Tea Tree Oil

A couple of years ago at the opticians I learned I had something called 'Blepharitis', caused by eyelid mites, and that I should regularly wash my eyelashes with baby shampoo. At a more recent optician appointment, I was advised to increase the regularity of this ritual, to make it a daily thing. In fact it seemed the more I washed, the worse the problem. Then I looked online to see if there were any words of advice. I found an eye specialist talking about treatment with tea tree oil. It seemed worth a try, particularly as I already had some tea tree oil. Twice a day for a week, I dropped five drops of tea tree oil into a bowl of warm water which I then scooped up in my hands and used to wash my face, eyes lightly closed but paying particular attention to ensure they received a thorough dousing. At the end of the week sure enough, the Blepharitis was cured and shows no sign of recurrence a month later.

For Mother's Day, my son gave me a book called 'Grow your own drugs' (natural remedies for common ailments, NOT the illicit so called 'recreational' drugs). It mentions tea tree oil as a natural anti-fungal treatment - and buoyed with its success at treating the Blepharitis, I decided to give it a go at treating a long-standing fungal infection of a toe-nail. Back in June last year my GP offered a choice of either applying a topical treatment directly to the nail or taking an anti-fungal tablet. I chose the topical treatment and for 6 months applied the special nail lacquer to the affected nail. When the treatment pack ran out, I didn't bother going back for another box as there didn't appear to be any noticeable improvement. I put the problem to one side ... until last week. I mixed a few drops of tea tree oil with some sweet almond oil and began painting it on the fungal toe-nail daily. Unfortunately I didn't think to take a photo before starting but I took one today so I can chart any further developments pictorially.

Busy day

I had an interview for a position at a local organisation at 9 am today. Knowing how bad the traffic and the queue for the car park can be, originally I'd planned to catch the bus but with the rain varying from 'tipping it down' to 'torrential', I decided to take the car. I left plenty of time and managed to arrive half an hour early. It seems the ticket machine wasn't working, the barriers to the car park were up and cars were streaming in so I followed suit. I passed some time in a book shop before heading on up to the interview. I had to take an audio-typing test which seemed to go ok, although I'd never used a digital transcription machine before. I didn't feel I gave a very good impression at the interview - could probably still do with brushing up my technique. The good news is when I came out, one of the exit barriers was up at the car park and I was able to sail out again without having a ticket.

Afterwards I took myself to a 'Prayer labyrinth' that has been set up in a local church. I hadn't anticipated quite how powerful it would be - I found stuff from my childhood surfacing that I didn't realise I was still harbouring jealousy over - it was a real surprise, perhaps triggered in part by the big impression the happy family in 'The Blindside' had made on me (it's based on a true story).

In the afternoon I made a couple of desserts - a banoffee pie and a tiramisu (see photos) - ready for tonight's bring and share supper party at my place. There were 6 of us plus baby Olive and I thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

Brilliant: The Blindside

Had hoped to hear by now the outcome of an interview I attended on Friday, but so far nothing. To cheer myself up I bought this bunch of vibrantly colourful Germini.

I received an interesting email from a Friend which challenged some preconcieved notions and assumptions. I appreciate that kind of challenge.

Went to see the film which won Sandra Bullock 'Best Actress' - The Blindside. Thoroughly enjoyed it! I laughed out loud at the funny bits and even shed a few tears over the poignant bits (very unusual for me). Sandra Bullock rates as one of my most favourite actresses anyway, but even my friend (who doesn't rate her so highly) had to admit she deserved the accolade for her performance. I liked the values the film depicted and to see an example of what I'm guessing would rate as an 'exceptionally healthy family' according to Robin Skynner and John Cleese's take on 'Families and how to survive them'.

Through a glass darkly

I'll come back to the title shortly. First I want to talk about synchronicity. I had an email from (son) Dave about my last blog post. Seems on the day I was writing about Douglas Adams and the quantum computer of life, he'd been thinking on the exact same topic. I love it when that happens.

