The Desiderata

When life is racing past you and you feel that you're in risk of "falling off the edge", take a moment, take a breath, and have a read of Max Ehrmann's "Desiderata" ...

Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its shams, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

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Press Pause

Like many bloggers, I read lots of other blogs and I know what it's like to click onto your favourite blogs and to see that no-one has updated anything and you don't know if something is wrong, or if they're ever going to update again.

Anyway, everything is fabulous here, but I've got a few busy things going on right about now.  I'm not just going to disappear, but I'm not going to be posting as regularly until about the middle of June.  There might still be the odd post, but not anything as regular as there has been.

I will be back, promise, I'm just pressing pause.

Flight Counter

Every year I say to myself that I'm going to remember how many flights I've been on, and that I'm going to keep a count, and every year I forget.

One of my favourite songs is Everything But The Girl's "One Place" where they sing about always being on the move and one of the lines is "twenty-five planes this year, and it's only July".  Each time I hear it, I think I must count mine.  So here goes, I'm going to keep a count on the blog, using plane icons.

So far this year I've racked up 10 flights, and more are coming up.

Wonder how many I'll get to this year?

Everything But The Girl : One Place


A summer evening; I walk past the windows, 
The Baby cryin’; Someone's cooking dinner; 
There's laughter on TV 
And someone's learning the violin
And how at home, at peace
At times like this, I feel

CHORUS: 
I would like to live like anybody else 
In one place 
And I could be happy and fulfilled 
In one place 

So I get the map out 
And draw a line of where we've been 
It goes thru sea and sky 
Twenty-five planes this year 
It's only July... 
This is not some Bible, like "On The Road" 
It's just a song about coming home 
And whether... 

CHORUS: 
I could live like anybody else 
In one place 
And I could be happy and fulfilled 
In one place 

You know that I have found 
I'm happiest weavin’ from town to town 
You know Bruce said 
we should keep movin’ 'round 
Maybe we all get too tied down, I don't know 
Yeah, I don't know 
Happy to be home (Still alive) 
Happy to be home... alright

In the end, if you take care 
You can be happy or unhappy anywhere 

CHORUS: 
I think we maybe all rely too much 
On one place 
Oh I never would deny the need 
For one place 
I think we may all rely too much babe
On one place
Oh I know I never would deny the need
For one place


So I get the map out (get the map out) 
Yeah I get the map out (get the map out) 
C'mon, get the map out (get the map out) 
Get the map out (get the map out)

Cream Cheese Pound Cake Recipe

Just had great success with this Cream Cheese Pound Cake recipe that I was sent from Betty Crocker.  Along with other things, it takes 6 eggs and 1 pack of cream cheese, so you know it's going to be good and rich.  One of the main ingredients is Bisquick and that's easy to find if you're in the US, but harder here in Germany.  I buy mine from REWE and I know REAL stock it too - look in the imported good section.  The English Shop in Cologne also have it in their online store.  It's yum, give it a try!

Cream Cheese Pound Cake (makes 12 good slices)

1. 3 cups Bisquick
2. 1 & 1/2 cups sugar
3. 1/2 cup plain (all purpose) flour 
4. 3/4 cup butter or margarine
5. 1 teaspoon vanilla
6. pinch of salt
7. 6 eggs
8. 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
9. Powdered sugar for decorating if desired

• Heat oven to 350f/180c
• Grease (I used that liquid butter stuff that you can buy for frying and it worked an absolute treat) and flour 12 cup bundt tin or 2 loaf pans (9x5 inch, or whatever you've got kicking around in your cake tin drawer)
• Beat all ingredients (except powdered sugar) in large bowl on low speed for 30 seconds, scraping bowl frequently
• Beat on medium speed 4 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally
• Pour into pan
• Bake 55-60 minutes, or until skewer/sharp knife comes out clean
• Scrape remaining mix from bowl straight into your mouth - I'm classy like that
• Cool 5 minutes then turn cake out onto wire rack or heatproof serving plate and allow to cool completely
• Pass some over the fence to your lovely neighbours, send some into the office with your husband, take some over to your friends who are moving house, and EAT IT!

Summer Soundtrack #4

I'm reaching way back into the past here, and picking another fabulous Aussie band, "George" and their 2002 double platinum album, "Polyserena".

Glorious voices, fabulous lyrics and oodles of beauty abound on this album.  Sister and brother team, Katie Noonan and Tyrone Noonan grew up with a strong background of classical music, their mother Maggie Noonan was a well known opera singer, and Katie studied opera and jazz at the Queensland Conservatorium.  I took my Mum to see Katie and her Mum in concert in Adelaide about 10 years ago and it was really beautiful, their voices are astonishing.

Anyway, get your hands on Polyserena and enjoy the beautiful vocals and tight musical score - you'll love it!

Summer Sound Track #3

I know, I know, I can hear your brains exploding.  "Missy Higgins, Kenny Chesney and NOW the Ministry of Sound?  What is she doing to us?"  Fret not, friends.  I am not a clubber, nor am I into house, trance or dance music.  What I am into is chill-out music (amongst other things) and the Ministry of Sound has a great selection of chill-out albums.  Pick any one of the many they have, pour yourself a long, cool drink, find a comfy sunny spot and relax.

Need to wind things back a notch?  This album will do you just fine.

Number 3 on my Summer Sound Track list?  Ministry of Sound Chill-out.  Exhale and relax, my friends.  Exhale and relax.  And repeat ...

Eventually ...