SUNDAY 6th MARCH 2011 09:00 GMT

THIS DAY IN WW2 (6.3.1941)
In Occupied Holland... Following strikes during February over the arrest of Jews and attempts to send workers to jobs in Germany, the Germans condemn 18 Dutch resistance members to death. These are the first such victims in Holland. The Communists have played a notable part in organizing strikes.

TODAY IN MY LIFE
Ironing and general housework, and my monthly BEST OF BRADFORD article to write.

Twitter Followers = 1041 (no change)
Yesterday the dehumidifier extracted: 1.32 pints = 750 mls - drying washing!

TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION
So far, my hydration theory is holding up. Saturdays for me are not fun days but I seemed to cope well after ensuring I was consuming plenty of fluids. With mood stabilised, at least for now, a return to all the usual centering disciplines.

TODAY'S THOUGHT
Just being older is an act of survival that many did not achieve.

TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
Do you know peace?

TODAY'S ONELINER
If Laura, Suzanne, Debra and Rose go out for lunch, they will call each
other Laura, Suzanne, Debra and Rose. If Mike, Charlie, Bob and John go
out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla,
Peanut-Head and Scrappy. : D

WHAT I ATE YESTERDAY
1 bacon butty, 1 can curry, 4 chocolate biscuits, 2 packets crisps, 3/4 large chocolate bar

TRIVIA
On average, the annual Wimbledon tennis tournament will use a staggering 42,000 tennis balls, but most for just a single rally.

TODAY'S AFFIRMATION
If I am here I have a purpose!

SATURDAY 5th MARCH 2011 09:10 BST

THIS DAY IN WW2 (5.3.1941)
In the Mediterranean... Operation Lustre begins. British troops are convoyed from Alexandria in Egypt to Greece. (By April 2nd, a total of 58,000 troops are deployed.) Italian submarines carry out unsuccessful patrols along the convoy routes.

From London... The British government severs diplomatic relations with Bulgaria.

In Vienna... Hermann Goring meets with Romanian dictator, General Antonescu, to secure the participation of Romania in Operation Barbarossa.

In the Balkans... Italian prisoners, captured by Greek forces in Albania, report that 1500 Alpini troops were drowned in the sinking of the transport ship Liguria and that Allied bombing raids have caused heavy casualties and significant confusion behind Italian lines.

TODAY IN MY LIFE
A slightly disconcerting start to the day after encountering two rude replies to my posts, one on Facebook and the other on LinkedIn. Both contacts were deleted immediately! There really isn't any excuse to give rude replies to fair requests and posts. At least the LinkedIn guy was polite in his rejection, but just because you're not directly interested in a comment is not a reason to openly express it, unless it's daily, as you may have contacts that are interested.

Twitter Followers = 1041 (down 1)
Yesterday the dehumidifier extracted: 0.7 pints = 400mls

TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION
I have found that there is more to mood than circumstances and the direction of thought. There is a physiological/biochemical dimension. Yesterday despite all my arsenal of techniques, I was overwhelmed by a dark mood for much of the day, which suddenly lifted after a no more than half an hour in front of the news with a cup of coffee, with no real change in my circumstances. My mind was then freed up to re-centre, but instead I have spent the time since wondering what's going on with my body chemistry!

The trouble is there are so many variables, but my main suspect right now is hydration. I will be keeping a close watch on my urine colour and seeing if there's a correlation with mood.

TODAY'S THOUGHT
If you've never offended anybody you've never said anything!

TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
Is what you're saying 2/3 out of kind, true and necessary

TODAY'S ONELINER
The problem with having both a brain and a penis is there's only enough blood to run one at a time : D

WHAT I ATE YESTERDAY
1 bacon butty, one Feasters bacon/chicken/cheese melt, 2 peanut butter/jam rolls, 1 oacket of crisps, 1 large bar of chocolate - I've woken up still full! : D

TRIVIA
Often imagined as just hanging around lakes, flamingoes are great fliers - they can often travel 370 miles a day in search of food and water.

TODAY'S AFFIRMATION
I WON'T back down!

FRIDAY 4th MARCH 2011 06:55 GMT

THIS DAY IN WW2 (4.3.1941)
In Germany... Hitler meets Prince Paul of Yugoslavia secretly at Berchtesgaden to ask him once again to join the Tripartite Pact. Paul returns to Yugoslavia convinced that he must decide very soon between Britain and Germany. Talks in the next few days convince him that Britain has little help to offer.