On Thursday evening I went to a Quaker Study Session based on Rex Ambler's work considering the origins of the Quaker movement. We looked at Words of Sarah Jones (as published in "Light's Appearance in the Truth", 1650). Sarah advises that we rest in 'the eternal word', rather than in any manifestations proceeding from the word; to live in the purity and simplicity of truth which has power rather than holding onto the 'form'.

This teaching fits very well with the other works I'm reading: "The Miracle of Mindfulness" by Thich Nhat Hanh and "A Course in Miracles", both of which encourage he who seeks peace on earth to recognise that the peace dwells within and when we seek that inner peace, we can look beyond the world manifested by ego and see reality... which leads me to the title of this article. 'Through a glass darkly' comes from a biblical quote: 1 Corinthians 13 (King James Version), 'For now we see through a glass, darkly'. The Message version suggests 'We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist'. "A Course in Miracles" teaches that my grievances obscure the light; obscure the miracles that the world would offer if set free (through my forgiveness) to do so. In other words, when I look at the world through the distorting lens of my perception, I'm not seeing the true picture, but something akin to Plato's shadows on a cave wall. Recently I read Betty Eadie's book, 'Embraced by the Light' which also speaks of the earthly world as reflecting our thoughts, and the freedom to see the full and true beauty of reality once released from the prison of the body.

At the study evening, one of the questions for discussion was: are there pros and cons of using words, internally or as vocal ministry? We happened to have three physicists in the room, all of them familiar with Stephen Hawking's book, "A Brief History of Time" (in a room of 9 people - how unrepresentative is that of the population?). One of these worthy gentlemen likened the structure of 'self' to the structure of a black hole as described by Hawking: the majority of our being is non-verbal and highly responsive to all that surrounds it, this response mediated by the 'crust' of our 'chattering verbal self - the ego', thus words effectively forming the 'event horizon' of self (if I've understood correctly).

The study evening included this quote (from Quaker writings, 1659):

Let us in the simplicity of truth abide and dwell... that we be not again led back into the errors of those who went before us, who left the power and got into the form ... but that all they (the ones who come after) may be directed and left to the truth, in it to live and walk, and by it guided ... Wherefore, in love and tenderness ... may (we) all in the unity of the Spirit dwell in the pure wisdom, that none may exercise lordship or dominion over another, nor the person of any be set apart, but as they continue in the power of truth, that truth itself in the body may reign, not persons nor forms ... that our path may be as the way of a ship in the sea, which no deceit can follow or imitate.

Further synchronicity: with that image of the ship in my mind, the next morning I came to the reading from 'The Word for Today': When men first learned to navigate the seas by using the stars, a whole new world opened up to them. A common saying in those days was, 'He who is a slave to the compass enjoys the freedom of the open sea.' The devotional went on to encourage readers to let Christ be our compass in life.

Qubits, agnostics and the quantum computer of life

Apologies to those of you who were disappointed that my last blog post, 'Is religious belief rational?', didn't actually address the title question. Some of you may have noticed that I left out the agnostic position. It wasn't that I didn't think about it. At the time I was thinking that perhaps religious belief is a dimension with agnostics sitting somewhere in between the two extremes. Since then I've read an essay which mentions qubits. It set me thinking.

To explain a little, a computer uses binary logic - a 'bit' is a unit of information, either 0 or 1 (like a switch either off or on). A qubit has many more possible states: 0, 1, or anywhere in between simultaneously.

If we were looking for a way to represent belief as it is expressed in a population, that would fit the bill so much better than binary logic, don't you think?

I'm not sure how you pronounce qubits but I've been making it rhyme with cubits, the favoured unit of measurement for Noah's ark-construction efforts. Since scientists began mapping genomes, I've often thought that the biblical story of Noah's ark doesn't belong in the kind of reality generally ascribed to our historical notions, that it fits better in an alternative version of reality (or maybe our 'future'), with Noah being an organisation dedicated to preserving the genome of every living species on the planet by computer mapping so that the species can be recreated at whim.

But that's going off at a tangent. Back to the thread of this post: qubits, agnostics and the quantum computer of life.

