Panicketh Not

Many problems happen in this world as a result of panic. The wall street crash happened because people panicked and rushed to cash in their bonds- of course their money didn't exist it was a figment of the bank's imagination. Panic was partly responsible for the recent collapse of the housing market, banks and whole countries such as Ireland and soon Portugal and maybe Europe. Panic was the causative agent of a huge traffic gridlock in Blantyre on Friday night. There is a fuel crisis. Two filling stations received a tanker at the same time, just at peak rush hour. The cars start to queue for petrol on the left hand side of the road, leaving a newly created middle lane for cars going towards town. A mini bus runs out of fuel and blocks the road. People think, "I will just overtake to get past this blockage" and soon find that others have done the same and oncoming traffic now has no access to their own side of the road coming the other way. A mini bus driver decides he's had enough and he's never going to meet his deadline, so turns around and gets stuck going back from where he came. GRIDLOCK! People become irrational because they are on the way to hospital with their sick relative's supper or need to get to the show and refuse to let you in front of them even though it is obvious that this will prevent further congestion. Panic, panic. Not many drivers are good at scenario planning. Don't panic, ask yourself,what will happen as a result of my action?

Every Cloud has a Silver Lining

Recipe for Paneer (Indian cottage cheese a la Floyd)


3 Litres full cream milk
90ml lemon juice or vinegar.


Put milk in a saucepan and heat it. Just before it boils add vinegar or lemon juice which will curdle the milk. Turn off the heat, place a muslin cloth over a suitable sized vessel and strain curds and whey through the muslin. Once curds are totally drained, squeeze them into a ball in the muslin and place under a heavy weight for 3 hours to turn it into a block that can then be cut into cubes. Then refrigerate and use for your favourite indian dish such as tandoori paneer or sag paneer (with spinach- see Floyd)


or........ Go to the shop where you always win in Blantyre. Buy a few boxes of Parmalat full cream milk. Open one to pour over your cereal in the morning and notice the whey trickling on to your cocoa pops. Smell the milk. It's not sour, so get a pair of scissors and cut the box open. Voila! beautiful fresh paneer- ready made. No need for muslin and suitable vessels nor heavy weights. Give some to the dog to check it's not poisonous. Looking forward to my sag paneer.

Question is, what agent caused the milk to curdle inside the box?

Don't take anything personally

Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you wont be the victim of needless suffering. If people tell you how wonderful you are, they are not saying it because of you. Humans are addicted to suffering and we support each other in maintaining these addictions. Humans agree to help each other suffer. If you have the need to be abused you will find it easy to be abused by others. It is as if they have a note on their back that says "please kick me". Wherever you go you will find people lying to you, and you also lie to yourself. Do not expect people to tell you the truth bacause they also lie to themselves.
If someone is not treating you with love or respect, it is a gift if they walk away from you. If that person doesnt walk away, you will surely endure many years of suffering with him or her. Walking away may hurt for a while, but your heart will eventually heal.
From 'The Four Agreements' by Don Miguel Ruiz

Always do your best

Always do your best, no more, no less. Dont try too hard to do more than your best or your best will never be enough. If you always do your best, there is no way you can judge yourself and if you dont judge yourself, there is no way you are going to suffer from guilt, blame and self punishment. From 'The Four Agreements' by Don Miguel Ruiz

Mona Lisa by Tamar age 11

Appreciate what you've got

After all, one can't complain. I have my friends.
Somebody spoke to me only yesterday.
And was it last week or the week before that
Rabbit bumped into me and said "Bother!"
The Social Round. Always something going on'

From 'The Secret of Pooh's Social Success' by A.A Milne and E.H Shepard