After Humility, what's next?

Simply a new start of the virtues. Just my style this time. I found, that I can do without the practice of some virtues. Like Silence, Sincerity, Justice, Tranquility and Chastity. Those will be exchanged for Discipline and an increase of Order, Frugality, Industry and Cleanliness. The others I keep.
Especially the Humility, since all I got out of that was, that I do not know a thing about it to start with. So it is well worth working on. And I will.

Since I already went through one circle of the virtues, they will not be discussed again in epic broadness. So there are some "new" topics needed. Like the weather, always a big topic or spring or the putting forward of the clock today. Something I neither like, nor think useful. Then I could write about my holidays. Not really upcoming, but coming closer.

And my moms 80ieth birthday. We had photos taken yesterday of the whole family. That is, only parents, children and grandchildren, but that means 13 persons. We are no Duggars or Bateses, obviously, but we do quite nicely, as we are. After that we had some pizza in my brothers garden and discussed more detailed plans for the party. That was fun as well. And the rest of the day was mine.
Just great. I washed to machines of clothes. Well, the machine did, but I lugged the stuff down and up again and believe you me: wet clothes are by far heavier, than they are in dry.

Since my dryer does not work anymore AND the weather is nice, I hang my clothes on the balcony. This way they also smell very nice, when I get them in again. In this weather they also dry sooner, as it s nice and warm outside. Or rather: very hot on my balcony. No time yet to sing:

(I do not own this, as always)

More a feeling of this (not in the known version of 7 Brides for 7 Brothers)

(don't own this either)

But it is nice and as soon as the temperature is lowered on my balcony I will sit there and enjoy. The peace and quiet of it mainly. I do not seem to get a lot of that. Well, not as much as I would like at any rate.

Still, April is near and from then it is only four more month until I can go on holiday for three lovely weeks and I will see, that I get very much time to myself, crowning it with some luxury stay in London, while my friend housesits for me.

And since it is now after 12.30 am or almost), I will stop and check on my washing. Cheerio therefore!

I hope, that you have as nice weather as we do have in my part of Germany right now. And if you don't, I leave you with a - hopefully - warming smile, that I do not own, but found on the internet.
Unfortunately I do not remember where, but I hereby state: it is not my picture and if I used it unlawfully: please tell me and I will delete it.

Chastised Humility

Or some such thing. I'm sorry, but my computer is making me VERY aggressive. NEVER, but NEVER get yourself Windows 8. Just not worth it. It's crap. But since I've got it now, I will not change it, would only make me more aggressive, than I am already. I suppose, I'll have to drastically reduce my PC-Time.

So, it's not chastised Humility, but rather chastised and angered me writing this morning. The computer and my reaction towards its antics are the reason, that I had to fill out the box for Chastity twice in a row in complete black. I have been doing very much swearing on Friday and Saturday.
Why? Because I had time to waste on my computer. That's why.

Somehow, that can be used to work on my Humility, but first we hear about Chastity. Since I have no problems with venery or rather, with overdoing it, I decided to reduce this particular virtue to the swearing part of my life. What I found out was, what I already wrote: my computer makes me swear the most. So the logic conclusion is to reduce my computer time. And I will. I will use it to write here, to check e-mails and to upload my i-Pod. That should do the trick.

Humility will be about finding out, where else I go overboard with my emotions or general reactions. Where I am overproud or -lazy or complacent or just sniggering. And how to hold my aggressiveness in check. Well duh, by not playing on the computer so much. I just wonder if I find something else to annoy me just as much. :-) We'll see.

Still, something else I have decided as far as the virtues are concerned: I will skip some of them, starting with the next circle or rather: exchange them for those, that I don't really have problems with, in general. The ones that go are: Sincerity, Justice, Tranquility and yes, Chastity. I can work the reducement of swearing into other virtues like Moderation or Resolution or Silence. They will be exchanged for an increase of: Order, Resolution, Industry and Cleanliness. I'll do those virtues twice in one circle. Makes more sense for me, as those where shown to be the virtues that caused more trouble, than the others.

On an completely different note: I have now booked my Yorkshire-Accomodation for my big Holiday, so I am getting on. These days are shortened and the B&B is more than half as cheap as the Hotel in London. That's o.k. by me. I have decided to go to Yorkshire again, so I do not need so much time there this year. And next time I won't take in London, but only Yorkshire, so I can make that a longer holiday. I can use these days for "prospecting" or "scouting" or some such thing. :-)

This is "Elusive Butterfly" by Bob Lind. The song (that I do not own, like I don't own the clip) turned out to be a) very elusive and therefore b) a provocant for swearing for me. I had a very hard time downloading it yesterday and I had a hard time getting this clip on here.

Still. Elusiveness and the computer seem to be a combination made for me. And right now, even the aforementioned holidays seem elusive to me. Or the next weekend or whatever. Still. I am not giving up. Work isn't elusive and I just got me some more. Much more. But I can't just sit about all day and wait for it and since I want to get a little up in the world, this is a step towards it. Plus: though it does take away some work from my colleague, it just gives her some breathing space and does not steal any work from her. It works out fine for all sides. Thoug I will be thinking: WHY did I do that in about a week. No matter.

