Category: Uncategorized

All Saints, All Souls

Yes, the light will always overcome darkness!

Pam Smith's avatarMushy Cloud

How are you all doing? Are you ok? The clocks went back here in the UK this weekend, and since then it feels like the darkness has made itself felt in a big way, doesn’t it?

First of all the clocks going back an hour makes a huge difference to our daily routines. I don’t know about you, but by 4pm on Sunday afternoon I was ready for my bed! Dusk was well and truly settling by that time, and soon it was pitch black and we were snuggled up cosily indoors with fire on and candles lit. It’s that time of year when thoughts turn to soups and stews, and hunkering down with a good story and an even better source of warmth and light. Not everyone is so fortunate though, and I thank God that I do have my lovely warm, comfortable home to retreat to, and that…

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The Powerful Role of Women in Vietnamese History

I think I want to reblog this. Somehow it makes me think, how important it is, that women and men have equal rights where women can have powerful roles without having to act like men!

stuartbramhall's avatarThe Most Revolutionary Act

The Trưng sisters (c. 12 - AD 43) were leaders who rebelled against Chinese rule for three years ...

Episode 31: Southeast Asia – Vietnam

Foundations of Eastern Civilization

Dr Craig Benjamin (2013)

Film Review

In this lecture, Benjamin explores the history of Vietnam and its troubled relationship with China. Genetic and archeological evidence indicates the Nam Viet (People of the South) were ethnically distinct from the Chinese. Intermarrying with people of Khmer and Thai ethnicity, they preferred to live in nuclear families, rather than extended families like the Chinese. Owing to the absence of Confucian influence, Vietnamese women had a much stronger presence in public life.

For many centuries Vietnam controlled the Red River Valley, presently part of southern China. Despite periodic raids in which Chinese armies took control of isolated Vietnam villages, China met strong resistance in its efforts to colonize the country. Yet the close contact increased China-Vietnam trade and adoption of Chinese inventions by Vietnamese elites. The Nam Viet traded ivory, tortoise shell and aromatic…

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Last Sunday in October 2022 musing about ‘KUNST’

Very often artists lead difficult lives!

auntyuta's avatarUta's Site

“Was macht die Kunst?”

Of course, in German, ‘die Kunst’ means ‘the Arts’.

Going back to the 1950s, among the people I knew then, “Was macht die Kunst?” was a standard greeting even among people that weren’t into the Arts themselves.

I never thought about it much, that anything to do with arts, was actually no part of their lives. I musy say, sadly, I did not know any people who’s lives circled around art. Come to think of it, I still don’t know people like that, except for a bit ‘on-line’ here and there.

I find now, without art, life is bound to become dreary. Luckily, I married someone who was always very interested in art. He did write a lot too in later years, but he never tried to get published. When I say, I never knew anyone who’s life circled around art, I mean…

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Uta’s DIARY from Holy Week 2021

I try to reblog this again! 🙂

“What is important in life is to have someone to love and a reason for living – a sense of purpose.”


Edit”Uta’s DIARY from Holy Week 2021″

Published by auntyuta

Auntie, Sister. Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Mother and Wife of German Descent I’ve lived in Australia since 1959 together with my husband Peter. We have four children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. I started blogging because I wanted to publish some of my childhood memories. I am blogging now also some of my other memories. I like to publish some photos too as well as a little bit of a diary from the present time. Occasionally I publish a story with a bit of fiction in it. Peter, my husband, is publishing some of his stories under berlioz1935.wordpress.com View all posts by auntyuta

PublishedApril 2, 2021

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13 thoughts on “Uta’s DIARY from Holy Week 2021”

