Year: 2014
Date: 28 February
Dear Blog,
It occurs to me that I have been neglecting you. I can only apologise. Yes, I am sorry and I'm not afraid to admit it. Unlike a lot of other notable and newsworthy figures of late. Here is a flash review of events since my last entry in DECEMBER. Hang on to your coat tails.
December:
A return sailing expedition on Fast Eddy proved to be heaven sent respite from a rigorous and rather flattening lecture schedule. It was beautiful and fun. I maintain that winter sailing can offer many hours to practice tranquillity and 'mindfulness.'
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Once the holiday period closed in, I managed to soldier through December and pre-Christmas festivities admirably. I had an excellent break from teaching. I didn't buy any extravagant or totally useless gifts. I attended a select couple of festive community and choral evenings in abbeys and cathedrals. So as usual, music has played a central role while 'keeping calm and carrying on.'
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Departing from previous years' experience with themed parties and drunken teens, I was blessed with a manageable number of smaller, less licentious gatherings. I Skyped with friends and family living overseas and in more Northern or Western climes. I discovered new folk artists, songs and gigs. Sipped espressos in sweet 'hole in the wall' Italian cafés in Cambridge, all while working to rekindle my artisan community roots.
Alas, I missed some special reunions back home. I heard there was a lot of love, memories, laughter and tears shared at this particular gathering. Maybe next year....
Christmas Week was all surprise. Torrents of water, gales, and broken trees reduced many associate's holidays to ash. Changed plans and sodden turkeys seemed pervasive.
But, somehow the doll's house survived unscathed. The log burner puffed away dutifully while Mr. Willowby's Christmas tree stood its ground. I can't yet bring myself to remove the lights as it is quite beautiful when illuminated in the pitch blackness. Now it serves as a feeding station. Laden with nut cages and seed balls, it hosts many songbirds.
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On the day, I roasted a duck, stuffed and baked the Halloween pumpkin with quinoa and prunes (plus other stuff), and a small party of four spent a merry few days listening to BBC Radio 4 (who by the way did a stellar job over the Christmas period with a plethora of excellent radio drama and commentary, especially the episodes of Beatrix Potter 12 Days of Christmas satire).
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January
New Years Day swept in gently, representing the last calm before the conveyor belt of storms rolled across the Atlantic. The month came and went in a blink, perhaps hurried by the hurricane winds, spring tides, leaving us staggering amidst the erosion.
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All the while, I fretted over exams for the students in my first module, working with them in groups or individually on revision. I started the wrap up for the second module, which would finish the second week of February. Exams and assignments are due later in May. My heart goes out to the students because the gap between the end of the module and the exam is so wide. I can't remember what I did last week, let alone two months ago!
Date: 28 February
Dear Blog,
It occurs to me that I have been neglecting you. I can only apologise. Yes, I am sorry and I'm not afraid to admit it. Unlike a lot of other notable and newsworthy figures of late. Here is a flash review of events since my last entry in DECEMBER. Hang on to your coat tails.
December:
A return sailing expedition on Fast Eddy proved to be heaven sent respite from a rigorous and rather flattening lecture schedule. It was beautiful and fun. I maintain that winter sailing can offer many hours to practice tranquillity and 'mindfulness.'
Once the holiday period closed in, I managed to soldier through December and pre-Christmas festivities admirably. I had an excellent break from teaching. I didn't buy any extravagant or totally useless gifts. I attended a select couple of festive community and choral evenings in abbeys and cathedrals. So as usual, music has played a central role while 'keeping calm and carrying on.'
Departing from previous years' experience with themed parties and drunken teens, I was blessed with a manageable number of smaller, less licentious gatherings. I Skyped with friends and family living overseas and in more Northern or Western climes. I discovered new folk artists, songs and gigs. Sipped espressos in sweet 'hole in the wall' Italian cafés in Cambridge, all while working to rekindle my artisan community roots.
Alas, I missed some special reunions back home. I heard there was a lot of love, memories, laughter and tears shared at this particular gathering. Maybe next year....
Christmas Week was all surprise. Torrents of water, gales, and broken trees reduced many associate's holidays to ash. Changed plans and sodden turkeys seemed pervasive.
But, somehow the doll's house survived unscathed. The log burner puffed away dutifully while Mr. Willowby's Christmas tree stood its ground. I can't yet bring myself to remove the lights as it is quite beautiful when illuminated in the pitch blackness. Now it serves as a feeding station. Laden with nut cages and seed balls, it hosts many songbirds.
On the day, I roasted a duck, stuffed and baked the Halloween pumpkin with quinoa and prunes (plus other stuff), and a small party of four spent a merry few days listening to BBC Radio 4 (who by the way did a stellar job over the Christmas period with a plethora of excellent radio drama and commentary, especially the episodes of Beatrix Potter 12 Days of Christmas satire).
January
New Years Day swept in gently, representing the last calm before the conveyor belt of storms rolled across the Atlantic. The month came and went in a blink, perhaps hurried by the hurricane winds, spring tides, leaving us staggering amidst the erosion.
All the while, I fretted over exams for the students in my first module, working with them in groups or individually on revision. I started the wrap up for the second module, which would finish the second week of February. Exams and assignments are due later in May. My heart goes out to the students because the gap between the end of the module and the exam is so wide. I can't remember what I did last week, let alone two months ago!
