In India the Basil plant is sacred to both Krishna and Vishnu, and is cherished in every Hindu house. Probably on account of its virtues, in disinfecting, and vivifying malarious air, it first became inseperable from Hindu houses in India as the protecting spirit of the family.
The strong aromatic scent of the leaves is very much like cloves. Every good Hindu goes to his rest with a Basil leaf on his breast. This is his passport to Paradise.
Wednesday 29 June 2011
Tuesday 28 June 2011
Gardening - Spanish style!
I have spent an afternoon messing about in the back garden. It's only small with a lawn (which I cut every week) and lots of pots containing tomatoes, cucumber, spinach, onions, courgettes and many kinds of herbs and flowers
including a hugh pot of deepest red lillies. Now that's sounds lovely you might think but you'd be wrong as the overall effect is a bit messy to say the very least. In the most southern parts of Spain they garden in pots too but the effects are rarely messy but extremely beautiful and have hundreds of admiring stares through the gates.
I must say I do not fancy watering all those pots during the dark hours as the Adalusians do but I would love just a touch of their magic.
including a hugh pot of deepest red lillies. Now that's sounds lovely you might think but you'd be wrong as the overall effect is a bit messy to say the very least. In the most southern parts of Spain they garden in pots too but the effects are rarely messy but extremely beautiful and have hundreds of admiring stares through the gates.
I must say I do not fancy watering all those pots during the dark hours as the Adalusians do but I would love just a touch of their magic.
Sunday 26 June 2011
Lost for two days in deepest Madrid!
I found an old diary of mine this morning so was able to remind myself of many occasions. I used to be an
avid diary keeper - even the first haircuts of my children etc., but I burned them all when we moved house some
years ago. However when reading the entry for Friday 3rd of November 20 years ago I fell about laughing as the memories came tumbling in of a journey by Spanish Airways from Valencia to London as I came home alone for a holiday.
I arrived at the airport in good time for the 3.45pm flight 'a Londres' but guessed after a short while that all was not well amongst the staff, so I was not surprised when a delay was announced until 5.00pm. This hour came and went and later we had an announcement twice in Spanish and once in very bad English (so bad that nobody understood a word) telling us that our flight was cancelled owing to action by the French Air Controllers so we would be proceeding to Madrid (I thought it best not to ask why?).
The flying time is about 40 minutes but we were unable to land for more than an hour because as the pilot explained very carefully in case we did not understand his 'perfect' English - 'we did not have a slot'. He then continued and in worse accented English than my Spanish to explain.
...
'We cannot land for a long time - but we might hope to.
We are not Domestic yet see!
We are not now International see? but we are also not domestic as we do not have a slot.
Our luggage might not be unloaded as we are................repeat all above.
We will try to get to London tomorrow or the day after that!
We do not know about hotel to stay but.........DON'T WORRY THERE IS NO PROBLEM'.
I don't think I will ever forget the looks of total uncomprehension/mystification on the faces of the four Spanish cabin crew when the whole load of Brits burst into applause, cheers and laughter.
Those same people were not laughing two days later when 'we couldn't get a slot'. I was though - it was a great adventure for me and I was given a bottle of Gin and a bottle of Balenciaga Dix for helping the staff sort out all these - by now, belligerent Brits.
The story goes on for about three pages but only my dear one and I would think it so funny.
avid diary keeper - even the first haircuts of my children etc., but I burned them all when we moved house some
years ago. However when reading the entry for Friday 3rd of November 20 years ago I fell about laughing as the memories came tumbling in of a journey by Spanish Airways from Valencia to London as I came home alone for a holiday.
I arrived at the airport in good time for the 3.45pm flight 'a Londres' but guessed after a short while that all was not well amongst the staff, so I was not surprised when a delay was announced until 5.00pm. This hour came and went and later we had an announcement twice in Spanish and once in very bad English (so bad that nobody understood a word) telling us that our flight was cancelled owing to action by the French Air Controllers so we would be proceeding to Madrid (I thought it best not to ask why?).
The flying time is about 40 minutes but we were unable to land for more than an hour because as the pilot explained very carefully in case we did not understand his 'perfect' English - 'we did not have a slot'. He then continued and in worse accented English than my Spanish to explain.
...
'We cannot land for a long time - but we might hope to.
We are not Domestic yet see!
We are not now International see? but we are also not domestic as we do not have a slot.
Our luggage might not be unloaded as we are................repeat all above.
We will try to get to London tomorrow or the day after that!
We do not know about hotel to stay but.........DON'T WORRY THERE IS NO PROBLEM'.
