Merry Sahmain!

Where does the year go? It seems only like a blink of the eye and I'm back to carving another set of pumpkins. To celebrate this year, Kate and Matt came over to share a Sahmain meal and see the evening out. This year I created two carving designs. One was based on a Maori star which I carved with our initials to show, and celebrate, my love for Tree. The other design was of a figure holding a lantern to signify the importance of this time of year when we acknowledge the coming of the dark winter and take time to look back at the year. The lantern is a symbol of hope, a light in the encroaching dark and a beacon to light the way ahead.

Kate and Matt weren't able to get a pumpkin in time so came up with the brilliant idea of painting Kate's bump instead. Having the two them sharing this time with us meant a lot and I took time out to say a few words of hope and good luck for the future of our niece to be.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year and Sahmain blessings.

Did someone mention something about a wedding?

Ages ago I was saying to Kate and Matt how the fireworks at royal weddings were the best ever and that next time a royal gets married we should book up a hotel straight away. Well what do you know, the next day there is an announcement. Tree got right on it and booked a hotel in Kensington for a long weekend. Within a week you couldn't get one anywhere in London - result! Tree worked out an itinerary including the Millennium Wheel, Tate Modern, China Town, Covent Garden and some wedding bash somewhere round Buckingham Palace? Kate and Matt had never been to London so this was a good way to see the sights and get the atmosphere. We didn't get to see much of the wedding because of the crowds but I rather enjoyed our visit to Govinders Krishna restaurant and the National Portrait Gallery. We then went to Old Compton Street to see the street parties. Being the gay quarter of London lent itself to very extravagant outfits and regalia! Fantastic!!

However, seeing as the reason we went to London was to see the fireworks you can imagine we were a bit put out when we heard that "due to cutbacks" there weren't going to be any. Oh well, its a sign of the times I suppose. We still had a brilliant time.

Heres to an abstract Yule.

Mat and Katie came over for something to eat and to dress the tree and put up the decorations. They say there is an artist in everyone and Kate demonstrated this with her own interpretation of dressing the tree. Why waste hours when you can just throw it on. It still looks good and arty at the same time. Result!

(We did redress it later)

Ariwa!!! Mad at The Big Chill - it's all a bit too much.

Ariwa!!! Just got back from The Big Chill and enjoying a hot shower and comfy bed again. Its all getting a bit much for me old bones all this Sex, Drugs and Rock n Roll. Tree and I took Kat, our niece, with us for her first festie experience. It was very "safe" as festies go and good as a first one. I found its all got a bit clinical now, what with showers, places to straighten your hair, a full on hairdressers and not to mention the supermarket, complete with freezer units, shelves and everything you expect at a normal shop. What happened to the thrill of roughing it and running out of loo roll? Everyone felt a bit "normal" as well and the usual festie, random, abstraction had to be looked hard for. I was happy to round off the whole thing by going to a two hour set of Mad Professor (Ariwa!!!) but had an episode for my trouble and conked out for the whole of Paloma Faith's set. Overall, I would recommend this as a first festie but doubt I will go again.