Ode to nature

Nature, it’s over between us
Because:
a. You are extreme, you were made that way. Too cold, too hot, too wild, too many bugs, rude mice, pronged twigs, thorns, spiky bushes, an assortment of stones, mud, animal poo.
b. You are like a pill some people have to take every morning. It’s not your fault, it’s theirs, I admit that. But they make you look bad, nature. People who HAVE to be out at a certain time, every day and take certain steps and see certain things, because it is GOOD for them, no I can’t stand that.
c. Manmade things appeal to me most. They say you were made by someone cleverer, so it’ no wonder you are so beautiful. But we people are so little and limited and the fact that we were able to make bridges that look like they are hanging from the sky, amazes me more.
d. Okay, because I am lazy. I like what you have to give me (food, I like food) and I respect you and promise to always protect you from harm. I recycle plastic bottles, paper and cans and I sometimes make my own detergents out of vinegar and soap. But being lazy means I don’t like climbing your mountains and walking where there is no clear path and meeting your creepy crawlies, who totally belong with you (not with me though).
e. You are analog. I would love you more if your trees had USB ports.

It's cold out there!

Snow!

herbal teas

Ye olde shoppe

My son and his friend singing Christmas Carols and getting paid accordingly (not a lot of money, that is)

It's been a lovely, cold -by Greek standards- Christmas. There were not many shopping opportunities in the village, apart from apples and herbal teas, so it was a restful Christmas too.
Tomorrow there will be the usual grumpy post about nature and how I don't really like it. Except in photos, where nature looks splendid, especially with filters on. But today, you don't know this yet, so come and say "welcome back".
It's good to be back. Warm too.
Did Santa bring you what you had asked for?

Have yourselves a merry little Christmas

Bah, humbug! I didn't have internet access all day yesterday. This is a quick note to let you know I am going away to a mountain village for the holidays. I will be back on the 27th of December and I will be thinking of you up there among the goats and the wild boars. It will be like the first Noel, except there were no boars in the stable.
I wanted to post different e-cards to each one of you but as I am leaving in less than an hour, it is impossible. But hey, Christmas is about sharing, so, erm, you'll share a group card.
Merry Christmas to all of you, and to those who don't celebrate Christmas, Merry Everything.
I am going to miss you.

Christmas Greetings

The only instance you can see me wearing fur

You know you are granted one wish on Christmas night and that it always comes true, don't you? What is your wish?
I wish Santa gives back Chloe's Internet access. Merry Christmas from Chloe (and me)! Chlorina
-Blondie, your wish came true this morning! (Chloe)

The Christmas Notebook

I have a Christmas notebook. I am a pathetic Christmas-crazy list-maker, and it all goes in my notebook. I’ve had it for 8 years, and there are still some blank pages because I only use it during the holidays. I unearthed it this morning and was happy-sad to find that some people have been crossed off my gifts and cards list. At least 4.
Also I was touched by the simplicity of past Christmas dinners. I know, because I read the shopping lists of eight years back. Blue cheese soufflé with potatoes? Broccoli salad with asparagus? Come on! It spells N-O-V-I-C-E.
I must be on my way to Scroogedom because I was equally amazed at the sums of money I was willing to spend on some people’s presents (Yves Saint Laurent body lotion AND a book for a friend who always gave me CDs).
I was also ashamed to see the lists of clothes, accessories and cosmetics I had made in order to travel. We were about to go to a village up on a mountain with a couple of friends. It turned out that their house was the only inhabited one and we had to drive for 15 minutes to buy bread. It was so isolated that when one morning I opened the door and saw a stray cat begging for food, I jumped for joy. The mere presence of another being made me happy. So, in retrospect, it was really funny that the following products were included in my list:
Mascara
Compact powder
Eye liner

But my Christmas notebook is not full of Christmas cheer only. I found a letter I had written to the person who had stolen my purse one Christmas eve, while I was shopping. Okay I was younger, but to wish his death? Granted, I didn’t have money not even to make a phone call that day, because of that awful person, but today, I wouldn’t write “I wish you are going to die on Christmas day”. We all know that people who die on Christmas day go straight to Heaven, and I wouldn’t want that for him.

On the last page, there is a “don’t forget note” I had left to M, one busy day I was probably out shopping:

-Make the beds
-Load the washing machine (DARK COLOURS ONLY)
-Buy champagne

It really puts you in the mood for champagne, doesn’t it?

Things I've done these last few days

Decorated the fireplace

Had numerous coffees inside and outside

went to this friend's exhibition

saw this phone and loved it (actually that was a couple of weeks ago)

fell in love with a nutcracker, haven't we all?

went to this place for drinks

and kept looking at this beautiful mural while I was having mojitos

was captivated by this -okay, not so minimalist- chandelier

saw this spooky thing on a wall

You know, I've contemplated ending this blog. Then I thought "are you crazy?" and changed my mind. I might come and go but I will never leave.

I knew I'd be the moon

Why am I the moon? In the question about my favourite celestial body I chose "Sun". All the points about sleep problems and intuition are true. This fact is a bit scary right now. Anyway, it's been a long time since I've done one of these memes, and it's thanks to Kimananda's blog. Is anybody the Sun? Because I gravitate to you.

You are The Moon

Hope, expectation, Bright promises.

The Moon is a card of magic and mystery - when prominent you know that nothing is as it seems, particularly when it concerns relationships. All logic is thrown out the window.

The Moon is all about visions and illusions, madness, genius and poetry. This is a card that has to do with sleep, and so with both dreams and nightmares. It is a scary card in that it warns that there might be hidden enemies, tricks and falsehoods. But it should also be remembered that this is a card of great creativity, of powerful magic, primal feelings and intuition. You may be going through a time of emotional and mental trial; if you have any past mental problems, you must be vigilant in taking your medication but avoid drugs or alcohol, as abuse of either will cause them irreparable damage. This time however, can also result in great creativity, psychic powers, visions and insight. You can and should trust your intuition.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

In the taxi

In the taxi with the racist taxi driver who keeps swearing at immigrants I never expected to experience this moment of peace, while listening to Fade Into you.
Somehow it is surreal that I am sharing this song with that awful man who obviously doesn’t notice it and just tolerates it. Still, I am grateful for that moment of clarity after a hard day full of chores and a hard night full of thoughts and weird dreams.
My Christmas list didn’t include my most precious gift of all, the sense of belonging somewhere. I want to wake up one day and not to be a stranger. To walk on the street and feel one with what I see around me. I want to be consumed by this earth I walk on; I don’t want to slip away.
Is love ever enough? Is a little less love and a little more understanding a better trade-off?
I am happy in myself and I want to share this feeling but it is expressed in a language I don’t speak and one which I’ve never heard being spoken. It is not a dead language, it is an unborn one.

What I want for Christmas

The tree is ready. My friends did a great job I think. I haven’t changed a thing, contrary to what M says. I decided against being Martha Stewart this year.

My son can't stand still, obviously

What I want for Christmas

Material Things
Pair of flat boots
Silly things from IKEA and this IKEA desk
New warm coat
My own mp3 player (I use M’s and hate it, it’s only 1G)

Pasta machine (still!)
More cookbooks
The Goddess Guide (funny book)
Tartan bag, tartan purse, tartan scarf
The whole Toni and Guy range of hair products (great!)
Moleskins as always (got them)
Photo smart printer
New (bigger) sunglasses
New sewing machine
This USB turntable, to change vinyl collection to MP3s (for a mere 177 Euros)
Wallet (got it)
Pyjamas
Doll’s house


Non-material things
Peace of mind
Sleep
Fun

What would you like for Christmas? I tag you all.