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Weekend Watch #77 – A Christmas Gift from Beyond the Way

Posted in around the UK, gratitude, news from around the world, other peoples blog, Travel, tagged gratitude, other peoples blogs, serving others, walking a Camino on December 27, 2020| 3 Comments »

I’ve always liked Andrew’s videos and how he tells a story. This video is part of a series of 8 and the rest of the series can be found on YouTube. This video also features 2 Irish pilgrims. I wonder what the future holds for Andrew. His Camino journey isn’t over. Like what you see? […]
Weekend Watch #77 – A Christmas Gift from Beyond the Way

And following right behind my last shared post is this….

Having walked the Portuguese Camino in 2017, I’m always drawn to other people’s stories and experiences, and there is one for every pilgrim who walks a Camino, regardless of which one it is.

This post also brings me to a brief conversation I had with my daughter yesterday after seeing the images of the flooding and damage caused by our current storm; Bertha.

Being an imperfect human, I complain from time to time about my dissatisfaction with my difficulties at work, how it’s so mentally draining, about not having my own home…a place I can return to instead of the next b&b or guesthouse.

And then you read or hear about events that overtake the lives of others, and you realise that there is always someone else worse off…a mother trying to shelter her children and find food after a devastating earthquake, families losing their homes and belongings during a flood.

I try to remind myself that despite the difficulties and frustrations of my life, that is just what they are…and they’re neither life threatening or devastating.

And I am reminded just how fortunate I am and have been.

Have you walked the Camino in Spain? Or any pilgrimage in another country….

camino sustantivo, path, road; journey; way.

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Santa around the world.

Posted in Fun Stuff, Holidays, news from around the world, other peoples blog, tagged Christmas traditions, Father Christmas around the world on December 23, 2020| Leave a Comment »

New Year’s holidays are always the most magical moments of the year, with fabulous, cheerful and kind atmosphere. Santa is a symbol of this joyous holiday, very popular in every country and he has lots of different names like Santa Claus, Ded Moroz,  Father Christmas,  Saint Nicholas, Sinterklaas,  Saint Nick, Kris Kringle and many more. The modern […]
Santa around the world.

A lot of work has gone into this post, and I’ve certainly learned something.

Thanks Angela for such an informative review of a traditional figure 🎅 its always fascinating to find out where traditions begin and how they develop.

Merry Christmas one and all 🤶🏻🎄🎊🎉🎁

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Covid-19 and the future

Posted in around the UK, Health, news from around the world, Travel, tagged Coronavirus, coronavirus vaccine, Covid 19 on December 15, 2020| Leave a Comment »

I recently read a very very interesting article by/about virologist; Nathan Wolfe. He published a book in 2011 – The Viral Storm: The Dawn of a New Pandemic Age.

Whilst I know a few of my friends are Covid-19 deniers, it’s a very real thing, and not going to be the last viral pandemic we face. In the past few decades (and earlier- think HIV) we’ve had multiple outbreaks of deadly viruses: Ebola, SARS, avian flu: H7 & H9, Zika, Mers….and these are but a few that some of us have heard of (e.g. registered on our radar), and yes, the oft declared ‘winter flu’.

Covid-19 is not going to be the last major pandemic. Of course a lot of people will deny this and say its doom-mongering, doesn’t exist etc etc, but the reality is that we are cutting down the jungles (Think palm oil, cattle, soya etc.) at an unprecedented rate in the last 30 years+ and these viruses are going to affect us.
Deny it if you will, and mostly people who haven’t yet been affected are the most likely to, but these viruses are very real. And of course we have all the gurus with their videos etc etc. But, Covid-19 had the potential to kill many more than have died, and as annoying as it is, lockdown is the reason it didn’t. Yes, its been catastrophic for the economy (estimated cost to the worldwide economy according to Dr Wolfe is $8trillion) but what’s the balance? Would you have been okay with the virus running rampant and killing more people? Your family? Friends?

