Taexalia
wild.life
Reflections 2009 ~ March
Having bought a house and spent a week flying by the seat of our collective knickers before finally selling the flat, we entered March in a curious state of limbo. We weren't actually moving until April, yet we had kind of left months earlier in our own hearts. We didn't even have the twice weekly cleaning rituals for the no longer happening open viewing sessions to keep us occupied. We took a trip to Fife to give various parental units a drive-by of our soon-to-be new home - this included ... read more
Corvid Cheek
I have been to London several times, enough times that I can navigate myself around some areas without always needing a map - and can even be of help to resident Londoners who find themselves confused on the Tube (read one Londoner and technically it was the Overground - but I knew which train she needed and she didn't!). Until last Friday I had never been to the Tower of London. I have been *this close* to the Tower of London, I have photographed it ... read moreHow It Is
I love the way I feel when I walk into the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern. Sometimes I wonder if I even need an installation at the other end, or if I could just be satisfied with the imposing hulk of space. What would I do with the space? How would I move in it? Would I start to build something? Today there is a big black box looming at the end of the hall. Half-term children are running and screaming underneath the huge steel structure, trusting the construction won't start to creak and ... read more
Philly Cheese Steak
Sometimes you just have to go with the flow, forget about the calorie count and stand in line with the locals. I am told that in Philadelphia there are three places that sell worthwhile Philly Cheese Steaks. Two of them are right across the street from each other and I am told this is where the tourists go. I am told that to get the real deal one must hand dollars over to Tony Luke.
Tony Luke's ... read more
Highland Spring
The days between Imbolc and Ostara are, for me, the time I feel the Quickening. Tempestuous and unpredictable weather matched by the rampant behaviour of animals and birds, and the persistent appearance of plants like the snowdrops and crocuses. Always, the long dark days of Winter ebb seemingly too slowly into the shorter days of Spring and we find ourselves always seeking definitive signs that Spring has arrived. This is something that has been with us for thousands of years and something ... read more
Oh Shit Sherlock
Having a plan is always a good idea, setting goals is often a great motivator and laying a good foundation is generally clever. Embracing life as it comes, accepting failure and letting go of expectations is wisdom. I had a long list of Things To Do On Holiday and they did not come to pass in the ways I had hoped and planned for, but the surprises and the unplanned moments more than made up for the not-quite-there-yets. Like my nephew learning to stand then gradually having the confidence ... read more
One More Sleep
Well that is if I can actually get to sleep. I have a tradition that the night before a trip I am unable to settle down and sleep. Usually it is excitement flavoured with the thoughtstream of concern over whether I have packed enough of the right clothes. Which is kind of funny since I am not a fashion fiend in the slightest. I can tell you that for this trip I have at least two pairs of socks for every occasion. Perhaps even three. So a sock-free thoughstream at least. Our adventure is ... read more
Slioch
As we travelled towards home, hoping to reach Garve before the sun slipped below the horizon, we were caught by the beauty of this beast rising out of the waters. The Male Parental Unit interpreted my clicking camera followed by small sighs of exasperation as a tree would swing into my lens just at the point of capture... followed by the winding down of the window and the influx of freezing air to mean I needed a photo op stop. He obliged. High fences and decrepit signs warned against ... read more
A Goal in Gairloch
You may have noticed my Day Zero linky in the top bar - the page that lists my 101 in 1001. This is an experiment in goal setting, and also a bypass of New Year's Resolutions - instead giving myself 1001 days to complete the list and, quite probably, also embrace failure ;-) I found writing the list an interesting challenge - despite all the To Do lists floating around in my brain I had to really get creative to make it to 101. On Sunday I was taken on a surprise trip to Poolewe and ... read more
Peaceful Birthday
My single secret birthday wish was for a day of guaranteed peace and quiet... @ delivered that and so much more with a surprise trip to Mallaig... More to tell soon but here is a snippet as the ferry returned from ... read more
Ready To Go
Well I didn't get the clays out yesterday. Instead I packed my suitcase and got myself almost totally organised for my trip. Call it productive procrastination, or call it living proof that I have learned some lessons about Being Ready Ahead of Time. I don't leave for my trip until early tomorrow.
The only thing I haven't done is complete the partner for this sock. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending how you look at it, my Mum ... read more
