lunar_echo

...and considering making a come back here. Not sure whether to keep to this journal or get a completely new account.

I feel like writing again, and also picking up my camera more. I thought this may be one way of doing so in a hopefully more disciplined fashion than before.

Currently tired and need to upload a batch of photos I intend to post here.

But a big *wave* to those I have been out of communication with - I hope we can catch up soon!

For those who are interested, I've made a start with my green journal over here at Wordpress.

It is public, and will mostly contain my thoughts and ramblings about green issues, projects and reviews. Feel free to leave comments if you find anything interesting, or talk to me here if you prefer.

Also I'm setting up Trillian soon. So when I figure it out I'll need to add/re-add some people. If you fancy a chat there sometime leave me your ID.

I am considering reviving the very negelcted but growing-in-members community I started aeons ago - mythical_realms .

It is folklore and mythology related, pretty broad interests, but I am somewhat lacking in ideas to make it more appealing to those who watch/have joined. If any of you wish to be invovled in moderating it or have ideas of what you'd like to see there, please let me know.

Read about him here...

Ok ENOUGH procrastination now. Must do study...

"The Virago archive is a treasure trove of correspondence with some of the best women writers of the 20th and current century, and founded as the company was before the advent of email, everything is still there in those files, letters often adorned with my filing instructions "put wherever". Today, I mourn the loss of my luscious green covers, but the younger generation - like me, 30 years ago - always wants change. The Virago Modern Classics are not finished, and never will be. They remain as a testament to a group of very energetic, devoted young women, to bad typewriters, often illegible handwriting, and long hours of deeply non-unionised work, reading and research. Now commissioning editor Donna Coonan, a toddler in 1978, is as addicted to, and as passionate about, the list as we all were then. In February, I went to speak to the Suffolk Book League. Afterwards a clutch of women, grey-haired like me, came up and one by one said, "Thank you so much." "My favourite is Winifred Holtby", "Your Classics got me through every pram I had in the hall" and "I love my shelf of green Viragos". It was the writers and their novels they were really thanking, women writing away in thankless times. All that was required was to know they were there, to love them, and to publish them.Virago Publishing company - the home of some of my favourite novels by women writers (and a teasure trove of inspiration that I've yet to explore as fully as I'd like)...."
More here...

I have ordered this - being shipped cheaply all the way from America, as a suitable reward for the hard work and study ahead of me over the next couple of weeks.

There are possibly fuzzy childhood memories awaiting me....but the reviews and medievalmuse's recommendation tempted me!

Those of you who live geographically close to me will be notified of its viewing.

I also bought some CDs, a rarity in the days of piracy and few funds to spare. But I miss having artwork and seeing my cd collection look more nourished.

There are things I must post here, some I've possibly already forgotten, but with unexpected life stuff, studying and birthday fun at the end of last week time has sort of passed me by. However my internet at home is currently only working in very small bursts, so this is a rushed post mostly to inform people of that annoyance. If I am behind with any messages/comments etc than that is why. I am trying to grab valuable internet time to get my research done for my next essay on organic farming policy and keep an eye on emails inbetween.

Anyways, happy Spring Time to you and I hope to be back here properly by the coming weekend.

This article made me smile

Anyone here experienced with growing/maintaining bonzai trees? I was given a Bonzai Ligustrum as a present, and despite researching a little online - am somewhat confused by how to care for it. It seems that root cutting/re-potting is a good idea, but I'm scared.

My main concern is a large root that is growing outside of the soil, in a loop - connecting from the base of the tree, circling around one side of it and then into the soil with some small hair roots growing off it in open air. Should I cut that off before spring, or leave it? It looks too thick to wind into the soil, but I feel like I'd be cutting an artery or something.

The roots seem quite tight inside, and I think it may need the old soil combing out, and new soil adding. I know they only require a shallow ceramic pot, and I'd like to keep it in its current pot - as they seem to cope ok. with little room.

I'm just scared that if I prune some of its root base I'll kill it.

That's all from me today.

Other news...saw Sweeney Todd last night. First impressions: Darkly pretty (mmm costumes and sets), insanely weird mix of random musical action versus slasher horror...seeing Deep do those things was somewhat....terrifying, but at moments rather hilarious. He's still pretty, especially in a victorian suit with birdnest hair. So I liked it for: shallow reasons, and was mostly irritated/amused by the musical elements. We wandered home afterwards, some of us bewildered either by singing/gore/both, but we drank the bewilderment away with yummy mulled wine with added cherry brandy and ginger - I recommend, especially if you want a good night's sleep!

