R.A.O.K.

Every so often i like to practice Random Acts Of Kindness. Now as most of you already know, i am not a religious person. I am however, i guess, quite spiritual, if that's the right description. And i believe that what you do in this life will come back to you, what the Buddhists call Kama. Do bad things and they will come back and bite you on the arse. Be good to yourself and to other people and the universe will reward you.

So i received a lovely compliment from a woman in Finland yesterday, via Ravelry (a worldwide knitting and crochet forum of which i am an active member). And as i navigated my way around her page, i found a group i had not yet joined which sounded very me. So i went and signed up and had a nosey about, and found an interesting woman called Mysticfarah from New york in the US. And so i read some of her blog, as i tend to do, to get to know people a little better. And she very much sounded like she and i had a similar view on life. So i emailed her yesterday. And sent her this

I just found you through the curvy girls group. Being one i thought i really should join up. I have just been reading your myspace blog and I love your attitude to life. You’ve got you re head screwed on pretty good.

Anyway i just wanted to say hi, and that you look really beautiful in your photos. And i know you say Kama isn't working for you very well, and believe me, i am not getting my fair share of it at the moment. But i am here to say, i am your bit of good Kama today. Because i found you through some very random events and i am letting you know you are beautiful(humans should really tell other humans nice things sometimes, especially ones they don't know)

Someone randomly did this for me, i looked at her groups, found she was i the curvy girls group, then found you, and hey presto! random act of kindness was achieved! So i hope that you have enjoyed this experience? And no, I'm not a crazy! Just someone who has to keep believing in Kama, because my life is pretty damn shit these days, and hope is all i have.

So take care gorgeous, and spread the word, tell people nice things, just because, you can!

Clare

And this it seems was very well received, always a good outcome.

And so in my inbox today was this

Thank you, there are very few people that have the ability to compliment and encourage strangers, there are even less who are willing to receive compliments. Everything happens for a reason, I learned the hard way. Sometimes we need to distance ourselves from those closest to us that cause us grief for those are truly not friends.Once in a while you find someone who is truly genuine, honest and inspiring, I think you just might be that.

Indhira

So if you feel life is a little hard at the moment, and you have the generosity and ability in you, and i am sure you do. Find someone you don't know, and tell them something truly beautiful about themselves, this will make them feel amazing. As it will you. And in return, believe that something beautiful is heading your way. Tell someone you think they look great in what their wearing, smile at someone, take the time to chat to an elderly person sat alone, wave at a child in a car who is waving at you, Just try it. You would be amazed at how something so small can have such an impact! Have fun!

who am i?

Your result for Which of the "Big Five" personality traits best represents you?...

Openness

Your strongest "Big Five" is Openness!

Openness is a general appreciation for art, emotion, adventure, unusual ideas, imagination, curiosity, and variety of experience. This trait distinguishes imaginative people from down-to-earth, conventional people. People who are open to experience are intellectually curious, appreciative of art, and sensitive to beauty. They tend to be, compared to closed people, more creative and more aware of their feelings. They are more likely to hold unconventional beliefs.

People with low scores on openness tend to have more conventional, traditional interests. They prefer the plain, straightforward, and obvious over the complex, ambiguous, and subtle. They may regard the arts and sciences with suspicion, regarding these endeavors as abstruse or of no practical use. Closed people prefer familiarity over novelty. They are conservative and resistant to change.

Take Which of the "Big Five" personality traits best represents you? at HelloQuizzy

Chickens

Hello all

Me again. I have been hoping that when i finally find myself a, decent, social housing home to move to, that i will have a garden. The reality of food and fuel prices going up, somethings gotta give. And if i can't keep costs down by riding a bicycle(see previous posts) i want to try and grow more food. I already have rhubarb and strawberries, tomatoes, chilli, bell pepper and salad leaves in my current city garden. All of which pretty much take care of themselves, apart from the harvesting, low maintenance is the key! The hope would be to create raised beds out of scavenged or freecycled materials, to make this as pain free as possible, and to add to this, i would dearly love some chickens.
Now being me i do my research. I never like to go into projects uninformed, and besides research is fun(yes you heard me correctly, i like it). So i have been surfing for some of today to look up the costs and care involved. Along with how to house them, what to feed them and set up costs etc.

It seems the chooks(as it seem most people call them) are very inexpensive, Between £10 and £20 per chook. Although i love the idea or rescuing a couple of battery hens, which they cull after 3 years when laying production drops, even though they will continue to lay for another couple of years. These tend to be free. literally! What a nice way to give some good Kama out.

This does however contrast with the set up cost. About £350 for the coop, run, food etc. So i think i either need to pop this pipe dream bubble now, or hope that a charity(that may be able to help me with resettlement costs, cooker, flooring etc.) will see it as a good thing to allow me to 'grow' my own food. The eglu is particularly good, as it is fox proof, easy to clean(a very good thing when pain is involved) and looks pretty funky too. And it seems is not much difference in price from an old style wood and metal mesh coop.

This site is great Omlet

The only hard decision for me would be, what colour!

Oh and don't even get me started on my dream of a goat!
Just think of the lovely goats cheese i could be making!

more on cycling

Ok, so now its a week later, or near enough, i have been on the bike a couple of times. And loved it every time. Despite the fact that my hands go numb within minutes of riding, and the wobbly legs and pain at the end of it. HOWEVER! i am now crippled with pain and not even able to move around my home properly. So its clear, that for the foreseeable future, cycling is not going to be my way out of my transport issues. Any ideas about the way out of this little conundrum are welcomed.