Last week the rotten correspondent very kindly awarded me the Breaking Blogger award. Apologies for not mentioning this earlier but my mind – er, well entire body, brain and hormones – were rather taken up with other matters.
So a sincere thank you to Correspondent – this has boosted my morale greatly and cheered a very grey damp morning here in Cornwall. I will pass it on when I’ve got brain cells into thinking about such difficult subjects.
I told you we had friends for the night on Friday. I met John when I lived in Devon and he used to make rocking horses – very beautiful ones that sold all over the world. His wife, Annie, is a very talented painter, they’re both on their second marriages and, in their late fifties/early sixties, clearly devoted to each other.
John has an inquisitive intelligence, loves animals, children and adores boats, spending as much time as he can on the river Dart.
He took Himself for a day on the boat and they had a real Swallows and Amazons day – building fires, cooking food and meeting all the other people that live on the river. Himself said everywhere they went, John was welcomed with open arms; rightly, he has friends everywhere.
In the bottom of his boat he keeps a clutch of carrier bags. These are to pick up other people’s rubbish. Last Christmas (they aren’t religious) they took brandy and mince pies down to the Coastguards then went for a sail. He’s always on hand to help people, particularly the elderly, and said to my mum that she was to ring him, ‘any time of day or night, it doesn’t matter.’ And he means it.
On Friday we were talking about Life, as you do, and John said, ‘I think you should go your own way in life and help other people if you can.’
I can’t help thinking that politicians could learn a lot from such thoughtful values. What a simple premise for life, and how effective.
17 comments:
A great philosophy from John, I think.
Bit too straightforward for the politicians probably.
Yes, Debio you have a point. Of course politicians are never straightforward - silly me.
Great advice. He sounds like an amazing man. Spending time with people like that really makes me look at my own life, and how I live it. Some of my happiest moments were when I had nothing, but was surrounded by beautiful people who really cared. I'm glad Himself had a great day out, and I'm glad you have him in your life, FP.
Thanks MissU - you're quite right. Most of us have so much Stuff and really we don't need it. f only we could all live simply I'm sure we'd all be a lot happier.
If only everyone had a friend like John. I feel more peaceful just reading about him:-)
x
Agree wholeheartedly with that sentiment, although while trying to go my own way I frequently find myself daydreaming and taking a wrong turning or picking up hitchhikers along the way who turn the map upside down, or say things like, "hey - this road looks as thought it might be interesting." As John Lennon so wisely suggested, life is what happens while you're making other plans.
V enjoyable and thoughtful blog, by the way.
LBD x
Thanks Lane, he is a very special person. Though he's certainly not restful! He's far too full of beans for that. But good beans.
LBD - I frequently get lost, daydream and pick up hitchhikers. But I'm far too bossy to let them decide where to go! Thanks so much - glad you enjoyed it.
my dad used to quote the philosophy, "it is necessary to do good. it is not necessary to be happy."
i always thought, man, can't we have both?? sounds like John has both. good man.
laurie - I agree entirely. I don't know what happened to John's first marriage, but this one is certainly working. they give each other lots of space to do things separately and also have time to spend together.
Oh, wouldn't it be lovely if everyone felt that way? Whole different world.
I quite agree, Correspondent. But then I'm a romantic at heart.
Life could be as simple as John's philosophy - if only everyone lived that way.
How amazing it must be to know John. I'm sure we all have a friend like him somewhere, I know I have.
Congratulations on your award.
Crystal xx
Congratulations on your Breaking Blogger award, Flowerpot! And you made me laugh with the explanation that John is not religious, but still brings 'brandy and mince pies down to the Coastguards' at Christmas. LOL! It shouldn't be funny but it is - there just aren't that many genuine people like John in the world.
Ak - you're right. Persuading people to adopt different principles and lifestyle would take a lot of doing!
Crystal - thanks for the congratulations. People like John make the world a cheerier place methinks.
Julia - yes I know what you mean about the brandy and mince pies! Sad that people like John are so few. Lucky me that I know him.
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