Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Switzerland September 2013

We have just returned form a spectacular trip to Switzerland.....in the heart of the Swiss Alps the Bernese Oberland must be one of the prettiest spots. We went with Andy's fungi enthusiast friends, Jen, Keir, Mark, Al & David. I must admit I adored the walks in the moutains, the breathtaking mountains capped in snow, massive pine forests and alpine flowers...I also enjoyed the mushrooms for the first few days.....then I became 'fungied out'. The walks were not the problem but the evenings with six people scrutinizing all of the finds started to get on my nerves so I hdd to drag Andy out of our small village chalet and in to one of two watering holes opposite. The mountain hostel and restaurant also served a piping hot cheese fondue!

I am not exagerating when I say the village was small...170 residents..many with the same surname!!!! And the village was only accessible by cable car....not for the faint hearted!


The village makes it own cheese and butter. Alpine cheese is absolutely delicious and we learned from the farmer it can only be made three months of the year - June to September as it is dependant on the rich pasture for the cows. The higher the pasture, the richer the pasture but before June and after September it is too cold for the cows to graze. Apparently the Alpine cheese has four times more Omega 3 so it is very healthy.

 
One of my favourite days was spent at Lake Brienz....an azure, glass lake surrounded by mountains and pine. Absolutely breathtaking........the spent seevral hours walking from one village to another taking an obscene number of photos.

 
We were only there for a week but were thrilled to wake up to a shallow blanket of snow one morning....not enough to stop the day's activities but enough to provide some more great photo opportunties.

 
I am so glad I took lots of pictures because as beautiful as it was I will not be returning the next fungi focused holiday that they are planning for next year. One can only take so much mush!


Summer UK

What a summer it has been. No sooner than we arrived back from Florida, we were immersed in a wonderful hot summer......and it was well and truly due as 2012 offered no more than one hot week in May!

The highlight was Tom's visit...a whole week! We spent time exploring London, perusing guitars on Tin Pan Alley, listening to Bach being performed at St. Martins-in-the Field Church and watching the Mongol Rally set off from Bodiam Castle in East Sussex.  Definiitely on the TO DO list!!! Must assemble a team of four insane females.....ready why http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongol_Rally


 
The highlight was scoring two open mike gigs for Tom in Shoreditch and Islington...the two hottest spots to play in London. His performances were extremely well received as he crooned out three brilliant solos at each...on top of that he had them recorded which can now be heard on Sound Cloud. https://soundcloud.com/#tommy_tu_shoes  He also picked up some fans on the way. Cannot wait for him to come back in December.



The other highlight of the summer has been the garden. Anita's dad kindly entrusted us with two tomoto plants which we bestowed with love like a first born. They have thrived and given us a tomato feast. On top of that, our long suffering potatos have finally yeilded and provided a harvest....not bad considering!!!! As we headed in to Autumn the apple and pear trees have littered the lawn with fruit which I am churning in to pies and cakes at the speed of knots. Great for the pallette but not for the waistline!

 


 


Monday, September 30, 2013

Summer USA...........

What a wonderful summer but it flew by....whoooossssshhhhhh............

It started with a fab trip to Florida...stayed in the old abode thanks to Julie and for several days Andy and I caught up with Julie, Janet, Jill, Ruth & Chris with our wonderful get togethers. This time it felt different...we were all in different places than we were two years ago. Chris now staying at home and enjoying a writing career, Ruth doing well with her job, Jill embarking on her yoga classes, Julie finally seeing the financial light in the rental market and Janet now enjoying all of her children away from the nest and me, of course, settled in my new married life in London. Whereas two years ago we were in a state of flux ,we now have all apparently settled in to our new lives.


I managed to fit in two days of massage claasses to enable me to renew my massage license and we then sped up to Tampa to spend time with Charlotte and Ian. I loved their new home and the life they have created, immersed in their relationship, Craft Beer and cooking.....idyllic!

The four of us had a blast enjoying their resort pool and Clearwater Beach. The cherry on the cake arrived when Tom joined us for two days. Bliss! We also used is an opportunity to get some great family shots.


