lots happened!

hihellohowryou?
lots happened, but lazy old me couldn´t find the time to blog and even didn´t felt like it!
now I´m back! lots happened, i turned 30! yes 30! not too happy about it, at the same time not too sad! I returned to Spain! and have two jobs. I´m mad, bit skint at times, and now more inspired to write than ever, I shall post more often and shall go and write write write...
Lost of potential stuff here, but none has materialized yet! I work night and day to pay rent, but it´s worth it as I live on my own! Yes, happy in my den.
until soon,
dJ

which way the wind is blowing

I 've some plans, but I'm hazy about many things

I need to leave my place under the sun and look for another.

My old man says that a rolling stone gathers no moss, but

I just don't want to accumulate any moss.

I feel that I need to keep going, move in every possible

direction as inertia kills me!

Feels like some paisley paper glued to a horse

Decoration sure does make things look better

Yet there's more to the eye than that.

Positive and orange with hazy ideas on where to sow

Looking for a change-Unemployment rearing its ugly head

One bird is worth two in the bush

I haven't seen all the bushes yet.

A wish to get up early and go to work subceeds my expectations

Just like grinding and smelling coffee!

hecho de meno!

cuaaaaaaaaanto hecho de menos
de Sevilla, del azahar
del torre del oro, de San Jacinto
de la pescaderia La Estrella
sino tuve que irme, antes que se dulcinea todo
things began to cloy
y tu me has arrancado
el corazon
tuve que dejarme las calles
en las que marchaste!!

Dios mio de mi alma cuanto hecho de menos
de Semana Santa
de su olor, sus marchas, sus suspiros

Hecho de menos del mar,
de las montanas
de La Alhambra
y de las calles estrechitas de La Alcaicaria

Cuaaaanto hecho de menos
todo estaba un sueno
haber sido un parte
de ti
de tu tierra
lo que hasta hora, hoy en dia
no tengo nada que me recureda
de ti
de tu tierra
solo memorias amargas
la de naranjas amargas

Cuaaaando estara luna llena?!

beware the ideas of March

A moveable vibe

We promenaded along the tropical coast of Almuñécar

under an illuminated half-moon. It was a particularly

special time of year; Holy Saturday, the night of the 21st

of March. Holy Week's processions were going down every

street and alley which had left even the palm trees under

their sway. The Mediterranean air too was as bracing as

tonic and on we ambled around town.

Inside the town's majestic church the priest lit

the Easter candles from the new fire and the Nazarenos

carried the processional candles along hewn wooden

crosses and walked out to the streets. I guess my heart

was lit even hooked from that moment on and the pasos

paraded along with our budding feelings.

I didn't know him well and we had only been

acquainted for a week, but something about him;

his manners, his eyes, and his toasted Spanish face

made me want to give in. I didn't.

I was too young and like a timorous little mouse

I shyed away. Weeks later, I found out that he

was on the rebound, but that doesn't justify

anything, does it?

I learnt a precious lesson; one of giving people

chances and that sometimes being too logical

about life and love can be sheer madness!

Years had gone and passed and

his phantom visits me at times, with all those futile

questions of why, what could have been and the zillion

"what ifs". Every procession I witnessed since makes

me feel haunted as the incense chases after me, but

deep inside I know that it all happened for a reason.

Written as my SundayScribblings for this week.

A is for Anadalusia

For the past seven years or so I meant to go to a

one and only place on an extended tour. I'm deeply

in love, infatuated, and bewitched by southern Spain.

I travelled from Almeria to Huelva, and lived in Granada and Seville.

These places fill me with such energy and inspiration that it

became almost a ritual for me to pass by or even spend a few nights

essentially in these three cities: Granada, Cordoba and Sevilla. I call it

my yearly pilgrims way to Andalusia, just like el camino to

Santiago de Compostela. I know Granada's alleys like the back

of my hand. I know that nothing compares to Cordoba's patios

nor Seville's oranges. I miss Jerez's fine horses and sherry.

I miss Cadiz; the Atlantic breeze, and el Puerto de Santa Maria.

I plan to live there indefinitely, but I had to leave for a spell...

It's my second home, and will always be.

I shall return to my place under the sun :)

My SundayScribbling for this week.

from farm to fork

Organic is everything and anything natural and living,

while organic farming or biological as it's called in some

countries means working with nature.

For me, it's striking back the balance

that once was. Only nature and us; no synthetic pesticides,

growth regulators, artificial fertilizers or livestock feed additives.

