Sunday, September 13, 2015

We Brits. . .

Hello Gals and Guys    Well yes we Brits. . . .You know we don't sing our own praises that often,   nor do we put our hands on our hearts every morning  as school starts and swear allegiance to the Queen and the flag;  and while we all love HM,really it's not just our way.   Of course we are more than merely excited, and probably feel somewhat smug, when we gather huge clusters of medals at Olympics and so on, but I do feel very strongly that there is one night every year when we can, and should  go O.T.T and be more than proud to be British.   This is the Last Night of the Proms!   I usually, burst into tears when 'Land of Hope and Glory' begins and that's just as it should be.   Glorious in more ways than one.   I have been present on several Last Nights and the atmosphere in the Hall is indescribable.  I remember slightly scolding a woman waving the EEC flag and in my best polite English way I did say 'Oh no not tonight please!'   Of course, we all know that the 'mighty' which is made much of in the inspiring lyrics of our national song, isn't what it was; but it's good to let the world know of our sense of pride, and this night-of- nights is just one occasion when  we really can show off with justification.   Derek and I now live in Sydney so we couldn't be there on Saturday, 14th September, however last evening (Sunday) watching the occasion on UKTV found me tear- stained, opening our patio doors and turning up the television  sound to it fullest. . . Well, ,Australia loves the Queen too, even if at the moment we Brits are tactful when  the cricket is in our favour!!!  And until that long distant day when Australia becomes  a Republic why not?     Cheers Julia

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Here's another 'return' for you!

Hi Gals and Guys.   A while ago I told you about the Jupiter return, well here's another that you can work out for yourselves.   Remember I said that because Jupiter takes twelve years to travel round the sun and comes back to the position it was in when you were born, it makes a useful trend to use to push yourselves on in what is most important to you.   Well. . .  Saturn takes some 29 and a half to thirty years to travel round the sun, and so we get our first Saturn Return as we approach thirty, and the second as we near sixty.   Becoming thirty is a landmark time, when we reassess our progress in our lives and often begin to feel that bit older, and we ask ourselves 'what next?'  Many people at this important time deepen their relationship by marriage  (or end an unsuccessful  partnership) start their families and often make house purchase.  While now reasonably settled in their careers the time is right to decide on long term ambitions and if already done so then the time is also right to decide on the next steps of the ladder - again a time to use constructively and to take important decisions, sometimes hard ones, but it's unlikely to make a bad decision at this time,  but changes are often made.   As we near sixty we approach our second Saturn Return.    So many people come out of full time employment and retire, perhaps they 'down size' .   But here too is a time to look to the future and while they are thinking seriously about their future, they must also think very positively.   This can be hard but. . .  this second Saturn return is unique, because it is also the time  of a Jupiter Return - one's fifth in the order of things.   Here Jupiter is countering any negativity, and at its strongest it is saying you now have time to concentrate on those interests you've not had time for in the past time to do so.   It's not a time to crumble under any Saturn's dreariness but to think of this and use your coming decades in a positive and rewarding way.  Grandchildren often feature, there'll be  time for travel if it can be afforded ,  this surely is time given, and above all else keep exercising, even if you have to modify your schedule.   Make the most of this demanding, but  inspiring period..   Now of course more and more of us live to get our third Saturn Return.   if that's you're lot, be happy think and tell younger people all about what it was like when you were young - especially the second World War.!!! Check out photo albums making quite sure that there are descriptions of what and who are in the pictures on the back of the pictures!

Sunday, September 6, 2015

On Masturbation: Some Thoughts on the Science of Onanism.



Mark Twain On Masturbation: Some Thoughts on the Science of Onanism.
Homer, in the second book of the Iliad, says with fine enthusiasm: ‘Give me masturbation or give me death!’
Caesar, in his Commentaries, says, “to the lonely it  is company; to the forsaken it is a friend; to the aged and impotent it is a benefactor; they that be penniless are yet rich in that they still have this majestic diversion.’ In another place this excellent observer has said, ‘There are times when I prefer it to sodomy.’
Robinson Crusoe says, ‘I cannot describe what I owe to this gentle art.’
Queen Elizabeth said, ‘It is the bulwark of virginity.’
Cetewayo, the Zulu hero, remarked that ‘A jerk in the hand is worth two in the bush.’
The immortal Franklin has said, ‘Masturbation is the mother of invention.’ He also said, ‘Masturbation is the best policy.’
Michelangelo and all the other Old Masters have used similar language. Michelangelo said to Pope Julius II, ‘Self-negation is manly, self-culture is beneficent, self-possession is manly, but to the truly great and inspiring soul they are poor and tame compared to self-abuse.’
Mr Browning, in one of his latest and most graceful poems refers to it in an eloquent line which is destined to live to the end of time: ‘None know it but to love it, None name it but to praise.’
Such are the utterances of the most illustrious of the masters of this renowned science.