Category: Uncategorised

How to Create an Amazing Urban Wildlife Garden
– what we’ve learned in 15 years

Gerry Thompson

In 2002 we moved our family home from Brighton UK to a nearby town. The reason? – we didn’t have a garden. Our new home had two gardens, neither very large. The rear would be the domain of our lively cocker spaniel Rosa, and the front space would be for …wildlife!

Now, 16 years later, that front patch is a wildlife paradise – a veritable jungle among many houses with more sterile gardens or hard-standings for their cars. So what better than having wild nature right where you live? Continue reading “Our wildlife garden”

Learning from stand-up comedy: lessons for life

Most people think that professional stand-up comedians are depressed or jaded individuals who use dysfunctionality to drive their art. My view is otherwise – but either way, I believe that we can learn a great deal about how to deal with life from observing their methods. Let’s look first at the qualities for which stand-up comedians are admired, to see what inspiration this offers. Continue reading “life lessons from comedians”

 

Findhorn Press’s newsletter carries a feature by Gerry on the value and importance of living in the present moment, and some pointers about how to go about it:

http://www.findhornpress.com/pages/living-in-the-present-moment-pv-c0-603.html

Okay, here’s why it all goes wrong….

Society offers us a fairy-tale mythology about romantic relationship, and most of us buy into it. It’s surprising how deeply rooted yet this mythology can be in many of us – even though we might not admit it. Here are the basic points: Continue reading “Nonsense relationship mythology”

an hour-long interview on internet radio A to Zen:

about the book, Astral Sex to Zen Teabags, and also about how to get your life to work better

apologies for the variable sound quality!

click here to listen or download the interview

The powerful transformative principles of Buddhism, for life, work, happiness, fulfilment and success

“Do not pursue the past; Do not idly hold out hopes for the future. The past is already discarded And the future has not yet arrived. Thoroughly discern the nature of the present, in the midst of reality. Simply set your heart on doing What must be done today”
– Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha

People think that Buddhism is all about giving things up, and sitting still all day, meditating – but that’s not necessarily the case. Many people also think that it’s about humble pennilessness and austerity – it isn’t. Continue reading “The transformative principles of Buddhism”

I was sitting in a cafe In Brighton the other day, drinking a skinny decaff soy latte and pondering on the nature of existence, when I suddenly realised why things go so terribly wrong in our lives. It’s because of all those heavy negative trips that our parents lay on us when we’re young… Do these words ring any bells?.“You’ll poke your eye out with that stick!”…“We’re not made of money, you know”…“Don’t expect too much, then you won’t be disappointed.” This stuff can shape your whole outlook on life. HNTs, I call them. Thanks, Mum and Dad; I know you meant well. Continue reading “Heavy negative trips your parents laid on you”

This is how it began.

Every Tuesday morning, I travel to the delightful Sussex village of Ditchling for yoga class; I’m the only man among thirty delightful Ditchling ladies. At the end of class, another delightful group of Ditchling ladies takes over the space for a choir rehearsal. As part of this activity they make wonderful cakes, chutneys and jams, and sell these to one another to raise funds for the choir. I purchased a jar of this home made jam from a delightful choir lady at the produce table, and brought it home; it was the most delicious jam I had ever tasted.   Continue reading “Secret Jam: a tale of rural intrigue”

Here’s a fun slide show of car recovery gone terribly wrong…

Irish Car Recovery

 

This is the start of a series of investigative articles about getting your life to work better in a wide-ranging and holistic way. Continue reading “Practical happiness – getting your life to work better”