I got to thinking about how each individual is an expression of ancestral genes on a physical level and an expression of thoughts/feelings/choices on a consciousness level. What if Douglas Adams wasn't so far out, and we are a quantum computer?

I suppose that still begs the question: who is at the keyboard?

Is religious belief rational?

I've had a couple of appointments in town this week and with the balmy weather it's been pleasant to walk down (a distance of 1.7 miles). On the way I pass one of those trendy hair-stylists with arty portraits of extreme hairstyles. To amuse myself, I give them names so here's a little game for you - I'll give you my name for the style and you guess what it looks like!

'Blindside'

'Time up'

'Painting by numbers'

How did you get on? Have you got some vivid images in your head?

Last night I went to a public lecture organised by the Chaplaincy at Reading University titled 'Is religious belief rational?' by John Cottingham, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy. Influenced by the lively, creative Royal Institution Christmas lectures that are aired on TV, I'd anticipated something rather different to the somewhat dry, academic nature of the evening and a lot of it went over my head, particularly the questions afterwards. Do you ever get the feeling that the people who love to ask questions at events like that are really doing it to draw attention to themselves rather than because they have been paying close attention to the lecture and are curious about something that has been said? No? Just me, then. Anyway, back to the lecture. My understanding is that Mr Cottingham was saying whilst he couldn't offer cast-iron proof of God's existence, the alternative view ('there is no God') was downright uncomfortable and irrational.

It struck me as being oppositional thinking (with the Richard Dawkins' supporters on the opposing team) rather than being, shall we say, 'Zenlike' or thinking influenced by the Peace that transcends all understanding. Maybe I missed the point.

Thinking about it in the shower this morning, it seems to me that what we can say for sure is some people believe in God and some don't. I thought about switches - light on, light off (or even dimmer switches), and thought what an interesting area of exploration it would be to take two populations of people - those who do believe in a benevolent, omnipotent, omnipresent God and those who have a profound belief that there is no such Being - and without judgment explore what the differences are between the two populations to try and locate where that difference arises and how it affects outcomes between the two populations. Maybe that has been done - I'm not sure I'd know how to go about finding out whether the data already exists.

What do you think?

And how about those hairstyles?

'Blindside' - a dense curtain of hair completely obscuring one eye

'Time up' - it genuinely looked half-finished - raggedy short on one side, long and sleek the other

'Painting by Numbers' - different coloured highlights giving a kind of stripey effect

Dream Job

So far I've been invited for interviews for jobs that deep down I didn't really want but today I attended an interview for a dream job - one that when I read the job description and the person specification, I felt was tailor-made for me. I was asked to arrive for 9 am on the understanding that all candidates would be interviewed in the order of arrival. I anticipated the traffic would be terrible at that time of day, clashing with school runs and so on. Imagine my delight when I sailed through with no hold-ups, arriving in a nifty 21 minutes. I parked up and enjoyed the golden sunshine - the day was looking perfect!

As I'd allowed an hour to get there (you can tell how bad I anticipated the traffic to be!), I was really, really early, so the parking place I chose was not too close. I sat in the car for a while. Finally I decided it was time to make a move. Not a moment too soon, as it wasn't immediately obvious which building I was supposed to go to and I wasted some time going to the main reception only to discover the interview room was across the site, a few minutes walk away.

The receptionist took my name, noted my time of arrival and pointed me to a group of couches where 3 other candidates were already waiting. Another lady arrived after me, and the 5 of us chatted a little, taking the opportunity to size each other up. One of the candidates, the only male, was already employed by the organisation, and getting this job would mean a step up for him.

Whilst I was waiting, I picked up a booklet which listed all the super training opportunities the organisation offered staff for key skills development. Even if I hadn't wanted the job before, that little booklet really sold me on it!

The interview panel was two very pleasant ladies, and I found myself enjoying the interview. Mostly I felt I answered the questions well, apart from one. I was asked what it was that made me apply for the job. I'd already explained my reasons in the application form and for some reason I didn't like to repeat them. Did I say I thought the job was tailor-made for me? These two smiling ladies didn't get to hear that, unfortunately. Instead I found myself waffling about when I was an undergraduate. I could sense I wasn't giving what was wanted, but I didn't quite know how to retrieve the moment. Still, I came out of the interview feeling quite buoyant.

