step into my world

The alternative title to this post is “where did you get to Claire” – it’s the most common response I’ve had when I’ve visited my blogging buddies blogs recently. So it’s about time I answered the question.

Please, follow me and

Summer is over and Autumn is knocking at the door – in case you wondered what best dressed autumn is wearing this year I can tell you it’s sporting a raincoat, galoshes and an umbrella!

But let’s step back ..

away

June saw a holiday, a proper sunshine holiday, the first in years. YEAH!!! A return trip to Sicily and the rental of an apartment with a roof terrace. The plan was to sleep, snooze, read, drink coffee, drink wine, eat food, relax and potter about. Mission accomplished. Sicily is a delight, there is an appeal in it’s warmth, it’s history, it’s people, the cristal clear waters lapping the coastline, the dry rugged mountains and the hilltop towns and villages. Sicily is beguiling and senourous, captivating and enticing. Classic ice creams, traditional chocolate from Modica, work-a-day markets, corner cafes, the sweetest sun dried tomatoes, deliriously crisp white wine, perfect espressos, new favourite salads discovered, salted capers, fresh mint, oh so feathery light cannoli, and sun and warmth…..

garden and allotment

A strange year of dry Spring, cool and cold with dotted sunny days followed by an intermittent Summer that yielded torrential rain. Like the weather my garden and allotment have been hit and miss affairs, attention one minute neglect the next, lacking inspiration and lacking access – we’ve now had scaffolding up for 6 weeks – access to my terrace and ability to potter and pootle around the garden have been curtailed. It’s still a mini haven, alliums, wisteria, clematis, dahlias and euphorbias, cannas, ginger lilly and banana plants jostle for space amongst the backdrop of ferns and dense greenery.

There have been multiple failures on the allotment – poor showings of beans, peas, courgettes. It’s a long list. The short list of successes are radish, carrots, fruit and this years super fun Padron Peppers – one in ten is hot, but which one?

devon

A return trip to Devon, the county of impossibly cute cottages, winding lanes, rugged hills and windswept beaches. Clambering on Tors in Dartmoor, residing in Elizabethan splendor, walking in clorophyll glades and alongside gushing ice cold streams. Quiet early morning moments – me, a cup of tea and a bench. Collective busy evenings over homemade meals, laughter, and fun.

home

Back home and cooking Thai green curry for 27 – the things you say yes too! When time allowed and inspiration hit there was cake and friends, always friends. Juggling new jobs and ending old contracts. Learning new skills, polishing up on others and learning from mistakes. Moving offices around – I’m back where I started overlooking the Magnolia tree – in my favourite room. Sun fills it, at the heart of the house, I glance out and see green and yes there are distractions in the shape of Seagulls.

Trying not to grow up too fast cos we all know it’s a TRAP!

Re-discovering a yeast intolerance – focusing on what I can have and not what I can’t helps. Everything is an opportunity. The upside is that I no longer feel bloated and I’ve dropped a dress size. A weekly Sunday walk and talk with my loved one sees us exploring Sussex and Kent, whatever the weather. It’s does me good. Its does us good. The space and air to breathe and think, to process the week just gone and prepare ahead for the week  to come. To Be.

brighton

Next steps?, to blog again and regularly. A monthly effort by yours truly – there, I’ve made a commitment. Drink coffee and love life. See, there’s another commitment 🙂

I’ve enrolled on a college course – yes I’m heading back to school. Something practical for me and my CV – a teacher / trainer course. Won’t it be fun to sit in a classroom and learn again, learn the theories and practicalities? I believe so, and I’ll find out for certain tonight

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 yours truly the p**s artist – all art is life, right?

Cx