Category: pondering

#1261 theoldmortuary ponders

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Blog #1259 was a prompted subject.

#1259 theoldmortuary ponders.

But one tiny paragraph got me pondering.

The prompt asked for a favourite quote. Mine was one about tolerance and indifference.

Suppose I had lived my life with less tolerance and more confrontation. I am an avoider of confrontation. Preferring the less damaging tools of diplomacy and compromise. I am really not very good at confrontation when I am not on firm ground or people might be hurt by my change of character, I am much better at diplomacy and compromise.

But let’s be honest some people are just so entrenched in their nastiness that they wouldn’t recognise diplomacy or compromise. So should I have been pulling on the big girl pants and getting some more confrontation experience along the way.

It is not that I never do confrontation, I just don’t do it if there is a lot to lose for me and other people that I respect or care for.

I can quietly ponder about relationships that have not gone to plan. The ones that are easiest to think about are the ones that have some finality. Estrangement or death allows the pondering free reign and are are the most fascinating because they are over. I can ponder almost clinically if I could have made any improvements in our interactions that would have made things better.

But maybe they could just have tried harder to be nicer, kinder people. Which, of course, is where I flounce off and toss my indifference to them into the air. Not as obvious as the big girl pants of confrontation but every bit as deadly.

#1350 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn pondering, Words1 Comment
A marvellous place to muse or mull. Or even ponder

Yesterday was a musing or mulling kind of day. Nothing serious, just a delicate or sensitive situation, tennis club based that needed good handling. I was extremely lucky to get a favourite swimming spot to myself so I could mull or muse uninterrupted.

A good overnight brought me some clarity for that problem. But then trivial ponderings made me wonder why I had not called my blog ‘theoldmortuary muses’ or ‘theoldmortuary mulls’

theoldmortuary ponders follows on from Pandemic Pondering. That title obviously had a time limit but on a writing course I was advised to leave the pandemic behind, before it left me behind. It was also suggested that I make my blog more personal. theoldmortuary is my creative space and although a pseudonym that feels pretty personal, not for a moment did I consider dropping the word pondering. Mull would never have been chosen but muses might have done.

I do wonder if I have rather devalued the essence of a ponder by pondering such trivial, benign, repetitive or quite frankly flimsy thoughts on a daily basis.

Muse does seem slightly more appropriate but for now, pondering will be the thought process. Leaving musing and mulling for more serious thought processes.

Back to to the swim where I mulled or mused a tricksy tennis problem. From my ridiculously elite swimming spot I swam to the very popular beach.

And then I swam back. This is a truly trivial,benign,repetitive and flimsy ponder.

But musing and mulling also occured.

#1411 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn pondering, SerendipityLeave a comment
Calm reflection in a flower pot

What’s a mystery from your own life that you’ve never solved?

Now this is a question with a million answers. I am fairly certain the resolution of many of my mysteries will always be just out of reach. I have been the oldest family member in my known family for more than 30 years. Giving me a big bag of family mysteries. Then there are the workplace mysteries. Why did certain things go the way they did? Then there are the domestic mysteries, those are often the least interesting and yet the most pressing.

As an avid ponderer I think mysteries are either a superpower or the essential fuel of the craft of pondering.

If I eradicated all my mysteries what would I do all day?

I prefer the latin word for ponder.

Somehow it gives pondering, or indeed mystery solving more importance.

Mystery is infinite and all the better for it.

#1410 theoldmortuary ponders.

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Steps at Ocean Studios ©theoldmortuary

What a difference 24 hours make, yesterday I was writing about a sublime experience at a ballet  performance. Today I may need to comment that unknown to me I was a little under the weather at the theatre. Unknown to me a 40 year old root canal was quietly and painlessly giving up the will to live in a tooth. What became very obvious later in the night was that not only was he in terminal decline but he had unfortunately affected and infected his neighbour. A tooth with a fully functioning nerve system!

Some emergency dental treatment is a wonderful thing. Ultimately I will have to lose both the teeth but for now they are at peace. Painkillers and antibiotics are wonderful things.

I have been very fortunate, 40 years ago I had my first experience of toothache and 24 hours ago was my second.

Despite being warned that root canal work might only provide a short term fix my little tooth hung in there, only changing colour very slightly recently. He endured through two pregnancies and orthodontic teeth straightening. All things that might have affected his longevity. He has endured periods of a busy life and an irrational  fear of dentists, that stopped me attending once my adorable dentist retired.

Curiously my little tooth is a marker of time. 40 years ago I had two parents, and no children. Now I have two children, no parents.  A wealth of life experience and changes.

Toothache and ballet. They make you think.

Sunset at Tinside ©theoldmortuary

The two pictures illustrating this blog have nothing to do with teeth. But they do both have colour sensations that are not too dissimilar with my experience of toothache. Especially when displayed in a tile format.

#1405 theoldmortuary ponders

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November and December in Asia and Australia tricked my skin that winter had not arrived. Late January and the truth has started to hurt. Skin soothed by an early Southern Hemisphere Summer is now calling out for richer moisturiser and at the same time as rejecting it by breaking out under the pressure of heavier creams. Rain and constant storms and a small dog requiring a walk are not good friends with my face.

These hand blown baubles were reflecting the weak sun of a rainy day on the Mornington Peninsular, Victoria. They look like tiny apothecary jars. I wish my bathroom cabinet looked as pretty as I search for balm to nurture my sore skin. But they remind me of a moment not so long ago when rain did not wreak havoc with my complexion. Mornington has an extreme heatwave warning today. So absolutely no point  wishing I was there right now, my skin would still be sore, but for different reasons. The baubles would be more vivid in harsh unforgiving sunlight.

Studio & Co. https://share.google/RjfcMofOEqUTTGyxO

#1403 theoldmortuary ponders.

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I love a soundbite. A tiny little statement or sentence that sums something up.

Nostalgia is not a Strategy – Mark Carney at Davos yesterday.

Headline grabbing from the Canadian Prime Minister at Davos when most headlines are grabbed by the Pussy Grabber.

Far be it from me to disagree with a Prime Minster with integrity but how can anyone possibly strategise without nostalgia.

Strategies are built using current information and past experience.

People are usually only sentimental or wistful about things in the past that were successful, pleasurable or effective.

All things that would be admirable in a strategy.

You might wonder why my humble blog is pondering the lofty soundbites of a World Leader. Well, when Mr Carney was running the Bank of England our thighs briefly touched whilst sitting on the underground in London. In truth the only famous thigh I have ever briefly touched in a non professional situation.

I don’t imagine he remembers that moment so I will not be firing off a quick email to him to help him with his next speech.

But if you are reading this Mark.

It is impossible to Strategise effectively without Nostalgia.

Learning from past mistakes etc.

#1398 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn pondering, Serendipity1 Comment

My post-Christmas tidy up brought me some joy with the rediscovery of my old portable typewriter’s history.

My Olympus SM was manufactured in Germany in 1939 and sold to its first owner W.H Butterworth while he lived at 28, Chiltern Drive, Braddell Heights, Singapore. The original sales document is still in the ginger coloured carrying case, resting on my sofa.

I was in Singapore in November, had I remembered this fact I would almost certainly have taken myself off on a wild goose chase to see my typewriters first home.

Somewhere in this photo from the Marina Bay swimming pool is Braddell Heights. Very far distant but there nevertheless.

Why such a wild goose chase?

I quite like a wild goose chase. Sometimes a seemingly pointless task brings unexpected experiences. So I regret not chasing that particular goose but Singapore had other wildlife.

But we did not meet Otters in the Botanic Gardens, which was a dissapointment

So perhaps we should have chased the odd wild goose.

Or maybe we did.

#1380 theoldmortuary ponders.

On By theoldmortuary.designIn pondering, Serendipity1 Comment
Winter Sunshine, Fowey.

