Hi from a sunny Belfast!

I think I may have figured out this photo thing...let's see!

New Year...new look blog!

Hi all...hope your Christmas was special as you are! Into the New Year with gusto...with new challenges and new friends. Any resolutions? A couple of mine are to walk more...paint more...contemplate more...and try to drink less Americano coffee!!

I had a restful and happy time...now back to work and the holiday season seems a long way back! Still desperately trying to post photos...I can never see the icon on my blog to do this..although people in the past have tried to talk me through the process ...oh well - maybe one day I'll figure it out! I purchased a new digital camera and think I'm wonderful now because I've taken at least two nice shots!

Well...the filing on my desk is calling loud and clear and I've been ignoring it all day. Bye for now...MOJO

....have a peaceful time....

...at this special time of the year.

My prayer ....

May we balance our laughter with some moments of quietness...
May we talk to our Lord as much as we talk to our friends...
May we attend to ourselves as much as we attend to others...
May we think of those who are hungry when we ourselves feel full...
May we think of the lonely when we are surrounded by loved ones...
May the Lord of Light help you see the sunshine through the showers...
God bless
xmojo

Happy Monday!

...yes, you've guessed it...I'm in a good mood today!! I guess a lot has got to do with the weekend past. Actually it was lovely because it ended up not being a silent retreat for me after all! My friend who organises it was able to include me in the team of 'workers'. So I got a chance to see the 'behind the scenes' action. Lots of meal preparations, serving those on the retreat, clearing up, taking part in the times of reflection when we get to speak but they don't! It was a privilege and joy to do it. I did get to have some time in quiet...to read...and write and walk in THE most beautiful unspoilt countryside....ahhh...

This week in work will be clearing up all the yucky admin jobs I've left from the beginning of the month...you know the sort I mean...don't you!?

Hope all is well in blogland....keep in touch - bye for now...a happy little person....x

....Silence is golden...

....I'll be off to rural Ireland tomorrow (half day off work...yeah!) for my third silent retreat of the year. After a hectic few months - I am soooo looking forward to the solitude. Will catch up again next week...have a great weekend everyone!

....something about a meal....

...there's just something about sitting around a table of friends that really for me comes close to heaven! We gathered together last night before a friend travels to Canada for Christmas and we had a rare old time! Lots of lovely dishes...savoury and sweet...a lot of laughing....shining eyes as we all opened our 'secret santa' presents (where we pick a name out and buy for that person - of course - by the end of the evening everyone knew who had purchased what for whom!!). I was delighted with my lovely present - wrapped beautifully - containing candles...the most gorgeous Celtic style stone angel...a hand knitted autumny coloured scarf and a little book...Loved it all! We all looked about 6 years old as we were opening (I know it's a little early for Christmas!) our presents. It was a delight.

We then decided to have our 'Top 5' lists for the year - Top 5 books....cds....movies etc. I find it pretty hard to come up with my favourites....so much to choose from. I did love 'The Cloister Walk' a book by Kathleen Norris...really enjoy the music of Sufjan Stevens...local Belfast artist Duke Special...was challenged by 'The Constant Gardener' movie. How would your favourites of the year look I wonder...let me know!

Well...for now - blessings!

'appreciate your comments

...I know I shouldn't really need reassurance to continue my blogging now and then - but thanks to those who have encouraged me to keep going - despite my silly notions (I'm a girly deep down!). So onward and upward...here goes Thursday...

My boss is away to a meeting most of the day which leaves me free to get caught up with some stuff before Christmas break. But a few highlights of the week so far...

Got together with a group of friends the other night and we were discussing the issue of money and how we use it...think about it...how influenced people are to 'keep up with the guy next door'. A very frank and open sharing of those who have money...those who have less money...those who have none to speak of - looking at what that means within our little community. It's a subject that people keep private most the time...but it's been refreshing to chat about the possibilities.

Tonight I'm going to my little neice's school for a talent show...should be fun.

