Read my book - ENLIGHTENMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK
Also available - EMOTIONAL MANAGEMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK
WISDOM, HUMOUR, AND LOTS OF OTHER INTERESTING STUFF CAN BE FOUND ON MY PINTEREST PAGE and FACEBOOK PAGE
TO FIND OUT WHAT I DO, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE
1. ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY5th May 1980: The SAS storms the Iranian Embassy in London
The Iranian Embassy siege took place from 30 April to 5 May 1980, after a group of six armed men stormed the Iranian embassy in South Kensington, London. The gunmen took 26 people hostage—mostly embassy staff, but several visitors and a police officer, who had been guarding the embassy, were also held. The hostage-takers, members of an Iranian Arab group campaigning for Arab national sovereignty in the southern region of Khūzestān Province, demanded the release of Arab prisoners from jails in Khūzestān and their own safe passage out of the United Kingdom. The British government quickly resolved that safe passage would not be granted, and a siege ensued. Over the following days, police negotiators secured the release of five hostages in exchange for minor concessions, such as the broadcasting of the hostage-takers' demands on British television.
By the sixth day of the siege the gunmen had become increasingly frustrated at the lack of progress in meeting their demands. That evening, they killed one of the hostages and threw his body out of the embassy. As a result, the British government ordered the Special Air Service (SAS), a special forces regiment of the British Army, to conduct an assault to rescue the remaining hostages. Shortly afterwards, soldiers abseiled from the roof of the building and forced entry through the windows. During the 17-minute raid, the SAS rescued all but one of the remaining hostages, and killed five of the six terrorists. The soldiers subsequently faced accusations that they unnecessarily killed two of the terrorists, but an inquest into the deaths eventually cleared the SAS of any wrongdoing. The remaining terrorist was prosecuted and served 27 years in British prisons.
The hostage-takers and their cause were largely forgotten after the Iran–Iraq War broke out later that year and the hostage crisis in Tehran continued until January 1981. Nonetheless, the operation brought the SAS to the public eye for the first time and bolstered the reputation of Margaret Thatcher, the Prime Minister. The SAS was quickly overwhelmed by the number of applications it received from people inspired by the operation and, at the same time, experienced greater demand for its expertise from foreign governments. The building, having suffered major damage from a fire that broke out during the assault, was not reopened as the Iranian embassy until 1993.
2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
Ironing/laundry
Minor gardening
Business promotional work
Meditation
Me Time
Supper
Quality Missus Time
Twitter Followers = 2,223 (up 3)
Never-followed unfollowers eliminated = 0-Followed unfollowers eliminated = 0-New Followers followed back = 2@killitband, @liuhongmei3Spammers not followed back = 1@dragyou77yqn
3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATIONYesterday I encountered two ladies from the Weekend Job who were clearly being treated badly. BUT IT WAS THEIR OWN FAULT!! They were fully co-operating in their own oppression. Why? FEAR. I was reminded how awful life is when dominated by fear.
Despite myself being a shining example of how liberating a little courage is, they simply decided that they weren't me. But I have spent most of my life just like them! Liberation is available to everyone who has courage. My experience has thus taught me that it's pointless attempting to defend the rights of those co-operating in their own suffering. The only path I need concern myself with is my own. To those who reach out to me, to them only I will impart my wisdom.
So where did my own courage emerge from after being as fearful as the rest? EDUCATION!! Not in the academic subjects, but studying the nature of being and existence itself. I actively sought truth and techniques. And what spurred the education? CURIOSITY! I wanted to KNOW things! This is what sets apart the fulfilled from the rest. I consider this avatar of the universe to be most fortunate indeed to have this inbuilt quality of curiosity - it has led to Enlightenment.
4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
Have you had enough of being ruled by fear yet?
5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
In brief
Warm, dry and sunny - hooray!
Details
Moon
Weathertrack
Air Pressure
1021 millibars and falling
6. TODAY'S ONELINER
I keep a second pair of shoes at work. I don't want people to recognize me when I'm in the toilet cubicles. :D
7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY
Jimmy Carr on annoying things
8. TRIVIA
If you keep a goldfish in permanent darkness, it will turn pale
9. ZEN WISDOM
The energy of creativity is like a fire that transforms all kinds of obstacles into opportunities for dynamic new growth and advancement.
