Making the most of the hedgerows

Sunday afternoon and the sky was grey. With nothing to do and an hour spare we decided to doge the showers and go on a blackberry hunt...........

A pot of blackberries later we took a side track on the way home, and then something red caught our eye from the tree......we ran and looked. A red hand knitted heart swinging in the breeze, with a note saying we could steal it away if we gave a donation to the British Heart Foundation. We have, but my mind can't help wonder about the person who knits them, and then comes and hangs the gifts. I hope they know the pleasure and excitement it brought today.

Back home crumble was made. It always seem extra special when the contents have been hand picked. 

Jane

Taking advantage

So, whilst I didn't return from holiday with a list of resolutions (believe me I've done plenty of those in the past inspired by sunsets and wine) I have come back feeling refreshed and with the clarity of thought that only comes when you've had some space.

So I thought I'd share with you my list of little things I've done differently this week 

1. Before going away I have a confession to make. I was addicted to flicking on my Facebook newsfeed. Now whilst I knew this, I didn't do anything about it. Time away with no easy access to wifi meant cold turkey, and no flicking. In the gap I realised that it was actually good not to know every update the second it happened, and actually made things less frantic. I've come home and am not flicking. Release.

2. Second confession (and sorry this is a bit personal) after weeks of wearing flip flops my feet look and feel like I'm 92. The cracks and crevices are actually making walking painful. I never really pay attention to my feet and now you can tell. This week I went and bought some magic cream and have cleaned my feet every night. My husband was so shocked he reeled when he saw me and thought something was wrong. Need I say more?

3. Back from holiday and out of work the emails come in with additional demands on my time. One email arrived this morning, and my natural reaction is to respond immediately and squeeze in doing something else between two other things I'm already doing. Then I stopped and remembered I'm trying not to do as much. Rather than replying instantly I've paused, and though I will make time I didn't add it in today where I was already doing enough. My usual reaction is to respond to everything immediately till I'm exhausted. Today I didn't and it felt good.

4.I haven't picked up all the clothes, empty dishes, and bits of paper that everyone leaves everywhere. Instead I've got those members of my lovely family that have dropped everywhere to pick it up. This has included showing my 15 year old that he does have a towel rail in his bathroom rather than a bedroom floor.

5.I said I'd go to bed by 10pm every night so I got enough rest. Ok then I was only two hours late most nights with a midnight average, but you can't do everything.

6. I've enjoyed having space to write on here again-at heart I'm a creative soul.

So what have you noticed that's different after the summer? Were are you feeling the benefits that rest brings? I'm making the most of it whilst it lasts. And I haven't yet told you the best bit.......this week I've signed up to having piano lessons. And I'm excited.

Jane

thankful thursday

this week i am thankful for the world we live in. three times i have marveled at creation - be it a random roadside sunflower, birds glistening in the changing light of the sun setting - playing together as if dive-bombing with friends at a pool or a vast expanse of majestic red and gold sunset which upon seeing i couldn't help but sing praise. i am thankful for a full schedule that made me realise i had to get up early if i was going to do a thankful thursday post today - those who know me know that i am a night owl not an early bird - i was rewarded with the beautiful light of a pink morning sky - i was thankful the twilight directed me to look up.

Emma

All Change

So to-day it finally happened, my youngest started secondary school.

The crisp, perfect uniform was taken out of the wardrobe, hair neatly tied back, and unscuffed new shoes put on. My stomach churned. I can still remember my first day of secondary school, the feel of the new blazer feeling heavy and awkward, the uncomfortableness of not knowing your way round, the strange new faces in the classroom. The questions of will I fit in? Will I make new friends? What will happen at lunch time? And worst of all that first walk into school, a knowing you have to go, but everything within you wanting to run the other way.

This morning I could see those same thoughts racing through Ellie's head, as she tried to eat her breakfast. As I watched her leave the house coming the other way down the road were children going to primary school. You could not help notice the poignancy of the walking in the other direction.

