Stepping back

 It was the last day, end of term feeling bubbling under the seasonal panic as the orders are checked and rechecked. Has anyone been forgotten? Did I leave something at home? Did I remember everything? Setting the table, spacing the treats so all are visible (no favouritism), labels on view, all correctly written. Invoices checked, savouries on ice, everyone in the aprons.

Till sorted.

Such a busy Market, chatting to friends, wishing seasons greetings and mentioning 'this is my last, retirement beckons.' Such kindness. Gifts, cards, well-wishes. Memories of past customers, past Marketeers, what we used to bake, how it all started.

Friends made and kept. Moving house, traveling abroad, futures planned. Let's do lunch - keep in touch.

Monster munching..

 When was the last time I assessed the plot? Well, whenever, I'm sure it's well overdue.

So, after the rain today.....

Grey squirrel running across the lane; house martins wheeling overhead; young robin following me around the apple trees; pheasant calling from somewhere near; froglet (or maybe toadlet) in the damp grass;  shield bugs in the raspberries and elsewhere; crane flies (daddy longlegs) everywhere; shiny beetles, size like ladybirds; orange-lipped slugs (enormous!); lots of bees, some wasps, various hover and other flies; cabbage whites and a fritillary; acid-green caterpillar on horseradish leaf.

Picked up the windfalls but still lots on all trees; autumn raspberries from bud to flower to very ripe fruit; blackberries popping up; radishes in flower (bees) and pods (are they edible?); runner beans; a few french beans; yellow courgettes; tiny squashes and sweetcorn forming; carrots have lots of leaf; chard growing well.

Greenhouse has a monster cucumber plant, tied around canes. 1 classic (large) cucumber, picked 2 to take home; 3 or 4 ready to pick, more forming; heritage tomatoes ripe, other tomatoes  a good size but still green; peppers (chillies?) growing well; lemongrass bulking out; borage going bonkers.

Really must remember to take my clock - didn't get back till 2.40pm. Too tired, too hungry.

Will try to go again on Friday, as I'm not baking this week!

Time - what has changed?

 "What if God was one of us?

What if God was just another guy on a bus, trying to find his way home?"

A song, an 'ear worm' as they say and it started me thinking - well, it was a baking day.

What has changed in two thousand years? Is the human race more human, less violent, more tolerant of others, less judgemental? 

And to where (or from) would he be travelling? 

 Would he do what he did then? Telling people to be kind to each other, quoting from scriptures, standing out as educated, a do-gooder. That didn't exactly end well, did it? Resulting as it did in torture and death.

Perhaps He would be one of the heroes who work with the homeless, displaced, ignored peoples of the world who reluctantly depend on the Charity of others. A health worker, shelter volunteer, a packer of food parcels. One of the silent aide workers who see the worst of humanity and try to make it better, if only for a short time.

Tired, physically, mentally, spiritually, on a bus, trying to remember the way home.

momento vivere

 There have been no posts here since the pandemic because it felt as though life was on hold. Nothing happened but sickness and death. No news except how dire it all was and how we all had to stay home, not to travel, work from home, home schooling for all children and no visiting anyone. Even if you had elderly relatives in care or hospital - even if they were near death with covid - stay at home. 

Worry at home, celebrate at home, grieve at home. 

Skype faded and Zoom dominated.

The world has shifted and now society is moving again. Life is upping a gear.

Beginning again.

a little quietude....

                       

Sitting in the afternoon sunshine, watching the frogs splodge about in the pond (well, more of a wallow, really), various insect life flying in, out and around the garden. A hot drink in hand.  Retrieving two sweet, plain biscuits from my pinny pocket, I wonder if we all have a little Granny Weatherwax lurking in our psychi.
It is coffee in my cup, not tea and no sugar but I think the great TP would forgive me.
                 

Changes

Growing, changing, turning left or right. Life is constantly moving, altering, sometimes with us hardly noticing at all. People leave us and new ones arrive.
Last week it might have been summer. Sunny, warm, a time for gardening and walking beside the sea. This week a storm has blown in with rain, hail and a wind that is cold. Meals have gone from salads to stews, ice cream to rice pudding.
A familiar place becomes unknown by events. A group become a rowdy crowd shouting, hurling hurtful, harmful abuse in to air around us all. A dishevelled woman rushes in from the street and stops, distressed, tears on a grimy face. Are you okay? No, no, I've just been sexually assaulted. 
Bemused shoppers stare, shake their heads, move away.
Is it true? What to do? and who should do it?
The world feels a darker place.

Where is the light?

Luminaries

Is it true that the more dire the times, the more frivolous the people?
There are boringly common trees along the main road which have been blushing with embarrassment since the start of November. Switching On The Lights is suddenly the Thing to do in your village/town. The Community is encouraged to contribute to the cost of street decorations. Eager to be seen to partake, generosity prevails.
Market Street looks like Blackpool.
It's all very nice.
I remember walking to Brownies at this time of year, looking out for lighted Christmas trees in peoples windows.
Now there are so many outside lights (garden trees, random reindeer, icicles hanging from roofs - even some ghostly projected santa images on one house) street lighting seems superfluous.
It is all very nice.
We are encouraged to have a smart meter (which, contrary to the adverts, does NOT save you money, only tells you just how much energy you are using) and recycling is promoted widely. I have heard there are new ways to enhance the efficiency of solar power.
This may be useful in the coming year.
To 2019 - may it contain only good times!