SUNDAY 14th JULY 2013 08:20 BST

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1. THIS DAY IN WORLD WAR 2 (14th July 1943)
On the Russian Front...
Battle of Kursk: German 4th Panzer Army heavily engaged around Prokhorovka

Continued heavy fighting as Soviet West Front and Bryansk Front attack German 2nd Panzer Army in the Orel salient

In London...
Stanislaw Mikolajczyk is elected new prime minister of Polish government-in-exile.

In Sicily...
British 8th Army captures Vizzini and Lentini and pushes toward Primosole Bridge
US 7th Army captures Mazzarino, Niscemi, Butera, and Biscari airfield
USN cruiser Brooklyn is damaged by a mine off Licata
USN LCT-19 sunk by Axis aircraft

In the Mediterranean...
RN MGB-641 sunk by Italian submarine Nichelio
Italian vessel Cesena sunk by RN submarine HMS Unshaken

In the Atlantic...
U-160 sunk by USN aircraft from auxiliary carrier Santee
British vessels Harvard and Gilbert B. Walters are sunk by U-572

In the Pacific...
USN destroyer Monaghan bombards Kiska Island
On New Georgia Island, US 43rd Infantry Division halts to allow the integration of reinforcements.

In New Guinea...
The newly-captured Mubo airfield is now operational for Allied aircraft.

In the Indian Ocean...
US vessel Robert Bacon sunk by U-178

Today's Air Raids...
Villacoublay, Le Bourget airfield and Amiens, France by US 8th Air Force
Northern France RAF Fighter patrols
Palermo, Sicily by USAAF
Orodubi, New Guinea by US 5th Air Force
Koepang, Timor Island by US 5th Air Force

2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
The Milk Run
Me Time
Lunch
Meditation
Me Time
Missus Time

3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION
In the blissful bubble of my Hypnotherapy Practice and home life, my "raw nerves" are rarely troubled, and I can safely forget I have any. The hostile environment of the Weekend Job is another matter, and it doesn't take much to set me off! The wrong workstation, disapproval of any kind, awkward customers are enough to send my mind into dark overdrive.

These are subconscious automated responses, the generation of which is beyond my conscious control, but what I can do is employ the strategies I've learned to manage them. They are usually enough to get me through until I return to the safe harbour of home. It is a good thing to be occasionally reminded that you are not invincible, and ongoing disciplines are required to keep yourself robust.

I rather like this allegory about self-discipline: If a tornado rips through your house, no matter how well-built it is, it's going to be destroyed and there's nothing you could have done to prevent it. But if the slightest breeze brings your house down, you never built it properly. Since tornados in one specific spot are rare and breezes frequent, it makes sense to build a robust house. The same is true of the mind. If the stress is strong enough, and I can't escape it, I will be broken and there's nothing I could have done, but if the slightest setback sets off a psychotic episode, I have clearly been neglecting my meditation!

When a strong wind makes the house creak, it's a reminder to keep the house maintained!

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
Are you doing your best?

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
Dry bright and sunny all day, but cooler and less oppressive than yesterday.
Clear overnight
A westerly wind will strengthen over the day but ease back overnight.
Max Temp = 20 degC
Min Temp = 16 degC
Sunrise at 04:53
Sunset at 21:31

6. TODAY'S ONELINER
Lonely pyromaniac seeks perfect match : D

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
Felicity Ward on Russell Howard's Good News - very good!

8. TRIVIA
Celebrities who report being bullied in high school include Lady Gaga (who was thrown into a dustbin), Rosario Dawson (for being flat chested), Fred Durst (known as an underdog), Kate Winslet (for being chubby), and Michael Phelps (for his gangly form and big ears).

9. ZEN WISDOM
A clear understanding of the rapidly-approaching inevitability of death is essential to make the most of the opportunities that life offers.