Love Story For The Ages (Revisited)

Celebrated with Sweet Bean today, after his morning spent in a maths exam. He was calm and collected, and finished in plenty of time. We picked up some treats on the way home, in preparation for watching a movie this afternoon.
He’s been studying Romeo and Juliet this term – we’d already watched an older version which kept to the story and script. This afternoon I thought we’d have a look at Romeo + Juliet (the weird 1996 version). We barely lasted till the lovers’ meeting…
On the plus side, I can tell that he’s familiar with the source material. He was picking up inaccuracies from the start, and eventually he got quite distressed with the modern-mixed-with-original-speech interpretation. Perhaps I’ll watch the rest on my own sometime… we’ll get West Side Story from the library and watch that instead.

Walked in the sunshine after the darkness of the movie afternoon – off through the cemetery. It’s a contemplative place. Very quiet.

IMG_0320

It was such a beautiful afternoon that the moon came out very early – it’s the tiny white circle in the bright blue sky!

IMG_0326

Time for bed.
“Come, gentle night; come, loving, black-browed night…”
Until tomorrow!

Published in: on June 12, 2019 at 11:52 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags:

Musing In The Grey

We haven’t really got out of bed today.
Obviously there’s been breakfast. And coffee. That’s just been the results of a mad dash to the kitchen and back before we get too chilly…

Such a grey and gloomy old day – hasn’t decided whether it wants to rain yet, but that definitely seems a likelihood. There’s nowhere for us to be today, so wrapping up in a duvet, reading and watching YouTube seems to be the best option.
It’s been a week of fluctuating temperatures, where it’s been hard to choose between a heavy coat and a tshirt for going out. Some days have needed both. I’ve come up against memories of childhood, and had days where I couldn’t be sure of the difference between “getting older” aches and pains, and twinges that perhaps should get further investigation. I’m still standing! Well, lounging around, but you get the point.
Had a truly amazing cupcake the other day – evocative of cheerful indulgence in its proportions and calorie content. I very much enjoyed it, but it was also a bit like swallowing a bag of sugar all at once. Still, a tasty bag of sugar served on a bright and sunshiny plate!

IMG_0287

I’ll be watching some catch up TV this afternoon, but for now I’m listening to a bit of Sara Groves… songs of remembering, and songs of hope and moving forward.
Just right for a grey day.

Published in: on June 8, 2019 at 12:44 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags:

When Stars Begin To Fall

Woke up this morning to the news that an actor from one of my favourite TV shows died yesterday. I’m of an age now when a lot of people I remember from my childhood have died, but it’s always a bit of a shock.
I’ve always enjoyed the classic sci-fi shows (vintage Star Trek and Doctor Who, as well as their more modern revivals) but Blakes 7 was my favourite. It only ran for four years, had seemingly cheap (but not cheerful!) production, and sometimes seemed to lose its way a bit, but I still watch and enjoy it. Avon was my favourite character, so hearing of the death of Paul Darrow gave a sad start to my day. He portrayed Avon as cynical and sarcastic, but also oddly vulnerable and, at times, sympathetic. The snark is legendary…

As the series was made in the days when you couldn’t just google an episode to guard against continuity errors, it sometimes doesn’t quite hang together. The acting can be quite theatrical, the scenery in danger of falling over, and the dystopian universe doesn’t provide the feel good factor. The titular character (Blake) is only present for two series, and there never seems to be exactly seven in the crew, unless you include one or both computers – depends on who else is still alive at the time. Despite all this… watch it. You’ll be glad you did.
So, it seems that Avon is no longer with us (along with Blake, Gan, Orac/Zen and Servalan). Having originally seen the final episode back in the early 80s, and clearly remembering the shock and disbelief I felt then, I can only paraphrase a tweet I saw earlier in the day – “It occurred off camera. I choose to believe he made it out…”

Here’s a fan made music video I found on YouTube a while back. It seems appropriate.

I got the whole series on DVD a couple of years ago, so I can have a bit of a wallow in my childhood angst today. Anyone want to join me?

Published in: on June 4, 2019 at 2:57 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: ,

Absolutely Freezing

Winter appears to have arrived.

We were up at 4.45 this morning so we could get to the Rocklea Markets when they opened at 6am. That’s not too much of a problem in the summer, and our autumn’s been dawdling along so far. Until this morning. Thankfully, being only partly awake meant I didn’t quite register the cold when I got out of bed. By the time we got to the open air fruit and veg stalls I had woken up enough to feel myself becoming a slow moving icicle…
It was still worth it. The food is fresh, and there’s hot coffee after. We did have some trouble choosing the fruit/veg at first – it was still a bit dark – but we got there in the end.

Had breakfast. We get pancakes at Pappy’s Pancakes. He makes gluten free ones as well.

