The way people spell my surname

My name was incorrectly spelled on the name tag which I was required to wear. A new name tag could not be prepared as the office was not open in the weekend.
Wearing that name, I remembered how some "friends" used to call me "Peter the phantom puller".
I recalled the times when I felt angry as I saw and heard television personality Graham Kennedy joke about "Peter the phantom puller" on his live television shows. I took it personally.
When I heard that Graham Kennedy has died, I suddenly realized that I had unnecessarily been resenting him for all those years.
I began to laugh as I realized what that joke of Graham's was probably really about.

Reformat

My daughter asked me to help her get her computer going again. The problem was that she had erased everything off the computer by reformatting the hard disk drive.
We were talking about similar mistakes, and I said we are lucky that nobody has reformatted the whole world. She suggested that may have happened many years ago, causing all the dinosaurs to be erased.

Sound?

experiment

A great evening

I thought about who I could share my joy with as I happily rode back home after having enjoyed the music, dance and celebration on Sunday evening.
I was glad to have taken the time to listen to what the youth community had provided, and experience their energy. I loved the rap dancing - those young men can really move! I found these youths really inspiring. They seem to be leaders. They are more than willing to stand in front of the older community, and bring smiles to the faces of so many who I would have assumed to have preferred a more traditional style of music.
I also acknowledge these older people for their willingness to accept and appreciate the music and dance.

Gratitude

I began to list some of the things that I am grateful for.
I am grateful for life, for health, for the ability to see, and the ability to hear.
Also family, friends and the freedom that I enjoy.
The list goes on and on. I feel more and more joy as I continue to write and think about all that I can be grateful for.
As I write, I see how much I often take for granted. I realize that I do experience so much abundance in my life. Continuing to list more of what I have, I feel more joy and excitement. I am now focussing more on what I do have instead of focussing on lack. I look forward to adding to the list on http://givetogive.info/Gratitude.htm
Do feel free to add your comments.

A dream

This morning I had a vivid dream.
I dreamed was in the city and there were as usual many people about.
In my dream noticed that there were some newly installed small interactive display panels installed in a few places in the city square and some of the streets, and that I went up to one and pushed a button on it. I made a selection and it played a video of a song being played on a piano, with the words of the song clearly visible in the picture. The song was about all the things a person had spent money on. Each line of the song named an item, and how many dollars it cost. In my dream I felt embarrassed as there were many other people who may possibly hear what was being played. I also felt uneasy as here was a list of many thousand dollars of items, and I know that I also had spent a lot, yet had saved very little in comparison. I woke up, and as I rarely remember dreams so clearly, I wrote down some of what I remember of the dream.

Sending out the wrong email

I regularly send out a newsletter to 80 people. I use a program on my computer which automatically sends the emails, using a list of recipients and the file that I send. However today I discovered that I had sent the previous edition of the newsletter. Oh no! I think that from now on I wlll always test the process before processing all the emails!
I found out the cause of the problem. I had saved the file in the wrong place in my computer. I knew there was something unusual happening, yet did not check that the system was working. I have learned the importance of being aware of those times when I notice something unusual, and stopping to consider if I need to do something about it.

WW2 Drawings

I had almost completed putting all 29 drawings that I had been given on to the website. The project had taken me several hours, and for a while I wondered if I would ever get it all completed. As I got closer to completing, I became more and more excited. After I had put the last drawing up and linked the index to it, I thought about other things. I suddenly realized that I had forgotten that I needed to go to work early this day. I quickly got ready. I had not allowed myself time to prepare lunch and had not checked that I had all the necessary tools and equipment for the job I was going to. I arrived at 9:15 am. The previous week I had told the customer that I would be there at 9 am. I had to borrow some tools from the customer. Fortunately he had all I needed.
If I had planned the morning, I would have allowed myself time to ensure I had all the things I needed for the job. I would have prepared lunch and avoided feeling hungry towards the end of the day. I would have arrived on time and given better service. And all day I would have had the completion of putting up the drawings to look forward to.

