stepping stones of truth

Ramble around Cerne Abbas

2009-11-10T17:42:00.012Z

My walking companion and good girlfriend wanted to "recce" a walk she would later be leading with the local Ramblers. We had already tried out another walk in the area, but - on taking tea afterwards in a local tea room - had seen another suggested walk printed out, which looked more interesting. Our previous walk had taken us up the nearly vertical hill by the side of the Giant. Killing climb!

The walk started from the car park with this view of the Cerne Abbas Giant. Panoramic view from the starting point at the car park

Interesting information about the Cerne Abbas giant

So on a misty autumn day, we were going to try the new one, from the instructions but also taking a map. Instructions can be ambiguous! If you want to follow our walk, Ive found a version on the internet - but it goes the opposite way around. Walk details, only the wrong way round the circular route

It started off with a hairy few yards along a main road, but even main roads in Dorset can be fairly quiet, and we didnt see one vehicle in the few minutes we walked along it. Luckily it turned off after only a few yards onto this lovely peaceful road to the hamlet of Up Cerne (yes there is a Nether Cerne too!)

The stately trees lining the lane belong the parklands of the manor house, whose lands we were walking through. Their leaves had already fallen.

Then we turned onto the approach road to the house with its outlying estate workers cottages and church. All the roads and paths we used were official public footpaths. The problem with our previous walk was that a section of it was not - and ramblers always stick to the legal paths!

We passed the gateway to the big house, and leaned on the gate a while. If you click to see the larger version you can probably make out its church to the left. Each manor house would have had its own church nearby, so the lord of the manor would not have to walk far on a Sunday morning.

Then, after a pleasant stroll along the valley by a stream, the foot path led up through a wood to a junction of paths on the ridge of the hill between the two valleys, This photo looks down the path on the right which we had just climbed. A lovely leaf littered path.

The path then turned away from Cerne Abbas, along the top of the ridge and gave us glimpses of Minterne Magna House in the valley below. As we turned down off the top of the hills down towards Minterne, we had an unfortunate meeting. A tractor in a nearby field was spraying. A broad leaved herbicide maybe, but although a fairly still day, we caught some of the drifting nastiness and put our jumpers over our mouths for a while.

My companion remembered walking in the French countryside around vineyards, when the aircraft that was crop spraying deliberately flew at them and let fly with his spray, which was choking. This tractor driver didnt do anything like that, and plodded his way up and down the hillside.

We came down into the village of Minterne Magna that surrounded the big house, whose lovely wild gardens are open in the summer, and closed on the very day we were there - but we had no time to visit. We had our coffee stop on a thoughtfully provided picnic bench in the grassy car park.

This lovely acer was in the garden of one of the estate cottages, on top of a wall alongside the footpath as we crossed the valley bottom. We had a look around the small church in the village with lots of memorials to the Churchill family (lots of Winstons going back centuries).

My companion crossing a thoughtfully provided bridge over the small River Cerne that flows through the valley and provides lakes and fishing.

And here is a waymark right in the middle of a field beside a "blasted oak". So far, so good. No problem seeing which way to go so far.

We had turned back down the valley towards Cerne Abbas but got some more views of the lovely house and gardens which are home to the Digby family and can be used as a wedding venue.

It was about this point that we lost the plot (and the path) a bit. We backtracked a few times, and always discovered where we had gone astray! We reckon we had probably put a good couple of miles on the route by mislaying the path. Once we even crossed a main road, as we were supposed to, but the path we were expecting on the other side was not to be seen! We didnt eat our sandwiches until we were reasonably sure of being on a sensible route. And at this point we finally looked at a map.

Just as it was getting a little bit dark (and I was getting a little weary) we found the path that led us along the valley and beneath the feet of the Giant. Plenty of laughs - mostly at our blindness on missing paths as we were too busy looking at the scenery or following cattle tracks! A good walk if ever you are in the area. And of course a lovely teashop in the village of Cerne Abbas.

Autumn at the national arboretum

2009-10-19T11:24:00.003+01:00

I had long wanted to vist Westonbirt but it is a bit too far away for a day visit, but my brother and his wife invited us to stay the weekend, so that we could all go together - and they only live a short distance away. My sister-in-law cooked lovely meals, and my brother and I compared notes on computer games and shared family stories from the past!

He had researched the best time to visit for autumn colour and the weekend had arrived. Many many people had the same idea, and there were queues of cars at the gates. But there was also an extra temporary entrance with three booths, and acres and acres of extra parking. Very well organised. It was more like visiting a festival or outdoor event. Everyone was in good spirits, and I didnt even hear one child whining with boredom (and there were plenty of children). It was hard to believe that the thousands of people were there just to look at trees!

We were happy to follow the well signposted Seasonal Trail, which took us in two loops (one before lunch, one afterwards) through the National Collection of Japanese Maples and through well kept woodland and splendid specimens.

I realised that this is the first year in quite a few, that I havent been to Kyoto in the autumn. The cold air on our faces made me quite nostalgic for misty mountainsides and temples surrounded by delicate flame coloured trees, with leaves like tiny stars.......

My husband walking past a particularly delicious Bhutan pine, very Himalayan.

Nothing as beautiful as an acer against pine trees!

The hunter gatherer searches for fallen edible sweet chestnuts!

I have this one as wallpaper right now.

Taking a rest, flanked by my brother and my husband.
Thanks for a great weekend!

Charminster bellringers' day out

2009-10-04T21:38:00.008+01:00

The leaves are beginning to turn and the sun has started to lose its heat - it is autumn and time for the Charminster Ringers' annual outing to six towers in Wiltshire! In fact the day stayed dry but we didnt see any sun.

The day began at 8.30am and we all got in the hired minibus and were on our way to Wilton. The parish church (full length photo) is Italianate and looks strange to my eyes, being in a sleepy Georgian town. The stone work was decorative, but not old enough for my liking.

After a very pleasant coffee in the town square (you can tell this trip was organised by a woman!) we were off to Salisbury. There are no bells in the cathedral, but I had often sat in the café opposite St Thomas Church, (off to the left out the photo below) eating cream cakes and wistfully looking at the tower. I never thought I would have the chance to ring there.

Its always a bit nerve wracking, ringing in a town centre, with thousands of shoppers hearing the bells (and any mistakes - of which there were very few) The bells were majestic and sounded deep and sonorous - the tenor weighs 27cwt, luckily we had experienced ringers who could handle that!

We had only one ground floor ring, the rest were up in the towers, but I was able to take the time to put my head around the door and see a choir practice going on and admire the harvest festival flowers.

I wanted to make a recording of the ringing, and my mobile phone could only pick up the hiss of the rope ends as they hit the floor at the end of the hand and back strokes. So I used the camera. Sorry for the bad quality too, shooting into the light of the window. Oh well you get an idea, and can hear people being put right, as they threaten to get out of place

And then, joy of joys (I told you this was organised by a woman!) a long lunch hour in the town centre itself. Coming from a small town, this was a delight! Shops; market; ahhhhhh.

I had brought home made egg and tomato sandwiches for lunch - a childhood favourite and a must for me for days out! And I sat and had my picnic in the cathedral square and enjoyed the beautiful architecture, not only of the cathedral but these wonderful houses. Mompesson House was right behind me, as a National Trust member I can get in for free - and use the nice clean toilets - but I didnt!

After lunch, we drove through small river valleys and open countryside, more open and with bigger fields than Dorset. Broad Chalke, Coombe Bissett and the delightfully named Ebbesbourne Wake were tranquil churches and pretty villages.

The last stop was the church of St Peter ad Vincula ( means in chains, and one of only fourteen churches of that name in England) This was in Tollard Royal on Cranborne Chase, it dates from medieval times - 13th century - and is tucked into a fairly remote hillside.

There is a memorial to a knight inside the church and it should depict a crusader knight (his legs are crossed) called Sir William Payne who died in 1388, but a local lady told us he was cheating and he wasnt a crusader, as his dates are all wrong! I cant remember what his feet resting on a dog rather than a lion means.

This is part of the Rushmore Estate, formerly the home of the 19th-century archaeologist and ethnologist General Pitt-Rivers, and the "royal" part refers to King John's Hunting Lodge which was next to the church and used for hunting on the Chase for many centuries. (Madonna and Guy Ritchie have a mansion nearby on the Ashcombe estate!)

We had a good day out (there is me third from the left) A very enjoyable outing with interesting churches and bells, good company. We had an evening meal at The Inn on the Chase, and I felt very relaxed, full and sleepy as we drove back down to Dorset through the dusk.

I must go down to the seas again......

2009-08-30T23:57:00.006+01:00

...to the lonely sea and the sky.... So goes the poem Sea-Fever by John Masefield that I had learned at school. And I really did have to go and walk by the sea one day last week. Quite a strong need I had. It was a bit of a wild day, with sudden sharp showers blown in on blustery winds, between sunshine and blue skies.

This is my nearest bit of coast, about twenty minutes drive, thats all. And this is a hidden bit of coastal path, off the beaten tourist track. A narrow lane to nowhere with an amazing view.

You can look back south along the pebble ridge of Chesil Beach, (and the section of water behind it called The Fleet) to the Isle of Portland, which is actually attached and not an island at all. It looked a bit wild and desolate as I dodged the showers.

Also with the same view is a layby at the top of the hill out of Abbotsbury, where in summer an icecream van is usually parked. The lady inside needed the aerial to provide her with some entertainment - it was a quiet day for tourists and a bit lonely up there.

However, someone stopped. But the cows on the other side of the road were extremely interested - perhaps it was local ice cream, maybe even from their herd? Who knows!

I decided to go to the small car park on the coast at West Bexington - just a car park, a small café and the public toilets with the best view in England! Its on the Chesil Beach which shelves steeply and the waves had been whipped up by the wind.

The second verse of the poem came to mind...

I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

The air was damp with sea spray, exactly as in the poem. The waves crashed onto the pebbles sending the spray into the air and sending foam up to the bottom of the first ridge where I stood in safety.

But despite the strong wind (I had trouble opening the car door against it) a couple were determined to enjoy a day on the beach. They used several windbreaks to huddle behind, to create an almost totally enclosed space, I think they were reading the papers. But the dog had heard me crunching along on the pebbles and had come outside to see who was mad enough to be out on a day like this - apart from his hardy owners that is!

I had a wonderful time, and came back with the cobwebs blown away and with salt spray tasting on my lips.

Sumi - Japanese ink work

2009-08-25T21:55:00.007+01:00

This is Christine Flint Sato, who I met in England but lives in Japan, in Nara (quite close to Kyoto of my heart) She had come to Dorset to exhibit some of her work with Hands On Art and also give a day workshop in Japanese ink work (sumi is the Japanese word for Chinese ink). Her website gives some more details and background.

We were a select bunch of four ladies, and the setting was the light and airy barn classroom at New Barn, Bradford Peverell. Everything was laid out for us. Christine explained the use of the elements - ink, brush and paper. It didnt feel like a workshop, rather a conversation between someone more experienced and us less experienced.

