Category: Random Ramblings

sometimes a rant, sometimes a waffle, sometimes uncategorisable, sometimes I make up words

Do you see what I see?

On By auntyamoIn Getting to grips with God stuff, Random Ramblings1 Comment

This fabulous image is of one of my favourite places to be.

Sally Gap 2 JI

The photo was taken by John Ivory and he has kindly given me permission to use it.

It is the road to Sally Gap in the Wicklow mountains. I can’t count the times I’ve driven up that road. I used to take it as part of the scenic route to the Bible College in Greystones, on my own in the early morning. I also used to drive up there with friends having the laughs, listening to loud music. I’ve taken it with American visitors, showing off my beautiful country. Also used to drive up there often with himself to relax, chat and pray in quiet.

I’ve taken loads of photographs of it too. But I’ve never been able to capture the view the way John has. When I saw the photo my first thought was… ‘THAT is what it looks like!’

I have a theory about photographs… which may land me in some hot water, but hear me out.

I think the reason we love our own photos is not because they reflect what we saw, it’s because when we look at them, we see our memory of the actual scene. Not the captured image, which is usually substandard. We remember how spectacular it was and the photo helps us to do that, but the photo itself doesn’t reflect the spectacularness (and yes, I am making up words to prove my point), to someone who wasn’t there. I reckon the reason we don’t love everyone else’s photos (and they don’t love ours…) is because we don’t see what they saw. We see a vague resemblance to what they saw. And that’s all they see in our pics.

Photographers have a way of capturing a true reflection of an image, which I think John has done brilliantly here with some of these other photographs of the same area. (Also used with his permission.)

JI collage

I was talking to Rich the other day about Heaven. What it might be like and what eternity will feel like etc. I said that no matter how hard I try, or what books I read or even what Bible verse I read, I cannot get my head around what Heaven will be like. It’s like I’m actually incapable of conjuring a good image in my head or a realistic concept of it.
I remembered the verse in 1st Corinthians that says,
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

So it actually makes sense that I can’t conjour up the image.
Even if I did, it would be a poor reflection. But as the Apostle Paul says later on in 1st Corinthians,
“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. 
Now I know in part; then I shall know fully…”

oh and If my photograph theory is right, then even John’s photo of those mountains is only a reflection (albeit a fabulous one) – you’ll have to take yourself up there to experience it first hand 🙂

Not sure if I “like” your “endorsement”, you “follow”?

On By auntyamoIn April AtoZ, Getting to grips with God stuff, Random Ramblings7 Comments

Sincere apologies to anyone who has done this for me, and it doesn’t apply to every one – but I have to ask… What is the story with LinkedIn endorsements?

linked in 2

Cos I am actually scarlet when I get one.

Genuinely…

Red face, cringe, stare at feet – moments!

Now I am a girl who is well able to take a compliment.
You shower me with compliments – I’ll dig out the loofah!
But on LinkedIn???? I not sure I get it.

If you’re reading this and you have endorsed me then you might be harrumphing at my lack of gratitude and I can’t blame you for that. But I’d take those compliments more graciously (and willingly) if I really understood what they were about…?

So here’s why I have some scruples…

1. Is it just a case of Quid pro quo?
I read somewhere that recommendations on LinkedIn lose their value if they are reciprocated. Which is a pain cos I have two great recommendations and yes… they are both reciprocated. If endorsements are about mutual back scratching then I don’t see the point.
It’s different from ‘you follow me, I follow you back’ on social media. Twitter and FB are more about fun and social stuff. LI is a professional network!

2. I have been endorsed by people I’ve never met
I’m sounding more and more ungrateful as I go on amn’t I? :/
But it feels strange to get the thumbs up for a skill by folk I don’t really know. I know people can read the blogs and say they feel I’m good at writing, but there are cases where it’s not as simple as that.

3. I have at least one endorsement for a skill that I KNOW I am not good at
I won’t say which one, in case I cause the endorser (who is probably quite irked with me already!) any further pains. But a couple of times I’ve seen an endorsement and thought – ‘I’m rubbish at that.’

I think it was Rob Parsons of Care for the Family I heard say, something along the lines of, “Remember you’re not as great as you think you are, but you’re not as awful as you think you are either!” I think that’s a healthy attitude and one that is very much in line with Scripture.

