Lucca Comics 2013

What a carousel of events we finally made it to get on our way to Lucca Comics 2013 what an adventure it always is.We were in a way driving on eggshells as I could hear an annoying noise coming from the front axle I did not want to wreck our little trusty Fiat 500 but continued driving till we finally reached Lucca by a very roundabout route avoiding the heavy traffic on the main road and arriving just there by the Porta  Elisa with a great parking facility well then it dawned on us that we had committed to our Cosplay event by dressing up and in a way disguising ourselves for this fun day and so it was we transformed there and then into our characters Sandokan and a modern version of Alice in Wonderland a fine way to spend a wet afternoon as we visited the Palazzo Ducale Exhibition wandering through the frescoed rooms poignant of a time gone by juxtaposed with a variety of cartoon styles characters and visions of strange people animals and architecture that imprinted themselves onto our imaginations what a riot of colours and mystery and sense of adventure! Once we saw other Cosplayers people in varied and diverse costumes this indeed made us feel most at ease with ourselves and others too! We are after all veterans at this game for me from childhood with Charades that magical game played on the few birthday treat occasions in Richmond later on in life at that wonderful coffee house on the Mostar Bridge (now a modern replacement on the lines of the original 14th century blown up version)which had a magical coffer filled with dressing up clothes of Turkish style

this continued well into my 30's with the Dickens Festival at Rochester UK and Broadstairs UK in which we dressed up as different characters from Dickens Novels. Then we continued with this voluntary work in Italy doing the Living Presepe di Equi Terme (this village has been sadly devasted by the recent June 2013 5.4 earthquake and it is debatable as to whether there will be another Live Crib maybe a reduced version so now we are a group of Players in search of a venue that is safe and Biblical  the proceeds of which always went for varied and good causes) Well what fascinated me in this years exhibitions that we managed to see was the Feragamo and in particular  the oversize books with the cutout illustrations

and what touched me most were the "Rainbow Shoes" made especially for Liza Minellis Mother Judy Garland of The Wizard of Oz fame many a childs dreamtime movie of better times with that squeaky tin man the hay lion  and the scarecrow as well as the unforgettable dog Toto how I loved that film and of course the unforgettable Dorothy!

Blogging or what?

Well it is a jolly long time since I have written in my way back when 2006 in fact blog it seems a most crazy scheme of things whoever invented this scheme of things I wonder any idea? It is a cross between a diary and a journey of exploration of the self for some for others it is a way of communicating something of interest to that person or other in the hope that this may interest someone even if it is self interest only it is a journey a lesson another way of communicating to other human beings but I find it is all rather strange and obscure what it the purpose of all this and where is it all leading to anyway what springs to mind also is what happens when we all vanish from this world all these blogs will remain suspended as if in aspic in the ether until someone somewhere decides to do something about this what a strange thought and I say so myself  and who will that person be I wonder! Maybe we should reach some sort of agreement before starting blogging as to the final outcome copyright and so forth does make somewhat sense. I am glad anyways to have been reunited with this here so called blog as I have been searching for a long time and only found it again just now also I could not until tonight find a way of writing in this again seems odd as so many years have gone by since I have written anything in fact 2007 6 years ago well I have started another blog in Word Press and now I cannot find that one either it is entitled Be Kind And Merciful to All Animals based on my finding a cattle trough with that inscription clearly carved into its side and has been my motto ever since that discovery I even wrote a dissertation on this subject. Well at this rate I may write a blog every few years! Just as well as I have limited time in fact talking of which I suppose that this happens to most of us I can quite happily spend a few hours in front of a computer without realising that up to 2 to 3 to 4 hours can be wasted in this activity in this strange pursuit of chasing words on a screen in researching items and so forth instead of attending to more mundane situations such as catching up with another strange activity Facebook not to mention Twitter which scared me as I had followers that emailed me I felt amazed and puzzled and decided that was not for me at all never twitted again that was several years ago now but I can understand the advantages of this mode of communication it is so immediate fast pulsating has it positive uses certainly. Well I feel that I am still a novice at this idea of blogging and will have to learn how to do a proper blog whatever that is to me I suppose adding photos etc etc etc.