The UK government dilly-dallied and considered going that route, but fortunately (or not) they finally got their act together and 23.03.20 we got lockdown. If only a couple of hundred people died in your country, be grateful. As you likely know, the UK hasn’t been that fortunate.

As more people are affected by climate change (yeah, yeah to the deniers…whatever) and starvation in Africa, and India, Indonesia, we’re going to see more economic migrants seeking food and water….and on the flip side of the coin, we have the rapacious west gobbling up resources, living more consumeristic lifestyles, demanding the latest and best of everything; creating more billionaires who get wealthy on our demands and create more destruction, cut down more jungle (Bolsenaro) and as our populations grow and grow creating more demand for cheap cheap cheap everything; food, clothes, houses, cars, fuel, TVs, phones, holidays, flights….
But what do the experts know?
(And this doesn’t even take into account the devastation we are causing with our throw-away plastic).
We are the architects of our own destruction.

And as the world is now experiencing a 2nd wave of infections, and a mutant strain of Covid-19 has started spreading in the UK, I wonder where we’ll be a year from now, and how effective are the vaccines going to be?

I’m going to have to order the book.

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Perfect synchronicity

Posted in Inspiration, news from around the world, tagged iceskating, poetry on November 21, 2020| 4 Comments »

My sister sent me this video earlier. It literally gave me goosebumps and left me in tears at the end. What extraordinary talent…just incredible

Absolutely mesmerising

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In his image….I think not

Posted in book reviews, Historical, news from around the world, tagged book review, Frederick Forsyth, Iraq invasion of Kuwait, the fist of god on November 17, 2020| 1 Comment »

I’m reading a book, historically factual but written as a story by Frederick Forsyth about the 1990 Iraq invasion of Kuwait.

The Fist of God. Its fascinating but OMG….humans are mad. Evil and mad. The stuff they do. I can’t believe that if there was a God, that he would want us to continue under the illusion that we were created in his image. He must shudder. I’m sure he’s washed his hands of the human race…

I remember the invasion of Kuwait, my daughter was 10 years old at the time and I used to buy the papers so we could read them. I remember telling her that this was history, we were living in momentous times.

I also remember how the media scared the living daylights out if us and despite being at the very very bottom end of Africa and closer to Antarctica than Iraq, just how terrifying it was. Imagination went as wild as you can imagine!!

I think I still have some of the front pages….I’m weird like that.

But for sure, I never realized just how evil the whole thing was. And still today, we have evil men plotting dastardly events and violence against mankind.

I think we need a meteor to arrive…

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When No-one Is To Blame, Everyone Is To Blame

Posted in messages, news from around the world, reviews, spirituality, tagged film reviews, history, reviews, The Two Popes on November 11, 2020| 2 Comments »

The Two Popes

I’ve been unexpectedly stuck at the B&B since last Friday and bored with TV and reading, my daughter suggested I download Netflix and watch a couple of movies.

I first watched a remake of ‘Rebecca’ – a classic that seldom disappoints.

Then I spotted ‘The Two Popes’. I’d so wanted to see this when it was first released and it didn’t disappoint.

It’s an intimate portrayal of two men; one the Pope and the other a Cardinal, and a supposed conversation they had at a momentous time in history.

Based on true events, although the conversation is imagined, it is incredibly feasible. Since no-one, besides the two real life characters themselves know what was said during their brief time together, we can but only imagine.

The ‘conversation’ is beautifully written and the characters sensitively portrayed by Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce – both exceptional character actors who were totally convincing as the people they portrayed.

I’m not at all religious and believe in evolution, but I found myself drawn into the drama of the situation and their story. It was so very poignant and I found myself sobbing during some of the scenes.

A most enjoyable film, the story of which has lingered well past the last scene….

I love a film that leaves you thinking about it for days and raises questions like: if no-one is to blame, is everyone to blame….

