"A hero only appears once the tiger is dead."
-- Burmese Proverb

How are you all?

I'm in the depths of despondency, like a pail of gloom has been cast over me. I can't explain.
Soon, I'll be off to hospital, to King's Lynn this late afternoon, and thereafter I don't know. Tonight, I'll be placed inside the plastic shell for 40 minutes or more.

I'll still be able to blog from the hospital, if my heart desires.

Last night I decorated the house Christmas tree, and unearthed many old goodies from the past in the process, also discovered some saved Christmas cards too.
My Malaysian friends were supposed to visit me this festive season, but I'll be laid-up somewhere within the NHS, which is actually a good thing, but no cause for celebration. I am grateful though.

In preparation for tonight's treatment, I had to remove my treasured necklace...something I really dislike doing, as it was handed to me in the Philippines as a kind of good luck charm.

I'm unhappy for this post, for which I apologise, but VERY unusually for me, my positivity has seeped away, drained, and all I feel is coldness and loneliness.

All the best dear friends, see you and on.

love,
lauren6

~~~

The weather is something too bitter; there is a slight sprinkling of snow this morning, but the frost has been so hard for some days that they are skating in Green Park and the Regent's Park.
-The Hon. E. Stanley, December 9th, 1844

~~~

Southern Sun

Written by Oakenfold, Werner, Rizzo Muhoberac.
Vocals: Carla Werner

Piece by piece
I release
once was mine
now undone
turned blue like New
Orleans
and went down like
a southern sun
I still feel you
beneath my skin
and I'm tempted
to throw my senses in
'cos its easier to fly
than to face another night in southern sun
and the truth comes back around
in the air to set me free
set me free
you last like a song
I'm deflated
I am pieces on the wind
unrelated
I still feel you
beneath my skin
and I'm tempted
to throw my senses in
'cos its easier to fly
than to face another night of southern sun
and your love is all around
in the air to set me free
set me free
'cos its easier to fly
Than to face the way I feel sincerity
and the truth comes back around
in the end to set me free
set me free

-One of my all-time favourite songs-
set me free

"The cat which did not reach the sausage said: Anyhow it is Friday."
-- Georgian Proverb

Black cats are bad luck?

I believe this one dates back to the Middle Ages, as that was a time when any cat was associated with witches, (hence it's universal use as an icon of hallowe'en), as they were said to possess the gift of speech and premonition, they were also thought of as shape-shifters.

Throughout European, Anglo-Saxon, Scandinavian and Euro-American belief, the black cat was believed to be unlucky.

In Egypt cats were considered sacred, and if any harm should come to a cat, the perpetraitor would face punishment by death. In Norse mythology the witch Freya had a chariot drawn by black cats able to tranform themselves into black horses, said to be possessed by the devil.

There is a positive black cat; the antinomian lucky black cat of the African-American sporting and betting fraternity, acting as a double-duty, representing black arts, granting the return of lost love, and bringer of money luck!

Manekineko, Japan: According to ancient legend, this cat stood in the doorway of the Gotoku-ji temple and raised her paw in the traditional Japanese beckoning gesture to a feudal lord who was passing by. The feudal lord followed the cat into the temple and instantly, a lightning bolt struck the place where the lord had been standing. Thus the cat had saved his life. From then on, the Maneki Neko has been considered an incarnation of the Goddess of Mercy.

~~~

In Britain, tortoiseshells are considered lucky, however...

...In Normandy, seeing a tortoiseshell foretells an accident resulting in death.

In Scotland, should a white cat cross your path, it is thought of as bad luck.

Fishermen's wives often kept a black cat in the home, as this was believed to avoid misfortune at sea, and they were considered quite precious, and the stealing of such cats was not uncommon.

Ships too, frequently kept cats aboard, and should a sailor be approached by said cat, it was thought a good omen, if the cat halted halfway, and moved away, it signalled bad luck ahead.

May is considered a bad month for a kitten to be born, as they will "never make a mouser"

A cat running ahead a sailor on a pier spelt good luck, though crossing his path wuld herald bad luck.

Paying money for a cat will mean it'll never catch mice for you. (That accounts for 99% of household cats I think!!!)

In Scandinavia, the cat stood for fertility, and Hindu belief felt that a cat was a symbol for childbirth.

In Ireland, a black cat crossing one's path by moonlight means death during an epidemic.

English schoolchildren believe seeing a white cat on the way to school will certainly invite trouble. To avert bad luck, they must either spit, or turn around completely and make the sign of the cross.

Black cats are believed to be lucky, however, in Yorkshire, whilst it is lucky to own a black cat it is extremely unlucky to come across one accidentally.

A strange black cat on your porch brings prosperity. - Scottish superstition

A cat sneezing is a good omen for everyone who hears it. - Italian superstition

If a cat washes behind its ears, it's a sign of rain to come. - English superstition

A cat sleeping with all four paws tucked under means cold weather approaching. - English superstition

It is bad luck to cross a stream carrying a cat. - French superstition

If cats desert a house, illness will always reign there. - English supersition

In the Netherlands, cats were not allowed in rooms where private family discussions were going on. The Dutch believed that cats would definitely spread gossips around the town.

When moving to a new home, always put the cat through the window instead of the door, so that it will not leave. - American supersition

In the early 16th century, a visitor to an English home would always kiss the family cat.

When the pupil of a cat's eye broadens, there will be rain. - Welsh supersition

In 16th century Italy, it was believed that if a black cat lay on the bed of a sick man, he would die. But there's also a belief that a cat will not remain in the house where someone is about to die. Therefore, if the family cat refuses to stay indoors, this is regarded as a very bad sign.

Times may be hard, everything may be uncertain, but time is a great thing, for it can bring us so much more than we have now.
-lauren6, December 9th, 10:15am