(no subject)

[annwfyn]

I just saw Iron Man.

Apologies to those I was with. I was in a bleak mood, and therefore became Dark and Brooding (tm). I'm trying to sort out a load of junk in my head. I have a lot of insane emo-crap that I could bore you with, but tonight I shall spare you.

Instead I shall list five things in this world that makes me cheerful.

1) Sunflowers!

I do not know why sunflowers make me happy, but they do. They have done ever since I read the story of Van Gogh's Sunflowers, which he painted for his spare room. He had been suffering from depression for a long time, and had really not been well. However, a good friend of his was coming to stay, and I get the impression from the story that he was really cheered up by this. He painted the sunflowers as part of several small attempts to make his friend welcome. I've always imagined this picture as being really a picture about hope - da Vinci's hope that he could make his friend happy, da Vinci's hope that he could have a nice weekend. It's bright. It's cheerful. It makes me feel this kind of ray of hope, and that feeling has sort of spread to sunflowers in general.

2) Geese.

There is no reason why I like geese. Actually, 'like' isn't the right word. Fear and respect might be better.

OK. Trying to explain. Geese are rather silly birds. They look daft. They make weird noises. They aren't pretty. People eat them. They really shouldn't be able to get respect, right?

But you name me one person who has spent any amount of time with geese who isn't at least a little cautious and respectful of them. It's the way they hiss. It's the terrifyingly gutsy way they will go for you, even though you are their natural predator. And damnit, they have some level of style with all that.

They even get the role of psychopomps in some cultures.

Not bad for an oversized water fowl.

3) Saint Tabitha.

I took Tabitha as my confirmation name a while ago. I took it because I rather liked the saint. She didn't do anything dramatic (unlike Saint Christina the Astonishing who hid in an oven). She wasn't even dramatically matyred. Rather, she was just a very nice old lady who did a lot of good and helpful things for people.

I felt at the time I needed a spiritual influence* that was less about the dramatic and more about the constancy and the general quiet good behaviour.

I think I still think that. And I need a Saint Tabitha picture of some kind, mostly because none seem to exist.

4) Lavender.

I love the smell of lavender. It reminds me of the front garden at my Dad's house, which my bedroom used to overlook. I also had a variety of lavender pillows (which are still in my bedroom at home and which Jeremiah claims are left as death traps for him when he visits) and so lavender always makes me feel very very safe.

When I was an angsty teenager, prone to woe, I always felt safe in my bedroom at home. No one really ever went in there except me. I lived in the middle of nowhere, so had few visitors, and my family tended not to spend much time there, so it really was my space. It was big, it was full of my stuff, it was comfortable, and it always smelled of lavender.

Even now, lavender makes me feel so much more at home, and so much more at peace when it's around.

5) Shetland ponies.

OK. I don't love shetland ponies. I hate them. I think they are evil. I've never yet met a Shetland that I didn't think was violent, psychotic, and prone to random acts of malice. They glower, from beneath those allegedly 'cute' fringes, and think dark thoughts. They bite, they kick, and at least one Shetland I knew would stalk humans around any field it was in to build up a sense of terror before going in for the kill.

And to add insult to injury, they always have names like 'Twinkle'.

Actually, maybe that's why they are so evil. I'd feel like taking it out on the world as well if I were called 'Twinkle'.

Anyway, according to my best beloved, I remind him of a Shetland. Apparently I can be vicious, violent, kick and bite, and yet I seem so cute from a distance that people seem to miss the dark malice in my soul. And I think he has a point.

I gotta admit, whilst I hate shetlands, they are creatures I do have a great respect for, and if I were to pick a totem animal, I can't think of one which I think would serve me better in giving me the strength to defeat my foes.

So, I add shetlands to this list. They are a creature I think I have an affinity with. And one day, I shall own one, and train to be the attack beast that no one will ever see coming.

I don't suppose anyone else feels like telling me about the five random things that you find yourself being cheered by when you remember they are in the world?

