Summer is over

Would you believe it, we are bathed in autumn sunshine today.  Schools are back, September is here and  summer is over but is it? The London 2012 Paralympics are still on and everyone who watches it is amazed at the paralympians' sporting abilities.  Their tenacity and determination to overcome disability above all odds and to excel in their chosen sport shows those couch potatoes amongst us that anything is possible.  I watched the wheelchair rugby this afternoon and it was vicious.  I am no expert but wheelchair rugby is more than touch sport it is a killer sport! Looks like my barbeque will be brought out this weekend as the weather looks like it's going to be hot. At last all those months of rain and more rain is being replaced by dry sunny weather.  As they say nothing is as unpredictable as the weather (apart from children, animals and those of us who choose the path less travelled). That's my  thought for the day! 

Great British Summer at last!

We have had almost a week of summer here in Norfolk and the south of England.  It has been so hot and dry with temperatures as high as 30 celsius in London that it seems unreal that only last week, it bucketed down every day.  This mini heatwave is not expected to last so we are basking in it while we can.  Pete bought a fan for the conservatory as it was too hot to sit in it, even with all the windows and door open.  Every window and door in the house is open so we can get some ventilation.  I even made some iced green tea with elderflower cordial.  Delicious and so refreshing!  I worked on Monday and Tuesday and had the rest of the week off and feel like I am on holiday at home - I have brought out my sunglasses, sun hat, flip flops, skimpy top and shorts.  No need to wait in airport queues, change foreign currency or get stressed for a place in the Mediterranean sun.  It's here - our very own summer holiday at home. I hear a song coming on....bring back those lazy,crazy days of summer...can't remember how the rest goes...!

What is it about Yard Sales?

Yesterday I went to our annual village yard sale. There were over 80 yard sales dotted all over the village. I went twice! The first time was first thing in the morning after my early morning walk and people were just setting up and feeling generous and keen to sell. I picked up a twin set DVD of the film The Mission for 50 pence, a willow pattern ginger jar for 50 pence and an Ehrman tapestry for £2. The sellers were happy at their early sales and I was delighted. The second time I went with friends a couple of hours later when there were more buyers. I was more circumspect this time round and looked at the items more carefully and considered the seller's attitude and openess to bargaining. This time I bought a heater/fan for a £1. All were bargains and it was fun. Buying other people's unwanted items might appear cheap but as the saying goes, "other people's junk is another person's treasure".

The feeling of getting something cheap and a bargain gives one a thrill. I think yard sales say a lot about the climate we are living in at the moment. People feel the need to sell things and get ready cash. They sell things which they no longer need and buyers buy things which they feel they need. Buyers varied in their emotions about selling personal belongings and those that sold easily were people who wanted to share and sell their things cheaply and to de-clutter. Others who were out to make a profit appeared to be less generous of spirit. Capitalism is ingrained in all of us.... I think yard sales are great and a wonderful way of meeting your neighbours, re-cycling goods and a form of spreading our 'wealth'. In this throw away society that we live in, yard sales are the way to go!

Great British Summer

June is almost over now...we had two really hot days last week and boy was it hot. The pollen was high and the bees in the field up the road were in seventh heaven. I went for an afternoon walk and walked over fields and through hedgerows to the neighbouring village of Methwold. I must have walked at least 15 miles as I had to follow the road back to Feltwell via Methwold Hythe as the shortcut through the old aerodromme was closed off by Darby's Nursery. I learnt how the pigs in the farm were managed as I walked past and I saw the recycling plant too. I also walked past fields of wheat and sugar beet too.

Farming is very much a part of this area and the weather dictates the crops and their growth. Asparagus was late this year and Norfolk produced some beautiful tender stems which we had for about two weeks. However, I had to check the country of origin labels at the supermarket when buying strawberries yesterday. As it was the second day of Wimbledon, I watched Nadal play and scoffed a bowl of strawberries with cream. It was in front of the telly but it did feel like a Wimbledon summer and yes, it felt good.

So what will July hold for us? All I know is that this year our English summer has been the wettest on record. When I go shopping these days I take with me the shopping bag I bought after the Jubilee celebrations. It has a union jack emblazoned on it and 'Great British Summer' written over it and it will remind me to enjoy each day of sunshine and rain as it comes. Nature is telling us that we must respect the land and look after what we have. We are fortunate to have all that nature provides and even if the harvest is poor this year, we will just have to make do. Happy British summer everyone!

