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“It is good to have
an end to journey toward,
but it is the journey
that matters in the end.”
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Ursula K. LeGuin
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Ursula K. LeGuin
Alain de Botton
…on the streets of Brooklyn NY
It’s too easy to wait until we get really unwell to do something about how well we live:
Author unknown
A great reminder – um, if only I could remember where I read it (apologies to the author).
A bronze sculpture in Singapore’s Botanical Gardens
… because if you’re anything like me, you’re doing this right now!
Jack Canfield
Okay, it’s not a dove or 12, but you get the picture… © Louise Creely
Simple, cheap and tasty, tinned sardinha is a favourite across Portugal, for the poor and the wealthy alike – as a healthy basic, fast food or gourmet cuisine.
The riches of the sea have long sustained the Portuguese, so it’s no wonder the humble sardine has become a bit of an icon around here.
Forget those three flying ducks on the wall at grandma’s place. Here, it’s ceramic sardines up there.
The ubiquitous fish also features in paintings, accessories, homewares and every imaginable type of souvenir.
There are even street art fish (although sardines have a bit of competition here).
Of course, bacalhau (salted cod, right) is another staple – but I’m guessing it missed out on the fishy audition because it’s not quite as sleek as sardines.
Surprisingly, we saw very few fish in the rivers and close to the coast – except mullet slithering all over themselves in the rivers.
Where do you catch the sardines, we ask a local.
The fish that met the pescatarian… and lost
Out there, he says pointing way out to sea.
There are a lot out there, he adds with a grin.
Considering tinned sardines are exported to about 70 countries around the world, I believe him.
Later, as we crossed the border into Spain, the words of Douglas Adams were circling in my head:
So long and thanks for all the fish.
Indeed!
It’s Monday morning – and that’s always a bit of a blah moment, wherever you are in the world.
If you’re like me, and especially if you often work from ‘the home office’, it’s Perpetual Procrastination Day. I’ve already pulled the coffee grinder apart and cleaned it.
Why? Because our coffee machine isn’t working, but I have an article to write. Confused? Me too.
So here’s my official note to self today, from the pen of Jack Canfield, because it makes me smile – and I thought you might need this piece of advice too…
Don’t keep putting things off, waiting for twelve doves to fly over your house in the sign of the cross before you begin. Just start.
Happy Monday!
I’m always coming across clever or quirky words some wise or witty person has said – words that inspire me, make me think or make me laugh.
I scribble them down on bits of paper… and they promptly get sucked up in the vortex that is my office and my life.
After scrabbling around for a bit, I’ve found some of my favourite (travel) quotes.
Here’s five for Friday… just in time for the weekend.