On this note I invite you to enjoy Sunday and not to get provoked into anger, aggressiveness or even unhappyness. At least not by your computer. If you have to be, let it be by something, that is worth it.

The computer is a waste of time in this respect. Which is why I will be closing it down for today. After I checked my e-Mails. :-) Cheerio and all good cheer... The Muddleheaded one....

Chastity

So, I am almost through with the virtues as thought out by Benjamin Franklin. This one is....
well, chastity. It is weird to me, because chastity has never been a problem to me. Everything in is time and so, I am somehow at a loss as to how I should work with this virtue at least I do not know how to do it in Franklins Meaning:

Rarely use venery but for health or offspring - never to dullness, weakness or the injury of your
own or another's peace or reputation.

As I said, I am not a maniac in that chapter of life. BUT I do have a very bad habit of using really, really bad swear-words in that directions. So I decided not to use them for this work. Unfortunately, why I am writing this, I remembered, that I used one today, due to technical problems with my internet connection. Well, from then on I can only do better. Oh, well, I will work on it.

But what about Tranquility? Last weeks virtue, you might ask... And the answer is:
had I been more tranquil, I would have fallen into a coma. a very deep one...

So I'd say: being tranquil is not that much of a problem to me.

Well, let't change the subject: what did I do last week? I enjoyed the lovely weather we've been having last week in my neck of the wood. And I booked my luxury-hotelroom in London for part of my holiday. Now I only have to get there.... That's a snap.

I also finished another two pairs of socks and watched the last film of my Miss Marple box. And made some stupid remarks. Well, someone has to make them, don't they? I just volunteerd.

And today I came to the conclusion, that my favourite character by Agatha Christie is neither Hercule Poirot, nor Miss Marple. It is Mr. Sattersswaite (or something like that). He appears in "Problem at Pollensa Bay" and "The mysterious Mr. Quinn." Very likeable character.

Hmmm.... What sort of music do I finish with? I'd say, something not connected with the topics above but not owned by me either... Well.... not completely different perhaps.

 

Clean Tranquilty

because cleanliness is past and Tranquility cometh....

Now cleanliness in parts went well. I do not have any problems with keeping myself or my clothes clean. But my habitation proved to get just the usual work, no extra care, I am sad to admit.
Still, better some, than nothing at all. But I can't say, that I excelled in this virtue. I do have every hope though, that I can and will excel with the next virtue. That is, as already stated: Tranquility.

I am rather a tranquil sort of person in most respects, so I foresee no problem here. In the words of the song (not owned by be) I generally think:

At least, if I don't have to prepare for, wait for and write an exam. Or anything of that sort. So, Tranquility it is for this day and the following six. 

Benjamin Franklin wrote: Be not disturbed at trifles or at accidents common or unavoidable.

Good advice at any time...

So, Tranquility-wise, what did I do today? I enjoyed the sun on my balcony most of the time, sitting tranquily knitting and listening to "Mansfield Park" by Jane Austen. That's a book, that I can only speak myself. Almost as well as "Pride and Prejudice". Other than that, I have read a little in my dutch book, Een huis in Toscane" (Under Tuscan Sun) by May Frances of Frances May, I am not quite sure right now, which way around and I had breakfast and lunch there.

When it got too hot, I transferred myself to a couple of games though. The weather here today was very lovely and nice to sit in on my balcony. I have been walking in the same weather yesterday and as I am not the greatest fan of walking, I decided to not go out among all the people, who are sure to leave their homes on such a day. Also: this is my people-free day of the week. 

At any rate: I loved and enjoyed this day and was not disturbed by anything at all. Quite lovely.

Hoping, that you all had just as nice a way as I did and got to spend it outside the home or at least on your balcony or terrace, I leave you, to do some research...

All the best!

Moderate or Mode-Rate?

I dunno know. I've been neither really last week. Well, except for the swearing, I managed to lower that to zero. I call that moderate. As to Mode-Rate... I have no idea what that is. So I assume, that I haven't been it. Or used it or whatever.

So: moving swiftly on to something completely different..

I don't own it...

Cleanliness. That's nicely cleancut by Mr. Franklin: Don't tolerate any uncleanliness in your clothing, your person or your habitation...

Meaning: it's cleaning time yet again. Though I do keep my clothes and my self clean. I will intensify the keeping of my habitation clean. Sounds good? Is good. I will flutter by the dirt like a butterfly. Unlike a butterfly, I will take it up and throw it away.

But since butterflies have been on my my, here is a butterfly-song by Dolly Parton, that I heard on "Sunday Night with Michael Ball" on BBC Radio 2 (every Sunday at 7.00 pm)... (don't own the clip)

I know, this has been not only a late post, it is a short one at that. But it is neither the week of punctuality, nor the week of plenty.... :-)

Cheerio and until next time...