The day began early...again...seems to be a regular occurrence at the moment, so I decided to be productive and up I got, it was 05.10....In went the washing,on went the kettle, out came the small pile of "stuff I need to read before shredding/filing". It was dark, very dark still, but it was quiet and peaceful. I did the ironing then I wandered down the garden,let the chickens out, well, opened the doors, no one appeared..too early even for them! At 06.30 I was hanging out my washing, it all seemed a bit bizarre!

I had two plans for the day: pick blackberries and go to Stacey and Lydia's housewarming, armed with a few homemade goodies.

Plan 1 Armed with camera and Tupperware I ventured forth to find the hedgerow covered with blackberries, somewhere behind the field behind my house. I didn't find it.....but I did find the source of the "Can't you hear geese, I'm sure I heard honking, listen!" mystery, that Dick repeats most days... and I have remained unconvinced...until now...and I have photographic evidence and yes, he is right (he didn't say, I told you say, for which I am grateful...)




The man on his ride on mower didn't seem perturbed that I was walking on his land, (wondering if I was still on the public footpath)I fought the desire to ask him if he was thinking of selling up anytime as I had great plans for the farmhouse and land he owned...and that most mornings I stared out at it all whilst cleaning my teeth,from my bedroom window. Instead I ambled down his driveway secretly dreaming of community smallholding and found my way back out on to the road where blackberries were to be found.


Oh I forgot to mention that I met these friendly creatures too, before the geese encounter.






I ended up spending 2 1/2 hours walking the circuit that usually takes me 35 minutes on my weekly walk with Jane and Sue! I spotted Sloes, Rosehips and picked loads of Blackberries. I met an aquaintance who was taking her baby out for a walk, a baby who had only been a bump last time I met her in passing!



I dodged tractors and listened to farm machinery unseen behind hedges and houses. I got stung by nettles and eyeballed by cows and I had a wonderful morning!




This afternoon I have pureed blackberries and frozen them,awaiting inspiration. I have whole ones frozen too. Made up a blackberry yogurt and created a spicy blackberry drink with brandy, for the winter. I had just enough for one bottle, plus a little left over to taste.....then I accidently rinsed out the pan with the "tasting " leftovers...so now I'll have to wait to open the bottle....or pick and make some more...hmmmm!



Then it was off to the housewarming armed with a few bits and pieces to inspire Simple Living. We packed up eggs (of course..from the Hog hens!)1 Josterberry jelly, 1 Damson jam, cooking apples , eating apples, dried apple rings, homemade washing powder and instructions of how to make their own if they decide they like it and the necessary ingredients to do so if they wish! Oh and the knitted dishcloth which has become the must have housewarming present as far as I am concerned! It was great fun getting everything together and they seemed to enjoy receiving it!

Now it is dark again and my day has gone full circle, so I will retire to my bed, listen to the owl for whom the day is just beginning, and wonder whether it will be another 5am tomorrow....

The Important over the Urgent

If you were to write down 4-5 things that were most important to you in your life, I wonder what they would be. Yesterday, I wrote down my list of 4 and then I had to ask myself a question. "If I see these as being so important, then how much time am I actually investing in each of these 4 areas?" Then, because I'm a list person (!) took each area and looked at what "investing" could look like on a regular basis in terms of my time. It was an interesting exercise as it showed me that I needed to get my act together if I want there to be a richness and authenticity in those areas.

Someone has quoted these words; "If you always do what you've always done, you will always get what you always got."

I am a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come!

Have wanted to "do something" with this chair for ages! It was given to me by someone who no longer had need or use for it, a few years ago. It has been my ironing chair where I have pondered many a thought whilst ironing my tea towels....and yes, tea towels AND pillowcases HAVE to be ironed and anyway it's therapeutic....







I set to work with some hot air blower contraption that Dick had unearthed from the garage, and a scraper. Soon gave up on that idea, instead grabbed some sandpaper and set about sanding by hand. A slow process, I know, but it gives you time to think and mull and sand it bit more. I did this in stages over a few days, little by little.

The dilemma was, do I sand the old painted bits that no one can see or just leave them hidden? I had to sand them because I knew they were there even if they were hidden to everyone else....and I wanted the chair to be beautiful inside and out...



I was pleased with the remnant I found for sale outside a shop in Lyme Regis a few months ago. £2 bargain, and some left over!! I am learning that you have to buy these things when you see them.



The finished result! Everything I needed, apart from the fabric, I already had, I just needed to find it in my home! I love it when I can give something a new lease of life! I think the phrase is "repurposing" or "refashioning"...

A Weekend in London

Chris and Andy resigning themselves to their Mother pointing a camera in their faces!




Sometimes you come across the unexpected....






Had a great weekend in London, spending time with C and A in their natural surroundings! They wanted to show us the "nice bits of London" as they reckon the East End where we both lived and worked hadn't shown the capital off to the best advantage. They are right, I find myself wondering why I used to travel everywhere by tube which meant that I never understood where certain areas or sites were in relation to each other! Perhaps now I will enjoy discovering what London has to offer! It still good to get to Stonehenge and feel I'm coming home though!

The boys were amused at my excitement over the Oyster card...I have been out of the city for too long!

We managed to capture some sights throughout the w/e, and having found an ideal little hotel in the Docklands, now know we can pop up when we fancy touching base with the boys!

Tower Bridge at 10pm





Andy working near London Bridge at a smart Restaurant just opened. I recommend the hot chocolate....oh and the waiter service!



This is the main reason for the visit, to see Chris performing at The Scoop ampitheatre next to Tower Bridge. Here is a taster of one of the shows "Jason and the Argonauts" a comedy in which Chris plays Narcissus, an Argonaut who thinks he is God's gift to women! This show was aimed at a pre teen audience, but had appeal right across the board. The second performance was Medea which as a Greek tragedy had a far more serious feel. The same actors played in both performances with a 45 minute break in the middle.

http://www.morelondon.co.uk/events_details.asp?ID=58

“Nature's great masterpiece, an elephant - the only harmless great thing.” John Donne quotes (English poet, 1572-1631

You have to climb the steps and then step on to your elephant from here!



I'm not really gripping on for dear life as it looks here!








I never really thought about what it would be like to ride on an elephant... I felt as if I had entered the pages of one of my favourite books "The Far Pavillions" by M.M.Kaye who spent most of her childhood in India. As we swayed gently whilst the elephant plodded up the hill to The Amber Fort in Jaipur, it's frothy saliva occasionally spraying my clothing....nice...I imagined I was entering a romantic idyll,the fragrance of heady flowers, pungent spices, brightly coloured saris and dashing Ashton Pelham-Martin to carry me off on his mighty steed!

Instead we bartered for a wall hanging/bed cover....It didn't take more than for me to point at the item hanging over the wall, just in passing to Dick whilst sitting aloft, for the boy to register my interest and quick as a flash had whipped it off the wall and was running in front of the elephant trying to sell it to us! "3500 rupees?" No Way far too much! So began the art of the barter, with him running backwards, negotiating and us shaking our heads whilst still appearing mildly interested....the emphasis being on the word mildly...musn't appear too interested.it's all part of the game. The cloth was passed up to the elephant handler to hand to us to touch and admire. It was passed down again and so the process continued! Eventually we agreed on 2200 and a deal was struck, wallets retrieved from pockets and money passed down all whilst the elephant continue on his/her weary way, ears flapping and spit flying....


Here is the man with the cloth waiting for a closer encounter!



Some of the beautiful designs within the Fort/Palace











I will add a photo of the wall hanging when I get one!