Posted on by Liola Lee · 6 Comments

Last Innings

I only managed three shots before the Sun finally went down. This is why I titled the picture ‘Last Innings’. A couple of minutes later I would have missed it altogether. So, when it comes to capturing a Sunset or a Sunrise, preparation is key as in many things.

All that said, I hope the picture brings you a sense of peace and tranquillity.

Just now, I am trying to navigate my way around this new editor on Word Press. Not getting on too well with it just now but I guess change makes for progress. Hopefully, things will seem clearer to me soon but for now, I thought to post a picture until I begin to fathom things out, find my way and gain some sort of direction.

Still not sure where this ‘Blog thing’ is taking me. Sometimes I think I will just delete it, and have one thing less to do but so far I have resisted that. Anyway, we shall see.

Sending you best wishes always…

Blessed be…

Liola

(Image captured in Tankerton, Kent. Exposure settings 1/60 sec; f/16; ISO 250; Aperture Priority)

Posted on by Liola Lee

In search of me…

Hello to you from me.

Not been on here properly for a while as just taking some time to rediscover me. Just trying to reignite that spark within which has lost some of its glow. As I am not writing anything of note on here just now, I thought I would post a picture of a Straw Flower to wish you joy on whatever journey you find yourself on in this gift of life. Yellow is the colour of friendship and joy and of course everything connected to the Sun. I captured it on totally manual settings 1/125 sec f/11 ISO 400. I am in the process of resurrecting my photography business and practicing my skills.

I wish you all well always and hope you enjoy my picture as a token of Blograderie.

Blessed be!

Liola

Posted on by Liola Lee

Time Out…

Sometimes we have to take a step or a few steps back to catch our breath, take stock and maybe look at things from a different standpoint, perspective, whatever you want to call it.

Sometimes we get so caught up in our own minds, where the voices inside our heads clamour for attention giving us little or no peace at all.

We get side tracked,  we get lost, we go off at a tangent with no real sense of direction, no longer knowing where it is that we wanted to go in the first place. No wonder at times we feel lost, alone and a little stir crazy.

So, stepping back and even letting go of some stuff is a good thing! Actually, a great thing!

Anyway, hello again. It’s been a while since I wrote anything on here. Not because I did not want to but because I just did not know what to say, write, feel or even want to if I am honest but no, I did want to but was lost for words really. so there you have it. I have been feeling lost BUT I have decided to get a grip, give myself a kick and get myself out of this lockdown mentality. We are our own Gaolers (is that the right spelling?)

Life is what we choose to make it if we so choose to make it anything, and do you know what? I am in charge of my life, I hold the reins, the steering wheel, the accelerator and the brakes, I get to choose!

I choose a life of joy, adventure, ups and downs. I choose to live it my way, doing those things that make me feel alive.

So, here I am once more, for better for worse; in sickness and in health; for richer for poorer (though I would prefer richer). Not going to say ‘until death do us part’ as don’t like that bit!

That’s it for now! That’s all I have to say at this time! Oh, apart from I send you my very best wishes!

Blessed be!

Liola

© Liola Lee 2020

 

 

 

 

 

Posted on by Liola Lee · 2 Comments

No holding of hands…

Who would have thought that we would be here?

A viral spreading the length of the land

Just elbows, no hugging,

No holding of hands.

Who would have believed a national lockdown?

The kids are off school, people are down.

Restrictions in place, queuing for food

Socially distant, a lowering mood.

The Country is in a state of distress,

The World all around, a Global mess.

Only essential travel allowed,

We’re in a Pandemic, under a cloud.

How did it happen? We’re really not sure,

Just what they tell us, a little not more.

A need to know basis, is what it seems,

Words and speeches, political stream.

The shelves were empty, clear and quite bare,

Toilet rolls, pasta, handwash not there.

In the beginning of this here dis-ease,

Buying in panic, shopping unease.

No gloves, no masks, no PPE,

Unless you pay a big fat fee,

Profiteering has appeared,

Raised its ugly head through fear.

Businesses closed, staff put on Furlough,

Banks giving loans, where once was unheard of.

Baking, making, crafting indoors,

Breads in the oven, no flour instore.

School now at home, parents now teachers,

Lessons online, and Zoom now a feature,

Of daily life as it has become,

For all of the many, and more and then some.

On the plus side, there really is,

Much that’s good, come out of this.

Neighbours showing much compassion,

Sharing love and sharing rations.

Frontline workers stepped up to the mark,

Caring and giving whatever the task.

The NHS and all those in service,

Giving their time just to serve us.

Every Thursday night each week,

People pour out, onto the street,

Pots and pans and clapping of  hands,

Heard for miles across the land.

Pollution has lowered, air is now cleaner,

Less cars on the road, environment greener.

Much to be learnt from this here disaster,

Will lessons be learnt being slower, not faster?

So much sadness for many lives lost,

So much delay, just look at the cost.

The death toll increased day by day,

The virus was staying not going away.

We have been in this together,

Life now different, life now tethered

To a new way, of how we do things,

Only time will tell, what that brings?

This will be a memory one day,

Record this time, have your say,

Write words down, tell your stories,

From the funny to the gory!

© Liola Lee 2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted on by Liola Lee

The Charioteer

Life throws, and sometimes hurls challenges and obstacles at us as we try to steer our lives in this direction and that direction. We do not always know where we are going, and often feel directionless at times, with no real destination in mind or even planned for. Somehow, we manage to navigate our way (goodness knows how when our map reading skills are non-existent), and end up getting from A to B with few diversions and pitstops along the way. That’s how it is for some people but maybe not for most people, and definitely not for me!  Why it is like that I cannot say? Still trying to work things out as I go. At other times most likely, and more often than not, we run around in continuous circles, constantly covering the same old ground, lost and frustrated at why we have no clue to where we truly want to go. We wonder why we end up stuck in the same old place over and over, stumbling and bumbling over bumps, humps and stumps in the rubbly road of repetition? Repeating the same old patterns that got us stuck in the first place. What is wrong with us that we become like hamsters on a wheel going round and round, round and round, until we become quite dizzy and disheartened with the monotony of appearing to be on the move? In reality we are still in the same place that we started when we first got on the wheel. We are really in need of a wakeup call, and a proverbial kick, up where the sun does not shine! We need to snap out of our self-imposed place of ‘stuckness’ (not a real word yet but it could be one day).

The truth is, we are all in control if we did but know it or more aptly believe it to be so. We are Charioteers in our own lives, holding the reins with the power to choose going this way or that way? That way or this? We can alter the way we go, how we go and where we go at any given time. We can choose left or right or straight ahead, even backwards if that is what we want, though if we go backwards, we are not going forwards, so maybe we don’t want to go backwards. It’s all about giving a little here and there, taking up the reins and pulling back when necessary, and even letting go if need be. I am of course talking metaphorically here, and not suggesting you drive a real Chariot and let go, or maybe even then you could just put your trust in the horses and let them lead the way. Horses probably have more sense than us when it comes to trusting their instincts. We do have a tendency to dither, duck, dive, distract and divert off course. The point is that we can keep driving our chariot on that circle or we can come off the track and take a chance and dare to do things differently. Let’s look inside the circle, outside the circle and see what else there is within and beyond, for there is much to see if we open our eyes. The circle is a wonderful symbol as it reminds as that life is indeed circular by design but, and this is a BIG BUT! We need to step outside the circle from time to time and see what is beyond our comfort zone for outside the circle we may just find what we have been looking for all along.

Be daring! Just do it! Stay safe! Stay well!

Blessed be now and always!

Liola

© Liola Lee 2020