02 02 2020 and Coronavirus

I love numerical date sequences, and today is 02-02-2020.  It will be over one thousand years before we reach the next date in this sequence (03-03-3030), but it is highly unlikely we ever will.  At some stage over the next 1000 years the calendar is bound to change, as it did in the previous 1000 years with the Julian calendar being overtaken by the Gregorian calendar.

A pleasant walkway in Cambridge

We have been having some unusual cloud formations in our evening skies the last couple of days.  Last night it was like a blob of cloud had been drawn out like candyfloss by some giant hand, so that it stretched out across the sky and caught the rays of the setting sun.  The photo is of the base of the cloud - I couldn't fit in all the fingers!

Last night's unusual cloud formation

The Chinese coronavirus is currently very much in our news.  Last night it was reported, almost with regret, that a quarantined person in hospital did not have the virus.  There is so much hype about coronavirus, and The Press need to be held responsible for it.  A lot of people have been panic buying face masks and there are reports of others abusing Chinese tourists for visiting our country.

Consequently, I have been very happy to hear a doctor come out and say we need to put things into perspective.  So far around 80 people have died, which is tragic – and yet, one million people die around the world EVERY YEAR from influenza.  And around five million children die EVERY YEAR from preventable disease and malnutrition.  Who is panicking over those figures?

Fresh air and sunshine is vital for good health

Good old fashioned hand washing is still one of the most effective methods of preventing the spread of communicable diseases.  Other hygiene practices, like stopping yourself from coughing or sneezing all over other people, can also help. 

Fresh air and sunshine needs to be allowed into our homes, yet so many never open their windows and quite an alarming number of people never even open their curtains!

Take care,
Margaret.

The Year of the Rat

Today is Chinese New Year, the end of the Year of the Pig and the start of the Year of the Rat.

The above photo was taken from a book I own, The Practical Encyclopedia of Feng Shui by Gill Hale.  Our world, physical and spiritual, is composed of energy and feng shui deals with how energy flows in and through our lives.  Consequently I find some of the ancient principles of feng shui resonate with me, although I am not an ardent follower by any means.

The book has this to say about the Year of the Rat:  “This is a lucky year, a good time to start a new venture.  The rewards will not come without hard work, but with careful planning they will arrive.”  Sounds good to me!

I have finished reading another book, this time Alice in Wonderland  and Alice Through the Looking Glass, both by Lewis Carroll.  This unabridged book has both stories, plus a few poems and other writings.  

I have not read the unabridged version of Alice before, but most of the tales were familiar and it was easy to read.  I struggled though with Through the Looking Glass, as it seemed to take the nonsense level up another level and then tie it in with a game of chess – and I am not a fan of chess!

It looks like we are in for a heat wave over the next week or two.  The farms around here are already browning off, some more than others, and some areas of the country are looking at being declared drought areas.

At home, we are being invaded by house flies, not being helped by having cattle in the field behind us.  However, I did enjoy watching this bumble bee visiting my snapdragons the other day.

I hope the Year of the Rat will be a pleasant and happy and successful one for you all,

Margaret.

Half An Hour Of Joy

So far my day has been a quiet Home Day pottering around.  Did some housework, washed the towels and hung them to dry, sorted out yesterday’s meat purchases to put into the freezer, and hard boiled some eggs ready to use in salads.  

Later this afternoon (it is currently threatening to rain) I intend to get my Daily Journal up to date (I have some pictures that need completing and a poem that needs finishing), and then maybe some thoughts to write into my Makeover Diary.

Ready and waiting for me to start work

I was awake early this morning (5am!) and was thrilled to hear the bellbird start up the Dawn Chorus.  With a name like “bellbird” one would think they should sound musical, but I always think they sound more like the squeaking of a rusty door.  Nevertheless, I love hearing their piercing song ringing through the still air (maybe this is what bells sound like?), and the bellbird will sing for ten to fifteen minutes before any other birds pick up the refrain.

I opened my bedroom window and lay in bed listening.  The blackbird was the first of the song birds to begin singing, and I could hear a pukeko and pheasant in the background making the occasional sound.  The welcome-to-the-dawn chorus of birdsong only lasted half an hour, but it was a peaceful, pleasant and joyful way to begin the day.

Te Awamutu farmland at dawn (2006)

Calendars always seem to have pictures that reflect the season, but I find it difficult to look at summery pictures on a very hot day.  I purchased my current calendar in the United States last year, and love this picture of snowmen that is for December.  It was the same in winter, when lovely warm-weather pictures made me feel so much better on a cold dismal day.

December on my calendar

Whether your day today is hot or cold, dry or wet, I hope you are enjoying it.

Margaret.