Read my book - ENLIGHTENMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK
Also available - EMOTIONAL MANAGEMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK
WISDOM, HUMOUR, AND LOTS OF OTHER INTERESTING STUFF CAN BE FOUND ON MY PINTEREST PAGE and FACEBOOK PAGE
TO FIND OUT WHAT I DO, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE
1. ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY4th May 1979: Margaret Thatcher becomes the first elected woman head of government in Europe
The United Kingdom general election of 1979 was held on 3 May 1979 to elect 635 members to the British House of Commons. The Conservative Party, led by Margaret Thatcher ousted the incumbent Labour government of James Callaghan with a parliamentary majority of 44 seats. The election was the first of four consecutive election victories for the Conservative Party, and a period of radical social change in the United Kingdom.
The Labour campaign was hampered by the series of industrial disputes and strikes during the Winter of 1978-79, known as the Winter of Discontent and the party focused its campaign on support for the National Health Service and full employment. The Conservative campaign employed the advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi and pledged to control inflation as well as curbing the power of the trade unions. The Liberal Party was damaged by allegations that its former leader Jeremy Thorpe had been involved in a homosexual affair, and had conspired to murder his former lover. The Liberals were now being led by David Steel, meaning that all three major parties entered the election with a new leader.
The election saw a 5.2% swing from Labour to the Conservatives, the largest swing since the 1945 election, which Clement Attlee won for Labour.
2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
hopping
Ironing
Meditation
Supper
Watching Son's gig
Twitter Followers = 2,220 (up 1)
Never-followed unfollowers eliminated = 1untracedFollowed unfollowers eliminated = 0-New Followers followed back = 2@CareerThinker, @Evangeline8790 Spammers not followed back = 0-
3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATIONThis morning I learned three important lessons which I really ought to have learned earlier:
1. Do not indulge boners of any kind in the small hours. It will take a long time, you and the bed will get very sweaty and you'll lose precious sleep. I think because that these days a spontaneous erection is such a rare event it seems a criminal waste not to make use of it. However indulging it is simply not worth the resultant effect on sleep and therefore wellbeing, as well as generating more laundry and bed-stripping.
2. Don't leave food in the cats bowls overnight as Tom Cats come in and terrorize your own cats, eat all the food then leave their stinking piss all over the Ground Floor. To be fair this is the first pair of cats we've had that don't caterwaul when invaded, so don't alert us to marauders. Since they can't defend themselves I will have to help them!
3. Don't leave your glasses lying about because then you can't find them! Nuff said!
It was somewhat uncomfortable to learn all these lessons the hard way altogether in the same morning, but I am however delighted with my response. I remain completely calm despite being sleep-deprived in a house stinking of cat-piss. I would not have reacted so well in previous years. Whilst body grows slowly frail, mind becomes increasingly robust.
4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
Are you responding appropriately to the situation you face?
5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
In brief
Cool and sunny in the morning, cloudy and mild after lunch - dry throughout
Details
Moon
Weathertrack
Air Pressure
1025 millibars and falling
6. TODAY'S ONELINER
I can explain the first rule of Patronisation Club to you if you really want, although you should know it's very complicated. :D
7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
Jimmy Carr - Stuff on sex
8. TRIVIA
The first Greek tragedy was performed in 534 B.C. and was staged by a priest of Dionysus named Thespis. He also wrote and performed a part separate from the traditional tragic chorus, which also designated him as the first actor. In fact, the word “thespian” (actor) derives from his name.
9. ZEN WISDOM
Hardships make us strong. Problems give birth to wisdom. Sorrows cultivate compassion. Those who have suffered the most often become the happiest.
