Better to light a candle...

...than curse the darkness.





The words that made me become an Amnesty International member a few years ago. The motto of AI, quoted from an ancient chinese proverb by Peter Benenson, the founder of AI.

His belief that acts contrary to the basic unarguable rights of people not only should be stopped, but could be, via the gentle drip-drip of a thousand, or a million small voices. Public opinion as a defender of the people, and a changer of minds.

Amnesty were instrumental in the drafting and adoption of the United Nations Convention on Human Rights, which daily defends all of us against those that would wish to abuse their power.

There are good reasons why Amnesty got the Nobel Peace Prize, Peter Benenson was a good man who helped effect so much good in the world.





He died late on Friday night, may he rest peacefully and his work live on.

Sweet Lovers Love The Spring...

In spring time,
In spring time,
In spring time,
The only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing,
Hey ding-a-ding, ding,
Hey ding-a-ding, ding,
Sweet lovers love the spring.

It Was A Lover And His Lass [Listen]
Traditional, (via Thomas Morley & William Shakespeare, As You Like It)

Is it any surprise that Valentine's Day is so carefully positioned right on the cusp of spring? The great mating season, when the land comes back to life. Saw my first crocus and dandelions today, the first of the tet-a-tet were up with the dew. The bird song is getting to the top of its crescendo. Mind you, trying to get to sleep at 7.30am, I would think that... ;)

Indeed it was believed in the past that birds choose their mates on that day. Chaucer said, "For this was Seynt Valentine's Day when every foul cometh ther to choose his mate."...





I always seem to know more Saggi's than anyone else, and by my reckoning mid-november to mid-december corresponds to an active late february/march... Must be something in the water, extra minerals from the thaw no doubt.

Personally, I think love to be too important to celebrate specially on one day. It is the greatest thing we have, and thus should be rejoiced in as such every day you draw breath. Anyhow, my feelings on love have been documented here before.

There is much love in me for some that will read this, hope they know. Some days the trials of the unrequited can be a heavy burden. To all of you, I hope this is not one of those days.



The Springtime, Pierre Auguste Cot

Throw me a line, help me to find
Something to cling to
When the loneliness haunts me
When the bitterness taunts me
When the emptiness eats me.

Lay me low...

-- Lay Me Low; Coope, Boyes & Simpson