Gillian Monks's Blog, page 4

Do It Today – Don’t Wait Until Tomorrow

All last year I watched in admiration as a friend underwent serious surgery and fought to regain general mobility and specifically the use of her arm.  All her friends marvelled at her tenacity and courage. Every time I saw her, we discussed how she was progressing and what new achievements she had accomplished. We laughed […]

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Peace in Our Time?

I look out of my window; the sun is shining, the grass is regreening after winter, snowdrops, crocus and daffodils are all blooming simultaneously, birds are singing and spring is definitely on the way. The village is quiet and peaceful. Already, the first lock-down of the Covid pandemic is four years in the past; a […]

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“If I Ruled the World…”

Who remembers this popular song from the musical ‘Oliver’ back in the 1960’s? Harry Secombe belting out “Every day would be the first day of spring…” What would you do if you ruled the world? Or even just your own little part of it? What is the first thing that you would do? How would […]

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The Joy of January

I love January! Yes, Midwinter/Christmas is past, but this month has SO much to offer. It is the very fact that the winter holidays are over that makes this month so special. Clear rooms, empty of all the seasonal colour and clutter. A clear garden/natural world as vegetation has died away and animals are sheltering, sleeping. […]

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News-Blog Instead of Newsletter

Greetings! I wish you all a joyful adventure for the  new year! Thank you to all you readers who have sent me the seasons greetings and all the kind souls who have enquired if all is well with me. You probably know me quite well by now. I believe in telling it like it is […]

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The Sacred Jug

It is an ancient, basic and sacred activity for humans to come together to share food and drink. However, the modern social trend tends to divide and segregate: whereas we would once come together around a central table in our homes or places in our community and eat and drink together whilst sharing our news, […]

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It is More Blessed to Give than to Receive

Well, the title says it all, really. Job done then – I can sign off! (Only joking!!!) But as the hype for ‘Black Friday’ sales gears up several notches, the above Biblical quotation is at the heart of my thoughts today. Of course those who are engaged in manufacturing and selling are keen to persuade […]

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Falling Leaves… A Time To Remember

Recovering from a throat infection I have been obliged to spend most of my time in bed this past few days. It has been an unexpected joy to simply be able to lie and listen to the radio – in particular, Classic FM – and engage in some deep meditative thought. Quite by accident, I […]

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Winter Greetings!

Days come and go, the seasons turn and we have finally reached the first dark, turbulent days of Winter! Gazing out of my window across the drab khaki-green and brown fields, watching huge purple galleons of clouds majestically sail into view, I wonder what it is about this season which I love so much. Perhaps […]

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Happy Calan Gaeaf!

Warm greetings for a very stirring, magical and mischief-filled Calan Gaeaf! (Better known by some as Samhain or Hallowe’en.) For those of us who follow the seasonal celebrations around the wheel of the year, this is the last day of the old year, a fitting culmination to all the growing and harvesting of the light […]

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