As U2 sang, "what a beautiful day". Wow.

I love days like these, crisp, clear, the sun shining brightly and the birds chirping happily.

I taught an early morning class out by Pleinmont this morning so I decided to make the most of the opportunity and walk down to the fairy ring. There was no one else around and I had one of those moments where your eye catches the rocks glistening with dew and the early morning sun and the solitary seagull gliding by and it all feels so familiar and so peaceful, like trekking in the mountains of Nepal, so strong and just there, you know, like it is all okay, it is always there, morning to night, day to day, jut there, nature, a natural rhythm to life, or something, I can't quite explain.

Someone has left some limpet shells on the mound of the fairy ring, they look kind of cool, like an offering, or the left overs from a fairy party the night before!I spotted a bright red breasted robin resting on one of the dry brambles, and you know what they say about robins...can you see him...



It is the start of Lent today, so I guess that means we should give something up? Not for a religious reason necessarily, maybe a pre-summer detox or to prove you can go 40 days without chocolate...I don't know, maybe we should be giving up something we don't really enjoy, you know self compassion and all that, something we feel obliged to do or feel we have to do, for example staying in a job that you loathe, or staying in a relationship as you are worried that there is no one else out there (didn't Pink Floyd sing something about that), or meeting up with half-friends through a sense of obligation even though they totally drain you, or worrying about the stuff you can't control...

You don't need to do all of it, or indeed any of it, but it can be quite helpful to work out what you really don't enjoy and then figure out a way to give that up so that you have more space, time and energy to do the things you do enjoy. I have spent a large percentage of my life feeling obliged to do stuff I don't really enjoy, figuring that is the nature of life...the 'no pain no gain, life is a struggle' kind of attitude...but I still haven't found the rule book that says it has to be this way. Life is to be enjoyed surely. Or balanced at least. Easier said than done, I know!

They say you should create space in your life for miracles to occur. I guess this is what Jesus was doing, it was a fairly minim list life he was leading, or so I understand.

So space creating it is, out with the old, in with the new.

I think I'll go and eat that chocolate now then.

Lots of love and happy Lent

Em xxx

NATURE TIMES

Yesterday Ewan and I decided to walk from Pleinmont to Petit Bot along the cliffs before navigating the lanes to Les Douvres for a much needed drink. It took us 3.5 hours and during that whole time we only passed 8 other people, which is quite incredible really.

I have to say it was not easy, the cliffs can be relentless at times, all those steps, one after another, up and down, reminded me a little of trekking in Nepal! However the hard work is more than worth it, great to clear the head gain some clarity, ground the energy, breathe in some fresh air, exercise the heart and lungs and of course it was great fun too, not least the chatter and laughter (thank you Ewan) but also experiencing that feeling of getting away from it all, out in the elements and surrounded by nature, even though we were only ever a matter of miles from our homes.

The cliffs are beautiful at the moment and the winter light really played on the sea, all sorts of colours, sea green (funny that!) and darker gun metal blue, and then crystal clear in the shallows so that you could see the rocks below. There are so many seagulls nestling on the lower cliffs at the moment too, perhaps they are always there and I have never noticed before, taking a respite from the cold winds I suspect, the odd fishing boat in view in the distance and Jersey too, let alone the murmurings of Spring, buds on trees and daffodils in some of the fields we passed.

We were fascinated by all the little side tracks veering off the main cliff past down to the rocks, probably used by fishermen, we didn't have time to explore. I love all the little bridges over the little streams too, the imagination can run wild on the cliffs, smugglers, nanny goat bridges, memories of walking here as children with parents and friends, Sunday afternoons.



We decided to make the most of this "outdoor" and going with the flow theme of the weekend and walked across to Lihou Island this morning. What a beautiful morning with bright blue skies and sunshine (such a relief to be heated by the sun, it has been so cold these last few days)and once again I was amazed that we only passed a handful of other people out on the Island. We searched for driftwood and found some cool stones and shells too, lovely light, a swell on the rocks, views of the west coast of Guernsey and Alderney in the distance.

Love and light - happy valentine's day too.

DREAMING AND WISHING

Life has been a touch on the busy side recently, like really busy, the Universe has been abundant in opportunities, possibilities and presenting the most inspiring and wonderful people into my life and I am gracious, truly gracious.

But this is not to say that life has been without its challenges, for it has presented lots of them, constantly, but there is an ease that comes with going with the flow and attempting to be present in every moment and taking oneself less seriously, of catching oneself and literally laughing in that moment of absurdity.

I don't even know where to start to explain what I have learned and am still learning in this very moment. We get what we wish for have no doubt. But sometimes what we wish for is perhaps not what we always need or indeed 'want' when it is presented to us, and oh how I have to laugh at that, at the angels and the Universe for making me realise this time and time again and that we must also have patience and unwavering faith.

