Tag Archives: gratitude

Honouring Fridays: August 7th, 2009

I hear it is hot in Vancouver. Hotter than what would be considered usual for this time of year. And while I can sympathize with those West Coasters who are just not genetically engineered for this heat (and I feel absolutely terrible about the forest fires that are raging…they were actually featured in photo on the cover of a national Nepali newspaper this week…I could hardly believe my eyes)…but I digress. I just wanted to toss out a quick reminder that your version of hot is mild. Yesterday, I walked to work and by the time I arrived my shirt was actually soaking with sweat…and I mean SOAKING..dripping…could be wrung out with enough sweat to brew a cup of tea…gross. And there is no cool refereshing lakes, rivers or oceans…just large seas of rice paddies. In some of the southern areas of Nepal near the Indian border the temperature is regularly in the 40’s for weeks. So, it is hot on the West Coast but my sympathy extends only so far…until your brewing tea with your t-shirt sweat it’s not that hot 🙂

Cold marble floors. On those days when the temperature is insanely hot one of the most cooling things I can find to do is stand (or admittedly sometimes lay) in my kitchen. Usually associated with hot, steamy, splattering foods, the kitchen in my house is actually the coolest spot around thanks to the floor to counter slabs of marble. I find that I channel almost all my excess body heat through my feet so there is nothing more comforting than soaking up the cool through one sole…which inevitably cools the other soul.

Nimbleness. One of the things that I have learned since being here is just how much I appreciate nimble organizations. The type of organization that can be quickly responsive, adaptable, flexible, and strategic – that doesn’t get bogged down by adhering to excessive, circular, and semantic conversations. I truly believe that nimbleness is possible for an organization of any size, degree of hierarchy, or type of work. It is often thought that being smaller means being more nimble, but really it is more about the implementation of organizational structure not the actual structure itself. In a dictatorship, nimble is easy – boss makes decision and can change the decision based on new information at any time. In the same way, a more participatory organization could empower those most impacted to make the decision on behalf of the group. I believe that very few organizations recognize nimbleness as a high priority but I think this will become increasingly important – to stay ahead they will need to be nimble to remain competitive.
Good communication. Good things happen when communication is good. I was reminded this week that communication takes practice, patience, and listening. Listening. Listening. Maybe speaking. Listening. And no matter how experienced or capable you are in communication there will be tests of this skill – moments when your abilities fail you and you need to find some new strategies. But as soon as you stop allowing your communication strategies to evolve, the less able you will be to communicate.
Garlic and cheese rolls. Near our house there is a wonderful Italian bakery of which we only recently started taking full advantage. They make breads, cookies, pastries and other delicious goodies. But my indulgence there is singular. In fact, I don’t think my eyes even drift further than the large tray of warm garlic and cheese rolls. They always have my full attention, the garlic winking, the cheese seductively draping itself over the wholesome multigrain goodness. For those who know me well, they could tell you just how much I love savoury breakfast. So, for breakfast, we sometimes walk over for a breakfast treat and delicious latte (next door is a little coffee roasting shop that hand grinds beans and steams milk individually for each latte…divine and the best to be found in Kathmandu I think). Below is a photo tribute to this new Saturday morning ritual.

A little piece of heaven in the form of a roll.

Honouring Fridays: July 31st, 2009

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So, I am actually rambling away on a Thursday evening writing this blog. It is the eve of my first all-nighter in Nepal. A proposal so flawed it needs its own reality TV show must be perfect by tomorrow morning. So, to warm up the writing juices getting a jump start on the blog seemed like a good idea – especially because it reminded me to be grateful, as Fridays always do. Now, with a better, healthier, and more positive outlook on this all-nighter I am going to get to it.

Naspati. Another week, another magical fruit season. New to markets these past two weeks are naspati, the ubiquitous asian pear/applepear/Pyrus pyrifolia. These round and crunchy fruits are kin to the pear and while expensive at home, come at a ridiculously affordable price here. Last weekend for our regular Saturday gathering (where I have found my niche as honoured dessert maker) I made a poached version with a few tweaks to this recipe from Marvin at Burnt Lumpia. Instead of wine I used pomegranate and grape juice to poach, meaning I skipped the additional sugar in the poaching liquid. Served cold with fresh cinnamon cream, the reduced poaching liquid, and homemade cashew and almond granola they were delicious! Perhaps if you get yourself over here in the next month I could make you some…provided they are still in season…oh who am I kidding…if they aren’t in season something else delicious will be, so get the heck over here!