reflections - meanderings of the mind

Now it is March and just had 21st March the beginning of Spring well it has been snowing badly in many parts of Europe not exactly reassuring this at all what are we to make of this is it the big freeze that is on its way I wonder and yet it was so springlike last week and for the UK was even like an early summers day. It is surely difficult to adjust to this kind of weather as our body clock is telling us one thing and the external reality is doing quite another. How do we appease the gods in this what are we to do how will we survive I wonder?
I saw the eclipse of the moon it was wonderfully clear in London though I did not see the red halo that was seen elsewhere I had seen a very large very red moon the man in the moon summer 2006 Lago Puccini wonderfully romantic with the reflection of the moon in the lake. Maybe this event is causing this cold spell who knows I was just enjoying the nice warmth that was last week, this cold snap is not helping the arthritis at all.
Well soon it will be Easter as the months fly past like weeks and the years end will soon be upon us again how time flies tempus fugit indeed it does. My husband has just now sent me some reminders of death or memento mori ie skull and cross bones and suggested that if I remain in Woolwich that I will end up the same a heap of bones I mean how cheerful is that still the only consolation is that we will sadly all end up in the same way where or when is unlikely that we shall ever know.
I keep trying to apply for new types of work without much in the way of success it seems that the age is the main drawback as it is holding me back still next year I will be a pensioner so it really does not matter if I work or not apart from the fact of personal satisfaction maybe I shall have to invest my time in doing voluntary work although first I have to complete the clearing up operations in my own home and then when that is sorted carry on to do other work I have already located talking books which is for the blind an excellent scheme of things that I will enjoy doing as it is a reminder of when I was 12 years old working for the BBC.
My time at college has been psychologically fraught with bad memories and I cannot seemingly move forward and progress onto other things despite having achieved ECDL last year which is a good qualification to have even simply for personal use would be nice though to make use of this maybe at some reception work somewhere. Next would like to get back into doing craft work but market research interviewing seems to get in the way due to tiredness and time factor as 6 surveys constituted a days work whereas nowadays 12 are proposed and paid as a days work ie same monies as 6 this is most unfair indeed as it is double work for same pay not really acceptable and should claim back pay.
I visited La Dolce Vita where I met up with some friends from Italy was a great fair which offered great tasters of good food wine chocolates liqueurs and so on also advertised houses for sale holidays even had cookery lessons various types of pasta finally seen and know what these spaghetti alla chitarra are about that was a revelation but I prefer the pasta machine even so the other system makes good regular pasta though. This year fashion was not so visible though still had stylish furniture jewellery cars ice creams and traditional coffee. Ferrarelle water was also available with nice cloth bags and had nice party and music with tasters of various specialities from different Italian regions on offer.