 


 

 






 

 
 
What a great time we all had. we discovered Marsh Rabbits...small rabbits that lived in nests near water...we adored the Sandhill Cranes living their lives whilst new buildings pushed them further out of their domain.....we even went for a fungi walk and found Agaricus.

 
It was hard to leave after 4 days but we had to get back to Fort Myers for the Saturday as it was Kelseys wedding.....and what a lovely wedding it was. Thne bridal party looked radiantly happy...Janet looked fabulous in a shocking pink dress and Jim gave a heartfelt speech, amusing, inappropriate and heartfelt...we loved it!

 
Our last day had us bounce between Tampa and Fort Myers in record time trying to determine and secure the flight that would get us home in time for our next round of activities..........flying the weekend of July 4th....we were mad but had no choice AND.we made it home safely,
 
 


My Florida


I have now been away from Florida for two years....in some ways it seems like yesterday and in others like an eternity.

The place where I spent the best part of thirteen years which initially started as a summer get away.

The place where I began a new life as a single mum and raised two wonderful (one a little wilder than the other) children.

The place where I waited to put my first born, Charlotte on her first yellow school bus to Kindergarten on her first day at school. Of course she ran away the first couple of times and I ended up having to drive her the first week.

The place where I used to rollerblade Tom to the beach every morning with his Batman cape flying behind the stroller.

The place where I launched three independent careers.

The place where I bought my first home on foreign soil.... my ongoing project, the home that hosted my parties, Charlotte's parties, cooking marathons, sleepovers, retreats for friends....the home that housed laughter, tears, slammed doors, hysterical giggles, heartfelt conversations and idle chatter.

The place where I made some extraordinary friends, The place that the word family took on a whole new meaning..........family being the friends we love that are tirelessly by our side, embrace our light side and put a protective arm around our dark side.

Florida, my paradise and my prison. I miss you......bits of you......my friends, the sunlit patterns on the swimming pool, the birds, the space to breathe, the heat......

This last visit enabled me to step back and see what I had....what I still have....and know that our memories both past and future will be cherished forever.

 

Too Bogged to Blog.....

I cannot believe I have not Blogged since June! I guess that's the last time I had a chance to breathe. I am also sure it is no coincidence that this was when Andy finished working at Kenwood House too!

I have so much to Blog about....Florida, Henley, Tom's visit, Switzerland, stunning British summer....where do I begin.....well, let me start with a vent :) well sorta.....

Within several days of us being at home TOGETHER, I realized I needed to go out to work...because;

a) This flat ain't big enough for the both of us (Andy sure askes a lot of questions)
b) I have had enough time being the lady of leisure and cannot buy any more clothes
c) I'd like Andy and I to buy a small home in the next few years for our retirement years
d) AND TOM HAS GOT IN TO THE BERKLEE SCHOOL OF MUSIC IN BOSTON

I have decided that my final career move will be a revisit to the world of sales training. I actually was submitted for a great job through a headhunter but the job was shelved for a couple of months as they lost the head of that department (he quit....hmmmm....maybe a sign). Unfortunately, this was after spending two manic weeks preparing for an interview! That whole process showed me that I truly was ready to jump back in to the workforce and am now getting re-certified in a sales methodology which blends well with the Alinean solutions. So, overall, the plan is to move forward as an independant sales trainer and consultant, focusing on an evidence based methodology. Sounds good right!

Whilst the plan is in motion I have continuous interuptions from the fungi fiend (thats the Andy and fungi combo)! With fungi season in full swing, we are busy with walks, gathering and cooking for our events, developing a program for schools AND a survey on Hampstead Heath. Look at all of these mushooms. This was just this morning's bounty and this is almost an every day occurence.

 
On top of that, I am writing "The Small Sales Book for Big Sales".....I will use Chris' route of an e-book and will be thrilled to have that on my resume, regardless of actual book sales.
 
Wish me luck!

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Maiden Voyage

So, no sooner than I put last week's post up, we witnessed one of our baby birds fledge. The mum has been back and forth like crazy luring him/her to the nesting box entrance with little pieces of fat that Andy hangs for them. Sitting in the sun, we watched this tiny little head appear and start poking his/her head in and out...after a few minutes they jumped out and landed on one of my dead Ficus trees......here is a pic...
 
