WHO IS THIS GUY CALLED ARIEL?

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Sunday, December 24, 2006

A HEARTWARMING CHRISTMAS STORY : WITH AN APPROPRIATE MORAL!

I know that this story is a bit long, but as ( if ) you read it you’ll see why I was reluctant to split it into smaller parts. You are, however, welcome to copy and print it, and read it at your leisure, if you wish. And I would just love to think that some of you might revive that wonderful old custom of reading to family and friends. Go on, be a devil: chuck another log on the fire, dim the lights, and do it! Arkie The sky was the colour of old bruises, and even the Christmas lights strung... Sign in to see full entry.

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS TO ALL FROM ARIEL

Those among you who are believers, be strong and sure in your faith, and take strength from your fellow believers at this celebration of your Founder’s birth. Join them in prayer that your God will ensure that a little of the horrors of this world will be ameliorated in the New Year. Believer and non-believer alike enjoy the warmth of the love of family and friends; and resolve that harmony shall reign unmarred here in our family of Blogit. And let us all keep in our thoughts those less... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, December 23, 2006

ARIEL'S POT-POURRI OF EMOTIONS AT THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON

Over on my poetry blog you’ll find a bit of Ariel’s historical Yuletide whimsy that I posted last night, but here a more serious seasonal note … Christmas is always a poignant time for me; a veritable curate’s egg of joy discovered, grief recalled and of giving and receiving. And I don’t mean material gifts, but the inestimable joys of love and friendship shared amongst family and friends. Even to an atheist like me, and I’m sure innumerable other non-believers, there is a powerful spiritual... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, December 16, 2006

A BIT OF ARIEL'S MUSINGS ON OUR ATTIUDES TO DEATH, AND SIBLING LOVE

Writing about the euphemistic words that we use for death, and our reactions to it in my a previous post set me thinking, by extension, about the ways that we now name and describe our physical afflictions, and those of others. This little bit of musings came to mind. Because the notion of physical or mental disability obviously scrapes a raw nerve in a small minority of people, we are forced willy-nilly to adopt a whole new bizarre and patronising lexicography. Hence one is no longer “ dead ”,... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

A BIT MORE OF ARIEL'S SAD AND POIGNANT TRIP TO ENGLAND

This is a comment from Mysteria on the first part of this piece about our trip to England to visit my dying sister that just about hits the nail on the head … “ everything must feel so twisted and warped for you... Amazing human experience...It almost sounds surreal...so many of the things you describe are so dream like ”. That was exactly how I felt over there in England; and it wasn’t a very pleasant dream, either. I’ve remarked before in here that from our first day in Spain I’ve never felt... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, December 11, 2006

I AM SHOCKED, SAD AND DISILLUSIONED

Having just finished an article for a local magazine – with a sigh of relief, for, let me tell you it was a real effort to concentrate at this sad time – I logged on to Blogit for a little light relief. Light relief? Clearly, one must look elsewhere for that. Sitting here at my computer, and reading what’s going on in here, I am close to tears. Tears of rage, frustration and outrage. It’s not for me, nor anyone else to tell bloggers what to write about, and how to write it, but with all the... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, December 9, 2006

TO KEEP MY BLOG SIMMERING : A BIT MORE OF ARIEL'S STUFF

I wouldn’t like you to gain the impression that the following short reworking/repost is a more or less permanent state of mind for me, ‘cos I assure you that it isn’t. But we all have our down moments, don’t we? As you know, it’s a particularly sad time for me right now, and in reworking this piece, I’ve added a further paragraph – para. 3 – and made a few other changes as well. I hope you like it, my friends. I shall write more of our trip to England soon. Old Men Weep Old men weep, in the... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, December 8, 2006

ARIEL'S SAD AND POIGNANT ENGLISH TRIP (The first part )

Once more, force of circumstances compels me to write a group acknowledgement and ‘thank you’ for all your supportive and caring comments. I can’t tell you how much they are valued, my friends. Not only am I too upset to do much blogging right now, but I have a deadline of next week for a two-part article for a local magazine. And of course, to paraphrase dear old Oscar ( Wilde, that is ) “ Life is the curse of the blogging classes ”. Hearing of our proposed trip to England on account of my... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, December 5, 2006

I AM HOME! I AM HOME! PRAISE THE LORD, I AM HOME!

After a most strange, sad, poignant and disturbing four days with my family, and my dying younger sister. When I am capable of collecting my thoughts, and assembling them into some sort of coherent order, I shall write about it all. Sign in to see full entry.

Thursday, November 30, 2006

ARIEL'S OFF TO THAT ALIEN LAND OF ENGLAND IN A COUPLE OF HOURS ...

... and I suspect that it'll be a rather harrowing time over there; which I shall tell you all about when I return. However, I know that your thoughts and good wishes, and your prayers too, go with us. That is a comfort, I assure you, and you have proved the turth of the assertion that Blogit is a huge extended family. Thank you all for your caring and very supportive comments, el Tel Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

YOUNG LOVE'S LIKE THIS

FLOWER GIRL He was heart flutteringly handsome, and when he came into her florist shop - which was almost every day - he was very shy and seeming nervous in her presence. Every time he came in he said “ One rose please” and it was usually red, but sometimes white, and she always put a small spray of fern with it, in a pretty new foil and clear plastic sleeve. His hand would tremble as he took his rose from her, and she would watch him leave her shop, wondering who he bought those single roses... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

