https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/12/style/falling-in-love-again.html

https://jpawlak2.medium.com/discovering-your-unconscious-mind-44811080630a

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2023/january/nhs-prescriptions-annual-season-ticket-/

They lay down in awe and fear,
Of what their love was bringing near.
They gazed into each others eyes
And so did tantalise.
They lay down to gaze into
the eyes and soul of one who’s true.
They gazed until ,when overcome,
They were united into one.

Their souls and bodies were conjoined,
And thus their hearts were well entwined;
As honeysuckle on the walls,
In joy’s sweet arbours does grow tall,
Their loving lips and eyes and hands
Gave pause to time’s soft flowing sands.
and as they touched and gazed and longed,
The birds sa

ng out in glorious songs.

Which is me and which is you?
Are we one or are we two?
I give you all myself today,
So this shall be our way

When Mary got home,she took off her coat and put the kettle on the fire!She got the tea caddy out and put some tea into the pot.Suddenly the door burst open and Annie her exuberant neighbour fell into the kitchen
Are you ok,Mary asked her gently.Those 4 inch heels are rather dangerous.
Annie was wearing a sky blue track suit,red stilettos and a big green pashmina. Her make up had melted all down her face as she was so warm with running.She had some waterproof make up but had the feeling it might be dangerous to clog the pores.
Where have you been?She asked curiously.You were ages.
I forgot to get off the bus as I fell into a reverie.
That sounds like a black hole!
I was daydreaming so I ended up by the river and a policeman asked me for a date,sort of.
Did you have any dates with you?
No,I only had Stan in my bag,then.
Where is he? Have you put him into the wardrobe?
It’s already full.He’s still in the bag at the moment on the sofa .
The two women fell into a sad, mutual silence realising Stan would never now teach Emile to swim in the bath nor return his overdue library books.
Am I liable for his fines,Mary wondered prudently.
I can pay if you like,Annie,said generously.She got out some home made biscuits and gave one to Mary who was wearing a long black dress from Lands End which resembled a nun’s habit.
Are you thinking of retiring to the cloister soon ,she continued.
No,I don’t believe in Christianity any more.Christ.yes,Christianity ,no.
What about Xmas?Will you celebrate?
I shall pray and do out the kitchen cupboards.
Are they that bad,asked Annie curiously, twiddling a ringlet with her thin fingers.
Possibly,Mary giggled!
They didn’t teach domestic science at Oxford!And Mother was always busy cooking and cleaning the grate after she got home from work.
Talking about grates,I’d better look at the kettle.
She lifted it off the fire and held it up in the air.It was very black on one side,just like the one Mary’s mother had had so many years ago.
Why don’t I make some tea,she asked.
I don’t know,said Annie.Is this the Xmas quiz?
No,you don’t understand.It’s a rhetorical question.
Oh,do stop showing off,Annie told her.I only went to Knittingham Polytechnic and we never did Greek,just Aramaic.I have forgotten it now.
Mary poured out the tea into two pint sized mugs and the women sat silently warming their hands on the mugs and meditating on the wilful backwardness of the local poly which now only taught Latin,Hebrew and chemical engineering.The latter was an error as the professors thought that was what Wittgenstein had studied before finding Bertrand Russell more attractive.
Russell’s paradox had haunted Annie ever since those happy student days.Whereas, she being a lady with a very high libido would have preferred Russell to his paradox ,if she had been given the choice.What Lord Russell would have liked we can only speculate.

I’m sorry the prime minister is not here ear today. He is looking at the Channel and says he will have to have an eye test because he can’t see any migrants in dinghies.

The prime minister has promised that e,,, that everybody will have to , study mathematics,,until they are 18 years old. I am wondering what exactly they are going to teach. The paper say that there are, not enough mathematics graduates. But do you need a degree in mathematics to teach people how to read and how to do arithmetic? Because those are the things that children fail in primary school and in the secondary school just go through without help.

My question is this. Are we going to get maths graduates to help the high flying children even more teaching so that they’ll be ready to do a master’s degree before they go to university or are we going to get intelligence sensible sensitive teachers who can teach all the children who are failing at GCSE level how to read better and how to do the kind of arithmetic we need in everyday life and in looking after our money or paying taxes. Will we teach them how to understand inflation? Will we make it easier for them to find a place in society? Learning how to budget and and what to do if you get into debt? How to understand credit cards and how to avoid being take it in by offers of money all the time?

We’re talking about the poor and they’re not so poor but people who are not so skilled at reading long forms and have no one in their family able to help.

We need to to empower the poor but will any government do that?

Let them solve quadratic equations,

https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2022/06/mastodon-mammoth-extinction-climate-change/661351/

Ice Age megafauna went extinct only moments ago, in staggered waves over human history. The last mammoth, for instance, died after the first pyramids were built. Yet we know little of the lives of these animals with which we shared the planet for hundreds of thousands of years.

