Tongue Tied

I've been writing on and off for as long as I can remember, but it was only really when I first started writing my blog over on myspace, around four years ago, that I began to share some of my writing with other people. In its heyday there was such a good feel to myspace - in total my blog was viewed over 44500 times, and had over 4000 comments - which makes the figures for this current blog seem rather feeble in comparison!

I'm so grateful to all the friends I had on myspace, and to those who subscribed to my blog, and I'm so pleased to still be in contact with a few of you via Facebook now. The comments, feedback, praise and encouragement really gave me the confidence and enthusiasm to keep writing (and taking photos), and my creative juices kept on flowing - it was such an inspiring and creative time! In particular some of the names that spring to mind are Jim, Barbara, David, Kathleen, Laine, Kate, Sarah, Gary, Rachel, Mark, Jo, Roger, Maria, Angie, 'Tiara', Wendy, 'Poetic', and there were more... Even though I haven't actually met most of these people in the flesh, through our writing and sharing of life experiences we built up a closeness, intimacy and degree of closeknit friendship that isn't always easy to achieve in the 'real world' outside of the computer screen.

Anyway, the reason for this nostalgic ramble is because there are ripples of unease and discontent rumbling through the world of myspace bloggers right now. Apparently things are a-changing on myspace, and not for the better as far as blogs are concerned. At first I felt a wee bit smug, thinking 'Well I stopped blogging there a long time ago, so I'm ok...' But then a couple of hours later I thought 'Hmm - I'd better check that my blog is still there - even though I don't update it anymore, I still like to check on it from time to time...'

I was dismayed to find that comments have been deleted. Later I started thinking 'What if they delete the actual blogs next??' ... This is really panicking me, because a lot of my poems and prose on my myspace blog doesn't exist anywhere else - in my usual disorganised manner I often wrote my blogs without keeping a copy, so I'd be devastated if all my poems suddenly disappear for ever ... So, needless to say, I'm going to have to start trawling through all of my old blogs, and try to rescue what I can while I can ...

This (below) is something I wrote a few years back - it makes me smile a little bit, as I realise that I'm so much more confident and outgoing now, compared to what I was like when I wrote it. I used to really suffer because of being such a quiet intovert. It's funny that once I accepted, embraced and cherished this part of myself, it started to step back a bit and allow a more outgoing part of me to step forward...

TONGUE TIED

Words seem to fall out

Through my fingers.

My pen does the talking.

But life would be so much

Easier

If the words came straight out

Of my mouth

Instead.

I feel like I've managed to achieve much more of a balance now - I still let my pen do a lot of the talking - or the keyboard - but I also feel much more able to let my mouth talk too! One thing's for sure though - I'm going to keep on writing for a long, long time - even if I have to start most of my poems from scratch if I don't manage to rescue everything from myspace...

And, blog or no blog, I'll always have my journal - my constant companion! My journal has helped me through many a tough day ... Journalling is something I recommend to everybody - writing things down really does help, and no - you don't have to have any particular flair - just pick up a pen and see what happens! You never know - you might decide to set up a blog too - like me, my daughter began with writing in a journal, and now she's taking her first tentative steps (well more of a leap to be honest!) into the world of blogging!

It's always a wee bit emotional, looking back through my old journal entries, but in looking back, it helps me to see how much I've learned and grown, and it gives me the faith that whatever life throws at me next, i have the strength to cope...

Full of Beans

This is an Umbrian stew and is perfect for using up some of those broad beans that you don’t quite know what to do with – if your crop has been as successful as mine was this year, that is! I’ve taken the recipe from the lovely Alys Fowler’s book The Edible Garden, and I’ve just added my own little twist। Let me know what you think!

Scafata

5 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 Onion, peeled and finely chopped
2-4 Garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp parsley
A pinch of basil
1 Celery Stalk chopped
1 Carrot, diced
1 and a half pounds of broad beans (in their pods)
7oz shelled peas (optional)
1 tin chopped tomatoes
Half pound fresh green leaves, ribs removed, cut into strips
1 dessertspoon lemon juice
Salt & Pepper

To Serve:
Warm homemade bread
___________________________

Remove the broad beans from the pods.
In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil and add the onions, garlic, herbs, celery, carrot and beans.
Stir well and add a little water – not enough to cover the vegetables though.
Put a lid on the pan, turn down the heat and simmer very slowly until the beans are tender. Add a bit more water if necessary.
Add tomatoes, peas, greens, and lemon juice. Mix well.
Cook until the leaves are wilted and the juice has evaporated a little.
Season with salt and lots of black pepper.
Serve with warm bread.
Enjoy!

What Iona Did Next...

Just a quick blog to promote my lovely daughter's new blog! please have a peek!
http://iona-frances.blogspot.com/

walking back to happiness

I love going for walks on these lovely warm sultry summer evenings. Here is a link to a little video I made last night – thought I’d share it with you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kAZ16Yby0E

- It tickled me a little bit when I did a quick Google search for ‘walking’ – a definition on Wikipedia is:
‘Walking (also known as ambulation) is one of the main gaits of locomotion among legged animals, and is typically slower than running and other gaits. ... For humans, walking is the main form of transportation without a vehicle or riding animal.’
As well as being very pleasurable, there are many health benefits of walking regularly:
‘Sustained walking sessions for a minimum period of thirty to sixty minutes a day, five days a week, with the correct walking posture, reduces health risks and has various overall health benefits, such as reducing the chances of cancer, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, anxiety and depression. Life expectancy is also increased even for individuals suffering from obesity or high blood pressure. Walking also increases bone health, especially strengthening the hip bone, and lowering the more harmful bad low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and raises the more useful good high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol’ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walking)
What’s more, walking is free, and environmentally friendly! So, there’s no excuse to not start walking on a regular basis – starting now! Why not join my facebook walking page, and share your experiences with others! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Newcastle-Upon-Tyne-United-Kingdom/Walking-more-in-2010/238949016854?ref=ts&__a=15

School’s Out for Summer!

