2019 – My Video

I decided to make a video last year and am continuing to build on it each day. My start point was 31st October as this was when I got the software. Each day consists of anything from 1 to 3 seconds of video to mark what I was doing, even if it was a dull day and I did nothing, I had to take a video. I am looking forward to seeing 2020 when I finish it on 31st December.

Enjoy 86 seconds of my life over 62 days (1.387 seconds each day)

Snow Play Time…

The so-called “Beast from the East” arrived overnight and we finally got about 3 inches of snow.  Now, those of you know my blog, know I love snow and have been waiting for a good snowfall since 2010, and today it arrived, but it did not last too long as the sun came out and the temperature reached a whopping 1c and the sky turned blue.  Over the rest of the week, we should be getting more snow, but I doubt it will arrive, this was a rare event here.  M shot a video of me and the dogs in the snow, this is Mazinkeens first proper snow.  Harper has been in the snow before when we have been up in the mountains.  It is a shame Lilu was not still with us as she loved playing in the snow, and we have many videos and photos of her enjoying it.  I think my love of show rubbed off on all my dogs.

Puppy Party…

Saturday Mazikeen went to a puppy party.  The party only had 6 puppies at it, as the organiser keeps it to that level so it is not too overwhelming for all the dogs there.  Mazikeen had a great time, and again gained lots more confidence in doing things and with the other dogs there.  It seems a little odd that she is so shy with other dogs, yet at home, she is a beast and chases Harper all over the house, and play fights all the time.  Outside though she seems a little anxious about other dogs, but slowly she is gaining her confidence.  The lady who runs the classes and the party noted that she was skittish, and is working with me at getting that sorted out.

However, the party was a great learning place for her.  There was a balancing board that she was avoiding like the plague, however, after about 10 minutes of using treats she was happy to get on it and balance on it for treats.  We then went on to the tunnel, only a small one but it was something she was wary about at the start.  There were other things there that she played in like a small ball pool and a pile of cardboard boxes once she discovered treats were hidden in them.

She played with another dog who was a spaniel type, but his coat was sand coloured and quite rough, so not totally sure.  He was terrified of everything that moved and things that did not move too.  At the end of the party, they all got doggy bags of treats, and Mazikeen left with more confidence that when she walked in.

Alas, we did not make it to the Puppy Training Class yesterday as I was suffering from a migraine, I still have a bit of one today, but it is a dull ache now.  It is a shame that we could not go, but I really could not cope with all the barking from some of the other dogs that never seem to stop from the moment they arrive until the moment they leave.

I thought I would share two videos of her having fun.

 

 

Meditation

I have always been interested in meditation and yoga since I was a kid, as my Aunt used to practice it.  This week I decided to start after listening to video by Leo Gura.  Free information and videos etc from his site, so I thought, the time is now.

I did what he said in his first video, “How to meditate, the no bullshit guide to meditation”.  I don’t know if it was just super tired, but I slept well for the first time in a very long time.  It could be the meditation which relaxed me, again who knows.

Early days yet, so who knows where it will go, but the Buddhists have practiced it forever, and they seem pretty happy with their lives, and the Dalia Lama cannot be faulted, why not give it a go.

He said to give ourselves a 30-day challenge, which isn’t much of a commitment, 20 minutes a day, so I’m in.

Whether I reach an inner peace/nirvana or not, it does not cost anything, and if it helps in even the smallest way, then it is not a waste of time, furthermore, the help and videos are all free to watch.

What can go wrong?

A Powerful Speech

I abhor war and all that it stands for.  Merciless killing in the name of power, religion, territory, or the age old “I want what you have”.

Charlie Chaplin in “The Great Dictator” performs a speech that makes sense, even more so now that there has been further loss of life around the planet, all in the name of religion.

This is the speech.

 

Transcribed

I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be an emperor. That’s not my business. I don’t want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone – if possible – Jew, Gentile – black man – white. We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other’s happiness – not by each other’s misery. We don’t want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich, and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way.

Greed has poisoned men’s souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical. Our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost….

The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men – cries out for universal brotherhood – for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world – millions of despairing men, women, and little children – victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people.

To those who can hear me, I say – do not despair. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed – the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish.

Soldiers! don’t give yourselves to brutes – men who despise you – enslave you – who regiment your lives – tell you what to do – what to think and what to feel! Who drill you – diet you – treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder. Don’t give yourselves to these unnatural men – machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have the love of humanity in your hearts! You don’t hate! Only the unloved hate – the unloved and the unnatural! Soldiers! Don’t fight for slavery! Fight for liberty!

In the 17th Chapter of St Luke it is written: “the Kingdom of God is within man” – not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you! You, the people have the power – the power to create machines. The power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure.

Then – in the name of democracy – let us use that power – let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world – a decent world that will give men a chance to work – that will give youth a future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfil that promise. They never will!

Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people! Now let us fight to fulfil that promise! Let us fight to free the world – to do away with national barriers – to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men’s happiness. Soldiers! in the name of democracy, let us all unite!