Computer support

I had been very busy and had not managed to schedule a few hours to visit my daughter and repair the computer she had been using. I had prepared a replacement hard disk drive for her and she had installed it, but it did not work. I could hear her frustration as she followed my instructions. She had mentioned that there seemed to be some plugs not connected to anything, but I dismissed that, thinking that there are usually a few spare plugs inside computers. She felt tempted to throw the computer out the window or to kill it. I went through the procedure again with her on the phone. We discovered that the CD drive and the floppy disk drive were not working, and I suggested that the power may not be connected to them. It was those plugs she had mentioned at the start! I could hear the excitement as the machine began to start up. I thought "only a few more frustrations to go. I hope the modem is not going to be too difficult to set up."
My daughter was a few steps ahead of me as I struggled to find out how to set up the modem. I refused to tell her how to set up the internet connection, and asked that she ring the internet service provider's customer support line. Only a few minutes later I received the following in an email from her.
"Subject: AAARRRRRGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
THANK YU THANK YU THANK YU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's bit-rate or colours are a bit out of it I think but I'm netting again.. THANK YOU!!!

Melbourne Dream Team

I was tempted to go to work on Saturday. Yet I realize that I would have only have been working for the money. I really wanted to go to the dream team meeting and meet those people who I enjoy spending time with. I wanted to learn something new. If I had gone to work on Saturday morning, I would have earned some money, yet I would have missed out on something that is important to me.
Years ago, I used to enjoy the work I was doing. I am skillful at repairing and installing electronic equipment. Yet I have now become more interested in being with people. I am now unsatisfied with my career that tends to isolate me from people.
By going to an event such as Dream Team, I become more skilled at being with people. I am also satisfied and more fun to be around.
In the short term, a choice to work on Saturday might seem to be best. Yet I have probably made a choice more in accord with my long term goals by going to the event and having fun.

Visit to Joe's Organic Markets

I am always amazed by Joe's generosity whenever I visit him.
He works long hours in his shop selling organic fruit, vegetables, groceries etc. Joe is very passionate about the health benefits of organic produce, and was concerned that my health may not be as good as it could be as I was neglecting to choose organic produce. It is true. While I have eaten plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, I have often chosen to buy from the local market instead of taking the time to visit Joe. I know I am healthy yet I could be more healthy. I so often feel an improvement in my health and vitality after I visit Joe's shop.
I notice that I am not being true to my own values if I am neglecting my health just for the sake of convenience. It is costing me more time than it would take me to visit Joe, and I am missing out on seeing Joe and enjoying his delicious fruit and vegetables.

After 26 April

I had felt very humble since then.
When I shared my experience of Anzac day with a group of people a week later, I was asked "what does that say about you?"
I had been thinking about that and had not come up with any answers.
I was asked to come back to the group next week and tell of something that I can brag about.
Already, before I went home, I had thought about my health and fitness. I take time and effort keeping myself fit and healthy, and feel proud of the results I have achieved. My health supports me in my life allowing me to enjoy life and contribute more to others. I feel great as I appreciate what I have achieved, and how that has inspired some people in their efforts.

Anzac Day 25 April 2005

I went to see the dawn service at the Shrine of Rememberance in Melbourne. The service started at 6 am, and a large crowd had gathered by then. After the service, I went into the shrine. I had never been in there before. Hundreds of other people were in line before me, and I consider it was worth waiting for. The awsome stone structure with daylight shining in through the middle of the roof. In the centre of the floor is the rememberance stone with the words "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN" I felt very grateful for those people who had fought for the peace and freedom I enjoy in Australia. I decided to ring my uncle who had fought in the Second World War. He mentioned that he had recently visited Melbourne, and seen a play at the Atheneum Theatre. It was a story about Edward Dunlop and his diaries from the war. My uncle knew Edward Dunlop during the war, and recommended that I see the play. The following evening I saw that play. I was very moved as I saw it. For the following few days I felt very humble as I recalled that experience.
A few days later, my uncle sent me some drawings from his time in the war. and I have put some up on a website.