Comments

[xambrius.livejournal.com]

Well, one of them is you.

--
Tim Harris
The Seeker
Time Lord

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

*beams*

OK, that's a lovely thing to say. Thank you.

[lanfykins.livejournal.com]

I need a Saint Tabitha picture of some kind, mostly because none seem to exist.

Ask and ye shall receive. (http://www.comeandseeicons.com/t/jfl10.htm)

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

*bows down and worships Sarah*

I adore those really traditional icon pictures.

[hareb-sarap.livejournal.com]

# Location:who can say? Somewhere black like my soul...


Scunthorpe?

[adze.livejournal.com]

No soul is as black as Scunthorpe.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

It could be worse. It could be Milton Keynes. No place is quite as bleak as that.

Come friendly bombs and fall on Milton Keynes...?

[lanfykins.livejournal.com]

I beg to differ.

Re: Come friendly bombs and fall on Milton Keynes...?

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

You like Milton Keynes? Or you can think of worse?

Re: Come friendly bombs and fall on Milton Keynes...?

[lanfykins.livejournal.com]

There's this lovely little place called Slough, y'see...

Re: Come friendly bombs and fall on Milton Keynes...?

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

No...Slough has a truly lovely curry house which serves the only proper spicey veg curry that tastes exactly like it did in Nepal.

That is worth a lot.

Re: Come friendly bombs and fall on Milton Keynes...?

[kathminchin.livejournal.com]

Considering I was born in Slough, and my cousin was married there all I can say is ... I agree

Re: Come friendly bombs and fall on ...?

[lapinenoireuk.livejournal.com]

BRIGHTON!!!

(I'ts a football thing so just trust me on this)

(to the tune of Sussex by the Sea)

"Any they play football
but they win f*ck all
in Shoebox by the Sea" {laugh}

[lilitufire.livejournal.com]

Cats.
Jasmine flowers.
Kimono - I tend to go and pet mine when in a bad mood, or play dress up.
Good quality green tea, with the sweets to go with.
Clean sheets after a hot bath.

oh and of course roast beef and Yorkshires with all the trimmings.

I'm now looking at those and thinking three of the 6 are actually quite Japan influenced now...

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

I suppose you've been there a while now. It would be hard for that not to have quite a big impact on your life.

I will...resist...

[badgersandjam.livejournal.com]

I...will....

AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHH!

Re: I will...resist...

[lilitufire.livejournal.com]

That should have been no. 7, really!

Five things

[adze.livejournal.com]

This might be a bit of a struggle, as I always have trouble coming up with lists like this, but here goes.

1) Planes - This is an odd one, I'll admit, but I love watching planes. My parents house is one of the legs of the landing pattern for Newcastle Airport, and I have a really clear memory of watching Concorde fly over my grandma's house, blocking out the sun. When I was a kid, we would occasionally go up to Newcastle Airport, and just watch planes take off and land. We'd go to the Sunderland Airshow every year without fail, and on the day we didn't go, we'd watch the planes fly over the house on the way there, or go back to the airport to watch them. Or the fantastic time we got down onto the taxiway to see another Concorde power up and take off - it felt like the world was ending.

Basically, I love looking at these enormous things muscling their way into the air. I love what humanity has managed to achieve with air travel, and I wish we could take it further. But watching them take off always makes me smile.

2) Bouncy ska-punk music - Reel Big Fish, The Mighty, Mighty Bosstones, Less Than Jake, I could go on. Basically, pretty much anything with that sounds bouncy, and has horns. The next time RBF are playing anywhere near me, I'm grabbing everyone I possibly can, and dragging them along, because the buzz from one of their concerts is indescribable.

I don't know what it is, but my mood lightens whenever I hear the right kind of track, whatever the situation.

3) Hatfield Park. Given that it's up at the top of the hill, I don't get up there nearly as much as I should. It's like being in the middle of the Countryside, and only a few minutes from the house, but it's nice to get away from everything up there. I've wandered it in the middle of summer, and the depths of winter, although spending an hour walking through six inches of snow up there possibly wasn't my best move. But I always come back much happier than when I left.

