Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Discombobulate

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Discombobulate:  verb- North American slang: upset, disturb, or disconcert.

'Frances was frequently discombobulated by the manic antics of Francis, causing her to fret and panic.'

5^th December 771 - Charlemagne became the sole King of the Franks following the death of his brother, Carloman.

5^th December 1349 - 500 Jews of Nuremberg were massacred during the Black Death riots
5^th December 1360 - The French Franc was created, only for it to be replaced by the Euro in 1999.

Free Book for Xmas, Help Yourself, and Smile.

It's about time I rewarded my readers with a small gift, so I've published a short story in ebook form for all of you. But, Baby, It's Cold Outside is available through Smashwords for all ebook formats and platforms. All you need to do is click here.
For those of you who don't have an ereader, no problem. You can download a couple from here, just by clicking on the links:
For the Kindle on your PC, click here for UK and here for USA & rest of the world.
For the Adobe ereader, click here.

But, Baby It's Cold Outside is intended for an adult readership and I wouldn't recommend it for anyone under 15 years of age, though there is nothing either crude or violent in this story of an interrupted NewYear's Eve between lovers.

But, Baby It's Cold Outside

I'm seeing in the New Year, with my chosen lover, in front of the fire. Wonderful. Until, that is, an unidentified rural noise makes the townie nervous and something must be done to restore the magic.

Enjoy. And an early Happy New year to all. By all means, spread the word to your friends and family. I'd like to give the gift to as many people as possible. Spread the joy, I say.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Daft/sensible

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Daft/sensible: antonyms

Daft: adjective - meek, mild, humble, silly; lacking intelligence; stupid; reckless or wild; of unsound mind; crazy; madly playful; giddy.

Sensible: adjective - having, displaying, or deriving from good sense or practical wisdom; reasonable, judicious; of clothing and footwear: practical instead of attractive or fashionable; functional, serviceable.

'Danny was daft as a brush; he wore ballet pumps to do the gardening and wellington boots in bed.'

'Selina was daft about Michael and would wear anything he demanded of her; even her skin, in public.'

'Jeremy, on the other hand, was always to be seen in sensible attire; his sports jacket and brogues labelling him as less than adventurous in the fashion arena.'

'Oh, do be sensible, Patricia: you can't possibly climb the mountain carrying a sack of coal on your back.'

4^th December 1619 - America's first Thanksgiving Day took place.

4^th December 1791 - The Observer, the oldest Sunday newspaper in world, was first published in Britain.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Cacoch

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Cacoch: Another of my occasional gods of the world, ancient and modern.

This one, from the Mayan stable, is a creator god, who apparently brought forth the water lily, which, in turn, was the life form from which all other Mayan deities sprang. It seems a little odd that, as the initiator of the other deities, he is also placed in the rather lowly role of the messenger of another creator god, Hachacyum.  But I guess this inconsistency is simply in line with most religious myth and legend, in that there is little of logic of reason involved.

3^rd December 1621 - Galileo invented the telescope; good man. A great help in dispelling many of the then current myths about the Earth and its place in the universe.

3^rd December 1678 - Edmund Halley, the astronomer, received an MA from Queen's College, Oxford.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Fable/truth

Fable/truth – antonyms.

Fable: noun - a fictional narrative or statement; a myth or legend; a fiction devised to deceive; a ridiculous or dishonest story; idle talk; something falsely claimed to exist, or not existing outside legend; a short story with animals as characters conveying a moral; someone or something that has become proverbial.

Truth: noun - faithfulness, loyalty, constancy; trust, confidence; belief, a creed; disposition to speak or act truly or sincerely; truthfulness, sincerity; fact, facts; the matter or circumstance as it really exists; the real thing, as opposed to a representation or imitation; a Religious belief or doctrine held to be true or orthodox; orthodoxy; conduct in accord with a divine standard; spirituality of life and behaviour; what is true or real; reality; a true statement; something held or accepted as true; a fixed or established principle; conformity with fact; genuineness; authenticity; accuracy of representation in art or literature; lifelike quality; in Architecture, without pretence or imitation; conformity with a standard, pattern, or rule; accuracy, precision, correctness.

'Most of the stories and reports concerning religious entities are fables; that these myths and legends have long been mistaken for truths is a matter for great concern amongst those who understand the value of honesty.'

'The behaviour and values of the vast majority of politicians, in particular the leaders in that field, demonstrate that they have no understanding of the meaning of truth. Like so many journalists, they mistake opinion for fact and proceed as though their particular beliefs about social matters equal truths, when, in most cases they represent only their own narrow and often distorted views of reality.'

2/12/1697 - St Paul's Cathedral was opened in London
2/12/1755 - The second Eddystone Lighthouse was destroyed by fire.

Pic:  Barmouth beach, Dorset.

A Well-Loved Poem Revisited.

I know this is a well-known piece, but it's always worth revisiting, don't you think?

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Cacophonous/Harmonious

Cacophonous/Harmonious:

Cacophonous: adjective - discordant sound; ill-sounding.

'Rehearsing the junior orchestra for the school play was always a trial for Tony; their inability to play either in tune or in time resulted in a cacophonous output that was enough to drive any music lover to drink.'

Harmonious: adjective - tuneful, sweet-sounding; sounding together in harmony.

'Blending the melodious voice of the soprano with the deep baritone singer provided a harmonious duet that proved a delight on the ears of all those who heard it.'

Pic: The deserted medieval village of Wharram Percy in East Yorkshire.