Laid back Gozo

Gozitans pride themselves on being relaxed and easy going. During my week's stay here in Gozo, I have got to know most of the people who live on Triq dun Luqa quite well. Everyone knows each other or of each other. Sounds and noise from every house is carried over rooftops and through courtyards. The bells of the local church peal throughout the day and street sellers honk their wares as people emerge from their houses to buy fish, bread, fruit and vegetables.

This morning, I awoke at 6 am and went up on to the roof top and watched the day begin for our neighbours. The woman behind us was crocheting in her front courtyard and the man across the road was inspecting his sunflowers and collecting seeds. The next door neighbour is polishing her husband's shoes and collecting yesterday's washing whilst whistling a little tune. I call out to her from above and she and I share some thoughts about life on Gozo compared to Malta. She has just driven her daughter to catch the first ferry to Malta. She tells me that employment in Gozo is not easy to find so many people commute or work in Malta and come home back to Gozo at the weekend. Perhaps things will change when and if a bridge is built between Gozo and Malta. Like all island communities which are secluded and sheltered from external influences, the bridge will open new challenges and opportunities which they will have to face in order to survive the recession that Europe is currently experiencing.

Malta is a member of the European Community and it has also contributed its share of euros to bail out Greece. This little island is not protected from the outside world but for as long as they can they will make sure that their communities and way of life are maintained. It is a cosy, friendly and peaceful place because the sweet air makes one become as laid back as the Gozitans.

Fence celebrations

To celebrate the completion of our fence between our houses, our neighbours, Bob and Elaine decided to mark the occasion with a party that coincided with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. The fence was a superb structure of stained wooden planks 2 metres high and 50 metres long. It spanned our long drive and separated our two house where we previously had a mixed hedge of conifers, ivy and laurel. Unfurtunately, the hedge died a death and had to be removed and by March there was nothing to separate our two houses. Bob worked on it throughout the month of May in adverse weather conditions from early morn to dusk to complete it by June. It was to be a long and slow process because of the heavy downpours of torrential rain that we experienced in May. May was the wettest month in a long time and whenever there was any small bit of sunshine, Bob would be seen out there with his hammer and measuring level trying to put up a few planks; whilst Elaine helped by staining the wooded planks on the other side. Finally, the last plank was put up on Saturday and we were all quietly relieved but a little sad as we missed seeing them. Over the course of the time that the fence was being erected, Elaine and I became quite comfortable speaking to each other from our drives and I would nip across and pop in for a chat or to share some of my home baking. So with the Jubilee weekend celebrations looming, Elaine and I went into the village to buy some bunting to decorate our fence. We were pleased that we managed to get the last of the bunting at the newsagents as everywhere else was sold out! On the day of the party, it was wet and cold but it did not put a dampener on our spirits as Pete and I went over next door to celebrate with a lovely spread that Elaine had laid out. It was a superb way to finish the day of celebrations to mark our fench and the Jubilee. As we left we noticed that the orange balloons looked wind swept and the bunting was soaked, but felt that the fence was the bond that has built a fantastic friendship with Bob and Elaine that would never have happened if the hedge had not come down.

Bee happy

Last Sunday I had my first taste of what beekeeping was all about. I joined a group of people at the West Norfolk and Kings Lynn Beekeeping Association's apiary at Blackborough End to " get a really good look at bees." It was a coolish day so not ideal for bees as they do not like the cold. We donned our bee suits and made sure that every bit of bare flesh was covered, particularly hands and feet. Barry, the apiary manager showed us three hives. The first hive looked healthy and the bees were busy working away on the foundation frames. There was a pest control tray at the very bottom to spot the dreaded varroa mite which destroyed half our bee population in the last few years. Then we were shown the brooding chamber where the queen hatches her larvae and on top were placed the supers or honey making chambers. Each of these chambers contained thousands of busy honey bees making honey with the pollen which they collected, brought back to the hive to convert into honey and to then store in sealed beeswax combs on the foundation frames. We were shown the queen bee in the second hive by her distinct striped tail and larger size, compared to the smaller worker bees. Then there were the drones which were larger than the worker bees and darker in colour. I saw some brown cells on one frame where larvae were hatched. Judy, our tutor explained that each hive could only have one queen bee and she would mate with the drones to produce worker bees. If another queen was hatched, then the beekeeper would have to be vigilant to remove the second queen by splitting the hive. The hive centres on the queen and if she dies or is killed by the another queen then the hive is de-stabilised and the bees could swarm and leave the hive. Not good news for any bee keeper! I was fascinated by the way bees worked and the dynamics of their community. Lastly, Barry showed us a top bar hive where bees are kept in as natural a habitat as possible - without man-made foundation frames, sugar feeders and pest tray. These bees made their own foundation and the shape of their honey comb would be as found in nature; several small cells together hanging down in the shape of a triangle. Amazing! I thought I might be frightened of the bees in their large numbers but seeing how they worked, smelling the beeswax and feeling the warmth of their activity has whetted my appetite to learn more about bees and beekeeping. They are such clever little insects with a capacity to produce the most natural food that has been known never to perish given the right conditions. Apparently honey has been found in the tombs of the Pharoahs in Egypt, in good condition and even edible! So if I can partake in the making of honey and promote the well being of bees and their ecosystem, I will certainly try, the next step is to go a bee keeping course and talk to my friend Brian, the beekeeper. Can't wait!

