Category: Life

The View from Here: when life doesn’t quite go as planned

After all, I only get one crack at this next decade!

I’ve been in a dilemma.  I want to write a birthday blog yet why would anyone want to read it?  I remind myself that essentially one blogs for oneself.  But the purpose of publishing is that others should read what is published, and if there is an audience, then surely the audience deserves consideration.  And really – can I expect anyone to want to read about my birthday?  So with the subject matter made clear, feel free to move along if birthdays aren’t your thing.  Continue reading “The View from Here: when life doesn’t quite go as planned”

The View from Here – April to August.  Focusing on the Good Things

The cycles of life don’t change; they continue to turn steadily.

Four months to the day since my last post!  For the past little while it has been exceedingly quiet in my corner of the blogging world.  But just recently, for the first time in weeks, I’ve felt the stirrings of an urge to write and the brainpower to follow it through.  That has to be a good thing. Continue reading “The View from Here – April to August.  Focusing on the Good Things”

The View From Here is most definitely feline

… there will be

No Dog In This House…

I acquired a canine companion on a walk recently.  Bruce is a young black lab who hails from our neighbouring farm.  I tried to make him return to the farmhouse but he was having none of it.  He and his fellow canines do often amble between farm and farmhouse.  I thought perhaps if I walked on and ignored him, he would get bored and head back.  Nope. Continue reading “The View From Here is most definitely feline”

The View from Here: family, fizz, fireworks and damp squibs

At least it solves the delicate problem of who to ask to buy those red knickers.

red-chanticleerThis weekend’s new moon ushered in the Chinese New Year.  It is the year of the Rooster: the Fire Rooster no less.  I knew I was born in the year of the Rooster but only now have I learned that I am a Fire Rooster.  Fire Roosters are apparently trustworthy, with a strong sense of time-keeping and responsibility at work.  I doubt there is anyone that knows me who would vouch for my strong sense of time-keeping but the other two attributes I’d like to think were applicable.  I am in august company, it seems.  In no particular order, more famous fellow Fire Roosters include Dawn French, Donny Osmond, Jools Holland, Stephen Fry, Hans Zimmer and Martin Luther King III.  Who knew! Continue reading “The View from Here: family, fizz, fireworks and damp squibs”

The View from Here: Christmas 2016

In allowing myself these few days in which to celebrate family, my heart opens.

How to write about Christmas when it’s all packed away, in the past, gone and forgotten?  Maybe not entirely forgotten but certainly time has moved on and people are thinking of other things now that January has its feet firmly under the table.  But Christmas is an important event in my calendar and I can’t pack away the memories along with the boxes of decorations.  The memories need to be stored here. Preserving memories and thankfulness were key reasons for starting this blog.

So feel free to move right along on these belated festive posts – they’re likely to be schmaltzy and sentimental but I need to give Christmas and New Year their moments in the spotlight.

Continue reading “The View from Here: Christmas 2016”

The View from Here: the January sap is rising

Finally I emerge – not a shining butterfly … more like a sleepy owl, blinking and bemused, but ready to wish one and all a belated Happy New Year!

Well!  Here I am, halfway through the second week of January 2017.  And finally settling to a blog post.  I have been writing – but for myself alone.  And I have been reading – reading books, and also whittling away at the ever-growing list of posts written by others: people who make time for writing, reading and living in a way that seems to elude me a lot of the time.  And I’ve caught up on some people I owe emails to, though several important and dear friends are still waiting. Continue reading “The View from Here: the January sap is rising”

The View from Here: August in November

life is a glorious and messy business

This post belongs in mid-August.  I began writing it early October and I’m finally publishing it in early November.  What holds all three dates together are open skies and golden sunshine – beyond that life has been up and down and round the block a few times. Right now, life is good.  It’s a good time to write about family. Continue reading “The View from Here: August in November”

The Lost Gardens of Heligan: an afternoon of history, tranquility and delight

Everywhere there are signs of productivity, passion, history and love

Yesterday Bernie & I visited the Lost Gardens of Heligan.  I have wanted to go there for years – since well before the notion of moving here came into being.  I’ve come close once or twice and it’s never quite happened.  Finally, we’ve managed it – on a balmy afternoon in mid-September when everything colluded to give me an experience to treasure. Continue reading “The Lost Gardens of Heligan: an afternoon of history, tranquility and delight”

In Praise of Trains

High praise from me for trains and train staff of all ages and all eras

I made another trip to Sussex in mid-July, primarily to bring back Mum & Dad for their first visit to us.  To make the trip as productive as possible, and to give Mum & Dad as much independence as possible, we agreed that I would come up the day before to spend time with my friend, Caroline, and the following morning they would manage the first leg of the journey themselves, with us meeting in London.  I left home bright and early in promising sunshine. Continue reading “In Praise of Trains”