Other visual treats I've enjoyed recently...The Piano (beautiful and strong acting, an emotional journey into one woman's intimate and silent world by a director whose work I need to see more of), Simon Marsden's The Twilight Hour (sent to me by marie_paris - exploring one of my favourite photographer's inspiration through various haunted homes and buildings in Ireland - thanks muchly m'dear!) and The Sword of Xanten (based on Norse "Volsunga Saga" and German myth "Das Nibelungenlied" - with lots of sexy sword-wielding action (ok so I'm easily pleased in this regard), dragon-slaying and hero-finding-his-identity and true love matters - good fun and visually lovely). I have Jude to watch next, which probably won't be too cheerful, but generally I like Kate Winslet's choice of roles and having read Thomas Hardy's novel I'd like to see this finally.

Ok, so I'm procrastinating now from reading about EU law and policy-making. If I reward myself with some funny-named belgian ale, probably brewed by monks, I'll be more motivated.

Oh, and as part of my de-cluttering/tidying routine so far, I've had a hair cut. It's a tad short and poofy at the moment, but it badly needed it. I'm hoping to tame my fringe by growing it out fully. Life's all about experimentation. Who knows, perhaps I'll go crazy and acquire some henna...

Happy 2008 folks...hope you all had pleasant and fruitful holidays.  I had a wonderfully indulgent, warm and restful break. Glad to be back to some sort of routine there - there was much lazy, especially as whenever we attempted walks up north we either got soaked and frozen or the fog descended. Bad luck.

We returned from Cumbria a week ago and since then we've had no landline/internet. The phone company are being irritatingly inept at sorting this so far, and it looks like it involves a new outside cable so who knows how long it will take (in theory, it should be done by tomorrow)...inconvinient, as amongst catching up here/with emails/preparatory course reading I also have to enrole on to my university course - which is done online only, and the first seminar is next Tuesday. It has creeped up on me soemwhat. Mixture of eek and eagerness. Still, I intend to enrole by Friday at the university department if I have to. 

Best wishes to everyone, I'll try and catch up in patches, but generally if contact is required - email is best. 

 

By Roy Miller


Winter Fog Breaking by Colin Campbell

Also discovered via the above photo - this website of gorgeous photography by Caitlin

I've had a busy and tiring week with work and other commitments. I intend to catch up here over the next week or so as I have finished work for a while and am winding down in preparation for a few days of feasting, seeing/speaking to those I love and indulging. I hope you all have a wonderful Solstice weekend, wherever you may be!

I'm off now to buy ingredients for a luxury nut roast on the 25th, and prepare for a lovely evening with liz666 & her daughter & kittie. Im on the hunt for any interesting yule-themed folklore, from various cultures/traditions and associated mythology and poetry. I have some fascinating norse/celtic material I should share here soon, it is rather detailed but also enlightening. If anyone has anything they'd like to share that would be most appreciated.

I've been browsing pretty things again. So i thought I'd share some of them, hope you like...

The Long-Eared Jerboa...soooo cute!

Photos of the sun taken by the Japnese satellite Hinode. More photos here...

This is helping me think warm thoughts. Along with tea.

...Been looking at some art work by Alan Lee, whose work I've admired for some time, having been introduced to it via his contributions to Lord of the Rings.

The next few posts - inclusive of my photos which I am sifting through, will be somewhat image intensive. Much easier than attempting words, I feel! I've been drawing a little and looking at lots of art, especially fantasy, for ideas and general viewing pleasure. A mood-lifting activity.

( So I thought I'd share some of my favourite, new discoveries by Mr Lee... )

...And if anyone has any autumnal, dark/ambiant or atmospheric music to recommend that I shouldn't find too difficult to locate, please let me know. I'm open to all suggestions.

Very grr-rahhr man with a violin!

In Cumbria currently catching up with a few friends and then I fly from Manchester to Lisbon early Monday morning.

So I'll post sometime from the 9th October when I return.

Take care All.

( Dunraven Bay, South Wales )

( Yesterday's hike - The Crickhowell Skyline & Table Mountain )