Thanksgiving (The Glad Game)

If you've ever seen the film Pollyanna, or seen the UK TV adaptation, or read the book, you will know all about 'The Glad Game'. It's a game Pollyanna played with her father, when she needed cheering up, and taught her to see the positives in the things around her.

I work with quite a few Americans, and as it is Thanksgiving today, I thought it would be a good time to make a list of 10 things for which I am thankful, and which make me glad.

1. I am thankful for my family.
I am glad of my mum's spirit & determination. I am glad I inherited my dad's ability to be comfortable alone. I am glad my brother is working, even though he lost his full time job some time ago. I am glad he married Diane, whose fun, humour and love of horses all make her easy to like. And I am glad they had Ben - now 10 years old. Ben has to be the world's greatest nephew. (What do you mean I'm biased...) Because of him I am a proud aunt and I hope and pray for nothing more or less than that he should be happy in the choices he makes for his life. I probably don't tell any of them enough how much they all mean to me.

2. I am thankful for my friends.
I've been quite a solitary sort all my life and have never been especially comfortable in big groups, so I've never had masses of friends. But the ones I have... well... they're quality! Quite seriously, I know they would go extra miles for me, as would I for them.

3. I am thankful for my work colleagues.
I have a great assistant who makes me glad about something or other almost every day. I work with great people in my department. We don't get on all of the time about everything, but I know each of them has integrity, committment and concern for their fellows. That makes me very, very glad. And I know that there are lots of workplaces where this is not the case. I work with great people internationally, some of whom have become friends as well as colleagues. So I am especially thankful.

4. I am thankful to have been able to travel worldwide.
I am not a risk taker or an adventurer, but my job has meant I have travelled to many wonderful places. I've done some travelling 'just because', but I've done far more 'on business'. It has been hard work, but it has also meant I have seen a whale while sailing off of Cape Town, I've seen the sun set over Lake Taupo in New Zealand, I have seen the Sydney Opera House, I have met some wonderful people - and here's the rub: mostly it has been because other people saw potential in me, and pushed me. Pushed me into taking scary job changes. Twice. I am very VERY thankful to have had people around me whose belief in my abilities has changed my life.

5. I am thankful for my home.
It is not my 'dream home', but within its walls I am sheltered, fed, warm and safe. I'm glad that it's small and compact because it means I have an affordable mortgage. I'm glad it's a 'house in a community' and that my neighbours chat to me over the garden walls. I'm glad it's somewhere my friends can come and feel welcomed.

6. I am thankful for my education.
Most of all, I am thankful that I can read. There are too many reasons to list as to why this is so important to me.

7. I am thankful for photography!
I'm glad I can take time to look at things with a 'photographer's eye'. I'm glad I have some creative goals to work towards. I'm glad of all the things I've seen which I've found beautiful or interesting, because I've been out with a camera.

8. I'm thankful for music.
The CD changer in my car often has a very weird mix of CDs. But that means I can almost always find something to suit my mood. I'm glad of all those who've influenced my musical tastes over the years. And I'm glad of those piano and cornet lessons. Although I play neither instrument now they taught me a lot about music. So did singing in choirs.

9. I am thankful for my faith, and that I have the freedom to believe, and to express that belief.
I grew up going to church every week, and I made my own decision to believe when I was about ten. The shape of my faith has changed over the years. So has the way I express it. Sometimes I've asked hard questions. Sometimes I've struggled. But I end up still believing.

10. I am thankful for 'cult TV'!
Yes, I'm a sucker for those old TV series which get re-run on out of the way digital channels. Stuff like 'Touched by an Angel' which makes me think, and laugh, & sometimes cry. Stuff like Cadfael, because I love the storytelling & character interaction. Stuff like Merlin, for the same reasons. And pretty much all the BBCs 'Austen' adaptations - I love period dramas! And I am glad of DVDs and PVRs which mean I really have no excuse for watching total dross (ok, ok!), although I do watch too much TV generally...

