Hi Croix,

Just having a quick flick around the forum to see what is happening. Just came upon this thread.

Regarding marking work, one of neighbours was a teacher. She asked me over for a cuppa one night as she needed a break from marking all of the assignments. We had a chat and a laugh and she felt better.

I did offer to help her mark the assignments, after a little hesitation she didn't quite think that was the right thing to do so we had another laugh over that.

At least with multiple choice questions you have some percentage of actually getting the answer correct! Ha. Ha.

Cheers all from Mrs. D.

Dear Mrs Dools~

Nice idea:) As I mentioned I do not like multiple choice questions, in fact the way they were set up it was not possible to play the percentages as incorrect answers were penalized, so no guessing.

Croix

sorry = "Equus". Stupid autocorrect.

Dear RunGirl et al.~

If you mean the Peter Shaffer play I guess it contains enough starting points to lead anywhere, dealing perhaps about rationality vs emotion. Actually you will think me silly but I feel sorry for the horses, the characters not nearly to the same extent.

Not realy surprising, have a soft spot, Google:

Llywelyn bach beyondblue forum

To see one of my happy memories about a horse.

Your work sounds as if it could be very interesting. any likeable characters?

Croix

Dear RunGirl et al.~

Um, non-malignant narcissist? I'd have thought that an oxymoron, bit like 'only choice'. Well I guess I'll have to defer to your insight. I'm not going to get the chance but it would have been a very interesting read.

Actually after saying that maybe I would not be able to read it anyway. My illness has left me nowadays with a strong aversion to tragedy and unhappy endings, I probably could not read about Claudette or even Jenny.

Ah well, I'm improving, to start with could not view any cop show at all, now it is only the gritty ones I avoid.

Your being able to write is a great thing, a resource and outlet all in one. After 13 or so years do you think you can get back to it?

Croix

Actually yes....I've grown to know the characters so much better in that time....there's always a "Jenny" moment or a "how would Grainger react to this?" incident. I've matured with them. Daniel's ending is delightfully happy. Claudette's is tragic. Jenny's is sad although she won't admit it and Grainger just continues his circles.....having learnt though, that he IS fallible.

There's a lot of info on the net about types of narcissm, if you're interested, just google "non malignant narcissist" or "malignant narcissist" to enter the rabbit hole.

I write a lot of short stories....I always begin each one with a poem. I hope this one doesn't freak you....it's really about gentleness and peace...

CYCLES II

But she became a dancer

And so her old desire

To chase the diamond dragons,

Those creatures made of fire

Was silenced by the rhythm

Of the circles that she turned

And gentle repetition

Vanquished fears

Of being burned

Dear RunGirl~

Well I can't say I'm a stranger to most of that. A few scattered thoughts-

I use two types of meds to get to sleep, and that has been worked out over many years, weak ones to enhance relaxation exercises and stronger ones only if that does not work. Now I'm not saying any of that is suitable for you, however it is certainly something to discuss in detail with your doctor. I'm not sure either that taking them on a long-term basis is recommended, so don't think of me as an example.

I've reached that happy stage where I'm not frightened to go to bed, or put it off because I 'knew I was not going to sleep'

In that discussion if you had an accurate sleep-log your doctor would have a non-subjective set of data to work with.

Technique: You would already know about the steps for sleep hygiene - if not sing out, they are pretty standard. If nightmare I get up, even if it was only a dozing one. It breaks the 'mood chain'. Nightmares are another thing to talk to your doctor about. Similarly if sleep does not come I get up - maybe have a warm drink, look outside. Once again breaking a mindset.

Sounds, none from elsewhere to disturb you of course, I'm trying to use an ambient sound (the sea or wind) but am having trouble keeping it to myself away from my partner, I'll get something worked out in time. If not all the time then when recovering from a nightmare - well that's the plan.

Frankly the not getting up until 1, I would not worry overmuch, try defeating that in easy stages. The sleeping from 3.30 to 8 I'd try to avoid - yes easy to say. I'm talking efforts to regulate your internal clock here.

More walking?

Now, what your partner deserves - love, that's it. Hassles come with life, if it was not your problems I'm sure there would be something else. You give what you can - so does he.

Croix

Dear RunGirl~

Having got the more important thing out the way I can look at what you said about your writing.