4 & 5) Farmer's Markets & Charity Shops - I've lumped these together, as they're vaguely similar. I love pottering through either of these, never quite sure what I'm going to find. Most of the time, I'll find something obscure, or a bargain, or both, and it gives me a real sense of achievement to do so.

And a bonus one:

6) annwfyn, when she's in a good mood. I think I've mentioned this before, but when you're happy and bouncy, and in a good mood, you're infectious. It's obvious however you communicate, whether it's in personal, on the phone, or even over e-mail. I find it very hard to be in a bad mood when you're in a good one.

[astro-dust.livejournal.com]

1) Food - As some may know, I am an eat-a-tron, I am forever hungry and I can only be thankful that there is such a vast plethora of edible things in this world, so many tastes, combinations... It just boggles the mind how much we take our sense of taste for granted.

2) The Goblins - Just the cats, not the people. Just kidding. But seriously, I am truly appreciative of your little household. Without it I would never have met most of the friends I have in this little old town of London. You tirelessly run the Zeitgeist games that create so many amazing stories and enjoyment for so many people, all the while not really getting half the praise you deserve. And you are some of the few roleplayer friends that I can seamlessly switch from 'normal' conversations to 'geek' conversations and back again without pause for breath. Which is a thing I find precious in it's own way.

3) Hair Product - The vast science of hair technology has come in so many leaps and bounds. No longer are we restrained by words such as 'Gel' or 'Hairspray' but are liberated by the amorphous term of 'product' to descible the myriad of sticky, gooey, slimy and pasty sludges that we can coiffe our folicles with.

4) Comics - I'm a big old nerd. I likes em. And shamefully, cartoon boys are often pretty.

5) Trams - I miss trams. They're like buses but quicker and more exciting and they seem cleaner, even if they aren't. They just seem like this magical kind of vehicle that nicer to the environment than automoblie like things. And most people stay out of the way of a moving tram... they can't really swerve out of the way.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

I like trams. I like the way they rattle. It always sounds like a very cheerful sound.

[faerierhona.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

1. Playgrounds, particularly ones full of laughing children. How could I not smile?

2. Squirrels chasing each other around my backgarden - laugh out loud happy

3. A good hot cup of tea. With a bikkit. A simple, pure joy

4. Something soft and cosy to wear - like my soft PJs

5. A feather bed

[sea-cucumber.livejournal.com]

List of random shinyness...

1). Music - Nothing cheers me up like music does! Especially classical and various forms of loud electric guitar based tunes. Like this morning, I was sitting on the bus feeling incredibly grumpsome, but my weird playlist of film music + shouty-growly metal made me feel a lot better. And gave me ideas for my fantasy world I might run a tabletop game in soon.

2). Cathedrals - I don't understand how people could have built such towering structures of shiny wondrous glory hundreds of years ago. I get OWoD Toreador-style entrancement stuckness when inside one. People have lost me for literally hours when I've 'just popped in to have a look around'.

3). Religion - OK, that probably sounds super-cheesy, but the whole God/spirituality/magic thing (yes, spot the heresy) is the most fascinating thing ever. I just love how there's this great unknown, undefinable mystery that can inspire people to such greatness. It can also be a great source of wonkyness, angsty ponderousness, frustration and doom too, but the win outshines the fail a hundred times over.

4). The pets - Just stroking them or seeing them curled up on the bed gives me inward squee. And how when they come up and nuzzle you when you are feeling grumpy or ill, as if they know you need cheering up!

5). Beer gardens - A mighty combination of being outside in the greenery AND beer (preferably a pint of real ale)! Many a afternoon has been spent in the secluded lovelyness of a beer garden (I was in one for 6 hours on Saturday doing some roleplaying and it was brilliant)! Except when there are wasps, for wasps must die.

