The Summer of Doing Stuff - The Time is Now

The Summer of Doing Stuff - The Time is Now

Last year, I determined early on to put a few dates in my diary for "doing stuff" - the sort of things you tend to think, "oh, that would be nice, I must do that", then never get around to.  Ironically, I didn't get round to publishing this post last year but thought I'd do it now as a nice memo-to-self of the great variety of things you can do in London and elsewhere when you have a few spare hours. It's also a reminder that going to do things "some day" does have to turn into "today" at some point.  This is an especially poignant thought when you have been ill. It is a cliché but I learnt a good few lessons when I thought my time may be cut shorter than expected. I deliberately made an effort to do a few things that I wanted to do "some day". The main thing was making the most of some of the activities we are surrounded by in London but we often leave to the tourists.
As examples, I went to see the musical Kinky Boots, a few exhibitions: "Impressionists in London", at the Tate, "Wildlife Photographer of the Year" at the Natural History Museum and "Frida Kahlo -Making Herself Up" at the V&A. 

Guatemalan cotton coat worn with Mazatec huipil and plain floor-length skirt. Museo Frida Kahlo. © Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Archives, Banco de México, Fiduciary of the Trust of the Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Museums (Photo: V&A)

I also visited the surprisingly absorbing historic museum in Agde 3 doors away from us in France (after going to the Town for 20-odd years, about time really). One of the staff commented that we finished our visit quickly, but as she didn't see us going in, and we thoroughly examined everything there, I don't think she knew what she was talking about.

Additionally I completed a short wildlife photography course with a friend at Putney School of Art (started the week my camera died) and after that joined the London Wetlands Centre which provides some lovely opportunities to see some rare birds, like the bittern below.

In July I went on a Dragonfly walk there with a volunteer from the Dragonfly Trust, then later took part in the British butterfly Count. We also took advantage of Meerkat movies cinema discounts (from car insurance taken the month the car died - noticing a pattern?) and went to the cinema a few times, something we don't normally do. 
I took time while we were in France over the Summer to learn a couple of useful (?) skills: gutting sardines and shucking oysters. Call me next time you're having a seafood extravaganza! I also had a picnic with a friend after work in Regents Park instead of just rushing straight home, explored Hampstead Heath, visited Holland Park for only the second time and attended an art fair where a friend was exhibiting.

The highlight of the Summer was a long weekend to visit family in Slovakia. They thoroughly spoiled us and arranged for us to stay in the middle of a forest by a stream in a lovely hotel.  We explored Martin and drove from there to Krakow through some wonderful countryside. We looked for bears and tried electric scooters for an afternoon, loads of fun.

September brought a very rainy day on our wedding anniversary, but we adapted our planned day in Brighton and had an unexpectedly interesting visit to the impressive Royal Pavillion followed by an equally spontaneous and enjoyable seafood lunch at Riddle and Finns.


Later on in the year (2nd Dec) I made an effort to get up early on a sunny Sunday and went to the British Library for the first time. They had a room of Treasures which was astounding and free to visit, surely a must-see for anyone who's interested in anything! Humbling to think that all those ancient manuscripts and maps will be existing long after these scribblings are obsolete. A free exhibition at the time was 'Cats on the Page', which I loved, revisiting my childhood with illustrations from Gobbolino The Witch's Cat and Through the Looking Glass.

c. The British Library Board

It's very easy to find excuses not to do things, especially at the weekend after another busy week at work, but I haven't regretted any of them.


Happy Summer (2019), everyone!

Suffolk Secrets (A Suffolk Weekend #2)

A lovely weekend away was exactly what I needed.  The sun was blazing as we drove to Suffolk from London, all the way....all the way until....half a kilometre from Southwold where we were staying.  The town had disappeared in the sea mist......

The beach had gone too....

Luckily we had a fabulous dinner at Sutherland House, one of the oldest buildings in the town.  It is historically linked to the Battle of Sole Bay:

Southwold in May 1672 was known for its pubs and the English sailing fleet was being refitted, providing opportunities for the sailors to try the local ales. They weren't expecting the news that Dutch ships were 2 h away and a battle imminent. James, Duke of York (later became James II) and the Earl of Sandwich were staying in Sutherland House (building dates from 1455; find it in the High Street) which was their headquarters at the time. The Anglo-French fleet set sail with 90 ships and 24 000 men and  5 500 canons. About 2000 men were lost on the Dutch and the English sides - the Earl of Sandwich drowned and the Battle of Sole Bay was inconclusive. For further information about the battle, have a look at the amazingly detailed Wikipedia entry.  For TripAdvisor reviews of the restaurant/rooms click here.
I didn't realise that George Orwell spent a lot of time at Southwold, living with his parents.  Here's a link to further details.

