Lunana, a Yak in the Classroom film … is a quite delightful story telling about a Yak in Bhutan, a recalcitrant youth, and a school high up in the Himalayas in need of a teacher … Lunana is between the 'M & A' of the  Himalayas name … said youth had to finish off his teaching diploma before he could leave Bhutan, with his guitar, to pursue his dream of achieving a musical career in Australia – for which he already had a provisional visa. Ultimately he has to qualify as a teacher … so off he goes up into the Himalayas … grumping and groaning as only a rebellious yo ..read more

  Absent without leave … the brain being 'overwhelmed with 'to dos''and as you'll gather not getting very far. Yes, I do want to write about Yaks … strange, but true … I've had a few things going on … the brain works, but not much else apparently – so my grey cells tell me!! Also I got a whammy … my blood pressure has decided to not agree with me … which needs to be addressed – i.e. slow down, de-stress … not something I needed right now – but obviously I must deal with it. We had a wonderful talk from the Finnish Ambassador - he was great … very personable … he'd accepted our Europe ..read more

  Life is beautiful for us … for some not so … for others it was until life intervened … We are so lucky … has anyone experienced homesickness … what does it mean? Missing home, or family, or friends, or all three – and then there's our emotions that affect us so profoundly. I left home – the home that was security – yet exploring beyond my own realms was actually beyond my own imagination … Victoria Falls with its bridge (Southern Africa) I made life easy so used the same language – was able to engage with like-minded people, though different … but I missed home; I couldn ..read more

  The delights of Spring … those early vegetables … and the thought of enjoying a Spring meal using young Spring greens – with luck new peas, sprouting broccoli, watercress, sorrel, Spring cabbage, early broad beans or runner beans, pasta with a creamy sauce … and some herbs … Pasta Primavera with asparagus Healthy flat ribbon pasta (tagliatelle) – steam or lightly cook your veggie as you usually do … boil the tagliatelle, drain … add the fromage frais and gently stir in (making sure the sauce doesn't split) as you warm it through … Sprouting Broccoli - one of my favour ..read more

  The two history talks I gave were about these two Georgian period artists … Francis Wheatley (1747 – 1801) and James Gillray (1756 – 1815) … Francis Wheatley We're learning something of the Georgian era (George I to George IV: 1714 - 1830) … which included the sub-period that is the Regency era (when George IV as Prince of Wales was regent during the illness of George III). Some members of the group opt to give talks on different subjects - I'm usually the one that tends to break the mould … choosing something interests that me, rather than a subject suggested. Cha ..read more

  Canadians were stationed near here in both World Wars … we think of War but don't often relate to which one … sad, but true … Cuckmere River running out to the English Channel with its oxbow lakes A blog post had sent me off to the Group of Seven landscape artists, who were prominent Canadian artists practising at the Algonquin School, Ontario (1920 – 1933) … … a group I had heard about because Emily Carr, the Modernist and Post-Impressionist style artist lived on Vancouver Island - where I encountered her, was associated with the group. Frederick Varley's 'The Ga ..read more

  How on earth did we get from a language of 1,000+ years ago to the English we speak today – or do we speak English … is a tweet, or text message, or morse code a completely different language … who knows – come back in a thousand years and someone will be able to tell you! Showing how explorers exploited our lands - as they expanded their settlements in 400 - 500 CE (AD) All I can say is – I am so grateful I'm an English speaker in this day of the internet and books … I have no idea how I learnt to write in English or adapt my own style for my blog – life takes us on od ..read more

  Free Chol Soo Lee – an American documentary film released late last year – has just been screened by our Film Society … how evocative, while being informative, it was … quite, quite extraordinary … The Towner's guide review is as follows: Julie Ha and Eugene Yi’s intelligent, insightful and vital documentary explores systemic racism within the American criminal justice system via the extraordinary story of one man. In 1970s San Francisco, 20-year-old Korean immigrant Chol Soo Lee is convicted of a Chinatown gang murder after cursory racial profiling. After spending years fi ..read more

  The 'Strandlopers' – roamed free along their South African coastline as their lore suggests – existing and depending upon natural availability – plants, herbs, animals and water … they would have been aware of the weather conditions … Strandlopers - to be found in the  Rijks Museum,  Amsterdam … those early days – the oceans were only known by the effect of the winds … with the celestial knowledge … as indigenous peoples in all countries of the world have their lore … The Dutch came first to establish a maritime and trading base at Cape Town for the long journey t ..read more

  Life seems to rush by … and I gather it gets faster as one gets older … Donna's badge for her WBOYC post Donna with her blogging friends started this – at least two of them are on Vancouver Island, when I was there, but we only blog-connected as I was leaving … Tai Chi - c/o Wiki solo forms - Taolo form - painting from 1300s  I keep myself rather well occupied, but need to do more walking, and thought I'd start Tai Chi, with Qigong, at home on a daily basis – something I used to do … and include breath exercises as an extra … I need to work a schedule ou ..read more