penneylaneonline

I wonder sometimes if my life were a Curio Shoppe, what they would have in the window display? Do you ever wonder that? I have. There's something to be said for a curious day, it brings emotions to the surface that sneak past all the required rhyme or reason of the mind and (at least from what I can gather) appear to be health-giving for the soul. I like the idea of having my nose pressed up against the window with its gold lettering, both hands cupped round my eyes to shield them from the glare... Sign in to see full entry.

Before we back a winner, how do we know it will win? I mean, there's Form Guides if you can read the hieroglyphics, or the old bloke down the end of the bar that's been giving tips since the place was built or even intuition, meaning having a gut feeling. I'm a bit of a pessimist when I hear someone say, "it's a sure thing!" Usually it's some died-in-the-wool punter that's telling you that. I for one would be loathe to tell someone such and such is a "sure thing' simply because I'd hate it if I... Sign in to see full entry.

The thing about not knowing what you've got till its gone is a sticky truth, and one that inevitably jangles the bells in our heads when we finally get it. It's sticky because we often breeze through life's low fly zones without ever thinking 'stop-over' anywhere, any time... and really, it couldn't hurt. Okay, okay I'm talking adventurer here not frequent flyer! And granted, sitting for a couple hours in a transit lounge isn't that appealing, but really, what's a couple of hours in an entire... Sign in to see full entry.

The inclement weather feels like it's slowly beating back any remembrance of when autumn was last here, but we need the rain. The grass finally has colour in her cheeks for the first time in months and she looks healthy instead of impossibly pallid. The rubber plant seems to be in perpetual partying mode. She's elegantly attired each day in classic haute couture rounded off with diamonds from the House La Natural. It's hard not to feel envious of her as she steps out every day dripping in... Sign in to see full entry.

Tilly is the only one out and about in the backyard this morning, she flits with great aplomb between the orange and lemon trees, a tactical avoidance behaviour from years of unintentional friendly fire by the feline population out there. She's chatty. She tells me that her great aunt is visiting from Lithgow (which is more than a stones throw as the crow flies from the 'sham). She says she needs the break, her ears are sore!), I laugh because I can relate. Every year for forever an old aunt of... Sign in to see full entry.

When I walk barefoot through puddles it's to remind myself that my life can be simple. Well, perhaps more simple than it is. I'm reminded that I can feel fulfilled by this one act of sheer delight. And it is a delight, absolutely. Sometimes I can go weeks without walking barefoot and I pay for it dearly when I do. Over time the soles of my feet can become soft and life's textured surfaces can prove more than a match for such baby softness. I love the changing sensations that come from under... Sign in to see full entry.

Have you ever found yourself wondering why it is that some debris of your life continues to be washed ashore, if not here in this time, then down the beach or round the coastline further? And you know it's the same because it has a certain familiarity to your touch or to your senses, except that each time, it sort of looks different. Our lives ask us so many questions and I often wonder why it is we fail to answer them properly. Too busy? Too rude or just plain too scared? They ask of us some of... Sign in to see full entry.

Anne Evans defines benchmarking in her book "Benchmarking - Taking Your Organisation Toward Best Practice" as 'deciding what is important; understanding how you now do it and how well you do it; and applying what you have learnt in a way that leads to your doing it better than before. Then do it all again.' Of course the principles that undergird her definition are business -related and for the most part are those employed by Senior Management in an organisation to improve "processes such as... Sign in to see full entry.

The heavens are bucketing tears, she seems so inconsolable these last two days. It's grey and overcast outside again. Transparent glass bead raindrops form perfect rows across the stems of the rubber tree plant. The backyard creatures have all opted to sleep-in rather than take their usual morning walk. I agree completely. The rain has a way of bringing flora to life that nothing else can, not even a good hosing. *Himself, the lemon and orange trees and the agapanthus look like they're revelling... Sign in to see full entry.

There's a temptation to allow pain (in whatever form) to lead us around by the nose wherever and whenever it pleases. There is also something morbid in the fact that we don't kick such behaviour in ourselves to the kerb sooner rather than later. I've often wondered why that is and have come to the rather uncomfortable conclusion that maybe some part of me likes it! I mean, what other reasonable rationale could I have for allowing it to happen? It's a harsh realisation. I figure that rolling... Sign in to see full entry.