Many children and teachers will be breathing a big sigh of relief now that it’s the end of the school year, and the start of the summer holidays – although many, my daughter included, will already have had a few weeks off, after finishing the GCSE exams!
Now is a good time to take some time to reflect on this ‘ending’. Life is made up of a series of endings and new beginnings. We look forward to new beginnings with excitement, anticipation and maybe a little fear, yet we don’t always take time to connect with the emotions involved in endings.
The end of the school year is so hectic, what with parties, proms, sports days, school trips, and so on, that the last few days often go past in a bit of a blur. My daughter had so carefully prepared for the last few days of ‘Year 11’ beforehand, but she still didn’t manage to speak to everyone she’d hoped to speak to, to say her final ‘Goodbyes’, or hugged everyone she wanted to hug, and it almost seemed like a bit of an anti-climax...
Perhaps we sometimes overlook the importance of the end of a school year – which is particularly significant when it means that it is the end of being in that particular school, with that particular teacher, or with that particular group of friends. I remember that my life was turned upside down when I left Middle School and had to start High School in a completely different class to any of my friends...
I’ve put together some questions that it might be worth thinking about if you have just finished school for the summer (or for ever!) – Or if you’re a parent, it might be worth reflecting on these with your children (taking their age into account – younger children would benefit from a more informal chat, I think).
Comments and feedback would be welcome!

End of the School Year

· How do you feel about the end of the year?

· How have you changed over this school year?

· What one word would you use to describe this last year?

· What’s been good about it?

· What’s been ‘not so good’ about it?

· How are you feeling about next year?

· What are your hopes for next year?

· What are you looking forward to?

· What are you worried about?

· What kind of help and support you will you need next year?

· How can you make sure you get this?

· What goals do you want to set yourself for next year?

· Now think of a positive phrase you can repeat to yourself throughout the year. Write it down:

· Tip: As a little project over the summer, you could create a book of memories, or a collage, of the last year – including memories of friends, funny moments, embarrassing moments, teachers who have inspired you, etc...

Finally, have a great summer!

Responsibility

There is no other person who is smart enough, or experienced enough, or informed enough or insightful enough to tell you how to live. That's up to you. Certainly the advice and guidance of others can be extremely valuable. Yet when it comes to expressing and fulfilling the best of who you are, you are the world's foremost expert. It feels good to be praised and it hurts to be criticized. Always keep in mind, though, that those who offer their opinions of you cannot possibly see the whole picture.
Your life is your responsibility. That is simultaneously a sobering obligation and a fantastic opportunity.
Successful living is difficult work and yet you are absolutely qualified to do it. You are worthy and capable of creating and enjoying whatever it is that truly fulfills you.
Make the commitment, do the work, accept the responsibility that is necessary for that fulfillment. Live the outstanding life that is yours to experience.
Ralph Marston

Solstice Solitude...

Whitley Bay, 21st June 2010, evening

Yesterday was the summer solistice, so I made a point of being outdoors as much as possible. In the morning I went to my allotment for a while, but I had to work in the afternoon and evening. I finished work around 9.30pm, and headed straight to the beach for a walk, and to watch the sunset. It was a beautiful day and I'm so glad I made the most of it - I'd felt a real pull to be outdoors - so strong it couldn't be ignored.

Whitley Bay, Sunset 21st June 2010

Here's something I wrote while I was at the allotment:

'It's been a tough week, what with birthdays, father's day, and more to contend with - what used to be such happy occasions, now tinged with so much sadness and such a sense of loss ...

I'm at the allotment now. It's so peaceful here this morning. I can almost hear myself think - but I'm not ready for that yet - thinking, feeling - so I quickly push all thoughts and feelings back to that section of my mind labelled ' Danger! Enter with Extreme Care!'...

I turn back to my surroundings .... grass is nodding to and fro in the gentle summer solstice breeze. Bees are busily weaving their way in and out of foxgloves, hops, buttercups, raspberries and anything else that catches their eye. A blackbird is cheerfully singing away; delighted it's such a beautiful day. Hoverflies are droning over the pond; pausing every now and then on a lily pad.

Apples seem to have appeared overnight and are a shy, dusky pink colour. The runner beans are racing up the bamboo canes, but they haven't caught up with the broad beans yet.

The herb garden is a delight - a mixture of different colours, shades of green and a delicate array of fragrences.

There isn't a cloud in the bright blue sky, but rainbows dance in the sunlight that catches the water sprinkling from the hose pipe.

I can almost feel my spirit lift up high and play with the butterflies that seem to tumble out of nowhere. ... This morning, life is good....'

... It's so important to find out what grounds you; what enables you to connect with yourself again - particularly in times of stress, anxiety, grief, loss... For me, it's being outdoors - walking, being on the beach, in my allotment, sitting in the back yard. Also, writing, yoga, muisc and meditation help.

What does it for you?? It could be running, cycling, swimming, knitting, sewing, football ...

Find out what it is, and do it often!!