WYSIWYG

What You See Is What You Get. This is a journal blog, an explore-blog, a bit of this and that blog. Sharing where the mood takes me. Perhaps it will take you too.

Menondering; This, That And The Other

How'd ya all be? Feel like we are already plummeting through another year? I mean, there is less of the first month left than has been already...

The decs came down on the 6th (Epiphany), as has long been my habit. This year, though, something changed. The tree itself (an artificial one, with affixed berries and cones) remains standing, and I have kept the tray of pinecones and greenery that holds the Advent candles in place. You have seen what is mostly outside Hutch's windows. The need for colour inside is keenly felt. It was also the case, in times of Yule, that the green boughs brought inside on Michaelmas (late September) remained (and were refreshed) right through to late February. There is some argument for believing that the use of pine, in particular, had practical purposes - deodorising and insect control. I can't make that claim with my synthetic tree, but it will do for resting the eyes for now.

Resting the eyes is important, given how much screen time they get. Much too much binging of entire television series, some of them quite old - crikey, when did 2002 become 'old'??!! That was The Last Detective - not groundbreaking policing, but entertaining and highly watchable ploddery. Also intriguing were the six cases of Nazi Murder Mysteries. For my taste, the narrator is a tad on the melodramatic side, but he isn't around enough to spoil this televisual sleuthing of cold cases from a very hot war. I am not going to list everything (some forgettable items are already forgotten) - but I will say, for those able to access BBC iPlayer, that Hidden Assets is definitely worth your time. As is Four Lives. Classy stuff in a way that Rules Of The Game was not.

Aside from gazing out the window or into the screen, I have been listening to a couple of books from the #1 Ladies Detective Agency series and have begun reading an actual book, gifted by Gail, called Braiding Sweetgrass (Robin Wall Kimmerer), which, although only a third through it yet, I can highly recommend. Very readable social and cultural context, combining facts and inherited wisdom. 

The crochet projects sit out, haunting me. When I do finally lift the hook, look out, world...


I said the year was already moving at pace. Next Friday is FFF - the first of the year!

And here is the new badge - download it to add to your FFF posts, or place it on your sidebar (ta!) Currently, about five of you are participating; let's see if we can encourage some more! Writing is such an excellent way to express ourselves.

It doesn't have to be literary - it does need to be original and from the heart, and, importantly, it should be fun for you to write and share! Check out the 'rulez' (guidelines, really) on the page up top if you are new here. 

One last thing - there have been some weird goings-on in the ether. Some blog posts turn up late on my dashboard reader - or not at all. Others sometimes keep returning to the top of the list each time I refresh the page as if just published. There is no consistency. However, if you are used to seeing me comment - or at a particular time - and that doesn't happen, know that this might be the issue. (OR, I'm Isomniacal - see yesterday's post!) 

Please remember that if you comment on a post older than 21 days on this blog (or three days on the photoblog), your comment goes to moderation... and I don't always remember to check there, so forgive delayed publication!

'S all for now. As you were.




15 comments:

  1. TV doesn't really happen for us unless Mr B is here - then F doesn't do as much sewing or meditation or writing or listening to TED talks and pod casts. F thinks TV is great but it can be quite invasive too. She is grateful therefore of recommendations for watchable stuff. Mr B will keep TV on even if he can't find or connect to anything deemed watchable. Fz and Pz Mr T

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    1. Hari Om
      I rarely have the actual tv on... Most of my viewing is via 'catchup' players on the laptop. Mainly because I like to use earphones, due to my tinnitus making hearing the telly a wee tad tricky now. Although I enjoy this viewing, one of my pet hates is constantly playing television when there is nothing actually being watched - or anything of worth. Dad would be dead asleep but if I turned off that machine... I did manage to convert him to podcasts once or twice. I love podcasts - TED I am more selective about, but of course there are some magnificent ones there. Audio books are fab too - sound stuff allowing for doing other tasks are definitely a positive! Yxx

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  2. So pleased you're enjoying the book. An odd thing happened on Bertie's blog yesterday, in that your comment, for reasons I can't fathom, went straight to the spam folder. First time this has happened to any comment from a 'regular'. But don't worry, I rescued it!
    Cheers, Gail.

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    1. Hari Om
      Oh yes, I forgot to mention that - there were a few in the spam folder too... which I didn't use to check more than once a month, but have been doing every other day (or when I remember) just in case! Yxx

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  3. 2002? that was last year...or REALLY 20 years ago? unbelievable!!!

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  4. Certain things are categorised as old, but they retain their timeless charm. True, resting the eye on an item determines its worth. Meaningfully scripted,Yamini.

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  5. YAM
    What a lovely new FFF badge. I have my story about 1/2 way finished. I had to get a few more photos.
    Hugs Cecilia

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  6. it is so funny to read your thoughts that are exactly what I thought 2 days ago. I was looking for anything that is watchable in the movies in prime. I thought, look through the old movies and there it was in 2002. I thought how can it be 20 years since 2002? yikes. I am wondering if THEY are MESSING with blogger AGAIN? mine is doing strange things. the emails that my blog published are coming the next day not same day and sometimes 2 days later. also several times those emails came twice. I like the new badge and have saved it. since i don't get to gab with strangers any morem i am using FFF to get rid of the backed up GABBING..

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  7. Oh I remember the Last Detective, another great vehicle for Peter Davison. I have recorded Hidden Assets, have heard great things about it, and also Rules of the Game. I watched Four Lives and thought it must have been from the 1970’s or 1980’s but no it happened in 2014/5. Very shocking and I am afraid shows how little things have progressed.

    No problem with blogs from me but I still get spam comments. After your help I now know how to delete them.

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  8. We have a couple of subscription services and cable (114 channels) and there are not too many much that I feel like binging on, but I have been sucked into Around the World in 80 days on PBS. It is like going back 20 years in TV viewing! I can't find the episodes on any of the services available to me and with PBS, I can only watch the show when it airs! My son is appalled, he can't imagine anything but on demand.
    The tree came down early this year. Usually it is up until after Ukrainian Christmas. My husband's death hit me harder this year than last and I did not want the extra grief, so I took it down. Luckily I was working that day (Jan 7) and the Saturday (on line Zoom technical support for a non profit conference) and that kept me busy.
    I've been canning this week. Dilled Carrots, Peach Blueberry Jam and Blueberry Lime Jam. This time of year, with all the snow and cold, filling the house with the sweet smells of summer lifts my spirits (and makes space in the freezer). Today, Chicken soup!

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  9. We kept our decorations up for awhile. It is lovely seeing the colour! cheerio

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  10. I really do enjoy the #1 Ladies Detective Agency novels too!

    Looking forward to FFF next week, and also love the colorful new badge!

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  11. You gave me some good ideas for some reading. I too have a crochet project awaiting me. A friend tipped me off on the mosaic crochet pattern. Now waiting for two grands to make their college decisions so I can begin to make them blankets in the school colors.

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  12. I have a few look backs of oldies I have been enjoying daily. I fear all the bugs have left me more than a bit lazy. namaste, janice xx

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