The bunting was out for the royal wedding, seen here by the Swan Hotel.

Gun Hill (Guns donated in the 18th Century)

View of the harbour from Sole Bay Fish Restaurant

Local wildlife:

Minsmere RSPB Reserve:

Orange tip butterly

Holly Blue butterfly

Avocets were extinct from the U.K. for more than 100 years until 1947 when East Anglian marshes were flooded against invasion during the war.  In Minsmere, they are crucial for the survival of marsh harriers and bitterns. It is the emblem of the RSPB thanks to the success of conservation projects. There are now 1 500 breeding pairs in the U.K.

And the pièce de resistance, a bittern! There are fewer than about 200 in the U.K.

And is this a bittern flying?

Redstart:

I love the rabbit watching the sunset in this one:

The 15th Century Church of St. Edmund in the town is always incredible to see, it stands out on the horizon with the huge 100 ft tower.  An earlier 13th Century church was burnt down.  It was built by wealthy wool merchants; for further photos of the church, see here.

The rood screen is very impressive:

East Anglian flintwork:

Beautiful carved angels in the ceiling:

Memo to self:

Southwold Jack - a 15th Century clock jack; symbol of the Adnams brewery, dressed in armour from the War of the Roses.  He has a twin at Blythburgh.

The tallest font in the country:

I love the dawn chorus in Suffolk - in 2000 there were estimated to be 135 breeding bird species as well as many other overwintering visitors,  But there is no peace and quiet - a particular sedge warbler kept me awake 2 nights in a row, singing all through the night. I thought his song was amazing but didn't realise their song is thought to be one of the most complicated - they insert new phrases into each refrain so it is never repeated and are good mimics of other birds.  This one sounded like he was whistling and chirping while on his typewriter - ALL NIGHT.  

Ikebana and Sakura

Ikebana ("flowers kept alive", also known as kadō) is a Japanese way of creating a floral arrangement as a seasonal welcome for guests in the home. It wasn't necessarily designed for a small space but is something we can adapt and use. The tradition dates back to the 7th century when floral offerings were made at altars.  Later, they were placed in the tokonama of a home.  The is a raised alcove in the living room, used as a small stage. 

photo credit: https://japon-fr.com/photos-du-japon+tokonoma.htm

This link discusses the presentation of the tokonama in more detail. I'm no expert but was intrigued by it when watching a lovely TV programme "The Art of Japanese Life" presented by the art historian Dr. James Fox and it was really interesting to learn about the rules and traditions used.   I think it is much more than a floral arrangement, it is about the appreciation of the artistry, the nature of the arrangement itself and a meditation about nature and the changing of the seasons.  The space "ma" between the sprigs and blooms and lines of the arrangement is just as important as the items themselves, and provides space and a feeling of spaciousness to expand and think. This is a deliberate "pause" and can be applied to all aspects of life.   A hanging scroll (kakemono) may often be placed behind the arrangement.     
I think I was fascinated by the idea of ikebana and its traditions because it is a lovely way of introducing some seasonality, art, meditation and a bit of the outdoors into the home; particularly when we tend to have small homes in the city.  Of course it is difficult to recreate in our working homes but it is fun to learn the art of "less is more".  It provides a focal point to look at, particularly if we have few possessions cluttering the room (not much chance of that round here), and may create the feeling of extending the room out into the garden.  The very act of making the ikebana provides a step back from a busy life and can be a mindful way of creating something beautiful for the home.  By thinking about "ma" in a more general way in our lives, we can eliminate the unnecessary and focus on the important things which shine in that negative space, both literally and figuratively.

photo credit https://www.japancalligraphy.eu/wallpapers.htm

I was pondering this because the small fruit trees in my tiny garden have been demanding attention with their beautiful blossom.  The greengage flowers first in March, and the apple tree next to it answers with it's own blooms in April. 



                             Greengage blossom in the garden, March 2018

                                     Apple blossom in the garden, April 2018

The trees create a lovely focal point in the garden where there was once a damp, dark space covered in ivy. Because there isn't too much else in the garden at this time of year, they seem to shine with an internal light against the dark wall. They create  a real sense of enjoyment and impermanence just like the Japanese sakura (cherry blossom) season which is when locals and tourists alike celebrate Hanami picnics ("looking at flowers"); marking the arrival of Spring and new beginnings of the Japanese financial and academic years.  Here's a link to a Telegraph article describing the cherry blossom season.

Cherry blossoms in Tokyo CREDIT: AP

I was going to end this piece with a "who needs to go to Tokyo when we have our beautiful English blossom?" But it does look stunning. Let's enjoy them both!

