Human beings have always worried; what if we don’t catch a mammoth for dinner? Now it’s called anxiety. Of course I don’t suffer from anxiety… I just imagine all the things that could possibly go wrong so I am prepared.
There are some things people should worry about such as global warming and war; is my stretch of the jungle going to be burnt down, is my island going to be flattened by Hurricane Dorian, will there be anything left of my city after the bombing.

What most of us worry about;
What shall we have for dinner when son brings his new girlfriend round / when boyfriend’s parents come to see our new flat…
Will the car run out of petrol, will the bus be late…
Should I water the garden before we go away, have I packed my hair straighteners.
Should I make an appointment at the doctors / dentists.

Most of us are not completely self centered; we do worry about our loved ones…
Will their holiday flight crash, will they be involved in a motorway pile up on their way to visit us…
Is there something wrong with the budgerigar, he’s off his food.
If you have the misfortune to be in charge of other people, or worse still, other people’s children, you may be justified in worrying. It would be best if you didn’t take precious little ones near any water, roads or firework displays. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security; think they are safe in the park? No, a stinging nettle might leap out and grab their leg or worse still, a pack of pit bull terriers… and you forgot to put on their suntan lotion…

But this blog is about not worrying.
Don’t Worry Be Happy
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/bobbymcferrin/dontworrybehappy.html
It may feel like the human race has more to worry about than ever. Big things to worry about like Brexit, Trump, Syria, Hong Kong, The Amazon, bees, the Whole World, failure of antibiotics, nuclear weapons, Armageddon – put in worrying order with number 1. being utter dread and number 10. ‘Don’t Worry, be Happy.’
But our ancestors had just as many worries.
What they did need to worry about.
‘What if mammoths become extinct, what will we eat and wear?’
‘I hope we don’t get another ice age.’
‘Let’s hope it won’t take too long to get back to the promised land.’
‘What if those white men don’t get back on their big canoe and sail away?’
‘What if that volcano erupts?’

What they needn’t have worried about.
‘Thanks a lot Eve, that’s the end of beautiful gardens for humans.’
‘If we don’t sacrifice our daughter the gods will wreak vengeance on all of us.’
‘Don’t sail too far or you will fall off the edge of the earth.’
‘This great plague is going to wipe the human race out.’
‘If man ever reaches the Moon goodness knows what that will lead to.’

What needn’t you have worried about?
Have you ever said ‘I told you this would happen!’






















The first time we went to the cathedral city of Salisbury, Wiltshire we couldn’t find the cathedral. The spire, at 123m from ground level, is the tallest in Britain, visible for miles around and we couldn’t see it from the main square. After wandering around we finally found the signs. We often go to Salisbury, but it is one of many places where I can easily lose my sense of direction. There are five park and ride sites, all completely free at present, to encourage visitors back to Salisbury after the novichok poisoning. We usually go to the one on our route into Salisbury, but one time, against my better judgement, Cyberspouse suggested we go to the main car park near the supermarket. On arrival I was quick to point out how expensive our visit was going to be. We have a purse in the glove box that my Australian sister-in-law gave us, which is made from a kangaroo’s testical; we can get a lot of coins in it and I always put my silver change in. I poured ten, twenty and fifty pence pieces into the machine, but just before we had clocked up the right amount it stopped working. Money gone and no ticket, but at that moment, as if by magic, a car park attendant appeared at my shoulder. We had put so much money in we had blocked up his machine. He unlocked it and the money poured into our hands – we then put pound coins in and got our ticket. Setting off from that car park I had no idea where we were in relation to the Salisbury I knew.







