what a time it was

Is it really over two years ago
that I wrote to you from Nerja?
I looked back at the photos today,
amazed to find that time had passed so quickly.

The first year students I accompanied
have become good friends now
who drop by my office to tell me their news.

They will be sitting their last exam today,
celebrating, sleeping,
going to job interviews
and then packing up to leave.

It will be hard to let them go.
Very hard.

*****

“No matter how much time passes,
no matter what takes place in the interim,
there are some things we can never assign to oblivion,
memories we can never rub away.”

Haruki Murakami
Kafka on the Shore

Meanwhile

... in South Africa
Cheeky the little red car
has gone to the Great Scrapyard
after an encounter with the bottom of a ditch.
Thankfully nobody was hurt.

MrsM thinks that there are times
when it is very hard
to be a long distance mother
and distracts herself with a new iPod

MasterM send photos of his new car,
Sifiso the Night Warrior,
watching the sunset in the mountains.

MrsM
Who is Sifiso named after?
Sifiso Myeni the famous footballer
or Sifiso Nhlapo the BMX star?

MasterM
Neither...
but Sifiso Nhlapo says that
the most important person
in his life is
his mum.
I respect that.

The Zen Bowl

I'm sensing an energetic imbalance of chakras
in the blogging community right now
leading to feelings of dissatisfaction
and a subtle form of anxiety.

I'm going to let you all
peek into my Zen Bowl
to help you liberate yourselves
from negative conditioning.

I hope that has helped you centre your beingness.

You're welcome.

Dear Universe,

London, 1593

Cartographer : John Norden
Engraver : Pieter van den Keere

*****

Today went a bit off plan.
I had to retire to bed.
Which was annoying.
Tomorrow had better be better.
Or I will be cross.
Just sayin'.

Sea Breeze ✔

Sunday Lunch

MrsM admires her freshly scrubbed table
and the artistic placement of the thyme plant.
MrM complains that he can't see anything
because of the 'bush' in the middle of the table.

MrsM moves the thyme plant aside
with only a small sigh of artistic despair
because she is feeling delightfully relaxed
after drinking her sea breeze cocktail.

Check out this Summer Greens soup
(spinach, peas and edame beans)
with artisan bread from Hambleton Bakery.

Healthy - no?

An afternoon of gardening is ahead
but first MrsM will make the most of the sunshine
and have a long blink.

Life could be worse.

*****

I have been reading Megan
at 'the scent of water' for several years.
She takes wonderful, inspiring photos
and writes with great honesty
but then she stopped, or so I thought.
It turns out that my Google Reader
was not picking up the feed for some reason
but Megan had not stopped writing,
in fact she has started writing every day.
Only a few bloggers choose to write every day
and I know what a challenge it is -
so I am glad that I discovered her again,
and can be witness to her journey.

Doris, Rudolph and Edna

It was a wet and windy day in May
and MrsM sat down to write her list

"10 things to do this summer!"

1.
Drink a Sea Breeze cocktail
2.
Have a picnic on a boat
3.
Swim in the sea

4.
Enter a cake competition in a village fete
5.
Grill halloumi cheese
6.
Go to an outdoor theatre event

7.
Go to the zoo with Miss Maisie
8.
Use nasturtium flowers in a salad
9.
Watch cricket with MrM

10.
Work out what on earth
I am going to wear
to the GeogSoc Boat Party.

A little tiny wave
to our lovely friend Cathy of Menopausal Musing.
She is not blogging at the moment
because she is Very Busy
but I hope she will enjoy this post.

Bento #8

Stand by your beds
it's Bento time!

Can we can get any madder?
Or more extravagant?
Yes we can!

Dressed crab salad.
And why not?

< Don't lick the computer screen... >

Goats cheese with cranberry and hazelnut toast
and a golden oregano leaf.
Because coriander is so last week.

Red fruit salad with free range raspberries.
No expense spared around here.

I am eating this with Blogless Andrea
who sent me this link about sock knitting.
Willow pattern socks!
What's not to like?

MrsM and the Picture Framer

MrsM takes her new prints to the Picture Framer
and lays them out for his approval.
The Picture Framer selects some frame samples
and they start the negotiations.

The Picture Framer likes frames with features.
MrsM prefers simple frames.
MrsM picks a distressed white wood
and the Picture Framer puffs his disapproval.
It is too deep, too wide.

The Picture Framer displays
a grey frame with a contrast black line.
MrsM purses her lips.

The Picture Framer concedes
and offers an off white frame.
MrsM accepts graciously
and allows him to choose the mount.

A week later MrsM collects the pictures
and the Picture Framer says gloomily
'It's very difficult to hang in a line,
I expect you will spend all day
trying to get them straight.'

MrsM tries to look modest
because hanging pictures in a line
is her secret super power.

*****

These prints are by Tom Frost,
a talented young illustrator based in Bristol.
I bought them from St Jude's Prints

an everyday miracle

As I left campus tonight I saw a Chinese student standing under an apple tree. She was looking upwards into the blossom as though she was seeing it for the first time. There was a stillness, a total absorption in the moment, and I had the sense that she was seeing in exquisite detail the delicate shades of pink, the curves of the petals, the bright stamens. It may be that this student has never seen apple blossom before but this year after such a long winter I think we have all felt wonder and gratitude for these everyday miracles.

Notes from the Lady Gardener

Welcome to the new Gardening Year!
I hope you are all going to try your hardest
and, with our support, flourish and make us proud.

Firstly, a round up of news for this week:
Well done to the Tree Paeonies
who have put on a splendid display in the last week.
A little bit disappointed with you, White Iris...
I think that you might not have been entirely frank
when you joined - we were expecting tall not small
so you will have to be moved where we can see you.
I am sorry about the cold temperatures
which are out of our control
but I hope you are all enjoying the mulch
which should keep you nice and cosy.

Right-oh, now let's look forward to next week:
We will shortly be joined by a lot of little Box plants,
I hope that you will make them feel welcome.
They are slow but work well as a team.
We are keeping our eye out for the roses
who have been a little bit shy this year.
And finally, the Paeony team - don't let us down!
I am going to be quite clear - I want garnet red flowers.
Any half hearted magenta rubbish from Karl Rosenfield
and you will be out of your place in the sun
and off to the end of the border.
Do I make myself clear?

A word of warning...
I want you all to be on the look out
for Bindweed and Ground Elder -
they are bad influences and we must be Vigilant.

And now for some exciting news from Estates!
The Wendy House has been removed
and consultations are underway to agree a replacement.
I am delighted to report that funding has been agreed
and the decisions are now at committee stage.

And finally can I remind you of our garden motto
"Videamus coalescit"
Remember it at all times.

You are dismissed.