A Seed Of Sympathy – 12th May 2024

Why does the devil drink?
Is he no longer happy
With our eternal suffering?
Has he grown a seed of sympathy?

Why does the devil drink?
Perhaps he suffers alone
We can’t be happy all the time
And that brimstone must irritate the nostrils!

Why does the devil drink?
Because his book didn’t sell that well?
Always seen as the bad guy
When he’s just doing his job

Why does the devil drink?
Does he want to forget past love
That keeps him awake at night
Tossing on his skull pillow?

Why does the devil drink?
Because too much is not enough?
Are hot tempers calmed
After too much banging on the bone drum?

Submitted to No Theme Thursday


Today I’m feeling:

A bit tired again, maybe from mentally preparing to get back into it with the kids again tomorrow.  I’m excited to see everyone again.

Today I’m grateful for:

Twinkl having a free download day for their whole site.  Perfect timing!  I got a stack of role-play and conversation starters that I can go through and see if I can use in my new classes.

The best thing about today was:

Spending time out in my room, clearing out emails, writing and reading, sorting out files on computers and online and probably the top thing was playing guitar with the new strings that I put on yesterday.  Sounds good again!

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

Our internet connection got fixed but it still seems a little shaky.  I’m struggling to download some of these things from the Twinkl site because it’s so slow.  I’m trying to handle it with patience! Mostly!

Something I learned today?

This morning Noey told me about a nice breakfast cafe in the city which had sourdough toast with avocado and smoked salmon. I’ll try it one day. It’s called In Am’s Kitchen.

Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10

I helped Amy with moving a big cactus from a pot to the ground but it was very clumsy and awkward. Hopefully, it doesn’t get blown over whilst waiting to get some deeper roots.

What have I been reading lately? 

I’m two-thirds through Charles Shaar Murray’s Shoots From The Hip, today reading about The Boomtown Rats and Guy Stevens.  It’s a nostalgic read about the wonders of the music business.

I’m halfway through The Decline of the British Empire, which is an amazing read but requires extended periods of concentration that I haven’t been making enough time for recently.

I’m still in the early stages of Goodbye 20th Century, the Sonic Youth biography but I’ve been skipping that and reading plenty of comics instead, 2000AD (still 21 years behind on that!), Judge Dredd Magazine, ALL of the New 52 comics (only up to 630 of 2500 comics so far!), Volume 1 of Shadowman, Heavy Metal (still in the 1978 issues – some of them are hard going) and I want to start Lucifer and 100 Bullets when I’ve finished Shadowman, Stray Bullets too.

I also have 4 books open on my laptop that I’m dipping into every now and then.

I took this picture last weekend at Chatuchak weekend market as there were plenty of tunnels of books to explore. No pictures today.

Top Left Brick – 29th October 2023

Couldn’t see the wood for the trees
And couldn’t see the trees for the wood
Just like counting to ten in threes
Somehow it can never be made good
But it will come and never stop
Start at the left brick at the top


Today I’m feeling:

A mix between lively and tired. I forced my way through exercise this morning and it was a struggle. I need to get up a little earlier now to be able to get everything done and get to school on time too. This first week will be a little rough I’m sure.

Today I’m grateful for:

The Twinkl website for offering 24 hours of free lessons and plan downloads. I didn’t overdo it preferring just to stick with one topic about bullying. There was lots there and I’ll still have to look through it all and make it work for my kids. I’m slowly getting my head into gear again.

The best thing about today was:

The fried egg that Amy cooked for me for lunch, topping off fried rice with fish sausage. Something about that egg though… it had some zing from somewhere!

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

The kids came from next door again as I was working and stood outside my room until I came out. They asked me if I was going to water the garden again because they wanted me to chase them with the hose and get wet and cool down a little. Who am I to deny them a little fun? I got some watering done too. After a while, I told them that I had to stop playing and do some work and thankfully they understood and didn’t come back.

Something I learned today?

I dropped by Daytripper this afternoon to see if they were interested in taking some lanterns that Amy was going to throw out. When I got there the two girls behind the counter were busy preparing something with a food mixer and so I learned that they make their own Banoffee in-house. They’ll also take the lanterns.

What is the weather like right now?

Last night was the first night with no aircon and just a fan and this morning is cool with low cloud cover, making it a little grey and dreary but at least comfortable. It’s making for a very pleasant Sunday morning so far.

I took this picture because Noey insisted after I showed her the picture of Nong Pear from House.  She has a lopsided swollen face today after having a wisdom tooth out on Friday.