A Remarkable Day in June

Two notable actions occurred on Saturday 4th June 2016:
1, Fran and Tom married.
2. I met Vivien for the first time.

The year-long build up to the ceremony had run in parallel with Tom's PhD deadline. Now both have passed. My mother once showed me that when she left work to be married in 1935 an elderly Polish colleague had written in her autograph album "This too, will pass". A strange wedding blessing, but one that she clung to through all the ups and downs of her life - the war, the birth of six children and the loss of two, the unexpected terminal illness of my father and the myriad trials set by we four remaining children.

Tom did not relish the prospect of a religious ceremony as he thinks of himself as aestheist, but he entered into the process with integrity, declaring his concerns from the start.  He said that he could not stand up and say words he did not believe, but it seems there was no need for anxiety. The marriage service was surprisingly simple, recently revised and beautifully choreographed by a smiling Catholic priest.

Words rang true, voices sang strong and Tom's own music resounded from the church organ sending tingles down my spine. Such powerful uplifting music composed by my first born, once the tiny fragile premature baby I was so scared would fall ill, who nearly drowned when I dropped him in the sea, whom I nearly ran over when he pedalled behind my car as I was reversing. And now I saw a man, his university work complete and a new life ahead with a beautiful wife who spoke her vows clearly and earnestly. I am so looking forward to seeing the rest of the story unfold.

If  Tom and Fran had not married, I would not have met Vivien.  For eight years I have had to imagine her, snatching at shady clues dropped in passing references.  And now I have sat and made polite conversation and I don't need to imagine any more. It is so lovely to see Rosy with her dad and we were all pleased to see him again and I hope I will see them both again from time to time.

Steve came too so there was a perfect symmetry. I feel a relief that another milestone has been passed and a bridge has been crossed.

And now that I am a mother-in-law as well as a granny I feel really free. My shoulders feel light so I can play and have fun.  There will be trials ahead no doubt, but those too will pass. Oh lucky me. I am so alive.

Daisy Villa

Goodbye Ransley Oast, Hello Daisy Villa.  Today Ian and Brad from Stranks Removals, Ashford unloaded Rebecca's much  increased worldly possessions into her  new home in Shrewsbury. And a new chapter opens.

Celebration 2015

Lovely to be in Liverpool to celebrate Christmas with my little family. It has been wonderful. So sorry for others who are affected by rising floodwater tonight.

Interlude

Short interlude for Christmas!  A quick turnaround but all now wrapped - but oops! No labels! This should be interesting. ..

Lawai beach

Also opposite but to the left - the slightly larger Lawai beach where the water was warm and salty but oh so blue.  We swam here most days but only on the last did Beth and I get around to hiring snorkeling gear so that we could see exactly with what we were sharing our patch of ocean.

Apart from Nemo's entire extended family there were some very pretty characters but also a big black grumpy looking fish skulking along the bottom, round my feet. In front of my eyes, a shoal of tiny needle fish fluttered around.

It really was amazing although rather alarming. Not so frightening a sight however, as the be-flippered me splodging up the beach in mask and snorkel to deposit my wrist watch in my bag before I plunged into three foot of water to survey the competition.

On my desert island

Back home in grey December Hawaii seems a long way and an age away so it is a bonus that due to a technical problem I was unable to upload photos to share while in our luxury apartment on the smaller island of Kauai. Now I have a reason to revisit and trawl through my album to find my favourites.  

This tiny beach is just opposite our appartment. Sheltered by a reef of black volcanic rock, it is home to a host of tiny creatures and the best place to sit at night and look at the stars, which you will just have to imagine.

California dreaming

I'm on my way home and already my time away seems like a dream. But the imagination and inspiration of my Santa Cruz friends sticks to the images that come with me :
   My cosy bed in the corner of the living room with the beautiful hummingbird quilt handcrafted by North American Indian women.
    The very effective and beautiful gas fired stove that pumps out so much heat I thought I was still in Hawaii.
     Pure sweet-tasting drinking water collected from the mountain source.
     Sharing the shower with buckets to recycle water (remember to place only one foot in a bucket).
      The Peace Pole on our Christmas  table,  a full size pole out in the community. No maypole for dancing, just for contemplating Peace.
       Bicycles with baskets and crates to carry the groceries, and tall flags on the back for added safety.
        The tiny hummingbirds on the bush outside the kitchen window.
         The cheeky squirrel munching his nut on the ledge then having a sneaky pee.
          The room full of glowing Tibetan singing bowls rescued from meltdown and waiting for new owners to claim and cherish them.
           The inscription above the door "Only the brave" - an invitation to step out of your comfort zone - to take the risk and do things differently.