Coming Soon!!

Lost Mojo Search is On!!

Hello!!

It has been sometime since we last met, welcome.

All will be revealed in time.

For now, just know.. I'm on my way back!!

“Love the Cool Aliens”

The above quote (perhaps it’s a paraphrase) is from my #1 Son on the picture below.

He found it even ‘cooler’ once he discovered that it wasn’t just ‘nicked’ from somewhere but a collaboration by two of my online friends – find the post of original here

So Thomas (photo) & Adam (art), i’m loving it immensely. (especially as I usually rotate my desktop wallpaper very frequently)

AND high praise indeed (on the Cool Aliens) from a sometime grumpy, sleepy, incomprehensibly guttural teenager!

It’s lost souls – it’s aliens ..

it’s in the eye of the beholder ( now THAT’'S art!!)

This is as it appears ‘in-situ’ on my desktop

Looking forward to more in the future, from these fab artists!!

 

365-10 #23 : "Alexr's Birthday"

365-10 #23, originally uploaded by Aldakila.

It's my eldest's Birthday - 18 years old Today...

His Last Birthday was hard...

...He's been home a few months now - but still its a challange for all those who care about him...

Prayers

- A xxx -

There are NO Words?

This blog, is probably the hardest thing I have ever publically written:

There are no words…

(This blog entry has evolved over the last 4hrs {I kept walking away from it!} as I have written it has gone from something that was mine –so I thought- into something bigger than me… It is – what it is) No apologies if it seems incoherent but, I make less sense than God!

My #1 Son is 17 today, almost to the minute as I begin writing this in fact!

He was born at fourteen minutes past one in the morning, on Thursday 23rd January 1992. When I saw him for the 1st time, well there are no words to describe the emotions & level of love, that I felt in those seconds & minutes that followed, for him & my then wife.

A lot of time has passed since then, a lot of life for him, & my 2 other children (his younger brother & sister) as well as me, has been lived since then. Not all of it good, not all of it easy, & some of it, more than children should have to witness or endure! Separation & divorce can be messy. There are no words to describe the pangs of pain I feel, when I, somewhat inevitably, look back over some of it.

The detail is unimportant & perhaps for some would be unfair/unpalatable to be aired so publically. The past is important, but only as a starting place for our future (for what is to come). We should learn from it & acknowledge it. But never carry it with us as ammunition or baggage. There are no words that could explain how hard that is to do sometimes. (Especially if, at the time, that is what is being done to you)

As a Dad, I haven’t always got it right & sometimes got it really badly wrong! (Especially in that “past”) But I can (mostly) accept that & (mostly) forgive myself. This is because my 3 weans (kids) have told me that its ok, there’s nothing to forgive & that I’m a good Dad really! (They’re teenagers!)

Ok, I realise I was going to go on & on trying to explain more, without giving details.

But that is firstly, fruitless & superfluous.

Secondly, completely impossible without being public & personal.

Thirdly, oh so, a BIG mistake!

Those paragraphs are deleted & gone, as well as any obviously personal details. (before being published)

The long & the short of it becomes this then:

As a parent, it becomes hard to accept, as your children become more independent:

That a lot of the time you will be a bystander & a supporter standing on the sidelines, in their life. Now I can live with & adapt to that. But you also have to be, I think, sure in yourself (as a good parent) that in reaching that point that you’re now, in the majority a supporter/bystander, has come at the right age? For my parents I reckon it came when I was 18 (they might argue otherwise). But for every child & parent it will be different & in there lies my dilemma & possibly my reason for creating this blog entry…

I (as well as other family members & friends) haven’t really seen my #1 son, much since May 2008. He kind of (quite unexpectedly) drifted away. From then until now we have come across each other maybe on average 2 times a month (that’s about 16 times) Sometimes its been for seconds or minutes on a bus – sometimes its been for most of a day, like at parents on Christmas Day. Sometimes I know where he is staying (usually when he’s at his Mum’s) but most of the time no-one does & that is extremely hard.

I can understand, he feels he is ready to face this world alone & maybe, I concede, he is right. But not perhaps, if those who were important supporters (on whatever scale) in his life, before May last year are all now bystanders.

I don’t want to make this blog entry - inappropriate, publically humiliating & misguided – so I wont (& wouldn’t)

I have realised why this blog entry exists, because my eldest son is 17 today & that has made me think about this situation in a different way that, I perhaps have been avoiding. Its called giving it all to God (My biggest supporter). Something I now must do…

So, I want others to know that, I believe, everything in life happens for a reason. There are no coincidences only ‘God-instances’. I have faith & believe that God will be there in all the good & bad times of my life. But God is there acting in all our lives you just have to look to see his effect in your world (He’s your biggest supporter). That’s where faith comes in…

I have just remembered this: A handful of years ago, a man who I had only met a few days before (& haven’t seen since) came & sat beside me. He didn’t know much about me other than; We were on the same course, both went to church in The Salvation Army, & that he needed to talk to me! We had a long conversation (most of which I now don’t remember) at a point in the course when we had the afternoon off. So instead of spending a summers afternoon with his wife he spent it with me! But I needed it & God had told him so! Most of what he said that afternoon, has long since faded… But the line that lived with me was (is) “Let Go-Let God”. Easily said & with enough faith equally easily done…

I don’t always have enough faith (FYI! Christians are human!) so letting go of a struggle or hurt isn’t always 1st thing on the agenda all the time! Plus God gave everyone free-will, that can make things a bit complicated & messy at times! I suppose that’s what my #1 son is expressing at the moment – so as much as I don’t like his choices in life & the effect that has… I have got to trust God.