The empty pots stand quietly in the sun

They have no value but to naked worms

Yet in the earth the labour has begun

And deeper in the ground, the earth still burns.

The bulbs we buried looked as if they’d died.

Yet in their Resurrection,they will live

We can see how they boldly they defy

They have their secret treasure, they will give.

In the peaceful darkness of their clay.

Life and death are mingled by the heat.

The sun itself more distant has to pay

Deep down in the earth, a heart still beats.

What looks like death above deceives out minds.

Imagination’s cleverly disguised.

Like the message in between the lines

We must learn again to be surprised.

The seers eyes relaxed attend the deep.

We feel the warmth as all that’s hidden sleeps

Katherine fiction, humor, love, nonsense, reflections, sonnet, 

Soft corns,blisters,hard corns and toe nails
Ankle socks and stockings, tights and  boots
Cover up the wounds with dressings white
Put  your feet up, rest  by  doing nought

Skin so thin it frightens me  to think
All I am  finds boundary just here
Yet our heart and soul can  contain  more
Spreading like a shawl on loved ones dear

We cast our love like fishers cast their  rods
Not too sure  of what will take the bait
A   simile  so poor I blush bright pink
For love  seeks not to prey but rather waits

Across the entire world the hate runs wild
 Bleach your brain , don’t poison  with  your smile

You may have read that we, the English people [ well I am 3/8 English] have to be careful in discussion with people who speak English but live in other countries like New Zealand.South Africa and of course, Canada, home of Leonard Cohen
However much we learn, if we don’t live in England we probably do not understand the idioms and I expect im politics and business it could cause great problems
If Boris Johnson says he is going to spill the beans tonight, will anyone from other countries like France know what he means.Because I assume they speak English at NATO events
Stone the crows. here is Boris striking while the iron is hot and spilling the beans and his seeds all over the area.
Oh, my sainted aunt,I can’t escape got agoraphobia,
Seen a shrink?
There’s sink in the toilet
But will it flush away?
Now be serious.I mean the room
What ,where the Inn keeper would not let Mary and Joseph stay?
They had no bathrooms then
Mine is the cat’s pyjamas
Should it be “are”?
Grammar is obsolete.
It sounds extremely rude.I must be mixing my words
You sound like an artist
Well,slight while the iron is hot!
But you don’t paint with an iron,do you?
No, but I can scorch the paper
I’d love to scorch the Mail
Don’t waste your time
I didn’t know I had any
Well, keep still.Don’t move
Why, is Trump passing?
Passing wind maybe
Is he a sheep in wolf’s clothing?
He’d be a ram
The wolf is only artificial
Is it imaginary like a complex number
Not that kind of imaginary
Do tell
Who?
The cat’s out of the bag
Emile!
Yes, mother?
Hide!
But where?
Under a hat
I got the hat trick once.I took it off
Now keep mum and watch what I do.
I want dad
Me too
Don’t ask for the moon
So is he there?
Be quiet Michael Gove wants to squeak
Where is Rees Mogg?
Mating with yours
This is the absolute end
Well, nearly

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/jan/09/joyce-carol-oates-interview-people-think-i-write-quickly-but-i-actually-dont?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2000/apr/09/fiction.reviews1

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/jan/03/52-acts-of-kindness-how-to-spread-joy-in-every-week-of-2023?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

They gave me a small watch on Xmas Day
But with a watch a little child can’t play
I envied both my sisters with new dolls
As on the old settee the dolls were lulled

I stood there uncomprehending and alone
Had I reached unknowing a milestone?
Then my sister lent me one of hers
I broke that little head upon my chair

I was holding her with tenderness
Scarcely breathing in my velvet dress
So I sat down to rock my babe awhile
The horror of her cracking head was vile

Now I play with numbers and with words
And look back sadly at that little girl

Mary woke up and found that she had slept all night on the sofa in the living room. This was the first time that she had ever done that and she was very puzzled.

Then she realised she had a temperature she then understood that she had suddenly felt too unwell to go to bed. Mary thought she would have her nap on the sofa but she was asleep for 9 hours. She called for her little cat Emile.

Emil ran into the room oh mother he fried I thought you were dead.

Why did you not go next door and ask Annie to come?

I thought it was too late so I went into my basket and fell asleep and then I ate the cold sausages you left out.

The sausages were not for you. There were for the church bazaar lunch.

Well you won’t be able to go to the church bazaar this now will you? You may have got COVID.

I never had my booster vaccine they’re it she cried thoughtfully. Didn’t have the flu jab either.

Emile said I’ve got something else to tell you. I ate all the stuffed eggs that you made last night and they were absolutely delicious so will you make some more ?

