Free-Range Living

 'Some awe ----- '

Hot weather prevails here on the eco organic micro-holding (small smallholding) in the UK midlands in the first half of June and has done so for a few weeks now - contrasting to the torrential rain and floods, for instance, just over the channel in France and Germany. The grass borders are beginning to show signs of 'drought stress' and the veg growing ground has had to be watered by the sprinkler system (a hose attached to an outside cold water tap with then a 'sprinkler' attached at the delivery end, which conveneiently caters for a quarter of the growing area at a time). Historically the cottage here was for farmworker accomodation with low utility service costs, the effects of which fortunately still run into current times - oh, and there's no water meter ---- no water shortages this year, though.

'Awesome cheque  --- '

 The 'bullet was bit' and a fairly new vehicle purchased recently - well new that is for here at four years old, where the average age of vehicle had been over twelve years old. It was a bit of a shaker writing out such a cheque - double the previous record for a vehicle spend, but still a third of the price of it new, and it having done a low mileage and looking and feeling 'as new', to all intents and purposes, it is seen as a 'new' vehicle here. It's quite practical, being basically a tin box on wheels - it started out as a van but then passenger versions were made (it can usefully turn back into a van quite easily) - with a small diesel engine  with pretty low emissions at just over a 100, and a diesel particulate filter, which also means virtually no road tax to pay - and reasonable eco credentials - ? It would have been good to have been able to have gone for an electric or hybrid job, but the budget didn't stretch to their comparatively high prices, so the 'van-car' was the compromise - it does over 60 mpg doing small, local journeys, with low emissions, so it could be worse (no public transport in these rural areas). A basic electric road-usable low-cost small pick-up vehicle would be handy for here, but seemingly no-go as yet. Actually the micro eco-nomics of it tend to add up too, as the expected savings on fuel, road tax and 'spares and repairs' appear to come pretty much to the same as the yearly cost of the vehicle - fingers crossed ---

'Awe inspiring ---- '

One of the 'extra' bonuses of the new vehicle proved to be the 'wide view' vision from the front seats, it having a higher sitting position allied with the larger-than-normal windscreen, which became very evident on a recent trip to west Wales, with its hilly vibrant-green countryside and trees and hedges looking absolutely resplendent - truly part of 'England's green and pleasant land', whilst of course respecting the fact that Wales is its own glorious country -- Generally it's not been a too bad a spring and the re-burgeoning of the coutryside can at times take the breath away, as at a recent plant fair event in the grounds of a historic stately home in Shropshire (England), where the magnificent trees, lakes, big flowers (egs. azalias and rhodedendrums) and blue skies did add up to a breathtaking sight and experience.

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In the face of nature's magnificent performances, it can be hard not to be in some degree of awe, and to be reminded of how small the self is in the face of such munificence --- leading then, as Gary Zukav, indicates below, to more general feeling of awe and respect - ?

 'To live with reverance means being willing to say 'that is life - we must not harm it'. Without the perception of the 'holiness of all things', the world becomes cold and barren, mechanical and random; at the same time this creates experiences of alienation and violence. It is not natural for people to live without reverance. ---- approaching life with reverance means acting and thinking as a spiritual person --- in a world that does not recognise spirituality'

(The Seat of the Soul, Gary Zukav)

''Aw, shucks' ---- and 'The Peoples' Champion'' 

Well, not actually the first phrase probably to be associated with Muhammad Ali, who seemed to have little problem with 'self promotion' , although many too were won over by his at times engaging personality and of course his prodigious sporting talent and courage in the boxing ring. He himself stated that his real fight was for human rights for black people, seemingly in the end winning over the hearts though, of many of all races. His 'fight for freedom' could have chimed with the 'struggle of life' that many (most?) individuals experience, particularly maybe in times of 'big' organisation power affecting many individuals - ? Ali was no doubt a 'freeranger extraordinaire' - a 'big' man but with a lot of humanity - ? One of his daughters writing in a paper's memorial piece on Ali, related the following about her father's humanity :

 Another daughter didn't see a lot of her father as she lived with an ex-wife in a different state. She was only eight years old and in a tearful phone call to her father told him she was upset because other children, not ever seeing Ali at the school gate, were saying that Ali wasn't really her father. The very next day Ali turned up at her school - he'd caught an early plane to be with his daughter - and holding his daughter's hand, proceeded to tell the whole school's congregation that he was indeed her father -and then -a measure of his 'greatness'? - spent time with the children, shaking each of his daughter's tormentors by the hand. She probably didn't get too much trouble after that ---- and she always remembered her father's loving help.

The other eye-catching quote from the author daughter was :

'He taught us that no matter what our wealth or position in life, it was only the heart that made a person great or small'

'Awe-full---- '

Funny that such a word has the negative meaning that it does, with 'awe' being its base - ?  Words, though, have been around for a long time and so had time to acquire meaning(s) - ?  Interesting to speculate though, whether 'more awe' will be the coming order of the day, needed to take care of the planet and avoid any future eco calamities? Many individuals no doubt experience 'natural awe and reverance', but 'man in power' doesn't seem to have quite cottoned on too much yet - too many seemingly still intent on the quest of  'filling own boots' - ? Not too much respect either coming from those in power, with them choosing rather to denigrate for instance those considering to vote 'leave the EC' in the forthcoming UK referendum by insinuation that they are 'quitters' - makes the blood simmer just a little ---- One senior politician even resigned from his (ruling) party, citing severe unhappiness with the party leadership's 'tirade of fear' aimed at the public (within the  EC 'leave/stay campaign), feeling  it presumably to be a tactic not quite showing maximum respect for the country's citizens - ?

Just yesterday a report in the paper indicated that it's now 'last chance saloon' for the survival of the Great Barrier Reef, one of the world's most prominent natural phenomena. Better get out there, then, some urgent hoeing to do, doing a tiny little micro bit to help Mother Earth, in her time of need. Crikey, imagine being part of the generation which screws up the planet - ?

Surely just too 'awe-full' to contemplate ---? '