Today, Monday Sept 17th 2007, the weather was beautifully cool.

I could have been run over by a driver coming out of a drive without looking or slowing down. He looked astonished to see me on the pavement.

Fortunately, I heard his car and slowed down. The first law of self-protection is to know what is going on around you.

In Clarendon Way I passed one man shovelling while two talked on their mobiles.

Doing is more important than talking. I was reminded of Michael Lynagh’s comments on the English team’s tendency to talk rather than perform on the pitch:

“The Coach and team members are doing too much talking instead of playing. Talking is over now They have got to perform. It’s down to the wire

“They have a few chances to get through to the quarter final; they’ve got to start playing well. I don’t care who is on the pitch They’ve got to start performing and stop talking about it.”

Michael is a legendary Australian rugby player and his words are worthy of respect. Talk less and do more.

Today, Sunday 9th Sept 2007, I walked round the neighbourhood. I met John on his way to church. We discussed the fact that Christians believe in the resurrection life i.e. that we shall live again after death.

John was suprised at how cheerful elderly people are who do not share this belief. I think they have learned the stoic acceptance of a Marcus Aurelius:

“Death smiles at us all; all a man (or woman) can do is smile back.”

Jane Tomlinson died last Monday night. She was told in August 2000 that she had only six months to live but from then on she lived one of the most active lives possible even though she was fighting the pain of cancer on a daily basis.

She certainly smiled in the face of death.

Some might prefer the words of Dylan Thomas:

“Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”

Later I met another friend and we discussed the same topics. I told him that he was the type to smile in the face of death. I immediately thought I might have spoken with too little tact but he continued to smile and maintain a cheerful outlook as normal!