Be Smart Like The Goose.

Yesterday I was out running in what could only be described as a gale. The rain was very heavy and the wind blowing towards me made each step harder than the one before. It reminded me of another occasion when I was out in a similar situation with running with my friend. He had tucked in behind me using me as a windbreak. saying, “There is not much of you but in such situations there is enough.”

That memory was brought back to me not by the wind or the rain or in fact by the running, but later in the day when I saw a flock of geese making their way across the sky. I am sure you have seen how they fly in a large v. They were heading towards Loch Leven.

The next time you see geese flying in a "V" formation, you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way.

As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.

People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily, because they are travelling on the thrust of one another.

When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.

If we have the sense of a goose, we will stay in formation with those people who are heading the same way we are.

When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point.

It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs, whether with people or with geese flying.

Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

What message do we give when we honk from behind?

Finally - and this is important - when a goose gets sick or is wounded by gunshot, and falls out of the formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or until it dies; and only then do they launch out on their own, or with another formation to catch up with their own group.



If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other like that.

The trouble with us is that we are so often like my friend. He wanted to stay in the rear the whole way getting the benefit of my break before him. When he made noises at the back, it was because I was moving too far too the side not doing as he wanted. When we had turned out of the wind to make the home run he, having been shielded from the wind broke out and ran ahead feeling pleased to be able to do the last mile faster than me.

We laughed about that often because the end result was that I waited my time for another equally difficult run and remembered this event and acting differently and got the last laugh. Fortunately we knew each other well enough to laugh sadly so often such single-mindedness results not in laughter but feelings of division.

Maybe the silly goose has something to teach us about co-operation.

This is the way of the Tao.

This Blog Is Linked to My Other Blog  Mountains To Climb

Al-Gebra

How nice is it to sit here this morning planning my day, wondering what I will do with it. Will I go down and do the much needed clearing up at my plot or will I paint. One thing I will certainly do is head out for a run. I may not be losing the weight as fast as I would like but I am at least getting a feeling of well being and fitness.


It is such a pleasure because I know that all my friends who are teachers are heading off back to the various schools where they teach. How I loved this day in the calendar.

Two in-service days and the students will arrive and all will be well. I always used to begin the first lesson of the new academic year with a reminder to all my students of the wonderful value of education. Not just to get a job, but to enlarge them and expand their horizons. To give them visions of how things could be. Education the doorway to enlightenment.

I remember on year a student saying to me, “You do not have to be clever to be in a position to change the world. Look at George Bush.” What could I say?

Reminded me of the really funny tale of the math teacher.

Headline from the national paper, New York – Man arrested boarding a plane a member of Al-Gebra.

A public school teacher was arrested today at John F. Kennedy International Airport as he attempted to board a flight while in possession of a ruler, a protractor, a set square, a slide rule and a calculator.

At a morning press conference, the Attorney General said he believes the man is a member of the notorious Al-Gebra movement.

He did not identify the man, who has been charged by the FBI with carrying weapons of math instruction. "Al-Gebra is a problem for us", the Attorney General said. "They desire solutions by means and extremes, and sometimes go off on tangents in search of absolute values."

They use secret code names like 'X' and 'Y' and refer to themselves as 'unknowns', but we have determined that they belong to a common denominator of the axis of medieval with coordinates in every country.

As the Greek philanderer Isosceles used to say, 'There are 3 sides to every triangle'.

When asked to comment on the arrest, President Bush said, "If God had wanted us to have better weapons of math instruction, he would have given us more fingers and toes."

White House aides told reporters they could not recall a more intelligent or profound statement by the President.

To all those math teachers who are packing their weapons of math destruction best use your hands fingers and toes.

Have a great day I will think of you as I enjoy the fresh air. To all my artists friends, rejoice we are free to use our hands to create.

This blog is linked to my other:   Hands

The Garden Plot

It is a marvellous feeling when the seeds you planted in spring become the produce of the table. Once again I have planted far too many salad leaves and certain things. My family make fun as they go down to the plot and fill their plastic bags. My daughter having gathered a variety of vegetables was heard to say, “All this and not a checkout in sight.” I get great pleasure from leaving little bags of produce on my neighbours doorsteps.


It is also the time of year when little competitions take place. Archie, my dear old friend counts every potatoe he digs up. he makes little graphs of the number per plant, the weight produced by each plant, the number per row. He is so serious and yet it is all in good fun. He also gets delight in giving little bags of produce to friends.

He is already dropping hints that he wants to keep his garden going next year but will need my help to turn it over. I in turn am teasing him and pretending not hear him.

There is a lovely story about an old man around about the age of Archie, 84. His son each year would turn over his plot and allow him to plant his potatoes and vegetables. The son had been foolish and ended up in jail. The old man wrote to him.

Dear David,

I do not think I will manage to dig the plot the year or get my potatoes planted. I wil just have to do the best I can with the weeds till your release. Please think carefully about this foolish act of yours and do not do the same again. Maybe I will just mange to dig a small part of the plot.

Love Dad.

Two days later he received a letter back from his son.

Dear Dad,

Yes I have learned my lesson and it will never happen again I promise. One important thing though, please do not dig the plot that is where the loot from the crime is hidden.

Love David.

The next day three van loads of police arrived at the plot. They unloaded from the vans with boots and spades and dug the whole plot finding nothing.

The father wrote to the son.

Dear David,

The police have been here all day turning over my plot what will I do?

Love Dad.

The reply came.

Dear Dad,

Why don’t you just plant your potatoes and vegetables.

We do not have to be near a person to be able to help them or uplift them. Distance should be no barrier to the words of love and the kind action. If you have decided you would like to do something for another never let the space between you be a barrier.

Thanks again for the email it lifted my heart. I know you have read this with your morning coffee hope it warms your heart.

This is the way of the Tao. Noja Beach