Journal Entries
Championship Tennis
Posted May 31, 2002
It is that time of the year again. Tennis, strawberries and great excitement. I wonder whom I would like to win the men and the womens titles at Roland Garros? I think Kuerton though of course I love Andre Agassi. I cannot decide on my women's favourite although I would like to see Jennifer Capriati win again. She has overcome so many difficulties and problems in her life she is an example to us all. But then I also like both the Williams girls. The players have to be SO fit. I was sad to see Anna Kournikova taking that nasty spill But even more disappointed in the commentators obvservations. Had I had the energy I would have gone striaght to my computer and written a reply to their comments. But they will still continue with their often unkind observations. That is why I like John McInroe so much. He really is so fair and understanding about a player's mistakes( and great play) No-one plays in top class tennis without trying their best, and if they are not on form it must be really dreadful for them to be playing below their best in front of so many people.
Anyway, I am enjoying it all and hope others are as well. Incidentally I loved the aerial views of Roland Garros yesterday. It really seems to be a magnificent tennis complex. They also have the wonderful Stade de France where they play rugby. I wonder if the designers are architects specialising in sports arenas?
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Latest reply: May 31, 2002
Another Change
Posted May 17, 2002
For some time I have been feeling very stressed about the various responsibilities which I have and which I felt I was simply not carrying out very well. Everything seemed such a huge issue, and I was getting upset over the most mundane trivialities. It occurred to me that it possibly had something to do with my great age, and so I have been looking around seeing how I could possibly reallocate some of the duties.
Well on Wednesday the team had a meeting and after much discussion and not a few tears on my part we reached a compromiss. Not one which I had thought of. And now, suddenly it is like a huge burden lifted from my shoulders. I do think that there comes a stage when, if one is caring for someone who is much loved, one feels one cannot go on. I was very fortunate in that the Team understood my problem and as the person I have cared for is a much loved son, who also happens to be a very happy fellow they have offered a compromise which is great.
Now I have to find somewhere to live myself. I have always had dreams of living practically on top of the ocean so I am looking for a large room,(so that I can swing around it in my wheelchair) with a bathroom and small kitchenette. What is vital is that I must have a good view of the sea. which I hope to enjoy in all it's moods. If anyone has any ideas on the subject I would be so pleased to hear from them. I would actually love to live in a lighthouse - preferably with a lift.!!Well, one can dream........
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Latest reply: May 17, 2002
At Last!!
Posted Apr 20, 2002
I have been having such fun this last week. I think, that perhaps, at last, eventually, I have managed to fish a little spark of imagination out of this logical brain of mine. (That word fish was really a Freudian slip!!). But I have acutally benn imagining the pine forest, full of trees, with crunchy, springy needles to walk on, and this marvellous, invigorating spicy smell everywhere. There are no two ways about it but heat does make the smell more pungent and delicious.
I was reminded of a marvellous visit to Tasmania which I made with my Australian family some ten years ago. We had many wonderful barbies in the forest. As well we were there when the sailing ships came in at the end of their Sydney to Hobart race. And then I met a most marvellous guy who was flying absolutely wonderful kites which he had made himself. In those days I could still walk, and I had such fun watching him flying these works of art - swirling galleons and provocative little facets of colour twirling in the wind, and all operating because of one man's genius with his imagination and dexterity with a sewing machine. I wonder if he is still there. Aren't memories great - particularly as one gets older..
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Latest reply: Apr 20, 2002
A Place of Inspiration
Posted Apr 5, 2002
When One has the responsibility of having a child who develops a long term illness it is always traumatic to think of what is going to happen when the carer/parent/sibling dies. This has been my nightmare for a long time and yesterday I spent the day in a most wonderful place where, hopefully, when the need arises, the person for whom I care can be looked after. This was one of the Camphill Villages. I had known about this movement for some considerable time but until recently had thought that they only cared for the mentally handicapped - not the mentally ill. Fortunately I met one of the people who has been vitally involved in the running of the movement in England at a conference in December. Our day out yesterday was the result.
I was totally bewitched with the ethos of the movement which is based on the Anthroposophical approach of Rudolf Steiner. This revolutionary thinker believed in a holistic approach to caring for the other, and his followers have continued with this approach. Karl Konig wrote a brilliant analysis of what the concept of "The Meaning and value of Curative Education and Curative work" means.This is quoted in an edition of Anthroposophy Today No. 10 Summer 1990.
"The "curative attitude" must find expression in any and every kind of social work: in pastoral work, in the care of the aged, in the rehabilitation of the mentally ill and the physically handicapped, in the guidance of orphans and refugees, of people in despair and thinking of suicide - and also in Development aid, the Peace Corps and similar attempts",(p.5)
Further Karl Konig says that
"We must learn to see our work as curative teachers in such a way that we are not only the guides but at the same time the guided, not only teachers, but simultaneously students"(p.6)
These profound words of wisdom struck me forcibly as I thought of my own experience on h2g2. Last night, when I had settled down I and done my chores I needed to share the experiences of this wonderful day with my guides in cyberspace. And I was able to. As usual my very special mentor, Lurcher, came on line with a word to say that he was there. It truly was an experience which I shall always treasure. Here I am, one of the oldest members of this vital community, being helped and instructed by people young enough to be my grandchildren. And because this method of contact is in cyberspace, the fact that we are generations apart is practically unimportant. We can communicate, we can learn and we can share our experiences, knowledge and skills. We are a community who are practising what Konig calls "curative education". For that I am deeply grateful and I really think that it must have been the vision of the founder of h2g2, to see the potential of this new medium; to bond people together and to make us all aware of both the tragedies and the hopes of this world.
Thank you all and bless you. AR1 the Venerable but mobile 
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Latest reply: Apr 5, 2002
Women's World Day of Prayer
Posted Mar 1, 2002
Today I went and spent a super two hours at our local Methodist church where we were celebrating together the Women's World Day of Prayer. It really was an uplifting experience and the prayers and the singing and the fellowship were special. We were praying specially for Roumania. I did not realise that every year we pray for a particular country. Thank you all.
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Latest reply: Mar 1, 2002
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