Gillian Monks's Blog, page 7
December 7, 2022
Make the Very Most of Life!
We all know that the pandemic has changed many aspects of our lives and has presented us with huge challenges. But, as with most things, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it is all bad. Take my experience of yesterday, for instance. I am a member of the committee for our local branch of the Theosophical […]
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December 1, 2022
Tea and Carols
The church in Beddgelert dates from the early 13th Century but the religious community here reaches back to much earlier Celtic Christian times. It is a peaceful spot beside the Glaslyn river and glowed in the late November sunshine yesterday afternoon when a small group of us joined the congregation there for carols and readings […]
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November 28, 2022
“Mankind is my Business”
The above title is a misquote from “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, words uttered by a miserably repentant Marley’s ghost to an intractable and very unrepentant Scrooge. The full quotation is: “Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business: charity, mercy, benevolence, forbearance. These were all my business. The dealings of my […]
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November 22, 2022
Free E-book: Christmas on a Shoestring: Or Survival Strategies for the Festive Season
How are we all going to survive Christmas this year and still enjoy it? Yet, Christmas needn’t cost a fortune – you can actually get away with spending very little. Nor does Christmas have to cost us the Earth – literally – simply so that we can spend money we don’t really have on a […]
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November 21, 2022
Tea In A Box
The most enjoyable occasions can arise from something completely unplanned and unexpected. This afternoon, my husband and I had a real treat. A friend had very thoughtfully and kindly repaid our hospitality by treating us to afternoon tea in a box from the Cornish Company which arrived on our doorstep a couple of days ago. […]
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November 15, 2022
My Little Sacred Garden
Clear skies, drying boisterous winds, temperatures above 21 degrees… it doesn’t sound much like mid-November does it? But that was what we were treated to last weekend and I grabbed the opportunity to spend Sunday afternoon out in all that glorious freedom of unexpected, unseasonal sunshine. I spent my time working within our little stone […]
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November 7, 2022
A Very Happy Birthday!
As so many of you sent me emails and messages, I decided to respond with one huge ‘Thank you!’ to you all – I did indeed have a very happy day, in part because of all the love and goodwill channelled in my direction which warmed and deeply touched me. Late morning found my husband […]
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November 5, 2022
Greetings for Guy Fawkes!
‘Remember, remember, the 5th of November, Gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no reason, why gunpowder treason Should ever be forgot!’ Did you used to chant this when you were a child? Perhaps after all the recent political shenanigans the old rhyme might have more relevance to us today than merely remembering a chap who […]
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October 30, 2022
Happy Calan Gaeaf!
All the little ceramic pumpkin-shaped lanterns are scattered throughout the house, ready to light at dusk this evening. The real pumpkins have been carved and placed by the outside doors in welcome… a solitary broomstick leans against the wall of the front porch – a visitor, perhaps? The basket of sweets is ready in the […]
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October 20, 2022
The First Storm of Winter
What a night that was! Gales lashing the trees to a frenzy and howling around the house from all directions and then the advent of an electrical storm, the likes of which I have never seen in the United Kingdom before. It lasted for nearly three hours – silent, ominous, threatening – great blinding flashes […]
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