HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH

An article on the BBC website

Most Britons 'believe in heaven'

Some 15% believe in fortune telling or Tarot

The majority of Britons believe in heaven and life after death, new research suggests.

The survey of 2,060 people showed 55% believe in heaven, while 53% believe in life after death and 70% believe in the human soul.

The study was carried out between October and November last year for the public theology think tank Theos.

It also suggested that nearly four in 10 people, 39%, believe in ghosts and 27% believe in reincarnation.

A further 22% believe in astrology or horoscopes and 15% believe in fortune telling or Tarot.

The think tank said the findings were "especially striking" when compared to the 1950s.

Then only 10% of the public told Gallup that they believed in ghosts and just 2% thought they had seen one.

More sceptical

In 1951, only 7% of people said they believed in predicting the future by cards and 6% by stars.

But the latest research showed an increase in scepticism about certain aspects of the supernatural, the organisation said.

In a 1998 Mori poll, 18% of the public said they believed in fortune telling or tarot, and 38% in astrology. A further 40% said they believed in ghosts, and 15% said that they had personal experience of ghosts.

Theos director Paul Woolley said: "The enlightenment optimism in the ability of science and reason to explain everything ended decades ago.

"The extent of belief will probably surprise people, but the finding is consistent with other research we have undertaken.

"The results indicate that people have a very diverse and unorthodox set of beliefs. Our research may point to a slight increase in scepticism about aspects of the supernatural over the last 10 years."

MY THOUGHTS AS I WROTE THEM ON MY FACEBOOK ACCOUNT

*I would like to believe in heaven BUT I don't.
*I would like to believe in life after death BUT I think more than probably isn't.
*I believe there is something SOUL LIKE within us BUT whether it goes on or not.....
*I think there is such a thing as 'Ghosts' but whether what we see are actually the spirits of dead people BUT I have had 2 experiences that might have been 'Ghosts'.
*I totally HATE the idea of reincarnation,think of the awful situations you could return to!Enough to give you nightmares!
*I do not believe in astrology BUT I think there is something in TAROT but I think this is probably something to do with the 'living human mind' and it's unknown capabilities rather than those that have died.
What do you believe in ?
If you believe in God and have a strong religious belief then I am very envious of you.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I so wish that I could go back to the days of innocence and total belief.............I blame the history degree!
It opened my inquiring mind.
I call myself a Humanist
but I wonder if that really is the best description because I believe in the possibility of the supernatural.
I think Beauty is the lucky one as she has doesn't need to think about such things.
QUESTION
Should I have Beauty christened?
If there is no point and there isn't a God then surely it doesn't matter to a child that doesn't understand but it would keep 'The Family' happy!
Deep thoughts for so early in the morning.

I am awake but Beauty is asleep, I find this is the best time to write my blog.
In fact, if Beauty is awake there is no other time.
Due to computer problems,Beauty has been driving me insane for the last few days.
If she is not searching the house for the computer then she is terrorising the video player or trying to hand feed the rabbits! Yesterday I found her in the (very poopy) rabbit hutch with a quivering rabbit!

Beauty and her Mama 'Down Barry'

HAPPY EASTER

As a true Brit I am constantly looking at the weather forecast and the skies.
Last night there was a `red sky` and today the weather forecast says sunny spells which means a good day to wash clothes and car boot!
Last night I finished cleaning the front garden so today I am hoping Runningman will jetspray the floor. The floor is made of child safety surfacing to stop Beauty hurting herself when she tumbles and it is very difficult to keep clean!

Fiona is such a sweetheart! She told me yesterday that I wasn`t very photogenic!
She told me that my face, my skin and my hair look better in `real life` rather than in a photograph.Oh and I look better when I smile but not smile too much.
Well that was a backhanded comliment if I ever heard one.


Here is a photo of Fiona`s unphotogenic mother!
Just remember Fiona, I am a mother of 6 and I have an almost 27 year old!

A big HI to SnoWhite and Ariel in Syria and I hope you are having fun.
And I hope the weather is nicer than here and if you want to but me a present SnoWhite then a couple of balls of wool from the market would be nice.

Some photos that I took at Allensbank
In keeping with Easter

I especially love Celtic Crosses

HOME ALONE!

Hey girls!
Check out the skirt on the little girl at the start of this advert.
Remember when Beauty had one of these?



Remember when she was small and cute?
Beauty has gone with the childminder for 3 hours this morning so a little bit of peace and quiet in the house!

check out picture number 9, yep that`s my little sweety.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7988187.stm

Life is also quieter because SnoWhite is visiting Ariel in Syria.
BEHAVE YOURSELF SNOWHITE.......NO INTERNATIONAL INCIDENTS!



And next week Fiona is off to visit Anastasia in Vienna so I guess no help for me with the housework that week !!!!!!!!!!
They are going to do the whole Sound of Music THING!