Incidentally if you had posted the sleep problem post in your own thread you might have received better advice from others rather than just my ideas. That being said you are of course welcome to say/ask anything here too, so don't feel I'm trying to get rid of you:)

Having that ability to analyze a situation from the POV of a character is a real bonus. You are going to end up with a very rich manuscript. I'm not sure if 'Alfie' realized he was fallible, maybe just mystified.

If I look away from the last line of Cycles II (a trigger) then the one thing that immediately comes to mind is

... Like a circle in a spiral, like a wheel within a wheel
Never ending or beginning on an ever spinning reel
As the images unwind, like the circles that you find
In the windmills of your mind ...

Can't claim anything except it's a favorite song, Noel Harrison wrote it of course. Better than the film it was in.

Croix

Hi Croix, yes I love that song too. Sorry about the wrong thread (I meant to use my other thread but just punched the wrong link). Also sorry about the trigger. It's so hard to know what triggers we are hitting when we write here because our experiences have been so varied.

Best

RG

Dear RunGirl

Don't worry about where you posted, if you thought it worthwhile you might like to try again in your own thread -as I say you might get better answers than I can give.

With triggers, there is no way to know what some people are sensitive to, your poem was fine, the problem was me.

I liked "gentle repetition vanquishing"

I play "Windmills" to help lift spirits and relax.

Do you have similar?

Croix

surprisingly, the same song. Also "Jersey Thursday" by Donovan, "The Holy ground " by Mary Black and the roger Whitaker version of "The Streets of London". i have no idea who he covered..and a song by Buffy Sainte Marie which I think is called "November Child". "desperado" by the Eagles gets, as do a few of their songs.

I was was born a bit be after my generation on some way musically but there are are also plenty of modern songs that touch me in different ways in different moods.

RG

Your mention of Windmills Of Your Mind reminded me of a fabulous old LP I had/still have I think...of The Sandpipers greatest hits....plus Guantanamera, Song of Joy and other haunting melodies. Gosh it was relaxing and lovely. Don't know where to find a CD of it, but I'd get it again if I could. The music was just beautiful.....hope all going well with you.

Thanks Moonstruck, I love that song so much as does Croix, apparently!!! For something a bit different but equally mesmerising, try Buffy Sainte Marie.....

Dear Moon~

Yup, I'm OK. Other people like that LP too, I saw two on eBay, one in N Qld and one in NSW, quite cheap. The down side being you need a turntable, or someone to digitize it for you. The songs were excellent: Guantanamera, Yesterday, All My Loving, And I Love Her, plus seven more. I don't know if it was ever a CD.

Croix

Dear rungGirl~

I like Buffy Sainte-Marie as she has got older. For instance I thought her Universal Soldier in the 60's a bit 'clean' when contrasted with her 90's version, much richer. Interesting lady, even older than me!

Mind you I like the Donovan version too. Plus Jersey Thursday is lovely with rich imagery, really appeals, someone said it was the Jersey isles, not the US city -and gulls, not girls. Doesn't matter I guess.

I prefer Ralph McTell's Streets of London to Whitaker's as it has less 'beat', more easy.

If one mentions Donovan one ought to mention Joan Baez. I guess with Moon looking in Diamonds and Rust might be appropriate :)

When I played that Eagles number I was treated to an artwork by Guido Daniele, being an eagle head made from a painted hand. He does amazing stuff.

Getting back to music, I think apart from Windmills then for me The Sounds of Silence by S & G -1964 comes a close second.

Thanks for the musical tour, I always enjoy playing other people's recommendations.

Croix

Joan Joan Joan.....my hero. Her voice is sublime, she encouraged me by example not to dye my grey hair (I have a lot from all the surgery and seizures) and having lived in the Czech Republic so long, one can't go past the story of her allowing then-dissident Vaclav Havel to carry her guitar on stage, thus making him part of her entourage and immune to arrest by the communist police....then continuing to sing Donna Donna acapella when the thought police pulled the power out on her. Magnificent woman.