 
They stayed there a little while fluttering their wings and getting their bearings....they then dropped over the fence in to the neighbors garden. Maybe just as while they are out of my view as I felt compelled to stand guard over them and scare off any Robins or Blue Jays that came within the vicinity.
 
I feel like a proud Mum!!!
 
Let's hope that nature is kind and let's them survive.

Saturday, June 1, 2013

The Birds & Bees


It is all about the birds and bees...literally....we are thrilled to see the sun bringing the busy bees out do their intensely under estimated job of pollinating the flowers.......
 
 
I am laying here in my back garden sun trap on May Bank holiday shared with Memorial Day. Amazing to think I am in London as all I can hear, apart from the very occasional train, are the birds singing. Through Andy's teaching I can now identify lots of the birds by their song along This includes all of our regular visitors...the Green Finches, Gold Finches, Blue Tits, Coal Tits, Great Tits and Woodpecker.  I now have the Blackbird and Thrushes worked out too.
 
Quite pleased that the wild parrots are not around as we are holding a protective eye out for our Blue Tit babies. Andy has had a nesting box out for a number of years but this is the first successful year. We did have babies last year but sadly lost them to a cat. This year Andy has secured the nesting box  to the frame of the kitchen window and it seems to have provided the safe start.
 
I made sure I groomed Sophie in the garden as nesting began and I think many birds took advantage of her sumptuous fur to line their nests, the Blue Tits included. I now hear the babies call to their mother bird when she is in the area....more caterpillars please...and I love how the father shares the task....too many mouthes to feed for one alone. Andy has been telling me how their parents feed according to the growth of the babies...start with small insects and graduate to caterpillars..how do they know this stuff!!
 
I am terrified for their fledging....first flight out and want to put a pillow beneath their nesting box...just in case.....
 
I think the most energy I shall use today is a short trip to the fruit shop to buy Loquats....my new favorite fruit.....like a small peach but sweeter and sour at the same time. A glorious pre-summer indulgence....I have planted some pips with great hope......I doubt they will surprise me but I live in hope.....I mean our climate can be similar to South Africa.....hmmmm...who am I kidding....
 
Ahhh.....the simple pleasures....





 



Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Gardeners!!!

It's official...we are bona fida gardeners....we have lettuce and rocket, the mint has gone mental....the oregano is flaunting it's leaves in true italian style.....the thyme is spreading and the marigolds are singing their spring tangerine song......we even have potatos sprouting.......ahhhh.....life is good!

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Mothers Day!

So it's Mothers Days in the U.S. today and Charlotte and Tom surprised me yesterday by sending the most beautiful flowers...pale yellow roses, vibrant yellow tulips and lillies......their smell is mingling nicely with the wild bluebells that Andy keeps me topped up with.....I miss the kids so much!


I am going to go over to Florida for a week by myself at the beginning of June but it will be hard with Charlotte in Tampa and Tom in Fort Myers. Not sure how I will juggle but lots of driving ahead I'm sure.

Today, I have indulged myself with something that would disgust Charlotte, in fact anyone under the age of 40.....I have put on high waisted jeans......gone was that roll of flesh...instantly 20 lbs lighter....wonderful!!!! I should do this more often....I should campaign for it!!! Maybe I will even wear them in Florida!

Spring has been slow, slow, and slow to arrive but we finally got the first bout of warmth last week. We had two warm days where we could actually walk around in a t-shirt....I think I caught the sun on my face even. And finally the trees blossomed.....and the magnolia at Kenwood gave the usual breathtaking display.....just lovely!






We have given gardening a second go this year and have potatos sown and lettuce and herbs securely planted in a big planter that we made out of a palette...very creative. Here are Andy and Sophie watering them.


Because spring has been so late the flowers, trees, plants and fungi are all a month behind which has created a bit of a struggle with Andy's spring forays. The first walk was saved by some unexpected Oyster mushrooms, the second by some late St.Georges, and the third and fourth should now be OK.

Andy is being made redundant in September...the ranger team has been disbanded and he was not willing to take a job in Kenwood House....this man needs to be free to wander...he'd be miserable if he stayed. I think he can work on his fungi full time and concentrate on getting his book completed.

