Festivity
Had a busy day today, starting with bargains and catching up with friends, then off to the Ipswich Festival for a few hours of live music.
We got there half way through the set of a singer called Brooke Austin, who I enjoyed, but haven’t been able to find much info on…
We parked ourselves in the shade so we could comfortably listen for a while – here’s our view –
It was mid-morning – not so many people there yet.
Sweet Bean wandered – round town, but also had a go in the competition at the Heritage Bank tent. They were giving away squishy pink pigs if you got the ball in the basketball net – he won one, even though he could only use one hand!
Say hello to Pancetta Pig! 😀
We were really at the Festival for Wild Eyed Wonder, who we have seen before, and enjoy hearing. Took some footage of the end of a song (there were people standing in front of me, and I was enjoying the blue skies and clouds anyway, so that’s the background…)
Go check out her Facebook page and YouTube channel for more music!
I love live music. We haven’t been able to get to the Festival for the last few years, so we’re planning to enjoy what we can this year. I love watching the tiny beans running and dancing (and turning cartwheels) across the grass while their parents look on. This morning there were two girls who couldn’t stand on their own, but were able to dance by being held up by their carers, who danced with them. There weren’t many people when we were there (I expect there were more later this evening after the parade), but those of us there were able to lose ourselves in the vibrancy for a few hours, each dancing in our own ways.
Also, there was bacon and cheese loaded chips, and iced chocolate. Can’t be bad!
We also listened to The Lighthearts
Sunshine and cheer…
After them were Dezzie D and the Stingrayz – 40s/50s style – but we didn’t stay for their whole set. We’re hoping to spend a few hours at the Jazz and Blues Festival tomorrow, so it was off home for a rest.
Had a look at the classic cars outside – I’m not very mechanically minded, but they were beautiful. Then we said goodbye, as the sun shone down on us…
A Smile Back In The Day
Having a mini wallow – it’s one of those mornings…
(I have written myself a list so I can jump back into the day quickly – there are things to DO!)
For some reason it seemed the perfect time to wander YouTube listening to 80’s music. Of course I needed sustenance…
Yes, totally indulgent. I’ll probably feel it later, but I consider it’s worth it, just for today!
Sweet Bean and I enjoy a show called “Would I Lie To You”, which we find quite funny. I’d never played him the song (it’s not really related to the show) so thought I should rectify the oversight the other day. Everyone should have the chance to encounter the Eurythmics at least once in their life. Of course, once I start playing him one song, I can’t resist moving on to others that I’m reminded of, until I remember that there’s other stuff to do or I realise I’ve turned into a slightly manic reminiscent middle aged person and Sweet Bean is looking bemused while trying to sidle away quietly…
I was a teenager in the 80s. I sometimes can’t believe I dressed like that (the clothes! the hair!). It’s fun to look back, and it’s a quick burst of cheer.
(Possibly not The Smiths. They’re good if you want some company in misery.)
Time to head back in to real life.
I know you want to listen to a little bit of Annie Lennox first, though.
Because why not?
Singing Green
In honour of St Patrick’s day, some songs – starting with a prayer attributed to St Patrick, and then some artists I enjoy…
King Of The Mysteries
A week or so ago, a song I loved but hadn’t heard in a while was brought to my attention… When I first heard it I didn’t know what it was or who it was by, but it spoke to that wildness that is at the centre of spirit. We dream of great adventures and epic journeys, but life tends to blunt our corners and keep us chained to the average.
And we’re afraid…
Who will catch us when we fall?
Is the journey worth the possible pain, or loss?
This song gave me answers to hold to.
It’s based on a prayer attributed to St. Brendan, a 5th – 6th century Irish monk who was known as a seafarer, and sometimes known as “The Navigator”, “The Voyager” and “The Bold”.
The Prayer of St Brendan
Help me to journey beyond the familiar
and into the unknown.
Give me the faith to leave old ways
and break fresh ground with You.
Christ of the mysteries, I trust You
to be stronger than each storm within me.
I will trust in the darkness and know
that my times, even now, are in Your hand.
Tune my spirit to the music of heaven,
and somehow, make my obedience count for You.
The story of Brendan’s voyage is an often fanciful tale of an eventful journey to the “Isle of the Blessed”, a tale that for me brings to mind C.S.Lewis’ “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader”. It has been suggested the blessed isle that he and his crew eventually found may have been off the coast of Canada, which seems like something that could not have been accomplished in a 6th century leather coracle. However, in 1977, a man named Tim Severin landed a traditionally built coracle on Peckford Island, Newfoundland, after having set sail from County Kerry the previous year.
