Another World

I have had such a glorious time with the planning and preparation of the Squirrel party, the enthusiasm from friends and family alike has been wonderful. We were all so excited as the party date got closer and with guests arriving from far and wide we were sure to have a great time.
Fruit had been preserved, baking aplenty done and the house seemed full of nuts and squirrel treats.
Hearts and souls were given to the occasion and each one of us looked forward to be able to, for a few short moments in time, forget the adult world and return to the land of talking animals and laughing children. The land of just being, the land where nothing ever goes wrong, the land where true fairy tales are made.
It was wonderful to see everyone relaxing enough to be able to laugh heartily at any witty joke or childhood memory of what was once very funny. Time and motion became as nothing as all were wrapped up in the pleasure of the now moment.
To me it was a wonderful party and I was glad of all those present on seen and unseen levels. Glad there were animals present, grateful for the twittering of birds, for the noise of the frogs calling and the gentle flapping of insect wings as they flew over our heads to view the treats stacked on the table.
Mostly, I was grateful to my as yet unknown squirrel friends for allowing me to hold a party in their honour, it was the squirrels that made the evening memorable as somehow their unseen spirits seemed to creep into ours and for a few short and precious moments we too were squirrels.

A Squirrel found

Packed away safely in tissue paper at the top of my cupboard I found my little friend.
I bought him in Venice and have kept him there with my other treasures until I can find the right place to show them off.
I think I will give him centre stage at the party.

Father Christmas

As far back as I can remember, my parents always told me that if I wanted nice presents from Father Christmas then I had to be good all year round. I recall reading that delightful little book Struwwelpeter, (if you can get yourself a copy it is a book worth reading), and totally believing every word about why it is so important for children to be good all year round.

I have continued over the years to read Struwwelpeter to children and grandchildren alike, in an attempt to get them to behave as children should all year round. In other words, be good and listen to what your Mother/Grandmother says in the hope that Father Christmas's fairies and elves, who are watching, can go back to the North Pole and tell Father Christmas that here truly are children that deserve the best.
I remember, as I grew up, Father Christmas was always very kind to me at Christmas. I still see Christmas stockings filled with nuts and fruit, and all sorts of lovely things as positive proof that I had been good and so had received what I truly deserved.



The joy of Christmas has never left me, I think it will always be my favourite day of the year. As my children grew up they too have taken on the excitement and pleasure that Christmas time brings. Even though they are both grown up with children of their own they still wake up early with the anticipation of what the dawn of this beautiful morning always brings.

We have always had pets and they too share the excitement with us, and please, do not doubt my word, they really do know there is a present under the tree for each of them as well. As the tree is put up each year all four-leggeds in the house are told about how important it is to be good all year round so that they too are remembered on this important celebration.

We are very lucky in that we have been blessed with fairly good children, human and otherwise, so with great glee every Christmas each of us has been able to open a gift from Father Christmas and receive something we really want.
That now brings me to this Christmas, that is Christmas 2008, we all opened our presents, there was the usual oohs and aahs as wrapping were thrown carelessly onto the floor and all faces were bright and cheery.
Shooter, the dog, really liked her new tennis balls and tug of war ropes. The humans really liked their presents too.

Then it came to grandchild, Kiger the cat, he loved his catnip mouse, and all the little furry toys he enjoys loosing around the house. As each toy came to light it was tossed around and tested for strength and enjoyment. The last thing he opened was a lovely Father Christmas attached to a long piece of elastic and a pole. This now was the greatest gift a cat could or would ever receive.
It is here, dear friends, that my problem came to light, Kiger totally abuses his Father Christmas, the poor man is dragged around the house by one leg, left out in the garden, pushed under the sofa, spat on and chewed. I cannot imagine what Father Christmas, the fairies and the elves think when they witness this sort of bad behaviour.

Therefore, and with baited breath I sit here on the 5th January and worry if Father Christmas will visit this house and it's occupants come December.

