Friday again then the weekend and friends to find in the virtual and physical worlds. Where would we be without friends? Family may also be friends of course, and that's delightful, though it's not always so. This life, in its many phases has always been blessed with friends, family also, though when defining friends let's examine what precisely we mean. Take Facebook Friends for example. Some we may know well as real friends, others we never met. Frankly, real friends may be defined as: "A friend in need, is a friend indeed", an old truth perhaps, but still relevant. And it rhymes. Take the current personal crisis, temporary hopefully and a combination of family and friends, plus the NHS, have really stepped up what with friendly NHS staff and genuine friends visiting to support the blogging philosopher, which raises the spirits immensely. All these factors combine to bring optimism, energy and confidence to the game of survival. And if you think it's not a game, dear reader, please see William Shakespeare's insight that: All the world's a stage, and in his time man plays many parts etc. For his please include hers, naturally!
Still dark at 0555 on Friday 21st January, and the forecast is full Sun. .. an opportunity to wash and dry the dressing gown and other laundry before launching into action, gently, to see which if any friends may visit today, apart of course from the old friend from the village staying in the guest room, after enjoying soup and the film: All Is True, a great interpretation of William Shakespeare's later life in Stratford upon Avon. All the world's a stage alright!
After breakfast the friend drives to Frosterley to see if Mick wishes to visit The Retreat House, which indeed he does. Now Mick is a mutual friend and well known in Frosterley and Stanhope. He moved to Frosterley from South London 18 years ago, when he retired from a lifetime of crime, due to a shocking start. Now aged 82, he was born out of wedlock and adopted by a kind Christian couple who had no children of their own. The adopting Father was a brute and bullied Mick mercilessly to the age of 5, when his wife conceived. From that point he endured ritual beatings with a belt, buckle and all once a week on Friday, and any other time basically. Mick took up boxing and building his strength until at the age of 14 he warned the brute to back off or else. A complaint to the Authorities ensured entrance to an Approved School, the Borstal and finally adult prison. Seeing few options, he embarked on a life of crime and was in and out of prison for years.When I met him some years ago, I found a kind man and became friends. Now he's returning to London to marry his sweetheart soon, which is redemption.
A quiet afternoon was spent planning a trip to Findhorn in March over 5 days. That was the place visited many times over the years and many good friendships established, including the first trip for Experience Week. There are Facebook friends in Australia, Eire, Holland, Aberdeen and more still in contact. The evening was for another film, this time On Golden Pond, with Henry and Jane Fonda and Katherine Hepburn.
Tomorrow's Saturday, who knows who's visiting then, though Royal Mail promises to deliver 5 books by Charlet Eisenstein for the library in The Retreat House. It also happens to be World Freedom Day in towns and cities internationally. Find your local one about midday, or just create a mind that's Free, and it is so ...
Good night!
No comments:
Post a Comment