Holey moley!

Did you know that there are no moles on the Isle of Man? Just like the fact that there are no snakes in Ireland. Information of no consequence except when one has a problem with moles or snakes. Here in sunny Norfolk ( yes it has been ridiculously warm for the past two days)we have had moles in our garden. Moles are really quite cute creatures except that these little critters are a menace where gardens are concerned. They go about their little ways, burrowing under the ground and make mole hills all over the place and what was once a beautifully kept lawn looks like the moon with craters of uplifted earth scarring the landscape. So we got in our friend, Phil the mole catcher to catch these little blind, furry creatures by setting traps for them; traps which unfortunately kill them. I do not like to use that K-word as far as animal life is concerned but we humans have to draw the line somewhere when it comes to " not in my backyard" syndrome. Sorry Mr Mole, I know you need to have a diet of earthworms but please could you get your dinner somewhere else? Phil managed to trap two fat moles the other day and our newly cut lawn now looks pristine. Today I spotted two little mounds of earth on the other side of the garden....Mr and Mrs Mole ( RIP) appear to have left some offspring who are carrying on their legacy as children are wont to do. Have you heard about Tom and Jerry? Well it sounds to me it might be Phil and Moley now. The saga continues...

Tassie travellers

Yesterday we had two visitors from Tasmania to stay. Sue and Geoff originate from Burnie in the north west coast of the island. They told us that they recently retired, both just turned 60 and were now looking forward to enjoying life and seeing the world. They talked about their travels within and across Australia and now were doing Europe. They struck me as such great adventurers who have the zest to see and enjoy the world around them now that they are free from work and family responsibilities. They were in good health and happy in their own skin. It was such a pleasure to have them stay and share our lives with them for the short overnight stay that they spent with us. Travelling is not always easy - bring far away from home for a length of time, missing loved ones at home and being out of our comfort zones can be challenging. However, having the opportunity to see new places, experience new things and meet people from different walks of life all add to the total travelling experience. Most of all the opportunity to visit people in their homes and to spend quality time, learn about their lives and share each others' history and experiences is a great bonus. We all love our own space but if one can share our space with like-minded individuals and get excited about their travels, they leave an indelible mark and a lasting memory of happy times together. It was wonderful to share a simple dinner of salmon, new potatoes and salad, local rhubarb for pudding and a selection of my favourite Norfolk cheeses, followed by Geoff's Islay single malt whiskey to end the evening. The next morning was Sue's birthday and we were the first to wish her a happy birthday before she received phonecalls from her family and friends in Tasmania. The sun was shining when Sue and Geoff set off on the next leg of their UK holiday...to a wedding in Devon. Happy holidays and happy travelling, Sue and Geoff, our new friends from Tassie.

Contentment

The other day I spent time with my friends Brian and Marian who showed me what contentment meant. We all lead such busy lives that we often don't have the time or inclination to sit back and reflect on our lives. I went to see Brian's sheds in his garden as I was going to write a piece about garden sheds. He told me that the wooden garden shed he bought to replace the original one was demolished by the great storm of 1987, was now being used as storage for his beekeeping equipment. I looked in it and it smelt of honey and beeswax - it was a lovely old fashioned smell of wood, wax and sweetness. Then we moved on to his current 'shed' which is the garage because he needed more space to store larger items for his beekeeping,(honey jars, beeswax and candle making containers), an old beehive, his garden tools, his work bench which comprised woodwork tools, drills and other tools which I was not familiar with. The shed garage had a cooker and a trunk freezer in it and various furniture. The furniture was used to store Items which previously belonged to Marian's grandfather such as a ration book, old papers of historical interest and other odds and ends. It seemed to me that the garage shed was also the place where Brian spent a lot of time because it was his space. His own space where he pottered and mused and worked...every man needs a shed and this was Brian's private place and what a wonderful place it was. It epitomised Brian and what he is - his work, his life and his beekeeping hobby.