  1. catterelEditDear Uta, you are making a huge adjustment in your lufe, and at a time of the year when we all tend to feel a bit pessimistic. You seem to be coping very well under the citcumstances, and as you go through the various stages of grief. What is important in life is to have someone to love and a reason for living – a sense of purpose. From my personal observation of residents in Old People’s Homes, when these were missing the people gave up and died. You have a loving family and friends even if you can’t visit. But I think you are very capable on the computer and can skype or facetime or zoom with your loved ones. You also seem to me to be an optimistic and cheerful person at heart. So much of your life centred on Peter in the last years and it must be very difficult to fill the void left by his passing, but if see this as a challenge I am sure you will eventually find a really worthwhile cause to devote your energies to. And do let others pamper and spoil you when they want to – it helps them to feel good, too. A big hug to you my friend.Reply
    1. auntyuta EditThanks for your big hug, dear Cat. You are right, probably I am a cheerful and optimistic person at heart. There are lots of things I can still enjoy. I just cannot cope with all the dreary stuff. I need someone, who can sort all this out for me. All my children tried to do their best for me. But it is too much for them too. Owning a house that has been not exactly well looked after for a number of years, involves so much work that I am not suited for. Renting a well looked after and maybe somewhat smaller place might perhaps be better for me if there is nobody who can actually live with me in my house. I am the sole owner of the house now, but it is only a headache for me. On the other hand I do love the surroundings of the house, close to nature!I feel a bit like I live in wartime again, wartime when actually most things are put on hold. But somehow it does not make sense to me, since there are a lot of people being newly unemployed because of the virus and some businesses being made redundant, but when it comes to reliable trades people, you can count yourself very lucky indeed to find good, reliable people that work for a reasonable price. Where on earth do I find reliable people like that who do not overcharge? I have no idea. I do need help with that, but so far nobody has come up with any real help. I hate myself for not being able to do a bit more, and then it is hinted, I could perhaps do more if only I put my mind to it.At 86 I feel I am definitely quite close to the end of my life. So really, do I now have to learn to cope with all this stuff that I never in my whole life needed to do before? This computerised world is not my world. A rich person would just employ somebody for doing all these administrative jobs. Maybe I should be such a rich person – Ha, ha!!Thanks again for your lovely hug, dear Cat, and for your very thoughtful and compassionate comment! 🙂 Wishing you a very HAPPY EASTER with all your loved ones!Reply
    2. auntyuta EditCat, I agree with this what you say in your comment:“What is important in life is to have someone to love and a reason for living – a sense of purpose.”Reply
    3. auntyuta EditI wamt to write another reply to you, dear Cat. That is, looking at my reply to you from 2nd April 2021, I feel, there is much that I can say to that now! 🙂Outwardly, a lot of things have inproved! For instance, there are wonderful improvements to my house and backyard. Also my health improved a lot after quite some struggle. So, I should be really happy now! – Wrong!! – Why wrong?Right Cat, didn’t you said this: “What is important in life is to have someone to love and a reason for living – a sense of purpose.”Well, I say it is alright for me to love a lot of people, but really nobody is now very close to me in my life. – Actually, I find it good, that nobody is going to miss me for very long, when I am gone. So, I would say, the people I love, are definitely no reason for me to go on living. 🙂A good reason for living would be my desire, to write an autobiographical novel. I know, I cannot rely on it, that I get actual support in doing this. So, it is totally up to me to find the determination to do it all on my own as best as I can. 🙂In conclusion, I say, writing could give me a reason for living as well as a sense of purpose. I cannot see, that there is any other purpose in my life right now. However, I often feel, I would not mind at all, if I could die in an instant at any time! 🙂I feel, there is no need to say good bye to anyone! 🙂

I made today a few new comments in the original blog and copied it here.

Go to the original blog if you want to have a look at some more comments from April 2021!

auntyuta's avatarAuntyUta

We are in the midst of HOLY WEEK 2021. So tomorrow is GOOD FRIDAY, a holiday. Sitting in front of my house in the early morning sun – this is what I am looking forward to for tomorrow.

I am not looking forward to asking someone for a lift to the MEDICAL CENTRE. Do I really need a change of the dressing on my lower leg? We’ll see.

Sitting in the sun. This is all I am longing for . . . .

Last Sunday I returned from my two weeks holiday at my son’s place in Victoria. With the help of one daughter and one granddaughter I was able to go to the MEDICAL CENTRE on Monday and on Wednesday. I was able to use the ROLLATOR, which was really a great help. Right now, I do not feel confident to walk with my walking stick!

And anyway, I…

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Writing hack UNLOCKED

This post makes me think a bit, what my relationship to the German language is right now. Do I miss, speaking German? I find this is a question, I probably cannot answer very well. Maybe I should try? 🙂

@robibust's avatarBustiBusti

After over 300 posts, I found the secret to always having something coherent to say/write and not make you suffer while reading my ramblings.

Here it goes…

When I don’t have anything to say, when it’s hard for me to express myself (wanting to do it, of course. The nights I don’t want to do anything, well that’s another story), the great trick is to write my thoughts in Spanish, and then translate them to English.

That’s how simple this is.

When you’re bilingual (working on being trilingual), there are ideas that are easier to communicate in my native language, the one I’ve been using on a daily basis for over 30 years. For the record, I’ve known English since I was a child. I’m fluent, but the expertise, naturalness and thinking speed will never compare to my mother tongue.

In part, that was one of the main reasons for…

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Don’t shout ‘Ali Babi’ too loud or drink ‘Arabic’ coffee.

Gerard’s blog brings back memories

gerard oosterman's avatarOosterman Treats Blog

Nauru Nauru It was many years ago when friends used to sit around the fondue set, proudly announcing that some of their best friends were gay. They are just normal people ,you know, adding, just like all of us. A glowy feeling of inclusiveness would permeate the group and the chocolate dipped strawberry tasted even nicer. Afterwards, Zorba would be put on while the Coolabah cask was squeezed to its very end.

With the latest on terrorism and ramped up fear we no longer sit around fondue sets. Fondue sets are now facing customers scrounging bargains on St.Vinnie’s shelves together with the discarded type-writers or dented aluminium pots. If group discussion take place, heads are most likely lifted up from Moses’ Tablets or promised Lands of IPhones.

As a reffo from the fifties I remember the fear of passengers on buses when a whiff of Euro garlic announced itself. People would…

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The Gratitude Bell at Nan Tien Temple

I like to be reminded of the Gratitude Bell

auntyuta's avatarAuntyUta

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This is where the Gratitude Bell is. There is a great view from up there. This is where the Gratitude Bell is. There is a great view from up there.

When you chime the bell you are supposed to think with gratitude of your ancestors. I remember when I once walked to the bell in summer, I got very hot. Last Wednesday in the midst of August, I had no problem walking up to the bell. I do love the bell’s sound. It spreads far and wide over the surrounding area.

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