Huts in an orchard in Wales
How was the night in the hut? I was asked by PA in the comments to the last post. It was hut like I’d say. And as many readers know I tend to gravitate towards huts. Traditional huts. Wooden huts. Four walls and a roof huts. And preferably with a porch. But there are other types of dwellings suitable for secluding oneself with the intention of looking within. Contemplating.

This evening I was introduced to a completely new, to me, type of dwelling. The generic name being earth ships. At first glance they look good. Perhaps reminding me of happy hours as a youngster digging holes in the bottom of our garden. I’d cover them with tin and earth and then…sit in the dank darkness!

1. Read the Roman-Raphaelson book on writing. Read it three times.

2. Write the way you talk. Naturally.

3. Use short words, short sentences and short paragraphs.

4. Never use jargon words like reconceptualize, demassification, attitudinally, judgmentally. They are hallmarks of a pretentious ass.

5. Never write more than two pages on any subject.

6. Check your quotations.

7. Never send a letter or a memo on the day you write it. Read it aloud the next morning — and then edit it.

8. If it is something important, get a colleague to improve it.

9. Before you send your letter or your memo, make sure it is crystal clear what you want the recipient to do.

10. If you want ACTION, don’t write. Go and tell the guy what you want.

David

Brain Pickings – 10 Tips on Writing from David Ogilvy.

Make of this what you will…. I pre-ordered the book The Unpublished David Ogilvy: A Selection of His Writings from the Files of His Partners.

One cannot not communicate: Every behaviour is a kind of communication. Because behaviour does not have a counterpart (there is no anti-behaviour), it is not possible not to communicate.

From Wikipedia entry on Paul Watzlawick

Much food for thought.

You know you have friends when

they send you photographs

which just make you smile, and smile.
And friends walk in with a jar of marmalade as the current jar is being emptied onto breakfast toast. Great timing and thank you. My other marmalade making donor take note, I’ve enough to keep me going for a few months.

I don’t think I really appreciated pretzels while I was living in America in the 1980’s. We had them but rarely in the monastery. Although at this time of year Rev. Master Jiyu would come up to the monastery kitchen to supervise the cooking of holiday treats. Pretzels were on the menu but I can’t remember eating them….

These photographs were taken in the Black Forest, Germany. Thank you kind photographer.

Rewilding. Yep, a new word for me but not for the world. It was first used back in 1990 apparently.

I’ve not been much involved with conservation issues however the word rewilding, mentioned on Country File this evening, has certainly captured my interest and imagination. And stimulated my memory too, of seeing bears in Alaska fishing salmon in boiling red abundance and off shore at Santa Cruz gazing at sea otters at dusk cracking open sea shells while floating on their backs. Both are keystone species and exceedingly cute too! That is the extent of my learning for this evening.

I really only meant to mention the baby hedgehog I saw abroad the other evening at twilight. A rare sight. One thought can lead to another can’t they….

(this post has been lightly edited having looked at it again in the clearer light of day!)