Parrots in Amsterdam.

These parrots escaped from captivity and managed to make new lives for themselves.

There are big flocks here in Amsterdam,the first were seen in the Vondelpark about twenty years ago

Now they are all over town and we have the pleasure of seeing them on our bird feeders.

Which is brilliant, love them being free and not in cages.

Parrots on our birdfeeder

Howl by Allen Ginsberg

A good friend sent me this:


In The World And In Ourselves
Feeling Fed Up With Humanity
From time to time, we may all feel fed up with humanity, whether it's from learning about what's going on around the world, or what's going on next door. There are always situations that leave us feeling as if people are simply not capable of behaving in a way that is coming from a place of awareness. Often it seems as if people are actually geared to handle things in the worst possible way, repeatedly. At the same time, none of us wants to linger in a judgmental mood about our own species. As a result, we might tend to repress the feelings coming up as we take in the news from the world and the neighborhood.

It is natural to feel let down and disappointed when we see our fellow humans behaving in ways that are greedy, selfish, violent, or uncaring, but there are also ways to process that disappointment without sinking into despondency. As with any emotional response, we honor our feelings by feeling them fully, without judging or acting on them. Once we've done that—and we may need to do it every day, as part of our daily self-care—we can begin to consider ways that we might help the situation in which humanity finds itself.

As always, we start with ourselves, utilizing our awareness of the failings of others to renew our own commitment to be more conscious human beings. We are all capable of the best and the worst that humanity has to offer, and remembering this keeps us in check, as well as allowing us to find compassion for others. We may find ourselves feeling compelled to serve people who are suffering injustices at the hands of other people, or we may begin to speak out when we see something that we don't think is right. Whatever the case, the only thing we can do is pledge to serve the best, rather than the worst, of what humanity has to offer, both in the world, and in ourselves.

My belief is in humanity and not in religion.

My belief is in humanity and not in religion.

Have become more aware of this as my disability has increased.

It is very important for people to live together in communities and help each other.

Caring for each other helps keep the bonds between people strong.

This capitalist society is all about alienating us from each other.

It’s all about the exploitation of the planet and us.

We don’t need to buy self-help books or finance a guru.

We all have the power to make changes in our lives and the lives of others.

All we need is to believe in ourselves.

Love myself unconditionally.

Thanks for your comment Diane,keep forgetting that I really need to learn how to love myself again.

The MS has really rattled me and my picture of myself.

That picture has been totally disrupted.

It is like a puzzle that's difficult to put together.

Feel very ambivalent about myself and give myself a hard time.

Do have courage for everything else but accepting myself as I am now.

It really works both ways feel heaps better, thanks to you all.

Wednesday this week we have been living here a year which is great.

What's not so great is realising again how quickly the ms has progressed.

Thirteen months of not being able to look after myself, of not having any movement at all below my waist.

Not being able to walk was bad, until April last year could still pull myself out of the chair, could go to the toilet that stopped a month before we moved.

My hand function is minimal, getting difficult to pick things up, typing is quite alot of work.

Type with either right or left index finger depending on which one is working.

Eating is also quite struggle.

Been having moments this week where everything gets too much and the tears come flooding out.

Does not last long but it shocks me as its so intense.

Today I got very upset my new software was installed plus head mouse which is great.

Been waiting for it since February with eager anticipation.

But when it came it made me realise again how handicapped I am.

Plus got tired cos installation and explanation took two hours

Also hate new things when I can not use them brilliantly right away.

Its murder being a perfectionist!

Felt alot better after the huge howl and after a refreshing cup of pomegranate juice.

Then had a look at my recent posts and all the friendly and caring comments.

Really appreciate the comments, would love to meet all the lovely people who make them.

It really works both ways feel heaps better, thanks to you all.