On a wet day in Winchester I discovered a leak in my boots, and the pleasing shelter of a big brolly. On our wanders we found paths turned to streams and dens made of willow; a new coffee stop where I realised the genius of biscotti, and a Dickensian book shop where I picked up the first delight of the festive season.
Some crafty folk, more dedicated than myself, have been planning for months, stitching up Christmas delights and planning festive decorations. It’s taken me a little by surprise this year, but I’m sticking to my excuses of new job and long commute. This year, I’ve got as far as considering Christmas cracker kits in Oxfam, and buying various balls of wool, but as I stare down the last week of November, all this Christmas craftiness feels a little ambitious.
The things I love about Christmas are the simple gestures, baking with spices, and bringing in forest greens on dark days, for decking the halls (or mantelpiece if you live in a tiny terrace like me). So Anna‘s #shareadvent ideas feel just the right side of doable, and full of all the best things about the build up to Christmas (especially Elf.) Roll on December 1st!
Sometimes big plans just don’t happen. Sometimes that extra half hour in bed is too sweet, and a brunch with family warrants just one more cuppa, or a project at the kitchen table is too involving to abandon. And sometimes not having a car makes travelling to some scenic country spot just a little bit too much bother. But, failed plans can make room for mini adventures; this one an easy explore on our doorstep.
So today we didn’t get up to the downs before breakfast, but instead ran down to the chain ferry and across to East Cowes after teatime. We explored a local bit of townside coast, and watched our little town from across the estuary. It’s surprising how many interesting things there are amongst the concrete. Old ship yards and high windowed warehouses looking out on an esplanade of sunday strollers and kids fishing.
We got a little carried away in the quiet pace of it and would have missed supermarket opening hours, if it weren’t for Tom being a much faster runner than me. So, thanks to him we had yummy Sunday dinner and a well-stocked evening by the fire. Feeling ready for another busy week.
As is always the way with Radio 4, I found myself listening to a person I didn’t know on a subject I knew nothing about, and loving it. Yesterday, Phil Harding spoke on Making History about discovering his love of archaeology. (Oh my, that voice! Like a cross between a laugh and a burr, the audible equivalent of twinkling eyes.) He spoke of his affinity for his subject, how it was ‘always in him’, feeling “as happy as larry” on his first dig, and being “as happy as larry ever since!” What a privilege to feel so sure of your place in the world, and in what you’re doing!
Ken Robinson recently wrote a book on ‘finding your element‘, filled with examples of people doing what they love and their journey towards discovering it. Among other things, it’s a call for education to be structured in a way that encourages young people to develop their individual talents and interests.
I always find it inspiring to hear about people who have found their passion and I love finding out about what draws them to it. Maybe I’m just nosy! But, for a collector of the eclectic, on people and their diverse and surprisingly fascinating lives, you couldn’t find a better spot than Radio 4.
Happy 90th Birthday BBC!
Taking my own advice, some of the little moments I’ve been enjoying: