Tuesdays with Morrie

Have you ever read a book that has little pearls of wisdom in it that you just love. Well I am currently reading such a book. It's called Tuesdays with Morrie and it is based on a true story of a college student reconnecting with his college Professor when he finds out he is dying. I have heard I will need the tissues as I can only imagine how sad it may get but at the moment it is lovely.

I am only about a quarter of the way in but I wanted to share some of the words I have loved:

So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they are chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.

The most important thing in life is to give out love, and to let it come in.

I love what Morrie says so much and it is so true.

Just think, if everyone gave out love and devoted themselves to the community around them what a wonderful world this would be.

Wishing you all a Happy and Love filled Friday xx

It's been a while....

Hello!!! I'm still here! It's been a shamefully (is that a word?) long time since I blogged. Christmas Eve to be exact. I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New year (a distant memory now especially as next week we are in February)! Since Christmas I have been getting over tonsillitis, renovating the cottage (The Never Ending Story as I now call it), spending time with friends and family, commuting into London for the day job which still completely tires me out and de-cluttering my life. A very busy time indeed.

The cottage is coming along nicely and I can start to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Even if one job that appears to be easy ends up being a right pain and takes longer than you think and tests the patience of my lovely Jim. It'll be worth it when it's done.

We have year end at work which means lots of figures for me and a busy time, not forgetting Jim and my own tax return to do. All of this hasn't left me much time to be creative.

However did you see the picture above of all the lovely books I received for Christmas (and one afterwards). Wow. I love crafts and I love books, so to get books on crafting and baking is pure heaven. I've had a good old read already and have lots of ideas and projects earmarked for the future. Once 31st Jan has passed I can get to it!

Most of the books were from my wonderful Jim, as was this gorgeous necklace he bought me which is made of real poppies in resin. Handmade and perfect. I am very fortunate to have him in my life.

Well I hope to get back in to the blogging world again. I've been reading others but just haven't had the time to comment or post anything. But I hope to show you soon projects I am working on.

Have a great week and I'll post my final drawing of Pip soon.

Helen xx

To Kindle, or not to Kindle....

I don’t know what’s up with me this week, but I am sheer exhausted. I am definitely not over doing it, as I am having early nights, eating properly and taking care of myself, just as I pledged I would at the beginning of the year. Hoping it will pass soon.

I’m in the midst of a great book called Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts, which is almost 1,000 pages long and to say it’s an epic of a book is putting it mildly. It’s a great read and I would thoroughly recommend it....but I only have one problem, the size of the book. It’s so big and heavy that it makes reading it on the train a bit cumbersome. Which has made me appreciate the new concept of reading books, via an iPad and Kindle etc.

My only problem with this advanced technology is that you can’t beat the feel of holding a book and reading it. No computer screen to look at, no battery to die on you....just the smell of the pages, the feel of the cover and the whole ‘reading a book’ thing to enjoy

I love the idea of having a Kindle as if I finish one book mid journey, I have another to hand, and it sure would make travelling lighter, but I was brought up in libraries when I was a kid. I love buying and reading books and the thought of not being able to do that scares me a little. How great it is to walk into a second hand book store and find the book you’ve been looking for, for years, as happened to me recently, and how great it is to borrow or lend books to friends.

As much as I love technology, I do hope we keep some traditional things going....

Hope you’ve had a great day,I’m off now to cook for a friend who is coming to dinner – take care x