Gypsy souls, magic dust and life beyond the big 50.

Spring made an appearance and it's being most wellcome. I have loads of bairgains and also new acquisitions to my shop to share with all my imaginary readers,but for now I'll leave you with some pictures from last weekend. This weather and some other random things made me think how it seems to be so fashionable nowadays to know a bit about everything, to be 'informed', to do loads of stuff, to be productive. How 'different' became enough to consider something good. 'Did you like that ballet?' ' Oh yes, it was different' (code for ' I didn't understand anything nor did I feel much, but I don't want to look ignorant')  We are still so worried about our images about who we think we should be that we often forget to actually BE. We are so worried about doing many different and unusual things that we forget the simple pleasure of drinking our everyday cup of coffee looking through our (everyday) window. We are so fascinated about be

When I was little there were these two posters in the wall of my parents' bedroom. They were both very tipically 70's, and I absolutely adored them. Looking back now, they were definately a bit cheesy. Ok...maybe a LOT cheese. Which is probably why one can't find many of those posters around anymore. Still, I cherish the memory of them and would love to find some similar ones. Actually, one of them is still pretty much 'findable' It was a black and white pop art sort of image of a woman. The other one was  a romantic sort of picture of a woman with I believe it was some roses on it, all in red and rose tones. Yes, red AND rose all together AND some roses as well....I bet you're all nearly puking now! This picture edition is a sort of tribute to those two posters, a mixture of them both, or rather the little I can remember of them, as they were thrown away years ago. After much experimenting, I was happy with this last result. It brings back loads of memories.

It's been a long absence for which I apologize (to all my imaginary readers). I had to bring something special today to make up for all the lost posts and I think these beauties are more than special. These kind of rod wooden puppets are called Wayang Golek and have been adopted by Javanese culture around XVII century. I found them both on a car boot sale nearby and I am keeping them. I am way too found of puppets to even dream of putting these in the shop. And also, I want my Liliputian Empress to have access to different sorts of magic as she grows up. Now I just need to learn how to operate them. Aren't they beautiful?

Cold, cold weather and tired, tired me. Still, my other half, who is also tired, bless him, was sweet enough to drive us all down to Mumbles on saturday. Did I mentioned how cold it was? But the sea....oh the sea! The sea is always the sea, isn't it?  Today it was pajama day for me and the Liliputian Empress. I also cooked. Does it show I am feeling tired and lazy?

Mary Poppins: [Spoken] In ev'ry job that must be done There is an element of fun You find the fun and snap! The job's a game [Sung] And ev'ry task you undertake Becomes a piece of cake A lark! A spree! It's very clear to see that A Spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down The medicine go down-wown The medicine go down Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down In a most delightful way A robin feathering his nest Has very little time to rest While gathering his bits of twine and twig Though quite intent in his pursuit He has a merry tune to toot He knows a song will move the job along - for A Spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down The medicine go down-wown The medicine go down Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down In a most delightful way [Interlude] The honey bee that fetch the nectar From the flowers to the comb Never tire of ever buzzing to and fro Because they take a little nip From ev'ry

This weekend we didin't do our usual wandering around. It was cold, my partner had just had some sad news from home, and so it was time to stay home, rest and enjoy family life. I must confess that I was led to understand though, how much our saturday short trips are essential to my peace of mind. Being a stay at home mum can be a lot more demanding that it seems. As much as I absolutely love my daughter with every fiber of my being, not having one moment to myself all through the day can be hard on the long run. I make sure we have some sort of social life by getting ourselves out there in Parents and Toddles, breastfeeding groups, library rhyme times and similar. I also do my browsing around local charity shops but only as much as her patience will allow me. Her naps are slept ON me and during the night she must have me by her side, otherwise she won't sleep. Which I have said before, I still love. I now she needs her time to become more and more independent, slowly, and I in

  One day late for this article I know, but when an object finds you it chooses no right time to do so. And these three miniature chinese tea pots have definately chosen me, calling me from the charity shop window. They are not lamps, but I am sure there are miniature genius inside each one of them. I don't intend to spend all my wishes just yet, I will just keep them in a warm and comfy home and ocasionaly take them into the garden, so that the genious can play outside with the fairies and all other creatures my dog uses to stare at from the top of the stairs.

''It's my snow'' I think And the weight on my hat lightens. Takarai Kikaku (1661-1707) A single river streching far Across the moorland swathed in snow. Nozawa Boncho (d. 1714)          A gust of wind, And the waterbirds          Become white. Yosa Buson (1716-1783)

Yesterday, we went to search for a few more items for my vintage shop in a car boot sale and then, after a light lunch, we headed to the Black Mountains. There is certainly something magical about that place, with those naked green hills and those miniature poneys. Because I have been lately too tired for words, I will leave you with the pictures. The first one was taken when too of the poneys that live there decided they should be invited to share our custard creams and put their noses right inside our car. Our dog wasn't too happy about it. If you look close, you can see on the first picture, on the right, there is a sort of grey fur. That's a second very very little adult poney. You can see how small they are in that picture that shows a family going up the hill escorted by our friends.