The Scent of 2009

As you look back over 2008 what thoughts and feelings come to your mind? Is there a sense of achievement, or do you feel there are lots of loose threads that you really should have attended to? Has the year left you feeling that you have grown into a much better person and that you have developed more than you thought possible? Or, are you feeling that although the wheels are turning, perhaps you need to speed things up a bit before you can begin to realise all your dreams and desires?
When 2008 dawned everyone was full of anticipation, what would the year bring into our lives, would we have a happy prosperous year, or would we struggle through it, longing for 2009. It is never long into a New Year before we forget about it and start thinking that time is passing so quickly, days go by, one after the other and before we know it Easter has passed and winter has arrived. Then we long for spring and summer and when we next stop to look, Christmas is upon us, and so too the end of another year.
If one thinks about it, each year has it's own scents for every individual. It could be the musky smell of fear, or the awakening aroma of mint. Perhaps you fell in love this year and could only smell sweet red roses. Were you feeling loved, protected and safe in your home environment, with gentle wafts of lavender greeting you at your door whenever you returned home? Did you loose a loved one and have the peaceful scent of Lily of the Valley to comfort you in your loss?
If you were sick, were you shrouded in the healing balm of ancient sage as you began to feel better? Unless, of coarse it was just a cold you had and then strong camphor would have permeated through your lungs to clear nose and chest.
Just as every year has it's own scent for each one of us, so does each season have it's own fragrances that come back to tease us of memories long forgotten, some happy and some sad, but all waiting patiently to be recalled.

I DO NOT APPROVE OF FIREWORKS BEING USED FOR ANY CELEBRATION, THEREFORE I AM NOT PUTTING IN A PICTURE OF THEM.

The year begins with the strong odour of fireworks as they crackle, blaze and whoosh through the night air as midnight strikes and a New Year is born. Champagne bottles pop and spill over, and the fruity smell of the grape vine is hardly noticed in the excitement and thoughts of new beginnings. Tomorrows go so quickly and before we know it we are digging out musty school bags and wrapping books in dull smelling brown paper.

Easter comes, always sooner than we expected it to, and our homes are filled with the spicy scents of nutmeg, cinnamon and mixed spice. The aromas of frankincense and myrrh fill our churches and these scents seem to bring us so much closer to the God within. What a delightful feeling of goodness and prosperity we get from all these homely Easter tide smells.


In the Southern Hemisphere Easter seems to be the sign that the season is beginning to change, and don't you enjoy happy autumn with the last flush of roses to cheer you up and prepare you for winter? Their dainty perfume lingering long in the air with promises of spring and summer.
Autumn never lingers long enough for me, there is nothing I enjoy more than taking a walk through a park in autumn and as I trample on the fallen leaves they seem to give off so many different smells. Each one so different to the others, each hiding it's own secret of where it came from and where it is going to.


Suddenly winter arrives on icy wings and what could be nicer than arriving home after work and smelling soup or stew as they bubble away and warm up the kitchen. Or sitting quietly in front of a fire that you have scented with orange peel and cinnamon sticks. And what about cuddling under a soft, thick blanket that has been stored with pot pourri, and as you nestle into it, floral perfumes gently scent the air around you.


When spring arrives and you open your doors and windows to let in the gentle breezes and clear the home of winter staleness it could only be Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow that clears the air and brings promises of warm and sultry days. Then the first rain comes and with it the earthy smells of soil and grass. Soon peach, apple and citrus blossoms permeate the air and we really know that once again spring is upon us.


Spring, like autumn in South Africa is never long enough and soon the hot sunny days of summer are with us. It is usually only in the early mornings or late afternoon that we are lucky enough to catch the sweet scent of flower blossoms that waft along on a gentle breeze. Then with our lovely highveld thunder storms we have the crisp, clear aroma of plants newly washed and refreshed, and the supple smell of electrically charged air.


End of year examination time comes and as results start coming out we have that beautiful sweet smell of success, or the dry and lonely smell of failure from our children. Another year is nearly passed and the Christmas season is so suddenly with us once again. What could be nicer than the spicy, mouth-watering scents of Christmas? Christmas, so close to Easter in so many ways. Cinnamon, mixed spice, cloves, frankincense, myrrh, all are with us once again. As festivities begin we smell roast turkey, ham, Christmas pudding, brandy sauce, the gun-powdery smell of Christmas crackers.


Through each season and whatever the occasion the hot, waxy smell of candles seems to link everything and create an ever present flow of unity of all and everything. Candles, so much like flowers, cheer us up and brighten our days.
To me, each year begins like a fresh fragrant rose bud, a perfect rose bud, sweet scented and hiding all it's glory within the closed petals. It is up to us to water that rose and make sure that we cherish it every day and as the petals of the year slowly unfold we must appreciate every joy that is unfolded to us. If we really care about our 2009 rose it will carry it's fresh perfume throughout the year and our lives too will carry that same perfume wherever we go and whatever we do.
I give you your 2009 rose.