A very deep and thought-provoking film. I’m definitely going to watch it again. I’m also going to do more research on the current Pope; Francis ( Jorge Mario Bergoglio). I’ve always liked him and think he’s a breath of fresh air.

The question he raised at his speech in Lampedusa is going to haunt me ….

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Covid-19 vaccine

Posted in Health, news from around the world, Uncategorized, tagged coronavirus vaccine, Covid 19 on November 9, 2020| 13 Comments »

Usurping the US election news (thank you thank you thank you 🙏🙏🙏👴🏻) is the latest news of a Covid-19 vaccine; an apparently successful vaccine.

In terms of timing and according to previous reports, a vaccine usually takes years to develop, test and have approved.

So whilst the market shares have shot ⬆️⬆️⬆️ I’m somewhat sceptical, especially as it comes from a pharmaceutical company of a particular name.

Conspiracy theories aside, and I am a bit of a theorist myself, I am not that enthralled by the news. These companies are all about making money and being the ‘first’ to find a successful vaccine is going to make them a whole ton of money (I was going to resort to my South African roots and say shitload of money but that would be rude 😝😝).

Meanwhile time will tell if it is indeed that effective.

My question is this: would you have the vaccine?

Personally, I had a flu vaccine in my first year in the UK and it made me horribly ill for nearly 2 weeks. I have since declined any further flu vaccines. So for me it’s a no.

Now, I know this virus is not a flu, or a type of flu and is something quite out of the ordinary, and in general I believe in being vaccinated against diseases…..as children in South Africa we were all vaccinated as a matter of course, my daughter had all her vaccinations in the 80s and 90s and my grandson (born in the UK) has so far had all his required vaccinations.

However, these are all long-term, tried and tested vaccines and despite the ‘conspiracy theories’ 😉😉 on the whole are very successful.

But I worry that the competition to be first to produce a vaccine for Covid-19 is more about the money than any form of altruism or care for the wellbeing of humanity.

The next question is: who do they vaccinate first? My thoughts are that it should first be provided to the 30-60 age group (I’m 65). But I’m sure everyone has a different opinion on that…out of 65 million people if they’re (the UK government) buying just 10 million by Christmas, who is going to benefit? If it is indeed a benefit? 10.11.20 *correction – its 100 million vaccines the government are ordering *.

Supply it for free, and then we can look at it from a different aspect. These pharmaceutical companies are mega-wealthy, growing obscenely rich on the unwellness of their target audiences, they can absolutely afford to provide the vaccine for free for the benefit of humanity….

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Celebrations and Jubilation….

Posted in news from around the world, tagged US elections on November 7, 2020| 3 Comments »

Kadish!!!! 🎤👇🙌 he’s out, out, out.

I believe he’s been told to accept defeat gracefully….seriously 😝😝😝 the trumpet and the word gracefully do not belong in the same sentence….

It’s going to be veryyyyy interesting to see what he does now. It’s going to be even more interesting (and frankly very enjoyable) to watch his face at Biden’s inauguration. If he even pitches up.

It won’t be bigger than his though, his was the ‘biggest’ the ‘best’ the ‘mostest’ and ‘huggggeeee’….crowds.

I will be counting the days till 20th January 2021. 2️⃣0️⃣/0️⃣1️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣1️⃣✅✅✅

Now like I said in my previous post, I’m not that charmed by Biden, I think he’s too old, too establishment and even though, to his credit, he behaved impeccably during the campaign and subsequently, I really wish the Democratic Party had put forward a younger nominee.

But if he’s the best they’ve got….well there it is, at least he’s beaten the present incumbent of the White House. Oh to be a fly on the WH wall..

And just like in 2016 when Americans voted for tRump, it was a case of ‘ANYONE’ but ANYONE other than Hillary, now in 2020 Biden is the ‘anyone’ better than the orange swamp thing…

Bye bye trumpy….

