L E O N I E . W I S E

we must risk delight.
-jack gilbert

december in london this year has been quite warm. it’s only in the last couple of days that we have seen frost on the ground in the park next door, and had to don our big warm feather jackets.

(darlene’s delightful december views project 2008)

dear friend

today, the sky was so blue, we ventured out into the cool winter day

we caught the thames clipper from canary wharf

to the millenium pier (by the tower of london)

we had a stroll across tower bridge

through shad thames

and along butler’s wharf to the design museum

discovering these beauties on the walk back towards the bridge

(darlene’s delightful december views project 2008)

* for jude, my inspirational big sister.

.notes to myself.

buddha & lotus flower, crystal castle, byron bay, australia

it’s all very easy isn’t it leonie, showing compassion for a friend, loved one, or anyone else you hold dear.

what i really want to know is…

• how easy is it for you to show the same amount of compassion to a bleary-eyed, swaying-drunk stranger who is throwing up on his shoes (and the pavement close to you), creating an awful smell and a mess on the sidewalk in the middle of the day?
• how easy/hard is it for you to not judge another being at this moment?

when days all blur into one and the songs begin to all sound the same;
perhaps it’s time to try and see the world from another angle, or in another light.

blurred vision

(darlene’s delightful december views project 2008)

tiny wings beat staccato
outside on the window
as time comes to
a standstill inside.
cinderella’s slipper
shatters
in slow motion glass
tears falling
through still air
these aren’t jimmy choo!
she screeches,
where’s my prada, my
donna karan, my
trips to the spa!
where is
my.
charmed.
life?

but what about love?
her prince whispers quietly…

what about love?

home is the place
where my heart resides
(and has nothing to do with location)

don’t these look like socks that an elf would leave behind?

they are locally made from recycled materials, look well cute and fit lots of goodies in them. found at the green apple

o range lead-free crystal goodness from reidel

a very thoughtful secret santa gift from a colleague

(for december views)

nic, fliss, me & duck

i don’t know about you, but i’m at a point in my life where i want to enjoy myself in every moment… even the ones that i used to think were awful.

(not that dinner with these lovelies was in any way awful)
in fact, it was one of those nights that was as enjoyable as spending time with three marvellous friends can be.

here and now, {insert your name here}, whether or not it’s obvious, you are the best you’ve ever been.
- the universe

candid pic taken by my beautiful and talented pixie-elf-faerymagical-friend caroline

monmouth coffee at borough market, where we stop every friday morning for freshly roasted organic beans, a shot of espresso and a pastry.

dear friend,

after departing from our beautiful accommodations, we head for the south coast of england

(via a stop in arundel to marvel at the castle).

after a walk along the beach,

we stopped for lunch at the east beach cafe.
(#504 in 1000 things to do in britain)

then it was off to visit the roman palace in fishbourne

before heading homeward feeling rested and relaxed.

my guy. who brings happiness, fun and laughter to my life every day.