I was told that they had 4 more candidates to see in the afternoon, that I had already done extremely well to have been short-listed out of so many applicants, and that I would receive a phone call at 6.30 pm to let me know if I had been successful.

A friend came round and waited with me. 6.30 pm came ... and the clock ticked on, and the phone stayed silent. My friend pointed out that with 9 candidates to call, they couldn't all be called dead on 6.30 pm. I replied that if it were me doing the calling, I would ring the successful candidates (I should explain there were 2 positions, one permanent, one a temporary 12 month contract) first, in case one of them then turned the job offer down. I wasn't altogether surprised when finally at around 7 pm, I learned I had been unsuccessful. Apparently I was 3rd equal. Should I be consoled by that, do you think? Of course it was my failure to offer any real reason why I was enthusiastic about the position that had let me down - that was the answer I had 'scored less than average' on.

And to cap it all, I've got a large spot come out on my nose and another on my chin. Hey, ain't life grand, folks?

'With or without you'

Little did I anticipate when I woke this morning that by 1.30 pm I'd be sitting alone aboard the Red Falcon on my way from Southampton to the Isle of Wight.

One of life's little adventures.

It began almost immediately after I'd swung my legs out of bed with the sound of my mobile phone announcing a text message received. It was from a friend who works in IT as a field engineer. He had a call to attend on the Isle of Wight, and would I like to go along for the ride? I considered the alternative (wash the kitchen floor; change the sheets; do the weekly shop; do some work over the allotment) and looked out at the promising start to the day - decision made.

Recognising that I might be alone and responsible for entertaining myself whilst he was working, I packed a bag with some essentials: book; pen; notebook; glasses; water; mobile phone; money; camera. We arrived at the docks in plenty of time to catch the noon car ferry only to learn that the parts for the call were still en route and unlikely to arrive before 1.30 pm. It gave us some time to find a busy little cafe and have some lunch.

Back to the docks to discover the next departure was 1.30. My friend realised he wouldn't be able to receive the parts and be on board in time, and the next car ferry wasn't until 3 pm. His carefully planned day was beginning to come apart. At that point I spotted the timetable for the high speed passenger ferry (23 minutes, leaving at 1.45 pm). I suggested one of us board the 1.30 ferry with the car and the other wait for the parts and take the passenger ferry ... so there you have it - me on board the car ferry with an automatic car I'm not used to driving.

On the journey down to the docks my friend and I had had a lively discussion during which he had voiced the view that women were less logical thinkers than men. As his boat sped past mine, (photo above) I sent him a smug text: "So you'll concede women are sometimes clear, rational, logical thinkers? :D

At the customer's premises, I left him busy with the kit and took myself and my book off to this grassy knoll where I sat for a while enjoying the warm sunshine and John Cleese's take on 'Life and how to survive it'.

The Gas Man Cometh

The gas mains are being renewed all round the estate and yesterday an 'andsome Irish feller knocked at me door and asked if 'e and 'is mate could pop along early this marning, loik. I said to be sure that'd be foin, me good man. What he didn't tell me was that they were going to turn off the gas for the day and change the meter. So with no heating all day and the weather being a bit on the cold side with the windows open to let the smell of gas escape, I was very glad to see another workman come back around 3 pm to fit the new meter and get the gas back on. Just in time to warm the house up a bit for the arrival of my guests. With Mother's Day coming this Sunday, I invited the little girl next door and her friend to come round after school today for a craft session. Fortuitously I'd managed to get a cake baked this morning before the gas was cut off - normally I sandwich two together to make one large cake but this time I sliced each one to make two cakes, with cream and raspberry jam in the middle and melted chocolate on top. We made some white glace icing and the girls tried their hands at writing 'Mummy' on the cakes and decorating with stars and hearts.

Then we settled down to the business of making cards. They had a great time - I've got a nice photo of the two of them with their cards, but I'm going to check with their mums first if it's ok to put it on the blog. Here's the cards they made.

