Such a peaceful quiet road, the watching cats proof there is little traffic passing through. The woman is clearly proud of her home and her love of flowers and nature clear by the mass of plants on the roof garden and hanging baskets on the wall. I wonder if one of the cats knocked a plant down as she seems so sad at having to clear the debris away. But she isn’t angry instead I think she probably enjoy the company of a mog or two as she sips her coffee on her terrace. No doubt, she shares a titbit or two with the felines too. I quite like the idea of a terrace roof garden, especially in the summer - how blissful to work in the open air but still have a mug of java on hand when I want it. As for cats they are good company when one is working, I normally have one or two around me as I type.
Monday, 18 February 2008
Morning Pages - Cats and Hanging Baskets
Tuesday, 5 February 2008
600 seconds at lunch - What is your favourite/least favourite fruit? Why?
My favourite fruit are strawberries, although I only have them fresh in the summertime - tree-hugger greenie that I am won’t buy imports, as that would be damaging to the planet. I like them because of their soft but full flavour of summer that balances so well with a touch of vanilla and Chantilly cream, yoghurt, or a rich creamy cheesecake. They are erotic and sensuous and definitely up there with oysters and asparagus as foods of love. My least favourite fruit is the orange, although I love orange juice. I just can’t stand the smell of oranges freshly peeled and I hate how the bits of pith get in your teeth. Despite that, I still use a jaffa for my citric drink each day, they are good for me.
Morning Pages - Adrenalin Rush
The thrill rides at fun fairs and theme parks are one of the ways of hitting the buzz of adrenalin rushing round the brain. With all the safety checks that now have to legally take place it’s probably a safer way of doing it too. I am a self-confessed adrenalin junkie and for me a part of that fix is taking risks so I still yearn to do the crazy things like base-jumping and free falling. That element of risk is almost as essential as anything else. Maybe I shouldn’t take chances, at my age I should know better, but then if I say that would I bother getting up in the morning. Everything we do carries a risk, we have to decide if it’s one worth taking. Do we stop living because life itself is just too dangerous?
Monday, 4 February 2008
And Its Goodnight From Me - Bonnie
Bonnie is a black and white fluffy tomcat. Fluffy coat and fluffy by nature. He is a people cat. Bonnie thrives on attention and is always up the front of the queue if a human is free to give a fussing. Apart from that, Bonnie is a quiet mog and appears from nowhere. He doesn’t really play cat games preferring to be in human company unless it’s his brother Spike or the four musketeers. Bonnie’s favourite sleep place is on top of the bookcase where he tends to be left in peace. He likes, if he gets half a chance, to get in the towel box. Bonnie loves his catnip and his kibble; he doesn’t really like meat flavours fish is far more to his sophisticated taste. Bonnie is a gentleman but he certainly isn’t shy or timid.
Sunday, 3 February 2008
And Its Goodnight From Me - Bungle and Gemmy
Bungle and Gemmy are grey and white Burmese twins. Like most twins, they are extremely close and more often than not can be found together. Both are well-built stocky cats, Bungle being a tad overweight - more due to his love of lazing about than over-eating. The twins love curling up by the fire or tumble dryer although on particularly warm days they will venture out into the garden and find a secluded snooze spot. Bungle and Gemmy are not overly fond of mixing with humans, it’s more toleration out of necessity of the human presence to provide food. They will also buddy-up to humans if there is the remotest chance of cheesecake or Chantilly cream. They are not play cats, life is for getting as much sleep as possible and far to precious to waste chasing balls or toy mice. Gemmy will play with the kittens occasionally but only for short periods as they try her patience and tire her out.
600 seconds at lunch - "This above all; to thine own self be true" - William Shakespeare
Without a shadow of a doubt, honesty starts with the self. You have to accept yourself for who you are, allow yourself to be you and not the ‘you’ expected by the world. Self-honesty is the beginning to improving your self-esteem and confidence. It is also the start of being honest to others. If you can’t be true to yourself there is little to no chance you can be true to anyone else. Burying the truth for whatever reason is denying the reality of your life, it is deception to yourself and possibly others too.
600 seconds at lunch - First Memory of Smell
My earliest recall of a smell is freshly baked bread. I vaguely recall a bread strike and mum making bread. Even now, I prefer homemade bread although I do cheat and use a bread maker - unheard of in the ‘70s. I must have been around four or five as my brother was an infant, I don’t know exactly. I remember running into a cosy, warm kitchen and that awesome aroma that instantly makes you hungry. That of course sparks the memory of freshly baked bread warm from the oven with creamy butter melting into it. Amazing, simply amazing! I don’t know why it’s a smell I remember, I’m guessing it gives me a sense of being home and safe. I’m not sure.
Morning Pages - Sunrise Swan
The swan is a bird of beauty and elegance both gliding on the water and in flight. Serene and peaceful at dawn rise before the rush of the day takes over. Nobody to disturb the silence, a rare chance to just be. I definitely identify with this swan floating in the first rays of sunlight. Right now it’s midwinter the sun isn’t even thinking of rising as I write my Morning Pages, but it is peaceful, everyone else is asleep. It’s just me, a mug of coffee, a couple of ginger biscuits and my pen and paper. Bliss sheer bloody bliss.