As Beauty is out with the childminder I suppose I should gvet on with the cleaning.
What fun!

NO WAY!

What I am about to say may offend my religious readers and I know a high percentage of you are due to the spirituality of my youth(no I never said misspent youth!!!!) but I really believe that the issue of the attitude of the church to homosexuality has to be addressed.

Blair questions Papal gay policy

Mr Blair said some religious leaders feared "conceding too much ground"

Tony Blair has questioned the Pope's attitude towards homosexuality, arguing that religious leaders must start "rethinking" the issue.

Some older Catholics had "entrenched attitudes", while most congregations were more "liberal-minded", he added.

Mr Blair, who converted to Catholicism after resigning as UK prime minister in 2007, told the gay magazine Attitude that views had to keep "evolving".

But he added that Pope Benedict XVI also stood for "many fantastic things".

I really do believe that a persons sexuality has nothing to do with anyone else and also believe that judging somebody because they are homosexual is especially wrong.

`Judge not, that ye be not judged`
Matthew 7:1
If Christians believe in the Bible then they should adhere to what is being said here and leave other people alone.It is not our business.
If there is a God and he wants to judge somebody then that is his/her business not ours.
Sadly I do not believe in God but I want to clarify here that I wish with all my heart he/she were true but this doesn`t mean that makes me a bad person and I live a bad life.
The life that I lead,trying to be a good, happy person, is not lived that way because I want to please God but because that is just the way I want to live my life.
Let`s put my slip into talking about religion down to Easter!

Considering that it is the Easter School Holidays the weather yesterday was not too bad with the rain holding off until night time.
I managed to catch the escapologist bunny and he is safely back in his cage which is good when you consider the rain last night.
If the rain holds off today then I shall finish cleaning the front garden which means cleaning out the bunny and the piggy cages.....nice!



I have managed to buy quite a few `Arty,Crafty`things which will please Beauty.Today Beauty and I must definitely make something from the `Doodle Drawer`.
`NO WAY`

I also have Fiona on a promise to paint my front porch.....it will be interesting to see what transpires there!

BABY CRYING!

I am awake at `STUPID O`CLOCK`again.
And I cannot get back to sleep because the birds are making too much noise and telling them to shut up is as effective as trying to stop Beauty singing!
As for Beauty.....well she of course is still asleep as it is the start of the Easter holidays.
Talking Beauty, I have to wash the throws on my sofa due to the fact that she opened and emptied her Tippee of black currant and apple juice over it.Thanks kid.
I am washing them quickly as it is meant to rain from about 4pm and not stop for the rest of the week.Brilliant,typical British weather.

My car is clean which must come as a shock not just to everyone I know but the car as well.
I just do not have the energy or the inclination to wash the car and anyone who knows me will testify to the fact that I want a Land Rover because I will never need to wash it. Pianoman offered(well coerced really) to clean it for me yesterday and now the outside is washed and the inside hoovered(or is that Dysoned?).





Much of the discussion here is about SnoWhite`s imminent trip to Syria and Fiona`s trip to Vienna and especially what should SnoWhite take with her.And my answer is do not take too many clothes as it is certainly not a fashion show and nobody will notice(not even the smell) if you wear the same thing for your entire trip.Damascus is a very full and bustling and noisey and dusty place and is very ripe with lots of cooking and hot smells.
Remember SnoWhite, no International Incidents!

Last night was a baking night!
I made Shepherds pie, I made one for Pianoman and his mother and two individual ones for IT




man and a vegetarian option for SnoWhite and myself and the vegetarian one is almost all gone already. SnoWhite was hungry!



This week I intend to make some Simnel cake with Beauty as I have always wanted to make some but have never got round to making one.
As the weather seems to be set for rain,rain and more rain I think perhaps I had better hunt down some Easter recipes to keep Beauty occupied and off the video and the computer.
Any baking suggestions girls?
I have thought about cookies and nests but there must be more to Easter baking than that.

Yesterday SnoWhite and I went to Bessemer Road Car Boot sale and we had quite an enjoyable time.We were looking for presents for Fiona for her birthday in May but I also bought some handknitted toys and a painting for my living room.



We witness some quite funny haggling over prices
IT IS 50P
I`LL GIVE YOU 30P
IT IS 50P
I`LL GIVE YOU 30P
I SAID 50P
at this point we had walked on and could no longer hear the conversation!
And another one
for what looked like a nice pair of flip flops
THEY ARE 50P
20p
NO THEY ARE 50P
20P
IF YOU DON`T WANT THEM AT 50P THEN LEAVE THEM
at which point the stall holder took the flip flops off the woman and put them back on the stall
then the Indian punters husband picked the flip flops up and said
HOW MUCH
and the stall holder said £1
I love the stall holder!
I would feel demeaned to haggle over a pair of 2nd hand flip flops.
Though if my children were hungry and I was poor(again!) I would have no problem haggling over food for them.