I'M NOT HERE FOR LONG TONIGHT : JUST HERE TO OFFER YOU SOME YOUNG LOVE

World War Two, and this no doubt happened to many, many kids in Britain. Me? Well, that would be telling... LILAC BLOSSOMS She finished her drink, cleaned her teeth, and mortally tired, she got into bed, listening to the soft night wind rustling the trees beyond her bedroom window. It brought in wafts of the sweet, delicate perfume of the lilac blossoms which hung in thick bunches close to the house wall. Her thoughts wandered back to a time... It was the direst of times: a time when the world... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, November 26, 2006

ARIEL THANKS ALL HIS BLOGIT FRIENDS FOR THEIR GOOD WISHES AND PRAYERS

First let me say that all your supportive and compassionate comments at this sad time for our family have moved me more deeply than I can say, but they are greatly appreciated, I can assure you. As you can imagine, things are … well, to use the word ‘disrupted’ is a gross understatement; ‘shattered’ would be more like it. The news came as a bolt from the blue, from which I suspect that it will take a long time to recover; I am hardly a stranger to deaths in the family, so I guess I’m by way of... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, November 25, 2006

I'M STILL TOO UPSET TO BLOG MUCH, BUT SOMETIMES LOVE IS LIKE THIS, PAT_B

Thank you all for you comments of support, which are much appreciated, I assure you. Some more reflections on Pat_B's questions about love. TOUGH LOVE It’s tough, loving you my love, for sometimes you’re as edgy and spiteful and mean as a junkyard bitch on a tether; all snarling teeth and gleaming claws, and it’s tough not to fight back at those times. I’m a word man, see, and I know words that flay like a Tsarist knout; words that scald and burn; napalm words that stick to your brain and won’t... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

TODAY IS A TERRIBLE BLACK DAY FOR ME. I'M CHOKED UP.

I've just had a phone call from my elder sister, Theresa, whom I have mentioned before. My youngers sister, Tillie, has been ill for some time, and now she's been told that she has about two months to live. I'm stunned. I don't know what to say to my family, what to think even. Like the death of one's child, it just doesn't seem right that that younger sister, to whom you were a big brother when you were children, should die before you. She lives in England of course, so we haven't met much in... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

SOME MORE REFLECTIONS ON PAT_B's FASCINATING QUESTIONS

I might not post anything tomorrow, because you’ve sent such long, thoughtful and fascinating comments, that they really do deserve more than a perfunctory “ Thank you ”. Don’t you just hate perfunctory? I shall post the next bit on my brand new, just-out-of-the-store, glistening new Poetry Blog! Hasn't even got a mile on the clock yet! Anyway, following on from yesterday’s post: Pat_B’s second question was: “ Is it growing fondness or a sudden flash of passion? ” ( for those who haven’t read my... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, November 20, 2006

AFTER A 5-DAY HIATUS, AN ATTEMPT AT A REPLY TO PAT_B's QUESTIONS

In her comment last night ( well, night time here in Spain, that is ) Pat_B posed those eternal, and eternally unanswerable questions: “ How do you know you've found " the one " and is it more than beauty or a sudden smile? Is it growing fondness or a sudden flash of passion? ” Oh, if only! If only one had the predictive talents of the Delphic Oracle, and the wisdom of Solomon to act upon those predictions. But we’re only human, with all a human’s frailties, and we have to depend upon instinct,... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS, REALLY : JUST ARIEL'S STUFF, I GUESS

THE TRYST We sat in our favourite place, on that rough hewn stone: hard by the willow tree, that cast dappled shadows over us, and the other stones about that place. She had looked wan and pale of late; fragile and ephemeral. But now there was a fresh bloom on her cheek, and her lovely eyes were lambent with the light of love – and of a strange, and slightly disturbing aura of anticipation. Her lips met mine: sweet as honeysuckle; light and gentle as the caress of butterfly's wings; soft as the... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, November 13, 2006

A SOMEWHAT DISAPPOINTED ARIEL THANKS THOSE WHO LEFT COMMENTS.

I am unable to spend much time in here tonight, ‘cos we’ve got friends of long standing over from England right now, and they’re going back early tomorrow. I would however like to take this opportunity to thank you few good people who’ve read my posts, and left long/thoughtful/moving/insightful comments/ I must say that having put so much effort into my Veterans’ day homage to the American G.I.s of WWII, I was somewhat disappointed that so few people actually read it. Of course there are so many... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, November 12, 2006

TODAY IS REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY. HONOUR THE FALLEN

They sound again, those bugles, and skirl again the pipes: long plangent notes, which haunt the air like a mourning woman’s cry. They sound in sad and misty shires: in villages quiet and cities loud; there where the graven crosses stand. We stand in silent homage, in the damp November air, while the silent minutes passe; honouring our dead. We pay homage to the dead, and the shattered limbs and ruined minds of those who did not die. Gazing on the awful lists of names long gone, here in these... Sign in to see full entry.

About this Blog

Fiction, poetry, articles and a whole lot of other Ariel's stuff ; musings and ponderings ; they're all here, and i hope you'll find something here that you like. But I have a deeper purpose in mind. See, reading the papers and watching TV, it's so easy to think that the whole world's motivated by racial and religious hatreds of various kinds. Well most of us aren't, are we? We ordinary people are moved by love and compassion for our fellow humans ; and respect and tolerance for their differences. It's true that all that it takes for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing, so we who are motivated by love have a duty speak out against the evils of the world ; not to be ashamed of our histories, nor embarrassed about being and saying clearly what we are and what we believe. If we don't learn to love each other, we'll perish. Although I am an atheist, my guiding principle is, and always has been, Christ's adjuration to " Love thy neighbour as thyself"

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