This is what I was taught, and this is what I have always

believed in. Working with nature, nurturing wildlife, and

conserving the soil system.

By converting to "organic" we protect our future here on the

planet, minimize the potential health hazards of pesticide

residues in our food chain as well as reap all the benefits of

organically grown foods. Did you know that organically produced

food was found to contain more vitamins and even better storage

quality than conventionally produced food. Organic is also

about buying local and seasonal produce. By seasonal I mean

following the earth's rhythm by buying fruit and veg

in their natural occuring season. I use tomato paste/

sun-dried tomatoes in winter and fresh ripe tomatoes

in summer. Organic may sound like complicating life

and expensive to many but it's also about not taking nature

for granted. One has to give back and the least one can do

is think about food provenance...

Organic is about growing your own when possible, caring for nature

in every way, and tasting the difference.

Organic is simple, it's the real thing!

Written as my SundayScribbling for the week.

mince pies and shaken beliefs

When I ponder over what I'm left to believe in

in this world here and now I feel that I'm left with

too little choices. I know I sound far too pessimistic for

many, but life had pushed and shoved me to such

conclusions. Besides that; I was never the sort of

person who saw the full half of the glass. Keeping

it real would be the best defence and the more

you lowered your expectations the less you suffered

and that applies to almost everything.

I know that seeing is believing and that's what

counts, but sometimes hard work and hard work

alone is the only proof of believing and the only

way to it. I was sceptic as a child too,nonetheless,

father Christmas was always generous and thoughtful.

I never regret having left him mince pies and a glass

of sherry, but things have changed the day I found

out that that was not completely the whole truth.

Life never ceased to surprise nor disappoint me

since to the extent that many of my preconceived

ideas even beliefs collapsed before my own

eyes one way or another. Some have been altered,

mutated, or modified at best, but what will always

ring true is that everything is relative and that

sometimes believing isn't enough.

Written as my SundayScribbling for this week.

my land's only borders lie around my heart...

I knew instantly that it was time to leave.

I planned every episode of it; from choosing the

date, writing the resignation letter to the outfit to

wear on the last working day. I remember

how it all had started though with me sounding

jet-lagged over the phone to her sounding all too

keen on interviewing me

that same day.

She smiled a warm and friendly smile, but that

luck smiled on me that day when I walked into

her office I'm not sure. She breezed through

the interview and I was on the ball. I told her

how I will grow people now instead of plants

and I got the job.

I was motivated at the time, but I was also

uninformed. Life was good for a while, and

getting up in the morning meant

something again. Getting ready to work, thinking

about it every step of the way, even tea

tasted better. I returned to where I once

belonged surrounded by all the things that

I adored most. Finally, everything fell into place

and there was something to do, rain or shine.

As the days passed quickly I lost the work-life

balance and there were not many feasible

explanations on how things soured. I saw

through her, through the whole operation and

even saw how clicky people were. I knew as

March approached- and "Beware the ideas of March"-

that the honeymoon was over. It was time I made a

move, and I could feel the wind of change

blowing my way. An old flame, a long lost friend,

travel and more surfaced on the agenda all paving

the way to my guilt-free ride. I knew instantly

that this was it, it was time I left to sow

somewhere else. I instantly knew it was not

the time to make root there.

My SundayScribbling for this week.

winter blues in Northumberland

I love winter! I think that it's essential for me to get some
"chilling hours" as they call them for fruit trees. Those cold
winter nights are important for me to charge my batteries,
stay indoors cozy with a book and a cuppa, just like
fruit trees dormant and still. My sleep patterns generally
get haywire in summer so I do use all the sleep I can
possibly get in winter even if that meant hibernating.

I have to admit though that winters can be harsh, but not
where I had lived. You can get long dull foggy ones in
Berkshire where I lived in England- you know when it gets
dark at five in the evening -we also get frosty nights
and it can get parky, but then again it's still considered relatively mild.
That said, I did face bad winters especially that year when I lived in a
bed-sit miles and miles away from home. That year was possibly the
worst (so far), I was that fresh graduate who was looking for a job in

some new town. I did some volunteer work at the time and spent the

rest of my time reading, but that was all.

One day, I opened the building's door only to find steam

welcoming my cold glasses, the roof leaking and it felt very

hot inside. Something was steaming, and one picture frame had

fallen on the floor. I climbed the staircase to the first floor
and yelled: "Hello, anybody home?!", nobody answered my call so

I carried on to the next floor and it felt like the steam was getting

denser and hotter. I yelled again and to my dismay nobody answered.