Girlfriends. Hard to imagine life without the care and love of a good group of girlfriends. But this week I think I realized just how much I miss those friends who are simultaneously an adviser and empathizer. They help sort out the myriad of emotions and yet somehow manage to remain both level-headed and compassionate – feeling what you feel but not getting so deep into the crux of it that they are no longer able to help dig you out. And they know you well enough to know when to challenge or to simply agree, when to pour a glass of wine or reach for the gin and tonic, and when a little laughter is better than tears. They just know. Thank you so much to all my girlfriends who have reached out over the past week with emails, snail mail, packages, and good thoughts. It was just the love I needed this week.
Knowing that I still have lots to learn. I guess this is not a new revelation. No thunder crashed or lightening flashed when I told myself this afternoon that I still have so much to learn. Because I actually don’t think this state of mind ever really changes. I always think I have much to learn, but the harder part is being grateful for it. It isn’t about being young or old, schooled or unschooled, experienced or unexperienced – it is about curiousity – about retaining that curiousity when you are learning something you maybe don’t want to learn. And that is something I still have to learn…to appreciate the lessons that are the hardest to appreciate.
Randomwebsitegenerator. Sometimes I need inspiration. And I read this article just the other day that suggested using randomly generate websites to inspire solutions to problems (they called them probortunities…don’t even get me started!). And I remembered a number of years ago this website that helped generate random URLs. So I tried it and found inspiration here, and here, and here, and here…places I may never have found otherwise if it wasn’t for my trusty randomwebsitegenerator friend. Thanks for the randomness friend!

Honouring Fridays: July 24th, 2009

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Last weekend we took a fantastic day-trip hiking along the edge of the hills that surround the Kathmandu Valley. Spectacular views, excellent company, incredible Buddhist monasteries, and some much needed peace were the highlights. The single low-light: the most crowded and painful microbus ride through almost knee deep monsoon puddles after waiting for 45 minutes. It was totally worth the pain but clearly I need some practice on the whole Buddhist zen…the following conversation occurred between me and my brain during said painful micro ride:

Breathe in deeply (except while my nose is crammed into the armpit of the guy in front of me).

Breathe out deeply (and hope that guy in front of me doesn’t mistake my excellent belly-breathing as a sexual advance).

Let all the muscles from the top of your head to the bottom of your toes just relax and release (except for the muscles that are hanging on for dear life to the roof of the 10-person microbus that is currently carrying me and 50 other people through torrential rains).

Close your eyes (but occasionally scan the rain streaked windows for any landmark that looks familiar where I can make a fast exit).

Imagine you are floating (actually, I am floating, there are so many people on this bus that they have squished me upwards for lack of space and your feet are no longer connected with the ground).

Your weight is fully supported by a gentle breeze (actually it is not a breeze but the heavy breathing of the 50 people crammed inside this small space).

Let any thoughts you have surround themselves in bubbles and float away (how do I surround every curse word I have ever known in a bubble?).

Allow yourself to drift away, slowly, gently into the state of peace (or how about I just get the heck off and find a damn taxi!).

So despite my inability to release my ego and be zen, I do have many things to be grateful for.