NEW YEAR 2007

Well here we are yet another year to say farewell to it seems quite unbelievable it is that frenetic time of the year again it is truly incredible indeed it is This year we are going to have a quiet time at home we thought no chance we will have to do the rounds of hellos and wishing all a happy new 2007 even if jsut fleetingly well that is how it is still it is always fun especially the unexpected aspects of such an evening nothing is really planned. Last week the same was to be our fate and fantastic it was too we visited the Barga living Presepio it was fantastic we neither of us had ever seen such an event littledid we know that at the next opportunity we were to be taking part in the very same event at a most wonderful natural place in Itlay called Equiterme a most wonderful natural setting for such an event it is to be truly experienced to be believed a truly living crib with all the arts and crafts of the time in question I actually thought that it was a real event in the sense that it was all coming to life well it is difficult to explain maybe a film of the event would help to recreate some of the event a most wonderful religious experience for all those thaqt were present and that can be stated for both events. I had seen something similar which can be compared to the Uberamagau which is held every other year in Austria in Italy the Via Crucis is held yearly very moving too. All this is a kind of inner journey in the outer world a journey of discovery a widening and embracing of ones own life's experience You somehow find yourself captivated into this whirlwind of life and sadly it is all too soon over as this last year 2006 seems odd this how quick our lives revolve around and around and we all make the same mistake as we realise less and less how short our lives are and yes we are all the same. I wanted to write the first paragraph in red somewhow it did not work well what the heck still life is like that unpredictable that is the fun of our lives. I suppose as I was saying we are the year's end it is cold rainy and grey a grey day we are waiting in anticipation of what the new year will bring we are not to have too great expectations and also what about those good intentions for the new year those new year resolutions are we going to maintain them are we going to even think about new year's resolutions such as who knows what........ Positive thinking getting ready for a new life a life of bliss is that going to be possible considering the strange weather the uncertainties in this world cannot worry about this too much else would give up the idea of even thinking about new intentions I think for instance that I would like to give up on the news it is always so negativre and as I would like to aim for a blissful life you have to banish all negativities and that is a major fact of our depression we should create an alternative news a happy news of the wonderful things that happen in our lives not concentrate on the dark side of life I feel that that is truly the bane of our lives psychologically damming! So I would like to propose looking at life somehow through a sort of pink tinted glasses in order to try to uplift our souls not precipate them into the dark abyss of blackness and despair we have to inspire some hope and well being into our miserable existance else what a miserable lot we may become jsut too bad. Well somehow will endeavour to make that my main aim anyway there is no harm in trying even though it may not seem all that realistic still and what is reality anyway! It is certainly different for each and everyone of us we all have our dreams to create and to follow who knows where all this is leading us. Well I have just heard that Australia has already got there 2007 is already in full swing well lets wish us all and sundry a VERY HAPPY 2007!

NEW YEAR 2007

Well here we are yet another year to say farewell to it seems quite unbelievable it is that frenetic time of the year again it is truly incredible indeed it is This year we are going to have a quiet time at home we thought no chance we will have to do the rounds of hellos and wishing all a happy new 2007 even if jsut fleetingly well that is how it is still it is always fun especially the unexpected aspects of such an evening nothing is really planned. Last week the same was to be our fate and fantastic it was too we visited the Barga living Presepio it was fantastic we neither of us had ever seen such an event littledid we know that at the next opportunity we were to be taking part in the very same event at a most wonderful natural place in Itlay called Equiterme a most wonderful natural setting for such an event it is to be truly experienced to be believed a truly living crib with all the arts and crafts of the time in question I actually thought that it was a real event in the sense that it was all coming to life well it is difficult to explain maybe a film of the event would help to recreate some of the event a most wonderful religious experience for all those thaqt were present and that can be stated for both events. I had seen something similar which can be compared to the Uberamagau which is held every other year in Austria in Italy the Via Crucis is held yearly very moving too. All this is a kind of inner journey in the outer world a journey of discovery a widening and embracing of ones own life's experience You somehow find yourself captivated into this whirlwind of life and sadly it is all too soon over as this last year 2006 seems odd this how quick our lives revolve around and around and we all make the same mistake as we realise less and less how short our lives are and yes we are all the same. I wanted to write the first paragraph in red somewhow it did not work well what the heck still life is like that unpredictable that is the fun of our lives. I suppose as I was saying we are the year's end it is cold rainy and grey a grey day we are waiting in anticipation of what the new year will bring we are not to have too great expectations and also what about those good intentions for the new year those new year resolutions are we going to maintain them are we going to even think about new year's resolutions such as who knows what........ Positive thinking getting ready for a new life a life of bliss is that going to be possible considering the strange weather the uncertainties in this world cannot worry about this too much else would give up the idea of even thinking about new intentions I think for instance that I would like to give up on the news it is always so negativre and as I would like to aim for a blissful life you have to banish all negativities and that is a major fact of our depression we should create an alternative news a happy news of the wonderful things that happen in our lives not concentrate on the dark side of life I feel that that is truly the bane of our lives psychologically damming! So I would like to propose looking at life somehow through a sort of pink tinted glasses in order to try to uplift our souls not precipate them into the dark abyss of blackness and despair we have to inspire some hope and well being into our miserable existance else what a miserable lot we may become jsut too bad. Well somehow will endeavour to make that my main aim anyway there is no harm in trying even though it may not seem all that realistic still and what is reality anyway! It is certainly different for each and everyone of us we all have our dreams to create and to follow who knows where all this is leading us. Well I have just heard that Australia has already got there 2007 is already in full swing well lets wish us all and sundry a VERY HAPPY 2007!