It's been days and finally Blackey has appeared in his favourite tree branch in the Orange tree outsid e my window. It's such a relief to see him there, and he, for his part is totally oblivious to my concern at his lengthy absence from my backyard. I want to give him a piece of my mind, but that would be the relief talking. Odd that, isn't it? Must be a wholly human response to an inadequate explanation from someone who still doesn't realise they are required to give one. No wonder they say,... Sign in to see full entry.

Today I learnt the art of walking while eating. Now to some people this action is second nature but for me, well, it's a nuance of life that has somehow escaped me until now. I felt like I had two left feet, the hand-mouth co-ordination felt like such a strange sensation when coupled with the task of walking at the same time! I think that there are levels of multi-tasking and I quite clearly am a novice when it comes to walking while eating. When I've been people-watching from the inner hub of a... Sign in to see full entry.

There's a fine line between the inner and outer worlds that we make for ourselves, the outer world of the intellect and the inner world of the imagination. One is entirely safe and the other, well, it's not unsafe, let's just say, I feel less comfortable in it. And you? When was the last time you wrote verse in the sand? Or waited with bated-breath, trying to guess ahead what the skywriter would finally write? Or wrote a letter to your best friend in invisible ink made with lemon juice?... Sign in to see full entry.

Is it true then, that as we get older, we have a tendency to stuff our magical make-believe friends and creatures into chests where they lie unattended, gathering dust in some stuffy, adultly, intellectual attic? For some of us that's true. We get so secretive about such things when we grow up! Afterall, it's hard to believe that as an adult we can be permitted to 'imagine' still along with the best of children. It's the reason I love C.S. Lewis and his Chronicles of Narnia. Walter Hooper,... Sign in to see full entry.

Trust is like a bird's nest. It's sometimes intricately woven and sometimes haphazardly assembled and even then, the bones of the construct are purpose built. There is something inherently trusting in a bird's efforts to begin with (that somehow defy our own human logic) that this entirely open air atrium will weather a storm, even for a while. Bird-thinking can be so pragmatic in that way. We humans on the other hand, are complex, less willing to flit off and build else where when the nest... Sign in to see full entry.

The skies opened wide earlier today and delivered heavenly urnsful of life-giving water. The sound of the rain offers us a blanket of comfort that no other element does. It envelops us in its maternal embrace, sometimes with such a fierce protectiveness and at other times, gently, like a pigeon cooing. That rain makes the trees in the backyard stand up tall and *Himself (my Macadamia Nut tree) gets a slicked-back look that has him appear Clooney-like, very suave and debonair. There are leaves... Sign in to see full entry.

The building blocks of design are: line, direction, shape, size, texture, value, colour and pattern. Many of the lines we live with are mostly straight, either vertical or horizontal. They give the rooms that we inhabit shape and add definition to such things as windows and doors. We all agree that building blocks are vital to the foundations of our homes and yet we are more miss than hit when it comes to building for ourselves a more genuine self. Carolyn Kenmore once said, "If you can learn... Sign in to see full entry.

The backyard is cheerfully lit today as I set the outdoor table with cheerful food. There is homemade fish pie, oven-baked aubergine with generous bursts of sensuous tongue-tingling smoked paprika, a tangy tomato salsa to lift the fish pie right up out of the water. And a robust red wine to warm the inner cockles. Of course the wine should have been a white, with fish. Maybe a sassy Semillon, or a racy Riesling, or even a garrulous Pinot Gris, a virtuous Verdelho or Viognier or maybe even the... Sign in to see full entry.

"Let us choose our companions along the way wisely and well, for we journey but once and need at our flanks moles who have it truly in their hearts to help us to that place we lost..." - From the Prologue in Duncton Found by William Horwood There are a handful of 'true mole' (known as true friends to humankind) that bring to our lives the definitions of faithfulness and loyalty. They are the kind that stand unwaveringly beside us no matter what and then some. We find them or they come to us in... Sign in to see full entry.

"What is REAL? asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nanny came to tidy the room. Does it mean having things buzz inside you and a stick out handle? "Real isn't how you are made", said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long long time, not just to play with, but really loves you, then you become REAL." "Does it hurt?", asked the Rabbit. "Sometimes", said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful.... Sign in to see full entry.