So, as a result, Spring has been very busy with creating new websites for Andy's business. Very time consuming as we had quite an extensive wish list with requiring all the social media 'bells and whistles', scrolling galleries, videos which has resulted is a very contemporary user friendly site which I hope invites more traffic...particular in the area of surveys and corporate events. We also decided to take the London Fungus Group in it's own direction, so that required a website too. Now working on Linkedin Group......I SHALL MAKE HIM SUCCESSFUL...I SHALL, I SHALL, I SHALL!!!!!!! We will just do what we have to do to get it to work.

For the most part Andy and I see the world the same way yet, we had to face one of our first major disagreements....Margaret Thatcher......divisive in life and possibly even more divisive in death which happened several weeks ago. I had a great deal of respect for her....Andy hated her!!!! I dread to think where this country would have been if she had not taken the reins in the late seventies. She pulled it back from ecomonic disaster...she was strong, and resolute with beating back the unions who were crippling the country by bringing us down to a 3 day work week and endless power cuts. She gave people the opportunity to own their own business, buy their own houses and create their own destiny. For the most part she did a damn good job.  It wasnt until her third term that she lost sight of democracy by trying to institute the poll tax and of course, that was her ultimate political demise......I think the big mistake was spending 10 million on her funeral when Brits are being squeezed by the Government so mercilessly at this time.

The other news in the headlines was the devasting bombing of the Boston Marathon. Michelle had just posted on Facebook that Lauren was running and 30 minutes later Andy told me the news. Fortunately our friends were half a block away and safe but must have been terribly shaken....makes you appreciate how random life can be and how we have to appreciate every minute. We watched the 24 hour coverage as the story unfolded, car chases, searches, shootings.....we were stunned!

And so we are now in to May and our first year anniverary approaches....not sure what we will do but as it on a Sunday I would love to go to St. Marys Church and see Phillip.......we shall see.

So now we will watch the blossom bloom and drop and lead us in to summer......we need a hot one!



Thursday, February 28, 2013

Why Marriage


 by Dena Acolatse

Because to the depths of me, I long to love one person,
With all my heart, my soul, my mind, my body...


Because I need a forever friend to trust with the intimacies of me,
Who won't hold them against me,
Who loves me when I'm unlikable,
Who sees the small child in me, and
Who looks for the divine potential of me...


Because I need to cuddle in the warmth of the night
With someone who thanks God for me,
With someone I feel blessed to hold...


Because marriage means opportunity
To grow in love in friendship...


Because marriage is a discipline
To be added to a list of achievements...


Because marriages do not fail, people fail
When they enter into marriage
Expecting another to make them whole...


Because, knowing this,
I promise myself to take full responsibility
For my spiritual, mental and physical wholeness
I create me,
I take half of the responsibility for my marriage
Together we create our marriage...


Because with this understanding
The possibilities are limitless.


Believing



My Oberon

My Fairy King

Natures Gift

Pure Magic you Bring

The last voice I hear

The last kiss I take

Into your arms

Where I awake

 

As I will forever
Autumn 2010

Marilyn Monroe Quotes




 “I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best.”


“I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.”

 “Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.”

“A wise girl kisses but doesn't love, listens but doesn't believe, and leaves before she is left.”
 

“I am good, but not an angel. I do sin, but I am not the devil. I am just a small girl in a big world trying to find someone to love.”

“This life is what you make it. No matter what, you're going to mess up sometimes, it's a universal truth. But the good part is you get to decide how you're going to mess it up. Girls will be your friends - they'll act like it anyway. But just remember, some come, some go. The ones that stay with you through everything - they're your true best friends. Don't let go of them. Also remember, sisters make the best friends in the world. As for lovers, well, they'll come and go too. And baby, I hate to say it, most of them - actually pretty much all of them are going to break your heart, but you can't give up because if you give up, you'll never find your soul mate. You'll never find that half who makes you whole and that goes for everything. Just because you fail once, doesn't mean you're gonna fail at everything. Keep trying, hold on, and always, always, always believe in yourself, because if you don't, then who will, sweetie? So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life's a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about.”
 