I dashed downstairs and called the fire brigade at once. It seemed

that the steam was determined to blow the whole building up; the fire

alarm went off and so did the lights. I left the building and didn't know

what else to do, I wrung my hands a thousand times whilst waiting

for the firemen to arrive. They finally did and all was under control.

It turned out that there was some serious damage to the

thermostat of the central heating system. Thank goodness I

returned on time and called the firemen.

That day was the day I helped save an entire building, but it

was also the day that we all had to forebear the next fortnight

with no central heating as it was getting repaired. That day also

meant I had an incessant supply of tea and an equal amount of

scones and biscuits to go with it and of course the certain calories

that come with all that! That fortnight, in retrospect, was the one

that made me appreciate Spring whenever it's due forever

and ever ;)


My SundayScribbling for this week.

grateful for the tree's shade

The dictionary defines it as the state of being warmly

or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received.

But I don't strictly see it that way for when I'm grateful

or thankful for someone especially; I feel sort of

obliged..even indebted for the kindness received!

For that I try to find ways to pay back as I don't particularly

like the feeling of being indebted nor grateful, but since life

doesn't necessarily always involve giving and taking in a

very direct way, there are times when I succumb to this

fact and feel that the need to pay back isn't possible nor

applicable. But I don't give up altogether as I try and give

back to the universe. It's crucial that you keep the cycle

of giving and receiving going; even if not for the same

person or thing. This applies to nature as well, we must give

back: recycle, grow, nurture for it's all to do with sustainability.

God and the universe or whichever system you believe in isn't only

generous but He's also just. He has his ways indeed!!

There's plenty to be grateful for this season: life, health,

family and friends but above all love. Give thanks, be healthy

and the wealth and wisdom shall follow.

благодарный (My SundayScribbling for this week) Agradecido

مُعْتَرِف بالجَميل ευγνώμων 感謝的 reconnaissant dankbar 감사하고 있는

GRATO ありがたく思う

Ordinary People Extraordianry Impact

Check this link to meet and vote for the top
10 CNN heroes

interesante!

Haiku on my mind...

Walking under the cedars--
China blue skies
drizzle.


Like pips on a dice--
we rolled oats together
hay fever.


I wrote a letter;
with sincere hope
a dragonfly.



A dainty eater;
separating peas in a pod
green with envy.

Dressed to the nines--
no where to go
an icicle.


Give me a tinkle;
when you get home
cranberry sauce.

© 2008 by Dina José

Strangers in the night

I guess we were all told not to talk to strangers

as children. I remember having been told a whole story

on that by our kindergarten teacher,Margaret.

"Stop, think, don't go with strangers.", she warned.

Things have changed since I assure thee dear Greta, as I've realised

and unfortunately not long ago that sometimes great friendships are

created by talking to strangers, I'll clarify...

I always minded my business as a child and even as an adult.

Making eye contact with strangers is considered rather rude where

I come from. In the tube, every one minds his business; reads the

newspaper or listens to her music ...It seemed that I've excelled at

that beyond belief ; to the extent that even when I was not walking

amongst strangers in the town centre, commuting by the tube, or

at work I kept my distance and my focus on me and my familiar circle

of friends or surroundings. I had even ignored chaps who tried to chat

me up in bars whenever I happened to be unaccompanied or waiting

for my friends to show up... Always with this preconceived idea

that "strangers" are bad.

A couple of years ago I decided to move to another

country, Spain, land of perpetual sun. I found that the people there

especially where I lived in the south had a completely different approach

to strangers as well as tourists. Broadly speaking people there were

far more friendly and open to salute or even strike up a conversation with

absolute strangers. And though I was miles away from my native soil

not once did I feel away from home. Elders in bars and cafes would

greet me shouting "Hola, guapa!", neighbours in my neighbourhood

would inquire about my health and the like. People there are rather

inquisitive, but I realised that they did not only do it out of the need

to chatter or in many cases gossip, but also because they wanted to

stay alive. One has to communicate and be interested of one's

surroundings and it's only human. To cut a long story short, I

made great friendships with people I counted as strangers.

And it only cost a smile and an open mind to be a bit more sociable!

We need more of that in our lives, in our cities where the pace of life

is fast making people frantically worried and more uptight and unfriendly.

For nothing is stranger than alienating oneself from her own environment.

Written as my SundayScribblings for this week
much peace

it's that time of year again!

