So how are you feeling? Be honest!

Well, well done if you are feeling great. If you are not feeling so good what can you do to lift your spirits...even a little?

In the UK our news bulletins and newspapers are as full as I am sure is the case elsewhere of the economic gloom. But something else is a sad but true hot topic. A young, 27 year old woman is dying of cancer. Why is that news? Well Jade Goody came to fame in 2002 in that intriguing TV programme Big Brother. She is not the most beautiful girl, nor the most articulate but she has a street wisdom which all too many people envy.

Jade has stayed in the public eye, at least in UK since her Big Brother appearance and in fact was embroiled in a racist row in a "Celebrity" version of the show a couple of years ago. Towards the end of last year Jade was appearing on a version of the show in India when she heard the news from her English doctors that she had cervical cancer. She returned home immediately and started treatment.

Earlier this week she was told that the cancer had spread and she was terminally ill with only months, at best, to live. On Sunday she will be married. She is using her street wisdom to make as much money as she can from publicity and media. Jade has two very young children whom she will leave behind and who she wants to provide for...education, a home, a future. She is doing it in the way she knows how and best. The saddest thing of all is she will not be around to share their upbringing and the love and heartaches children bring.

Whether Jade is someone you like or not; whether you have admired her in the past or not or whether you like the way she is publically exposing the realities of her impending death there is something infinitely admirable in her intentions.

Many more young women have attended hospital to have cervical cancer tests and the provision of such tests and the age at which entitlement should happen is alll being debated because of poor Jade.

I had never been a fan of Jade before, but I am so moved by her right now I felt I had to write this.

So while she is married at the weekend, pumped full of pain killers, what shall we be doing to lift our spirits? Music is a great tonic for me and the recent lighter mornings, being woken to the sound of bird song. A walk in the country or by the sea; seeing friends; playing sport; just being.

Find that thing that lifts you and Just Be!

Happy Valentines day one and all! I am listening to some fabulous dance music I found through friends on here! Tiesto...brilliant!

Anyway, a couple of poems...or pieces from poems for the day. The first from Roger McGough. Roger , born in 1937, was one of a group of "Liverpool" poets in the 60's...still going strong. Here is his verse:

"ten milk bottles standing in the hall

ten milk bottles up against tyhe wall

next door neighbour thinks we're dead

hasn't heard a sound he said

doesn't know we've been in bed

the ten whole days since we were wed"     There is more....if you want to find it!

My second is from a song by Judy Collins...Judy was a legendary singer in the 60's (can you tell I'm not a juvenile?) with a gorgeous soprano voice....she still sings true and clear today! She was contemporary with Dylan.

"I've looked at love from both sides now

From up and down

And still somehow

It's love's illusions I recall

I really don't know love at all"

Happy Valentine's day friends....be happy, love unreservedly, enjoy life!

Love to all, Kieran

NO, it's nothing rude, but you may feel a bit idiotic doing this in full view of others.

1. Sit comfortably and so you can raise your right foot slightly off the floor.

2. Now start turning your foot in a circle, clockwise. Keep this going, it can be slow as you please

3. Now with your right hand draw a 6 in the air

4. Your foot will now be turning anti-clockwise.....as if by magic!

Try it, it seems to work every time I try...even when I concentrate really hard! Ki

Well I guess most have heard of the Mumbai based film "Slum Dog Millionaire". In Uk we have the BAFTA awards tonight and it is nominated for several.

BUT have you heard of England's newest sportsman? Yesterday we heard the news that two of England's cricket team will be paid over £1m to appear in the India Premier League later this year. Right now they are in the West Indies playing for the English team. Yesterday one of them was slogging the ball so stupidly he helped England to one of their worst defeats ever.

This morning he is being called the DUMB SLOG MILLIONAIRE

ruit Loops 

A college professor was doing a study testing the senses of first  year schoolchildren, using a bowl of Fruit Loops, the cereal with the hole in it. 
He gave all the children the same kind of loop, one at a time, and asked them to identify them by colour and flavour. The children began to say: 
> 'Red............cherry,' ' 

> Yellow.........lemon,' 

> 'Green..........lime, 

> 'Orange........orange.' 
 
Finally the professor gave them all 'honey' loops. 
After eating them for a few moments none of the children could identify the taste. 
'Well,' he said 'I'll give you all a clue. It's what your mother may sometimes call your father.' 
One little girl looked up in horror, spat hers out and yelled: 
'Oh My God!!!! They're arse-holes !!'