One outing, two blogs. Sometimes a day can be experienced on several levels.

#1378 theoldmortuary ponders.

Blog #1378 wallowed in nostalgia and some dog extra sensory perception. I am comforted by nostalgia and a little sadness is easily softened by the reliving of many happy moments in the same place. But familiar places are never dull. Especially on a day when the sunshine quota was high.

Early visits to Fowey in the 70’s and 80’s, were to a seaside town still functioning as a place where normal people lived, and tourism and locals co-existed. Butchers, Bakers, a Fishmongers and Pharmacy all filled Fore Street  The physical buildings remain more or less the same but their form and function have changed to service the hoardes of wealthy Airbnbers and luxury hotel visitors who flock to Cornwall every year.

As a visitor myself I am as much a part of the problem as anyone who has travelled further to enjoy the beauty and texture of the place.

In this old Fishing and Pirating Port , tourists have become the catch of the day and buccaneers treasure chest all rolled into one.

Shops and businesses change hands and function almost overnight. We have become loyal customers to specific buildings not so much the business operating within it.

Hot Chocolate @SaltSociety
Fowey.

Three generations of family and friends have shared the joy of Fowey on day trips and weekend breaks. The Boom years of tourism. But what comes next.

The tin merchants of 4,000 years ago could not have imagined the Piracy of 400 years ago. Just as I struggle with the changes of 40 years of tourism. Casting forward 40, 400 or even 4,000 years what will be the niche business of Fowey?

Pondering the future during Twixtmas.  Round and round , mind meandering at its best.

P.S  A glorious shop window viewed from inside. Giant Quality Street Sweets.

This picture is a good representation of how my mind feels pondering all that future Fowey…

#1303 theoldmortuary ponders

On By theoldmortuary.designIn pondering, Procrastination, Scrag End of SummerLeave a comment

My feet, and the rest of me woke up at a normalish time 6:00 and needed a light on.  Wind and rain outside, but not quite visible.  Sunrise was at 6:24 today.  Another sure sign that the ‘scrag end of summer’ is fully established in these parts. At this time of day I am accustomed to considering an early dog walk to avoid the heat of the day. Today the consideration is rain avoidance. Hurricane Erin is the cause of our disturbed weather, she is heading to our shores in a less powerful but still disruptive way.

Among my many youthful plans, being a weather forecaster was one potential career path, as was Agony Aunt. Both could easily be revived as interests in semi-retirement.I also wanted to be a window-dresser at Selfridges on Oxford Street, maybe less transferable to the dabbling level of interest that I currently operate on for the other two. One can casually offer advice to others and comment on the weather. Not always at the same time of course.But rearranging a shops window display is not something that can be dabbled at without both causing alarm and probably setting off  an actual alarm.

It must have been at this time of year, a year ago that I considered getting a little App operated weather station for our yard. Maybe I should do something about that.

Semi-retirement is like that, so much to do, so little time to do it with all that other dabbling and procrastination going on… Not to mention the weather, because here it comes.

©Kernow Weather Team

And this my friends is what procrastination looks like on the dog walk.

#1364 theoldmortuary ponders.

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It is easy to pick up free magazines with lovely articles in the Summer months. These two fell into my hands yesterday.  Primarily aimed at tourists they also give us up to date information on places that we visit often. Padstow is very location specific . Drift is more regional. Both good with a cup of coffee.

Drifting is what we did yesterday  when we specifically visited Padstow. Yesterday Padstow was at Peak Padstow.

So with pasties in hand we made our way to a field overlooking the estuary. Just as visitors have done for centuries. So I made our family picnic photo look historic

My pastie was rhubarb and custard and I followed it with a gooseberry yogurt ice cream. Hardly traditional but it was a drifting kind of day and I drifted from more conventional flavours towards the joy of English Soft Fruits.

I realise now that I really value the word ‘drift’ and indeed the idea of drfting through a day.  All from a magazine that I picked up  on a whim.