O fragile flower growing by the roadside.
How did you manage to grow here all alone?
Did someone plant you?
Or were you blown on the wind so far from home?
Personal Blogs
On seeing a fragile flower...
Have courage!
Today I was feeling in need of some comforting words so I read Psalm 27....
Psalm 27
27 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.
9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.
11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.
Ref;
The Bible
Winter Meal
It was a cold damp day today, so I made a vegetarian curry with pieces of butternut squash and quorn mince, lentils, beans, tomatoes, onions with various spices and basmati rice.
The family enjoy this meal.
Poetry and Procrastination
Today the TMA system opens for TMA03. As usual the expected procrastination soon kicked in, even though I was keen to submit my TMA3 ! Lately I have been reading and writing poetry, so I just penned a few poems that I was rather pleased with. I don't think it was a waste of time, but it was a moment of inspiration after working hard on my TMA 03 assignment and it made me feel calmer..
I like writing poetry and wish I could be inspired to write more poems.
Winter Dream
Why do I cry in the winter
Why do I feel so blue
The cold is cruel and biting
I don't know what to do.
I now have a plan of action
I know what I must do
I will move to a warmer dwelling
Somewhere small and new.
A bungalow that is so cosy
A little green garden bright
With windows full of sunshine throughout the day
And a warm blazing fire by night.
🏡 🔥
Watching 'Maigret' french film, in the french language
Last night I watched 'Maigret' french detective film last night on Talking pictures, the title was "Maigret a peur." I had read the book previously, so I knew the basic plot for this film, but it was good to hear the french spoken language.
The author George Simenon was born in Belgium Liége in the south of Belgium, but later moved to France, America and Switzerland.
He was a prolific writer writing over 500 books over his lifetime, some under various pen names.
In French
Hier soir J'ai regardé le film en français, de 'Maigret' un roman d'après le livre par Georges Simenon intitulé 'Maigret a peur.' L' acteur Bruno Cremer est selon moi le meilleur acteur pour le rôle de Maigret.
J'avais déjà lu le livre, donc je connaissais l'intrigue de base de ce film, mais c'était bien de l'entendre dans la langue française.
L'auteur George Simenon est né à Liège, dans le sud de la Belgique, mais a ensuite émigré de son vivant en France, en Amérique et en Suisse. Il était un écrivain prolifique, écrivant plus de 500 livres au cours de sa vie, certains sous différents noms de plume.
TMA 03 coming up!
It has been a hectic time lately, but I think that I am slowly getting my life back to normal. The TMA 03 about "Health- internal and external factors", this is coming up next week, I am very interested in the subject of health as I am always talking about it! I must get my essay sorted out by this weekend.
Managed to get the word count sorted, tried to use good academic english language, was able to use paraphrasing a lot more, as well as compare and contrast. Paragraphs still need working on but I still need to proof read it all and go through the assignment check list. I will be able to work on it again this week.
Looking forward to the springtime coming!
"Multitasking"
Been a busy bee lately?
I woke up early this morning and worked on my TMA 03 while also having my breakfast. I also read some selected e-books at the same time, while I wrote notes down about them.
I then went shopping in the supermarket, while talking to a friend on the mobile, then at the same time carefully manoeuvring my shopping trolley, checking my shoppoing list and
selecting items off the shelves.
I look after my son and now since my husband had an accident( I believe he is suffering PTSD) I have to look after him too, like making snacks and cups of tea, doing the housework, cleaning the stairs, then running up and down the stairs, massaging his legs, reminding him to take his medications. Make sure he has some exercises up the corridor and around the house.
My son needs rests, combined with timed activities at home. He also needs a short walk every day, so we go slowly around the street and back around the block, at the same time I disposed of some recycling, because the bin soon gets full at home.
I am not risking him catching a flu again, so not going too far from home!
Back home and made the meal. Vegetarian meal for myself and son, chicken roast dinner for husband. Cooking both meals at the same time.
In the evening I am watching TV, chatting to the family while knitting a colourful blanket!
Before bed I am drinking hot chocolate, listening to the radio and reading a book at the same time!
So Is "multitasking" a good thing or a bad thing?
What is your experience?
Remembrance of Second World War- Holocaust day
Today was the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the German Nazi extermination camps by the Russians and others. It was remembered around the world this day.
A stark reminder of the influence of the far right and the populist movements in the world. The rise of these fascist movements is very worrying. When a group of people spread hatred about a certain race of people, at first they are often supported by others who agree with them, next they are saying that it would be a good idea that these people, should be wiped out. How quickly the hatred can spread and the flames fanned, until most people were in agreement.
We need to stay vigilant and aware of extremist ideas, from the whole political spectrum, especially from those in power, who use their powers to whip up hatred to promote their extreme nationalist ideas.
