Naufragio del Chubasco

You can see the picture in its original size here.

No dejes para ...

I've been going to Spanish classes for a while now.  They're great fun.  I'm almost at the stage where I can read Spanish at sight.  But I still struggle with conversation.

This says, "Don't leave for tomorr....".

Gay Pride, Madrid

From The Guardian

Happy new year to everybody

Here in eastern Oz, only New Zealand in the world  beats us into the new year.

It's been a better year for me than for many years.  The gradual recovery from the Henrik/Jack/Arn disaster proceeded; my job got better; we paid off more debt.  All I need to do now is lose some weight!

To all of you: happy new year.

Aan almal van julle: 'n gelukkige en voorspoedige nuwe jaar

A vous tous: bonne annee

A Ustedes todos: feliz ano nuevo.

Just as I have climbed out of my slough of despond, so I hope you all will be well, will be very well in 2015.  Thanks for following this blog.  Onwards and upwards.

Happy list

Each day I make a list of things to be happy about.  It's a little technique I've found which helps when I'm down.

Here's today's list:

Arctotis/Gousblom

The perfect little white daisies (bellis perennis, I think) are thickly sprinkled on the lawn, startlingly white against the spring green.  The annual gousblom (arctotis) is everywhere, the little flower heads turned and turning towards the sun.  The pin oak (quercus palustris) is budding as is the nyssa and the copper beech (fagus sylvatica purpurea) has its wonderful copper/bronze buds.  Such beautiful trees.

White Bellis Perennis growing in a meadow

My knee is getting a little bit less sore.  And I'm slowly losing the weight I must to eliminate pain completely.  I am otherwise well.  My back isn't too bad.

Copper beech foliage

I'm writing again.  Not much, not fluently, but I am writing.  I even wrote on the train today, for the first time in weeks.

We are paying off our debts

Played clarinet today, and I'm determined to do it every day from now on.  My technique has gone to hell, but my fingers remember where the notes are.  Lips not yet strong enough though.  Will have to build their strength up over time.

At work, I'm beating the All Ords index, which is VERY hard to do.  Especially in volatile markets.  Don't expect it to last though.  The Goddess of markets is readying herself to punish me.

Advancing in Spanish.  Perfectly understood Lesson 5 of the course today for the first time.  And I'm committed to doing some every day.  Progress!

I might not have any friends, but I have my lady and my children and they compensate!  I'm so glad I have them.

I have beauty, shelter, food, books, music, passable health, a decent job, people to love.  My life is full.    What more do I need?   There is so much to be glad about.

See?  That was easy.  :-)

Soy tu amigo y te amo

Una carga demasiado pesada

The Spanish means:
           I decided to bet on love. Hate is too heavy a burden.

(Yay for me: I'm learning Spanish)

Sick. Again.

A dreary cold and bronchitis.  I haven't felt well for months.  Meh.  That's old age, right?

Anyway, as a result, no Majorca Flats, no other posts, nada.  (I'm learning Spanish! No es facil hablar esta lengua!)

Anyway, maybe after a good night's sleep I'll feel better ....