Read my book - ENLIGHTENMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK
Also available - EMOTIONAL MANAGEMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK
WISDOM, HUMOUR, AND LOTS OF OTHER INTERESTING STUFF CAN BE FOUND ON MY PINTEREST PAGE and FACEBOOK PAGE
TO FIND OUT WHAT I DO, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE
1. ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY3rd May 1921: The Government of Ireland Act (1920) comes into force - Ireland is partitionedSince 1919 the Irish war of independence had been raging. The Lloyd-George coalition government were caught in the dilemma of realizing that Ireland was now ungovernable but were committed to supporting the large Protestant Unionist minority in the region of Ulster. A radical new solution was proposed by Unionist leader Walter Long. He proposed the partition of Ulster from the rest of Ireland and each partitioned section would be self-governing dependencies of the United Kingdom. To ensure the Unionists had majority rule, the predominantly Catholic Ulster counties of Sligo, Monaghan and Donegal were to be included in the southern dependency.
With the Irish Republican movement accepting nothing less than the full of independence of the whole of Ireland and refusing to negotiate, the British government took what was the only available compromise, and via an act of Parliament imposed partition on Ireland.
Whilst the southern dependency remained in civil war and never actually functioned, Northern Ireland, supported by its predominantly Protestant population, began working immediately. Northern Ireland thus pursued its own course since that time.
After the Irish War of Independence concluded with the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, the resulting Irish Free State theoretically ruled Northern Ireland but required the Northern Ireland parliament to agree to decide to join it. There was of course no way the Unionist-dominated parliament would agree to such a move. In December 1922 Northern Ireland "opted out" of the Irish Free State by petition to the King and partition thus became permanent.
From 1937 after a series of reforms to the constitution, the Irish Free State became "Eire" (the Irish-Gaelic name for Ireland) and laid claim to sovereignty over Northern Ireland. This claim was maintained until under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement of April 1998, the Republic of Ireland (so-named from 1948) after a referendum withdrew this claim. Partition will now remain until or unless the Northern Ireland Assembly votes to abolish it, something unlikely for the foreseeable future.
2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
Business promotional work
Meditation
Me Time
Missus Time
Twitter Followers = 2,219 (up 2)
Never-followed unfollowers eliminated = 2@HeyWeddingDay, @BESETinBooksFollowed unfollowers eliminated = 1@LarryFrankyNew Followers followed back = 1@rohit_sha, @niroknox,Spammers not followed back = 4@JasminWatters, @DarkBlueLA, @osegnigktsde +1 untraced
3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATIONMay Day Bank Holiday Weekend was a complete success, though not exactly a break for me - servicing Missus all day Monday was hardly a break. However, there is no resentment at all. She goes out to work so I don't have to so it's perfectly fair that I do all the housekeeping and caring. It's only rarely tiring and in return I get to live and work in Shangri-La.
My ambition remains for my Hypnotherapy Practice to be self-supporting, and regardless of what the outcome will be, the very pursuit of it is fulfilling. I now have the right mindset to pursue this goal within the (freely chosen) limitations being carer/housekeeper.
A four-day food binge must now end and it's back to sensible eating. I don't have a shred of guilt though - it was f*cking excellent!! I embrace it as a most pleasant memory and return to some degree of discipline.
I have an abundance of time available, and my intention is to use it wisely, pursuing my triple-track roles of housekeeper, carer and Hypnotherapist. In doing so I'm lapping up and savouring every moment of this bliss I now find myself in.
4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
Are you in pursuit of a fulfilling life?
5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
In brief:
Dry, sunny spells, cool.
Details
Moon
Weathertrack
Air Pressure
1020 millibars and rising
6. TODAY'S ONELINER
C-flat, E-flat and G-flat walk into a bar. The bartender shows them the door and says, “Sorry, we don’t serve minors".
7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
Jack Whitehall in New York
8. TRIVIA
Chronic stress floods the brain with powerful hormones that are only meant for short-term emergency situations. Chronic exposure to these hormones can damage, shrink, and kill brain cells.
9. ZEN WISDOM
Alone, one’s suffering only deepens. Human beings need to be with and among other human beings. Engagement with others forges our character and enriches us.
Read my book - ENLIGHTENMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK
Also available - EMOTIONAL MANAGEMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK
WISDOM, HUMOUR, AND LOTS OF OTHER INTERESTING STUFF CAN BE FOUND ON MY PINTEREST PAGE and FACEBOOK PAGE
TO FIND OUT WHAT I DO, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE
1. ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY2nd May 1945: The Surrender of BerlinIn Spring 1945, with Allied forces closing in, Adolf Hitler decided to make a final stand in Berlin and ordered it to be defended to the last man.