I don't think I will ever forget the looks of total uncomprehension/mystification on the faces of the four Spanish cabin crew when the whole load of Brits burst into applause, cheers and laughter.
Those same people were not laughing two days later when 'we couldn't get a slot'. I was though - it was a great adventure for me and I was given a bottle of Gin and a bottle of Balenciaga Dix for helping the staff sort out all these - by now, belligerent Brits.
The story goes on for about three pages but only my dear one and I would think it so funny.
Thursday 23 June 2011
Reflections on Noah's Ark!
1. Don't miss the boat
2 Remember, we're all in the same boat
3 Plan ahead - it wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark
4 Stay fit - when you are old someone may ask you to do something really big!
5 Don't listen to your critics; just get on with the job
6 Build your future on high ground
7 For safety's sake travel in pairs
8 Speed is not always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs
9 When you're stressed, float awhile
10 Remember the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals
NO MATTER THE STORM THERE IS ALWAYS A RAINBOW WAITING.
2 Remember, we're all in the same boat
3 Plan ahead - it wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark
4 Stay fit - when you are old someone may ask you to do something really big!
5 Don't listen to your critics; just get on with the job
6 Build your future on high ground
7 For safety's sake travel in pairs
8 Speed is not always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs
9 When you're stressed, float awhile
10 Remember the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals
NO MATTER THE STORM THERE IS ALWAYS A RAINBOW WAITING.
Saturday 18 June 2011
Good advice
I fell in love with the stunning city of Cordoba in Andalusia (Southern Spain) on my very first visit in 1990
and on each visit since then have loved it more. It is totally Spanish and subsequent Alcaldes and leaders have never tried to change to suit it's many visitors from all over the world. It was invaded by Arab Muslim Armies in 711
and lived under this rule peacefully until retaken by the Christians in 1236.. when the Christians built the huge Cathedral inside the even bigger Mezquita: sad, but it allows us to see what can happen when
great works of art can be treasured and not destroyed by the conquering army. Outside the Mezquita
amongst the orange trees there is a huge plaque dating from 13th century Cordoba with words written by
Ibn-el-Arabi (Turjuman-as-Ashwaq) - I keep a copy of his words at the back of my address book.
'My heart can take any form -
It is a monastery for Christian Monks
It is a temple for idols
A Kaaba of the pilgrims
A Tablet of the Torah
and for the book of the Koran
Those wise words written 800 years ago should be written in the hearts of everyone, no wonder he is
still respected and deeply admired in this lovely City in the sun.
and on each visit since then have loved it more. It is totally Spanish and subsequent Alcaldes and leaders have never tried to change to suit it's many visitors from all over the world. It was invaded by Arab Muslim Armies in 711
and lived under this rule peacefully until retaken by the Christians in 1236.. when the Christians built the huge Cathedral inside the even bigger Mezquita: sad, but it allows us to see what can happen when
great works of art can be treasured and not destroyed by the conquering army. Outside the Mezquita
amongst the orange trees there is a huge plaque dating from 13th century Cordoba with words written by
Ibn-el-Arabi (Turjuman-as-Ashwaq) - I keep a copy of his words at the back of my address book.
'My heart can take any form -
It is a monastery for Christian Monks
It is a temple for idols
A Kaaba of the pilgrims
A Tablet of the Torah
and for the book of the Koran
Those wise words written 800 years ago should be written in the hearts of everyone, no wonder he is
still respected and deeply admired in this lovely City in the sun.
Monday 13 June 2011
A friend's day today
Today has been a good day for contacts. The day started well when number 2 son phoned from New Zealand at 7.30am which was good as we had heard on the news that NZ had suffered another earthquake so was
reassured to hear that firstly it was not quite as bad as we had heard and secondly it was a long way away from
where he is. Diane, a friend in Australia was next to get in touch; she has just moved down coast to live alongside her son in Sydney so I was delighted to hear she has settled down so quickly and happily - she can't
wait for summer to arrive now as they have a small pool and she's longing to get in there with her grandaughter.
Next up my friend who has just returned to Bristol after years living in other counties rang to ask if we could meet for coffee in the morning - I will look forward to that. That's not all as just one hour ago close friends
in Spain reported their imminent return to the UK after living in NE Spain since 1988 - they will miss the
sunshine but really want to return and resettle here for the rest of their days. How happy you feel when people
you love get in touch and shrink the mileage between you. Thank God for modern communications.
reassured to hear that firstly it was not quite as bad as we had heard and secondly it was a long way away from
where he is. Diane, a friend in Australia was next to get in touch; she has just moved down coast to live alongside her son in Sydney so I was delighted to hear she has settled down so quickly and happily - she can't
wait for summer to arrive now as they have a small pool and she's longing to get in there with her grandaughter.
