Learning to Fly

Yesterday I visited the art gallery where they were showing an exhibition of impressionist garden paintings. It was overwhelming. So many of the masters in one place, almost too much for the mind to comprehend in one moment.


I was so engrossed in three of Monet’s Water Lilly paintings that I forgot I was alone. I said to the lady standing next to me, “I find these paintings just flood my mind with feelings.” Then I remembered where I was and was about to apologise. She turned and said to me, “Thank you for saying that I was just bursting to say that to somebody but was so aware of being alone.”

We spoke together about one or two others and then we went our separate ways. As she was about to leave I thanked her for her comments. She said I had made her day and I think we both left feeling touched by the art and the joy of sharing.

It is amazing how easy it is to be uplifted by another and in turn uplift. I have a moving story to share with you.

There was a little boy who lived in an orphanage. He was one of the youngest and often felt alone. He used to sit at the window and watch the birds. How he longed to be able to fly. He spoke of it often. “Why cant I fly like the birds?”

Next to the orphanage was a park where he was allowed to go and play. He was so often alone playing in the sandpit. One day there was another lad about his age sitting in the sand. They talked to each other and made castles and magical places. They laughed and joked for what seemed like ages.

Time came when it was time to leave. The father of the other lad went behind the park bench and wheeled over a wheelchair. The lad who wanted to fly had not been aware of his new friends disability.

He went over to the father and spoke to him. He returned to the lad and said, “I cannot help you to walk or run but I can do something. The father lifted his son onto the orphans back and laughed as they ran round the park.

Tears rolled down his cheeks as he laughed at the words of his son. Sitting on his new friends back he waved his arms and shouted loudly. “Look Daddy. I can fly, I can fly.”


I noticed that somebody left my followers yesterday apologies if I am offending or being too heavy.

This blog is linked to my other where I discuss the art.  Thoughts of Spring

Supportive Parents

Well it has started the world cup I mean. It is almost impossible to avoid it here in the uk. England are playing in it and that means that it is the main topic of all news broadcasts. Here in Scotland we are used to not having a team involved. Does that mean that we switch our allegiance to England? No. In fact in Scotland the team being supported by the majority of people seems to be the one that is playing against England.




I am so glad that I am really not much of a football fan at all, so I feel no real need to be interested in what is happening and can watch most of the games from a neutral standpoint.



My nephew lives and works in England and he has to live with the hype day in and day out. It is no surprise then that one of my happy moments yesterday came from him.



He told me the story of Snow White and the seven dwarfs. Snow White used to see them all off to work in the mines, while she stayed at home and cleaned. At lunchtime she would take their lunch boxes to the mine. One day she went and noticed there had been a pitfall. She shouted into the mine, “Hello are you all ok?” There was no answer so she shouted again, “Hello are you all ok?” She heard a faint voice coming from afar. “England for the world cup.” She dropped to her knees and prayed, “Thank you God, at least dopey is still alive.”



That I promise is my last remark on the world cup. As far as being a supporter goes I want to be a good supporter of my family. There with the ever ready ear, and the word of support.



There is a story of the bearded lady and the world’s strongest man. The lived and worked with the circus. They became man and wife and soon the bearded lady was expecting and child. The ringmaster asked them, “How are you, are you well?” The bearded lady replied, “Yes I am just fine, we have great plans for our child, we want to be good supportive parents”

“What is it you want, a boy or a girl?” asked the ringmaster.

"Oh, we really don't mind as long as it's healthy," said the Bearded Lady, "And it fits into the cannon."



I hope you weekend is going well and if you are supporting a team you are happy when they play no matter the result..

This blog is linked to my other  The Gathering