It must be some sort of deep rooted primeval urge that makes one
feel the need to SPRING CLEAN !!
It always happens at this time of the year in the Southern
Hemisphere. Possibly it is something to do with the Jacarandas
which
are peeping slightly in purple shyness from some very special trees
right now. Maybe it is the scent of the Syringa blossoms (a love
hate
battle rages within most savage breasts at this time )
Maybe it could be the bouganvilla which are stunning in the extreme
this year, maybe the "yesterday Today and Tomorrow" bloom, with
that
exotic heady scent invades our cleanliness urges.
Or possibly the glorious perfume that exudes from the Moon-flower,
whose massive trumpet flowers fall too quickly especially in the
September wind.
Whatever it is, I can feel it welling. Being of slightly short
stature and of growing short sightedness, I seldom notice cobwebs,
dust and grime. But suddenly in September, my eagle eye can spot a
speck, a fleck, a mite of house dust and I am out there, spit
polish
and all.
Down come the curtains, out comes the feather duster, the washing
machines roars all day long, the steam cleaner steams furiously,
the
soap powder in the shops becomes scarce and everyone thinks there
will be a shortage and starts hoarding accordingly.
"Out damned spot" I shriek in rage, Mother's voice rings in my ears
from up above "Cleanliness is next to Godliness now dear !!"
"All will come out in the wash" I can hear her as clear as a bell.
The Bridge Girls are sad, they are surely missing my company, but I
well know that It's hard to be brilliantly skilful and attentive
when
you have an overwhelming desire to be clean.
The school committees are marking me as absent but I have a
wonderful
excuse "Soap and education are not as sudden as a massacre, but
they
are more deadly in the long run."
At this time of the year I worry that I might suffer from
Ablutophobia - Fear of washing or bathing or possibly Amathophobia -
Fear of dust.
Is there a not a hint of Bacillophobia - Fear of microbes or even a
smidgen of Bacteriophobia- Fear of bacteria ?
Heehoo starts muttering about OCD, he sends me links on the e mail
of
strange blog sites the latest with the surprising title "What is
Fear
Of Dirt?"
Each year apparently this surprisingly common phobia causes
countless
people needless distress. To add insult to an already distressing
condition, most fear of dirt therapies take months or years and
sometimes even require the patient to be exposed repeatedly to
their
fear.
It is however believed that not only is this totally unnecessary,
it
will often make the condition worse. And it is particularly cruel
as
fear of dirt can be eliminated with the right methods and just 24
hours of commitment by the phobic individual.
Known by a number of names - Rupophobia and Fear of Dirt being the
most common - the problem often significantly impacts the quality
of life.
It can cause panic attacks and keep people apart from loved ones
and
business associates. Symptoms typically include shortness of
breath,
rapid breathing, irregular heartbeat, sweating, nausea, and overall
feelings of dread, although everyone experiences fear of dirt in
their own way and may have different symptoms.
And so .... until Spring is Sprung and the Grass is Riz - look for
me
under the feather duster or standing firmly arms akimbo, next to
the
washing machine.
The biggest worry is, what happens when a Southern Hemisphere
visits
the Northern Hemisphere, does the same primeval urge attack one in
SPRING TIME there ?
I sincerely hope not cos I am totally all washed out !!
Doreen Newson
Passed away in Johannesburg on the 16th September 2006
Loving Mum of Pam & Mirren
A dedicated gentle Lady who was such an inspiration & a very dear
friend
Carmen & Ernie Deysel & Families
++++++++++
SINCERE SYMPATHY TO THE FAMILIES OF THE FOLLOWING
All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the
dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was
vanity:
but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act
their dream with open eyes, to make it possible. -- T. E. Lawrence
++++++++
Ideas won't keep, something must be done about them.
- Alfred Whitehead -
+++++++++
Tequila and Salt
This should probably be taped to your bathroom mirror where one
could
read it every day.
You may not realise it, but it's 100% true.
1. There are at least two people in this world that you would die
for.
2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.
3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want
to
be just like you.
4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they
don't
like you.
5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
6. You mean the world to someone.
7. You are special and unique.
8. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.
9. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from
it.
10. When you think the world has turned its back on you take
another
look.
11. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the
rude remarks.
And always remember....when life hands you Lemons, ask for tequila
And salt and call me over!
Good friends are like stars........
You don't always see them,
But you know they are always there
++++++++++++
I do not know what I may appear to the world; but to myself I seem
to
have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, and diverting
myself now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell
than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered
before me. --Isaac Newton
Fact of the Day:
When the National Astronomical Union (IAU) recently reclassified
Pluto as a dwarf planet, people worldwide had strong and widely
differing reactions. While some mourned the 'demotion' of the
planet,
others saw the change as demonstrative of the process of scientific
progress where old knowledge must make way for new. As American
scientist and TV host Bill Nye put it, " Pluto's change in status
actually benefits science, because it gets people to ponder what it
means to live on a planet, to live in the cosmos and be part of the
universe, and what it means to try and understand these points of
light in the night sky."
++++++++++
PRAYER FOR ZIMBABWE
Our Father in heaven
We ask you to put your arms around the people of Zimbabwe, Help them
to overcome the reins that surround them, Help them to know that we
as
are praying for them.
We hope that as a circle of prayer surrounds the world
You, Lord, hear our prayer.
Dear Lord - Please save our wonderful country!
Amen
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