Romans 12:3 says, “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”

I suppose I’m trying to balance taking a compliment and thinking of myself with ‘sober judgement’. And I can’t tell you why I’m more hung up on LinkedIn endorsements than I am on someone saying of FB or Tw, “Read her stuff, she’s great.”
In fact a few more of those would be nice 🙂

Maybe it’s because it IS a professional network that I’m more iffy about it. I’ve never had a career, just a series of jobs that I’ve loved to a greater or lesser degree. I’m not sure why I even joined LinkedIn to be honest.

Am I alone in this – would love your feedback.
You can be totally honest, say what you like, take me to task, disagree with me, admonish me for being so ungrateful – respond however you’d want; just  make sure to click that ‘like’ button below while you’re there… 😀

photo credit: clasesdeperiodismo via photopin cc

Vicar’s Got Talent?

On By auntyamoIn Getting to grips with God stuff, Random Ramblings2 Comments

Well now, it seems that the jury is out on the flashmob dancing vicar!

It’s been very interesting watching the reaction. I’ve seen the youtube clip posted loads of times, with comments ranging from the likes of – ‘this is fantastic!’ to ‘this is the worse thing you will ever see.’

I’ve read Christians who think ‘YEAH God is fun – I want my pastor to do this!’ and a self-confessed atheistic complain that ‘church is a place of worship’ and that this was disrespectful. I’ve also read a blog post by a priest who wonders if this is the type of thing that has the CofE numbers falling. I highly doubt that flashmobs are the reason for low church attendance. (Unless you count the two ladies who walked out in the middle of the dance routine.)

The thing that struck me was the fact that the bride and the vicar spent a lot of their time chatting. Now I’m only guessing but I reckon it might have been something like,

medium_6861100527 greek dancers cropped
We should be grateful that we weren’t subjected to Stavros Flatley… I suppose!

“You doing anything later?”
“Eh, yeah I just got married.”
“Of course sorry. I meant to ask you actually, how is that dress staying up?”
“Oh I’m wired into, don’t worry it’s very secure,… Hang on, where are Aunty Maureen and Aunty Mavis going?”
“Huh? who?”
“Hey be careful for your bit, don’t trip over your cassock again. “
“Gosh that would be embarrassing –  oh here’s my cue, back in a sec…”
“Go on girl, you’ve got the moves like Hagar…”

I’ll be honest and say I don’t feel that strongly about it either way, which is a bit weird for me actually. I think it’s a bit cute. This couple have been together years and I think it’s great that they decided to get married. The article in the papers suggest that the ‘type’ of vicar that she was helped make their decision.

I do have a little niggle about it though… I’ve been singing at weddings for years – about 25 I’d say. Most of them have been Roman Catholic weddings, and I’ve seen things change over that time. But one thing that has stayed constant is that during the Mass, the songs have to be Christian. So as the bride walks in, during the signing of the register and as the couple leave – the music can be more personal to them; but during the ceremony it is preferred that the music be ‘holy’. I actually like that. I like that there’s a bit of demarcation; a section where we acknowledge that something special is happening here and we should respect it.

So though I’m not against the flashmob I wonder if, smack bang in the middle of the bit where God has joined the two together is the most appropriate place for it, Maybe they could have flash mobbed out of the church when it was all done and dusted.
But hey… mine is just one of many opinions on this thing. The clip has gone viral and seems to have everyone talking – and that’s no bad thing.

Oh and don’t judge Aunty Mavis and Aunty Maureen for leaving. My guess is they went out to the car to get their driving shoes so they could join in. 

God bless and don’t forget… Everybody dance now…

photo credit: DimitraTzanos via photopin cc

Five Minute Friday – Listen

On By auntyamoIn Five MInute Friday, Getting to grips with God stuff, Random Ramblings8 Comments

I really enjoyed Five Minute Friday that last time I did it, so here goes…
Five minutes of unedited, non stop writing on this week’s given theme ‘Listen’

I can’t stand noises that I don’t know what they are. I find an unusual noise frightening, and I have to go and investigate to see what it is. The most repeated phrase in my house after “pass the chocolate” is… “Sshhhh, listen, what’s that noise?”

The weirdest ‘find’ ever was when I heard a fast scratching sound that would last a few seconds and then stop for half a minute and then start again. Of course (!) the beloved couldn’t hear it and after a few goes I had to get out of bed and find what it was. I followed the sound to his side of the bed and it was definitely coming from under his bedside locker.