If at first you don't succeed ...

You remember me telling you about my experimental Rye bread that the birds wouldn't touch? Tonight I had another go and made these yummy rolls.

Simplified the recipe from last time:

1lb 5ozs Flour made up of 2ozs Soya Flour, and the rest 50:50 Rye and Spelt flour;

1 tablespoon dry yeast mixed with 1 teasp sugar and 3/4 pint water at 37º;

1 dessertspoon honey

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/4 teaspoon salt

Mix the flour and salt and put to warm;

Whisk the yeast into the sugared water and leave to stand in a warm place until it has a thick layer of froth on top; rub the honey and olive oil into the warm flour then mix in the yeast liquid and knead well for 5 minutes; put dough back into bowl, cover and leave in a warm place to prove for about an hour; knock back and knead again, break into small dough balls and put on a baking tray, cover and prove for another 20 minutes then bake in a hot oven (170º if fan assisted). Check they're cooked by tapping the bottom - they should sound hollow. Delicious!

I guess that motto (if at first you don't succeed, try and try and try again) will have to serve for a while as I continue to send out job applications.

Accomplishments rewarded

Today seemed a rewarding day where I was 'in gear' from the get-go. Scraped frost off the windscreen and went down the gym first thing, then got on with the laundry and other housework before settling at the computer and applying online for a couple of audio-typing jobs, and fine-tuning my CV to apply for a super career position.

After lunch I went over the allotment with Louise. I probably haven't told you about Louise and the allotment ...? Well, back before Christmas vandals burnt down the two sheds on my allotment and the loss of the sheds and all my gardening tools etc plus my plans to return to paid employment made me decide it was time to draw a line under the whole thing. However ... my other allotment-holder friends really felt I would miss it if I gave it up entirely and after due consideration I finally decided to keep it on for at least another year, but share the work with a couple of others: Roger (a church contact) and Louise (a near neighbour). This afternoon we all spent some time digging the ground over getting it ready for the new season.

Afterwards I came home and planted some anemones in the garden then cooked a tasty meal for myself and a friend before we went to see 'Leap Year' at the cinema. I thoroughly enjoyed the film, it kept me chuckling all the way through - a real treat and a great end to a nice day.

Another Interview

On Tuesday I received another invitation to interview, this time to provide maternity cover for a general admin job. Pay wasn't too bad and the hours were nice, but unfortunately I don't think I presented very well. Once again the first question was "Tell us a little about yourself". Someone suggests I try saying, "I'm wonderful, you'll love me and bless the day you found me". I suppose I'll soon get the hang of this interviewing business but for the moment I'm fairly certain that they're not seeing me at my most confident.

Recently have been having some annoyance with the PC keep losing my internet connection, which doesn't improve matters when I'm trying to complete online application forms for jobs.

In like a lamb

There's an old saying, March comes in like a lion, goes out like a lamb. Wonder how it goes when we meet the lamb first? What a glorious day! Bright blue sky and warm sunshine. I had my first interview at 10 am this morning - did I tell you I'm job-hunting? I'm sure I told you ... I've applied for about 12 positions so far and received rejections for some of them and an invitation to interview for one. When the call came, it was to my mobile whilst I was in town and I was very careful not to let on that I couldn't remember which job it was because I'd applied for so many. When I got home and checked my paperwork, I realised that the hours weren't ideal, but nonetheless I attended for interview. I need the practice - much more than I realised, as it happens. The lady interviewing was lovely, very kind, but I was thrown by her very first question: "Tell me a little about yourself". Ok, in retrospect I should have been better prepared. As it was I fumbled my answer. Afterwards I dropped in on a friend who offered some crumbs of comfort.

In the evening I went to see the film 'The Lovely Bones' with another friend. I have to say I don't think it was my best choice, although the cinematography was incredible.

Oh, by the way - the photo above shows a neighbour's cat perched on a stone in my garden pretending to be a statue. He sat there motionless for a good few minutes. I took the photo with the camera on my mobile phone from a distance of about 25' through a window, hence the poor quality.