Next up my friend who has just returned to Bristol after years living in other counties rang to ask if we could meet for coffee in the morning - I will look forward to that. That's not all as just one hour ago close friends
in Spain reported their imminent return to the UK after living in NE Spain since 1988 - they will miss the
sunshine but really want to return and resettle here for the rest of their days. How happy you feel when people
you love get in touch and shrink the mileage between you. Thank God for modern communications.
Thursday 9 June 2011
I like this...
When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different.
You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.
Billy aged 6 years
You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.
Billy aged 6 years
Wednesday 8 June 2011
Ooops!
Well what a disappointment. Yesterday I thought I would publish a picture of my number 2 son on his birthday but became a bit confused by the dates in Bristol and NZ and the picture came on a day too early - try as I
might I could not remove it and my 12 year old grandaughter was not here to do it for me. Sadly I am still a
bit of a technophobe.
It was very funny yesterday when Jamax left his dish of Chilli con Carne on the bus ..(best not to ask!).
He was picked up from the school bus by his dad and then halfway home remembered his cookery class
bag was on it's way to the bus depot; dad made a U turn and they chased the bus for a mile or so before his dad managed to get in front and stopped at the last stop on the route; young Jamax raced round and
told the driver he had left his bag upstairs. It made us all laugh when we finally got it home only to hear
that neither Jamax nor his dad liked chilli!!! Good supper for us though - it was delicious.
might I could not remove it and my 12 year old grandaughter was not here to do it for me. Sadly I am still a
bit of a technophobe.
It was very funny yesterday when Jamax left his dish of Chilli con Carne on the bus ..(best not to ask!).
He was picked up from the school bus by his dad and then halfway home remembered his cookery class
bag was on it's way to the bus depot; dad made a U turn and they chased the bus for a mile or so before his dad managed to get in front and stopped at the last stop on the route; young Jamax raced round and
told the driver he had left his bag upstairs. It made us all laugh when we finally got it home only to hear
that neither Jamax nor his dad liked chilli!!! Good supper for us though - it was delicious.
Tuesday 7 June 2011
Mary Robinson
I have just been reading an article about this remarkable woman. The first female President of Ireland and the
first President in their history not to have the support of Fianna Fail. When accepting office she said:-
"I was elected by the women of Ireland, who instead of rocking the cradle, rocked the stem."
She has so many influencial and International positions I don't know how she sleeps at night. She holds a
very important post at the United Nations, she is President of Oxfam International, Chair of the Council of
Woman World Leaders. Chancellor of the University of Dublin, Professor of International Affairs at Columbia
University.......enough!... there is at least as many again. A daughter to be proud of but her parents refused to
attend her marriage to a non catholic and also refused to speak to her. How very sad. She won the round
though as she has now been married to him for more than 30 years.
Parents are odd aren't they? I know this becos I is one!
first President in their history not to have the support of Fianna Fail. When accepting office she said:-
"I was elected by the women of Ireland, who instead of rocking the cradle, rocked the stem."
She has so many influencial and International positions I don't know how she sleeps at night. She holds a
very important post at the United Nations, she is President of Oxfam International, Chair of the Council of
Woman World Leaders. Chancellor of the University of Dublin, Professor of International Affairs at Columbia
University.......enough!... there is at least as many again. A daughter to be proud of but her parents refused to
attend her marriage to a non catholic and also refused to speak to her. How very sad. She won the round
though as she has now been married to him for more than 30 years.
Parents are odd aren't they? I know this becos I is one!
Saturday 4 June 2011
History
History is my favourite subject - it was at school and it is now that I have trained as a Guide and also found
myself involved in the lastest history homework with my grandchildren.
This week the Dean of Liverpool was announced as being the new Bishop of Durham and I was fascinated
by a sentence in his announcement speach - he said:-
"I am delighted to be appointed to Durham,
it is an ancient Diocese going way back before England itself existed."
Wow! Good luck Justin.
myself involved in the lastest history homework with my grandchildren.
This week the Dean of Liverpool was announced as being the new Bishop of Durham and I was fascinated
by a sentence in his announcement speach - he said:-
"I am delighted to be appointed to Durham,
it is an ancient Diocese going way back before England itself existed."
Wow! Good luck Justin.
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