Our first task was to create our own ink with by gently grinding the block of ink with a little water on the inkstone. The fragrance of the ink was very delicate, but instantly took me back to Kyoto and I was inside a temple. The very essence of Japan was released under my nose. Bliss.

We played with dense ink and then much lighter ink, and at first just made lines on the paper and watched the ink spreading - or not if it was more ink than water, and got used to different tones. Then we made wavy lines, spirals (my all time favourite - as you can see on my workspace above) and watched how the ink spread on the soft rice paper.

Just watching Christine create marks on paper was a lesson in itself. It was fascinating to see how the brush was part of her, and how she moved her body rather than just her hand as we do in the west when we use a brush on paper. These are the characters for mindfulness that she created for us - very appropriate!

All of sudden it was lunchtime, and we went to the small cafe within the New Barn site. I had egg and chips, with chips that were light and crisp. Mmmmm. Followed by honeycomb flavour ice cream. Food was included in the price of the workshop, as were tea/coffee and cakes. Perfect.

In the afternoon we moved on to trying out a few simple Japanese characters, and some of the calligraphers amongst us were totally involved. Not having any experience (apart from learning the basic few at my Japanese conversation class a few years ago) I was more taken by using patterns. All these photos were taken on my phone, apologies for the quality, and the one above was taken by Avril on hers. We spent a moment sending the photo from her phone to mine. Wonders of the age eh?

Christine suggested I could create a pattern using a Japanese gravel garden as a theme. I had great fun, and it all felt a bit familiar. I realised that, at school, I used to spend time in class doodling - I would take a word or group of letters, quite small with space between, and create shadow shapes around each letter, spreading out like ripples - just like Japanese stones in a gravel sea! Weird or not!

At the end of the afternoon, we were invited to do a hand print with purple ink as the people doing workshops had done last year too. This is mine - it had quite dark patches of ink, and an amazing hollow in the palm. They were all so different.

Christine does some beautiful paintings, that show what can be done with sumi, but I just had fun and was very happy with my spriral.

Colmer's Hill

2009-08-18T11:33:00.007+01:00

A warm summer's afternoon - what better way to spend it, than going for a walk with Eldest Daughter, Life Long Friend and Wilson, the springer spaniel. ED and LLF hadnt been to the top of Colmers Hill so we drove to Bridport in ED's new car, with Wilson giving excited little yelps all the way from the very rear of the car.

The photo above (taken on another day) was shot through the windscreen of the car as I waited for traffic lights to change in the middle of Bridport. It can be seen from miles around.

It is near the village of Symondsbury and all the land around is owned by the Colfox Estate (even the seconday school in Bridport is called The Sir John Colfox School).

We didnt walk up the permissive footpath (granted by the estate) but along an ancient and deep track around the back. It is a very special site because of the geology that can be seen on the banks. A very mysterious place, even in high summer.

Once off the track and onto the hill the going was much steeper. The ground was nicely nibbled grass, thanks to the sheep that graze it. But we stopped to admire the view many times - apart from ED who had Wilson to pull her up - being on his lead due to sheep and his tendency to race off around the boundary of any field he finds himself in. He is only two after all. A legacy of his genes and training as a working dog, flushing out and retrieving game.

It was much cooler on the top, and a stiff breeze was blowing that couldnt be felt as we climbed up. There is a trig point up there on the little plateau (we could see another two points on the map, despite the nearness to the coast) It was a handy point for a quickly taken delayed action photo. I will not show you the one that went off "early" and caught me running back into position!

I used to be the Line Manager of someone whose father helped plant the trees, apparently during World War I. But I was glad to see that there are more smaller pine trees that have been planted to replace them eventually. They are heavily guarded against rabbits and sheep!

If you can see the hill from miles around, then the view FROM the hill will also be good - and it is! We spent a happy few minutes orienting the map so that we could locate what we were looking at - from the coast to villages and hills way inland.

There is no "boot shot" as I forgot my boots (well it was a warm and dry summer afternoon) and managed to climb up and down in my mules well enough). But I did take a 360 degree quick video to compensate for its lack! You can see the late summer countryside and a glimpse or two of the sea. Lovely!

Summer

2009-08-14T10:53:00.005+01:00

I find it quite difficult, after a lapse in blogging, to restart. And the longer the gap, the more difficult it is somehow! I dont know if other people find that too?

Anyway - here goes. Four photos, now that a warm few weeks has kicked in at last....

My lovely grandaughter, one year old! She has a sunny nature and is such an accurate mimic of movement I think she must have been a dancer in a past life, if not this one surely. I spent a happy few days with her in London.

And then she, and her parents, came down to Dorset. And her doting grandparents (and Aunty and her fiancé) got to look after her while they celebrated their second wedding anniversary with a night at Summer Lodge (though she got to go and splash and swim with them in the sophisticated spa pool!)

Sorry this image on its side, I uploaded it straight from the camera! This is a wonderful sight - I thought, like Zen, that my black bamboo Phyllostachys Nigra had died in all the snow we had last winter. It was his post that reminded me to go and look at mine. And yes, I have new growth too!

And Keri's post about her daylilies made me go and take a photo of my main variety, that was (as she puts it) a passalong. I do so enjoy it. And I have no idea of its name. Any ideas?

Summer days

2009-07-02T13:32:00.004+01:00

Well I had a totally amazing, refreshing, inspiring and relaxing 21 days Zen mindfulness retreat in the South of France at Plum Village with Thich Nhat Hanh (of which more in a later post!) and am now enjoying the summer in delightful Dorset.

The weather has been deliciously warm, but with a few showers at night. I am very aware that my retired status has been well earned, and enjoy every moment of relaxing in the garden - and have just about got over the guilt of "not doing anything" and having no apparent schedule for the day.