I moved the locker and a HUGE beetle was on his back, legs scrabbling trying to turn himself back over. As you can imagine I reacted in a calm and measured way… After screaming the house down, the husband was dispatched to return the beast to its natural habitat.

beetle
A ‘Beetle’ of a different kind…
I could not bring myself to put a creepy crawly on my blog *shivers*

I’m not kidding, I hear everything. Every little sound and squeak.
But it’s important to me that someone else hears it.
When it happens, I don’t just want him to listen to the noise.
I want him to listen to me.
Listen to my fear.
Reassure me that it’s nothing.

Needy? Maybe.
Silly? Yes.
Important to me? Absolutely vital!

Five Minute Friday

photo credit: cszar via photopin cc

Freedom!

On By auntyamoIn Getting to grips with God stuff, Random Ramblings, Writing, Blogging etc2 Comments

This post is in response to a writing challenge on The Write Practice website that was set by Bryan Hutchinson. The challenge is to take a random quote and write a post about it. Funnily enough, there’s been a quote rambling around my head all week… about freedom.

I remember it clearly; walking out the door into the sunlight thinking…
“that’s the last Chemistry class I’ll ever have to take.” 
I do not know why I took Chemistry for my Leaving Cert (A Levels/High School finals).
It didn’t matter – it was over and I was free!

I walked through the park that connected the school to the road I lived on and I could see classmates ripping pages out of books and throwing them in the river. I would have loved to do that but wouldn’t have been brave enough! 😉 The next day in school there was an announcement to say that local residents had reported the ‘book ripping’ to the school. Our vice principal said that if we wanted to rip our books to shreds that was our right – but we were to do it at home! He said that we were free from school and from studying if that’s what we wanted (though he didn’t recommend that). Then he said… and I’ll ALWAYS remember his words…

“You are not free live as you choose but you are free to choose how you live.
So choose wisely.”

Freedom 3987609005_1a75beaf43

I’ve been thinking about it over the last few days as I’ve seen photos of family graduating, and finishing school; ready to head out into the big bad world. It’s great that there’s no more homework! I loved that – my plan was to get a job and at the end of the working day walk away and leave it behind me. (Then I went into hairdressing and spent a lot of time doing hair for family at home! ehhh helloooo? :D)

So I wanted to shout out to those who are finishing up school and heading off into the future towards adult life and just say… Well done! Go out there and LIVE your life. Pursue that career, follow your dreams, work hard and take care of yourself.
Remember to choose wisely not just what you do with your life but how you live it!

By the way if you’re looking for REAL and permanent freedom… try this inspiring quote for size… Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31b,32

Photo Credit: crazyluca69 via photopincc

Dear Twitter…

On By auntyamoIn Getting to grips with God stuff, Random Ramblings, Writing, Blogging etc16 Comments

Dear Twitter

Let me get one thing straight before I start. You know that phrase, “it’s not you… it’s me”?

Well I’m fairly sure it’s you! 

I used to have so much fun with you. You were a place for great craic, plenty of banter and discussion about stuff I knew little about. I was ok with that, it was an education. I followed lots of people for lots of reasons and created my lists so I could look at writers and family and Christians etc separately if I wanted to.

I’ve spent a lot of time building my profile in your world. I’m no Nicki Minaj (on many levels) but 3000 followers is not nothing – and me trying to establish myself as some sort of writer, it’s a good place to be in.

I’ve met some clever people along the way, with differing views about differing subjects. Sometimes I was brave enough to chip in, other times I’d just sit and watch it go by. 

I remember the first time I saw #vinb. I thought the world had gone mad. I watched the programme a couple of times and quickly realised it wasn’t for me. But the hashtag was enough anyway. At first it was entertaining to see folk set their hair on fire about stuff. Then I noticed #rtept, #marian, #miriam and #twip, and it seemed some folk only appeared on Twitter when these hashtags were burning bright.

Something changed a few months ago and suddenly you weren’t so much fun anymore. A couple of topics rose to the surface and you became a place where I had to put up or shut up. Differing opinions were no longer welcome. The minority voice which in economic and social subjects was championed, was now told to be silent.