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Marching orders

Posted in news from around the world, tagged US elections on November 6, 2020| Leave a Comment »

OMG! Seriously, how tense are the blessed US elections.

I wish they’d just get it over with now.

I was determined to NOT watch the coverage because I really CANNOT stand the orange swamp thing and usually switch off when he appears on screen.

Whilst I don’t think Joe Biden is the best candidate, and I’d love to see a younger person, less establishment, stepping up to contest the position of President, I hope he wins – I will thoroughly ENJOY watching the current encumbent get his marching orders.

I’d love him to refuse to leave, just so we can watch him being removed, preferably kicking and screaming.

Meanwhile, its fun to see how he’s scrambling and screaming already …so many useless legal challenges, keeping the litigators busy, and he is an expert in criminal charges.

Its fascinating to hear him screaming ‘fraud’ – of course he’s an expert in that area too, I’d say something of an expert really.

Ugh. Come on….get it over with and lets see him disappear into oblivion, preferably at the bottom of that swamp…

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Phishing and scam emails

Posted in around the UK, family and relationships, lifestyle, messages, news from around the world, tagged DHL latest scam, education about phishing and scam emails, getting scammed via email, how to recognize a scam email, phishing emails, scam emails, spam emails, what is phishing on October 31, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Today I received what appeared to be a valid email from DHL. I opened it, especially as I’ve ordered quite a few items online recently, and am still expecting a few items and thought it may be delivery details.

1. First thing I noticed that alerted me was the request for £1.99 to deliver my item – I’ve paid for or have free delivery on all the items I’ve ordered.

2. I clicked on the attachment to see the order details and the screen was blank – it was untitled?! Naughty me.

3. The registered address on the email is clearly not a valid UK address.

4. I pressed reply and the address was clearly suspicious. info@dhl-freedom.com = the.com contradicts the UK address and the email address they list is .co.uk

I DIDN’T click the red button ‘track my parcel

Because I’m a naturally suspicious person and my scam alert had been alerted 🤪🤪

I did a Google search and this is what came up:

I then asked Google ‘what is DHL-freedom.com? and this is what I got : https://conversation.which.co.uk/money/dhl-scam-phishing-email-collect-parcel/

I am hyper aware of phishing emails and spam emails and am always suspicious of any emails that pop up that I’m not expecting/signed up for.

Usually I just delete anything I’m not sure about or send it to the spam box if it is obvious its spam. But because I’m expecting parcels I opened it to see if its delivery details. See point #2 🤔🤨🤨🤨

Same as phone calls, if the number is not listed in my phone I don’t answer the call. If its legitimate, they’ll leave a message and then I’ll phone back if I recognise the name.

If when occasionally I’m not thinking and answer the call and it’s a call-centre and they launch into their sales spiel I usually tell them to take ‘french leave’ and hang up. Can’t be bothered. If I’m in the mood I tell them the call is being traced and if they don’t remove my details from their list I’m going sue them. Works a charm…they always ring off pronto. Because sometimes the name that shows up is legitimate; they’re so damn sneaky.

I NEVER answer any overseas number eg +001 or 333 or similar and I NEVER say “Yes” if the person on the other end asks “is that Cindy *****” – I always reply with “who may I ask is calling?”.

Back to the email scams, its vitally important to be aware and before responding, just look through the email and if you’re really not sure then do a few Google searches…even ask is ‘such and such spam? You’ll quickly get a reply and do a search on the Which? website, they’re usually well ahead of any scams or phishing issues.

I hope this post helps you avoid being scammed and if you have an elderly relative who uses email, please do chat to them about this type of scam, even if, like DHL it appears to be a legitimate company/email.

What is phishing? Ref wikipedia

Phishing is the fraudulent attempt to obtain sensitive information or data, such as usernames, passwords and credit card details, by disguising oneself as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication.

Typically carried out by email spoofing, instant messaging, and text messaging, phishing often directs users to enter personal information at a fake website which matches the look and feel of the legitimate site.

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