Basil's Brain

i feel the chill in a tropical country and while the sun blazes bright outside, i'm cold inside. Puzzling?. Yes. i want to hibernate as if it's winter and it's difficult to rouse myself awake in the mornings. i wish i could sleep on. My body simply protests to be up and about. Perplexing?. Yes,again. It is windy too but i love it. It allows me to hear my windchimes sing,the rustling leaves make music and the feel of being 'fanned' by the breeze is amazing. The perfect weather to be at the beach on a hammock with a good book in hand. Bliss. Elsewhere though,i read with dismay of the artic like cold in the United States and how temperatures are worse than in planet Mars. That is very disturbing news. At the other extreme, it is so hot and the dry spell is like no other experienced before. It's worrying. Manila and Jakarta are facing floods they have never had. Many have perished, millions have lost their homes and are displaced. i could go on and on but it'

A pleasant evening with a dear friend and her family last month got me re acquainted with the word dumb down. Dumb down is the strategy to be used when working among those who are easily threatened and intimidated by intelligence said her spouse. i was dumbstruck. A couple of days later upon pondering, i had to grudgingly agree that downplaying one's intelligence is most often required and crucial to safeguard the bread and butter. If you work in an environment where speaking articulately is frowned upon and being smart,sharp and sagacious is a death sentence to your post and pay - You best dumb down. It's an absolute shame that intelligence and real talent aren't recognised nor appreciated. Intelligence is dismissed as arrogance and wisdom overlooked in a growing number of workplaces. Then, one hears of importing expertise from elsewhere under the illusion that brains from abroad are somehow better. An irony considering the large exodus leaving for lack of recognition

A bake sale featuring only grey cakes will be held in Ipoh on January 12th and there will be a competition for the most creative and original Depressed Cake. It's the second Depressed Cake shop in Malaysia. The first held an impressive sale of grey confections to raise awareness about depression last September in Kuala Lumpur. Emma Thomas started this movement in the United Kingdom last year and more than thirty Depressed Cake shops have popped up all over the world. Depression is also compared to a black dog which a person can't do away with but have to manage. How many of us actually admit to being depressed?. Acknowledging and openly telling others about one of the most common mental disorders is unheard of. People are ashamed of the stigma that comes with being labelled mentally unstabil. Others will look at a depressed person with pity or stay away from them altogether. The fear of being completely ostracised by family and friends overrides the need to seek help. Harsh r

A very prosperous and joyful 2014 to all. May each of us be blessed with good health, good fortune and success. May love and laughter be present each day and may we always be grateful for all that we have. GOD Bless us. i have jus returned from a wonderful holiday with a dear friend. i'm feeling happy, relaxed and totally recharged to enjoy a brand new year. So many wishes from family and friends; each looking forward to fulfilling their wish list and keeping to new year resolutions. A new beginning heralds new hopes and aspirations. An opportunity to start something anew and also to continue something started with zest. There are old issues that follow us into the new year but we can take comfort in having another chance to do something about it; in a new way.