The senator, the professor, the clergymen, the I.I. director and most of that ilk get hauled over the coals every time they open their mouths. Insulted, criticised, mocked and hung out to dry. On the rare occasion someone gets a slap on the wrist for mocking, the wagons are circled… “poor you – how could anyone be so mean….?” 

Eh, yeah… that was my question, but about you – not to you.

I tried to be brave and stepped in a few times, but I was out of my depth. I watch as the overzealous fringe of Christian opinion is regularly dragged through your streets RT’d and RT’d again so everyone can have a good laugh.

In that last few days I’ve watched the RTs stack up of the clip of the New Zealand MP and his hilarious account of some of the contact he’s had from people who disagreed with him. He had the whole of the chamber in stitches laughing as he described some of the comments, he did a clever science experiment & used a Bible verse to seal the deal (completely out of context, but hey the Christians do it; so what?!). It was like an episode of Mock the Week, or is it ‘mock the weak’? 

I suppose I could just unfollow a load of people, or re-jig my lists. Grab one of my gay friends who I love (and who love me back) and ask them to assure you that I’m not homophobic. Explain how love for family, childlessness, & love for life are as much reasons for my prolife stance as any Bible verse I may wave at you. But Twitter, you steal my voice, you silence me. I sit at an empty blog post, finger poised over the keyboard and I can’t speak. I swore only a year ago that I’d never let that happen again.

When I finally realised I was a writer and said it out loud for the first time, I was determined never to let anyone convince me other wise. I was going to say what I wanted to say. But you put a stop to that. Or maybe I just let you.

Either way, you stifle me. You smother me. You make me cry. And if you were a boyfriend…. any true friend of mine would be asking me why I haven’t dumped you a long time ago.
The annoying thing is that you’re exactly like that crazy boyfriend I used to have – I’m finding it really hard to let you go, even though I know you’re bad for me and things are about to get a whole lot worse.

@auntyamo needs a break from you. Let’s see if I can live without you for a while.
I’ll miss you – a bit.

A x

P.S Thanks to all the Tweeters who noticed my recent comments about leaving and were nice enough to say ‘don’t go’. If you really can’t live without me follow @amowriting But it’s a politics free zone. God knows I need it! 

Girls, repeat after me….

On By auntyamoIn Getting to grips with God stuff, Random Ramblings2 Comments

I must use anti-aging cream
I must use anti-aging cream
I must use…

I’m about to finish Year 1 of the decade where life begins. It turns out that Dolly Parton was right when she said in the classic film Steel Magnolias, “Time marches on and soon you realise that it’s marching right across your face”

I’ll be only booooshiful!

Thankfully I did start to make a vague effort to look after my skin about 5 years ago.
Someone bought me some posh moisturiser!
I know… swish! I got a bit snobby about it and decided not to use anything else if I could help it. This is achieved mainly by dropping hints to some of the family at Christmas and birthdays.
Most of the time it pays off.

I don’t have a problem with being 40. Well ok, I do have one… I don’t feel 40! I don’t think I look 40 either. But then what does 40 look like?

I suppose if you’re rich and famous and can hire someone to put your washing in the machine and someone else to take it out – the stresses and strains of life may not show themselves as they might on those of us who have to do those and a million other things ourselves. And people who have ‘staff’ usually have them in other areas of life. Not least in the makeup and hair dept.

I’d be happy if I could afford to hire someone to search my bed for the scrunchie each morning!

The anti-aging cream purchase is precarious, and not just when buying it for yourself. When buying it for others you have to be careful. Too young and they’re offended. To old and you get it back yourself for your birthday – and now you have it, with two reasons to offended!

Wrinkles are only the start of it. My face may or may not be showing the years but the rest of me is definitely feeling them. I’ve got a jippy hip, dodgy eyes and my knees are none too steady either! And let’s not even talk about the generousity of my proportions.

BUT… there is hope! 😀 I believe what Paul says in 1Corinthians 15 that when I get to Heaven, I’ll get a brand new body! I’m hoping I get to choose my own. Maybe there’ll be a showroom…

I'd prefer a chocolate one...
I’d prefer a chocolate one…

One way or another while we’re on this earth, if we don’t want to end up with the complexion of a digestive biscuit we really should try to look after our skin.

Obviously it’s up to you. But I’m nearly sure that in beauty school they’ll tell you….

