Peace... just a thought

It comes to mind
It forms from space
It changes fast, and doesn't last
unless... I make it hold a place.

It flies around
It forms a void
It seems alive, and wants to thrive
unless... I make it feel annoyed.

It changes shape
It forms a word
It follows feeling, senses reeling
unless... I make it strike a chord

It brings a face
It works with love
It connects the dots, inspiring thoughts
it's not unless... it's more... like a dove.

It settles down
It claims its' place
It travels wide, no need to hide
it spreads its' wings... it's Peace, it's Grace.

It works like magic
It feels my need
Don't think it's nought, as in just a thought
Peace can grow from the smallest seed.


                                                                             Om Shanti, Eileen

Gourmet Reads.

It's always wonderful to meet up with friends especially over a sumptuous dinner. Last week not only did I have the pleasure of meeting friends but I met a writer, namely Doug Johnstone at an event called Gourmet Reads.

Doug lives and writes in Edinburgh and his books breathe... you know the ones you can't put down, not even for a moment. I can heartily recommend his books especially Gone Again. It was great getting to meet the author and find out why he writes, not just what he writes. Only through the experience of Gourmet Reads, hosted by Edinburgh Libraries can you experience this amazing opportunity. I was even able to dine and chat with Ian Rankin in November last year and look forward to visiting Edinburgh and dining yet again with an inspiring author in April, this year.

I love the term Gourmet Reads as it implies a fantastic dining experience... but also signifies that the writers and their books are also those worth taking time to savour and enjoy... just as you would with an exquisite meal.

Time away...

View from the lodge of snow in the distant hills

What a view we had while "whiling the time" away at the end of January. Off we went as a family and with friends to celebrate my husband, Andy's birthday. His birthday is the day after Rabbie's so we were able to have a Burns supper on Saturday and then a celebratory dinner on the Sunday... and a birthday tea on the Monday. No January detox for us, saving that experience for Feb.

We had booked a lodge in Perthshire and enjoyed some wonderful scenery and some amazing socialising. Although the social media that Andy and young Kenneth (elder son) were enjoying was not as popular with me as Natalies's (Kenneth's girlfriend) take on being sociable.

Natalie

Andy and Kenneth

Communication seems to be heading into using more and more IT tools, however I am still a big fan of direct contact as in... eye contact... massages... meeting over a coffee or like Natalie, a glass of wine... and chatting on the phone. No this doesn't mean no facebook or twitter for me, it just means that I am more interested in inviting you round for dinner and catching up with a group of friends round the table...

so if this is of interest to you, drop me a line ...
by email is fine
or even better
send me a letter!

Ciao amici,

  

Last day of holiday... snow arrived just as we were leaving!

2015 Wisdom and/or the Merry-go-round!

Welcome to 2015.  Is this year going to be the year of wisdom or are you going to be on the same Merry-go-round? Andy and I ended our 2014 with a party... a HootenAndy and Eileen. We spent some convivial hours with wonderful friends and family and are now ready to spend 2015 in the company of same.

Brian and Joan

However we also met some new friends towards the end of last year whilst on our Anniversary cruise down the Danube.  Let me introduce you to Brian and Joan who were also celebrating their  40th anniversary... same as us. They were married on the same day as us, had 5 days in London as their honeymoon... same as us, spent their 25th anniversary in Toronto... same as us... and Joan was a Physio and retired 3 years ago... same as me. Talk about parallel lives. We are wondering where we will go for our combined anniversary this year... oh and did I mention they are Scottish... same as us!

Clive, Linda, Joan, Brian, andy and Eileen

It was a wonderful cruise, seeing castles and Christmas markets galore, visiting a monastery like no other, learning about the history of the Danube and its various people over the centuries. All made even better by spending time in the company of Brian and Joan and Clive and Linda, another couple who were also celebrating 40 years married. Clive and Linda live in Cornwell but that won't let them escape from the Auld's very "well connecting" ethos. Looking forward to visiting Cornwell this year... we always promised we would visit the south of England and now we will.


Thank you Brian, Joan, Clive and Linda for your marvellous company helping making the "romantic" cruise an amazing experience, full of fun and laughter... not to mention a glass or two of wine and the occasional Drambuie and ice...

Eileen unwrapped

The weather ranged from wet and cold, to dry and cold, to warm and sunny. Fortunately we were able to enjoy whatever the weather threw at us and the scenery was quite splendid. The sunny pic is taken in Budapest, one of my favourite cities. I visited Budapest three years ago with a girlfriend and promised that I would come back with Andy as it is an intriguing city to spend time in... and a promise is a promise. More of that later.

Eileen wrapped up

The wrapped up one is me taking in the air on the top decking of the boat. I was determined to stay out as long as I could as we sailed down the Danube, through the amazing Walchau pass. Although it does look as if I am pretending to be a spy!

We started at Nuremburg and finished at Budapest visiting Regensburg, Passau and Vienna in between. I can wholeheartedly recommend Viking Cruises... in fact we will be booking another one soon...

Andy and Eileen in Buda

Now to applying wisdom in 2015. No-one should make a promise lightly. I promised myself that this year would be about getting my book, The Return of the Goddess, published and I am embarking on fulfilling that promise with the help of some friends. I will keep you posted with a progress report... in the meantime here I am below making a new friend, named Clyde. Are we birds of a feather do you think? Clyde is looked after by Lorraine Johnston, another good friend, and although Clyde had a recent exciting adventure, taking flight from his coop, he is now safely esconced back at home. Wisdom, methinks, is combining adventuring far and wide and then returning home safely to one's nest... or maybe, just maybe, it is getting on a completely different Merry-go-round to the one you were on last year.

Wishing you all a very happy, healthy and successful 2015...

Eileen with Clyde

Thanksgiving

It's an interesting time of the year when we still think about a harvest season, although many of us have no understanding of the land and its' bounty. Even working in any form of garden is probably getting more and more unfamiliar as we are fast becoming city dwellers.


Giving thanks is part and parcel of many of our upbringings when writing thank you notes after Christmas kept many a child away from playing with their toys! Thanksgiving is so much more than the token thank you... it's a heart felt expression of gratitude to Mother Earth for another year's crop that would not only feed the farmer and his family but would produce an abundance that was able to be shared by all. We call it a cornucopia ... and know that the word signifies that all our needs will be met.

There is also a harvest season in people's businesses and personal lives when the seeds that were planted many years ago reach fruition. Everyone needs to celebrate their annual harvest with a harvest thanksgiving... looking back at the previous year and celebrating what the year has brought.

What will you be grateful for this year? What is your offering of abundance? we all have our own individual cornucopia... so let's get this party started and share!

Altogether...

View from San Gimignano

How many times do we set off on a journey and wonder how it will all work out? Not knowing the terrain or the road ahead. Then afterwords there is the sense of wonder when the plan comes together and you look back in amazement at the completeness of how the event itself came "all - together".

This is certainly how I felt recently as I marvelled at how the various strands of togetherness combined in a fusion of joy, namely our September Living It Yoga week.

Villa Brignole, Monteaperti

The story started last year when I took the initial bookings for the annual spring yoga week in Italy. Kenneth, elder son, and I had found the most amazing venue in Tuscany,Villa Brignole, Monteaperti and I had decided to book not just one week in April but a second week around my birthday time in September, reasoning that I always spend my birthday in Italy so why not make it a Living It Yoga week!!!

The logistics for the April week involved 3 drivers for a total of 9 people... however for September's week we only had Andy, my husband, and myself as drivers, so this meant hiring a 5 seater car and a Galazy 7 seater as we had 9 attendees and Andy and I made 11 people altogether. I just loved driving the 7 seater... yep I got the big car!

The September week was to prove a logistic challenge not just regarding driving and transport but the various attendees booking on the week were in flux. One minute we had a full complement then we had a cancellation or two... then another three interested. More appartments booked to accommodate increased numbers and then another cancellation... and so on and so forth. Then of course there was Mr Ryanair mixing it with flight time changes to Pisa!  All in all, it was an example of using the "living it yoga" approach to life to let trust come in, and that all would be well.

The week was full on with the day begining at 7.30am with a meditation followed by a morning hatha stretch before breakfast... various excursions organised, dinners in and out, hatha classes and deep relaxation techniques as well as a flexible approach to time. In fact I even slept in one morning and was late for my own meditation class! now that is being really relaxed...

Needless to say we had a ball, visiting many favourite towns, cities and places of interest... including a restaurant or two. Once the week was over I stayed behind to enjoy some more fun filled days with my pal, Anne who joined me and together we explored more places in Tuscany, such as Cortona and Arezzo and enjoyed being very, very lost while doing so. The secret to enjoying being lost is to know that you are where you are supposed to be and who you are supposed to be with. It's a great metaphor for life...

The yoga week was to be my swan song. The intention now is to find our own personal place in Italy that we can escape to and invite other like-minded escapees to share a journey or two together.

Complete with speed limit!

Whatever the road ahead... whether it looks easy or difficult, whether straight and narrow, whether clear or obscure or fills you with awe at the endless possibilities... it is worth looking back and seeing where you have come from. It's good to reflect on all those other journeys that brought you to the here and now. It's essential to notice how everything was working together and to trust that it will continue to do so until you reach your journey's end.
Life's a journey... enjoy!

Grazie mille mie amiche! September 2014

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

The Three Bears

Photo taken by Goldilocks aka my husband, Andy  when we were on an impromptu visit to Canada last month. Gordon, the younger son, is working in Whistler, BC just now and his girlfriend, Lianne is now working there too. We were only in Canada for two weeks but managed to pack a lot in, including zip lining...  

... golf and spa. Well I was "spa-ing" with Lianne and Andy was golfing with Gordon!

Lots and lots to see and do in Whistler. We were there when there was an international mountain biking competition, Krankworks, and the town was buzzing. Everywhere you went there were people in plaster, using sticks and elbow crutches or just limping and showing off bruises and scars. Although those last ones may have been the ones dancing on the tables! Mountain biking is not a sport for the faint hearted or even the sane!

We included many gondola and chair lift trips into our schedule and saw the mountains from their best perspective, the top!  

Whistler town

We even had a fleeting glimpse of a brown bear and met many, many chipmunks and marmosets. Whistler is so called after marmosets who live on the mountain and whistle!

It was wonderful to spend time with Gordon and Lianne, meet their friends and get acquainted with the place they now think of as home. It was also wonderful to experience the expansive countryside and get some understanding of what the land means to The First Nation. This is the name given to the people, whose ancestors first came to that part of the world approximately 11,000 year ago... give or take a decade! They consider many of the rivers, lakes and mountains to be a spiritual expression of the land and recognise many places as healing sanctuaries. No need for spas for them. One such place is the series of lakes called the Joffrey Lakes.

 This photo is of one of the Joffrey glacier lakes and just looking at it makes you feel so much better!

The First Nation have so much to offer us... not just the sharing of the land - they don't believe in ownership of the land - but also the connection that they have with nature. Respecting it, by honouring and taking care of it. We can copy their example in our own back yard and cherish all that we have been given... and I include the opportunity to zip line amongst those gifts!