Lest we forget!
Winter- I Have A Cold!
What I have done this week
It is Winter time, so trying to keep warm and cosy! 🧤🧥🧢🧦🔥⛄
Have been making lots of lovely vegetarian meals with lots of fresh green vegetables, which I buy from a friend who has an allotment. I have recently discovered 'Kale ' which is absolutely delicious with pasta and cheese sauce
🥬🥦🥒🧅🧀
Another favourite of mine at the moment, is vegetable pie and mushroom pie with gravy. Healthy as well as comforting!
Been walking along a new circuit, near where I live. This circuit consists of a very steep incline up towards the market place and another steep incline, leading from the back of the park up tree lane. This is good for strengthening the leg muscles! so before shopping I try to have a little walk.
In the past I have always walked this way, but from the other side, so I always came down hill each time.
Going up hill is a bit more of a challenge! for me, especially with my bursitis on both my knees.
I have been going to Charity shops lately and thrift shops in search of bargains this winter with my son. I used to work in a charity shop on Saturday's many years ago. Today I ended up buying some very warm wooly men's jumpers even one for myself!
We tried out the new tea room on the Market place, a bit claustrophobic, but is ok at a certain time in the day, when it is less busy, so if we go at that time it is usually more quieter.
Went to visit the library too, to borrow some books, but I have not yet had time to read them, maybe after TMA0 3, then I will have more time to read other non OU books. At the moment most of my reading is done online and connected to my course.
I have gathered together a nice little collection of french films, which I am learning a lot more french from, after my french module.. I am so glad that I got all the basics and the intermediate knowledge first from the OU.
For now I am enjoying walking around my village and chatting to some friends I meet.
Funnily enough, since the accident, I have made many more friends. People who come up to me and chat to me and always ask about John, If he is getting better. He is such a character and is very sociable. It was so good to feel the support from my local community.
French Film Series 'Astrid'
I am enjoying the french film series of 'Astrid; Murder in Paris' on Friday evenings 9pm on More 4.
The two french female detectives, together with their team mates, continue to solve the crimes in the capital city. This week it was the mystery surrounding a rare 💎 diamond that had gone missing. The crime also involved a murder. It was quite a complex puzzle, but Astrid is soon onto the case, using her prior knowledge and expertise of working in the police archives. As a person with Autism she surprises everyone with her unique and intuitive skills.
There are also some humourous parts in the film, about the romantic interests of Astrid, and her friend Tetsuo, whom she is trying to have a relationship with, but this does not always run smoothly, but is funny and cute to see. They definitely have a good rapport together!
Raphael is also having problems with her love life too, and a love rival for Nicholas, when a new female cop joins the team.
What will happen next I wonder!
I am so glad to be learning french by watching french films and by listening to the french language. Friday night is french night!
Slowly Making Progress
Following on from my last tutorial and using the pomodoro technique, I was able to get a lot done this morning. I created a mind map diagram and a skeleton of an essay seems to be emerging, all I need to do now is to make sure I have all the relevant information in organised paragraphs.
Mind Map Diagram Open University
A Good Tutorial!
The Tutorial last night was excellent with Tutor Mary. She talked to us about time management, and how we can make the most of the study time we are able to find. I especially liked the Pomodoro technique (timed slots), which we were able to try out in the tutorial for practise.
For 20 minutes we had to be silent and focus, concentrating on a certain task, so I decided to do note taking, I also concentrated on the TMA guidance notes. I was able to expand upon this for 20 minutes. At the end I was surprised how quickly the time had passed and that I had wrote 2 full pages of expanded notes!
We came back together and talked about this for a while and then did some brain storming, with lots of great studying tips for writing an essay. I felt really inspired!
There was then another 20 mins given us, to write about the study techniques we will be trying out. I was very impressed and couldn't wait to try it out at home. All I have to do now is to find a spare 20 minutes!
I will now be setting my alarm clock very early in the morning! lol! 🕖
Taking Notes for TMA 03
Today I have been reading the Resource text book again. I found it interesting about health, and I wrote a lot of notes down, so all I have to do now is turn my notes into an essay.
I have a tutorial this evening, so this will help me a lot to organise myself into the right mindset of doing a TMA. My Tutor Patrick also gave me some good feedback about organising my paragraphs correctly.
I am getting back again into reset after a brief pause. 👍
The Accident
The weather was cold and frosty today, so I quickly put on the heating. At the moment my house is rather like a hospital(bandages, creams and medications) and I am playing the role of the nurse, but sometimes I am the patient too, especially when I have to bathe my battered and bruised leg. I then apply a soothing cream, this helps with the healing process and so does the massaging, while the painkiller helps me to sleep at night.