So those are my ten. Some serious & some less so. Not in any particular order. And I've probably gone on a bit. Sorry about that.

Question: What is the one thing you are most thankful for at this moment?

REVIEW: La Haule Manor Hotel, Jersey

I recently took a few days holiday in Jersey, and I chose to stay at La Haule Manor in St Aubins. This attractive hotel - or rather, very upmarket B&B - has recently been extended, and I stayed in the new wing (which has been perfectly blended into the main building). My sea view room was beautiful. Spacious and well appointed with pretty and comfortable furniture, and with one of the best hotel bathrooms I've ever used with a free standing bath and a separate fabulous 'rainhead' shower. There was also a bathrobe and slippers provided - always a nice touch.

Breakfast is served in the newly refurbished breakfast room (with some nice photographic canvases of Jersey on the walls) and is very good quality with lots of choice from simple cereals to full English. The Jersey yoghurts with fresh fruit were especially delicious, as were the omelettes! Hot breakfasts are cooked to order and the various options are all very tasty and well presented.

La Haule is well situated on the edge of the village, within easy walking distance of shops and a variety of restaurants as well as the Harbour Gallery which is well worth dropping in to.

There is a bus stop very close to the hotel, and the buses from and to St Helier run frequently and are inexpensive. Buses on other routes can be much less frequent so if relying on buses, as I did on this trip, you will need to have a copy of the bus timetable.

The staff are very friendly and helpful and the one minor hiccup of my stay was resolved within 10 minutes of my bringing it to their attention. Their kindness to another guest who had had a minor accident during his stay was evident and clearly genuine.

It is easy to see how La Haule earns it's five star status. It was a pleasure to stay there, and I plan to return. For more information see the hotel's website: http://www.lahaulemanor.com/

A thought on the cost of freedom

"Liberty is bought with a price and preserved only by self-sacrifice."
Field Marshall The Rt Hon Jan-Christiaan Smuts
Rector of the University of St Andrews, Scotland, 1931-1934

The Importance of the 11th

At 11 am, on the 11th day of the 11th month, the cannon at Fort Regent in St Helier fired over the town, marking the hour, and silence fell as we remembered those who lost their lives defending freedom.

One wreath on the cenotaph bore a label on which was written ‘for the one today’, in honour of the young man whose name had not been announced at the time of the laying of the wreaths the previous Sunday.

Today, as we enjoy the simple things which those fighting in the trenches during the Great War longed for, it is vital that we never forget the cost of our freedom. Nor should we cease to honour those young men & women coming home through RAF Lyneham after laying down their lives for others. Let us also remember those who have come back injured in body or mind. They may not have lost their lives, but they have each sacrificed much in the carrying out of their duties in our armed forces.

We will remember them...

Faringdon Calendar 2010

Today I discovered that two of my pictures have been used in the 2010 Faringdon calendar. They are the March and August views. The calendar costs £7.50 and is available from the Faringdon Community and Tourist Information Centre. (Email enquiries: tic@faringdontowncouncil.gov.uk)

London Lights

Yesterday I had meetings in London. Between the two, I had about an hour free, and so I got off the tube at Oxford Circus and as I puffed up the steps with my pilot case of books etc (why is it that London Underground is always 'improving the escalators' when you have a very heavy bag?), I was greeted to the sight of Christmas lights! It hadn't occurred to me that the 'switch on' would have happened. Christmas is still so far away in my mind. But in 'retail-land' Christmas is just around the corner. So for me, I had an enjoyable walk appreciating the lights. Lots to see and all entirely free, and somehow I found them cheering, despite the current economic gloom. I think the lights are pretty & fun this year so if you're in the area, go & take a look!

Shame I didn't have my camera - although as it was the middle of the day the impact wasn't as great as it would've been later. Sometimes it's good not to have a camera though, and just walk & enjoy.

Oh, and yes I did notice the new multi-million pound cross in the road at Oxford Circus. I'm not totally convinced it was worth the investment, but it does look good! :-)