Booming Banter

Around our home we have lots of rabbits. I nearly took one out this evening on my way home.

They are fast when they want to be and this guy tonight dodged me at that last minute. Raised my heart rate to a real BOOM BOOM

They eat our garden plants with abandon  just as Benjamin Bunny did in that famous tale of Beatrix Potter.

In spite of all their nonsense we still love them because they are cute critters.

Blessing # 8 All Creatures Great and Small

What storms we have had this past week. Our poor dog Dibley just hates them. He shakes like a leaf and there is nothing we can do to help him.  Just cuddle and wait .

BLESSING #7 The sun always shines again

This morning at a meeting my friend Pastor Sharon Hausmann talked about the need to recognize and appreciate that each of us have different gifts.

Sharon mentioned a saying of Mother Teresa that I had never heard before. It was certainly a blessing to start the day.

The dear mother said that

“If we have no peace it is because we have forgotten that we BELONG to each other.”

Blessing # 6 Sharon and those like her who make us think

There is something so special about bubbles. They make bread rise they make sponge light they make mousse mousy.

We might whip them up in icecream, or magically make them through chemistry in cakes. We might even call in a friendly little bug or two to toot them out for our delight through fermentation.

Our favorite drinks are full of bubbles in various shapes and size from the powerful pettiante Perrier to the smoothest glass of Guinness.

But there is nothing quite as wonderful as a tall slim glass filled full of  bubbly itself on a Friday night.

Can you imagine just how flat our world would be without them?

Any British BOOMER will for sure remember Basil Brush. He is looking as young and fresh as ever.

Naughty little fox he knows all the tricks. Food and fun really are the best way to keep young and beautiful

BLESSING # 5 Those who make us laugh

 

Growing up in Belfast was an experience. Those of us who did so can empathize with the kids of Syria or Afghanistan today.

Kids of war torn lands take heart. With wisdom there will be peace in your land like there is in mine today. It can take time but never ever give up hope

Strive to make a difference. Smile and embrace the person who is not like you .

Love your neighbor as yourself .

So when the day comes, like it has for us BOOMERS of Belfast that we see a city renewed, hailed as a must go destination in Lonely  Planet you can feel happiness beyond believe that you made it through the dark days and into the light.

BLESSING #4 All Those Who Work for Peace

Between 2007 and 2010 our family lived near Paris in a little town called Noisy le Roi ( nothing to do with being loud but a lot to do with being a King ). This town had a history, it was the site of the stables of Versailles.

During this time Aaron was a little lad and attended the wonderful British School of Paris at Bougival.

When Aaron arrived at the school it was April and all the kids had found their friends in class and he was a little lost stranger.

Not to worry though because he had the most gracious teacher Mrs Denise Souffi who took him under her wing and mothered him like her own chick.

Denise is still a friend and checks in regularly to see how her Aaron is progressing in fact we were chatting about him today and she sent me this photo. Aaron still talks about Denise too and says she is his #1.

During the period Aaron was settling in he had a few moments that were indeed a little « noisy ». At one of these moments he informed all his class that he was fed up with bloody France.

I was mortified when I heard this and profusely apologetic. Both Denise and the saintly head mistress Mrs Tardival took it in their stride.

Not to worry dear Mrs Tardival said we have all heard much worse than that!

Bougival was  heaven on earth filled with loving people who helped grow each child, at their own pace, into young men and women as lovely as the plants in  the beautiful school garden.

Blessing #3 All Our Teachers for their patience and love

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we moved to the US in 2010 I had to do a driving test even though I had been driving since 1978.

At the Bureau of Motor Vehicles after the written test the officer asked me if I wanted to take the driving test that day. So of course I said sure!

The officer then asked me if I was aware of the manouverabilty section and showed me a picture of some bollards (orange cones). Was I confident that I could park within them? Of course I could!!!

Well off we went. Alas what I did not know was that I didn’t just have to drive within the cones I had to REVERSE the car between the cones.

You guessed it I hit one of them and failed immediately. So we rescheduled the test and I practiced, practiced, practiced till I was confident to take the test again.

Fast forward to this morning when  our 17 year old son Aaron took his test.

I was reliving the bollard episode and was shaking with nerves for him. Much more so than when I took that second test myself.

I was so very glad I had failed that test eight years ago because I knew if he were to make a mistake he would probably not feel so bad because he knew what happened to me.

No need to worry though Aaron passed first time he cleared those bollards brilliantly.

BLESSING #2 – Understanding why a setback can be useful

 

 

 

Not a single one of us has a life without issues and we hear such a lot of bad and sad things.

We can change that.

Lets start by talking about the good we see each day.

Let’s make each other happier by sharing a feel good story or a joke. No politics please because that does my head in.

Each morning committ to finding  a blessing. It might be one  you have already or maybe something new.

You might find many blessings or you might struggle at first to find any.

With focus on finding blessings we will start to appreciate the beautiful world we live in and each other

Hi and a Warm Welcome to BOOMING BANTER.

This is a place for people who love a laugh, to chat and to count their BLESSINGS

My name is Gillian. I was born in Belfast in 1960 and this is me in 1965 swinging round a lamp post. I remember the day this photo was taken. A man came to talk to our little circle of friends as we played off Roden Street (Belfast 12).

He asked me what my name was and then said to ask my Mummy if he could take my photo. Mummy said yes and next day there we were in the Belfast Telegraph.

Today the photo occupies half a wall in Belfast City Hall in their exhibit on the history of our city.

Just recently my best friend Carol and I took a trip down memory lane and made a visit to see ourselves as others now see us.

BLESSING #1 The wonderful gift of a friendship that endures.

Please share your stories of friendship and encourage others to share theirs too.