Bacon. Greasy and salty, crunchy and chewy, deeply savoury goodness in the form of a fried strip of pig meat. Bacon is something I rarely eat here in Nepal. But the breakfast buffet at the hotel I stayed at for a workshop this week served bacon. And I ate it. All of it. I couldn’t stop myself – I actually went for a second helping of just bacon…who does that??!!! I think it reminded me of home and filled some sort of hole in my soul. It felt almost spiritual – like some inner food-god connection had been unleashed. Perhaps if I had carried some bacon on the micro with me the conversation above would be different. Don’t you worry bacon…we will have a rendezvous again soon, although this time I might just arm myself with some lettuce and tomato. Until then, I will keep you in my thoughts here.
I am grateful for realizing that it’s no longer my problem. We had a proposal due for funding today. It isn’t yet finished. I don’t know when it will be. We might get an extension but we might not. I poured heart and soul into helping to write this thing but couldn’t do it alone. I asked for help and nobody heard my call. I was seriously saddened and frustrated until I spoke with a good colleague, Jeevan, and he reminded me that it wasn’t my problem. I was propping up a crumbling building alone – even if I managed to stabilize one corner, it was still doomed to crumble. I did everything I could but if the building crumbles…I will be sad but it’s just no longer my problem.
Being in the right place at the right time. During our hike and monastery visits last week, just as we arrived at the final monastery, the thunder began to clap and a light rain began to fall. Almost at the exact same time a large drum began to sound inside the monastery. The Buddhist monks were being called to prayer. It was a practice of one of the traditional Tibetan chants. We were able to sneak inside and sit near the back and observe the ritual chanting. It was a beautiful combination of sounds – the booming of large drums marking a return to mindfulness, the gentle snap of fingers when a particular state of consciousness or being had been achieved and the gentle murmur of about 100 voices repeating the soft and rounded Tibetan words. With the rains outside it was the perfect place to be, without a plan and finding ourselves sitting on the edges of daily life in a monastery.
Rex. He has been trying to make it onto my blog for weeks. But I always tell him that I am ALWAYS grateful for him so don’t need to blog about it every week. But this week, I am more grateful for him than usual. He has been away in Hetauda and I am always reminded, when he is gone, just how much support, love, kindness, patience, laughter, and joy he brings to my life. You made the blog sweetie – now get on that crowded smelly microbus and come home soon!

Honouring Fridays: July 17th, 2009

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This week was difficult. A couple of experiences reminded me just how much distance remains in moving to a place where everyone has enough to eat, a warm bed, and the ability to have a small degree of choice in their own destiny. I recently read a great quote in a book, The People’s Act of Love, about what those who have never really suffered think when looking at those living in poverty. “And you thought: they’re used to it. But that was how those who suffered less always thought about those who suffered more, that they were used to it, that they no longer felt it as you did. Nobody ever got used to it. All they learned to do was to stop letting it show.” This week, I looked more closely at people around me and realized the truth of this statement. Nobody here is truly adjusted to being poor – they are just very good at disguising how it makes them feel. It can feel overwhelming and impossible to imagine how we can help millions and millions of people escape the cycles of poverty – dauntingly huge and terribly important. So this week I am reminded just how grateful I am for the basic essentials of life.

Having enough to eat. Many of the remote Districts in Nepal are facing a drastic food shortage this year. The late monsoon, still only barely having dampened the soil, will drastically reduce production and those who are subsistence farmers, producing only enough food to feed their families, will risk starvation. Land fertility is also decreasing due to increased use of harsh chemical fertlizers. It is easy to feel very distant from such basic needs when shelves are stocked high with packaged and imported foods. The “have money, will pay” philosophy wins out – those who have money will never feel the effects of going without food. It will always be those who simply cannot afford to eat anything but what they grow that will die from starvation. Our bellies are over-full. We have absolutely no reason to ever complain.
Feeling secure and safe. Recently in Kathmandu there has been a tidal wave of insecurity due to a rash of kidnappings. The fear and worry has gotten to a point where groups of citizens have taken the law into their own hands and killed people they suspected to be kidnappers only to find out that they were not. Previously, kidnappings were politically motivated and occurred between parties. But now, it seems the are more motivated by money – an easy way to extort money from wealthy families. There is nothing safe and secure about being a parent or child in Kathmandu these days. I am grateful for not feeling that my life is at risk.
My health. In the far western region of Nepal there has been a recent outbreak of rather terrible diarrhea. It started months ago but caused no alarm within the power capital of Kathmandu. It took up to a month for the government to mobilize any medical teams to address the problem. And it is now too late. They are assuming that it is a result of unsanitary drinking water (also no move has been made to rectify this problem) and are blaming the disaster on poor public awareness about sanitation. I am ever grateful for public health care and clean drinking water. We have an exceptional facilities in Canada – there is always room for improvement but I can be pretty certain that it is very unlikely that I will die from unclean water or extreme diarrhea. And that is something to be incredibly grateful for.
I got to go to school…even though I was a girl…and they spoke my language in the classroom. The government released the new budget this week, much to the anticipation of many citizens. Working in education advocacy in Nepal means that the most important number in the budget was the allocation to education. Did we see an increase? Will it be enough to carry out the promise of free and compulsory education for all Nepali children? Well, the budget came in at about 16% – not terrible, but not a great improvement. It is true that it is the most that education in Nepal has ever been allocated. But the international standard and recommended allocation is 20% of the GDP. Salaries for employees make up the bulk of this 16%, leaving little left for scholarships, textbooks, classrooms, resources, and teacher training. The quality of education depends on the quality of the government’s investment. Without a stronger investment there will continue to be girls, ethnic minorities, and Dalit children who will go without access to this basic right. If you can read this then you have many reasons to be grateful.