The punishment for not using anti-aging cream
is usually… 100 lines!   😦

The Half Circle of Life

On By auntyamoIn Family, Getting to grips with God stuff, Poetry, Random Ramblings5 Comments

Round and round it goes.
The whirligig of life.
No stopping it, impossible to catch
There it goes, hatch, match, dispatch.
Babby becomes mammy and she becomes granny
And around we go again.

It’s a wonderful thing.

The next generation consoles the loss of the last
The sights and sounds of new life ease the pain of absence, a salve.

But I’m stuck with this half circle
It keeps moving one way but refuses to come back around.
I feel the benefits and blessings of the salve of others
They ease the sting.

But the absence for me is doubled-up pain
and never more than on this day.
Each year Mother’s Day comes around
It holds my half circle in front of me
I look at it and smile through tears
For in it I see my 27

Dedicated to the memory of my mother, and to my 27 nieces and nephews.

It’s International Women’s Day so…

On By auntyamoIn Random Ramblings3 Comments

Happy International Women’s Day to you all… including the men.
Hey! I’m not sexist! 🙂

I’ll be honest, I’m always a bit confused on days like this!

I am woman!Here me roar
I am woman! Here me roar
Photo by Amy Rushton

We’re all supposed to be the same aren’t we? (Oh and by the way I totally disagree with that). But the message I hear ‘out there…’ is ‘we’re all the same’. Women should be paid the same and we shouldn’t suggest that women physically weaker, worse drivers (but less likely to have an accident); or less able to control their emotions or their bladders!

Women should be treated ABSOLUTELY  the same – so let’s make a day – JUST for them!

eh… huh?

I love that I’m a women and I love to spend time with other women. I think we’re fabulous, precious, creative, strong and different. I love my propensity to emotion, my maternal instinct, the little flutter I get when a nice man holds the door open for me.

I don’t get the DAY!

So come on folks… help me understand. Why is it so important? What am I missing?

Always the Mr. Miyagi, never the Karate Kid

On By auntyamoIn Music, Random Ramblings, Writing, Blogging etc4 Comments

I remember sitting with one of my big brothers, patiently showing him how to play the D chord on his guitar. I thought it was great he wanted to learn and I was happy to help.

I remember him playing his first few songs at a party and how chuffed I was to think that I’d got him that far. I was quite proud of our achievement

I remember the day he came and asked me to help him understand the theory of the chords he was playing. I was relieved I had grade 5 theory & could help.

I remember the day he asked to show him proper tabs as he’d been messing around with  them but knew he wasn’t doing them properly. I looked at him blankly.

And I remember the day he sat with his little sister, patiently showing me how to play the pentatonic scale of D on my guitar. I still haven’t got the hang on it…

I have my mosh moments :)
I have my mosh moments 🙂

I often wonder how that happened. My student went whizzing passed me down Clapton Lane before I’d even realised he was any good!

We’re both guitar teachers nowadays but he’s a real one. He teaches ‘technique’, whereas I teach chords. I got a bit frustrated about it a few years ago but I managed to get over myself and cop on 😀

BUT… it’s happened again!

 

 

One of my Twitter buddies asked in passing one day whether it might be a good idea to start a blog. Her son is autistic and has an amazing awareness of who he is and a great ability to communicate it. She thought it might help and encourage others is a similar situation.

I thought it was a great idea and went through some of the mechanics of it and shared some of my sage-like wisdom

Suffice to say that she and her son are gonna be rock stars! She went on to start a second blog about some health issues she’s been having and both blogs have been ‘spotted’ by mainstream media.

I’m 5 years at this. FIVE YEARS. And not a sniff! Not that I expected to get one actually. But that’s not the point!!!

#harrumph!

Actually I’m not ‘harrumphing’. Well… maybe just a little bit… 😉 but I am absolutely delighted that the blogs have done so well. Her son’s posts are fantastic and I reckon they have the potential to make a huge impact on the awareness and understanding of autism.

And as for mum…. well for a woman I’ve never met face to face (only on Twitter and Skype) I do actually love her to bits and admire her a great deal.

And I bet you will too.

Take a look at autisticandproud and atleastIhaveabrain Two fantastic blogs!

I’m happy to once again be Mr. Myiagi to The Karate Kid, but before you all wax off over to her blogs, don’t forget to wax back on over here will ya! 🙂