Apart from his shed, Brian showed me his greenhouse where he and Marian were growing their vegetable seedlings and other plants. It was a well tended greenhouse which he was very proud of. Everything was in its place, waiting to be planted out when the season was right. Every thing in the garden seemed to tell a story and had a history of its own - the vegetable patch, the apple trees, the garden shed, the greenhouse and the summer house. All these add up to tell a story of Brian and Marian and their contented lives, in a cottage where they brought up their family and where they spend many happy hours in the garage shed, in the greenhouse, in the summer house and in the garden; planting, weeding and tending their plants and vegetables and enjoying tranquility and calm that go hand in hand with the way they lead their lives. The many birds and wildlife that visit their garden daily join in to celebrate with Brian and Marian a life of contentment. A way of life that does not ask for much. This was seen in the joy and delight when Marian and I sat in her summer house watching the beautiful contours of the apple tree in blossom and listening to the quiet as its blossom fell gracefully on the grass, blown down by a gentle breeze. Aaaahh!

Dinner party reflections

Last night we had friends round for dinner. Nothing spectacular one would say except that the evening was an achievement for me in terms of making everyone who came feel that they had a good time. Two couples already knew each other but one couple were new to the other four people. The evening flowed well and people were relaxed and got to know each other better as the evening wore on. As the cook and co-host, I sat back and watched my guests enjoy my cooking, drink, talk and laugh with each other. All my angst and worry about cooking for eight people dissipated when I realised that the main thing was bringing people together and sharing our lovely home with them. I worked hard to plan the menu, shop for ingredients, prepare the starters, main course and trimmings, dessert and the table setting. I learnt that preparation was the key to having a successful dinner party. The other thing I learnt was that the mix of people is important and the chemistry depends on the people, mostly. Pete and I just laid the setting out for a social, making sure that guests were looked after but at the end of the day it is the responsibility of each individual to contribute to the ambience. This may not be rocket science but organising people together can have different outcomes and each of us has a part to play - the dynamics of relationships and the interplay of gender, status and personality of each of our guests was a large part of the evening. As far a Pete and I were concerned we were there to cheer and cajole people on as well as to steer away from any controversy if there was any. Yes, having a co-host and partner is an essential part of having a party because we work together to ensure that our guests get on and enjoy being together. Pete is the support and foundation, providing the backdrop to make the men and women feel complementary and equal in discussions and to give the male perspective and balance between men and women within the dynamics. So my conclusion was that I was very pleased with myself to have been able to carry this dinner party for eight people and now feel more confident in my abilities in entertaining several people at home. When all is said and done and there is a pile of washing up and clearing up to do; all that matters is that people had a great time and we have gathered people together and strengthened friendships and relationships. That is what life is all about - having fun and being happy!

Mobile on the move!

There have been all sorts of opinion about the merits and demerits of mobile phone devices. I was told that in China, 800,000 people own a mobile phone which is phenomenal. How did this tiny piece of equipment jammed against a person's ear have so much impact in such a short time? People are always talking on their phones in all kinds of situations; at home, on the move in buses, cars, taxis, trains and even planes. There is no hiding or evasion from communication through the airwaves and even if one does not answer the phone, the GPS will locate where you are. Such is the omniscience and pervasiveness of the mobile talking machine in everyday life. There are very few public places where mobile devices can be avoided apart from cinemas, churches, hospitals and quiet train carriages. For those of us who continue to resist the tide of technological change I say to you, embrace it because these mobile communicaton devices are a thing of th e future. Communication via Facebook, Twitter, Google+ all have iPhone, IPad, blackberry, android connections through the airwaves. The viral nature of information pathways such as Facebook, Twitter etc are all the more extensive because of mobile devices. Security and privacy over the airwaves have been known to be compromised so unless you want to remain totally anonymous, my advice to you don't bother because Big Brother is watching you! The thing to do is manage the information and only put information and photos you want to share, otherwise delete, delete, delete and never ever use the Internet! It may be too late as cloud computing is going to take over every aspect of information in time. That is the way it is and that's that!