Anyhow I guess my point is, that despite the stagnant and down times, and the challenges presented to us, I believe it helps (or has helped me) to take stock of all that we have (rather than what we don't have), and to appreciate the goodness of all life, that there is a reason for everything, that we are part of something so much bigger than our selves, that perhaps all we can do, therefore, is serve, offer our selves for service, a mere thread in an interconnected and threaded, ever transforming, ever alive, ever beating world in which we live.

Do you notice the feathers, the robins, the ladybirds, the signs that are everywhere, literally? We can be as busy as we like, there is nothing wrong with that (define right and wrong after all, so subjective) but it is what we see, what we feel, what we know in every moment that can help to keep us centred and whole.

The human body is incredible, it holds everything within it everything we need to know. Every ache, every pain, every sensation is a message guiding us home, to our truth, to our centre, to our very whole of being. We simply need to be still, to go within to be brave enough to go within, to listen (truly listen with open heart) to what it is trying to tell us, however difficult that is in coming to terms with our denial (and don't doubt this, we all live in some degree of denial) and for all the potential changes however small or big we need to make.

"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan but also believe." (Anatole, France)

Furthermore everything happens for a reason, there are no coincidences, we create our own reality time and time again. A friend sent me this wonderful quote this week which says it all really:-

"Thoughts lead on to purposes; purposes go forth in action; actions form habits; habits decide character; and character fixes our destiny."

I am sharing some photos taken at Pleinmont last weekend. A reminder to me of the simplicity of beauty and love. My parents both of whom I love unconditionally and the first murmurings of Spring, simple beauty, how incredible life is we can learn to unfold as a flower with such unassuming grace.!




Love and light

xx

A LOVELY QUOTE

I noticed this quote on a poster in the Year 8 and 9 common room at the Grammar School, how cool is that:-

"It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end" (Ursula K Le Guin).

How true!

Beautiful day today, sunshine brightly warming the room.

xx

LAUGHING WITH FRIENDS - GREAT FOR THE SPIRIT!

I am in London catching up with friends and enjoying a much needed break from the usual routine. In fact it has been great, easy going, just as it should be.

Friday I met Hayley at Victoria for a much needed end of week drink and catch up, before meeting Charles at "The Lost Angel" (you have to love it) in Battersea before he treated me to a lovely Thai meal at the famed "Blue Elephant". We then sat up having a great time listening to quality music and playing with the maracas to get the beat going, it is incredibly meditative and present moment experience, shame we weren't in some warmer country down on the beach, especially with the full moon on its way.

Saturday dawned a lovely day, clear and bright, I met Hayley late afternoon in Covent Garden before meeting my Uni friends - Sam, Jenny and Jo - for yet more lovely food, Tapas this time, before much laughter at a Comedy Club, so much fun. We ended the night with a pot of peppermint tea under the heaters at an outdoor Covent Garden cafe with the Full Moon overhead.

Sunday Hayley and I went to a lunchtime Bikram Yoga class in Soho. Oh my gosh, this was a struggle, I like to think I am quite fit with a regular Yoga practice and lots of swimming and walking, but my body struggled so much with the heat in the studio. Wow. I have gone to a few Bikram classes over the last few years and I can't say I have ever particularly enjoyed the experience during the class, but hours later I have always felt great.

Well H and I were incapable of speaking to one another for a good 10 minutes following the class. We were both ridiculously bright red, my clothes were literally soaked through with sweat and I was feeling incredibly restless. I am so proud of H for making it through the class, I thought I wasn't going to make it myself!

There are so many benefits of Bikram Yoga, but it is certainly not for the faint hearted. I struggle with the concept of practising Yoga in over 40 degrees, in front of a mirror without any windows or signs of the outside world. And when it comes to breathing, I struggle with the thought that there can be much oxygen and prana within the room. But there you go. The world would be boring if we all felt and thought the same.

We laughed our way to Hannah's house in St Johns, Hayley's eyes were streaming, all part of the Bikram de-tox process. It was great to see Han and being such a domestic goddess she had cooked us a wonderful meal, this French dish plus lots of freshly steamed vegetables, incredible asparagus - thank you so much Han.



H and I left together and caught the train to Charing Cross, this was so special as we were fortunate to enjoy views of the post-sunset London vista, lots of streaks of reds, oranges and purples in the sky, framing views of the London Eye. I love winter evenings like this, clear and bright skies, stars and the moon. Lucky us.

All in all a weekend of laughter, you can't beat it in terms of increasing the spirit and bringing a smile to the face.

Thank you girlies.

xxx