God is always there in my son’s life waiting for him to see that what he has planned out is nowhere as fantastic, compared to God’s life plan for him! That realisation for my son may come tomorrow, next year or never…

Let Go-Let God… Because I must! I cannot live my son’s life for him – that would be a massive mistake – he needs to find his way. I can be a supporter only if he wants me to be. So for now I remain a bystander to my precious precious son. I may not always be comfortable with that, but I don’t remain the only supporter. My family & friends are supporters too & will be there for him when/if he is ready. Above all that is his biggest supporter of all – God.

So… happy 17th Birthday to my #1 son (as in 1st born) & I pray you know that your supporters are here for you.. Thank you God for being there for him, even if perhaps your unwanted. I may worry about ‘my boy’ but hey I’m Dad… but I worry a lot less because God’s on my side & supporting me & my son (I wouldn’t want to be on the other team!)

Some people may think this blog entry to be misplaced & should have remained unwritten. Perhaps your right & your very entitled to that opinion. But I didn’t set out to write this, at all, or in the way it turned out…

It is-what it is. I don’t understand why – something had to be said & apparently its been said here. Take from it what you will. I ask for your prayers & understanding.

Trust me pressing publish for this blog entry is not taken easily or lightly at all ~ so be gentle?

Its now after 5 in the morning so I concede & retire for a few hours sleep…

~ A xxx ~

Thought 2009/3: Yes We Can...Have A Dream

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.

With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.

Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.

Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.

But not only that:

Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.

From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

Free at last! Free at last!

Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

-Martin Luther King jr (Washington DC 1963)

~

Expectations are High that 1 man can Change The World ~ President Obama is just that... A Man.
Man alone will NOT Change The World!!

Matthew 19:26....
"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (NIV Bible)

"No chance at all if you think you can pull it off yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it." (The Message Bible)

These are just my thoughts, the potential is limitless, the level of change needed (In USA & around this Earth) is achievable ... The Excitement is almost palatable! Something indeed might be 'Blowing in the wind'; The world of politics globally might be about to shift on its axis for the better... How Great That Would Be!!

BUT all this, can be & will be, short lived if we look only to Obama & those like him (now & in the future) & even worse put them on a pedestal. A Throne of Possibilities is nothing with a man sitting on it...

God Already Has A Throne - He's at the Centre - Waiting...
Yes We Can... Have A Dream
With God at the Centre


!YES!
Even The Impossible Task Obama is being expected to do!!!

Obama Election Win 2008



Text of I Have A Dream with Music



Entire I Have A Dream Speech (as shown on TV in 1963) 17+ mins long

Blog Map 160109

Blog Map 160109, originally uploaded by Aldakila.

I find it curious & very humbling that, all these people in all these countries look at my little blog!!!

Better still some even read it!!!

Latest A Hint of Bergamot Pic

Just thought I would (once again) plug A Hint of Bergamot - a photo blog a number of my online friends & I are submitting photos to… I would encourage you to have a look & if so inclined, join us!!

"a hint of bergamot makes a cup of tea into a cup of "Earl Grey" tea... from something ordinary into something special.

This "photoblog" is a collection of photographs where we document the specialness in the ordinary... if that makes any sense whatsoever?"

The Picture above isn’t new (duh it’s date-stamped Alex!) but does sum up my Monday Mood

Created from a testing of Windows Live Writer (jury Still Out-Tho Polaroid option is Cool)

Gaza Conflict

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to put increased pressure on Israel to cease its military campaign in Gaza and allow urgent humanitarian aid into the territory, and to support a UN Security Council Resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.

The Text Above: is a from a petition on the 10 Downing Street Website

I saw this originally on Stewart Cutler's Blog & encourage you as he has to add your support...

The 10 Downing Street Link is Here

Thanks & I Pray that a Ceasefire in Gaza comes soon...

More Information on Gaza Conflict can be found on BBC News

Tea House 365/08

Tea House 365/08, originally uploaded by Aldakila.

Before Tea (I'm a) Little Fuzzy...

Warhol Soup 365/07

Warhol Soup 365/07, originally uploaded by Aldakila.

1 of a set of Warhol Bedding & Similar I got few yrs ago
Always Cheers me up

Christmas Exodus 365/06

Christmas Exodus 365/06, originally uploaded by Aldakila.

12th Day of Christmas

Walking on Water 365/05

Walking on Water 365/05, originally uploaded by Aldakila.

365/03

365 09 begins - 365/01 + 365/02

And So it Begins... a photo a day in 2009

Partly inspired by Flickr &
Headphonaught's Recent Blog (Perhaps I should join his endeavour too!?)

