Spring Blossoms

I love this time of year when the trees start coming into leaf and into flower. Cherry trees and Magnolias are at their best now and some of them can be quite breathtaking in their beauty.

Just One of Those Days

Image by bmhkim via Flickr

To misquote Cole Porter; 'It was just one of those days', today. The wireless router wouldn't work and then, after having wasted most of the day trying to get it to work, my partner and I finally started to sort out what we should have done about 6 hours ago. He was the one who had phoned everybody concerned while I made helpful suggestions and finally managed to connect to the web. Then I found that in the confusion I'd lost some important documentation and spent some serious, stressed time looking for it. But all's well that ends well. Everything is now more or less where and how it should be (at least for the time being). But it all took so long to sort out, which was the most frustrating part. So no time today to do any keyboard or flute practice although I will be going to a choir rehearsal tonight.

Fog

Image by emdot via Flickr

Fog lies thick and white
In the early morning
Shrouding all around
Where now has the world gone?

Sun breaks through timidly
Some hope perhaps for clarity
In my immediate environment
And also I hope my mind!

Porthleven Food Festival

Image by zoer via Flickr

I've just returned from singing with one of the choirs I rehearse with at the Porthleven Food Festival. It was very busy with many different kinds of food on offer as well as a wide range of music. Parking was a bit of a problem, though, when the space assigned in the football field was fully used up, which it was by 1130 this morning. The choir's performance could have been enhanced somewhat by a better volume balance between keyboard and voices but the audience were appreciative of our efforts. Bought some lovely local cheeses.

Spring Winds

Image by Pickersgill Reef via Flickr

The spring winds rustle the palm leaves
The sun is radiantly bright in a clear blue sky
All is peace and calm around me
What a perfect April day
This has decided to be.
What a pleasure to be alive

Alas Argyle!

Image via Wikipedia

Plymouth Argyle have been relegated from the Championship after a 2-0 defeat against Newcastle last night. In all fairness, Argyle played well most of the way through and never gave up the fight to get back after losing the two goals in the first half. But they made two mistakes and you can't afford to make any mistakes if you're playing Newcastle who are at the top of the Championship.

So here is to a dedicated fight by the Pilgrims to get back into the Championship at the end of the next football season.

Creative Block

Image via Wikipedia

It's happened again. It's a beautiful day outside and I can't think of a thing to write on my blog. Often I will get inspired by what is going on around me but there is nothing actually 'clicking' today, sufficiently that I think 'Yes, I'll write about that!' Read up a bit on mind mapping and did something on that but basically decided that my problem today came down to two main things, apathy and apprehension. Apprehension as I want the blog to have a fairly 'fresh' feel to it and I feel that I have covered so many topics already. Apathy because it's a nice day outside and . . .

So Something A Bit Different . . again . .

Writer's block is a pain in the posterior
It can make me feel so very inferior.
I try some colour to brighten my life
To cut through the block as sharp as a knife
Humour helps me when all seems blue
And my silly brain feels as thick as glue
So here I go with a nonsense rhyme
To help me up on a creative climb.

Or something . .

Skylarks and Wheatears

Image via Wikipedia

As it was such a beautiful morning yesterday and I had some free time, I went for a walk down to the cliffs. The sun was shining and if it hadn't been for the wind it would have seemed almost too hot. There were a lot of birds around. I noticed a flock of Goldfinches as well as some Skylarks who were singing on the open moor. I also noticed some Wheatears who were also very prevalent. The sea was a beautiful shimmering blue with a very low tide. I felt grateful to be alive and living in the vicinity in which I do.

Birds on a Feeder

Image by Hello, I am Bruce via Flickr

This morning it was my pleasure to see what appeared to be a mated pair of Great Tits feeding at one of the bird feeders I'd put out some time ago. It was sweet the way that they would watch each others backs as they took turns alternately to feed. They then flew back into the Laurel bush in our garden where I suspect that they have their nest.

I haven't seen any further signs of swallows, but it's still early days yet.

Flowers

One of the best experiences at this time of year is the pleasure of seeing the flowers coming out. Although, in West Cornwall we can have flowers blooming in December, this year because of the cold weather, everything has been delayed. For me this makes the pleasure of when the flowers do appear even greater.

Coverack

Since it was a beautiful afternoon we decided that we would go for a drive to Coverack to explore it. Neither of us have been there before and it was an area of the south Cornish coast we had never visited. After a few wrong turnings, we spent a pleasant hour there in bright sunshine looking around before returning home.

Sweet Violets

This morning I went for a beautiful walk. So many flowers are now out in West Cornwall. I found some Sweet Violets as well as Lesser Celandine, Periwinkles, Primroses and Daffodils. There were also a lot of Camelias out as well. For the first time in what seemed ages the wind wasn't so strong which made the walk even more pleasant.

On Tuesday evening, I saw my first swallow of the year.

UK General Election

Image by Muffet via Flickr

Finally, after months of speculation about when it would take place, Gordon Brown announced that the General Election will take place on 6 May. Personally, I'm somewhat ambivalent about General Elections, as so much is frequently promised beforehand, and much less delivered afterwards! And there is only so much of politics that anyone can take!

Sunny Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday dawns
Bright and Blue
White Clouds shimmer
As a strong wind blows.
The Sunshine
Gladdens my heart

April Weather

Image via Wikipedia

The weather this year has been erratic to say the least. Here in West Cornwall we have been less severely affected than in many parts of the UK, but I think this is the latest into the year that I can remember having to light a fire in the evening, because of the cold! Also on Wednesday, on my drive back from a choir rehearsal, I got caught in a heavy hailstorm which was quite disconcerting for a few moments, especially when I couldn't see the road. Still I arrived home safely. I hope that the weather for this weekend warms up a bit to cheer us all up especially as it is Easter.