Honouring Fridays: July 3rd, 2009

Honouring Fridays: June 26th, 2009

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Terrible nasty chest infection and head cold-2. Tlell-0. I had thought, and pardon the visual nature of this next paragraph (please skip if desctiptions of illness, bodily fluids or somewhat gross cultural habits make you the least bit naseous), that any sickness I would encounter in Nepal would likely result in symptoms of the spewing variety or the ever persistent and enviable “bottom explosion”. I discovered, however, that my achilles heal when it comes to sickness is respiratory. I must have a magnetic field that attracts the bugs that cause the worst possible head colds and chest infections. The coughing, hacking, I-just-swallowed-sandpaper, head pounding type of cold that confines one to the Neocitron, sleep, groggy movie watching, sleep cycle has gotten me twice in the last 6 months. And I have no doubt it will strike again. The plus…I can eat as much unwashed fruit and unsantized vegetables as I please and seemingly never have stomach or bowel problems…the minus…I still haven’t got the hang of blowing my nose by standing in the street, pressing one nostril in, blowing out the other, and letting whatever comes out drip into a puddle on the ground…I rely heavily on tissue and am a-ok to keep it like that…it just means I have to carry around rolls of toilet paper in my purse.

Asparagus. Like a light sabre of glowing green goodness, the pointy green spears lured me. I had never thought that asparagus would be a vegetable of discovery here in Nepal but just up the road from my house there is an small organic asparagus growing farm, which conducts research and hosts workshops on how local farmers can grow asparagus. I eagerly popped into the small lane and nosed around until I found the place. ALAS! They didn’t have any just yet…that was 4 weeks ago. And today (trumpets please!) the large grocery store near out house had bundles and bundles of them! Who could resist? Tomorrow morning, we plan to have an asparagus eating competition, followed rather closely by everyone’s favourite toilet game…how can you tell I ate asparagus today? 😉
Eating in restaurants where nobody asks you “how does everything taste?”. There was a moment of clarity this week when out eating in a restaurant where we realized why it was so much more enjoyable than eating out in Canada – they let you enjoy yourself and only interrupt when you beckon them! Genius! I am all for prompt and efficient service in restaurants but I do believe that the continual witty banter, checkin’ in, and crouching next to my table to really get to my level has gone a bit too far. Granted, sometimes you can feel neglected, ignored, or even snubbed but it doesn’t take long to realize that the power is really in your hands – when you want something you just have to ask and when you want for nothing, you can bask in it knowing that nobody is hovering to anticipate your every need.
All-natural silver cleaner. My silver jewelery has been taking a beating since we arrived (explains why every Nepali woman is decked out in gold…apparently silver tarnishes much faster than other metals and is accelerated in places with high humidity…Nepali women know best!). In efforts to stay away from harsh chemicals I did some quick searching for a natural solution. All you need is baking soda, aluminum foil and hot water! Or toothpaste.
Visitors! We are eagerly awaiting the arrival, in just over 2 1/2 months, of my parents from Canada. There is something so satisfying about having a date, firm and confirmed, in the near future when you will have a new injection of excitement into life. You get to see your new home through fresh and unjaded eyes which can make everything look so very different. I think it will gives us new appreciation for what an amazing adventure we are having and the last kick of energy before we close our time in Nepal. I am grateful for counting down…only 80 days left!

Honouring Fridays: June 19th, 2009

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The monsoon is a week late. The temperature has soared into the high 30’s and can only be set to rest with the advance of the monsoon. Apparently it is predictable – every year there is a date that all Nepali’s anticipate when the monsoon rains rush in and quench the thirst of farmers who need to rains for their rice crops. Being late is a big deal. Without the rains their rice crops will not produce the food that they require for their families. And it means that water in the capital city is also limited – less coming through the pipes means less stored in the large tanks atop many of the buildings in Kathmandu. The recent prediction is that it will arrive in 10-15 days…we hold our breath that the rice crops will still be viable and get comfortable with our sweat and dirt…the rains will come.

