While many of you in the northern hemisphere are suffering with extreme heat it’s still winter here in Tasmania. We’ve had some pretty chilly days when there has been frost on the ground in the early morning and the temperatures have struggled to get to double figures. We’ve had rain, not as much here thankfully as in New South Wales or Queensland where they have had floods several times this year already. I can see bulbs coming up in the garden now and I am looking forward to some daffodils and tulips in a few more weeks if the pademelons don’t eat them first.

QUESTIONS

What mythical creature would improve the world most if it existed?  (If you don’t know, just choose something that you think would improve things    )

I looked over a list of mythical creatures before answering this. Most of the ones listed I knew of, some I didn’t. Many of them are pretty scary monsters and I don’t believe they would improve the world in any way. Fairies are harmless but don’t really add to the good of humanity in a tangible way, unless maybe you are an orphaned princess. I did consider Faun’s as they offer guidance to travellers in need. In the end though I decided that what we really need is a Universal Boogeyman to scare us all into behaving better. Nothing else seems to work.

Should the death penalty be re-instated?  Why or why not?

We haven’t had the death penalty in Australia for many years. Others may not agree but I am totally against it. I know people will say “What about serial killers?” “What about terrorists?” There are some people who need to be locked up forever but I think that putting them to death is still wrong. In the first place suppose it is proven that the person is innocent after all? It’s a bit late when they are dead. You could also argue that a life without freedom is a worse punishment than death. Some victims families would probably think so. From what I have read and seen on TV most executions are pretty horrible no matter how they are done. I just feel like if we allow that sort of thing are we really a lot different from the people being executed?

Spontaneity Or Stability?

Like most things in life I think we need to find a balance between the two. I’m probably more on the stability side of things. It’s important to me to have a home that I own and be able to pay the bills. I don’t like unpredictability in that part of my life. However, I think it’s good to have some spontaneity in your life as well. Not everything has to be planned to the minute. When I go on holidays I like a plan, we book accommodation rather than just turning up and expecting to get a room. We make lists of the things we want to do and what days we’ll do them but if we see something interesting somewhere else or we want to linger at a place for a bit longer we’re happy to depart from the schedule. Some of the best holiday experiences can be the unplanned ones.

Can a dog/cat suffer? What about an ant? What about a plant? What about a bacteria cell?  Why do some humans think we’re the only species that does suffer?  Your thoughts?

Animals, yes of course they suffer. Ask any animal rescue worker, dogs and cats certainly but also livestock. Have you seen pictures of sheep or cattle packed into ships or at slaughterhouses where they die in horrible circumstances? Don’t you think they are scared and in pain? What about battery hens or pigs at a commercial pig farm? I’m not a vegan, I like to eat meat but I think that the animals should be treated more humanely than they are in many places even if their lives are going to be short. There is a whole discussion there about animal rights but this is not the place for that.

I honestly can’t say if insects suffer, maybe they do when we spray them with chemicals. Plants, I don’t know. People who talk to them might have some ideas about that. I suppose that even a cell might feel pain but that is not a subject I know anything about.

GRATITUDE SECTION

What are two things that have brightened your day today?

Monday was a quiet day for me. I had washing to do and other household chores of course. I did spend some time redressing some dolls and photographing them for the doll blog. It always brightens my day when I have time to do that.

Naomi and I had a laugh about some nonsense or other as we often do. We can usually find something funny to talk about or we laugh about things the pets have done.