So that you can share my enjoyment, here are a few photos of my sitting area aka patio.

The trusty (and slightly rusty) old swing seat - still going strong after many summer's of lazing and reading. It looks out onto the rest of the garden. Its in a very shady and cool spot, protected from the wind.

The table and chairs, right outside the patio door. I love to be able to step outside with the first cup of Earl Grey of the day. I shall probably still be doing it when I need an overcoat and umbrella! The garden shed has seen better days but still serves it purpose to keep all the tools and lawnmower out of the elements.

Close up of the hanging basket on the shed - purples this year, though I am not sure what colour the climbing/trailing nasturtiums will be. Tropaeolum majus 'Jewel of Africa' The packet of seed said " climbing nasturtim with cream marbled foliage and bright colour range" - perhaps the growers dont know either!

The first sweet pea to flower. Ive planted it with some climbing French beans (and some of the climbing/trailing nasturtiums too) in a pot next to the shed. The beans are the first to have made it to the top of the small metal pergola which you can see in one of the photos, but the sweet peas are first to flower. Round One to them!

The rest of the patio - I really must sort out the pots, but the new hebe in the front is doing very nicely. Red geraniums in their pot are still doing very well - they are on top of the barbecue which consists of the bottom of the cast iron stove that was still used for heating the school in the winter up until 1972. Two of them were the only heating in the school (built in 1863).

It makes an excellent barbecue - the logs (we dont bother with charcoal!) go in the top and get fired up, and the amount of air can be adjusted by the hinged lid - which can also be used for clearing the ash out if needed. The whole body gets red hot and holds the heat for hours - very good for chillier evenings.

One of their catalogues of Smith and Wellstood in the National Library of Scotland has the notes against it :-
"The firm of Smith & Wellstood was established in Glasgow in 1858 to sell American-style free-standing stoves in Britain. Outlets were subsequently opened in Liverpool, Dublin and London. The firm was the driving force in persuading the British public to invest in efficient, slow-burning stoves in place of open fires. These stoves used less fuel and produced more heat than the type being used in Britain in the 1850s. The founders were James Smith and Stephen Wellstood, both Edinburgh-born entrepreneurs who had begun their business careers in the United States. Smith decided it would be more economic to produce the stoves in Scotland than to import them from the United States. In 1855 James Smith had contracted the services of George Ure, an ironfounder of some repute and a partner of Crosthwaite, Ure & Co. of Camelon. Ure opened his own foundry - the Columbian Stove Works - in Bonnybridge in 1860 to make the castings for the stoves. The finished products were transported down the Forth-Clyde canal to Smith's warehouses in Glasgow."

Thence to a new school that the Lord of the Manor was opening in a small village in Dorset for his villager's children! I bet the makers never thought when it was made over 136 years ago, that it would be used for cooking outdoors!

Colours of the garden

2009-05-30T23:16:00.003+01:00

No its not Kerri's blog, Ive just borrowed her title because my small garden is probably at its best right now. The bluebells and daffodils are over, but all the cool pink and white flowering shrubs are at their peak.

The white wisteria sinensis shows my careful twice yearly pruning (usually when the Man of the House is out and cant see me high up a ladder against the wall) I would dearly love an arbour over which to train it, so that the blossoms hang down and make a perfurmed chanderliered ceiling. But second best, I put a rug on the grass underneath, lean my back against the flint wall and inhale deeply as I look up at the blooms against a clear blue sky. Bliss.

This is a new bleeding heart dicentra spectabils which I have in front of the patio windows, so that I can enjoy its elegant wands of hearts. My old one just didnt show up this spring, probably the snow and cold soils were not to its liking.

The variegated wiegela is a mass of flowers. Every year I tell it that it may be its last year as it getting too big and tall (over six foot). I prune it down just to test it, and have even bought a new smaller one to replant next to it. It rises to the challenge so well that I havent the heart to take it out. Anyone want a year old variegated wiegela still in its pot?

An allium surfaced this year, I havent seen it for years. Normally (when not retired) I havent had the time to keep the area around it weed free. How lovely, now I shall have to buy it some friends!

My "hot" border, next to a warm wall. Hot in colour you understand. I cant put all the yellow day lilies in with the cool pinks and mauves of the other area. The red perenial oriental poppies have gradually increased over the years, and this spring I bought papaver orientale "Patty's Plum" a sort of faded elegant burgundy colour. She reminds me of an elderly lady of the manor somehow, I am sure her name is not Patty but Lady Patricia.

Now here is the view from the patio looking across the dappled grass (hardly a lawn, too many daises and dandelions) towards the front path/drive that leads down to the road - where the children would have walked up when it was a village school. You can see the entrance porch on the right, where the children would have hung their coats on pegs.

And the view back across from just in front of the big evergreen tree - that should really come down but the neighbours and I both like the way it screens walls and buildings. So difficult to prune as it is only green on the very edges. I have the umbrella up over the table where we tend to have meals if at all possible. It gets the very last sun of the day, but is shaded most of the day by a large ash tree (not mine) and a variegated holly that is taller than the house (mine!)

I am off on a 21 day Zen mindfulness retreat in the Dordogne area of France. I have never been before and am quite excited, but I am sorry to miss the delights of my cool garden in the lovely warm sun of an English summer. It will be quite a different three weeks I think!

Dancing jewels

2009-05-29T16:12:00.005+01:00

Ive taken the title from this wonderful piece from Cate aka Kerrdelune. It contains so much wonderful information and poetic insight, that I wont even bother to quote, but ask you to visit and enjoy! But eagles' talons isnt the first image that springs to mind for me!