Who knows what’s possible if you set sail into the mystery?
Hear Us Roar!
It was International Women’s Day yesterday, and I was reminded of this song…
I didn’t spend any time with other women yesterday, although I talked with Sweet Bean about women in history, and globally today.
Today I went to a breakfast for the Women’s Ministry at church, where we talked together, heard inspirational stories, and gained strength in worship.
This afternoon I caught up with some great friends who I haven’t seen enough of recently. We talked, and laughed, and ate black forest scones…
I am happy when I’m alone – I like my own company. But we are made for community, and women are generally quite good at that. Together we can bring healing, encouragement, and inspiration. And yes – we can roar!
And we can do all that in the context of beauty 😀
If It Pours?
Looks like we may be in for some rough weather…
Hoping we get rain where we need it, and safety from high winds if necessary.
I find it interesting that I’ve come across this song twice today, in different contexts – perhaps there’s a different rain coming…
The Passionate Life
❤ Valentine's Day! ❤
Went out with my Babe this morning for a cuppa…
I didn’t have breakfast beforehand, so I could really enjoy the white chocolate cheesecake 😀
We love going out, chatting about whatever. Remembering the past…looking to the future. It seems that advertising for Valentine’s Day wants us to buy flowers and chocolates – to adhere to a version of “passion” that is narrowly related to romance. We did discuss running off to Paris for the weekend…
😀
A passionate life can include extravagant gestures and wild departures from the everyday, but it needn’t be defined by the big things. The word “passion” has a few different meanings, one of which is “an intense desire or enthusiasm for something”. Why can’t we feel that about plain, basic life? Every day is an opportunity for wonder – for taking the ordinary and infusing it with light…
On another note, I treated myself to a new Bible this year – the Passion translation of the New Testament with Psalms, Proverbs and Song of Songs.
Isn’t it lovely?
I know it’s about what’s inside, but I don’t see why I can’t also have a beautiful outside…
I’m enjoying using this in my devotional time, although it benefits from having another translation (NIV, NKJ etc) available to check understanding of texts. It jolts me into seeing certain passages afresh, but I have also had years of reading the other translations, so can pick up where there’s something that’s a bit different… as in the Message translation, I would not recommend using it as the sole study source, but in combination with others. Still, it’s good to be jolted out of complacency 😀 .
I’d still like to go back to Paris (and Rome, Venice, Tuscany…) some day, to have a proper look round. I was there in the summer 25 years ago; the sky brown with pollution, and not enough money to eat properly (three days on water and a bag of pain au chocolat). I’m glad I got the chance, even if the experience was budget rather than extravagant…
Let’s go forward with passion, cheesecake, and love! ❤
A Good Story
Look what I found yesterday, hidden amongst other harmony hearts (they chime…) in a basket! It’s even tardis blue (or close enough)! And yes – that is a real colour.
The quote itself was said by the Eleventh Doctor – here’s the clip 🙂
Go out and live your good story!
❤
Staring Down The Century
Today is the central day of my personal century… I can look back with kind assessment on the previous half, before squaring my shoulders and facing forward to the unknown years.
I also realised today that I have just entered my sixth decade. That feels both scary and oddly liberating!
It’s been quite a while since I cared much about how others see me. As I get older I’m more able to be “me”, without pretence. There’s scope for fun and frolic – singing randomly in the supermarket, dancing down the street – as well as the serious adult business of life. I’m unsure what I’ll be doing this year, but the possibilities are endless!
It’s a little odd to realise I’m now eligible for all sorts of “over 50s” opportunities, and I’ll have to remember to pick the next age group on the drop down menus on surveys…
Celebrated this morning with my Babe, having breakfast at our favourite cafe.
I asked my Babe to take a photo of me… didn’t like the first one, so asked him to take another.
I look like I’m about to cry!
This called for a selfie…
I ended up looking slightly terrified of… something. (Look at my lovely necklace, though – it’s a sonic screwdriver, a gift from Sweet Bean 🙂 )
I ended up taking a selfie while laughing at the previous attempts. This shall be my official birthday portrait!
Here’s breakfast – bacon, avocado, haloumi, poached egg, sweet potato rosti and greens. Yum!
❤
On the way out, beautiful fragrant flowers. It had been raining earlier.
Spent the rest of the morning reading my Bible and listening to worship songs.
I plan to continue celebrations tomorrow by taking a trip in to the big city. We’ll see how it goes!
