Second Star To The Right

 Who said that every wish would be heard
and answered when wished on the morning star?
Somebody thought of that and someone believed it.
Look what it’s done so far.
What’s so amazing that keeps us star gazing
and what do we think we might see?
Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection.
The lovers, the dreamers and me.

~ Rainbow Connection , Muppets

There something about the night sky, the stars and the moon that captivates me. I am fascinated by everything; the man in the moon, its orbit, the mythology behind the stars, the constellations and the dreams and hopes the night sky seems hold in its vast darkness. Ever since my dad stopped to stare into the gloom and held my hand I have stared too and submerge myself in its majesty. I have whiled away happy hours under the stars and it is odd but everything about the night sky makes me feel insignificant and I love it. Everyone in the world sleeps under one night sky and in it there are so many stars and there are so many star gazers, all looking at an immeasurable universe and I am tiny; nothing I really do will matter in the grand scheme of the universe and that is strangely comforting.

I am completely spellbound by the night sky and the stories that revolve around the moon and stars, and the beliefs and ideas they hold; it simply magical to look into a glittering and dazzling sky. I have always associated the stars and star gazing with dreams and the dreamers, thinking about the hopes that are whispered to the man the moon and the wishes made to stars as they watch over the earth. I want to hear the stories the moon could tell, all the little things it has seen over the years, all the forgotten past of earth. “Look at the stars, look how they shine for you” Generations of humans before me have gazed at the star in wonder and people round the world gazing with me, staring at the same starry blanket. Humans have reached for the stars and moon for thousands of years desperate to join the night sky and its heights.

The universe is so old, ancient and still changing, still expanding and growing; it is stunning as it entices scientists and romantics. I stare up and marvel like many others and look into forever, in awe of how anything could be so beautiful and exquisite. I look into the night sky and become lost, questioning how much is beyond our small world, how much can be out there to strive for. I gaze into the night and it stares back daring me to envision anything and everything. The stars do not hold our destiny; the night sky simply reveals the infinite possibilities of our future and the universe.

“Look at the stars, look how they shine for you” ~ Yellow, Coldplay

Related articles

• There are some things that happen once
• Wishing on a Star
• Tumbling Pretties

It’s Snow wonderful.

 

Our secret view

It FINALLY snowed in Britain; and I do mean FINALLY, what is the point in winter if it’s not going to have a generous helping of the freezing sparkly stuff?? The UK had been having a perverted amount of warm weather; it didn’t really get below freezing until a couple of weeks ago. The last couple of days however have been wonderful finally some proper freezing, blustery, biting, winter weather.

I love snow because every time I see it, it’s like the first time; I’m still always full of excitement and anticipation. The first few flakes tumble and weave their way down in a beautiful dance that promises striking views and mountains of fun. Snow elegantly covers the world in a blanket of white glitter that vividly contrasts with the sky and sunsets creating tremendous sights. Houses and gardens engulfed in snow look otherworldly and the countryside whispers it awesome grandeur as the world for a small time is still and stands looking serene. Snow is fabulous to look at and fabulous to play in. Even my sun-worshipping family enjoys the snow, the whole street comes out to play, the old, the young and the in between. The planet beyond our street falls away while there is snow (we get a bit stranded if I’m honest) so we play like we are six and the world is our street and nothing more frightening.

Every time there is enough we walk down the road, over the gate, down the track over

The white sparkly stuff

the fence to our sledging hill, I can do it with my eyes closed because the short walk is eagerly emblazed on my mind. Sledging is like flying; so swift, so scary, so thrilling. There is also breathtaking view from that hill that is our secret. I have memorised how to build a giant snowman that you have climb to decorate and that melts so slowly it is there for days after the weather has warmed. I remember snowball fights that have enveloped our entire street and turned friend against friend, child against parent. I remember the first time it snowed on Christmas day, it was dark and my sister and I were already in our pyjamas after a long wonderful day. My dad in protest that his children were not playing in the snow through a snow ball at the back of my head, inside the house while we was playing board games!! This could not go without consequence, somewhere there is an amazing photo of me, my sister and brother in nothing but nightwear, in the middle of our snow-covered street throwing relentless snowballs at our father. Soon enough another father came to his rescue, so his children came to ours.

I have spent a childhood building snowmen taller than me, sledging so fast that I was determined I would never stop and having snowball fights in school uniform with teachers.  I don’t think I shall ever feel too old for the majesty of snow. I don’t worry I’ll wake up and I’ll see it as an irritation or inconvenience. I’m not silly enough to drive in snow, I’m not going to worry about missing something because I’m at home and I’ll was make sure my neighbours are okay. I will spend the rest of my life the way I have started loving the crisp, silence, splendid snow.    

The wandering mind of a gym goer.

I have kind of been staring at a blank screen for a while; I have a few posts I have been working on but nothing that I want to publish yet. I am, however, off just now to visit my cousin with my sister which would mean that I wouldn’t be able to write anything until Monday. Hence the staring at a blank screen; when I set deadlines I am either never really happy with what I write or nothing really comes to mind to write about. This morning I gave up on staring at the blank screen and went to the gym …….where in my head I was still staring at the blank screen, trying to write my blog in my head.

