We are only trustees

Today while my sister and brother in law are visiting I decided we should go to the Natural History Museum and the Pitts Rivers Museum, which share the same building. Having lived in Oxford for just over a year, it's silly really that I've only just visited either of these places, as they are so well promoted and have wonderful reputations. We were not disappointed, it was amazing! So much information to soak in, you really need to go a bunch of times to get the most out of it. There's only so much my little brain can absorb in one go.

Friday

The day started with this:

Finn and his little Schnauzer friend, Ollie both attempting to show who's boss!

 "Do we really need to go home?"

Bath time

Floating head in the tub.

My boy needs a haircut.

Having a great time with a pinecone..

the evolving mandala

I decided I quite liked the picture as it was, in the star shape, so I uploaded it on to Photoshop and am in the process of touching it up a bit.



With the help of my little friend, Finn always by my side...



I then added some more to the original...

then finished the thing...

Wednesday

Today I've been revisiting some of my old posts, feeling inspired again by some of the subjects my thoughts and ways been influenced by over the years.

I've included a bunch here - if you have some time, follow the links below to read some of the selected quotes I've previously posted. Search the names on Google to read more, you will find endless wonderful quotes and stories. You may find yourself lost in history, culture, controversy, revolution, love and everything in between. This is why I love the internet, you can spend hours reading and learning, opening your mind - and its under your control - what a wonderful thing it is that now it's not only the media that controls this information, we now have a voice and a platform to relay and share information with each other. The words spoken by my icons in the past, that I have only stumbled upon due to recommendation or accident, are now of extraordinary quality to me and have influenced my mind so positively, this is why I post them on here so I can always revert back and feel inspired all over again.





Hunter S Thompson

...more





Lord Byron

...more



Leo Tolstoy



Henry Miller



Anaïs Nin



John F Kennedy



Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts



William Butler Yates

Read up, have fun!

For me, back to work...



Tiger tempted to join me in the office...

The beginning of the week...

Monday night looked a bit like this... 

Woke up on Tuesday to a lovely crisp morning, the sun was shining, the grass was crunchy beneath Finns paws. Poppy joined us on our walk and the two of them thoroughly enjoyed jumping in the icy puddles...

Pen to paper

A new drawing for my darling Aria...

Still some way to go but I think it's looking kinda pretty so far...

Rumi

"Do not feel lonely, the entire universe is inside you."

Mondays in Spelsbury

 

It's Monday, so back in the snug that is work I am!

There is even more life in the Spelsbury garden as Spring creeps in. The grass is white with Snowdrops and beneath it's a succulent green thanks to the rain, the ducks have laid 8 eggs over the weekend, the birds have been singing all day. It's a lively Monday.







"Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." Theodore Roosevelt

Have a great week folks. Enjoy work or whatever you're doing.

Bring that good energy wherever you go.

A weekend to celebrate your love

"Love will find a way through paths where wolves fear to prey."

Lord Byron



I just Google'd Valentine's Day just to see how exactly it is defined. Like most other national/global holidays it dates back a very long time and stems from religious celebrations but largely lacks any religious intent nowadays, more of a money making scam promoted by Hallmark and the like. We all eat into it though don't we? It should be about recognising people that you love and letting them know, ya know? Whether it's your husband, girlfriend, sister, best friend, whatever - this is a day to tell them you love them and immerse yourself in that love for the day. Fill the day with reminiscing, getting all nostalgic about the good times you've had, getting excited about the future, being thankful for what you have now, forgetting about your troubles.

These flowers started the day off well.

Joe Austin Florist

Well it was an unexpected wonderful weekend. Saturday was a beautiful day, not only was it V day, we were also blessed with the most beautiful sunrise. So there was a bout of love in the air wrapped up in all this morning sunshine as Finn and I skipped around Marsh park... good vibes all round, the sunrise was gorgeous - Finn and I lapped it up. Once he finished work, Dara and I had a lovely night together filled with great food, drinks and catching up with friends and family, then Sunday was eventful as ever, consisting of films and food and absolutely nothing else.

 

Beautiful sunrise, told you.






 

Well trained to pose!





Then it went all misty suddenly, still beautiful.





Only the finest spring water for my Finn!







I didn't really think we'd bother celebrating V day but last week we decided it would be nice to go out for dinner, especially as we're newly engaged. As usual, both Dara and I left it a little late to decide this so EVERY single restaurant in Oxford and it's surrounding areas seemed to be fully booked. After much rejection I finally got us a table at the good ol' Indian down the road - it really is the best Indian I've ever tasted... Majliss, Cowley Road - check it out if you're ever in town. I highly recommend the lamb Jeera.









There he is, my valentine!


I hope you all had as good a weekend with your loved humans, hounds and edibles. Don't just leave it to the 14th Feb to spread that lovely love, every day is a good day to do that. Love is a resource that we all have, and we can all use it to make things better. Love is the only thing that cuts across all our realities... the bridge between all our differences. Give that goodness out, but make sure you keep some for yourself - if you have no one to spend Valentines day with, you have yourself and this is just as important: you simply must love yourself deeply - not in an egotistical way, but a philosophical way..

 

Sunday morning cuddles with the pup and the bear!