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On rare occasions she will overcome her negative approach and actually enjoy a meal she had previously set her mind against.  For the most part, however, food, next to her aches and pains, is likely to continue to be my dear mother's biggest bug-bear, cause celebre for the rest of her life.  These are, it seems, the issues which interest her most. Along with her much voiced dissatisfaction with with the people who has most dealing with her.  Yes, including me, it seems. You see, my dear mother is probably sometimes - if not most times - better than I am, at concealing her dissatisfaction with how I deal with some of the things impacting on her life.  I imagine you do not live to attain the age of 100 without learning how deal with some tricky situations.  Even if it is sometimes to make it appears that you are more vulnerable and capable than you really are. There are times when she, probably not surprisingly, will become too fixated on one thi

'...We should use new facts and scientific data to study and analyse what we have been told about 'God' and our religions.  And not use our religions and received data about 'God' to interpret the new and empirical knowledge. Putting the inanimate 'cart before the living horse', as it were...' And even where the asking of such questions might be considered reasonable or tolerated.   The assumption is that 'there are no answers to them', or that only the prescribed answers are acceptable to the religious establishment.  Now, it is not, and should not be the modus operandi of contemporary humans that we necessarily accept that there is only one answer for any phenomena.   Unless such a position is informed by, or predicated upon scientific enquiry. This is one of what we might call the 'uninaliable rights' of us humans.  That we should not take anything for as a given, unless it is something like th

More so than it might be for men. I continue to traverse the canal path, observing here and there some ducks, or Moor Hens, and then a couple of swans.  Having reached as far as I had wanted to go, with the rain now increasing in its intensity, I made an about turn and retraced my foot steps, as it were.  Along the way I passed first, a cyclist, and then two runners going in the opposite direction. The latter clearly in training to improve their running skills.  I made way for them to pass me, as they did so with us exchanging greetings during the manoeuvre. It was not long before I was back at the point where I had descended the steps from the canal bridge, and repeated the manoeuvre.   But this time ascending, rather than descending the steps to the top of the bridge, and making my way across the road to retrieve my prescription and then making my way home.

Not because we are homicidal maniacs, but because the conducive set of abnormal circumstances have taken momentary control of us and, as it were, weaponised us.  We become the instruments of the personified circumstances rage and intent to perpetrate destructive acts.  We, or most of us, I believe, are all capable of momentarily shedding our moral compass and fall prey to committing terrible but unpremeditated violence.   Or slipping our cloak of self-preservation and commit great acts of selflessness. And it only takes a proverbial short time for us to commit either the grossest act of violence, or the magnanimous and selfless act of saving another person's life.  It could be the unreasonableness and stupidity of a security guard who, for what would have to be an unrelated reason.  Prevents a shopper from using the supermarket's toilet to have a pee, when he/she is struggling to maintain their dignity.   And then attacking the shopper when they challeng

So, think about it; could you kill somebody or risk sacrificing yourself to save another person's life?  Well, yes, you probably do have the capacity to kill or save someone.  You might be thinking, no, I am not a killer, I could not take the life of someone, probably because you are thinking of how ultimate, how terrible it is to kill something, never mind another human being.  So, you imagine, no, I could not kill another person. Well, yes, you are probably right that, ordinarily, you could not, or, should I more accurately say, you would not kill another person.  And 99.99 per cent of the time, this could be accurately said of probably most people.  Ordinarily the greatest majority of us humans are not prone to commit homicide.  However, this is not so for that small proportion of us who will kill or save others, outside of the remit of general warfare or genocidal conflicts.  And what is even more concerning, is the likelihood that probably most of u

'We cannot and should not be expected to simply close our eyes and muzzle our intellect and voices.   When we detect incompatibilities about what we have been told about 'God', and what has now and/or become clear to us from an increase of new information and knowledge in the future. ...' If 'God' does exist and wishes or has declared himself to be 'our Father', then it is his duty to protect us.  And it is right that he should be held responsible for his failure to do so. Is this not our right?  And if 'God' refuses or fails to perform or meet his obligation to 'his children', then why should they honour and do obeisance to such a 'God', or 'Father.?' These are all pertinent questions and discussions that should be had with 'God', and they should be had between him and ordinary people, we the people, and not supposedly between him and the clergy. No, as had been said and expected of

We did not spend long chatting, but I was left with the feeling that we had both enjoyed our pleasantries and the few minutes we spent together. And off I went, before meeting my second set of early morning walkers. This time it was a couple walking a rather big dog.  They seemed to be more focused on getting to the stage 'b' of their journey, as opposed to paying much mind to flora and fauna and landscape they were passing through.  Not surprisingly, we had to make do with an exchange of "good morning", as we readily approached and passed each other.  On I went, before approaching my third walker, a woman walking her dog, with our external interaction being quite similar to that with the preceding couple.  I do not know how accurate my thoughts are, but I am mindful that, men passing lone women and children on the canal path could be an anxiety-provoking for some of them.  To be continued!

They are doing it because they have talked themselves and allowed themselves to come to believe that they have not alternative recourse to defeat the challenge of the coronavirus.  The question they and all of us now have to answer is this:  'Do we really think we have any better and sustainable alternative. Other than to demonstrate the same boldness, courage, and resoluteness.    In meeting the much bigger challenges of Global climate change and the precipitous  extinction of humans and all or most other living species? It is interesting that us humans are so willing and/or accepting of the drastic actions which are being taken to protect us from the actuality and fear of the Coronavirus.  Probably because of what we perceive as its imminency.  While not being so resolute in protecting our species from the much bigger, though not as evolutionarily imminent, threat of the extinction of our and other species. So, am I hopeful that the nations of the w

Is this not the opportunity to ditch the excessive plastic products and the over-reliance on unsustainable animal meat production?  Is it not also the opportunity for us to give a big impetus to transforming our current,  'a highly paid job = a high salary = a high standard of living societal model.'   Into one of,   'a positive contribution to the social and economic well-being of the community = a viable living allowance in money and/or kind = a decent and sustainable standard of living social model?' With our governments now showing little or no reluctance in running society by governmental decrees.   Including pumping money into to the economy, irrespective of any consideration about the principles of 'good economics', as it were.  It does show that, if there is the will to make this change, it can be done.  After all, it really has not been proven that our governments need to 'throw money and other resources at the problem of Co

'Humans being humans, we cannot and should not be expected to not have the kind of relationship we have with our parents, with our 'God/s.'  And just as how our relationship with our parents changes as we assume or mature into adulthood.  So should, logically, our relationship with 'God', change as we mature, and are able to see clearer and become more discerning. .....' We are expected not to ask the obvious questions. Questions such as, 'why do we never see 'God'?  Questions such as, 'why does he never shows himself to us, so that we can have confirmation of his existence, of his reputed love for us?'  Questions such as, yes, 'why does 'God' never intervenes to stop his children from making wars and fighting and killing one another?'  Those who might argue that, having eaten of the forbidden fruit in 'the Garden of Eden', us humans have forfeited 'our right' to call up 'God