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.
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