Si queridos it's time we all had the jab...I dunno if any of you had that yet

but it's a must; especially if you were born with a cold like I was. I literally

had a cold from day one till I was about 11 and of course the lovely

English weather didn't help much. The word flu sends shivers down my spine

as when it hits, it hits hard for every single bone in my body hurts, my knuckles

toes, the helix of my ear,even my eyeballs...

The jab doesn't eliminate all chances of catching up other viruses but it

does prevent the flu virus. Which as I'm told changes every year

and thus one needs to take this vaccine yearly. Viruses as you may know

already are wicked and mutate continuously changing their forms so they're not

the easiest "enemy" to predict nor combat. It's interesting to know more about

the jab and all you need do- if you still hadn't got one- is click and

read more: NHS

As for my list of home remedies as well as snacks

when you catch the flu, or better said

when the flu catches you :

#1: Vitamin C (any form)

#2: Zinc lozenges

#3: French onion soup/ Garlic bread with any soup

#4: Make a tea (recipes of my faves are below) anything hot will do as good

blackcurrant, green tea, hot chocolate,etc...

1tbsp natural honey, boil down a whole lemon adding a pinch

of grated ginger root

or

1 tsp. grated ginger root. ½ tsp. cayenne powder. 1 cup of boiling water.

*( Can substitute ginger for cinnamon if you feel it's too pungent...)

#5 Cognac with milk (no need for a tulip glass here)

# 6 Porridge

#7 No less than 10 solid hours of SLEEP- my favourite-

"wonky" is back...but that's not all

In a world where "wonky" fruit and veg are back on the shelves I find

it possible to renew my faith in humanity. Finally some

body as great as the EU is overlooking product blemishes

and at least leaving the matter for consumers to decide.

I had always been an avid farmers supporter, and

I try to explain to people that fresh and local

is all that counts and not class A. It's not roses you're

buying, it's only a bunch of bananas! Farmers had had to put up with rejected

produce for years now and entire heirlooms were left to rot or turned into fodder.

Multiple retailers' high standards and demands on the "flawless product"

have veered more attention on appearance making it all that matters ;

where it should have been second or even third to taste and freshness.

For me knobbly carrots are no less edible than sleek and straight ones.

Perfection shouldn't be given such a prime value in a world where we

need to feed the masses much less nowadays in one of dying economies.

It's a step in the right direction as we've been pampered here in the

West for so long, and it is about time that both standards and

regulations have become more flexible allowing variation even

under conventional agriculture.

Having been contemplating life and dwelling in psychology

and sociology books for the past few nights, I lost sense of who we

are and what are we saddled with?! Why are we so complicated?

The world was once so simple, but human needs have been evolving

since to the extent that there seems to be less and less people to cater

for that blend day in day out. And I don't only mean food, cars,

education and all but also cater for our humanity,well-being even

our sanity. Humans tend to objectify, judge, brand and hang if

they had to. I'm constantly looking at the changing

dynamics of families, dating scenes, intimacy,even entire societies

where divorce and lack of commitment through thick and thin are all

taking their toll. The number of loners is on the increase, many of which are

successful women who are left unmatched. The world is not

perfect, it's never been so why should we keep our whole attention

devoted to appearances and void of meaning. Is this the tax of evolution?

The world is cracking at 70 miles an hour, I can't keep up with that.

I can no longer pretend the world is A OK. It's not, and neither

are my brains. That leaves leeway for the Messiah!

long overdue meltdown

Waiting for my friend to show up I ordered a coffee and sat on

a the nearest table I could find. The cafe was busy but I could still

hear the two chaps to my right having a rather heated debate that early on

in the day. Over the blare of the radio the two men were discussing god,

faith and angels. My thoughts drifted and I suddenly recalled an old joke

about two goldfishes living in a tank where one goldfish comes up

to the second surprising it with the question:

"If God doesn't exist, then who changes the water?"

indeed who does?!!

As I sat there more ideas rambled through my head; it occured

to me that if God really exists, then what does HE have to say about

environmental change? Is HE vigilant of all that happens?

Then it dawned on me that we, humans, are the sole root causes of it.

We've depleted all resouces and are still going down that way of

abuse and pollution..We've even got the nerve to doubt that God is

capeable of helping us, but then again God only helps those who

help themselves...We are to blame and I guess HE wants the world

to come to an end sometime now or any time in the future.

I'm not being cynical or unsympathetic about it, but it's a fact;

a natural and scientific one too so we'd better get going and do

something about it as it's already a taaaaaad too late but

small things-we're told- can make a difference no matter

how small!

Check this website for more insight on being more eco:

12 easy ways to save the planet