Airtreks. With tickets finally “in-hand” for our ridiculous round the world adventure (airport codes in order are: KTM-DEL-HKG-NRT-HNL-OGG-NRT-MNL-AUH-CDG-LHR-KEF-YYZ-YVR) that begins in January, I couldn’t be more grateful to the good folks at Airtreks for all their help. They helped us navigate our complicated route, found the best deals, and offered some great customer service. And although it looks expensive on the surface, when one considers the various flights and connections we are making it was pretty darn reasonable. While many of the legs will be just quick airport stops, some will be the beginning of incredible new experiences – who could resist a 3-day, no extra charge stop-over in Iceland!
New colleagues and new offices. Much to my great excitement, and what may go down as my single biggest accomplishment here in Nepal, my organization, National Campaign for Education, Nepal (NCEN…used to be GCE Nepal but they changed their name…long story) has a new office! And with that office comes a newly hired full-time Program Coordinator. I now work 3 days a week with my new colleague Sujata in a small house in Thapathali. We rent two small rooms on the cool and shady ground floor. She is keen, talented, and really fun to work with. Plus, she loves financial management and that is where we need to most help. I hope these final six months are full of good progress and am so grateful for some new energy at work. Plus, our office has an avocado tree in the yard…this will probably be the only time in my life I can say that 🙂
Didi. Didi is a Nepali word which means older sister. It is a term used for your actual older sister, but also used for a woman who is older than you, but not old enough to be your mom, whom you want to address somewhat respectfully (otherwise you would use bahini (sounds like tahini) which means little sister but is disrespectful if you use this term for someone older than you). In our house we have a lovely didi who washes our laundry for a small monthly fee of 500 NPR (about $8 CAD). She is the sweetest Nepali woman and we are so grateful to have her service. While I sometimes feel guilty for not washing my own clothes, the reality is that for many Didi’s who clean houses and do laundry, this is the only income they have. I will happily pay a fair and ethical wage to employee a local woman to earn some money.
Barfi. Alright now…stop giggling about the name. This is one of my favourite sweet treats in Nepal – an Indian treat that is actually widely available around the world. I prefer a pistachio or cashew barfi, but it can also be made with coconut, almonds, chick pea flour, chocolate, mango, or carrot! This weekend, I hope to try my hand at some barfi-making for a dinner party this weekend – I will try to post some results of that effort and let you know how the carrot barfi turns out!

Honouring Fridays: June 5th, 2009

Honouring Fridays: May 29th, 2009

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In efforts to get a jump on my blog post due to a white-water rafting extravaganza happening this weekend, I am writing this on Thursday night. Usually peaceful and quiet evenings are the norm in our cozy little neighbourhood. However, tonight we have the distinct privilege of a wild and noisy party happening next door. Ordinarily, I might be particularly bothered by this disruption of peace but it is hard to be mad when the crowd is grooving to a great live band and screaming the lyrics to Bon Jovi and the Police songs at the top of their lungs…if I close my eyes I could be anywhere…when I open them I am both surprised and tickled to remember I am rockin’ out to Bon Jovi in Nepal 🙂