In Occupied Norway... There is a British Commando raid on the Lofoten Islands. The 500-strong force is carried by naval units which include two light cruisers and five destroyers. Ten ships are sunk in the operation and 215 German prisoners are taken. There are also 300 Norwegian volunteers who are taken to Britain. The operation is a success but the Germans take fierce reprisals when the British force withdraws. Many members of the Norwegian resistance movement do not approve of such raids for this reason.

In Greece... General Wilson, who is to command the British forces being prepared for Greece, arrives in Athens to arrange the final details with the Greek general staff. A major convoy is about to leave Alexandria with the first large contingent. The British have only just discovered that the Greek forces in Macedonia have not retired to the Aliakmon Line and will not be able to persuade them to do so because of the damage to morale that would result if territory is obviously given up without a fight after the German move into Bulgaria. Wilson is further hindered by the Greek insistence that he remains incognito inside the British Embassy in order not to provoke the Germans. In fact the German consulate in Piraeus overlooks the port area which will be used to land the British forces, so they are well aware what is happening.


TODAY IN MY LIFE
Me-Time and probably ironing before going off to the "supplementary job"

Twitter Followers = 1042 (up 2)
Yesterday the dehumidifier extracted: 0.88 pints = 500mls

TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION
My focus on UNattachment has brought me round in a circle to refocus on another essential life-skill - focus on the intention, but I've learned that this means focus on the intention NOW. A stern test was encountered last night when the dreaded "Nemesis" reaching from a distance managed to ruin an evening of Marital Quality Time. The Nemesis cannot be taken out of the picture so correct focus is kinda essential for maintaining sanity. The eternal completeness within myself does not require the gratification of every preference, and there is where I need to be centered.

TODAY'S THOUGHT
The best way is usually not the loudest.

TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
What now is the best use of your energy?

TODAY'S ONELINER
Doctors are reporting that many men are having allergic reactions to latex condoms. They say they cause severe swelling. So what’s the problem? : D

WHAT I ATE YESTERDAY
1 bacon butty, 1 canteen chicken & chips, 1 muffin + custard, mini-steak + Dauphinoise Potatoes, 5 profiteroles, 5 squares milk chocolate

TRIVIA
In 1587 Virginia Dare became the first child born in the American colonies, on August 18th, on what is now Roanoke Island, North Carolina.

TODAY'S AFFIRMATION
I will NOT be distracted!

THURSDAY 3rd MARCH 2011 06:50 GMT

THIS DAY IN WW2 (3.3.1941)
In the Balkans... Italian aircraft bomb the earthquake stricken town of Larissa in Greece. British RAF Hurricanes destroy 5 Cant bombers (probably returning from Larissa) over Corfu.

In Moscow... The Soviet government denounces the Bulgarian signing of the Axis Pact.

TODAY IN MY LIFE
This is the first day since February where routines are not in some way altered by house refurbishment! We are noe the proud owners of a new kitchen, new drainpipes, new bathroom floor and new top of the range 5-piece leather suite plus fabric armchair! Still to organise: garden gates, garage doors, painting bathroom radiator.

Today's agenda: Me-Time, Indian Head Massage Class, Shopping, short me-time, ironing, cook supper, clear-up, Marital Quality Time.

Twitter Followers = 1040 (down 2)
Yesterday the dehumidifier extracted: 0.7 pints = 400mls

TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION
I'm at the beginning of the next stage in my spiritual development - the release of attachments. I have learned that any distress of any kind is due to an attachment. What I'm doing now is whenever I feel even the slightest distress, I am in that moment unattaching myself from the source.

I'm expecting this to be tough at first - we are all attached to many things without realising it, big and small. With a house refurb now 2/3 complete, I've many new things to be potentially attached to!

On the other hand, decades of spiritual learning have given me a solid foundation. I know that ultimately I am complete in myself, and that in the deepest sense I need nothing from this universe. I intend to participate in it, having preferences and intentions, but without demanding or needing anything from it.

TODAY'S THOUGHT
You'll soon stop cursing having no shoes when you meet the man who has no feet.

TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
What in your life do you need to change?

TODAY'S ONELINER
You brought religion into my life - I never believed in Hell until I met you. : D

WHAT I ATE YESTERDAY
1 bacon butty, 1 Feasters cheese/chicken/bacon melt, 4 chocolate biscuits, 4 small
chicken thighs, 1 choc Liegois, 4 squares milk chocolate.

TRIVIA
Zsa Zsa Gabor was the first - and only - recipient of a Golden Globe Award for "Most Glamorous Actress." She won the peculiar award in 1958. The category was deleted thereafter.

TODAY'S AFFIRMATION
Same as yesterday - I am already complete in myself, I am here only to experience!