Be kind to each other

by Tom Monks

Over a year since I posted – Despite my aspiration to do some craretive writing. Lost a long time friend (we had been close friends since school) To cancer what else. In June ….

End of June I went to a gig (Vigar St for those who know it). Noted the following the next day ….

Had a lovely evening yesterday Patti Smith Amazing woman and concert – Saw Paul there – During the gig had to go to bathroom upstairs – A stranger – a young woman crossed me on stairs and saw I was struggling a bit – She asked if I was ok – Told her ok just catching my breath – ‘hate dat’ she said and gave me a big hug – Lovely encounter The power of a hug from a stranger is great – Even just a smile can make a difference – Think Lilly (School of Philosophy) spoke to us a few years ago in class about ´random acts of kindness’ That was one such act – Be kind to each other

Does Art help? – Continued

by Tom Monks

Posted a few days ago about Art and how it might help. Was thinking along the lines of helping during a cancer adventure but also how it helps after that adventure. And now, also thinking outside of cancer and how it can help with life in general.

I was chatting(Texting with a close friend yesterday evening. This friend is going through the horrors and rigours of chemotherapy at present. I can get it …

I texted to this friend “Sometimes think we are all blessed with artistic talents but without recognition and cultivation these talents rarely flourish We need to cultivate even the slightish inkling of artistic inclinations”

And then ,

“Go to the art galleries Join the art classes Read the literature Write in the blank page or screen Let yourself loose on the paper with pen or pencil Never leave a canvas clear of paint”

Add to that – Go to the concerts – Listen to the Music – Read and speak aloud the poetry -Write your own poetry –

Lots of other Arts not mentioned – Am not finished with this subject

Does reading help?

by Tom Monks

Who would say reading doesn’t help. Certainly not me who has been avidly reading since I learned to (At least sixty years ago). Doesn’t everyone read and read and read and read ,,, Thinking of my NZ cousins

Couple of books on my bed when I come up tonight – Have delved into both of them earleir today – A Buddhist book (Mind in Harmony) and a Fiction by (recently deceased) Cormac M’Carthy ‘The Passenger ‘ Both worth continuing – In competition with some YouTube videos on learning Beatles songs on guitar — Choices .. Choices. — The Bane of our lives .. Reading should win out .. Of course it should – Does it? Another blog post …….

Does Cooking and Nutrition help

by Tom Monks

It does. Have learned a lot overthe last few years. Best advice is to use lots and lots of fresh Turmeric and Ginger. In juices mainly but in curry and stir fry meals also. During early days I attended a cancer support group for Secondary cancer. A woman talked to us about the Ketonic diet – No sugar and lots of fat. At the time it didn’t sound safe to me and didn’t follow the advice. Have changed my mind in recent months and it has done me a lot of good. Anyway, Diet and Nutrition are so important and they do help

Recipe for tonight – TM improvised stuffed courgettes.

Four Courgettes (two round and two long)

Scoop insides out and put them on a baking tray with plenty of salt and a dollop olive around. In the oven at 180C for a while (15 Mins).

While that is happening mash the scoopings, Mix in some fresh herbs (Parsley, Vietnamese Coriander and Marjoram) straight from the garden – Use whatever herbs you like (they are all good). Mix in some cooked rice (had some in the fridge from yesterday). Mix in some minced meat (a beef burger in this case).Then squeeze half a lemon. Mix up well.

Take courgettes from oven and stuff with the mixture.Laying on top or stuffing into round (globe courgettes). Back in the oven for 45mins.

Serve with grated cheese (whichever one you like, emmental for us). Spray juice from the other half of the lemon. That is a Keto meal. Delicious and nourishing with no carbs.