STRESS

Well high there my blog I am shocked still from what happened the other day I wrote the other day it was the same subject STRESS and we all know what that means illness and strife and upset and headache and tiredness well it all went well and then the ultimate happened my contribution all vanished into the ether and I really do not know where and consequently was stressed out more than ever by that fact. So here goes again something along these lines.
I had stated all the different forms or causes directly responsible for causing us humans this so called stress bereavement and I have had that recently our Mr Twinkle the male cat died causing me stress then emptying not one but two properties in one year that too has caused me awful stress then work problems that is a constant form of stress relationship problems that too is a form of stress so as I was saying where is all this stress leading me to I was wondering?
I suppose a way to counteract it is to rest and meditate upon life and events to change tack to forget these events leading up to stress else this would inevitably cause worse illness depression how depressing is this realisation still to every problem there is a solution The main solution is to cut your suit according to your cloth now that makes sense but when there are people around you who want the penny and the bun life then becomes difficult also noone has ever heard of a shroud having a pocket except if you think about the Ancient Egyptians they certainly provided well for their afterlife.
That may well be a new outlook in life to meditate on our afterlife and to prepare for it that impending lifeless being that comes over us when we depart from this planet so we should all think about that time and prepare ourselves for this event as sadly it is inevitable for us all worst of all noone knows when so to be found in a state of unpreparedness is rubbish we should all be alert and ready for this event this change of status from being alive to not being alive a bit morbid a thought but then when we are gone gone too is our thought no more turmoil but peaceful and eternal rest a state of utter repose a state of eternal bliss.
The rainbow colours I have recently learnt are the basis of the colours that match our chakras like a rainbow so I am glad again once more for the idiosyncratic title for this blog still in its strangeness it makes sense well to me it does if to noone else. In this is the dawning of a new life a life of relaxation and repose of meditation and wanderings of exploration and fun and laughter and jollity ultimately leading to a new life of happiness I wish this to be so and it will be so though who knows at what cost as whatever we strive to do in our lives it will always be at the cost of losing out on other areas of our lives so difficult all this really so.I am in total admiration of those souls that set out in their lives with one main objective in their lives and they succeed in reaching that sole ambition and to excel in it whereas I am stuck as I have too many ideas to fulfill am successful at some but struggle in other directions.
It is precisely that not fulfilling our projects which creates that awful sense of stress so it is stressful to complete those projects as not to so do well so noone wins in this game called life and quite clearly some people do take it all too seriously still each to their own we must not judge. However whatever we do we have to follow our dreams else we will end up in a heap and that is useless more than useless. I suppose if at first you do not succeed try and try again also better to have tried and failed than not to have tried at all and whatever you do do well in life. Still it is the interference of others that sometimes changes the course of ones life as a woman I like things just as they are or were as in my case not certainly this current maelstrom of events which drag one down. Still things hopefully can only get better!
As we mature situations change and we then realise the nonsense of a lot of things though maybe beyond our control that in itself is a good thing as long as we can reason along and make those necessary adjustments or changes in line with our current situation and that we are in tune with our surroundings and that is the worry how ready are we ever going to be with this wretched global warming I have stated all along just get the stops out and start planting more and more trees to reddress that balance in fact heard on the news am that China is currently doing just that for the Olympics as their air is quite fetid in certain areas so need to clean it up well we should all do our bit I know that I am doing mine walking more taking local transport all for the sake of this here our planet recycling it is after all up to us all if we all make that little effort yet it seems futile when you see all those gas guzzling monster vehicles that are adamant in carrying on regardless. Maybe introduce alternate days of car usage seems that ice is melting faster than predicted seems 50 years before it is all melted then what Watch this space!
Well must dash now as am running out of inspiration and am frightening the pants off me regards this kind of Gothic thought about global warming and the consequences it is going to cause us all We are maybe the last generation of people to know the world as we do who knows what lays ahead of us and I was being reassured that we were emerging from this Kaliuga time of strife and stress and entering a phase of worldly happiness that seems strange Still maybe time to make amends to change the course of all our destinies with the power of prayer and good deeds and actions I fear that Goverments also are quite helpless in helping us mere mortals who knows what to do in this situation and yet I feel that all bloggers should unite in putting their heads together and coming up with tangible solutions as I fear that governments seem clueless in knowing what to suggest that we all do to redress this global warming still we should all look after each other in trying to recreate that sense of community and look out for each other.
Well indeed Nature is currently playing funny tricks Seasons are somehow longer or so it seems less definition between seasons and so on well in UK currently seem to have Monsoon weather relentlessly need to calm things down and be reassured. So where do we go from here I wonder odd this thought we have to think in different thought patterns in fact our thoughts are also evolving in this it is all I suppose a sense of survival well at least I think so we have to think along those lines maybe we should be taught survival techniques in the event of disasters seen excellent programmes on the very subject need to swot to learn more never know. We are no doubt in the lap of the gods so our future is well mapped out noone knows but all will be revealed. A lot of what we value in life is evolving life is moving that fast life itself is changing most of us do not even realise this fact it is the toilers of the sea and the tillers of the land that notice this more than us townies city born dwellers and it will hardest for us to adjust to the evolving and changing planet with that comforting thought I bid you good night!