And now at the end of the day? Excitement, relief and so much to talk about. Possible new friendships, of getting slightly lost once, and working out from the map what rooms to go to tomorrow. (Plus getting to buy a salad and pasta at lunch:))

And I'm reminded, that's the thing about change. The bit before the change actually happens is often the worst part. My mind goes into overdrive of unknowns, of trying to imagine, and not in a good way. Yet once you are living the change it's so much better. Not necessarily easy, but at least you can get your head round what it is.

I'm feeling on the edge of change with a few things at the moment, and it's not comfortable. To-day I was reminded that the edge of change is the worst, then it's ok. I guess that's part of learning not to hold on to things so tight.

And did I mention within all of that the best bit of my day was a tin that arrived in the post? The plaque tells me its 135 of 1500 made to celebrate the birth of a new Prince, now thats exciting.

Thanks Em.

Jane

another monday

it was monday, a day like any other monday. except this was the first monday of september. september - a month when thoughts turn to autumn, cooler days, waning daylight, when you wonder how much time you have before the chill directs you to thick tights and warm layers. it was a working monday - the usual whirling derbish of paperwork across a desk of brown veneer. a phone call necessitates a journey to collect something that is urgently needed, leaving my office in a none to gracious, harried manner i travel to my destination. a queue holts my progress and my mind wanders. the mental to-do list is written not just for work but for home - the sense of urgency to make progress increases alongside annoyance at being kept waiting. finally clutching the reward of my perceived wasted time i travel back to my starting point. i am flying now - the familar roads clear of learner drivers, buses and lorries that could hinder my progress. coming over the bridge and rounding the bend of the tree lined road, i see it. a flash of yellow. surely it can't be? a glance in my rear view mirror confirms. a flower, large in stature and absolutely no business to be growing where it is. i smile. ease my foot off the accelerator. the car might still be going but my minds eye is stopped in its tracks.  i remember - every day is a gift, you don't need to be in the right place to shine, take your time and enjoy it, stand tall and embrace the gift of each new day given. enjoy the yellow sunshine.

Emma

Holiday reflections

Time away, the promise of sun, no to-do lists, time spent with family, and space to read and rest. One of the lovely things about going away is the opportunity to see somewhere new, of having that excitement of wandering and not knowing what is round the next corner. On Sunday Ellie and I took ourselves off and wandered the town.

We were the tourists ambling, going down the cobbled streets the evening sunlight caught our eye.

At the bottom of the hill we turned from looking at the boats, the other way the sky was still blue,  we watched the bustle go by and somehow my camera caught us in the shadow.

The next evening we went back for more, and the sunset rewarded us. You cannot do anything but relax and enjoy when the sky is so beautiful.

In between sunsets we spent lots of time doing nothing. But it's in those times honesty can speak. My son told me over tea one evening that the school do better mashed potato than me (imagine my reaction to that one), I found that not having a facebook newsfeed to flick on every 30 seconds was releasing, and that my husband can still be disciplined to go running in 30 degree heat as he trains for a marathon (not that I really doubted that one).

Coming back we stopped off to spend a couple of days with friends in Bournemouth. It was a special weekend as it was the air festival. What's amazing about this is you literally sit on a beach, paddle in the sea, and meanwhile an air show goes on around you, the noise catching you by surprise as the jets weave over your heads. Saturday the sky was pure blue.

What made it even more special was this one of the last weekends we will spend with our close friends before they move away. It was another weekend of making time to do the important, friendship and making memories, as well as acknowledging the changes that are about to happen, of talking and sharing hopes and concerns.

So as September starts and the holidays end what are my final reflections? Life without so much crammed in gives that all important space. Sometimes I've used it well, sometimes not. But is that OK? Yes it is, as I've learnt through Brene Brown that my enough is enough. I feel rested, but I haven't written a new to- do list of good intentions. Instead I'm starting September knowing the importance of family, friends, and recognising the most important conversations come at unplanned times. I have also seen again how God is with me, and I'm looking for his echoes, of wanting to listen to what God is saying, and knowing that it is about relationship.

The sky on Saturday was a love gift.

Jane

eight things i learnt in august

august - a month when i love my daily commute. 

my home is surrounded by primary and secondary schools - good ones - the ones everyone wants their kids to go to - some of them take kids from out of the area. my daily commute involves rubbing shoulders with business travelers and yummy mummies in their 4 x 4s not to mention school buses. read queues and lots of them. in august that stops - schools are out and everyone goes on holiday. as september rolls around i will find it hard to set the alarm earlier and leave the house at my eleven months of the year regular time - but that's next week - this week we can still revel in augusts relaxed style. in keeping with the relaxation perhaps i didn't pay as much attention to what i learnt this month but here goes - eight things i learnt in august.

1. its two hundred years since jane austin's pride and prejudice was published. this month i went to see it performed at castle howard near york. i had never been to this stately home before but on arriving there was told:

2. castle howard was the location for the filming of bbc tvs adaptation of brideshead revisted in the 1980s. it is a beautiful setting and i would love to go back and explore the extensive grounds and house at a later date.

and talking of stately homes:

3. downton abbey is actually highclere castle in newbury, berkshire. i was told this by a friend while chatting about castle howard. apparently the writer of downton abbey, julian fellows, knows the owners - the earl and countess of carnarvon - and he had this house in mind when he started writing downton. it is open to the public and i am certainly going to go and explore this one when it reopens again next year. when i googled to find it i found that the current countess of carnarvon has just started a blog - check it out here.

4. i'm a sucker for orla kiely shopping bags. this month i have bought not one but two of her shoppers - telling myself it was fine as they are inexpensive and some of the proceeds from the sale go to cancer research. when i googled to find out how much i found that 25p from each sale goes to cancer research and 25p goes to the royal college of art - i'm happy with that. what i also found out was that these bags are limited editions for tescos - you can find them on ebay for much more than the £4 i spent.

5. make up artist to the stars, charlotte tilbury, is launching her own make up range. 2 september is the day to check out her new website. why am i excited about this? i'm not a girl who wears a lot of make-up, in fact this month i have been described as cheap in the makeup department as i only really wear mascara and lipstick. but this range is being dubbed "a 360 degree beauty brand" due to the fact you can click on a product and there will be a video to tell you how to use it together with videos showing you how to "do" certain looks. it's going for the helpful angle - i like its style (and i need the help).

and speaking of stars:

6. matt damon re-wrote the ending of the bourne supremacy just two weeks before its cinema release date, scripting the final line "get some rest pam, you look tired." he also worked alongside director doug liman who directed the first bourne film - bourne identity - to ensure that the ending worked - hard to believe but matt damon went into filming bourne off the back of two box office flops (all the pretty horses and the legend of bagger vance) he worked hard to ensure he didn't have three flops in a row.

and speaking of working hard:

7. this month i learnt from my friend who is a pastoral head in a secondary school how she has been trained to help kids who self harm by cutting. she sits and talks with them while they hold ice in their bare hands. the numbing of the hands whilst holding the ice gives them the pain that cutting does but obviously is not harmful to their health. i am constantly amazed not only by how much pain young people carry and what it causes them to do to themselves but also by how willing professionals are to help these individuals. i was inspired. 

and lastly:

8. you can conference call on an iphone. this month i spoke to both my sister and sister in law at. the. same. time. once you have made your first call all you need to do is press the add call button on your keypad and dial the next number then press merge calls - simple. 

this year seems to be anniversary heavy - not just is it 200 years since pride and prejudice was published - it is also 50 years since c s lewis died and 40 years since j r r tolkin died. wednesday was the 50 year anniversary of martin luther king jrs "i have a dream" speech. bbc radio 4  got notables including congressman john lewis, stevie wonder, the dalai lama and nelson mandela's first grand-daughter ndileka mandela to read the speech - hear it together with images of the time here. 

Emma

linking with emily at chatting at the sky.