But it got me thinking about the more humble aquilegia/columbine/granny's bonnets that I have in my garden. A few years ago, I saw a wonderful colour variety and gaily scattered the seed around for the future. Only to find out (as you probably all know) that the colour does not "come true". Totally random it seems.

However, I was inspired to go and take photos of all the different colours.

I also took a few more images to share with you the delights of a summer's day in my garden..but so many it had better be in a separate post. Also it bliss, enjoying that first cup of tea, strolling on the stepping stones and the grass, knowing that I dont have to tear myself away and spend the day in a hot office. Hurrah for retirement!!!

Today while sipping my first cup of Earl Grey, I realised that the flowers of what I call cornflower (really centaurea montana) were not just amazingly coloured, but were perfect helipads for the troops of bumble bees out on morning patrol. How could the bees refuse the invitation?

Right, thats long enough indoors, back to the book and my comfy rug under the white wisteria. Mmmmmm.....

Fifth Annual Crocus Walk

2009-05-23T20:33:00.005+01:00

Yes its the time of year that The Ladies hunt around Dorset for a fine tea room, and then plan a walk in the countryside around it. All in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Previous year's walk are chronicled in 2008 Gifts from the gods or passing planes ; 2007 Wonderful walks and before that, 2006 Time for tea.

This year we decided on a coastal walk, but of course first we had decided on the Egg Cup Tea Rooms. There is a poem and review on this website for Dorset Tearooms! One of my good walking friends from the village and I went on a recce to see if the walk was suitable, and my friend Gill and I went on a separate excursion to check out the quality of the tea room!

Here we are, gathered for the start (you can see an old fashioned telephone box behind us) complete with Breakthrough balloons and Rebecca's dog Finty. The weather was so bad in the morning that I had people phoning up to see if it was cancelled. Never!!!

The rain stopped, and we were on our way, but it was still quite windy. Gill is pulling a face and pretending the hill is steep (it wasnt really, but there was a steep hill ahead to climb at the half way point though!)

Jean was the proud wearer of this year's Breakthrough Tshirt, which she shows nicely as we neogiate a stile. We already quite high, and the views were good with the rain in the morning clearing the air.

We took a halfway rest at The Lookout on The Knoll which is a hill just south of of Puncknowle (pronounced 'punnel'). On top of the hill is an ancient round barrow, and on top of the barrow is this late-18th Century building. It is listed, and was originally used as a coastguard lookout. (I always thought it was a lime kiln however) It is in good condition but is just an empty shell with an uneven earth and stone floor. What amazing views it has though.

This is the view to the west, along Chesil Beach towards Bridport and eventually to Devon. If you look carefully in the foreground, you can see an errant Breakthrough balloon that decided it wanted its freedom!
PS Sorry you cant click to biggen these photos, Ive linked to my Flickr photos, which was quick to do, but means you cant see the detail. Sorry.
PPS I uploaded the originals, so you CAN see more detail.

The clouds look threatening, but we made it back to the cars without mishap or rain. And in good time too.

Front left is the LLF (my Life Long Friend) who was down from London, visiting her parents who live in Dorchester. Her mother is in hospital right now, recovering from two major operations. So Get Well Soon Kate!

And here is the well beloved Boot Shot - of which there have not been many recently. The cream tea was up to standard and I promise that I kept my boots on the floor for the rest of the time.
We raised £90 and had a great afternoon.

Spring wonders

2009-05-16T19:41:00.004+01:00

Its spring in London too, and I spent a happy couple of days visiting my lovely granddaughter, who is now 10 months old.

Also visiting her were two amazing visitors - I couldn't believe my eyes. Two jays are setting up home in the silver birch tree at the bottom of the garden. In central London!

I watched this one sidle along the fence and bend down and extract the snails that you can see, hiding under the top rail. One was a bit difficult, and so he attempted a sort of hummingbird manoeuvre - that was not only inelegant but unsuccessful.

Ive lived in the country for over thirty five years and only seen a glimpse of chestnut and turquoise as one disappeared into woodland. What a privilege to watch these two at close quarters (from the comfort of the house) collecting nesting material, and even screeching at the local cats who also use the fence top as a means of travel.

"Although they are the most colourful members of the crow family, jays are actually quite difficult to see. They are shy woodland birds, rarely moving far from cover. The screaming call usually lets you know a jay is about and it is usually given when a bird is on the move, so watch for a bird flying between the trees with its distinctive flash of white on the rump." say the experts. Hmmm.

Here she is, plus two bottom teeth, with another huge one at the top that you cant see and one only days away! She is an incredible mimic, and can copy movements in an instant (such as her mother shaking her massage oil out of a container onto a palm, luckily the lid was firmly back on!)

It only seems yesterday that she couldnt understand how to make the lights and buttons on this work, they were totally unfathomable to her, and now she is a smooth operator - even if her standing is a bit shaky!

What beauties they are, I love them to bits.

Being Peace Cottage

2009-04-22T15:45:00.012+01:00

Being on mindful retreat with the Community of Interbeing means you get up early.

Your reward? Seeing the sun rise over the gentle hills of Dorset. We follow the Zen tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, and the early morning chant before the first meditation of the day is softly heard on the still air:-

The Dharma body is bringing morning light.
In concentration , our hearts are at peace, a half-smile is borne upon our lips.
This is a new day, we vow to go through it in mindfulness.
The sun of wisdom has now risen, shining in every direction.
Bring your mind into meditation.....