Rainy days and Mondays

Another rainy, cold and wet April morning. It has been raining for almost two weeks and the fact that we are officially in a drought is ironical. Despite all this rain we are happy because there is no need to use the hosepipe which in any case has been banned. Is that being obtuse? Our garden, (which was given a very dramatic haircut by Bob, our neighbour and handy man in the garden) has made a remarkable recovery with lucious greenery and fresh new shoots sprouting from every branch; is looking fantastic. The grass is the most beautiful emerald green and the birds are having lots of bird baths by the pond, our robin's breast looks crimson as he sits on top of one of the pond ornaments and the resident long tailed tit is nesting again in the conifer outside. All these activities can be viewed in our goldfish bowl conservatory. So not rainy days and Mondays anymore but lazy days and Sundays - reading the papers in my pyjamas, listening to the radio, cup of tea to hand and living in the present moment. Bliss!

The Englishman's Castle

In more contemporary times, there seems to be a wider use of the term Englishman's Castle to incorporate The Shed as the common man's Castle. The dictionary describes a shed as an, " outbuilding with a single story; used for shelter or storage". Nowadays when a man says that he is going to his shed, he realy means that he wants to get away from his wife and family and seek some quiet time by himself. When he gets there, he gets a chance to do whatever he wishes without anyone disturbing him. This may involve reading, smoking, having a nap, playing his guitar or whatever music he has and even to have a drink....so he makes the shed into a kind of escape venue and converts it into place where he is comfortable and where he can relax and be happy. So where am I going with this shed concept? The garden shed had it's earliest beginning as a tool shed for garden equipment but as people become more inventive with their free time, we now find all kinds of uses for the humble shed. Men in particular like to have a private space to ruminate and get away from the domestic routine in the house. If a woman wants to get away to a place she can call her own to pursue a hobby such as sewing or craft work, she rarely has the chance to do this as she has so many responsibilities so she tends to incorporate it within family life whilst watching the TV or sitting in the kitchen. But the man has to have his den, office, study, shed and even a bar! Yes, the bar has come into the home as an essential place to drink and be merry. So we find many homes now having a bar at home. As this is an adult pursuit and children are often excluded from drinking alcoholic beverages, the idea to take it out of the house has brought about the birth if the garden pub. The demise of the public house in recent times and the high cost of alcohol and fuel has created a market for home pubs and garden pubs. It is amazing how a past time such as going down the pub has now turned into home drinking, home brewing and drinks at home. Going out has become expensive and people tend to stay at home, invite friends round and drink away without having to worry about drink driving penalties. Brilliant! However, most houses are not big enough to have a separate bar so the idea of extending outside the house brought about the pub in the garden, in other words the bar became a shed and the pub shed was born! Check this link out and see what I mean! http://www.readersheds.co.uk/share.cfm?shedtype=Pub%20Shed

Day at the gym

Woke up to rain so no chance of an early morning walk today. In order to dispel lethargy and enertia, I decided to try out a new fitness class - body pump. It involved a variety of weights, step and dumbbell exercises set to music. It was good to challenge myself and build strength in my biceps, triceps and any other ceps I did not know I had! The instructor Nick did not flinch at giving us a jolly good work out, which at times felt like boot camp! I was pleased that I stayed the course and held my own with the other women in the class who were much bigger and stronger than me. I stayed focused and concentrated on the movements and worked to my own level. At the end of the class, I felt that I had achieved something that I had never done before and felt quite proud of myself. So the lesson I learnt was that in life we have to set ourselves goals and new challenges so that we can reach further into areas that we thought were out of bounds. Women so often lack confidence partiucularly in sports which were deemed to be male dominated. I wa s listening to a female boxer on Women' Hour the other day talk about her aim for an Olympic gold and she gave me the incentive and motivation to try weight training such as body pump. The other lesson I took from today's class is that we have to listen to our bodies and know how far to push it and understand that we have to take small steps at first and build up over time in order to reach the goal of good physical fitness. Furthermore it is important that i pace myself and to attune the mind with the body. The journey towards achieving good physical health will bring a direction in my life which i know will slowly unfold as I make choices and decisions about my work/life balance in the coming months.

What about London?

