Pussywillows

Today was beautiful! I cycled through Richmond Park loving the full ponds, the winding (mud free) pathways. And I noticed something I've not noticed before - pussywillows turn yellow! Mum always really liked pussywillows and used to pick them, obviously before they turned yellow. So, I've got a couple yellow pussywillows to enjoy...

Colourful

Last Friday I took action on my brewing thoughts - I changed my hair! This is before (on a good day)

And this is me right now. Its messier, is darker with chunks of bright red through it. I like it because I wake up, muss it up and walk out the door. Its very short up the back 2-3 inches long. Behind me is the boys Saturday project...

Love London

Yesterday I was on Richmond Hill and it was a clear clear, blue sky day and I could see the city of London - the Eye, the Gherkin, Canary Wharf, the BT tower, the Battersea power station - I could look over the peaceful trees of Richmond Park and see the city, pumping, vibranting, bustling, full of people creating, living - it made my heart skip a beat. I love this place.

On Sunday I went to visit John Keats house in Hampstead. Hampstead is a bit like Richmond, next to a massive park, Hampstead Heath, only more hilly and more creative people live there. It has quaint streets and lovely houses. It was so fun to explore a little corner of London that I haven't been to before. Good to imagine Keats sitting under his plum tree writing: Ode to a Nightingale.

The Secret and stuff

Yesterday I finally got to watch The Secret in its entirity - I had watched the intro a few months ago, then my sis sent me a copy for the computer, which skipped around alot and so I bit the bullet and went and bought it. For me, it was great re-affirmation of some things, great reminders and not much new. LOVE the bit about us all being the same energy - again, HOW can we hate and kill anything?? But, there are a lot of people I know who haven't gone to work on themselves and I am really excited to be able to share this with them. So far, every night this week a different friend will be watching it! hehe.

Tomorrow I have my first exam in 16 years! I have been working hard on remembering 46 works of art from, the artist, title and date. arrgh, dates! dates from 1430 - 1560, Italian High Renaissance...I feel pretty confident and actually am looking forward to it...being over! So using The Secret and visualisation I am projecting 80% for this exam!

Today I watched "The Hours" movie with Nicole Kidman as Virginnia Woolf; including putty nose. It's the story of three unhappy womens lives intertwined - Quite a beautiful, moving and thought provoking film. I am going to be writing an essay on Death/Self, comparing Mrs Dalloway and The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conran. So, watching movies for research is sure nice!

This morning I went and had a meeting with the head teacher of the boys school. Oscar doesn't seem to be learning/progressing, he can't concentrate, listen. So, they are going to do some testing to see if there is any learning disability. Meanwhile, I have been reading ALOT of home educating websites...I feel like he is too young to be pushed at school/needing to keep up. He is extemely sensitive and loves doing things 'right', when he can't he switches off to avoid embarrasment, then doesn't learn and mucks up. Even his teacher said he needs to be learning in a physical way. I imagine that if something doesn't happen to stop this he will end up always at the bottom of class with low self esteem and causing trouble. Hmmm, feeling a bit stressed about it all. Taking on the sole responsibility of a childs education is MASSIVE and freaks me out - what if I can't do it? What if I fail him? Ensuring my boys get a good education is the most important thing I can give them. Then on the other hand if I teach him, he will be getting 1:1, rather than 1:25 - nothing is better than that! Even if I just do it for a year to build his confidence in his abilities and catch him up. I believe he is very intelligent and gets bored in class and deep in my heart I think that home educating is best for him right now - age 6. At least for a while, to get him out of the track he is in.

Os has started learning the piano and is SO motivated! He doesn't walk past the piano without playing it, he learns a new song every week and is so so proud of himself. It is such a joy to see. Since Oscar has been learning piano Samuel has also showed alot more interest in his Viola practise - they are competing...in a good way! The no TV/playstation between Monday - Friday rule means they play their instruments all the time.

Samuel has been tested for dyslexia, waiting for results.

oh the joys...I'm sure glad I'm not working any more, sure grateful I have a husband who works so hard to provide so that I don't have to. love love.

Sister Bliss

At the moment I am listening to the latest album from Faithless: "To all new arrivals". Some of the band/dj's have had babies and there are some powerful and moving lyrics. Sister Bliss is a dj and part of Faithless, the part that does the anthemic keyboarding. Today I was driving and listening to the words and realized what a cool name this DJ has and its about 15 years that she's had it. I see she was DJing last Friday night at my favourite club - MAN she rocks!

07. To All New Arrivals ---
In our world
maleria kills a child every 30 seconds
11.000.000 children die every year of malnutrition
(To All New Arrivals... Welcome)

In our world
15.000.000 children have been orphaned by AIDS
30.000.000 children die of preventable causes every day
(To All New Arrivals... Welcome)
In our world
2.000.000 children are working at the sex-industry
1.1 billion people in the world have less than 1 dollar

To All New Arrivals
We love you...

Snowdrop

oh, dear. I just bought myself a rabbit and called her "snowdrop"!

I can at least say I am in tune with the seasons. I can feel myself coming out of hibernation, I've started waking up earlier AND feeling great about it; feeling much more alive generally. I feel desperately like reproducing, the other day I heard a baby crying out in the street and I had to stop myself from running out to take a peek at it. I want chickens, as I do every spring/simmer. I can't wait to work in the garden. Oh, I love the seasons!

Blue sky days and sunshine RULE