Met up with a lovely lady I used to work with for a cuppa - it's great to be able to pick up just where we left off over a year ago. Some people are so easy to talk to and you know that they listen intently and just know the right things to say.

Hope all is well with my blogger friends...do take care of you wee selves...and once again thanks for reading and responding...

bye for now.....Mojo

Mojo's Place

I'm holding back...

I feel that I'm holding back in this blog...and I guess deep down I know why. I started off thinking that I could be totally myself - reflecting on various subjects...perhaps using quotes I've found challenging...writing down my wandering thoughts... But more and more I feel that I edit what I type...maybe I shouldn't worry what people think of my blog...but I seem to. Maybe I find criticism difficult or when I am questioned about what I put on the screen. I don't want to justify what I write...I just want to write. Is it just me...am I being over sensitive (I know I can be!!). So maybe the challenge in this blog is to work through my 'writer's block' (or perhaps writer's blog!) and get back to being real to myself. MMMmmmm....I will return...I promise!

sorry so short!

...but just catching up with a lot of work stuff right now - a busy time of the year! Hope all is going well for you ... let me know!

Bye for now....Mojo

Things to say....

I have been quite alert this week...for some strange reason...mmm....let's hope it lasts. I've started lots of jobs I've been putting off for weeks and actually finished them which makes me feel a certain glow inside! But for those of you who - for reasons known only to yourselves - have felt a little tired at your desk...here are...


Things to say if Caught Sleeping in the Office!

" Why did you interrupt me? I had almost figured out a solution to our biggest problem."

"I wasn't sleeping! I was meditating on the mission statement “

"I was testing my keyboard for drool resistance."

"I was doing Yoga exercises to relieve work-related stress."

"This is just a 15 minute power-nap as described in that time management course you sent me."

" and bless the boss........Amen."

....take care and thanks so much for those who leave lovely comments - much appreciated!! Mojo

....children are amazing....

...they really are! I know a 3 year old who has mastered the English language...a 5 year old who can count to ten in French and an 11 year old who is as creative as any adult! These little ones don't limit themselves the way I do...they attack life with everything they've got - where did I get left behind? The children in my life (none are mine!) give me joy...laughter...worry...hugs...all manner of funny and thought provoking one liners which make me smile. Hope the little 'uns around you do the same!

I love these quotes...

There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million. ~Walt Streightiff

Little girls are cute and small only to adults. To one another they are not cute. They are life-sized. ~Margaret Atwood

Memo to me...

let's see...before the weekend I must....

- type reports for speech therapy
- complete toy order for nursery
- type up audio tape for clinic
- type up audio tape fro physio dept
- complete month's purchase order
- finish payroll check
- Open new children's files
- Update waiting list database
- Update current database
- Do mailing for coffee and chat morning
- Complete Clinic timetable
- Ring parents re. above
- Type reports for OT
- Send mailing about therapy info evening
- Get the kitchen light repaired
- Get the filing done (6 weeks worth!!)
...mmmm....we shall see!

Bye for now all

A windy weekend!

Did a little sponsored walk in aid of Children in Need (BBC) in driving rain over the weekend...it was so wet and windy but actually we enjoyed it! My little neice has raised money for the cause over the past 5 or 6 years by making keyrings, painting pictures, writing a wee story etc!

To day is crisp and clear blue sky is above me through the little window of my office...wish I was out for a long walk...roll on lunch time. I only get half an hour but I look forward to the little dander along the avenue or if I've some bread left over from lunch ...I'll walk to a local duck pond and usually also see two beautiful swans who eat everything!

I'm reading an Anthony de Mello book on Awareness and just loved the following...

Negative feelings are in you, not in reality. So stop tryin g to change reality. That's crazy! Stop trying to change the other person. We spend all our time and energy trying to change external circumstances, trying to change our spouses, our bosses, our friends, our enemies, and everyone else. We don't have to change anything. Negative feelings are in you. No person on earth has the power to make you unhappy. there is no event on earth that has the power to disturb you or hurt you. No event, condition, situation, or person.