Plums. Appearing in street-side wicker baskets all over the city, the bright red and yellow globes are the new must-have fruit of the season 🙂 About the size of very large cherries with intensley bitter skin and sweet juicy insides they are the perfect accessory for fruity salads or workplace snack attacks. And the pits make great chew toys for long bus rides and are fun to spit out the windows of moving vehicles. Plus, they are THE newest super food…watch out plums…you may have tried to stay out of the spotlight but I think you might be headed into the super food fastlane…ask the blueberry for tips on handling the “pit”falls of fame and fortune.
The sound of children playing in the alleys near our house. From the sterile and serene environment of our Vancouver apartment to our bustling and yet peaceful neighbourhood in Kathmandu, the sounds have changed with the seasons (the evening dog choir is the only constant) and we now have frogs, crickets, and monsoon rains to soothe us to sleep. But the most joyful and happy sound is actually the sound of the neighbourhood kids playing in the alley. Squeals of delight at being caught in the rain, laughter when a friend gets lost in the empty lot, beautiful singing of one of the many traditional folk songs, and shouts between competitors in one of the many imaginative games they play. It is the sound of complete comfort and reminds me just how inventive and creative kids can be with nothing more than each other for company.
Braids. It has been an incredibly long time since my hair was long enough to braid. Ponytail, yes, braid, not quite. But the time has come to march the braid out. I have dreams of having those long thick braids that many Nepali women have – glossy, black, and as thick as a rope – it will never happen but one can dream. Instead I parade a more meak and sad version of the braid, thinly woven into a teeny tiny blonde rat-tail like braid (it feels this bad but I have been assured by credible sources it is not this bad). Braids hold a kind of earth mother mystique for me – perhaps beause my own mom worn one in my early years – but I always feel like I should bake bread, till the earth, and milk cows when I wear a braid. Natural, earthy, and maternal – all stylish looks in Nepal.
Having less choice. I walked past a sign this afternoon in a large kitchen appliance shop. Their slogan “130 modles of kitchen appliances, with more on the way” . WHO needs 130 types of fridges and stoves to choose from? In Canada, I remember quite vividly suffering from my need for choice. In fact, I carried it all the way to Nepal and have only just recently shaken the need. I bought my first kurta surwal (Nepali clothes) after visiting 6-8 different tailor shops, patiently searching for the perfect fabric and colour. I was certain that if I looked a bit further I would find exactly what I wanted – in psychological terms this is called being a maximizer. But it didn’t take too long for me to realize that the quest for that perfect something was entirely built upon my need for excessive choice – to leave no stone unturned before making my decision. Yesterday, I went to two shops, next door to each other, to buy another kurta surwal. I looked at the options, picked the two that pleased me the most, got measured, and left. I liked what I chose and felt no urge to keep searching for something better – I have become a satisficer! More choice for me meant I was paralyzed by options…less choice meant I got to buy something lovely and had enough time left to stop, buy some plums, watch the kids play, braid my hair, and smile knowing that all the choices in the world would not make up for missing the opportunity to live in this moment.

Honouring Fridays: May 22nd, 2009

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Let’s keep this short and snappy shall we? Time has been creeping away from me lately and I find myself on a Friday afternoon facing into a weekend jam-packed with meetings, presentations, language refresher classes, and proposal reading and have just finished up a week that contained a 4-day volunteer conference with full to bursting days. So, I am in the mood to get straight to the point – no waxing poetic or philosophizing about life in Nepal. Just some honest-to-goodness moments of gratitude worthy of sharing and then on to enjoying this lovely Friday evening.

Debate. Alright, I hate debate. I loathe the strict and structured format, the polarization of opinion, and the outcome of motions “standing or falling”. However, this week, I saw the value of debate. It kep people quiet. More specifically, it kept the people who talk too much quiet and gave the people who did talk a time limit. And while I don’t find the process of debate fulfilling, I sure do like the silence it can provide. I can think of a number of meetings where this would be helpful here in Nepal – keeps the loud ones quiet enough to here the voices that are mere whispers.
Miracle ovens. One of the highlights for the volunteer conference was that we had a cooking demonstration session. A group of us put together a collection of easy recipes one can make on a 2 ring gas burner or in a miracle oven. I took the challenge and produced a chocolate cake! Over a gas burner! Thanks goes entirely to the magical Miracle Oven. A miracle oven is like a bundt pan that sits oven a gas flame with a lid over the top. The centre hole in the pan allows heat to move through the centre and create an oven-like atmosphere in the bundt pan. Amazing, but true, a perfectly moist and delicious chocolate cake was mixed and baked over one gas flame 🙂 Loaves and fishes…pshaw…chocolate cake is the true miracle!
OR2K. One of my favourite new restaurants in Kathmandu, serving up magically delicious Israeli food. How I did not find this months ago, I will never know, but surely am glad I found it now. Last night we went and had falafel, hummous, baba ghanoush, a soured cream cheese dip, and a spicy tomato spread all slathered on thick and soft pieces of naan bread. I will admit that the place is more than a little touristy but the food is so delicious it is hard to resist and the prices are reasonable. It is hard to imagine getting jazzed up by hummous but the escape from curry was heavenly, even just for one night. OR2K means “Light to Kathmandu” in Hebrew.
Great chimeckiharu (neighbours). We live in a building with great people. We have caring landlords and even a couple of fledgling friendships with people in the building. Yesterday, I rescued a pigeon trapped in our stairwell with the girl downstairs. And Rex might take motorcycle lessons with the guy on the first floor. They are good people and I am so grateful to have good people who live in such close proximity. There should be a day every year for people to honour their neighbours…to thank them for being good and neighbourly…I think it should be May 22nd every year. In fact, I think I will begin this year – if you want to join me cross the hall, road, or field and bring that neighbour of yours some cookies!