I can think of lots of other shinies, but those are the ones that came out of my typy fingers first...

[crocodilewings.livejournal.com]

Five Things:

Human Brains
At the risk of sounding like Doctor Who, they're bloody brilliant. Massive diversity in a recurring pattern, nice to watch and fun to play with. In this regard, they are a lot like breasts, except I'm sure I will tire of breasts sooner.

Dutch Compliments
Dutch Widow, Dutch Treat, Dutch Courage, Dutch Uncle, Dutch Nightingales, Dutch Talent... there's a list as long as your arm. I've never been to Holland, but if I ever do, it would make my day if either (a) they had a corresponding set of insults for the English, or (b) all our anti-Dutch anachronisms somehow turned out to be actually true.

Actually, those two are enough for me, and I've got to go to Gloucester now. Enjoy your Friday.

five things

[twicedead.livejournal.com]

1. Fixing bugs

this is a bit work focused, but at the moment i do a lot of red tape and admin, but those moments when i get to fix things, make something work and whir along nicely just make me extremely happy.

2. My ceiling

I painted the bedroom ceiling the other day. Jo made dark mutterings about my abilities as a painter and then was amazed two hours later at the smooth perfection that our old crappy ceiling had become. I see it and it's a symbol of the fact that when I put my mind to something, I can make the images in my head come to life.

3. Sunshine

It just makes me grin.

4. Lolcats

This is completely out of character for me. I'm not terribly fond of cats and generally don't like internety memey silliness. But they make me laugh.

5. Werewolf

Actually playing werewolf, getting out the savage side, cheers me enormously

[satyrica.livejournal.com]

I'm growing sunflowers :-)

[bringeroflight.livejournal.com]

Maybe I should get you some Thelwell books...

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

I love Thelwell ponies!

That was my childhood!

[imagesandwords.livejournal.com]

Train journeys
Not when you are in a rush, when the train is busy... but when it's not just about traveling... when you have time to look out the window, take in the surroundings, generally relax.

Porcupine Tree
I suppose I could have said music more generally, but for a year or two this has been the music that touches and moves me the most. Steven Wilson is a genius. He seems to have the ability to express exactly what I'm thinking and feeling better than I would ever be able to. He can vocalise how I feel and no matter how good or bad it is I end up smiling because of the skill he has at capturing feelings.

Playing Guitar
I have to be in a pretty foul and pathetic mood for playing guitar to not make me feel better, and if I'm feeling good there is always room for it to lift me a little more. The more I put in, the more I get out but it'll still be there waiting for when I need/want it.

Meeting new people (and getting on well with them)
I was at a barbeque in Aberdeen at the weekend, I knew a couple of people but everyone else was new to me and from fairly different backgrounds. When we left I'd chatted to a lot of them at length, got to know a bit about most of them and generally felt good about people. I not particularly confident when interacting with new people but I'd like to think I'm getting a bit better at it.

Walking around cities
I've noticed this a few times recently. I love spotting the new things, the changes and the things that haven't changed for years but that i'd never noticed before.

[mangochutney04.livejournal.com]

It sounds very twee (as always with me!) but the things which make me happy or smile to myself whenever I think of them being in the world are:

1) My husband's face in a big twinkly eyed smile - self explanatory

2) My daughter's excited little baby giggle (and her sparkly eyes) - "

3) My dog, Yishi's tail wagging so much that the whole back half of his body moves with it -"

4) Make up - yes, I know very superficial of me but I'm one of those who believes it's an art form as well as provider of hope, rescue and etc and I actually enjoy painting my face (with professional brushes etc) as if it were a craft or hobby.

5) A tall glass of chocolate flavoured milk, skimmed, straight from the fridge - my absolute favourite comfort drink and one I indulge in daily, not to any detriment I don't think as it's seen me through pregnancy and breastfeeding. Now I just hope to get Charlotte hooked in six months' time when she'll be old enough to drink it.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

I totally know what you mean re: make up. I don't always paint myself up - I'm too lazy - but when I'm feeling fragile and a bit shite about the world I will and it does make me feel much better.