My husband and myself have recently been knocked down by a bus a few weeks ago. It happened after being dropped off at the bus stop on the market place, we had walked along the road a little and then onto another smaller road leading homeward. After looking both ways, as we had done hundreds of times in the past. the road looked clear- but dark. We had began to cross the road when wham! Bang! The bus came tearing around the corner as we were halfway across and hit us. My husband was flung across the road and hit his head and hip. I fell under the bus.
The ambulance came and drove my husband to the hospital, but he was still conscious and talking. He told me to go back home to our son immediately, our son was at home being cared for by a friend but they had just left. I myself did not need an ambulance, but was able to walk a little and did not feel that bad at the time, although a little painful. A friendly neighbour who happened to be walking nearby, came over and escorted me back home.
The shop keepers were wonderful! they had left their shops, and had come out to administer first aid, while we waited for the ambulance to arrive. I am so grateful for their assistance!
The good news was that no bones had been broken either of my husband or myself. He is now struggling to walk again, but It is still early days, however he may need some physiotherapy to get him moving about again.
I now help him each day, by massaging his legs and help him to walk up the corridor to the loo. He is resting a lot at the moment.
It has been a very traumatic time for both of us, but we both feel very lucky to be alive!
Looking forward to TMA 03
This week I have been reading block 3. It is a quite a large block mainly about "Health" and "Health related issuesI" as a carer, I have always been interested in health, I am finding it all very enlightening, writing reports on health is something I am very keen on.
Writing about health in general. 'TMA 03' will be all about writing about health, so this is useful and will give me practice in writing that I need about this subject . I am really looking forward to TMA 03.
New Year Hope!
Why is the earth so beautiful despite all the trouble and sorrow?
I was thinking this to myself this day. After briefly watching the news, which was as usual very sad and depressing. I then went out for a slow walk via the park(I am still suffering from a leg accident, so I have to walk slowly) then I turned onto the country lane, leading behind the cemetery, and alongside the field. I looked across at the woods, where once I had seen a beautiful red fox, as he ran out playfully into the field in the summer.
Now, the pale winter sunshine had illuminated the trees, these were all covered in last night,s rain, and it made them sparkle like crystals. It was a dazzling display to watch, like hundreds of little lights suddenly been turned on! A bird sang a melodious tune up in the trees. The tune sounded so cheerful and hopeful , that it actually made me smile. Can life really get better? I wondered, or is it just all doom and gloom.
Out here in nature all looks well and life goes on full of hope and then I suddenly feel a part of it, like so many people who sometimes stop to appreciate the nature around them.
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart" Ecclesiastes 3 v 11.
The creator God has made us and nature for His and our good pleasure to enjoy and appreciate. We remember what God has done, by forming the earth and filling it with beauty , a perfect place for humans to live in peace, love, harmony with nature and animals. In nature we feel the presence of God.
"My ears have heard of you but now my eyes have seen you." (Job42.5)
When we look at the creation we are seeing God's own handiwork.
It is also a hope for the future when once again God will replenish the earth and we will dwell there with God. God will dwell with us, and once again the glory of God will cover the whole earth.
He shall wipe every tear from their eyes and they will study war no more !
How we long for that time!
Until then we can but strive to live in peace, harmony and love.
A Frosty New Year!
Happy New Year!
I woke up this morning to a thick white frost. It may even have snowed during the night (not sure). I let the cat indoors, he was out all night poor thing, but I had left the little shed door open for him, in my 'Hideaway', so he stayed there some of the night hidden amongst dozens of cushions!
He also had a plate of leftover turkey stew and a saucer of milk to keep him going.
I am still recovering from an accident, but I can just about limp and walk to the shops. My husband can't walk yet (he was more injured than I was) and he is still resting up.
I have to do everything alone now, but I manage ok somehow, with my trusty trolley. I have to take pain killers to ease the pain sometimes.
Today, I have managed to read some of the Bite size ebooks, so that was a good start. I have also scan-read some of the texts in the Resource Texts on health, which was very interesting. I hope to read it again in more detail. Some information I already knew, from a past study in a carers course.
Other information was brand new to me and the medical language was important to remember too.
I do hope I will be able to concentrate and keep all these facts in my mind!
👩💻📚
I Hope everyone is ok and getting on well with their studies.
Happy 2025!
I would like to wish all the OU students
A Happy New Year 2025! 🥳
May you be successful in all your endeavours!
🥂🍻 📃 🏆
Christmas 2024
Unfortunately, I have not been able to do as much reading as I would like to have done. However, I have managed to cast a glance over block 3 introduction to " Health" section, so I am slowly making in-roads, bit by bit into this block.