The Anglo-Americans could have easily reached Berlin before the Red Army, but there were two main reasons Supreme Commander Eisenhower decided not to. The Western Allies, unlike Stalin, were concerned with suffering as few casualties as possible. Secondly, an agreement had already been reached about zones of occupation, and Berlin was deep inside the Soviet zone. The Western Allies therefore halted at the west bank of the River Elbe and left Berlin to the Red Army.
The first German defensive preparations at the outskirts of Berlin were made on 20 March, under the newly-appointed commander of Army Group Vistula, General Gotthard Heinrici. Before the main battle in Berlin commenced, the Red Army encircled the city after breaking through German defences at the Seelow Heights and Halbe. During 20 April 1945, the 1st Belorussian Front led by Marshal Georgy Zhukov started shelling Berlin's city centre, while Marshal Ivan Konev's 1st Ukrainian Front had pushed from the south through the last shattered formations of German Army Group Centre. The German defences were mainly led by Helmuth Weidling. The units consisted of several depleted, disorganized Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS divisions, along with poorly trained Volkssturm and Hitler Youth members. Within the next few days, the Red Army reached the city centre where close-quarters combat raged.
The battle was fierce and bloody, and like Stalingrad conducted room-to room and house-to-house, but the Red Army had overwhelming numbers, firepower and resources. On April 30, with Soviet soldiers fighting for the Reichstag, Hitler committed suicide, shortly followed by propaganda minister Josef Goebbles the following day on May 1.
With Goebbles dead, Commander of the Berlin garrison Helmuth Weidling ordered a breakout overnight. Very few of those who attempted to break out escaped, and most were killed or captured. At 6am on May 2, Weilding personally surrendered, then over the morning ordered the remaining garrison to surrender. A few diehard SS units refused to accept the surrender, so the Soviets simply demolished the buildings the defenders occupied, burying them alive.
The capture of Berlin did not immediately end the war, but with Hitler dead, all remaining German forces surrendered within a week.
2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
The Paper Run
Ironing
Missus Time
Twitter Followers = 2,217 (up 5)
Never-followed unfollowers eliminated = 4@cornerweave @PMM_band, @1001ptsUK, @JasminWattersFollowed unfollowers eliminated = 1@manuel_arnedoNew Followers followed back = 1@AndrewMayneSpammers not followed back = 8@ohyjomaykaka, @rrpplmustanggt, @Pljjl8181mK, @howogakepizi, @eqadilryeOk, @Galeyrart, @OHoniwastakenNc, @DelanaKreighba6 +1 untraced
3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATIONOn the physical front, the problem in my right foot vanished as mysteriously as it arrived, but right knee ligaments continue to complain. There's not much I can do about it, so I'll just keep gently moving the knee.
On Saturday my appetite suddenly went inexplicably berserk and I pigged out all day. Sunday wasn't quite as bad, but the "munchies" continue. I do not have an explanation for this but it's not bothering me - maybe another age thing! Pursuing what interests me and not giving a fuck is my current mindset, and for now at least the result is happiness, making me inclined to continue this course until it no longer does.
Having abandoned logic in favour of intuition as the Supreme Commander of my life has been pivotal in achieving the quiet mind I had sought for so long. That doesn't mean it stays there though. I have to continually keep my attention on a tight leash so it doesn't wander into dark places and become lost. I am however used to doing it as a daily discipline, like washing.
4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
Is fear or courage running your life?
5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
In brief
Heavy showers in the morning, brightening up after lunch
Details
Moon
Weathertrack
Air Pressure
1014 millibars and rising slightly
6. TODAY'S ONELINER
I saw a woman buying 10 bananas and 2 litres of ice-cream - her pet monkey had a bad breakup :D
7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
Russell Peters - interacts with his Dutch audience
8. TRIVIA
A giraffe's tongue is 21 inches long
9. ZEN WISDOM
A person fully awakened to the jewel-like dignity of their own life is capable of truly respecting that same treasure in others.