Now...I'm not saying that I fully understand what he's getting at or how I make that paragraph work for me...I do, however, like the thought that we can somehow rise above those around us who make our days stressful (or maybe we make our days stressful!!).

My sister is going to a local historical society this week to try to find out something about our family tree...I won it in a local competition but because I work full time I can't go...so all very exciting! Who knows...I may be in some long lost relatives Will and actually own a castle or something!! HA

Well...must get on with my job...take care of yourselves until next time ....

I am working...really I am!!

I'm at another computer course (away from the office!) and really enjoying it. It's lunch time now so I'm not pretending to type just to look good!

Had a lovely evening last night - sitting around the table with lovely, lovely people! I think there's something very intimate about sharing a meal together...hearing all the biz...and later (in the soft seats...) laughing and sometimes crying and everything inbetween!

My tutor has just arrived back...so must dash and finish the course!!! Bye for now

A lovely rest!

I have had a lovely few days off and have been re-reading some of John O'Donohue's books (love that man!). I had the privilege of meeting him briefly earlier in the year at a event held in Belfast. He makes me look at things afresh...consider this (from Anam Cara...www.jodonohue.com) -

...'It is strange that two mountains
can be side by side for millions of years and yet can
never move close to each other. Whereas two strangers can come down
these mountains, meet in the valley and share the inner worlds they carry'...

Love it...love it!

Must dash and catch up on some of my work stuff!

See you next week!

As i'm gonna be away from work for the rest of the week I'll probably not get to blog much...so have a good weekend - when it comes! bye for now!

Employee of the Month!!

...yes that would be me!! I really must get stressed in work more often...I've just be 'awarded' employee of the month...which consists of a very nice card and some gift tokens - which I will gladly spend this weekend. It is very nice to get as it's the rest of the staff who vote and not just the boss who decides. I do know others appreciate the work I do - which really makes a difference in the down times!!

Our little book group meets this evening and - although quite tired - (woke up at 4.55am and couldn't get back to sleep!) ...I'm still looking forward to meeting up with the other 5 ladies and having a little chat about the book...and a longer chat about each of our little worlds!

...so with that...I am off to clear up my desk! x

This made me smile...

As we are recruiting a couple of staff at the moment...the following caught my eye and I found it very amusing...does any of the following ring a bell!!?

The Hidden Meaning of Recruitment Ads:
"Competitive salary rate" - We remain competitive by paying less than our competitors.
"Duties will vary" - Anyone in the office can boss you around.
"Join our dynamic company" - We have no time to train you.
"Casual working environment" - We don't pay enough to expect that you will dress up.
"Must be deadline oriented" - You will be 6 months behind on your first day.
"Some overtime required" - Some time each night, some time each weekend.
"Must have an eye for detail" - We have no quality control.
"Seeking wide experience" - You will need to replace three people who just left.
"Good communication skills" - Management communicates poorly, so you have to figure out what they want and do it.
"Problem solving skills needed" - You are walking into a company in continual chaos.
"Requires team leadership skills" - You will have the responsibilities of a manager without the pay or respect.

....have a good working day folks!!

Oh...had an absolutely lovely evening...lots chatted about and we are looking forward to another person joining us each week for dinner and talk...probably from next week...the more the merrier I say!

Bye for now....M

Sorry...

...I haven't been ablogging in a few days...just too too busy I'm afraid! If I have a computer at home - it would be much easier to leave a little note - but I try to do it in my lunch time at the office!

Anyhow...things are going well right now - looking forward to a couple of days off work next week....yeah! Also looking forward to my usual Tuesday evening with 8 or 9 friends around a table ...eating a lovely homemade meal...chatting about life in general...it makes me feel 'alive' to be there. I know that I'm extremely fortunate to be surrounded by such creative and compassionate humanoids! (...a term that writer/speaker John O'Donohue loves to use!)

The weather is cold, crisp and very autumny (obvious huh?!)...I never really liked this season...with it's dark evenings...but I am getting to appreciate it's beauty!

Well...folks bye for now