Friday thoughts

We've been making the most of the Good Friday sunshine and taken a walk around Salcey Forest near Northampton (see pic). Lots of people out and about on bikes and horses, and generally taking the air. It's done me the world of good.

I've been missing from Blogger for a while, I know. The thing is, I had a horrible flu-like virus that laid me low for a fortnight - thank heaven for NetFlix - and it's taken me until now to catch up with myself. That's the trouble with being self-employed, of course: all the work I should have been doing was still there was I resurfaced from my pit, and what with that and putting the house back to rights I haven't had time to write a blogpost.

Now, that's what I call a log stack!

There have been some good things in the last month though, including playing my uke at a concert in aid of our local hospice at which we raised nearly £2,000; and cashing in my Christmas present gift voucher for a weekend at the local Buddhist Centre. Bliss!

So now I'm raring to go - and I hope you all are, too.


Celebrate the Small Things  is a blog hop. Visit Lexa's Blog for the rules, and then post every Friday about something you're grateful  for that week. Originated by VikLit) and co-hosted by L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge and Tonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog.   

A multi-faith day

Yesterday I went to our local Buddhist centre, the Nagarjuna Kadampa Meditation Centre, for its annual World Peace Fete. I have watched this event grow over the years and it is the most extraordinary thing, with short meditation sessions in the temple while outside there is a music tent, children's activities, fabulous food and loads of tempting stalls with crystals and incense as far as the eye - and nose - can see/sense. Naturally, I came away with a bundle of joss sticks and a singing bowl, but I resisted the lure of the paneer curry in anticipation of the second engagement of the day, of which more below. It was, as you might expect, a beautiful, tranquil way to while away a sunny day.

I've been to the centre many times for weekend and day courses, for evening meditations and wonderful meals. If you are anywhere near, I really recommend it. You don't have to be a Buddhist (I'm not).

Tearing myself away from the offer of a holistic massage, I went instead to St Michael & All Angels Church in Great Oakley, which is a tiny stone building in the grounds of the local manor estate. I was there to hear the Camerata Singers summer concert. This is the choir of which I was a member for a while and it was great to see some familiar faces. They sang an impressively varied programme on the loose theme of the Grand Tour, with guest appearances from an accordionist and a musical duo on violin and recorder. As always, the interval was enhanced by a choice of delicious cakes, hence my abstention earlier.

Then it was home for a tasty spaghetti carbonara and a session of putting the world to rights with number one son: all in all, a splendid day.