After joining the NHS protest in Falmouth, we went off to Penzance to join the march in Solidarity with the many women all over the world protesting peacefully today (as I explained yesterday). We sang, we made our presence felt and we explained what we were doing to passers by. There weren’t many of us but we added to the global total! The blue tiles are from a shop front and the pavement slabs are also on Market Jew Street. We encountered the Mermaid welcoming customers into a shop in Hayle on the way home.
Monthly Archives: January 2017
A Winter Poem and A Pink Hat
A good friend sent me this poem and I am delighted to share it with you. Thank you, L. There is something very special about winter evenings when we can literally snuggle against the cold and seek shelter in the wrap of winter as our souls seeks solace. It makes me think too of how lucky those of us with this privilege are.
Winter’s Cloak by Joyce Rupp
This year I do not want
the dark to leave me.
I need its wrap
of silent stillness,
its cloak
of long lasting embrace.
Too much light
has pulled me away
from the chamber
of gestation.Let the dawns
come late,
let the sunsets
arrive early,
let the evenings
extend themselves
while I lean into
the abyss of my being.Let me lie in the cave
of my soul,
for too much light
blinds me,
steals the source
of revelation.Let me seek solace
in the empty places
of winter’s passage,
those vast dark nights
that never fail to shelter me.
I have spent the evening knitting – this time for myself. I have made a hat in pink! Tomorrow we are joining in solidarity and in support of the *non-partisan* women’s march occurring in Washington D.C. and other cities, in a march being organised in Cornwall on St Austell’s beach at East Portholland Saturday January 21st. We will gather on the beach from 4pm – 5pm in solidarity.
The following words from the official Women’s March on Washington’s “Guiding Vision and Definition of Principles” explain further.
The Women’s March on Washington is a women-led movement bringing together people of all genders, ages, races, cultures, political affiliations and backgrounds in our nation’s capital on January 21, 2017, to affirm our shared humanity and pronounce our bold message of resistance and self-determination.
“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept and celebrate those differences.” – Audre Lorde
“We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
I’ll let you know how it goes. Before that gathering on the beach in St Austell we will be at the Rally in Truro to show support for our NHS.
Here is my hat! #pussyhat project and its pink visual statement of resistance and solidarity,

Still Waters, Choir-babies and The Horizon
What a gloriously crisp day today. The view from The Zed Shed where we sing was perfection itself.
We had two Grandbabies as our Choir-babies today and they were both entranced by Claire, our leader and teacher – couldn’t take their eyes away!
Driving home from getting two new tyres this afternoon, this was our view over a hedge, the bluest horizon, the Atlantic Ocean on our North coast. The lovely Mr S was driving and I took this as we came over the brow of the hill.
Being Grateful, Lighthouse and Nye Bevan
This came my way today and is a timely reminder I think of how lucky many of us are.
We were in Penzance this evening and walking back to the car down a lane, I saw this delightful lighthouse on the side of someone’s shed.
We were in Penzance for another meeting about protecting our wonderful NHS. Nye Bevan, the founder of the NHS said,
“The NHS will last as long as there are folk with the faith to fight for it.”
And that is what we are trying to do. There is another meeting nearer to home tomorrow and a march in Truro on Saturday.
Story-time, Crocuses and Rain-drops
Michael Morpurgo’s wise words came my way today:
The first six years of my teaching career were spent in primary schools, mainly the wonderful Plover Primary School, and I remember story-time at the end of the day with great affection. My 10/11 years olds and I escaped into some wonderful worlds – those of The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, The Hobbit, of A Child’s Christmas in Wales and that of Flat Stanley among many, many more. After 10 years at home bringing up our four children (and reading more wonderful stories) I moved into secondary education and was able to introduce generations of young people to the wonders of literature – to story, poetry and plays. What a beautiful way to spend my working life! And what a shame that the practice of reading for half an hour at the end of every day has apparently been lost.
Walking up from town this afternoon, we spotted some crocus buds, golden and gorgeous in the evening light.
The rain had stopped but the grass still held little jewels of glittering rain drops.
A Funeral, A Verse and An Owl and A Pussycat
Eleven members of my choirs did something beautiful today – we sang at the funeral of a stranger and we made a family’s day a little easier. Our choir leader had been approached by the daughter and those of us who were free at short notice went to our local Church, St Euny, to sing three of O’s favourite hymns – How Great Thou Art, The Lord is My Shepherd and Abide With Me. It was a random act of kindness that I was very pleased to be a part of.
One of the verses of How Great Thou Art really appealed to me and I give it to you here:
When through the woods,
and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing
sweetly in the trees.
When I look down,
from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook,
and feel the gentle breeze,
Then sings my soul.
This afternoon we went to one of many local meetings called to ‘save’ our NHS. It was held in the Maritime Museum and in the foyer as we left, this delightful pair in their ‘beautiful pea green boat’ lifted our spirits.
This post is especially for my very dear friend and singing mentor J, with much love.
Text, Email and Arundhati Roy
There are no photos to go with the two best things of today – a delightful text from LiveWire No 1 asking when we can go back to Spain as she is missing us and later, an email from LiveWire No 2 saying how much he enjoyed our visit and hoping we had enjoyed his company too! These two are both eight years old and have made my day!
Listen to our world as she breathes. There is hope.
Mount’s Bay, St Michael’s Mount and Twin Seats
Such a lovely bright day today so off we went to Mount’s Bay where the wind was blowing a hoolie and it was very cold but it was also very beautiful! There were others walking on the beach, a windsurfer having fun on the water and a freight ship in the distance

The Mount was looking particularly lovely in the sunshine.
The local supermarket is all geared up for the visit in August of our Grandbaby twins!
Dawn, Pin and Card
Winter dawns are often very lovely.
A most unexpected parcel was waiting for us on our return with a couple of delightful presents from our long-lost and recently found very special friend. I love this heart pin with its message on the back of love and peace – and the same to you P.
Today I received a belated birthday card from some more special friends. I love the sentiment expressed here which is just what N and G do! Thank you!
Flowers, Chicken and Tree of Life
We came home last night to find that our Hyacinths, planted for my birthday, had indeed flowered then and are still looking lovely along with the Christmas Cactus.
One of our Christmas presents, opened in London last weekend, was this delightful glass chicken made by Danielle Hopkinson. It amused us to put it on our lovely wooden egg keeper along with the eggs! Thanks L, T and B.
We opened another Christmas present today too, a beautiful intricate carving of The Tree of Life which is now on our kitchen wall. Thanks V and P.
Yet another parcel was waiting for us when we arrived home last night and I will show you the beautiful contents tomorrow. Thanks P and J.























