Qualifying Results for the US GP :

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times. During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.

Author unknown

Cherish things while you still have them, before they're gone,
and you realize how precious they really are.

Life can only be understood backwards,but it must be lived forwards.

Everything in life is temporary. So if things are going good, enjoy it because it won't last forever.

And if things are going bad, don't worry because it won't last forever either.

Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Never cross a bridge without knowing how to swim the tides.

If you could not add years to your life Add life to your years.


Author Unknown

A man's daughter had asked the local minister to come and pray with her father. When the minister arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows. An empty chair sat beside his bed. The minister assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit.

"I guess you were expecting me," he said.

"No, I wasn't. Who are you?" said the father.

"I'm the new minister at your church," he replied. "When I saw the empty chair, I figured you knew I was coming to visit."

"Oh yeah, the chair," said the bedridden man. "Would you mind closing the door?" Puzzled, the minister closed the door.

"I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter," said the old man. "But all of my life I have never known how to pray. At church, I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it went right over my head." The old man continued, "I abandoned any attempt at prayer until one day, about four years ago, my best friend said to me, 'Prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus. Here is what I suggest. Sit down in a chair, place an empty chair in front of you, and in FAITH, see Jesus sitting in the chair. It's not weird or anything because he promised, "I'll be with you always." Then just speak to Him, and listen, in the same way you're doing with me right now.'"

The father continued, "So I tried it. I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day. I'm careful though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me to off to the funny-farm."

The minister was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old man to continue on the journey. He anointed him with oil and prayed with him. Then he left.

Two nights later, the daughter called to tell the minister that her father had passed away that afternoon. "Did he die in peace?" he asked.

"Yes. When I was leaving for the store, he called me over to his bedside, told me that he loved me, and kissed me on the cheek. When I returned an hour later, he was dead." She continued, "But there was something strange about his death. Apparently, just before Dad died, he leaned over and rested his head on the chair next to his bed. What do you make of that?"

The minister, wiping a tear from his eye, said, "I wish we all could go like that."

It was a rainy night in New Orleans;
at a bus station in the town,
I watched a young girl weeping
As her baggage was taken down.
It seems she'd lost her ticket
Changing buses in the night.
She begged them not to leave her there
With no sign of help in sight.

The bus driver had a face of stone
And his heart was surely the same.
"Losing your ticket's like losing cash money,"
He said, and left her in the rain.
Then an old Indian man stood up
And blocked the driver's way
And would not let him pass before
He said what he had to say.

"How can you leave that girl out there?
Have you no God to fear?
You know she had a ticket
You can't just leave her here
Where she doesn't have a friend.
You will meet your schedule,
But what will come of her in the end?"
The driver showed no sign
That he'd heard or even cared
About the young girl's problem
Or how her travels fared.

So the old gentleman said,
"For her fare I'll pay.
I'll give her a little money
To help her on her way."
He went and bought the ticket
And helped her to her place
And helped her put her baggage
In the overhead luggage space.
"How can I repay," she said,
"The kindness you've shown tonight?
We're strangers who won't meet again
A mere ' 'thank you ' doesn't seem right."

He said, "What goes around comes around.
This I've learned with time --
What you give, you always get back;
What you sow, you reap in kind.
Always be helpful to others
And give what you can spare;
For by being kind to strangers,
We may help angels unaware."

What ever on earth, can a grandma be for?
She's older than dirt, with one foot out the door.
And what can she know about living today'
When nothing is done in her old fashioned way.
Oh sure, she's sweet, and you love her a lot.
But in terms of real life, what's an ol' grandma got?
Well listen, my sweetie, you might be surprised
To find that your grandma's a youngster disguised.
She still has her dreams, and her values intact,
She's just a bit wiser, yes dear, that's a fact.
Experience has put a few lines on her face.
And that's how she knows, what its like in your place.

I know this idea may seem baffling and new.
But honey, your grandmas "Been There, Done That", too.
So when your young life isn't going as planned.
Talk to your grandma ~she'll sure understand.
She's got lots of love and good counsel to give.
And she'll be on your side for as long as you live...

Author unknown

Fiction
"All that remains" by Patricia Cornwell this is the 3rd book she has written and I have only discovered these books now - after years of recommendations. This is another Kay Scarpetta thriller, the book opens with a young couple who is missing, turns out that they were the 5th couple to be murdered in a line of "couple murders". The FBI is involved in a cover up, as they withhold crime scene information. And of course Scarpetta goes on her own journey along with her side kick Pete Marino to discover the truth. It is a fairly good book, although I found it not as exciting as her first 2 novels, I just hope that as she progresses with the rest of her books that they get better. The book continues the life, and excitement of one pathologist in the world of crime and thrillers. I have included this book in the reviews as this was the latest one that I have read and I enjoyed it.




Non fiction
"Just Like Mother Used to Make" by Tom Norrington-Davies is a cook book I picked up from the library a week ago. This is a fabulous cook book which is based on the good old easy British favourties. A lot of these foods are the comfort foods, and the recipes are easy to follow and most recipes are preceded by an interesting explanation filled with info and tips. Every day food which is good to feed your family on. There are a couple of recipes from around the world, which are an English adaptation.. For a real value easy to follow book, this is a great cook book !


Children's Corner

Yesterday I was sitting on the train from London and was very surprised to see that amongst all the "suits" at rush hour there was young man sitting reading a Roald Dahl book - "George's Marvellous Medicine" ! The chap was in his early 20's and even though this is a children's book it just goes to show that Roald Dahl till captures all ages ! You will find various cereal boxes have 3 different Dahl books free - "George's Marvellous Medicine", "The Magic Finger", "Esio Trot". There are many others which will entertain both children and adults some of my favourites will remain "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "James and the Giant Peach". There are some folks who think that his books are a little advanced for children, but take the fairy tales we tell 3 and 4 year olds, they are sometimes quite disturbing and yet children love them - I know I did. As long as these are all read without being serious - they are loads of fun for both children and adults alike.

:read:

Like always I'm working on a :curse: Saturday that te boks play!!!

Do any one know of any radiostations that will be broadcasting the match???

No internet stations as my speakers are messed.

It was a cold day in December. A little boy about 10-year-old was standing before a shoe store on Broadway in New York City. He was barefoot, peering through the window, and shivering with cold.
A lady approached the boy and said, "My little fellow, why are you looking so earnestly in that window?"

"I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes," was the boy's reply.

The lady took him by the hand and went into the store, and asked the clerk to get a half dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water and a towel. He quickly brought them to her. She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried them with a towel.

By this time the clerk had returned with the socks. Placing a pair upon the boy's feet, she then purchased him a pair of shoes, and tying up the remaining pairs of socks, gave them to him. She patted him on the head and said, "No doubt, my little fellow, you feel more comfortable now?"

As she turned to go, the astonished lad caught her by the hand, and looking up in her face, with tears in his eyes, answered the question with these words: "Are you God's wife?"

I want to surprise my dad in SA to show him his first grandson.... BUT before I do... I'm looking for some tips about flying with babies. :dazed:

Can I take my pram with, including the snug and safe seat? Does it count towards my baggage allowance?

How much baggage allowance does a baby get? The standard 20kg?

Any suggestions for on the plane? What do I do about his ears popping? Feeding (bottle feeding) and changing him on the plane? Can they warm up formula on the plane?

Can I get preferential seating i.t.o. bulkhead seats?

Any suggestions would be helpful!

:babyroll: Thanx :babyroll: