Aaahhhhhh....November...

Hi there, good evening from The Wetlands.
I hope you are feeling fine?
Myself...I've had the most frustrating day ever (won't go into details, but life was not a barrel of laughs today), and then it is my habit to cheer myself up with 'happy blogging'.
(Do you do that? Does it work for you?) In other words, I look for that silver lining.

And, as usual, I have managed to find it. Look at that! Isn't it absolutely gorgeous?

My Japanese Maple is lovely too, and the Ghost Birch is turning yellow.

I adore cycling through the lanes and streets of my town at the moment, as they are so pretty and everything smells spicy. 

We were lucky with the weather as well, crispy and hardly any wind. When it rains all those fallen leaves are another story entirely...

November is a 'waiting' month, I feel. We are waiting for the first proper gale force storm, waiting for the first real frost, waiting for the first snowflakes to fall.

(Some people are already waiting for the Christmas holidays ;-)

I am waiting for my life to take a turn for the better...

Today I visited all estate agents again (yet again), to see if there was light at the end of my particular tunnel. But no...

I'll hide myself in my cozy room and I'll read a good book. What else can you do, in November, eh?

Have a nice evening!

And Finally...Sun in The Wetlands, Life is Good!

Hiya, lovers of the outdoors :-)
Today I have a huge smile on my face, for today the sun is out and the wind has turned to the South...Suddenly my garden is what it is designed to be: a haven.
Not so much a windswept battlefield where my hanging baskets are swinging wildly dripping from their branches and my goldfish complain of it being too wet!

I am writing this in the garden, under the sun umbrella, with a cup of home-grown nettle tea at hand, Viggo and Gina by my side and a very loud cuckoo just off to my right in the bushes.

And Life is suddenly good.

This evening I am going to meet up (hang out, say my kids) with my few female colleagues and have a leisurely meal (chill and booze, say my kids) in the garden (hopefully!) of one of them. So Life is better still.

Only six weeks to go until the Summer holidays. Better, better still!

The poplars are moulding, shedding, what-you-may-call-it; the air is full of white fluff. Cotton on the mild wind. I kinda like it.

That cuckoo is really belting it out now! Gina has turned tail and removed herself to her basket indoors; too loud for her.

Just to make my point; this was two days ago...

So...I would like to wish you all a lovely day. I am going to enjoy mine, I can assure you!

All photos © Renée Koopman

Colouring for Adults: Childish Pastime, or Mindful Zen Moment?

Here you have it. The Dutch rage, craze, trend (take your pick) of 2014-2015.

All of a sudden adults were not ashamed to admit they were colouring. And they didn't have to pinch their kid's books or buy childish coloring books either - for someone with a very smart business plan brought special colouring books for adults on the market. First there was one, which you had to search for, and then all of a sudden around Christmas 2014 they were everywhere.

I had a talk with our local pencil supplier and he told me that coloring pencils were a dwindling market (kids prefer the markers) - until recently. Now the luxury 50 pencil boxes fly out of his shop almost as fast as he can get them in.

I adore it.

It makes those chattering monkeys in my head, especially those after a stressful day's teaching, shut up instantly. They go quiet and respectfully watch me sharpen my pencil and start a new zentangle, or mandala, or wallpaper. When one tries to start in with a flip remark, the others hush it immediately. Be quiet! She's creating calm.

So what do I like about it so much?

It's a combination of factors: the anticipation - the choosing of the colours - the putting on of music - the concentration - the being totally in the moment.

Very Zen, in fact!

I must admit my husband looks at me askance and although he doesn't say it out loud, 27 years of experience of living with him tells me what he is thinking: don't you have something better to do with your time?

No, actually.

SSSSSssssssshhhht! 

People - You Gotta Love 'em!

Good morning, my internet friends. I hope this Sunday will find you in good health and good spirits.

My mind is still reeling from all the work-related and social events I have participated in during the last week. It has been a rollercoaster of emotions yet again...

Slowly up...anticipation, fear, frustration...

The tiny stop at the first hill...fear, oh hell, definitely fear...

The huge rush down...no time for feelings - hanging on for dear life...

The corkscrew...fuck, I'm losing it...

The long ride down and slowing down...elation, pride, joy.

And, as always, people have managed to surprise me. I tend the view the world around me with a mix of wonderment, bewilderment, pragmatism and not a little cynicism. But yet again, I must admit, my view had to be adjusted as it was too harsh and jaded.

In ordinary words: someone who I thought to be all-business turned out to be quite insightful and almost mild. Phew!

Note to Self:

So. What are you going to do today? Visit family? Hang out with friends? Read a good book?

I am going to finish a tiny knitted baby beanie, as one of my colleagues has greeted his first son in this life. I saw the photo, and what a lovely cute face! They are of the Muslim faith, and his search for a true Muslim name which would yet be easily pronounced by our fellow-Dutchmen touched my heart. So welcome, little boy, I hope your life will be full of joy.