The CoI has bought a small cottage in a quiet spot in Dorset, to act as a place to practice in small groups of up to six (or in solitude if you wish). They have been fundraising over many years, and had grand ideas of a big centre, but realised that small beginnings are easier to live with.

Monks from the monastery at Plum Village came to stay for a while and join in the celebrations on the first retreat.

We all walked in silence up to the cottage where the monks had offered to ceremonially plant a tree (an amelanchier, a small tree ideally suited to the chalky downland soil and windy conditions)

There was a respectful atmosphere, but great fun too. They had put traditional bowls of fruit and incense in what was the small front room, but is now set aside for quiet meditation. Some of us did wonder if the smoke alarm would go off with all the incense being wafted around!

They carried bowls of water with small flowers sprinkled on top of the water to water in the new tree. A very happy time. Great views from the cottage too!

The area around the cottage is used as a field study centre for children, and has a small collection of old fashioned animal breeds and an orchard. The blossom is gorgeous among primroses.

They also ensure that the cowslip meadow has excellent conditions. I dont think I have ever witnessed such a mass of cowslips ever before. A path through the field has been mown so that you can walk down the hill without worrying about crushing the delicate flowers.

An amazing sight today. But you can also see modern farming on the hill opposite - this bright yellow splash of a rape field is a crop that is very recent in English farming.

Its very lovely to have such a place so close to my house - only ten minutes drive away!

Like the first morning

2009-04-08T04:54:00.006+01:00

This spring somehow seems to be the first spring I have seen. Maybe I have new eyes. Maybe I have the time now to see and appreciate it in. Maybe it is the contrast with the cold dark winter when I was housebound....

These are snapshots of an early Sunday morning as I walked to bellringing, while the rest of the world seemed asleep in their beds, missing the freshness and newness and the sparkling air.

The small village lane is bordered on one side by the wall of the manor house kitchen garden. You can just see the magnolia tree peeping over the top. Lovely! Old Dorset walls always reminds me of the walls of Japanese gardens, which are tiled in just the same way. I think English ones would have been thatched in the old days though. The small river runs under the small bridge, then through their garden, and they have cleverly grown a green living wall above the railings,

Looking upstream, away from the manor house wall, the peaceful church yard borders the river. Only the fir trees are showing any green. No leaves yet on the bare branches.

I was late and so had the delight of hearing the bells as I walked along the lane. Only six bells were being rung though, and one ringer is listening and leaning on the ancient stone font. The framework above the ringers is to hold the guiding rings to keep the ropes straight. Only needed in tall towers like ours. The fluffy blue bit on the ropes where your hands go is called a sally. Its such an ancient thing, some of the names and terms are quaint, even to my ears.

Soon we were ringing all ten bells. This number of bells is unusual in a small village, and mostly found in large city churches or cathedrals.

Back home for breakfast and a wander in the garden to see what is bursting into bloom and the first cutting of the grass.......

Spring has sprung

2009-03-23T22:07:00.004Z

The last two weeks have been totally wonderful - blue skies, warm sunshine, spring blossom everywhere and birds singing - even skylarks spiralling high above the downland fields. It feels like emerging from hibernation, the winter seemed particularly dark this year somehow.

Now I can really appreciate retirement. Its as if the winter was a waiting time. How empowering to be be able to do a couple of hours relaxed gardening, and then say to myself " I will do the rest tomorrow" and not have to worry that it will have to wait until the next weekend. Hurrah!!!

There have been many happenings since I last blogged, and they can wait. But one event wont wait.

My youngest daughter's boyfriend proposed to her on Valentine's Day, on the beach where they went on their first date, (and where his Springer spaniel drank too much seawater and threw up magnificently at her feet! ) They chose the ring together, its an old one which they both think is much nicer than a modern one. I agree.

I expect the weather will revert to a chillier normal state for March, but these have been happy times.

Housebound again

2009-02-08T18:17:00.004Z

This time its snow and more particularly, ice. Both the drives to the house have been like skating rinks for the last few days. I havent been out in the car for nearly a week (good job I got some provisions when I did!) I started to walk to some friends on Friday night, but gave up - even with my walking boots and poles. Too slippery.

The snow is very pretty, but we are not used to so much, nor temperatures below freezing for so long. This part of Dorset is very close to the sea, and I had to remember where the sledge had been put for safe keeping, it was so long ago we used it last.

I looked after Wilson, the Springer Spaniel, for a day - and I dont think he had seen snow before.

Many of the plants in the garden will not handle such hard frosts very well. A couple of nights, yes - but a whole week?? I suspect the agapanthus and some of the hebes wont like the prolonged cold. But the variegated holly tree looked wonderful in the morning sun, viewed from the warmth indoors.

Some days have had lovely clear skies, and this sunset was a joy to behold.

Now we have a warmer evening, and I hope to get to the shops tomorrow morning - before the forecast "winter storm" is with us in the south west of England during the afternoon, and the roads are closed again!

Do you know Atisha's cook?

2009-01-24T09:38:00.006Z

No. This isnt Atisha, or his cook. Its Bodhidharma! But he does share something with Atisha, they were both famous and respected Indian sages who travelled long journeys to bring Buddhism to foreign lands.

Arent these amazing images? I found them in a couple of temples in Kyoto. This first one is about six foot sqaure, and glowers at you as you turn a corner in a corridor in Toji-in (part of the Myoshinji temple complex). Very unexpected to see something so contemporary in an ancient setting. But that is very Zen in itself. And Bodhidharma is the person who brought Buddhism from the West (India) to the East (ie China and Japan) early in the 5th century. I believe he went to the Shaolin Temple in China (but my friend Zen) may be able to confirm that.

