Monday 18 March 2024

Yellow Crocuses

 

Yay Hooray! I spotted the first yellow crocuses today, in a sunny spot in an old cemetery. (Not the one where I usually walk, but an older one, situated a bit closer to the city centre.)

In the thawing heart of winter's chill,
Beneath the snow, a secret thrill.
A tender shoot, a splash of light,
Yellow crocuses bloom so bright.

They whisper tales of spring's return,
As icy grips of cold adjourn.
With petals spread like sunlit rays,
They end the white and wintry days.

A golden bloom with velvet touch,
Their beauty speaks, yet says not much.
For in their silence lies the power,
To herald spring's triumphant hour.

So let the yellow crocuses come,
And with their bloom, let spring succumb.
For they are nature's gentle spies,
Announcing winter's sweet demise.

 (Yes. It's another poem generated by Bing Copilot.)

Sunday 17 March 2024

Azure Skies

 

Woke up to the lawns outside covered by a thin layer of snow this morning - but that soon disappeared as the day turned out sunny. Good to see a clear blue sky reflected in the river again, after a grey and rainy week. 

I asked Bing Copilot for a positive poem about the colour blue, and got this:

**Azure Skies**

Beneath azure skies, dreams take flight,
A canvas of hope, bathed in pure light.
Ocean waves whisper secrets untold,
Bluebells dance, their petals unfold.

In twilight's embrace, stars softly gleam,
Bluebirds sing melodies, a celestial theme.
Blue, the hue of serenity and grace,
A tranquil refuge in life's bustling race.

So let us embrace this calming hue,
In every shade of cerulean and true.
For in blue's embrace, we find our way,
Guided by its gentle touch each day. 
Then I got curious to know more about AI's creative process... 
Did you know they actually write by hand?? ;-)





Thursday 14 March 2024

Reading Difficulties

 

I'm struggling to find blogging inspiration at the moment. The weather is still mostly grey and rainy, with nothing outdoors to inspire photograpy (or long walks). It could be a great time to settle down with a good book - and I tried to, as I had a newly bought Swedish book I wanted to read (third in a series). But alas I find myself really struggling to read small print now, due to the macular degeneration on my left eye (with which I was diagnosed back in December). I tried using a magnifying glass, but that's really not relaxing either... However, I have now found the book in question in a special library audio book app which I have access to since before (for people with various kinds of visual impairments) - it had just recently been added there.  So I guess I'll be able to finish the book while resting my eyes at the same time after all. (Reading E-books has advantages over printed books as well, as one can adjust the text. I still need breaks from too much "screen time" as well, though - so am very grateful for audio books.)

Bing AI was in fairly cooperative mode when I asked for illustrations - but it obviously has not yet grasped the concept of audio books. (It seems to think that it involves connecting headphones directly to a printed book... Still a challenge for technology to make possible!) (AI also seems to have certain problems with keeping the rain on the outside of the windows - which luckily I do not...)

 

Sunday 10 March 2024

Spring Cleaning

We're still having frosty nights here, and not all that much warmer in the daytime either, unless the sun happens to be shining in the afternoon. Today so far it's overcast, only +1-2C, and bitterly cold winds blowing outside. (I've just come in from a short 20 min walk, mainly to "get my circulation going".) 

All the old snow is gone, though, and the street where I live has been swept clean from winter grit - which inspired me to a bit of extra "spring cleaning" indoors as well, this week. Mainly the hall, which also got a new door mat to celebrate. (I discovered the old one was hardly serving its purpose any more as its bottom had started to disintegrate...)

I also bought a pot of small daffodils for the living room. They have already grown at least twice as tall in just three days, though! (Photos from today.)

 

 * * *

And no, dear Bing, I'm afraid this is not quite what it looks like in my part of the world when we have machines cleaning the streets... (lol) 


Friday 8 March 2024

March 7, 2024 - A Historic Day

 


"Sweden is now a member of Nato"

I don't normally write much about politics, but yesterday the top news here in Sweden (and probably in some other countries too) was that we have now officially joined Nato - every time with the additional comment quoted, that from now on, 7th March 2024 will be "a historic day" for our country, marking the end of around 200 years of Swedish neutrality (even if that "neutrality" may also be, and has often been, discussed...)

The decision to apply to be members of Nato was taken together with Finland in May 2022, triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Finland was officially welcomed as member in April 2023. It took Sweden a year longer because two countries (Turkey and Hungary) hesitated to give their approval. The issues behind that (whatever they were) were somehow eventually resolved, though; and yesterday the final papers were signed.

Of course various reporters were also out on the streets yesterday, asking "ordinary people" how they feel about it. For my own part, I have to confess I'm still in two minds about it. On the one hand, I suppose a joint decision from Sweden and Finland makes sense. On the other hand, I still really wish that humanity would learn better ways to "fight for peace" than keeping up the arms race...

Mind you, I was young back in the 1970s, which (at least among young people, as I remember it) was a time very much characterized by peace-, disarmament-, and anti-nuclear movements... 

 

How many roads must a man walk downBefore you call him a man?How many seas must a white dove sailBefore she sleeps in the sand?Yes, and how many times must the cannonballs flyBefore they're forever banned?
 
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the windThe answer is blowin' in the wind
 
Yes, and how many years must a mountain existBefore it is washed to the sea?And how many years can some people existBefore they're allowed to be free?Yes, and how many times can a man turn his headAnd pretend that he just doesn't see?
 
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the windThe answer is blowin' in the wind
 
Yes, and how many times must a man look upBefore he can see the sky?And how many ears must one man haveBefore he can hear people cry?Yes, and how many deaths will it take 'til he knowsThat too many people have died?
 
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the windThe answer is blowin' in the wind

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...