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Category: From the heart

Yohaku – white space

Yohaku – white space

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Hi, or should I say こんにちは Konnichiwa ? Dave and I went up to London today, to visit an exhibition of beautiful art and craft at Japan House in Kensington High Street. The Exhibition is called Hyakko. 100+ makers from Japan contribute to a collection of almost 2,000 beautifully hand-crafted pieces. Mostly ceramics, which was like heaven for me. Clay, glass, wood, leather, metal and bamboo actually, but primarily ceramics. Exquisite work. There is an energy in the gallery that…

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Life is better together

Life is better together

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Hi there Had a hankering to make a card this evening. No particular motive, except to calm my scrambled brain, distract my thoughts, focus my mind. Dad has been on my mind a lot today. I do miss him. The minute I stepped into my artroom, I could feel my shoulders relax. Time to dig out some of my favourite stamps…The House Martins and the Bijou Backdrop Stamp… Add a word that gives you hope. I found the little Japanese…

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Sunday sunshine

Sunday sunshine

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Hi there Apologies for going a bit AWOL for a couple of weeks. It’s never just one thing, is it. After a lovely break with the family, it was time to climb back into the Clarity saddle and crack on. But even when the company is shut, the turkey’s in the oven and we’re singing carols at the rugby club, my brain never really clocks off. It whirrs and cogitates and quietly gathers ideas. I jot things down so they…

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Piglet

Piglet

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Happy New Year!! Dave and I went up on the Ashdown Forest for the first walk of the year. Cold and bracing, but beautifully crisp and sunny. Gorse in full bloom – bright yellow everywhere. A year ago, almost to the day, we attempted the harbour walk at Rye, through the bird sanctuary. Dave hadn’t been able to walk 50 yards before he had had to stop. His knee was crippling him with arthritic pain. A year on, and a…

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Time to reflect…

Time to reflect…

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Hi there. It’s still dark outside. Proper early. The quiet sort of early when the world hasn’t quite woken up yet. Ragnar and Erik have just come charging in through the back door, both of them cold, bushy-tailed and full of purpose. Side by side, tails straight up like dodgems at the fair. They always arrive like that – as if they’ve got somewhere important to be. I do love those two. After I fed them, I did something out…

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A Diamond Day

A Diamond Day

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Hi there The best days are the ones that unfold unplanned. When things just fall into place easily. Those are Diamond Days – and today was one of them. Mark and I had earmarked the day as our Golden Boot day together. In Gray-speak, that means a trip to the Golden Boot in Maidstone – a brilliant shoe shop that caters for people with big feet – where Mum treats son to a pair of BIG shoes. A great family…

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That Strange In-Between Time

That Strange In-Between Time

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Hi there. There’s a curious little pocket of time we find ourselves in right now. Christmas has come and gone – the wrapping paper cleared, the plates washed, plates of chocolates still deposited strategically EVERYWHERE you look. There’s enough turkey left to feed us till Easter, and I am already planning when the BIG FAST should begin! In the meantime, we are heading out the door this morning to meet Steve and his sons for the BIG BREAKFAST – so…

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Feliz Navidad

Feliz Navidad

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Ho Ho Ho!! Finally, the BIG DAY has been and gone and arrived – only to be nearly over again! But it has been a smashing day. Started at 6am. Got the turkey sorted. Was really grateful to see so many friends rock up in the SHAC at 10. No sooner had we said our farewells, than Steve Sheila and Mum rocked up. Lunch was a success. Only caught myself once on a hot pan – and have the scar…

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1 Day to Christmas

1 Day to Christmas

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Happy Christmas Eve!Actually, Christmas is already here for us. We celebrate this evening, so I won’t linger long. The presents are wrapped, and we will have our little gift opening ceremony later on. Nothing grand, nothing excessive. I’ve been up since 6am, making the house festive – lighting candles, listening to gentle jazz, easing us into the day. Even cleared the ironing! I made some really tasty sausage rolls for lunch, and I’m pleased to report they were a hit….

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2 Days to Christmas

2 Days to Christmas

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Ho ho ho! Well, it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas now, isn’t it? Trees twinkling everywhere, Christmas lights in all the windows and gardens. Ours is quite modest; I am more of a natural pine cone wreath gal… We leave it to the neighbours to illuminate the street. There’s a whole row of houses up the main road which have gone all in for merry and blinding! It’s quite magnificent really. Bold. Fearless. Bright. Very bright. And flashing….

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