He is shown with a big nose, I believe this is to emphasise his Indian origins, (the Japanese have cute small noses) I only found three portraits in this calligraphic and modern style. This one was hidden up in the rafters facing a delightful Japanese temple garden with lakes and winding paths.

This too was up high and I had to hold the camera above my head and hope for the best. I havent been able to find out why he has red robes. But he looks less fierce in this one. Quite a guy!

Right! Back to Atisha. He too was an Indian sage, apparently in a university in Bengal in the 11th century. He was asked to go to Tibet, to help bring back Buddhism there, which had suffered under the hands of a nasty king. So he took his cook with him on the journey, and he stayed there with Atisha.

The cook was quite a nasty character. Disagreeable. argumentative, rude and obnoxious to everyone. Including Atisha. The Tibetans said "Look, no-one likes this fellow. You dont need him. We can cook for you. For heaven's sake, send him away! He is upsetting us all."

Atisha calmly replied "He isnt just my cook. He is my teacher. I need him to teach me patience"

Do you know Atisha's cook?

Work in progress

2009-01-13T22:53:00.001Z

Looking up our one acre field with some of the new fences. In the foreground, Timothy the sheep. In the middle ground, Eldest Daughter. In the background, the white blob that is Wilson, the springer spaniel. To the left is Timothy's house.

Looking down the field, the Man of the House has brought tea out to the workers. In between them you can see Eldest Daughter's boyfriend (and owner of Wilson) tending the fire. He has been remaking all the fences and clearing scrub, rubbish and unwanted fences (like the one on the left) ready for some new arrivals.

The pointed gable end and the building on the right are the back of our house. The others are outbuildings, and our neighbour's house is on the far left.

Eldest Daughter in the Krushable Kalahari leather hat I bought her for her birthday and pink gloves (you can see her pink wellingtons in the first photo). Timothy her sheep is very interested in her cup of tea, and is trying to persuade her to let him taste it, as he is sure that sheep like tea.

First foray - frosty

2009-01-09T23:10:00.005Z

Its time for me to take a walk outside - a short walk, over the river to have a cup of tea with a friend - without the boot!

The foot doesn't seem to ache too much and the swelling has gone down, though I shall probably always have a small bump at the fracture site. Even after six weeks the bruising is still there, it fell like blue ink down my instep and makes an interesting shape where it puddled at the base of my toes.

It was a lovely bright day but by mid-afternoon the sun is slanting low through the leafless trees.

The overnight frosts have been hard during the last few weeks, and while the setting sun hits the church in a golden glow, the meadows are still white and hard with frost where they have been shadowed by the woods. Those evergreen trees mark the river's course.

My friends' cheeful house name has ice frosted ivy leaves.

And holly leaves are perfectly outlined, but the birds have long since eaten all the berries.

By the time I leave, after tea and a piece of Christmas cake in front of the log fire, the sun has long gone, and the mist is rising over the river and the meadows in the valley.

Walking along the river, the outline of the hill is framed by the alders on the bank.

The lovely moon keeps me company, gliding along silently, lighting my way back home.

Winter frosts

2009-01-07T09:20:00.008Z

The old rhyme of the months of the year says "January brings the snow, makes our feet and fingers glow" - nearly right!

I dont think I can remember such a long hard spell of cold weather like this before. The headlines say "Britain in the grip of longest cold snap for 10 years" but I measure the time by how many weeks on end in the past that I have to break the ice in the animals' water buckets. You can see above how the sun has melted the light frost where it slanted low across the field and caught the top of the tussock, but left the hollow with icy crystals.

Luckily it has been dry for weeks, so no snow for us. But most mornings the frosts are usually harder than the one above. The BBC forecast says things like

Forecast : Hard frost tonight, cold and grey tomorrow.

Today : Much of the night will be cold and clear with a widespread hard frost again. It will turn cloudier from the north by early morning with a few flurries of light snow.

Tomorrow : A few snow flurries at first, gradually dying out. Rather cold with mostly cloudy skies.

And the temperatures hardly rise above freezing.

Leaving present

2009-01-05T19:17:00.006Z

When I left work at the library, even though I disappeared quietly, some of my colleagues got together and sometime later gave me a lovely bouquet of flowers and some cash (in a beautifully hand-crafted envelope, made by the person who took over my job, and who will be much better in it than I was!)

I pondered on what to do with it, and I even took the cash and envelope with me to Kyoto. Just in case I should see any beautiful thing that I normally wouldnt have bought myself. Nothing.

I looked around for something beautiful in this country that I normally wouldnt have bought myself. Nothing.

(some expensive windchimes came close though)

While I was in Kyoto, I had to wander through what must be one of the most well stocked material shops, called Nomura Tailors. Its legendary. Small and cramped, but like a jewel box.

Interestingly and by coincidence, I saw a modern kimono coat (detail above) for sale in the art and craft/antique/flea market that is held once a month in a famous temple grounds. It was exactly the same material (different colourway though) that I bought there on a previous trip, and is being used as a throw while I wait for inspiration. Only a couple of years in the melting pot so far!

There was some cute Miffy material which I didnt buy in the end.

And an amazing version of Hiroshige's iconic "Wave".

This Aladdin's cave of delight made me think that I missed having a sewing machine. So I did my research, decided type I needed, and hunted around the online New Year sales! Bingo! The money almost paid for it. Bargain!

Brother XL2130

"The Brother XL2130 sewing machine is a great starter machine which is suitable for basic alterations and embroidery. This lightweight and compact sewing machine features an auto needle threader, 8 stitch options, embroidery options and 4 step buttonholer. The Brother XL2130 sewing machine comes complete with accessories and a soft cover and is compact - making it easy to transport.