SPRING HAS TRULY ARRIVED

The day after the day before........whew! having FMS can create quite a roller coaster life.The day before yesterday was a lot of pain but yesterday was quite a pain free day but a day after pain is usually a recovery day and yesterday was exhausting but very nice.
The weather was beautiful for April,a little chilly at times but still very nice.

What is it with men and the ability they have to phone when you are in the shower?
The phone call was from the plumber and the question was CAN I SERVICE YOUR BOILER?
My replyNO I`M IN THE SHOWER!
His reply I AM OUTSIDE,CAN I WAIT?
My reply NO, GIVE ME 24 HOURS NOTICE.......I HAVE AN 8 YEAR OLD IN HERE WITH THE POOPS!
It`s amazing but the price I pay for a yearly service you would think that I was the one in charge of the situation.

At lunch time Beauty and I met IT man for lunch and we went to M&S on Newport Road for lunch. Beauty had a great time chomping away on her salt and vinegar crisps, we sat and watched the traffic thunder down Newport Road!The weather was lovely and Beauty really enjoyed herself.IN THE GROUNDS OF THE CHURCH
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD
WHERE WE PARKED

BEAUTY ON THE CAROUSEL

After dropping IT man off, as we were in town and the weather was so nice, Beauty and I went shopping. Yes I know .......Stand back in amazement......I went into town shopping!My twice yearly venture.

ME IN MY `SUMMER OF LOVE` DRESS

I bought a dress from Primark which would not have looked out of place in the Summer of Love and a flowery skirt.
And I bought a dress and top from Monsoon for Beauty.
I am not too keen on going to any shops that you cannot park outside of due to my inability to walk far and knees that collapse on me.
Taking Beauty helps though as for longer trip I take her in her buggy/wheelchair and I use the buggy like a zimmer frame!

As it was such a nice day I thought it would be good to take Beauty for a walk somewhere as she has been stuck in a lot over the last few weeks due to her funny tummy so I picked Fiona up and we went to Barry Island.
WOT`S OCCURRIN!??!

BEAUTY LOVES PIZZA

On the way we stopped at Pizza Hut in the Bay and had tea,Beauty`s favourite food, PIZZA!

FIONA HATES HAVING HER PHOTO TAKEN

Beauty was a lot better this time waiting for the order to arrive as she prefers buffet to waiting for an order.Fiona enjoyed it too and I was able to have my favourite AS MUCH SALAD AS YOU CAN EAT!


ADVERT FOR LESBIAN VAMPIRE KILLERS
ON BARRY ISLAND

Then we drove over to Barry Island.

WHAT CAN I SAY BUT BARRY ISLAND WANTS `NO DOGS`

Dusk was falling as we got there but it was still a nice walk along the front and Beauty was fascinated by the noisy seagulls.

BEAUTY WATCHING THE SEA AND THE SNOGGERS

THE SEAGULLS ARE CHEEKY B-GGERS
AND WILL STEAL THE FOOD OUT OF
YOUR HANDS!

MOON OVER THE ISLAND

WOULD SOMEBODY BE CRAZY ENOUGH
TO CYCLE DOWN HERE?

FLOWER BED ON THE ISLAND

It was a very tiring day for me and I went to bed with Beauty as soon as we got home but all in all it was very nice.


BEAUTY`S LATEST CREATION
ON MY STUDY WALL!

IN THE PARK

IN THE PARK
THE ESPLANADE
CARDIFF BAY

I think that better management of medication is the answer.
Yesterday was quite a poorly day for me as far as my FMS was concerned but I think the answer might be to take medication as early as possible in the morning as getting started for me can be very slow work.During the day,once the medications have kicked in,I can extend the time between doses to longer and longer so I think the answer is to take medication and a drink to bed with me and to take the first dose as early as possible.
Yesterday my biggest pain was in my shins!
Now how ridiculous does that sound?
What is even funnier is my elbows were also hurting.........what more can I say?

Even with all the pains I kept going and managed to fit in a lot.
Most importantly I took Beauty to the park with my friend.
I think Beauty was impressed with having somebody other than the usual weakling take her because she managed to get LOTS of REALLY BIG SWINGS.Thank you so much.
We went to the park on Windsor Esplanade down the Bay.

Why I do it to myself I do not know.
Yesterday I agreed to go to church with Fiona because she had a new beginnings evening and mothers were invited.I was the only mother to show but 2 were not able to come as they were ill.
Beauty was well behaved and managed half of the meeting but we wandered for the rest of the time.I am afraid it was all too good(! !!!!!!!!! !) and clean (! !!!!!!!!!!! !) for me.
I am certainly not on enough medication to cope with church on a long term basis!
I came away feeling the need for a shower and the need to bang my head against a hard surface.
Note to myself........leave it as long as possible before the next visit.