In fact I was a bit bewildered by your thoughts on Jersey Thursday, I have always sung it as "gulls" and imagined the The Jersey Islands, especially as Donovan is Welsh, not American. It just makes more sense to me I love his version of "Universal Soldier"...it's so innocent yet somehow wise too. Another pair I'm desperately in love with - you guessed it - Simon and Garfunkel, the genius songwriter and the angelic voice paired up....uffff. I am also really into the Hollies for some reason. I don't even know why. Then we get to more modern music....INXS (not the same without MH), Crowded House, Melalica, REM (I was at one of their last concerts before they disbanded), Lady Gaga, Norah jones.....I could go on and on....

RG

Dear RG et al. (with a nod to Mary)~

I'm not sure I'm with you about the hair, Joan did indeed have grey hair and also sang that Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair, though I like Nina Simone's version, lower.

"I love his version of "Universal Soldier"...it's so innocent yet somehow wise too" -now that is what I'd been thinking but not realized, spot-on. I've a soft spot for the Welsh :) -see my

Forums / Staying well / Store Your Happy Memories Here:

thread where I rabbit on endlessly about my Welsh childhood.

I didn't mind The Hollies, Carrie Anne with the almost West Indian style was a change. I'd not listened to Nora Jones before, the bluesy style of Carry On appeals

I'm afraid I'm a bit all over the place, a favorite is Tom Waits - "God's Away On Business" plus of course the Cookie Monster version:)

Croix

By the way Moon, Diamonds and Rust gets me every time, paired with those classic photos of Joan and Bob dylan together duringtheir heyday. So much heartbreaking love, on her part at least

Dear RG et al.~

Everyone loves a cookie monster or Muppet version

I'm not sure Statler and Waldorf do :[

-C

For something different try Roger Whitaker's Mexican Whistler. All oral whistling and BRILLIANT. Another favourite is Neil Diamonds "Suzanne"

Dear RG et al.~

Yes, Roger's Mexican Whistler is excellent, I was not as keen on on his Elizabethan Serenade as I thought he introduces too many extra' twiddly bits' starting many of the phrases. He is most accomplished.

Scott Joplin « The entertainer », Derek SÉBASTIAN (siffle) is an example of a very clean version of a tune with virtually no improvisation.

Neil Diamonds "Suzanne" reminds me of something, the rich male American voice, but it escapes me. I had the misfortune to have to sit though Jonathan Livingstone Seagull when it first came out at the movies, it's taken me a very long time to to look favorably on Mr Diamond as a result.

Croix

Hi Croix,

Just popping by to tell you I loved the snapshot memories. You were right happiness can be shared. I loved the echinda story and it helped a lot after a rough therapy session. So thank you.

Woah. I'm way over my head in here (sorry RG the only name that was familiar was when Croix mentioned the muppets 😊 otherwise I'd join the debate/discussion). Nice to meet you though.

Speaking of muppets... I love them! Possibly the child in me but I suspect it is avoiding emotional shows/films. Nothing better than a cheerful swedish chef making chocolate mousse by melting chocolate and smearing it on a MOOSE 😁. I am easily amused.

Seriously though how are you Croix. You've been helping everywhere as always but not a lot about how you are feeling.

❤ Nat.... lover of all things Muppets... And Jon Bellion.... He's releasing some older stuff on a new cd called Growth! Woohooo. I will be able to listen to Carry Your Throne! Arrrrgh. Ultimate craziness).

heheheheheheheh.....nor Sam the American Eagle probably.....

RG

Hi Quercus

The Muppet who sang it was the old scientist. It was so poignantly done that even at a very very early age it imbedded this song into my heart. Nice to meet you too. feel free to talk Muppets! Actually my first TV experience was the muppets as I am South Africa born and TV was banned for censorship reasons but we visited my uncle in England and got to see them there!!

cheers RunGirl

Dear RG et al.~

I've a very soft spot for the Muppets so you are not alone Nat, from early Jim Henson and the Children's Television Workshop though to the latest movie. I guess my favorite would be The Muppet Christmas Carol with Michael Caine.

Actually they have a pretty impressive serious side dealing with topics form bereavement to HIV.

What was the song you were referring to with the Mad Scientist RG?

Croix

Croix

The song was "Time in a bottle" which is actually quite heartbreaking in the Muppets version.....you might struggle through it but it's worth it.....otherwise the original by Jim Croce. 1973 I think.