Monday, 26 January 2026

Chips Ahoy!

 

What to write – my mojo is around … trouble is I have too many mojos … where to start – but today January continues, named after Janus, the god of beginnings and transitions … which we seem to have succumbed to …


Eastbourne shoreline
So towards food I go … would you like some chips? – they come pre-prepared, par-cooked and lightly salted … if you would – please be ready for a cold dip!! A container's worth has disgorged itself onto our coast … nothing like a view of Beachy Head with chips!!


Chips ahoy!
Beachy Head lighthouse in the background


The walker who apparently spotted them first … could smell vinegar … not what one expects from a shoreline.




These are the British version of chips!!
We've had a few ocean going vessel spills recently – these chips are probably not the worst … except for the plastic bags, they were stored in. People have been down clearing the plastic away … there's a seal colony nearby …


A Canadian blogging friend from days of yore (2010 days of yore!!) … has had a similar health problem to me – so she's offered to give me some clues and I can at least have some idea of what the future holds. I just remembered her situation from a few years ago – and so emailed to ask her for some guiding help: I'm very relieved to say.

Beachy Head lighthouse without being
framed by spilt chips


I've no idea what I'm doing … but this will suffice before February rocks around …




Three Mojo Sauces

However – I'd never realised 'Mojo' is a sauce from the Canary Islands … also that there are a lot of Mojos in the world … live and learn again, I guess!!



We are living in very odd times … take care to you all in the cold, the heat down under and just generally …



Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Tuesday, 13 January 2026

Tuesday's Child ...

 

Odd - today is a Tuesday … and thus all those many years ago … a child who is full of grace was born …!?!?!?

Monday's Child lyrics - as published 
in St Nicholas Magazine (1873)

Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace.
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go.
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child works hard for a living.
But the child that is born on Sabbath day,
Is bonny and blithe, good and gay.

**

'Twas on a Tuesday morning

The gas man came again …

the gas men never stop …

they'll be around for a while - 

... on, on and on ...!!


Daffodils and Narcissi



I just hope 2026 gets my health sorted out … or at least eases – everyday it's a nuisance.




I note that Damyanti (Damyantiwrites.com) is still a week ahead of me … I just hope she won't give up her blog …



I give up … I can't count – but think I'm going into my 18th year of blogging – a bit of a shock to me … but my blogging mojo has returned …


Champers all round - around here!!



Busting out the champers ... 
Thanks everyone for being here – I really enjoy the interaction with you all … here's to more ...



Damyanti's blog – latest post …


Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Wednesday, 7 January 2026

Blog Mojo returns …

 

I've taken myself off to visits to Namibia that occurred in the late 1990s … one came about as I belong to a TED group and introduced two TED talks … more on those later, possibly via another blogger …



... and then I came across this artist, Uli Aschenborn – born 1947, who just mesmerised me … there's another South African artist on the way later in the year …



The National Art Gallery of Namibia situated in Windhoek … displays exhibitions from local artists on Namibian, African and European Art …



This way up - the drawing is of a Mountain

... Aschenborn has had some of his work displayed here … much of it has movement as an integral part of the art, and so falls under the genre described as Kinetic Art.



Here it is ... the other way up it is
of a Crater

I've linked to his Wiki page – where you can see a few of works … one where the drawing, Mountain or Crater, can be turned upside down, another 'Sculpture-Morph, Male Life Cycle … where the artwork shows us an ageing boy, changing to an old man eventually to a skeleton …


Namib skyline

People are so clever … and this blogging world is always opening my eyes to new areas – so thank you for allowing me to be me and let you see into my way of thinking …

Uli Aschenborn Wikipedia link ... 


Happy New Year … I'll see you around soon …


Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Thursday, 1 January 2026

Happy New Year 2026 …

 

I still can't quite believe … 2026 … where did that come from … I was only seven 'a few years ago'!!


An 1880s
New Year salutation
Still onward and upwards … 2025's health challenges have to be put back in their place in 2026 … somehow – we shall see … life continues and is interesting – albeit quieter as the years tick by … thankfully 'you encouraging lot' are here … cheering me/ us all on …


Gerrard Winstanley's quote from 1649 seemed to ring rather too true today – from nearly five hundred years ago …


"Was the earth made

to preserve a few

covetous, proud

men to live at ease;

or was it made to

preserve all her

children?”





Gerrard Winstanley (1609 – 1676) – Political Philosopher amongst his other talents and ideals … I call upon us all to ...




Think,

read, and seriously ponder between the lines,

concentrate on the quieter words,

no need for division … I like marmite – I know many don't – but I'll be happy for you with your vegemite!!




2025 was not the easiest of years for most people in this world … 2026 doesn't portend well …


Let's do all we can to help others in all ways … so many far worse off than we are … 'doing good does us good' …


Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories