Glass Bottles

When we were in London last year, wandering around the British Museum in the Turkish/Moroccan section, I saw these glass bottles. The light illuminated them perfectly and I was enraptured. I am dreaming of turning this picture into a quilted wall-hanging, if only I could work out how to do it. Design ideas keep swirling in my sleep.

Glass Bottles British Museum London

In the Metropolitan Museum in  New York, I kept circling back to the Tiffany Glass - pictures fashioned in stained glass. Again I thought of creating these pictures in fabric.

Year before last, in Noosa, Queensland, I spied these Mason jars filled with flowers and hanging from trees at a wedding reception. So simple and lovely

 

Now I find my eye is drawn to glass jars and bottles in homewares shops and on Pinterest.

So much so I've started a Pin board on glass bottles - just to get a gallery of shapes to work with.
http://www.pinterest.com/jennyfisher3/glass-bottles/

Hmm, think there is a drawing or design bubbling in the background here or maybe just a need to be creative with glass.

the goddess of car parking

 

 

In New York last year, I was surprised and delighted to find to these two signs about car parking. They were great for a giggle and a timely photo shot.

 

While I have never been very convinced about the power of manifesting what I need or want, I have developed the habit of calling on the Goddess of Car-Parking when I need to find a convenient place to park. I can't remember who first suggested this to me but I have been doing it for years.

 

I know it sounds crazy and my passengers always have a giggle when I actually out loud - call on the Goddess. My family think I am just plain mad.

 

However, when she almost always delivers the perfect right-out-the-front parking space, they start to say, there might be something in it..

 

So today, I was thinking about how I am feeling so resistant to several things in my life right now. A big one relates to the menopause hot flushes which  are driving me quietly and not so quietly insane, waking me up at night or setting me on fire even in air conditioning. Even now I am dripping. I have been feeling cranky, angry and frustrated. Yet I know that if I just change some aspects of my diet; reduce coffee, remove alcohol and sugar, there is a chance that I can reduce my overheating..well, there is a chance but I am so resistant. My mind goes into "it's not fair", "why should I" etc etc

 

And then I think, what if I changed my attitude maybe this would help too. But maybe I'll need a backup support goddess to get me through this resistance.

 

What shall I call her, what do I need to manifest to get through this phase. It is all about changing habits, embracing wise choices and loving my body for the changes it is manifesting. I have decided she is the Goddess of Self Love. I am going to call on her every time, I need to manifest wise healthy and body loving choices. Hopefully she will put the focus in my view finder just when and where I need it most!

 

What do you need to manifest right now? What will you call your Goddess?

 

 

 

 

Almost 30 years ago

It was the 9th September 1983, a cool day in southern France. I had arrived in the old town of Carcassone and checked into the Youth Hostel. Cooking my food in the communal kitchen I met two German girls; Britta and Christina. They invited me to eat with them. I was so pleased to have company as I was travelling through Europe on my own. In every new town, I would strike up a friendship, find company to explore and share meals. I was always thrilled to meet people with whom I could connect and feel close.

I really like these two young women "despite the age difference" I write in my diary.

In the morning, they were shocked to find that their car had been broken into and their belongings stolen. It was a sad and emotional time. I offered to help. At the police station, I found that my school girl French was actually helpful. In my diary, I wrote ""the morning was spent with a pleasant policeman and I find I know more French than I realise".

After the drama and their loss, the girls decide to head back to Hamburg and I plan to visit them when I reach northern Germany.

Three weeks later, I am in Hamburg, staying with Britta and Christina first in Hamburg and then travelling through Denmark to the island of Suld and back to Hamburg until I make the journey to London on 8th October. As the boat pulls away from the dock, I wrote "I feel tears in my eyes and I wonder if we will meet again. I am sure I will see Britta. I feel a very strong link with her and I am sure we will meet again."

We spent a little over two weeks in each others company. Over the years, Britta and I have kept in touch. First it was letters and photos and cards and more recently emails. Sometimes, we lost touch when one of us moved house or changed contacts but then we found each other again.

My only son was born in July 1990 and her only son was born in October 1990.

Our travels to Europe and hers to Australia have never coincided until this year.

Three days ago we met up and she came to stay at our house. It is as if we have known each other all our lives. We have been living on opposite sides of the world and yet we have had similar experiences at different times of our lives. How is it that when you (re)meet a true connection, it is as if time melts.

We have connected, reconnected and now feel so sure of our friendship and that it will continue.

It seems amazing that a chance encounter in a youth hostel, the friendship they proffered to my aloneness, the support I offered in the crisis, has blossomed into a friendship that has stood the test of time and lasted for 30 years.

Christina, Britta and me Oct 1983

2012 in review Best places

The end of 2012 is fast approaching and it is time to review the year. First here are four of my favourite places

Bay of Fires in Tasmania

Cappadoccia, Turkey

 New York, New York

Marrakesh, Morocco