#shareadvent

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!

East Cowes Mini Aventure

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 Many Passions As People

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!

A Few Small Moments

Taking my own advice, some of the little moments I’ve been enjoying:

wet spray over the seawall whilst cycling along Colwell Bay
fresh air and rolled down windows as we roar along to Mr November
sea as still as a millpond as we scramble over rocks around the headland
deep mud sucking at our boots mid-hop through quagmired fields
pure golden light across the canopy of Parkhurst Forest on an evening ride

Shhh

Once I hit Friday afternoon, sat on the couch after work with a cup of tea, I’m pretty disinclined towards anything very busy. Saturdays are best for pubs and parties, after a day with no alarm clock, a lazy brunch, and plenty of fresh air. Fridays are made for a quiet pint and a bit of peace, after a week of early starts, rushed mornings and too much time in front of a computer.

So, last night’s Shhh club was ideal Friday night fare. My favourite Freshwater spot, Dimbola Lodge, transformed it’s cafe in to a cosy bar, complete with candles, cushions, and Campo Viejo. Friendly faces and free run of the house’s exhibitions in the interval made this the perfect setting for an evening of quiet instruments and beautiful voices.

Angelina Grimshaw‘s resonant voice and accompanying mandolin filled the place with visions of almond blossom and passing trains, while Puzzle Muteson‘s mournful voice and perfect finger picking richly deserved the appreciative hush of this quiet audience. Truthfully, it was the promise of Mary Hampton that got me off the couch that afternoon. Her songs are a beautiful mix of 14th century poems, previously unheard gospel songs and lines of Emily Dickinson. Her guitar playing is always wonderful to listen to, but her a capella offerings were heaven in this still small space. I can think of no better way to end a busy week than with a bit of hush.