Sculptures

Limpley Stoke

Another trip to Montserrat

Last weekend on Sunday and Monday we made another trip to Montserrat. This time we didn't have to worry about Bo's parents enjoying it or not and we decided to stay overnight in the Abat Cisneros hotel next to the Basilica. The bells were no problem and the view was fantastic especially first thing in the morning when the sun was coming up. We had a good time and I was struck by how photogenic the place was. We took 100 or so photos in 24 hours and we could have taken many more if the camera battery hadn't run flat.

The hotel room was good value for a 3 star hotel at 75 euros for a good-sized triple room including a buffet breakfast. I can recommend a trip to Montserrat for anyone who hasn't been and would suggest staying overnight as you get the place to yourself after everyone else has gone back to Barcelona. On Monday morning there was no queue to see the black madonna and child which you have to queue for ages to see in the afternoon at the weekend. Thomas had to miss a day of school but that didn't really matter as he's still only 5 and school is not yet compulsory and they don't do all that much at school here anyway. He still can't read and he's nearly 6. I'm a bit worried about Thomas's future in Barcelona as the education system is not up to much but I don't know if his prospects would be any better in England as the situation seems to be pretty bad there too.

Somebody's home

This is where the birthday party for the children from Thomas's class at school was held when it rained - in the bank lobby, which is somebody's home judging from the cardboard boxes propped against the wall. I seemed to be the only one who noticed this as homeless people seem to be invisible to most people here.

We should all try to understand what it must be like to be homeless and pray to God that it never happens to any of us.

Thomas watering the plants

We're trying to look after some plants on our balcony and Thomas helps with the watering. We haven't got many but we add to them from time to time. I'd like to grow some plants from seed if possible but I don't know if they'd survive the winter. At the moment the plants are doing well but we haven't hit the coldest time yet.

We'd also like to try growing some fruit or vegetables, possibly on the roof where the concierge has some plants. The other day I took Thomas up there to see them and there's a good view of Tibidabo from there.

Thomas´s English progress

Recently I revised Thomas´s English and he managed to read this. He then decorated the blackboard edge like this and I thought it looked rather nice so I took a snap of it for posterity.

The Joy of NOT working

I've borrowed a book from the library called "The Joy of NOT Working" by Ernie J. Zelinski. It makes interesting reading and many of the views expressed by the author concur with mine. His views on money, begging, the environment and the work ethic are all spot on.

Our society seems to value people only by their capacity for work and their assets rather than their character and intellect. This is in sharp contrast to the Greeks or Romans asserts the book who valued thinking and leisure activities above labour. This obsession with work, money and wealth is destroying the planet at an alarming rate. As more and more nations copy the American model of consumerism and selfishness so the damage being done to the planet is spiralling out of control.

I feel a crisis of natural resources is looming.

The answer is to adopt a new model based on knowledge and generosity.

We should all take a close look at the way we live and make the necessary changes. The first step is to cut expenditure and wastage to the minimum possible and start saving. Look at your activities and assess the damage they do to the environment and well-being of others. Open your mind to alternative ways of living which do not rely on the accumulation of goods and money to achieve personal success.

Learn a new language, help others, talk to your neighbours and make sure they are alright.

Once you have saved sufficient money to give you financial freedom resign from your job. Offer your services by advertising freely on the internet or by distributing leaflets. Offer a useful service that people need, not some scam designed only to separate them from their money. Offer your services free of charge or accept only donations or presents. Donations are better than presents as people often tend to give inappropriate gifts.

If you see somebody in trouble going through the rubbish approach them cautiously and strike up a conversation. Try to assess if their need is genuine or self-inflicted. If they seem to be the victims of bad luck offer them some food or money. If they refuse or react in a hostile manner walk away.

Keep calm at all times even when others around you get angry. Your alternative lifestyle will often provoke incomprehensible reactions from people whose minds have been trained to blindly accept the rules of society. Be prepared to be shunned by people who only value you for what you have not for what you are.

So, good luck in your new venture. The world needs more people like you. If you have read this far there is hope that you might be able to make the changes necessary to achieve true happiness whilst at the same time making a valuable contribution to the greater good. People will call you crazy, they might even drive you to a period of temporary insanity by the pressure they put on you to work harder and conform to the norms set by governments and big business which are only designed to further their own interests.

Look to the example of countries like Bhutan where collective happiness is put above economic targets. Talk to religious people like Buddhists or Christians about their beliefs and values and design your own set of principles adopting the best parts of each.

Most of all start to enjoy life - look on the bright side, be optimistic. If economic collapse is really on the horizon think of this as a good thing that will reduce the damage to the planet and allow more leisure time so long as it can be effectively managed and true misery avoided. Accept your situation, be satisfied with your standard of living. Ignore the rich and avoid making them richer. Do not buy their products unless you know that they live a modest lifestyle and make valuable contributions to eradicating poverty and inequality.

If we all start to change our value systems we can turn this situation around. Things like housing may become cheaper once again and people may start to value the truly important things in life.

Good luck and don't work too hard!