The Sun.

The sun is out again, HURRAY!

The sun is out, at least for today

The sun is out, come on, let's play

The sun is out, I'm off, "Good day"!

IF.....

IF you can keep your head when all about you 
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings 
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

 Rudyard Kipling

* Most people love this poem, I am no exception....In my humble opinion, it is one of the best poems ever written.

For Lunch Today....

For lunch today I'd like to eat....

My favourite things...and still repeat!

A posh menu à la carte

A prawn cocktail, just to start

The main course must include

Full hearty and substantial food

Some English bangers and some meat

Beans and rice would go down a treat!

Not forgetting the quiche and salad

Waldorf would be very valid

A few snippets on the side

Croissants, rolls and paté supplied

A caipirofska to help things mingle

Makes me forget that I'm still single!

Oh! farofa, never to be forgotten

THAT would be just to damb rotten!

Would feel full but there's still the sweet

Something chocolatey  would be so neat

Leite moça or chocolate mousse?

Both available to seduce

I'd have them both!!! Scoff the lot

You'd think that's it... but it's not

Cheese and biscuits, very French

Frangelico my thirst to quench!

Back to reality...kitchen time

No imaginary à la carte sublime!

Open the ice-box just to see

Moldy old cheese staring at me! 

Why God made teachers.

When God created teachers,

He gave us special friends

To help us understand His world

And truly comprehend

The beauty and the wonder

or everything we see,

And become a better person

With each discovery.

When God created teachers, 

He gave us special guides

To show us ways in which to grow

So we can all decide

How to live and how to do

What's right instead of wrong,

To lead us so that we can lead

And teach others to be strong.

Why God created teachers

In His wisdom and His Grace,

Was to help us to learn 

To make our world a better, wiser

And  more compasionate place.... 

Children Poem.

Sticky fingers,  tangled hair,
scattered crayons, everywhere.
Fancy artwork, on the wall
drawn by midgets, three feet tall.
Tell me why, and tell me how
that was mine, I want it NOW!
Fix my bike. Buy me gum.
If you have it, I want some.
Dirty faces, grass-stained knees,
learning words, like pretty please.
Endless hugs & goofy wet kisses,
learning respect with 'Mr.' & 'Mrs.'
Scraped-up hands, from falling down.
Tender tugs - - on my night gown.
Need more paper, for Santa's letter?
I wasn't so bad, but I've been better.
Watching a movie,  again and again
Mommy, please... put the tape back in.
Messy fingers,  hair gone wild
all in the life of a precious child !!

Debra S. Higginbtham.

HAPPINESS...

Total happiness! As they say in this country, I am in "estado de Graça"- which translated means - that I'm in a state of Grace!! What a sensacional feeling to have one of the many dreams one has, come true! The two books are very sweet, even if I say so myself, and have had great acceptance by the children. Get your copy

Send me an email entitled BOOKS! Do it now.... The first edition is coming to an end!

One dream come true!

I am thrilled to announce the publication of my first two childrens' books. This is a fulfillment of a dream that I have had since I was twelve years old! If anyone is interested in a copy please get in touch via my email, I will be delighted. Meanwhile, those realizations that take the longest are definitely the most worthwhile.

J. Anderson.