DIVINE DREAMING HEAVENLY RAINBOWS

Well it is good to learn something new everyday and yesterday I learnt that Charlie Chaplin stated that to laugh with another person is the closest that you can get to that persons's soul how sweet is that then! I wonder what anyone thinks of this saying and this is anonymous "The best way out of difficulty is through it" Some other saying springs to mind "a problem shared is a problem halved" now I always feel that that is too good to be true indeed it is however maybe the lesson to be learnt here is that despite our individuality and uniqueness in life we can all suffer the same problems so maybe do not despair and that help is at hand well that is my optimistic view of life maybe.
On reflection regards my choice of title well one talks not I I hasten to add about Internet Landscape so maybe my choice of title dreaming heavenly rainbows could be seen as poignant and to the point and I cannot believe that I am in fact even saying all this incidentally I achieved my ECDL last Summer though I am still waiting for my certificates and log book held up by our local college held since August still I was promised that I would receive these at the end of this week feels important to have achieved this qualification now I need to find a few hours employment to justify one year of torture as I left behind my creativity in favour of hours sat in front of a computer still it kept me out of mischief and in the warm that is one of the prime reasons why in Winter it is good to attend your local education classes as this helps you learn as well as save on your fuel bills a sort of communal living.
Education is ensuring that dance classes are going to be included in the curriculum by the end of the year well my recollection of school dancing was truly minimal I seem to remember Scottish formation dances ballet pop however now we are enjoying a true Rennaisance in the Art of the Dance and that too is good exercise as well as good for the soul lightens the day so I suppose Tea Dances will be in vogue again so out will come all those frilly dresses and best Sunday shoes for dancing the Dance Craze is just round the corner Well maybe next year we could do another Dance Marathon it was done in Trafalgar Square in the Summer with miles and miles of Irish dancers Lord of the Dance and won an entry into the Guiness Book of Records.
Now what disturbed me about today was hearing Ken Livingstone on radio spouting out about 2012 so we are not going to use Lottery Money as that is precious for all those good causes out there also Studios to be used by TV crews is to be retained as permanent buildings to be reused as well as new housing stock which will create lots of new revenue and about 40p per week rise in our rates in London why us why not whole of UK and anyway if all this wonderful revenue will be raised in future then our offering from us poor Londonners will be hopefully not needed We should all unite in creating ideas to raise revenue without burdening us Londonners with this any ideas out there I wonder not a peep I will write raising people's concerns in this matter to Ken Livingstone maybe he already knows and will heed our concerns and do something to offload this somewhere else and not on us as this will benefit the whole of the UK not just London and Londonners.
Grey sunny day today a mixture of weather still cold but less so will look forward to a mild day in the morrow ciao for now