[ginasketch.livejournal.com]

1.)Zoology and Natue documentaries
2.)Drawing
3.)Books!
4.)The sound of rain on the roof
5.)Mr. Mephistopheles

and geese are awesome.

[badgersandjam.livejournal.com]

1. WhiteLeaved Oak. It's 400+ years old and I've been bad in visiting it, but it makes me happy. Knowing that people visit it, wassail it, tie ribbons to its branches and still leave spells and prayers around and in it.

2. Clean sheets dried on a line and then put on my bed. MMMMmmmmm.

3. Writing something that I know works. That's not just because it exists, but I know I can do it betimes.

4. Singing. I used t have a full stage voice; not it's just passable. Ask me and Mm about the dragon of Pendle sometime.

5. Good friends in whose company I don't feel fat, unwanted, or old.

(I've used my icon picture for you. It's Julian of NOrwich; modern, but what they hey.)

[flamma-lupus.livejournal.com]

1) My really close friends, it sounds naff and cheesy, but I know I have a number of people I could call at any point in time, and if I really needed to, could talk to, rant at, vent to, or just cry on the shoulder of. I spent a LONG time not having this (or not feeling I had it), and this is possibly the most "valuable thing" I have.

2) Icecream (specifically haagen daz). My figure takes a lot of work to maintain you know, it's not an overnight thing ;). I have a lot of REALLY good memories associated with icecream, and just a couple of spoonfuls of certain ones and I remember them. They're like mini flashbacks WITH yummy flavours.

3) Actually having a bit of a social life now, for which I hold goblintown mostly responsible. I no longer feel quite like the reclusive hermit I used to be, this has done WONDERS for my confidence, self esteem et, so is a happy thing I reflect upon.

4) My pack (maybe not something that's that easy to explain), but I very rarely feel "alone" in life, even when I've been single etc, there's 3 or 4 people, who I can not see for months, or even years, but who as soon as I see again things are just how they were. People who I feel *SAFE* and accepted around, in ways that "normal friends just can't reach". That level of closeness is rare to me (that one of them is a guy is even odder in my head), the kinda people you'd run across speeding traffic to help, and you know would do the same for you.

5)Silly. Little. Things. I have a marble run, it's a silly kiddy toy, but when I'm really down, I dig it out and I play with it, and I always feel much better. I have magnetic sculpture type things, and they have the same affect. I have a few little "tokens" from people or places, not necessarily anything expensive or "out of this world", but personal touches, and just seeing them makes me smile. (For example I have a signed menu from hooters, it's a bit cheesy and a bit naff, but it reminds me of my first trip to Austin, and my friend Erica sneaking behind my back to tell the girls I was british and visiting etc, and then *every* girl in the joint signing it, and getting a big hug from one of them. It's a silly little thing, that reminds me of a happy time, and reminds me of people just wanting to make me feel good) (I have a piece of jewelry I bought when I was like 14 or so, it's nothing *special* but I like it, but seeing it reminds me of how much I've grown and changed, and how much happier I am now than then) stuff like that.

[parlance.livejournal.com]

OT, but I surfed over from debunkingwhite. I'm not a member there, I'm just watching the comm for the time being. Wanted to thank you for posting about the BNP wins. I'd just had a conversation with a former UK resident in which he claimed that all "racism" in the UK was against Eastern Europeans and "no one" complains about black-white racism anymore and racism is far worse in the US. I was thinking O RLY? But I didn't have any real sort of info to counter him.

Anyway, thanks again for flagging that. That's so frightening.

[annwfyn.livejournal.com]

Glad to be of help. :)

[melsner.livejournal.com]

I used to have a red Shetland pony when I was in my teens. He was named "Babe," I think. Very pretty. It was truly an evil beast. Bucked me off a lot, bit me and probably gave me long term physical and mental problems. We finally had to send it away.

I agree with your beloved. :P