IMG_0280

This is how cold it was – normally the cream is melting off the hot pancakes by the time we sit down. They didn’t really have a chance this morning.
Another good thing about regularly going to a fresh food market is that you get to know the stallholders, and can chat with them about life while you’re stocking up with good food. We decided to get some new tea today (Strawberry champagne/Earl Grey tea and Black tea with caramel), and were given some jam/marmalade/pickles samples, because we’re favourite customers 🙂 It made for a good morning tea after we got home.

Marmalade

Handmade, thick cut marmalade, nicely paired with caramel tea. Yum!

I was still frozen when we got back, and it took me a couple of hours to thaw out. I’ll have to find my gloves and woolly hat for next time!

Published in: on June 1, 2019 at 8:50 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags:

Mood

Published in: on May 30, 2019 at 8:38 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: ,

Beautiful Food

…on pretty plates!
The last couple of weeks have been a bit bland, with illness in the house and nobody really wanting to eat. Yesterday we got back to a full meal, which I thought would be better served on one of my nice plates. Somehow that makes it taste better 🙂

IMG_0276

Flowers and gold trim – and pink sauerkraut (it has beetroot and ginger in it).

I also got around to making banana bread today – because we weren’t eating our usual meals the bananas got a bit over ripe. I chucked in some cranberries and sultanas as well.

IMG_0277

I think this is the first time I’ve made something with coconut flour (although mixed with basic gluten free flour as well) and not have it turn out overly dry – perhaps putting extra milk in helped?
I’ve also been sharing some bottles of kombucha with Sweet Bean, to rebalance after his course of antibiotics. Nearly back to normal!

Published in: on May 27, 2019 at 8:46 pm  Leave a Comment  

Walking On Sunshine

Not sure where the autumn’s got to…
It’s pleasantly cool, though, throughout most of the day. Still lots of lovely sunshine lately, which has been good for recuperative purposes. I’ve been sitting out on the patio in the sun more, listening to Sweet Bean giggling over school work as he catches up on Shakespeare. I savour my breakfast, while enjoying the simple shapes and colours of my mug/dish as they reflect light.

IMG_0261

I also enjoy the warmth on my toes (although they don’t reflect anything…)

IMG_0263

The world keeps turning.
The lavender blooms.

Lavender

It’s the small joys that keep you walking on.
Come the winter, the sun will still shine.
And there’s always warmth and light somewhere, if you look hard enough.

Published in: on May 26, 2019 at 12:41 am  Leave a Comment  

Meditations, With Pumpkin

Still having quiet days at the moment, if not restful. Sweet Bean is still recuperating, and Biggest Boy seems to have caught a bit of whatever was going around… they’re both on the mend, though. Starting to eat again, the chorus of coughing is not as exhaustive today, and some liveliness is returning. We still feel lethargic and as though we’re in between worlds. Yesterday a friend dropped round with a hello, and a pumpkin – both were very appreciated! The pumpkin will provide lovely soup (perhaps bread/cake?), but it is also, in itself a Thing Of Beauty…

Pumpkin

Isn’t that gorgeous?

I’ve been whiling away a bit of time today watching time lapses. Here’s one of a dandelion – one of my favourite flowers.

And another of a rose.

It’s curiously soothing, and also a reminder that time passing brings wonder we might not recognise at first.
What’s blooming in your life?

Published in: on May 21, 2019 at 5:06 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: ,

Debugging The Bean

Found this song this morning, while trying to find something to wake and cheer me up a bit…
Coffee also helped!

I’ve been up till the small hours with Sweet Bean the last couple of nights, keeping him company and plying him with hydration while he’s been feeling ill. He came back from camp feeling a bit sniffly and off colour, which turned to a bit of nausea after a couple of days. Just a cold, I thought (they sat around in wet clothes in the cold at camp), maybe a bit of a tummy bug. The sort of thing that feels icky but goes away after a few days.
Last night the minor bug seemed to quickly morph into – unable to keep water down, moaning with nausea, the doctor’s ENT examination majoring on “red” and “swollen”, and a fever of 39.7C. Called out the night doctor, got a round of antibiotics this morning. Poor Bean is still feeling rough, but I’m hoping he gets at least some sleep soon!
On the plus side, we’ve caught up on some great TV. There’s something about giggling at Fawlty Towers at four in the morning…

Published in: on May 16, 2019 at 8:48 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: ,

Flowers In My Hair

Went to a Women’s Event at church… I had to wear clothes from the year of my birth. That mostly just meant looking through my everyday wardrobe…
I did splash out on a new accessory, so I could be sure to wear some flowers in my hair,

IMG_0246

and some boots that were made for walking (after I’d spent the day stretching them – they were a bit tight across the foot).

IMG_0248

Here’s the full ensemble.

IMG_3345 (1)

It was a fun night – made some new friends, and there was dessert, trivia, and karaoke! I didn’t get up to sing, but it was fun singing along with those who did.
Bedtime now.
See what tomorrow brings…

Published in: on May 11, 2019 at 10:48 pm  Leave a Comment