I like the gym, sort of. I don’t like the gym because I am over weight, hate the clothes I have to wear and the fact I can’t wear makeup. I love taking care of my appearance and I could probably count on one hand the amount of people who have seen me looking less than immaculate, without make-up, without my hair being done. My sister is so rude, openly laughing when she sees me without make-up in coach potato clothes; she says it’s odd, like seeing someone for the first time without their glasses; they just don’t look like themselves. It’s alright for her she always looks epic even in her p.js. I like the gym because I like exercise, I play hockey, netball, cricket and rounders, and I horse ride and dance.

My favourite thing about the gym has to be how the mind is able to wander. For example, can someone explain to me why at the gym there always seems to a cooking or food program on the TV? It just makes me hungry and never for healthy things either. It’s all, add this much butter or cream I end up going home with cravings for chocolate cake or some ridiculously rich pasta sauce.

Oh and when I get home I’m going to have go and pick up my dance costume, which is pink, why are dance costumes always pink and outlandish? Another thing is some people wear some really odd things to the gym, one man today wore tracksuit trousers and a work shirt, why wear a shirt to the gym….. really?

Speaking of odd things that you see at the gym, why do couples come to the gym and bicker? Either bicker at home or don’t come together. You obviously need sometime apart if you are at a point in your relationship where you bicker about where an odd sock has come from and who did the laundry to create the odd sock.

I have also never figured out why men think it is appropriate to stare at women who venture in to the weights room. I am allowed to be here so don’t make me feel guilty because I want to do some toning. Likewise, yes I get it, you are thinner than me and are probably fitter this does not mean you can also stare at me, if you want the machine I’m on, wait. I have fifteen minutes on each machine, I do not exceed this and I’m not going to cut my time short just because you’re staring at me, so GO AWAY!! Making me feel all self conscious and irritated is just bad-mannered!!

The other thing my head seems to think about at the gym is the music. I mean does anyone actually like the music that is played? No it is awful, but if you turned it off or played something different everyone would notice and feel uncomfortable.

Recently I have so been thinking about what ever lilac monstrosity I’m going to end up wearing as a bridesmaid for some dear friends. Oddly, this doesn’t make me want to lose weight, it just makes me feel distraught that once again there will be an occasion in my life where I will look less than immaculate.

Are you having a wonderful autumnal weekend?

  “My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.”  ~George Eliot

Autumn on the river

Are you having a wonderful autumnal weekend?? I am, I adore this time of year which is taboo in my family since I come from a long line of ardent sun worshippers. I blame the Mediterranean blood that is pumping through our veins, my parents and siblings talk of flying south for the winter or entering hibernation; anything to find an immediate relief for their craving for warmer weather and to disappear before the onset of winter. I listen to the talk but I think layers of splendid clothes, passionate homemade food, cosy meetings with old friends, I think of fierce golds, reds and oranges, I think of glorious, cold, crisp, sunny days full of vibrant colour. I think of fireworks and festivals and Halloween and Remembrance and the distant call of Christmas, I think of time to draw people close for fantastic occasions.

Falling leaves

Everyone has a favourite season, mine is autumn. Autumn brings out my nostalgic side, this time of year is all about youth; Halloween and Bonfire Night delights and entertains the child in all of us. It is about going back to school or uni and seeing old friends, it is the new beginning after the long hot slog of summer. Even now when I don’t have to go back to an institution, there is still that excitement as the weather begins to turn and there is a promise of change and something different. Everyone is refreshed after the summer and ready to start a new or continue with renewed vigour.  It reminds me of all the things I have ever done and all the things that I still have yet to do.

My Witch, I was very proud of this

I love all the marvellous parties that come out to play. At Halloween I may be too old for Trick or Treating but I still carve a pumpkin and attend Halloween parties and go to the spooky walks that happen near my town. I love the feeling of being scared or not fully being able to understand the mystery of what is happening around me. I confess that I find the coming together of family and friends and celebrating the victory of good over evil on Diwali and Bonfire Night is awesome. I still find fireworks fantastic and magical and discover that I can ooo and ahh to my heart’s content without feeling out of place.

Fireworks

Most of all I love the falling leaves and the changing colours, the world becomes utterly stunning. The smell and feeling you get as you walk through the wind with swirling leaves for me is unrivalled. I spend hours just walking and going out for no reason other than to spend time in the mystical air that I know right down in my wrapped and booted toes can make everything better. One day, I want to spend Fall in New England in the USA, it’s on that list in my head of things I have to do before my heart grows too old and cold for such trivial things.

I worry that autumn is something that I loved in my youth and something I may grow out of in my adulthood, that as you grow older inevitably you stop understanding the magic and passion in this time of year. I don’t want to be bitter about the weather turning, the children screaming in fear and on sugar highs or the loud bangs. I want to spend it like I did this year dressing up at parties and on walks in woods intentionally being frightened and silly, I want to go out of my way to watch beautiful fireworks light up the sky with friends and drink hot chocolate in the cold. I want to always find the time to wrap up in scarves and hats and walk until I ache. I want to sit in the kitchen making noise with my family as we argue about the world and what is the best cake for the time of year. I think these are some of the small things that are missed in our ever-changing and hectic world.

I adore autumn, as for now it reminds me to grow old with colour and life.  Delicious autumn!