Oscar Wilde was famously quoted as saying, " if a man tires of London, he tires of life". I spent a day in London yesterday to catch up with my childhood friends Juju and. Lu Ming. Getting to London was easy and arriving at Kings Cross station was a nicer experience than before as the station has been modernised and platforms, travel information easily accessible and rail staff n bright new uniforms. Central London was congested with tourists and as it was the school holidays there were even lots of children and young people about, many being entertained by street artistes pretending to be statues. I walked into a Lloyds TSB branch in Covent Garden and spoke to a bored customer service officer who told me that more and more people are now moving into the west end to live in order to cut costs. The Seven dials area which includes, Covent garden and Soho have always been residential areas and here there are a multitude of shops, bars, cinemas, theatres etc - every amenity to meet any need. London has always attracted people and if you like city dwelling and living in a built up urban area with every amenity at hand, then working and living in a vibrant quarter of a pumping city like London is the place to be. I was fascinated by the people on the street as I sat and observed them from Jubilee Market and surrounds, there were young executive types walking with mobile phones deep in conversation with their mobiles jammed against their ears, students using the free wi-Fi in Starbucks and Cafe Nero, market traders plying their wares and bright young sales assistants in posh up market stores like Orla Kiely and Gudrun Sjorden strutting their stuff. Then it was happy hour and all the streets were packed with people leaving work for a drink or a quick meal, pre-theatre goers and those who were wending their way home waiting at bus queues and crowded tube trains. What an amazing place London is and even more what about it when the Olympics 2012 comes to town in July? Will it be able to cope with the onslaught on its already challenged transport system, congested roads and pavements? Not to mention increase in volume of people using its toilets ( there were only two cubicles in the one female public loo in Covent Garden) and what about the rubbish generated by all these people. These are only some of the few observations I made on my day trip to London. I have to admit that I was thoroughly enthralled by London for those few hours I was there. It has so much to offer and it is feast for all kinds of tastes and needs - pastry lovers, gourmands, retail therapy, drink, music, arts; anything and everything but is it? London epitomises our fast moving, instant gratification materialistic society that we all love and resent at the same time but we find difficult to reject because that is what we have become as citizens of a capitalist western world where we need to feel connected and involved as a group or as individuals in order to know that we belong.

After Easter

Easter is over and our different ways of experiencing it - religious and secular versions have moved on... Church goers have fulfilled all their holy week and Lenten commitments and celebrate the risen Christ. No more chocolate and alcohol abstinences for those who now revert to their old ways. What was all that about? Do we feel any more virtuous or better individuals? For those of us without a religious belief and celebrate the secular version of Easter, they view Easter as the first long holiday since Christmas and a chance to sit back and enjoy the spring weather. Alas that was not to be because the weather played up and rain and cold weather came down over the Easter weekend. Never mind, we rejoiced that our gardens were well watered as the hosepipe ban had just been imposed. I guess all that can be concluded from this is that Easter is a celebration of dark over light - days are longer, animals come out of hibernation and plants spring forth new shoots and growth. New beginnings methinks. I look forward to new ideas and inspiration to move into a new phase of life. By being more mindful in my thoughts and actions, direction and purpose will follow.

April Showers

The last few days have been wet and cold after mad weather March. We were thrilled because it rained heavily the day before the hosepipe ban began on the 5th March. It was what the Scots call a " dreich" day - evoking dull, depressing and cheerless emotions but hey, the garden needed the rain because the trees, shrubs and grass have come alive! No need to water the garden now. Bring on the rain but please God give us some sunshine too!

Morning walk

Every day is a lesson in life. Observing nature and watching birds in the early morning never ceases to amaze me. They seem to know more about how to live life to the full and to enjoy each moment. Why can't we be more like them? They do not stress themselves out over small things like us. Being able to fly and feel free to survey the landscape from a branch of a lone tree on the Heath is all they need. Nature brings us this simplicity of spirit - to appreciate each daily action as a fulfilling yet simple way to live.

March morning

Today is the last day of March. It has been a fabulous March with lots of warm sunny days. All the shoots are sprouting and the birdsong has been music to ears. I walked along the Heath and have begun to recognise the different calls of the chiff chaff, yellow hammer and the reed bunting. I have not seen the reed bunting but I have heard his cheep-cheep-chizzup call from his grass nest close to the ground.

Vision and Purpose

How do we know what our vision and purpose are? The life we lead may not be our vision and purpose and when we find ourselves dissatisfied and unhappy with our situations, we have to re-evaluate what is important and what it is that makes us happy. The journey in search of this truth lies within ourselves, not in the material attachments that we think are necessary to make us happy. The knowledge we gain is by listening and digging deep within ourselves. It takes time, patience and understanding to know our true selves.

Dinner party in Canberra

Ok, it's been awhile since that dinner part in Canberra where I met Sylvia who showed me how to set up this blog. I have just returned home to England and re-discovered my blogging muse. Travelling round Australia and Tasmania and meeting so many people was a mind boggler and now my mind has become "de-boggled" enough to start writing about a different walkabout....a walkabout of the mind and soul!