Blossom in front of the house, April 2018

Practical Suggestions to Help Yourself on a Bad Day

When you're having a bad day: dealing with depression, hospital appointments, lack of focus, or generally feeling out of sorts, it can feel almost impossible to "look on the bright side", "see the positives", "find comfort in the small things".  I've been there and back, and then some.  I'm not some self-help guru or claiming that these will help you, but they are all things that I've tried and that have helped me to feel more positive about things.  

1.  Distract yourself. A frequent suggestion in magazines and blogs is "listen to your favourite music and dance in your living room", but I honestly can't see myself doing this when I'm feeling down.  Music just seems to upset me and has done for years.  Instead, put some headphones on, find a comfy spot and listen to a podcast or radio show, preferably an amusing one.  Lately I've enjoyed a short series recommended by a friend, "Angstrom", a take-off of a Scandi-Noir detective serial which had me laughing away to myself. Lots of brooding, warm jumpers and a maverick, alcoholic detective.  Oh, and the ghost of a duck.

2. When I really can't think what to do to cheer myself up, I find that if I at least do something useful, I can feel some accomplishment in that, even if I am no more cheerful than when I started! If you are miserable, doing a task you don't like much means you don't spoil a good mood later by having to do it then! The other day, I cleaned my windows, which I hate doing, but when I finished, they looked better and I felt a bit better too.  

3. Related to the above, prepare some food for the week ahead so you have some healthy lunches or dinners. Last weekend I made some houmous, which is an easy practical task but made me feel like I was caring for myself by making something healthy to eat during the rest of the week.  As a bonus, it is a good snack for when you really don't feel like cooking.  Another thing I often do is cook some rice or roast some vegetables, then you have the basis for a rice salad or a quick soup or a meal in itself with hardly any effort. 

3. Do something which requires some concentration.  I like taking photos and once, when I didn't want to go for a walk or exercise, I just took my camera out into my tiny back garden.  I realised there were quite a few ladybirds and spent about an hour trying to get good shots of the different types.  It was very absorbing and I used some of the photos in a community garden newsletter.  As by-products, I got some fresh air, began to think about the newsletter, did a bit of reading about ladybirds and planned what to write.

4.  I  have taken a lot of pleasure in nice scent but I think smell is a sense we often take for granted. You may notice a nice (or horrid!) smell when you encounter it, but personally I often forget that we can control it (apart from wearing perfume). We live near a candle supplier which also does reed diffusers.  Making our rooms smell nice really seems to lift the spirits.  My favourite at the moment is Rosemary and Bay which makes the house smell fresh but not artificial.  If you prefer a more natural option, a potted indoor hyacinth can smell beautiful.

5. Spicy food. I always feel better after some chillies! Looking into it, there is a scientific reason. Substance P is produced by nerve cells in response to the perceived pain of the capsaicin in chillies.  The brain responds to this by releasing endorphins to block the pain signals.  Additionally, dopamine, another neurotransmitter - responsible for pleasure and reward feelings - is released.  Hence we can get cravings for spicy food.  Can't say I often get the "runner's high" but I definitely get a "chilli high".  Here's a link to other foods that should increase happiness.

Home-grown chilli plant

6. Plan something to look forward to - a gig, meeting a friend, a weekend away, or a look for some inspiration for a longer holiday if possible.  Research somewhere to go and something to do.  Laying down some definite plans helps me feel more positive.  We are planning a short break to Cornwall so I've looked up a wildlife Safari trip, a restaurant we want to visit, a walk on the South West Path, and a visit to an RSPB reserve, Ham Wall on the way back with an overnight stay in Glastonbury.

Cornwall, March 2017

7.  When all else fails and I'm having a terrible day, I try to remember something a friend said once, "oh, I'm probably tired". It's generally true but easy to forget this.  Don't be hard on yourself - "tomorrow is another day", as Scarlett O'Hara said.

Here's a link to some other ways to Get Back on Track.

Closing the Books for 2017

I was listening to a podcast The Good Life Project and the last episode of the year was called Closing the Books - an accounting phrase but used to suggest that a physical ceremony' is a good way to move forward into the New Year, after the 'reckoning' and reviewing.  
I did manage a walk into Wandsworth - not sure if that counts! - but thought it would be nice to make a physical/online reminder of some of my favourite bits of 2017.

Wildlife in the community garden

March blossom

May - sightseeing in London

July - cycling in France

September - a stay at The Mermaid in Rye.

Including a beautiful walk through the bird reserve

October - Mexico

Chichen Itza

Seeing flamingos close up

Swimming in a beautiful cenote

Seeing a baby sting ray in the wild

Finally - after years of searching - seeing a nest of turtles hatch

Floating down a river

December - first trip to Poland 

Happy 2018 Everyone!