Books on Blog (VOX)

Books I'll Be Reading...

Above is link to..
'sometime updated' {Aldakila's) crossing point to my 'other' blog
(read: infrequently, except when something really important being done or said)

EDIT: Book List was 1 book short (now added)

Please bear with me.. still under construction .. Being created for certain Family & Friends...

ALL will be explained / revealed in coming weeks, as we hurtle into New Year

Thought for: October 27th 2008

2 Thoughts for today (though word "thoughts" should be seen a loose term):

"In just two days, tomorrow will be yesterday..."

and...

Blessay - Messy Word or Geeky Evolution?

Came across this word online (when I started looking at Stephen Fry's Website) .. "Blessay" ... I'm sure many of you will have heard or read this word long, long ago? I however hadn't & just thought it was way cool!

It allows for something that only the English Language (of whatever flavour you digest-Scottish, Queens English, American et al..) can provide; evolution of 'New Words' in a way no other language can. Argue all you like but its true & you wont change my mind - cause it’s true (and I'm right!)

But also from a 'Geeky Blogger' point of view it makes an excuse for those bloggers who desire to be more than just a short, sharp, succinct message provider/regurgitater (Ooh is that me?).

Blessay's allow for what then?
How about, an excuse to live in the misbegotten belief that all you say is important (you're the ultimate online journalist)... rambling ever on & on, expounding all that is right with the world can only be created by whatever new theory/hypothesis your spleen just vented...

Probably, for some it does and is.. So, fair enough, for them.

However... it also allows for a 'heads up' near the top of a blog (at least that's what you the reader, at that point, thinks it is) A warning that '..what we are about to receive..' is a bigger portion than normal. Now, I believe, that will only work if the portion (if you will) has been marinated in the manner which all 'Blessay Writers' apparently should...

Be well prepared i.e. written away from the blog-posting page in your browser! (though not necessarily well written) Also in that preparation should be, most likely a modicum of checked facts (your Auntie Jean, Bryan down the pub or www.all-lies.com probably isn't enough) But most fundamentally important, it seems, is that it must be 'thoughtfully composed'

What does that mean? ... mmm ... I guess it means that you must take the Blessay's subject matter seriously (have some emotional attachment / take ownership of your words; that seems to be 1 plan) Though taking it seriously doesn't mean that you can't be witty, insightful & such.

Does that make these big portion blogs only for the intelligent (I use that term loosely), QI watching (knows all the answers), Radio 4 listening, Guardian reading, upper classes? What? With their private education, vowel stressed voice & ruling class mentality, only they can write the world's Blessays - I think not... Just because they know (and understand) the dictionary definition of 'irony' better than the allegedly simple 'offside rule' (YUK) doesn’t make them the sole proprietor of Blessay town! Oh No! Nay! I beg to differ!

As long as your 'Supersized' blog is on a subject you’re enthused, excited, enticed, and eager to plant in the garden of the InterWeb - then go for it!

But be prepared more than most to: defend you facts with confidence; eat your words with humility; and everything that comes with a reasonably well researched (another loosely applied term), honestly-passionately composed Brain-burp (it just had to come out of you!)

Perhaps more importantly, all 'Blessays' should be something that has enlightened you more in the course of its construction. That Blessay has also hopefully by internet osmosis enlightened others in whatever way it should. (No matter YOUR intention)

I should end this (probable) rambling before it turns into a Blessay of my own making!?

I'm not clear on where exactly the trigger point is, that makes it one?

"Till Next Time, Watch The Skies" or something...

FYI (all links - well...most links...in this blog are not endorsed by me or reasonably & logically connected to anything useful)

Thought for: October 24th 2008

2 (sort of) related quotes today...

"Pick your battles, big enough to matter, small enough to win."

Soooo.....

"Never argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience"

Nuff Said...

Thought for: October 23rd 2008

"Every line of strength in American history is a line colored with Scottish blood."

President Woodrow Wilson

Initially this seems more of a 'Quote I like' rather than 'A Thought To Reflect On'

But if you look at where I first came across it... then it made me think....


Whether it makes you do that - well (depending on your place of birth perhaps) - that is between you & your thoughts....



(Christian: {always} First - Scottish: Second - {Almost} Everything Else: Third & Beyond)

Who am I to say more?

[EDIT: Ooh did I fail in my task of expressing no opinion? DOH!!! after only 1 day... mmm...]

New Blog Template

Giving Blogger/Blogspot a makeover with a new Template...

Not sure I like it? ...
There are too few templates to choose from & don't like most of them.

But want to persevere little longer..

[though am considering changing blog completely over over to my (still under sloooow construction) 'viviti' pages or trying 'wordpress']

.. not too sure why more flexibility & aesthetics are important but they are?

Original plan (plans-Ha!) was more Christian Blog here (on Blogger/Blogspot) & more General Life Blog/Site elsewhere (on viviti) - Though you can't (well I cant!) completely separate the two!

Time will tell... Feel free to give your thoughts of any kind
(you know where & how to find me ... No? Look to the side of blog - there's a fair few to choose from!)