We enjoyed that. Cooking and nutrition certainly help. The Keto woman is Patricia Daly and has written a book withDomini Kemp. The Ketogenic Kitchen. Big help to me

Does Art help

by Tom Monks

This is a post-cancer blog – Is there such a thing as post-cancer _ can explore that in future posts

Art certainly helps – Helped me – from doing a History of Art diploma in TCD – Wow – the energy of being a “mature” student amongst the new freshers – Sharing lectures – To taking some (covid era online art classes) – to in-person intensive drawing classes – to planning a Month on Florence studying Florentine Renaissance Art and Italian language

Art does help

I want to get back to it I need to get back to it

by Tom Monks

Why do i let time go by without posting – without writing.

July already

Have a bit to say and working (this evening ) on a new poem)

Have a close friend newly diagnosed with this Emporer (In other words Fucker) of diseases – Brings it all back – There is much more to life than this fucker

Some ideas in mind on a few different subjects –

Lets see what comes

Writing is therapeutic

Artists Hall at Waterperry

by Tom Monks

Artists Hall at Waterperry

 

What a delight, the Artists Hall at Waterperry. The immediate entrance into the manifest world with its depiction of the creation must be seen and enjoyed. The vibrant colours are there to saturate in. Almost from the river itself which flows through and around it.

As always with life, with a journey one moves through levels and so with the frescoes. Once one has enjoyed the physical world then one begins (in this experience anyway) to wonder and ask – What more? One has a sense there must be more. There is so much to explore and discover.

On the second level one finds the tools to help with this exploration, this discovery. The depictions of studying, of learning and of reflection are welcome reminders. The depictions are simple but they do call out. Why would one not follow this direction? They show the discipline required. Across the glass bridge one finds even more tools. Tools is not the right word. Let’s say practices. The main, essential practices of Advaita. Meditation and Satsanga. The almost bodiless, spirit-like soul sitting at meditation. Nothing to do. Nowhere to go. What more could one ask for. Nothing more is needed. Yet there is more. Satsanga, Satsanga, Satsanga. We are all interdependent. We are all parts, Parts of a Whole. Parts of a unity. We are all One – Advaita.

And so to the top level. Pure Space, Pure White. Signifying the Absolute, the Source, All.

 

OM purnamadah purnamidam purnat purnamudacyate

purnasya purmamadaya purnamevavasisyate

OM shantih shantih shantih

[That is perfect. This is perfect. Perfect comes from perfect

Take perfect from perfect, the remainder is perfect

OM peace peace peace.]

Change of Tack

by Tom Monks

I love writing – I find it very therapeutic – It does require discipline

Time to start getting back into it – Over six years since last treatment. – The cancer just went away – No complaints from me – A little bit of disbelief – There have been some close calls since and some biopsies and lots of scanning – But over 10 years post diagnosis it is just gone – They won’t let me go – Still need be be scanned –

What to do now – I have just come back from an Art and creative writing course in the UK – Frosty Oxfordshire – The following came to me while I was over there – Maybe I can follow up with more writing

 

Cold Winter Day

(Waiting until the cold has gone)

 

Patches of green among the frosted grass

Creeping frost everywhere

Patches where the sun has managed to penetrate

The hardness of the now solid ground

Waiting until the cold has gone

 

 

Benches, tables and chairs

Outdoor furniture deserted

Now covered in frost

And waiting to be re-peopled

Waiting until the cold has gone

 

 

Chattering unseen birds

Their song fills the air

Great, many limbed and leafless Oak

Waiting to burst into life

Waiting until the cold has gone

 

 

Rock hard dirt track

Leading to a field of grazing cattle

Standing like statues

This track will become muddy again

When the cold has gone

 

Faraway hum of traffic

There, present but really not disturbing

Even the ornamental grasses still standing

And the bare creepers around the front of the house

Waiting until the cold has gone

 

 

 

Waiting until the cold has gone

Waiting

Waiting until the cold has gone

 

Waterperry

19th January 2023.

 

 

Back Again

by Tom Monks

Haven’t posted in almost 2 years – Time to get writing again – Got some motivation today – Breathing – Cycling – Electric bikes – Greenways – Let’s see if those thoughts (They have got me thinking) stir me out of stasis – Imaging cycling and sea swimming, seeing the country and enjoying life – Covid has a lot to answer for ……