New Yorkshire Friends
Category: differently observed
High
Out with Simon yesterday, he asked me how I was managing my grief, after MAnjula had passed to the other side. (Not his words).
We acknowledged grief never goes, is unique and changes, as we do.
Today’s reflection
When you’re close to tears, remember
Someday it’ll all be over
One day we’re gonna get so high
Though it’s darker than December
What’s ahead is a different colour
One day we’re gonna get so high
And at the end of the day, remember the days
When we were close to the edge
And we wonder how we made it through, and at
The end of the day, remember the way
We stayed so close ’til the end
We’ll remember it was me and you
‘Cause we are gonna be
Forever, you and me
You will always keep me
Flying high in the sky of love
‘Cause we are gonna be
Forever, you and me
You will always keep me
Flying high in the sky of love
Don’t you think it’s time you started
Doing what we always wanted?
One day we’re gonna get so high
‘Cause even the impossible
Is easy when we got each other
One day we’re gonna get so high
And at the end of the day, remember the days
When we were close to the edge
And we wonder how we made it through, and at
The end of the day, remember the way
We stayed so close ’til the end
We’ll remember it was me and you
‘Cause we are gonna be
Forever, you and me
You will always keep me
Flying high in the sky of love
‘Cause we are gonna be
Forever, you and me
You will always keep me
Flying high in the sky of love
And at the end of the day, remember the days
When we were close to the edge
And we wonder how we made it through, and at
The end of the day, remember the way
We stayed so close ’til the end
We’ll remember it was me and you
‘Cause we are gonna be
Forever, you and me
You will always keep me
Flying high in the sky of love
‘Cause we are gonna be
Forever, you and me
You will always keep me
Flying high in the sky of love
‘Cause we are gonna be
Forever, you and me
You will always keep me
Flying high in the sky of love
‘Cause we are gonna be
Forever, you and me
You will always keep me
Flying high in the sky of love
We’re gonna get so high
So high, so high, so high, so high
So high, so high, so high, so high
So high, so high, so high, so high
So high, so high, so high, so high
So high, so high
So high, so high, so high
So high, so high, so high
So high, so high, so high
So high, so high, so high
So high, so high, so high
So high, so high, so high
So high, so high, so high
So high, so high, so high
So high, so high, so high
So high, so high
…
A selection of memories
I’m paddling in the tunnel of love layered above me and through the grief gravy.
A mix of happy memories and sadness.
It’s part of life.
Stephen
Cosmopolitan and coincidences
London is an incredible mix of people and cultures.
Manjula was amazed when she first visited U.K. and especially Brixton where there’s a great mix of people of different nations/ethnicity/races/colours….
On my bus now, less than 50% are white. I think that’s great and even the white people are a big mix mainly as the place (pre UK) was invaded by many others for a thousand years before the last take over by the Normans in 1066.
Coincidentally that invasion is featured in an amazing tapestry currently on loan from France and exhibited in London.
…
Today I have noticed the following restaurants in just a few minutes from the bus travelling through London…..
Eritrean, Keralan, Lebanese, French, Bangladeshi, ‘Indian’ mostly run by Bangladeshis), English (whatever that means), American (so many fast food joints mainly selling burgers and chicken), you name it… every country is represented in the restaurants and just last week there was a big event celebrating Asia
With street food, entertainment and shoppping.
Just look at the people in the city.
..,
Teasing
…
Just to prove what an amazing place the world is ..
I was out with my son Ben today and we bumped into Rhonda from Australia, at the National Portrait Gallery, who was a guest at Mysore Bed and Breakfast.
How cool is that?
Trafalgar Square
I’m a central London tourist hanging out before I meet Brian.
There’s Nelson’s column,
surrounded by a king and army leaders (aka known as donkeys in the First World War — the saying is ‘Lions led by donkeys’ as a jokey attack on our leaders, not much change there then ), his pet lion and …
There’s also a statue of one of our Roman colonialists from around 2000 years ago. This ‘country’ having been colonised by all and sundry for a thousand years before the Normans finally took over in 1066
Interestingly we also ‘celebrate’ the British colonialism of India in the square with a statue of the British military leader who crushed the Sepoys in 1857 which led to the British Raj.
As with donkey leaders I’m not responsible for current or past leaders nor supportive of their irresponsible behaviours.
Here’s one guy who helped me from over forty years ago
Buddha
Today I’m on a shorter cycle ride, back to the peace pagoda in Battersea Park
…
Buddhist?
I go with the Marx brothers view that I wouldn’t join a club that would have me as a member.
Maybe I have a slightly different approach and do join lots of things —- Boys Brigade, Sunday School, Scouts, Youth Club, Air Cadets (ATC), Jesus freak in my teens.
But I don’t necessarily stick with one thing or hang around
I’m from the U.K. where I’ve lived most of my life, travelled a bit and now settled(?) in India. I tell people I’ve had five careers having facilitated lots of things in all the sectors.
I’ll discuss politics, religion, Spirituality and philosophy with our guests who think I’m Buddhist. I like what it represents but even Gautam wouldn’t be inclined to join a club.
I live on the Limen, a view that was often discussed with my MPhil supervisor.
…
The Pagoda is in a great location by the river Thames
Brain ache
I knowingly failed twice yesterday, on the word quiz wordle. First to guess the word and second to pronounce and therefore understand the word properly — once it was revealed.
It was Liven
Pronounced Ly-ven or Lie-ven but I couldn’t get past pronouncing it as Li-ven.
This not necessarily about the vagaries of the English language but is maybe evidence of a deteriorating brain.
It’s sometimes feels as if it’s full of cobwebs or little stomping men.
…
So I’ve stopped cycling and I’m distracting myself, observing the Thames river.
Could it be …
Age deterioration or almost twenty years living in Indian English
Or stop overthinking you idiot.
Thinking back
On this trip I’ve visited places I used to live.
Now I’m also visiting family, here my sister Claire and brother Jason, who live between Sheffield and Rotherham in South Yorkshire
They live next door to each other! Really?
She’s got out the family photos.
Oh no!
It’s also been an opportunity to revisit my Sunday School Chapel, second home and school in Sheffield.
Reflections
I first tasted honey at Sunday School and was taken aback. It was amazing. Why had I never had this before? I was maybe age eight and it was probably too exotic and costly for my family.
Compare and contrast.
It’s useful to return to my home city and country. I’m initially shocked by the price differences with India.
I expect the U.K. to be a little better organised but it disappoints.
More later ..
More signs
On the road
My good friend Vinay saw a similar sign while studying in Oxford. He joked about signs in advance of planned roadworks when most countries will no have signs when they’re actually doing the road works.
London is not the best city for cyclists, but they’re trying hard with extensive signposted cycle routes.
I’ll write again about sharing information which I consider to be very important.
Portugal.
is on the list to visit this year — maybe I’ll get there but meanwhile ..
I’ve discovered little Portugal in South London
In Vauxhall, a shortish walk from Brixton.
Its — Just around the corner from the very first place I lived in London in the early 80s
It’s changed a bit now
Cycling is like flying
Well not really
I have flown a chipmunk trainer and glider in my teens. I can tell you … Cycling can’t match it.
Nor is it like swimming
But IT IS liberating.
It’s one of our best ways to adventure and get us moving.
And it’s cheap!
