Good advice

But very difficult to follow but I try.......

I was in one of my favourite places last Saturday 19 January

I was here in Hout Bay for the weekend which is near Cape Town. The start of my holidays with Neil Chris & Philip to South Africa. Lovely and warm and sunny. Missing all that cold weather at home - poor Colin.

A Special Lady

Early on New Year's Day a very special lady left us. Heather Hanson, our friend Sally's mum. I had not known Heather  that long,  and yet I felt that I had known her all my life. She was one of those people who immediately made you feel at ease. She had a zest for life and took an enthusiastic interest in everyone she met.  She had the perfect personality for her job as a Stewardess with BOAC & British Airways, those were the days of one flight a week to New York, when the attendants wore white gloves and travelling was all about style, halcyon days that we'll probably never see again and by the sound of it Heather enjoyed every moment.  She was always a joy to be with and always saw the fun in life.

My favourite memory of her was at the Golden Jubilee Street Party in June last year.

Heather is talking to Lynne who has the Queen's mask on. I can hear her laughter. She was in great spirits even though she had just been diagnosed with cancer and was about to start some chemotherapy. During her illness she always remained positive, cheerful and was such an inspiration and always caring of other people.

Her funeral is tomorrow and I will be there to celebrate her life and say a personal fond farewell. I will miss her, as will so many other people, none more so than her beautiful daughters  Sally and Julia. I was so lucky to have known her.

Les Miserables

What an early start for a Sunday! We had tickets to see Les Miserables at the London Imax for the 9.00A.M YES A.M. showing!

 I had not been to the cinema this early in the morning since I went to Saturday morning kids cinema at the Plaza cinema in Cardiff when I was a young boy not yet a teenager! Yes a long time ago but happy simplier times.

Anyway back to Les Mis. I had read the reviews on Saturday which went from fabulous to mediocre. I had seen the stage show a long time ago and I enjoyed it but did not rave about it. So I was looking forward to seeing how the film version impacted me.

The Imax was busy considering how early it was - some hardcore fans there and yes I suppose I could be one of them. The Imax screen is huge and the sound systen was brilliant. Armed with a cup of green tea from their cafe I took my seat. I was amazed how quiet the cinema was - not  the usual popcorn munching crew here or was that because the vending station was not yet open?

As the film started the sound seemed so loud - was this going to be a problem I thought? I need'nt have as I got used to it and it really was suberb. As the screen was so big and the film has lots of close up and personal shots I felt more involved with the characters than I did when I saw the stage show. The music was beautiful. The actors are singing live - not dubbed and lip synched. They have a small ear piece which you cannot see and a pianist is close by playing the music for the actor to sing along with.

What an emotional film and a Sunday morning. I had forgotten that one of the most famous songs from Les Miserables " I dreamed a dream" ( of course we all know that one after Susan Boyle belted it out!) comes quite early in the proceeedings. That song is a tear jerker in any case but the way that Anne Hathaway sang it made even more emotional. So off I was on an emtional journey that lasted the rest of the film.

I was so delighted to have seen this movie and it's still with me as I hum the songs as I go about my day. I was even singing as I took Colin for his walk in the snow this morning.

Blue Skies ....

There was blue sky this afternoon for my walk with Colin. The second day of this year where there has been blue sky! Very watery and the sun was not that hot but at least it is a break from that grey sky.

And there is some colour in the garden too..............

White Azelea - thank you Sally what a beautiful gift.

Skimmia

Mahonia - aromatic yellow flowers always welcome in January

Vibrant red dog wood

and I noticed that the moss of the trees were very vibrant today or was I just more in tune with it all as it was such a sunny walk .....

Lime green moss

Paler green lichen

And this always makes me smile...Colin's favourite yoga pose - yes it's dog face down and he is an expert at this pose.

OM!!!

Sometimes you just need some time....

                                                                          So off to a healing session at Burrows Lea. My time!!

I Love this!!!

Pinterest - a great website for inspiration............... and today I love this quote as it made me think about the journey I have been on in the last 12 months........