop the treats off on their kitchen bench and leave the rest up to them! My job has been done!! Time to party!

      I've never been a giggler, nor have I been coquettish. As for curtsying...it is they whom I demand are the ones to curtsy before me!! ;)

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    3. Thank you for putting me right Lee. Please report on the curtsying skills of Her Ladyship.

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  3. I was at that festival YP. Maybe we brushed past each other.

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    1. Maybe we did. Like ships that pass in the night.

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  4. I was thinking yesterday about how people have different methods of vacillating. I internalize the process, all anyone else sees is the result. Some people change their minds in public, several times. I thought about this as I was in the car on my way to do a good deed. I'd put a lot of thought into it because at first it was a project that didn't appeal to me. Once I decided, though, I was dedicated to following through. Halfway there I got a text that the people on the other end had changed their mind. So my entire day of contemplating the project, the money and time I spent on putting my part of it together, was all wasted. I was about to conclude that people should just make up their minds and stick to it. Then I got up this morning and the news about our election and the Russkies was so depressing. Now I'm thinking that sometimes it's a good thing, given new evidence, to stop or rethink.

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    1. Through blogging I seem to have "known" you for ages Jan. I never thought of you as a vacillator but as someone who drives onward with purpose. But in the end pausing for thought is frequently a good thing to do.

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  5. I just took the easy path today: whined about the approaching holiday and my lack of time to prepare for it. Riveting stuff!!! Haha.

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    1. I have not been over to STJ yet. Thanks for the heads up. I'll be over there later. May I have a coffee and a homemade muffin?

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  6. Well you're certainly not short of ides YP. Don't forget we look forwards to more interesting walks and some stunning scenic photos, too.

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  7. That should be ideas !

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    1. I thought you were talking about The Ides of March CG - as in The Bard's play, "Julius Caesar".

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  8. As good a way to write a post as any YP

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    1. Proving that something can come of nothing Mrs Weaver.

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  9. Just reading your post gave even ME enough ideas for a couple of posts. But, no. Just thinking. Not writing. I'll bet that Oxfam is really busy this time of year. Any vintage Christmas village pieces?

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    1. We took just under £1000 today - that's $1260. I didn't see any vintage Christmas village pieces but we never know what is going to be donated...

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  10. I find coffee helps very strong coffee

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  11. I know exactly how you feel. I'm normally a very happy-go-lucky person. In fact family and friends have told me that I never take anything seriously. (in a bad way) but for some reason, this evening I've been crying non-stop, and I literally can't remember the last time I cried. And the saddest thing (for me), my husband who had been out at an editorial meeting came home, and didn't even notice there was something wrong

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    1. Thank you for sharing this Lesley. I am sending you a big Yorkshire hug. Hopefully, after a good night's sleep, things will seem brighter tomorrow.

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  12. I see you made a successful non-decision

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    1. Yeah. I should have been a politician.

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  13. £1000....... Blimey, that's good takings. We did £192 on Tuesday afternoon and thought that was good!

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