h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Ok thanks for the advice

mikey

Hi mikey,

You may have seen me mention in a few places my love of blackbirds and their incredible song. The one around here this year is something else. I've seen the male and female together in daytime, but I think it maybe the male who sings.

I have a lot of problems sleeping, and last night although getting to bed a bit earlier I woke up several times in the night. The blackbird appeared to be singing its heart out all night. I just went out in my garden this evening to cut some nettle shoots for a vegetable soup I'm cooking tonight, (8pm) and it's already singing.

Thats really wierd...and wonderful...I thought blackbirds only sang in the daytime...I've heard of Robins singing by lamplight before though.

Ever heard a nightingale?

mikey

See this Lennon/McCartney song, (Blackbird), that was quoted by JEllen on my journal thread:


http://www.searchlyrics.org/beatles/blackbird.html



Now you know why I've started a 'cult of the blackbird' . And it was singing most of last night too. It actually helped me get back to sleep in a wonderful way. It's the best thing ever...

Yes I once heard a Nightingale sing in the middle of the night, when I lived in Sussex. It's absolutely impossible to describe how amazing it was.

It's a lovely springlike day today, here in London. Everything is exploding into life.

Awesm lyrics, I can understand why you started the 'cult of the blackbird'

Its been a lovely day in Hampshire, contrary to the weather report!

My encounter with a nightingale involved me standing 10 feet in front of one whilst it sang its heart out for ages...very uplifting it was too! But I resisted the temptation to start a 'nightingale cult' te he.

I heard yesterday that having an alcoholic drink before bedtime acts as a stimulant and therefore inhibits sleep...I always thought the opposite was true. O well, who cares...

mikey2

Hey mikey is it okay if I put you on my friends list now? I've really enjoyed these chats we've had about our shared interests, and the genuine good heart you showed to me after my original concern.

Naturally I'm not a Christian as you are, but that shouldn't stop us being friends.

And it'll be good to carry on talking about our shared interests.

PS the blackbird was back last night.

Wicked idea Effers

'Wicked' in the colloquial sense of course

Done.

And hey you've now got a list too, I just saw. I'm your first one.

te he

I just went out into my garden. It's really quite warm and sunny here today. There's loads of stuff flowering like forget-me-nots, bluebells, dandelions (yes I love them too, despite some people calling them weeds). Some completely unromantic people actually call forget-me-nots, weeds. How can you call a plant with a name like that a weed? and birds flitting about. Any way what I wanted to say was that it all affected me hugely in an emotional way. And were I believer I would interpret a lot of what I feel to 'God'. But I'm as sure as I can be that I won't ever; I'd like you to respect my position on that. As I completely do yours. As I said to you, having a better relationship with Vicky has got me a lot more respectful to Christians, which I really like; though as you may notice I still tease Christians about stuff. That's all it is, affectionate teasing, not disrespect. I wanted you to really understand that.

I always get hugely affected by this time of year. Do you interpret any of your feelings about nature, to your belief? I'm genuinely interested in that.

I hope you don't mind me asking you such questions. And I only want you to talk about what you feel comfortable with. But at least won't be like talking in the 'jaws of hell' of TGD thread.

Hi Effers

Forget-me-nots are totally awesome. I once got some flax growing under my birdfeeder...similar shaped flower but only one single bloom at the top...very delicate sort of flower...beautiful.

I don't tend to get spiritual experiences in gardens as such, but I suppose beauty can make your 'heart go out towards something else'. Walking in the Lake District really refreshes me in that way.

Different christians find their spiritual batteries refreshed in different ways...examples include walking in the countryside, worshipping God in a large congregation, private prayer, serving others, studying stuff in an in-depth way.

I don't really attribute feelings to God as such except that, believing in God, obviously I think of him as the creator of all things. I therefore often make a point of thanking God for good things...whether I feel like it or not. I'm very conscious of keeping my 'good' side healthy and keeping my 'bad' side withered and dead, so I try to keep myself humble and grateful!!

I'm rambling on and on aren't I?!

mikey

Hi mikey,

Hope things are good with you.

As we're now friends, which I very much like, I wanted to let you know that I get quite frightened and upset when Christians start talking about Satan, in a serious way. You said on TGD thread today,

> 'satan himself masquerades as an angel of light'.<

I had some bad experiences from extreme Christians in the past that used that kind of language. It's been good to get friends with you and Vicky, after feeling so cross and nervous about Christians because of those bad experiences. I've been able to become much more tolerant and respectful about people with faith, which I'm very pleased about. That's why I hope you don't take it amiss that I'm speaking to you about this. I think its important for you to know this. Of course you may continue to think such things. But actually saying it can scare others.

Hey Effers

yeah...I'm really sorry; I felt uncomfortable saying those things...I think I can see why now.

Your comment a few days ago about how you would live if you became a christian really spoke to me...I'm trying to find a polite way to withdraw from TGD thread so that I can put your words into practice...get on with what I'm good at and think of myself as a winner! It was something like that wasn't it?

I've been listening to blackbirds recently!...they are awesome!

mikey

Yeah you probably did best for you inner well being to take a break from that thread. People like Ed and Gif, Tal are really lovely people but they are going to always press you from the position of reason and logic. That's fair enough I think. But I also think you have to look after yourself and what's best for you.

Yeah I was saying the other day, that the discussion is so often on the turf of reason/science; and to a degree I don't think faith can really be explained in that way ever. I'm just trying to put myself in your place. And if it was me I'd ask people to sometimes come over to my turf. Otherwise the way I see it is the interminable arguments and discussions that have gone on, on h2g2 for millenia

There has to be some sort of dialogue. But sometimes its hard to find it. Taking a step back for yourself is probably very wise for yourself.

Thank you for understanding what I said to you, about that satan thing. I appreciate it. And I'm very pleased you also appreciate the awesomeness of blackbirds.

And you can speak to me here anytime.

Effers

Thank you

No worries mikey.


to you too.

Happy May Day mikey

Yesterday I saw a pair of Cettis warblers right close by in my tangled funny hedge thing in my garden. They were jumping around together in and out the vegetation, quite flirtatiously.

Hope all is well with you.

Happy May Day Effers

Cettis warblers...in your garden...that's so unfair1

I'm reasonable...are you ok?

mikey