1 EAGLETON NOTES: Dolce far niente

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Monday 5 June 2017

Dolce far niente

Literally 'sweet doing nothing'.  For Italians - and I suspect they are the only people who have perfected this art and it, as much as the Mediterranean diet, may have a lot to do with their longevity.  

Today is a day - or rather today is a date - that will always be etched in my mind. A day I decided that I was going to indulge in dolce far niente.  Andrew (Andy), our elder child, died on this day 11 years ago. A very dear friend's father died on this day 10 years ago. Gaz, deciding to try and ameliorate the bad connotations of the day, got engaged on this day 4 years ago. And today we are, yet again, listening to the horrendous effects of terrorism at home. 

Today is also the anniversary of my birth: the 73rd to be precise.

I shall be out to dinner at friends'.  

This coming week I am determined to return to Blogland. I'll see you there.

[Written yesterday, 4 June but posted today]

24 comments:

  1. Happy 73rd birthday Graham! Have a lovely day. It's funny how certain days have a special resonance with us isn't it? Various happenings colliding on the same day.

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    1. Thank you Neil. I'm sure that there must be other such dates but there isn't the basic memory bookmark to keep them so memorable.

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  2. Many happy returns GB and I hope you had an excellent day with many reasons to celebrate all it's memories xx

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  3. What a sad coincidence, Graham. But I hope you manage to enjoy your birthday; many happy returns.

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    1. Frances it was a very relaxed day with plenty of moments to listen to music and think and, in the evening, eat and enjoy friendship.

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  4. June 5, has many watershed events in your life. Happy birthday. I hope you had a great day.

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    1. Thanks Red. I had a lovely quiet and day and a very enjoyable evening with friends.

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  5. I emerge from blogworld's black hole long enough to wish you a very happy 73rd birthday, Graham, although it does hold some sad memories for you as well. I love the concept, new to me, of dolce far niente. Today was such a day here, only we call it "lazy day" and stay in our pajamas all day. Now, where is that black hole?

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    1. I'm glad that you emerged from the black hole Bob. Pyjamas? Hmmm. That might cause me problems. I've never seen the point of getting dressed to go to bed.

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  6. From your reply to Frances' comment, I gather your birthday was a good day this year. The memories of sad, tragic and terrible events of the same day in other years will not go away, I know. But each good day can stand out on its own and shine much stronger than many bad days, in my experience.

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    1. It was a Good Day thank you Meike. I've been fortunate that it's a few years since I had any truly Bad Days and The Good Days, as you say, outshine the bad ones.

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  7. So sorry for the loss you endured but congrats on your anniversary. Hope all is going good there for you.

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    1. All is good thank you Amy. As your fellow New Zealander, Jaz, said "Feeling young is fabulous but growing old is a blessing!!!"

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  8. I'm reminded of the lyrics of an old Swedish hymn which would translate something like "Joy and sorrow travel together; success and adversity stay close companions". (When I look it up now I find that the author was actually a Danish bishop of Scottish family origin. Thomas Kingo 1634–1703.)

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    1. Monica that's a very interesting quotation and not one I've heard. It emphasises, though, something that we all know: that people have crossed cultures since time immemorial.

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  9. Happy belated birthday Graham. I''m still lurking in the background but don't often post on here. Yes sad days always stay with us don't they but I do know our loved ones would want us to be happy again and I always strive to remember the good times with my daughter and push the sad thoughts away as much as it is possible to do. Enjoy some rest after all your house building and recent renovations. Make time for many lovely trips away and tell us about them on your blog.
    Regards Beverley

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    1. Thank you Beverley. I shall take your advice.

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  10. A time of mixed emotions, Graham...I wish you a belated Happy Birthday...I hope the happiness continues.

    I feel sorrow over your loss...sorrow felt over the loss of our loved ones never abates...it continues....

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    1. Thank you Lee. I'm fortunate in that I'm generally happy and have so much for which to be thankful.

      This week I'm catching up with blogs (amongst other things of course) and I'm hoping that in a few days I'll be up to date with everyone's goings on.

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  11. Dear GB .. happy happy birthday to you. My thoughts are with you. Being still and listening to/watching life rush by is indeed a skill to be mastered. Enjoy!

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    1. Thank you Carol. I've been wondering how you were getting on. Did the snail arrive?

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  12. I hope you had a wonderful day on your 73rd birthday GB.
    I hope too that the joy of your special day helped to ease the pain of the sad loss of your son.
    I sent you a birthday email and I hope you have had a chance to open it since you have been so busy recently....thanks for your lovely card.

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    1. I did indeed thank you Virginia. I'm hoping today that I will get up to date with my backlog of emails.

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