Features:

Auto Needle Threader
Button Holes - 4 steps
Soft Cover
Product Depth 17 cm
Product Height 39 cm
Product Width 29 cm
8 Stitch Options

Instructional DVD"

And it was made in Japan!
Hours of fun. Thanks guys and gals of Dorset Libraries!

The next step on the path

2008-12-31T12:36:00.004Z

I really needed to have a few moments in the fresh air, so I set off on my first small journey across the road, to look at the river and see if any snowdrops were poking their green shoots through the hard earth yet.

I never realised that the sun set that far away from due west at midwinter. I cant believe I have never seen this sight before. It took my breath away.

And yes by the river there are tiny green shoots among the leaf litter - the first signs that spring will follow winter. And I too will follow my path from one step to another. Despite the progress being unpredictable.

Happy New Year. I hope it is a good year ahead for all of us.

Her first Christmas

2008-12-29T23:31:00.003Z

Her Christmas stocking contained a lovable furry Loch Ness Monster and an orange.

Miffy is still a firm favourite, and I managed to find this wooden mobile. Love her smile!

New moon, new year

2008-12-27T10:04:00.004Z

It may not be the recognised New Year, but I am a bit grounded in Mother Earth, and always feel that the winter solstice (one of the old midwinter festivals) marks the turning of the year for me.

And today is the first new moon of the new year.

My enforced winter break is creating quite a contemplative feel. After all my time in Japan was almost like a retreat - visiting all the temples with their sacred space and gardens, and trying to be mindful of my reactions to my experiences there. Followed up by the mindful/meditation weekend on Dartmoor. Topped off with five weeks of not using my feet.

I realise that I have had to deal with the frustration of missing out on the fun of the build up to Christmas, and not being able to be out and about in the wonderful crisp clear days of winter. And not dealt with it too well. Or as well I would like to. But maybe my standards are too high! I have to just see that its easy to water the seeds of irritation in me at times like this. And that when irritation and anger arise, I DO have the option not to argue and shout back!

There is some advice on the Plum Village website about on taking care of anger which I can relate to, having just spent Christmas with my lovely grandaughter and her family :-
Thich Nhat Hanh often compares our anger to a small child, crying out to his mother. When the child cries the mother takes him gently in her arms and listens and observes carefully to find out what is wrong. The loving action of holding her child with her tenderness, already soothes the baby’s suffering. Likewise, we can take our anger in our loving arms and right away we will feel a relief. We don’t need to reject our anger. It is a part of us that needs our love and deep listening just as a baby does.

After the baby has calmed down, the mother can feel if the baby has a fever or needs a change of diaper. When we feel calm and cool, we too can look deeply at our anger and see clearly the conditions allowing our anger to rise.

When we feel angry it is best to refrain from saying or doing anything. We may like to withdraw our attention from the person or situation, which is watering the seed of anger in us. We should take this time to come back to ourselves. We can practice conscious breathing and outdoor walking meditation to calm and refresh our mind and body. After we feel calmer and more relaxed we can begin to look deeply at ourselves and at the person and situation causing anger to arise in us. Often, when we have a difficulty with a particular person, he or she may have a characteristic that reflects a weakness of our own which is difficult to accept. As we grow to love and accept ourselves this will naturally spread to those around us.

Now all I have to do, is to do it!!

A winter break

2008-12-11T12:09:00.005Z

But not the sort of winter break you normally think of though. I was in London for a few days, visiting my delightful grandaughter.

The weather has been lovely the last few weeks - sunshine, clear blue skies, but because of this it has been cold. Very cold. Freezing. We walked across the park in the late afternoon sun, but already the puddles were freezing over.

Well, it must be old age....I was walking out of a shop when I didnt see a step! The whole surface was made of brick, and one surface was a brick higher than the other. I wasnt looking basically. Not a patch of ice in sight. Just not walking mindfully!

My foot turned over. Yowch. I felt sick, but I always have the Bach Flower Rescue Remedy spray in my handbag, so that sorted the shock out. Plus the hot chocolate and almond cake that we were on our way to have in an organic shop that has a café.

I was actually on the start of my journey home, so I limped on to the bus after that, and home on the train to Dorset as planned.

Reiki, healing, ibuprofen gel and arnica tablets did wonders with the swelling , it was still swollen in the morning but nothing like as bad as the night before, when I had to go on my bum upstairs, ha ha.

The swelling was still going down, but I knocked a part of my foot and the ouch that went along it, reminded of the time I cracked the similar bone on the other foot about five years ago! I eventually went to A+E as it was obviously more than a sprain, and yes, its a fracture of the metatarsal - the one along the outside of the foot.

I had an appt for the fracture clinic and was given a lovely black samson boot - all velcro and plastic. A cross between a ski boot and an Ugg boot. Very trendy.

No, this isnt MY leg! I am supposed to wear it for four weeks, then do without it for two and go back to them in six weeks.

I bought some walking poles to use for balance on the boot. I was going to anyway, good for steadying when going down hills etc even though my husband thinks they are for showing off but he doesnt walk anyway, and in Japan when clambering about in the hills I used to find a piece of fallen wood was very helpful.

This is the view from my bed in the morning as the sun melts the frosty moss on our neigbour's barn roof.

And the view from the patio window onto the front garden - fairly lifeless and frosty - where I have a sort of day nest of blankets and cushions, and the laptop!

So now I sit and ponder just why I have this winter break, and try not to be impatient and restless. AND make good use of the opportunity. At least tai chi and ballet classes have ended for this term, and it should be on the way to mending by Christmas!