Christmas was good, but hectic, and just before Christmas, I had an accident (as a pedestrian), 🚌👩🦯but I can't go into that at the moment except to say I am still alive to tell the tale!
Anyway, it makes a change from Covid or the Norovirus I suppose!
What do I like about Christmas time?
🏠🎄🎈🎇 🎆🎂🥂
1, Having a warm house with the heating on.
2, Switching on the twinkly little lights, a candelabra in the window, and lighting lots of battery candles around the house. It is a good cosy feeling , dispelling the Winter darkness with bright lights!
3, Putting up the Nativity Scene with ' Baby Jesus and the Holy family' on display.
4, A Christmas Tree (I can take it or leave it) I just have a little tree in the corner of the living room.
5) Going to the Church/ Cathedral for Mass with Carols.( or watching it on TV!)
6, A Traditional Christmas dinner!
7, it is the celebration of the birth of our Messiah Jesus who came to show us the way to God the father.
Happy Birthday Jesus!
At the end of this week it will be the short break from studying Academic English L185 and language studies. I will be off for a day out in town, for last minute shopping in preparation for the Christmas, although
I do already have most things bought, including food, which I have previously ordered in advance on line.
I am not going to get overly stressed or anxious about anything. In fact everything is cool and under control!
As for the family, everyone is catered for including the meat eaters and the vegetarians! The food will be cooked the day before then just heated up on the day.It will be a nice quiet, family occasion.
Studies -
Holiday Reading
Today, I did some reading, at the moment I am reading "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, and "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte. I often read 2 books together or one after another! I have read these books before in the past, but I wanted to revisit them again, as I hope it will help me to improve my English skills.
I am still reading french novels in the french language, and will soon begin another book from the "Maigret" french detective series. As well as that, I will be casting a quick glance over the coursework before starting TMA 03, which should be interesting as the topic is "Health Studies". I have studied the subject of health before, but this is much more recent up to date study, so I am looking forward to reading that, and will be taking some notes.
So my brain will still be a bit active over the holidays!
However, I will mostly be relaxing with the family at home, and enjoying the Winter holiday feeling.
It will also be my birthday, but the least said about that the better! lol! 😄
Happy Christmas Holidays Everyone !
A Translation
Translation of a prayer by Saint Ignatius of Loyola;
Translation in English
Teach us , good Lord , to serve you as you deserve ; to give , and not to count the cost , to fight , and not to heed the wounds ,
to toil , and not to seek for rest , to labour , and not to ask for reward , except that of knowing that we are doing your will."
God give me your love and grace. That is enough for me. Amen.
Apprends-nous, Bon Dieu, à te servir comme tu le mérites ; donner et ne pas compter le prix, se battre et ne pas prêter attention aux blessures, travailler dur et ne pas chercher le repos, travailler et ne pas demander de récompense, sinon celle de savoir que nous faisons ta volonté.
Dieu, donne-moi ton amour et ta grâce. Cela me suffit. Amen.
🙏
TMA 02 Submitted!
This weekend I was able to submit my TMA 02. There were a few teething problems with the newer computer (a gift from a friend), because it needed too many updates doing to it, so to save time and to be quicker (or so I thought!! Ha! )
I had to use my old dinosaur computer, which is on it's last legs, but is familiar, tedious, slow but fairly reliable. However, at one point I couldn't even find the TMA I had written, it had completely vanished somewhere!
Anyway, it eventually did turn up in doccuments after a long search! lol!
Then I couldn't read all the functions on the computer, because the writing was too small I need some new spectacles and the light outside was fading fast, but somehow I managed to get it sent off, via the OU TMA system.
I was so pleased to receive the e- mail with receipt of the submission. Thank goodness I managed to do it!
👩💻👍
TMA02 for L185 ready to go!
I have to wait for the TMA 02 submission service to open up tomorrow Saturday, then I can send in my TMA. I feel quite confident, and feel I have considered every possible angle on the subject. I could even have wrote much more than 400 words on this topic!
Now, just biding my time and preparing to send off my essay. 👍
Interruptions, interruptions!
I have been reading a great deal and thinking about the structure of sentences.
In the past, I used to just write down whatever came to mind, naturally without thinking about it. Now I think carefully about how sentences are constructed and organised. The ebooks I had downloaded earlier, have helped me a lot, to understand about these processes.
In TMA 02 I have given a lot of thought to this. I have wrote about 3 different versions on the definition I have to describe. However, in the end, I had to choose to go with just one of them!
Things are difficult at home, there's lots going on and my son is not very well, so I have to spend a bit more time with him at the moment. I am just glad I had started working on the TMA early on, so now it is almost ready to submit. I must get it sent off next week, as quickly as possible!
📱📖🖨👍👩💻
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