February
Then February arrived like a steel-toed boot with a stomp. Ugh. That's all I can say. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Most of February was lost to a failed flu jab. I'm not a good sick person. I'm a terrible sick person. And I was a sick person who didn't have time to be sick. Plagued with the worst nightmares, I'm certain I lost a quarter of my lungs coughing. I must change channels here because if I linger on this topic any longer, I may suffer a relapse.
But, I wasn't the only one who marched on stoically through February. Both my kids kept their noses to the grindstone - one studying and bartering for peace amongst room mates and animal menageries (they have three bunnies residing in their living room, apparently); the other worked to set up the wonderful 'Discoveries' exhibit at 2 Temple Place in London. This eclectic collection of artefacts and treasures closes in April, so if you are a resident or visiting the UK, it's a must see.
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Floods, more storms, cancelled trains, broken and waterlogged shoes, broken toes, landslips, lots of bad things happening to good people, the ones I love, and countless other folks who I don't know. One night I woke up from a dream where I had opened the kitchen cabinet door and a waterfall of brown water poured out forming a four inch-deep puddle at my feet.
Events continued forward with Sirius getting sick (I know it's time soon, but I thought he would be with me forever). This news is a blow. Since his surgery, he's being spoiled with home made liver, bacon and peanut butter dog biscuits. He can chase as many tennis balls as he can find, for as long as he can run. Basically, he rules the house (no change there then).
Then February arrived like a steel-toed boot with a stomp. Ugh. That's all I can say. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Most of February was lost to a failed flu jab. I'm not a good sick person. I'm a terrible sick person. And I was a sick person who didn't have time to be sick. Plagued with the worst nightmares, I'm certain I lost a quarter of my lungs coughing. I must change channels here because if I linger on this topic any longer, I may suffer a relapse.
But, I wasn't the only one who marched on stoically through February. Both my kids kept their noses to the grindstone - one studying and bartering for peace amongst room mates and animal menageries (they have three bunnies residing in their living room, apparently); the other worked to set up the wonderful 'Discoveries' exhibit at 2 Temple Place in London. This eclectic collection of artefacts and treasures closes in April, so if you are a resident or visiting the UK, it's a must see.
Floods, more storms, cancelled trains, broken and waterlogged shoes, broken toes, landslips, lots of bad things happening to good people, the ones I love, and countless other folks who I don't know. One night I woke up from a dream where I had opened the kitchen cabinet door and a waterfall of brown water poured out forming a four inch-deep puddle at my feet.
Events continued forward with Sirius getting sick (I know it's time soon, but I thought he would be with me forever). This news is a blow. Since his surgery, he's being spoiled with home made liver, bacon and peanut butter dog biscuits. He can chase as many tennis balls as he can find, for as long as he can run. Basically, he rules the house (no change there then).
Yes, there were fleeting moments and a couple of connected hours of greatness. Some pretty days, scattered like crocus, in little random clumps. And, it's true, the snow drops offer hope.
Dear February, it must be time for you to disappear over the hedge. Today, shortly, now... at midnight. I am waiting to welcome March's lions and lambs. I'm trying to think positively. Good thoughts. Pay it forward. Random acts of kindness. Any act of kindness.
To this end, I would like to give a shout out to the SuspendedCoffees.com team.
To this end, I would like to give a shout out to the SuspendedCoffees.com team.
What is SuspendedCoffees, you askt? John Sweeney, founding visionary behind the SuspendedCoffees initiative says this:
"Every once in a while an idea comes along with the potential to truly make the world a better place. Suspended Coffee is one of those ideas.
First, it’s simple. You walk into a coffee shop and instead of buying just one cup of coffee, you buy two, or more. You buy one for yourself and one for someone in need.
Second, it’s direct. You do not need to worry if your money is going to actually help someone or just to take care of a charity organization and its overhead and expenses. You also do not need to worry whether or not your recipient will use your gift to buy alcohol or drugs. You can directly control which food or beverage you would like to donate.
Third, it’s win-win. You not only support a person in need, you also support your local business and all its employees. Your money does not go to another state, country or continent. It stays right in the neighbourhood where it was spent.
Lastly, it can be used for more than just coffee. You could buy a hot bowl of nourishing soup, a filling sandwich, water, fruit, bread, or a full meal. Suspended coffee’s simplicity makes it easy to duplicate with other food items."
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No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. That's what SuspendedCoffees is all about: helping to make the world a kinder place, one coffee bean at a time!
Because, in the end...
And then there is light. The Aurora.
Isn't our planet earth awesome? Watch this video and try to disagree.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=
So, that brings 'me' blog up to date, ever so quickly, with parsimonious detail.
Tomorrow brings Spring: More daffodils; the promise of red and pink tulips; the vegetable patch yawns and beckons; Lara rests. Soon the seas will settle down. I look forward to the first swim in the sea, maybe by the end of March... but, let's not get ahead of ourselves!
xx
Image and Photography Credits (other than my own):
Image and Photography Credits (other than my own):
- Storm scenes: Isle of Man Photographic Album and Isle of Wight
- Winchester Cathedral Ceiling: David Hare
- Small acts of kindness: Banksy
- In the end: George Takei
- Aurora Borealis: Kris Williams Photography
- Flora and Fauna Illustration: Yves Sturgeon
- Fallen Trees: Tracy Holmes
- Gallery Attendant Illustration: Erika Lewis
