When something important ends - a friendship withering through distance, a career abruptly terminated, or even a bereavement that tragically ends a relationship, it is hard to put words around their enduring value when they cease to be a daily reality. My daughter once described colouring a picture as 'bringing it to life' and that … Continue reading Etched in Eternity
Spending your marbles
Everyone loves a marble run - it must be one of the most enduring toys. Its addictive fascination is evident in the way in which zoos, attractions and waiting rooms around the world raise money by inviting people to watch a small object follow its trajectory and end up at the bottom with a satisfying … Continue reading Spending your marbles
Living within these four walls…..
I have spent so much time in the past year in the same four walls; working, eating, family life, any precious few minutes for leisure. Its plenty of time to notice all the parts that need work, the niggles I can't seem to get fixed. Plenty of time to take comfort in all the material … Continue reading Living within these four walls…..
#DotheDecentThing
Today I read an article in today's Sunday Times that made me very cross. It was about people who can continue their work from home not giving due consideration to paying their cleaners who cannot work but are dependent on them for wages. Of course, many people do not have a secure income or are … Continue reading #DotheDecentThing
The story of Rob, Robyn and the Robin and the day the wheel stopped.
Once upon a time there was a wheel whose spinning sustained the world. Everyone and everything was connected to the wheel, and, in turn, affected how it span. People had jobs, paid taxes, built and sold companies, bought houses and cars, went on holiday and pursued hobbies. The wheel connected everyone - including three characters … Continue reading The story of Rob, Robyn and the Robin and the day the wheel stopped.
Anchor Friendships
Friendship matters immensely. It comes in many forms and circumstances create all sorts. At its most fleeting it might be a momentary connection - such as a friendly opinion given by a stranger in a changing room that helps you decide on an outfit. Then there are the friendships of circumstance born of being thrown … Continue reading Anchor Friendships
Does living simply mean simply being mean?
"They can't just eat sawdust!" wailed one family member. "But it's Christmas, - they like getting lots of presents!" protested another when I baulked at the volume under the tree. It's one thing to change your own consumption habits. I can now look at reduced packets of the specialist cakes and biscuits I am restricted … Continue reading Does living simply mean simply being mean?
The richness in the rhythm of the year…
There is a saying that Christmas comes but once a year. But it doesn't. On the 21st October I walked past a busker playing Christmas carols, and saw shelves starting to fill with yuletide fare. If we all lived by that reckoning, Christmas and its associated paraphernalia would occupy one sixth of the whole year. … Continue reading The richness in the rhythm of the year…
A very good place
Sometimes you go somewhere and everything just fits. I mentioned Ktima Kokotou in my post about what I will miss about Greece. This is what I wrote for my friends who live there and run it. There is a vineyard, set between three hills. And every way you look, it is good. The … Continue reading A very good place
Farewell Greece!
The term has ended, the parties are over, the packing is upon us and the move has begun in earnest. What will I miss and what am I looking forward to? First, the mountains; Mount Parnitha and Mount Pendeli are in my sights pretty constantly. They frame the journey to and from school. I can … Continue reading Farewell Greece!
Grain of Sand 