You’ll have to wait. I have used all the eggs that there are in the fridge so unless you can go out and find a hen and see where it lays its eggs you’ll have to wait till I’m well again

Why are you going to go and find a hen?

No I will order them with the groceries from the Co-op. They do organic ones n

It’s a pity that you can’t lay eggs, the cat said.

Human eggs are very small because after the sperm gets into the ovum and it becomes fertile it remains inside the mother being fed through the umbilical cord but chickens don’t stay inside the hen for 9 months the egg is put into the nest and the hen have to keep it warm and eventually it will hatch and out will come the chicken.

So when we eat the egg we are eating the chicken that’s inside it?

Yes although sometimes the egg doesn’t have an embryo 8n it.

They lay sleepily on the sofa wondering why human beings ate the eggs of hens

And so do all of us

Stan was feeling puzzled. He stood in his front room staring at the rowan tree outside.
Do ants fall in love, he asked himself.
Are swans the most beautiful birds?
Shall I send Annie a card tomorrow?
Should I send Mary one as well?
He went outside and watched the ants running up and down the tree trunk. They seem to work so hard but they never get bored.
But is that true? We have no way of knowing. At last Stan has found a question with no answer.
Is boredom a unique quality of humans?
If that were so we ought to have a Patron Saint of Boredom though not of Bores.
Why are some people so boring?
Luckily Annie had seen Stan and rushed out in a teal coloured all wool dress made more striking by having butterfly motifs scattered on it at random.
“Why have you got those butterflies on your clothes ?” he asked her scientifically
“It’s to cover up the moth holes.”She pertly replied.
“You must have a lot of moths. Do moths fall in love? Do they get bored?”
“You seem in a funny mood today,” Annie murmured.
“Why don’t we go out for coffee?”
“I’ve just made a pot full. Please join me.”
“Thank you,” she cried mildly.
They sat down in the kitchen where Emile was sitting by the window.
“Good morning,Emile,”Annie shouted.
“No need to shout,” Emile miaowed politely.”I’m not deaf”.
“I am sorry, Emile.” she responded furtively,” I am over-excited.”
“Why is that? Stan demanded like an untrained philosopher in a maths class
“Well, I’ve already had ten Valentines.
“Already. You must have done it fast!” he teased her gently.
“No, you horrible idiot. I mean cards.
“You must be popular”
“Some look like women’s writing.”
“Let me see,” he asked swiftly.
To his surprise, one was in the handwriting of his wife Mary.
“Are you bisexual?” he asked her wonderingly.
“No, I’m just annissexual,” she replied saucily.
“What does that mean?”
“Well, it’s just one letter away from “Anti-sexual.”
“That’s a relief. You are not anti yet, then.”
“Not yet”, she whispered coyly.
“Would you make love to a woman?”
“Only if she made love to me.”
Mmmmmm
.Apparently seeing lesbian movies turns men on.do you watch them?”
“Not bloody likely,I want to get turned off.”
“That could be boring,” she said sweetly as she combed his eyebrows with an old toothbrush.
“Well,I could do the polishing better and get the house sorted out. Fill the freezer with casseroles and defrost the oven.
Yes, though would that be so rewarding as loving another human?
“I guess not” he answered slavishly.
“Shall we go to your place and have a cuddle.
OK
Emile was very put out as he liked to see people kissing but he had grown very philosophical over the years and at least he could get on with his book,
“Wittgenstein’s cat.”
He switched on the netbook and began to type:
“Not everyone knows how important cats were in philosophy. But now we can reveal all.
The saying,
“Of that which we cannot speak, we must miaow” was inspired by Daisy who lived in Cambridge
And,” Of that which we cannot purr we must yowl.” was inspired by Ludo, a fine male cat that lived with Wittgenstein in Ireland.
So as Emile types, we must tiptoe away for he has not much time

Let’s make the most of it

After reading the Guardian Mary realised knitting going to become popular again because that is where the garments that kept her parents warm came from.From knitting needles which her mother used

But with the price of wool nowadays only the wealthy will be able to get to use pure wool.

How did my parents afford wool¿she whispered to Emile?

There’s no point asking me,he told her. Cats don’t wear woollen jumpers.

Cats don’t wear any kind of jumpers Mary told him knowledgeably.

How do you know that there are no cats in Russia or in Alaska who need to wear an extra layer of warmth in the winter?

No it would not be practical They would get wet in the snow and then it would freeze during the night so they would be ill.

in addition to that cats can lick their own fur clean but how would the take their jumpers off and wash them?

I see what you mean, Mary.

Why was wool affordable 50 years ago.

I bought a cardigan pattern at the newsagents but when I looked at search at home I calculated that it would cost £120 to make it.

Since I am not very good at knitting I was afraid that I might do it wrong and so I decided to have a look at cardigans when I was Marks and Spencer’s.

And how much were they Emile asked

£30 or £40 but they’re not thick wool. Some arw5 made from viscose

But with people having central heating thin cardigans might be warm enough?

I know the price of gas is going up. And we will have to adapt to reality or die.

I suppose that we can have a coal fire but we have no fireplace.

We can have a fire in the garden, the friendly cat said knowingly.

But surely we don’t want to live in the garden during the winter even if there was a fire. it is much colder in the garden than inside the house.

Yes I have noticed that, he mewed.

You have your fur said Mary enviously.

if you would like a woollen coat I could knit you one because if that gets wetI could remove it from your little body and dry it on the clothes maiden.

Thank you my love,he said winsomely. You must be the best mother in the world.

Too true,she said ponderously.

Since I don’t have any fur she continued I will have to wear several layers of clothing when I can’t afford to put the radiators on. I could get some clothes like vests from the shop that sells to people who are going to climb Everest.

On top of the vest I would wear a cotton shirt and then on top of that I would where I woollen cardigan with buttons down the front so I could undo it if I got too warm.

I could wear a Harris Tweed skirt on my lower body.

Well I didn’t expect you to wear it on your head ,

Emile smiled.

Thank you dear Mary told him. I will make myself a mohair hat. And I will make myself an infinity scarf.

Can I have one too Emile asked grinning beautifully?

It is a Mobius strip,he went on

I am doing another university degree,the smart cat informed her intellectually

We are doing Topology

I didn’t know that you were dreaming about a mathematics course.

Yes I have been awarded a student loan.

How did you manage that she enquired?

I’ll tell them my name is Emile Tan and I am your son. Well I am running away otherwise

Do they not ask you for the photograph?

I’ll tell them that you will send it later.

I think that you should be doing the degree in criminology and the psychopathic mind.

No thank you I prefer infinite dimensional space.

Have you seen any?

I expect they take us later in the year.

And how can I afford that?

They will give loans to the poor.

That’s all well and good but how can the poor repay these loans?

We will find out later.

I hope it won’t make people depressed.

well if abortion gets to be illegal there will be more mothers starving and not able to produce enough breast milk.

If you’ve been raped it will be very cruel to make you have the baby

And more children who are not wanted so I suppose they could be adopted.

I think we need to go out for tea to cheer ourself up.

Marks and Spencer’s cafe is very pleasant and we could look at the cardigans as well I wish that Stan was here. He could make wonderful cakes and biscuits .

And they both sat with their mouths drooping like of a great many of the people living in the United Kingdom where they were still trying to get B Johnson to leave downing Street and stop him committing

Adultery telling lies, buying gold wallpaper &:believing his hair makes him look younger

e

For so long you loved and imitated me

Then we were students at the university

Without you, I won’t feel like anyone

To whom shall I turn when you are gone?

When you’re the one who shared my infant bed

When you’re the one who treasured what I said

When you’re the one I soothed in the dark night

When you are gone there can be no more light

When the moment comes,I must believe

For trees shall weep their leaves as if bereaved

Then will my sister heart with sadness heave.

Oh do not do not ,do not ,do not leave

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/jan/01/is-modern-life-ruining-our-powers-of-concentration?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

The mind inhabits every body cell

When we’re tense the mind is tense as well

Thoughts are strangled choked the mind is crazed

All our body cells this crush obey.

Suspicion narrows eyes. And purses lips.

As we tense, the mind itself will shrink

Turning violent, hearts attacked by pain

No good thoughts are nurtured by this strain

How can we relax and trust once more?

The war dead moan, the Jews scream, Ariel roars.

Feel the pain precisely, let it go

Warmer heart remember there’s no foe

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https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-white-knight-syndrome/201009/your-sense-agency-are-you-in-control-your-life

Having a sense of agency influences your stability as a separate person; it is your capacity to be psychologically stable, yet resilient or flexible, in the face of conflict or change.

Once we become ill or have an accident we are in danger of no longer being the agent in our own life.

People assume that we’ve got dementia unless we can prove otherwise. My husband was badly injured in an accident which nearly knocked his eye out broke his nose and his cheekbones and caused his brain to bleed. Before going to the hospital the ambulance brought him to the house so that I could go with him. They were sorry that he got dementia but he had not got dementia

In the ambulance he was sitting looking in pain and very puzzled while a young woman and paramedic was screaming at the top of her voice.. Who is the prime minister?

I told this young woman to shut up

I explained to him calmly and quietly what happened and he was perfectly alright. Of course he was badly injured and he never recovered 100% but his mind was alright. 100, 96, 92, 88,84,80,76,72,68,64,60………

Be aware that this can happen

https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-a-poem/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-64029723