Fear is a fascinating subject.  It is something that grips each one of us, whether consciously or not.  We are only born with two fears.  The fear of falling and the fear of loud noises.  All other fears are learned, which is fascinating, because if they are learned, then logic should follow that they can be ‘un-learned’.

Fears can be diverse in their scale and manifestation, for example I have a fear of spiders.  Others may have fears for the safety of their children, which would not apply to me, as I don’t have any!  Many people are afraid of death.  Death does not frighten me at all, because I know that God is real, but dying does, because it sounds unpleasant.

So what is learned fear really?  I thought about this for a while and settled upon the thought that perhaps it is all about a loss of control.  We tend to fear what we cannot prevent, or what we cannot control.

Why does the Bible say that “perfect love casts out all fear”? I believe that this is absolutely true.  Small children are not afraid of much so long as they have a protector.  When someone loves you, you think that so long as you are with them, then nothing bad will happen.

As a girl, it is not nearly so scary to walk in the dark if you are with a big strong man rather than walking alone.

It is always a lie when people say that so long as you are with God then nothing bad will happen, because it will.  Bad stuff will happen whoever you are with, because there is bad in the world and it will strike!

What the Bible encourages us to do, is to know that when you have a protector, like a small child, you need not live in fear of the bad stuff because there is someone looking after you who youo can turn to.  Fear is like the catalyst that causes rot and decay in fruit and vegetables.  It eats you up and torments your mind.  Wouldn’t it be great to live free from fear?

One can sometimes lose one’s faith in humankind…  It seems to me that there are many people in this world, to whom the very notion of putting oneself out for the benefit of another is an alien concept entirely.

Many people are very content to take friendship, but less inclined to give it.  I rather fear that technology is banishing real friendship.  If I wanted to I could avoid someone for months face to face and hardly notice, because I would be in touch via text or Facebook.  It is easier to control how close people are allowed to get to you electronically, because the awkwardness of acknowledging human emotion or expression is somewhat dissipated by what is read rather than by what is conveyed face to face.

I have no issue with electronic communication, but I consider that there is great detriment in organising your friends in boxes of convenience.  Convenience to yourself.  It is all too easy to take and to forget to give.  Why not give, a little? Or even just take time to think about people?

You may be reading this thinking that I have been hurt by someone.  I have not, really.  But I have seen others who give so much of themselves, neglected in return at times where they need support.  It makes me sad.

Why is it that you can microwave a take-away curry with chicken bits, but onion bhajis are “unsuitable” for microwaving? Curious indeed….

Bad grammar can be very irritating. Worse than bad grammar though is made up words. For example:

I’ll mark this one with an asterix. NO!!! You won’t!!! An ASTERISK!!!! One of these *

I’ll have an expresso please. What is that?!?!? ESPRESSO.

I have a pacific problem. Must be huge and utterly non-SPECIFIC.

This next one bugs me a lot… “I am sat on a bus” or worse, “I was sat on a bus”. By whom or what? I think you will find that you are or were SITTING on a bus.

Haytch for the letter “h” “aitch” is the correct pronunciation.

There also seems to be numerous pronunciations for the following:

ciabatta
riocca
Pinot grigio
focaccia
Chardonnay

And finally:

I was led down on my bed.

Arrrrrgghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Correction, you were LYING down.

Goes to…….

The spelling on Freecycle never ceases to amaze me.

Charlie Dymock was out again the other day, planting flowers (for a change).  I noticed, that she was accompanied by a Sikh, using a rake (excellent!)  He was not in a hi-viz jacket though, whereas the others were.  Our equal opportuities council will allow a Sikh to use a rake with a turban on and without a hi-viz, but will not allow Fred, (the promoted dustman) to do the weeding without hi-viz.  “But I’m a Christian lesbian man” he says.  “Tough.” say the council.  Poor old Fred.  Your time will come sunshine, your time will come.

An airport cleaner.  Why?  He is not cleaning the runway!!  That suitcase that is being wheeled along the floor is mega dangerous you know, there is also a mad gunman on the loose but he doesn’t need to be marked out by hi-viz, I do, because I am the low flying cleaner!

As you drive round the Fishponds round-a-bout into IKEA, you see (at a certain angle) that BANKSY has sprayed his name on the railings.  It is very clever, only half of it has been removed!  Criminal.  I would very much like to see the “I am Banksy” exhibition in Bristol before it finishes…  He is a very very good artist as well as a graffiti genius.

This made me smile.  Not even really sure why!

Office move antics….

Mark, behaving as usual

Temporary sign – FAIL!

Trying to repair the epic sign fail…

Fitting a lock, since we didn’t have one!!

I just liked JT’s “Jeeves” face in this one!!

Sign attempt 2….

Ah yes there we go!!

My domain

Books for inspiration

Spiral staircase

my desk (note the sheepskin foot rug….)

The view over the banister

Sofa/day bed, for when I get poorly