A BIG thanks to Dubai 92 FM DJ Martin Metcalf of the Saturday Sanctuary show who coincidentally played my fave 4 heros track, les fleurs which some of you might recognise:

If there was an anthem for GO! Smell the flowers this would be it as it’s one of the most uplifting songs ever to grace the earth.

Martin even played it for us again last weekend and has joined our facebook group! Thanks again Martin, keep spinning those wheels of steel down at Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort  - Barasti bar.  Thanks for the inspiration.

What would your anthem be for GO! Smell the flowers & why? Do tell.

In the U.S.A., the week of October 19th -25th, has been declared “National Character Counts Week.”  What motivates me to write this post?  This was a question that was written in the comments which inspired me to make a little revision. 

I am excited about this topic because it is the big Presidential election time.  As the date to vote, November 4th, approaches there is an increase in frequency and degree of ”election character bashing” versus talking about the issues.  Quite frankly, I am just sick and tired of hearing about how “bad” or character flawed everyone is because bottom line if we were scutinized that way lots of dirt would be thrown in our faces.  (Throwing dirt is not acceptable behavior in the Garden!!)

I wanted us to focus back onto the character within ourselves. That is something we can do something about; however, we can’t change anyone else.

But, I wondered what is character?

(more…)

It comes to us all, right flower folk? We reach our professional peak, drop off and gradually decline - just ask Johnny Cash if I could have 3 minutes of your time:

In this post of inspiration I ask YOU is it best to quit and be remembered at the top of your game or carry on relentlessly with the aged flaws that make us all the more vulnerable, human, inevitable and possibly even inspirational? How do we even know when we’ve hit the top of our game?

Comments welcomed and feel free to post keep your TUNES over the flowers jukebox at Forums. Cheers.

I recently wrote on my blog about how it was time to soar.

This was my first post after many weeks of no activity. I needed a push to start writing again here in London and I remembered something I had read a few years ago - “Come to the Edge”:-

“Come to the edge,” he said.
They said, “we are afraid.”
“Come to the edge, he said.
They came.
He pushed them.
And they flew.

So with all this doom and gloom around us, it is time indeed to fly.

We all need a push now and then - after a few weeks of not blogging, I feel as if I have been pushed in the gentlest way possible.

What will help push you? Do tell.

On Wednesday October 15^th, 2008, flower smellers, all the headlines here in Southern California were about the local fires in the northern part of Los Angeles County. Later in the day the news was about Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s press conference and tour of the fire areas.

That is what most people were thinking about; however, I was unconscious as I was having surgery to remove what is confirmed to be a benign fatty tissue mass known as a lipoma from my underarm. It was deep and starting to get involved with my muscle…. (more…)

Are you ready for this? Are you?

Well here goes……..

I’VE JOINED A BOOK CLUB!!!!!

Ok, not neccessarily a headline that you are likely to see in the National Enquirer alongside Michael Jackson playing with his monkey but it is kind of a world exclusive. I haven’t told anyone else anyway. And it got you reading.

The first book is If You Liked School You’ll Love Work - By Irvine Welsh author of Trainspotting

I can’t say its my choice, I’ve read most of Irvine Welsh’s books, none of which I have been particularly enamoured with.

And already, even by the title I reckon he’s got it wrong as I loved school but can’t say I feel the same about going to work everyday.

So, has anyone else ever joined a book club? Or are you a member of any other type of club? Elvis appreciation society, a rambling club, or swinger……erm, perhaps not the last one.

And if anyone has read this book, let me know please? I’ve only got 10 days to read it. Only joking, I would never cheat myself like that.

(Sssshh, no seriously, if you have, email me off the site, cheers)

All turn to Page 1 please…….

Hi from Australia flower folk! You know when everything just goes nuts? Well this weekend has been one of those but the end,  well -  that was different.

Friday
The Starter motor in Elvis (my Pajero), decided it wished to only work when it wants too. Hmm remember A/C; park on a hill the clutch start is fine.
Junior (that accident prone Pup) decided to attempt to chew his foot off. He almost succeeded.
The Vet was at a meeting until 10.30pm (how rude off him), he rings me back at about 11pm (he is wonderful Vet and very nice bloke).

Saturday
Get woken by Moppet freaking out, because Junior has managed to get the bandages off which we wrapped his leg in. Oh what a mess to wake up too. She did well to distract him. Hmmm 3 hours sleep, Goody!
Make a coffee, wake up Hubby, sit and get the blood flowing and the lungs inhaling, then off to the supermarket.
Odd Event 1: (more…)

Last week we gave everyone the chance to win $60 of flowers delivered anywhere in the world courtesy of our partners Flora 2000, the International delivery experts.

Rather than the usual caption contest we asked you to put your thinking caps on as we threw in a dose of reality into the contest considering the global climate.  We asked you, in a maximum of 100 words to react to this statement as you see fit:
The world is heading into recession.

The last 2 decades we have over committed to supply and outstripped demand and what we are witnessing as shocks in the finance system is nothing but loans going bad, as a result of projects failing due to lack of demand.

There is a surplus of houses, cars, spas, designer brands, bottled water, dot coms , wine labels, places offering fine dining, dvd players, laptops,movie releases and ipods than the world needs, primarily built on borrowed money. Many predict a deep and dark depression coming globally, especially in the developed world of US, Europe, China & Japan.

The need for Inspiration is more than ever, and the world will need inspiration like never before.

With 20 entries, the winner on this occasion was…(((Drum roll)))……

(more…)

As halloween approaches, anyone here at flowers believe in guardian angels to help protect us? Maybe some of you already read cards by Doreen Virtue?

Seeing the dark side helps us appreciate the light, right?

All comments & evil laughs welcomed.

Jim here in Dubai, firing up a late night flower smelling post with news just in about news just out.

Last week I shared with you how, having scribed my way around India last month our blog entries were published in the Pune mirror Sunday magazine, issued with the Indian times revealing my OSHO experience. Well we’ve featured again - this time on my brief encounter with H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama aka Tenzin Gyatso:

Just click on these links below that have been added to our blossoming ‘flowers in the media’ section:

Dalai Lama article page 1

Dalai Lama article page 2

Following the Dalai Lama posts here at flowers debates ensued over the topic of reincarnation. See below and ‘previous posts’ if you missed it the first time as comments came in thick, fast & from the heart. Did we put the reincarnation issue to bed or does it need (ahem) resurrecting?

Traffic reached an all time peak here at GSTF with new visitors from India so welcome to you all.

Your comments about the article are both appreciated & valued. Whaddaya say?