Books

 

https://lastlemon.com/harolds-planet/hp6623/

Eeyore

 

A.A.Milne

“Hallo, Eeyore. How are you?”

“It’s snowing still,” said Eeyore gloomily.

“So it is.”

“And freezing.”

“Is it?”

“Yes,” said Eeyore. “However,” he said, brightening up a little, “we haven’t had an

earthquake lately.”

~A.A.Milne #positivity

Olde English words

 

PTSD The war within

This describes my journey perfectly.

I love Olde English words ~ Mandy

Beryl Cook

 

Great British Tea Party 

'The Vicar's Tea Party' 1983 by Beryl Cook (1926 – 2008) English artist best known for her comical paintings. She had no formal training and did not take up painting until middle age.

TSS Duke Of Lancaster

 

Ian Bartlett Photography

TSS Duke Of Lancaster

Completed in 1956 by Harland and Wolff at Belfast for British Railways/Sealink, the DUKE OF LANCASTER was designed to be both a ferry and a cruise ship. It had two sister ships, the DUKE OF ROTHESAY (built by Dennys at Dumbarton) and the DUKE OF ARGYLL (built at Harland and Wolff at Belfast). The vessel had accommodation for 600 first class and 1200 second class passengers. The vessel undertook cruises to the Scottish islands, Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway and Spain until 1966. In 1970, it was partially converted to a car ferry (entry door in the stern) and worked between Heysham and Belfast. At that time, the vessel had space for 1200 passengers, 105 cars and cabin accommodation for 400. The three vessels continued on the Heysham-Belfast route until the service was withdrawn in April 1975. The DUKE OF LANCASTER was briefly used on the Fishguard-Rosslaire route becoming the relief vessel until November 1978. The vessel was then laid up at Barrow-in-Furness. It was sold out of service in 1979 to a Liverpool based company called Empirewise Ltd, who intended the vessel to be used as a static lesiure centre and market. The vessel was beached at Llanerch-y-Mor Wharf (nprn 409786) on 10 August 1979 and for a while it was possible to visit the engine room and bridge. A proposal to convert the vessel into a 300-room hotel did not go beyond a first planning stage.

Santa paws! Festive bull terrier Tom shows off his best Christmas outfit

 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14199841/Santa-paws-Festive-bull-terrier-Tom-best-Christmas-outfit.html

A bull terrier called Tom has donned his best Christmas outfit as he gets ready for the festive period.

With his eclectic collection of yuletide-themed costumes Tom could be the best dressed canine on December 25. 

Striking a pose with his owner, Antonio Rodrigues, Tom showed off his Christmas wardrobe - which includes a Santa Claus outfit, two festive jumpers and a present costume. 

The 49-year-old and his pet reportedly love to collect Crimbo-related clothes so they can wear matching outfits to mark the holiday. 

Mr Rodrigues said: 'It's all part of us constantly playing and doing fun things together.'

Despite sharing the lense with his owner, it is the photogenic Tom who always captures the limelight - with the pooch even managing to crack a smile once in a while. 

A bull terrier called Tom has donned his best Christmas outfit as he gets ready for the festive period

With his eclectic collection of yuletide-themed costumes Tom could be the best dressed canine on December 25

Striking a pose with his owner, Antonio Rodrigues (pictured), Tom has showed off his Christmas wardrobe - which includes a Santa Claus outfit, two festive jumpers and a present costume

Despite sharing the lense with his owner, it is the photogenic Tom who always captures the limelight - with the pooch even managing to crack a smile once in a while

Ernest Hemingway once said

 

When people talk listen completely. Don’t be thinking what you’re going to say. Most people never listen. Nor do they observe. You should be able to go into a room and when you come out know everything that you saw there and not only that. If that room gave you any feeling you should know exactly what it was that gave you that feeling.

It’s a rare and profound gift to be fully present with someone, and yet, it’s something so few of us truly offer. Most people only half-listen, their minds already formulating their next words, distracted by their own thoughts, or zoning out entirely.

Imagine how powerful it would be if we listened more deeply—if we made a commitment to being fully engaged, to hearing and understanding not just the words, but the emotions and intentions behind them. Listening isn’t just about waiting for your turn to speak; it’s about absorbing what someone else is sharing and making them feel heard, valued, and understood. It’s about connecting on a level deeper than surface conversations, because when you truly listen, you open a door to empathy and genuine connection. And isn’t that what we’re all really longing for?

Beyond listening, there is also the art of observing, of truly noticing the world around you. When you walk into a room, take a moment to soak in everything. Notice the details—the way the sunlight filters through the windows, the color of the walls, the expressions on people’s faces, the way someone is nervously tapping their foot or laughing with their eyes more than their mouth. Most of us rush through spaces, our minds preoccupied and our eyes barely registering what’s in front of us. But there’s magic in paying attention, in being mindful of the small details that make every moment unique.

Think of the room not just as a physical space, but as an experience. Every room has a mood, a feeling, an energy. It could be the coziness of a room filled with laughter, the tension of a space where a difficult conversation just took place, or the warmth of a place that holds beautiful memories. The more we tune in to these subtle feelings, the more deeply we can understand our surroundings and the people in them. What gave you that feeling? Was it the way someone’s eyes lit up when they smiled? The scent of freshly brewed coffee that brought a sense of comfort? Or perhaps the distant echo of a song that stirred up a forgotten memory?

Being observant and emotionally aware in this way takes practice, but it also transforms the way you move through life. You become more sensitive, more attuned, more aware. You start to notice the way a friend’s voice softens when they’re talking about something they love, or the slight shift in someone’s tone when they’re hiding something. You begin to see and feel things that others miss entirely, and that awareness can lead to a richer, more connected experience of the world.

It’s a beautiful thing to be a person who listens with their heart, who observes deeply, and who feels fully. It means you’re not just drifting through life; you’re living it intentionally. You’re soaking in the fullness of each moment, aware of the beauty and complexity around you. It means you understand people better, because you’ve made the effort to see and hear them, to pick up on the nuances of their being. It means you can be the kind of person whose presence feels calming, because people know you’re truly there with them, not just waiting for your turn to talk or half-heartedly engaging.

So, when you’re in conversation, let go of the urge to plan your next statement. Take a breath, relax your mind, and give the person speaking your undivided attention. Let yourself be present, fully. When you walk into a room, slow down and really see it. Observe the details, feel the energy, notice the small things that make that moment unique. You’ll find that life becomes richer, fuller, and more meaningful when you learn to listen and observe completely. It’s not just about hearing words or seeing objects—it’s about feeling the fullness of everything around you. It’s about experiencing life, deeply and completely.