“If you can make a girl laugh, you can make her do anything.”

“The real lover is the man who can thrill you by kissing your forehead or smiling into your eyes or just staring into space.”

“If you're gonna be two-faced at least make one of them pretty.”

“It's better to be unhappy alone than unhappy with someone.”

“Ever notice how 'What the hell' is always the right answer?”

“When it comes down to it, I let them think what they want. If they care enough to bother with what I do, then I'm already better than them.”

“Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world.”

“We should all start to live before we get too old. Fear is stupid. So are regrets.”

“I've never fooled anyone. I've let people fool themselves. They didn't bother to find out who and what I was. Instead they would invent a character for me. I wouldn't argue with them. They were obviously loving somebody I wasn't.”

“She was a girl who knew how to be happy even when she was sad. And that’s important—you know ”

 
“Beneath the makeup and behind the smile I am just a girl who wishes for the world.”

“I don't mind living in a man's world, as long as I can be a woman in it.”

“All little girls should be told they are pretty, even if they aren't.”

“The nicest thing for me is sleep, then at least I can dream.”

“Who said nights were for sleep?”

 
“It's not true that I had nothing on. I had the radio on.”

 
“Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition.”

“You believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself.”

“We are all of us stars, and we deserve to twinkle.”

“It's often just enough to be with someone. I don't need to touch them. Not even talk. A feeling passes between you both. You're not alone.”

“If I'd observed all the rules I'd never have got anywhere.”

“I want to grow old without facelifts. I want to have the courage to be loyal to the face I have made.”
“Success makes so many people hate you. I wish it wasn't that way. It would be wonderful to enjoy success without seeing envy in the eyes of those around you.”

“Dogs never bite me. Just humans.”

“I don't know who invented high heels, but all women owe him a lot!”

“I don't mind making jokes, but I don't want to look like one.”

“Sex is part of nature. I go along with nature.”

“Keep smiling, because life is a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about.”

“I don't want to make money, I just want to be wonderful.”

“You never know what life is like, until you have lived it.”

“I restore myself when I'm alone.”

“Sometimes things fall apart so that better things can fall together”

“It's all make believe, isn't it?”

“The body is meant to be seen, not all covered up.”

“We are all born sexual creatures, thank God, but it's a pity so many people despise and crush this natural gift.”

 
“All a girl really wants is for one guy to prove to her that they are not all the same.”

“I don't mind being burdened with being glamorous and sexual. Beauty and femininity are ageless and can't be contrived, and glamour, although the manufacturers won't like this, cannot be manufactured. Not real glamour; it's based on femininity.”

“I'm very definitely a woman and I enjoy it. ”

“I have feelings too. I am still human. All I want is to be loved, for myself and for my talent. ”

“Hollywood is a place where they'll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss and fifty cents for your soul. I know, because I turned down the first offer often enough and held out for the fifty cents.”

“I'm pretty, but I'm not beautiful.
I'm sin, but I'm not the devil.
I'm good, but I'm not an angel.
I am just a small girl in a big world trying to find someone to love.”

“What do I wear in bed? Why, Chanel No. 5, of course”

“If I play a stupid girl and ask a stupid question, I've got to follow it through, what am I supposed to do, look intelligent?”
 
“I used to think as I looked out on the Hollywood night — there must be thousands of girls sitting alone like me, dreaming of becoming a movie star. But I'm not going to worry about them. I'm dreaming the hardest.”

Monday, February 18, 2013

Our Manila Thriller


I am still trying to process our whirlwind trip to the Philippines with Blue Zoo. Andy learned that Blue Zoo had been big in the eighties and the Filipinos could only get bootleg copies of their records. Love Moves in Strangeways was huge! 30 plus years later Andy had been chatting the promoter, Jesse Cambosa and it is all in place.

We were spoiled by Singapore airlines.......beautiful planes, great service, good food...which was just as well as the first leg of our flight was fourteen hours. Our second flight from Singapore to Manila got us to our destination almost 24 hours after we left the house but because of the eight hour time difference it was only early evening.

We we met in true celebrity style by Jesse and his crew....we were given Sampuegeta necklaces and escorted through the diplomatic channels at customs in to a convoy of cars with darkened windows and body guards. This was to be the mode of travel for the entire trip!!

Manila traffic was insane and we were notably captivated by the jeepneys ferrying the busy Filipinos through their lives......after a quick freshen up at the hotel we were hurried to a bayside restaurant to a sponsored dinner. We we sat at a long table with a variety of delicacies which included sheep brains, pigs knuckles, pony and baby duckling,  still in the egg......(don't ask). I considered myswlf lucky to manageda few mouthfuls of rice!!!!!  While Andy and the gang exhibited their manners by actually eating some of this 'food' there were Blue Zoo videos being played on a large screen....most surreal.

 
The second day gave us a late start which looked me some time to fill up on toast and coffee before we went to the Hard Rock for a look at the show venue and then have a series of  radio interviews and lunch. We spotted some nice shops and when we decided to have a look we again, had to go with a bodyguard....this stuff can go to your head pretty quickly with crowds of people staring!!


Protected in our armed cars I was astounded by the mass of traffic, cars, jeepneys, bikes, tuk tuks and people all jockeying for position and somehow managing to avoid accidents. It was an explosion of life. Small children coming up to stare in the cars, dogs walking along without a care in the world.....the harsh reality of life was right in our faces.
 
That evening was again down at the bay but in a more rustic restaurant which was a little scary. Lots of girls for sale and food which was completely unidentifiable..... I determined I would have to save myself for toast in the morning AGAIN.
 
This was followed by a visit the TV station for yet another interview which was followed by a swank Korean club. Similar to a Japanese Kareem's bar we were given bottles of vodka and Chivas Regal. I was having a lbast and pleased to see there was a nice  dancefloor until the lights went down and a series to scantily clad girls came out and did an erotic stint .......most uncomfortable!! I got completely hammered.

The next day again started slowly and was really about preparing for the evenings gig. Andy and I managed to go for a sight seeing drive through Manila to get a better feel for life and take some photos. The contrast between wealth and poverty was astounding! Of course, everytime we stopped to take a photo the bodyguard had to come too so after a while it became to tedious to continue....stardom is not all the it is cracked up to be but here is our contribution of snaps.
 
 
 
 
 



 
 
Once back a the Hard Rock the sound checks went well and again, Andy had to accommodate interviews. By evening everyone was ready to get the show done and it did not disappoint...best one to date. Quality of sound, performance and venue gave the band a stellar response and a mob at the meet and greet. Wow, Andy is a star!
 
The next day we we whisked away to the escort in the foot hills of Rizal and got a birds eye view of life on the outskirts of Manila. Lives conducted out of small concrete buildings and shacks, all on top of each other being shadowed by skinny cats and dogs anxious to get a quick snack.....cockerels......yet, everyone just got on with their life and I realized there are mo people in the world living like this that our way of life...lowing we have a roof ever our head, food, clothing.....yet, they are probably happier than many westerners obsessed with competition, accumulating wealth, their weight and overall appearance....yes, I am certainly guilty of that too.
 
 
The resort was lovely and surrounded by armed guards. The infinity pool looked over a perfect golf course and the bay....it also had a menu which made my heart leap with joy....chicken sandwiches, burgers....yeah!! The resort also had a casino where Blue Zoo were playing and several hours later they played on a raised stage to people hidden behind fruit machines, stressed black jack players and groups of fans that had traveled from miles away to see their idols. Very bizarre experience!
 
The gigs done we then had three days to enjoy the resort which was relatively quiet due to Chinese New Year.
Andy and I had lots of time by the pool and manged an outing to the nearby Antipollo which had the most beautiful church which attracted pilgrims from all over the Phillpines, We met a woman whose husband's health had deteriated under traditional medicine and he had turned to faith instead and was spending days praying in the church....very moving listening to her talk. The Filipino people are beautiful, kind and resilient. The energy and faith of the people could not fail to touch and Mickey, Andy and I lit a candle to those who were no longer with us,
 



 
And then in no time we were being dropped back off at the airport for the journey home. Another 24 hours later sitting in our living room wondering why there was no-one waiting on us hand and foot and wondering how I would go food shopping without an armed guard....ahh life......