Patterns

In a couple of months, we will be returning with lots of friends to a house in Scotland where we have all stayed before. Everywhere you look there are patterns:

Sunshine and colour

We went this morning to the last day of a Cartier Bresson exhibition at Somerset House. It was a combination of black and white photos by Cartier Bresson and colour photographs by later photographers and many of the works brilliantly interwove subtlety with boldness. Afterwards we sat in the warm (oh yes!) sunshine on the terrace looking over the Thames sparkling under the blue sky.

Snow

I spent the weekend at a Quaker training workshop at Woodbrooke in Birmingham. These are their beautiful grounds which I was able to enjoy looking out at and walking in over the weekend.

Early walk

A morning of frost and ice, dazzling light and blue skies:

Something different

It's all a bit grey at the moment, I'd love a bit of this:

Or, given that I'll have to wait a couple of months for that, I'd settle for some of this:

Even if that's not quite what north west London would look like in the snow.

Knitting

I've knitted a cowl!

I'm very pleased because it's the first item of clothing I've knitted. There have been many squares for an ongoing blanket, and some egg-cosies, but no clothing... until now. I visited a friend who was wearing a cowl she had knitted recently and she made it sound so simple that I gave it a go and, indeed, the method was fairly foolproof. The trouble with knitting, or maybe the trouble with me, is that I've never worked out how to correct mistakes which is very disheartening, so I have been doing more crochet, where mistakes are fewer and easier to deal with. But now, well now, I'm even thinking of knitting some fingerless mittens!

Commute

A year ago this was my commute:

Each day for a month I went over to the main part of Venice in a vaporetto, walked along two calles, through a campo and crossed three canals. I spent each morning at the wonderful language school in the last photo, being taught by interesting teachers and spending time with classmates, some of whom became friends. Recently, I looked through my diary of that month and have been reminded once again of what an incredible time it was. I was lucky enough to be able to take a leap into the unknown and I landed somewhere extraordinary.

New Year's Day walk

What a beautiful first day of January. After all these grey, rainy days, how lovely to wake up to sun lighting the topmost boughs of the tree at the end of the garden. I love living in London but my country childhood runs strong in my blood and I am always grateful that we live a shortish bus ride from the Heath.

I love walking on it in all seasons and weathers, but perhaps especially when it gives a show like this:

The ducks seemed to be enjoying the weather too.

New Year's Eve

It's New Year's Eve, the last day of the old year.

2012 ended with eating (including Florentines, thanks to Sue's recipe),

drinking and making merry with family and friends. The making merry was full of muddy walks and games.

I have made many changes in 2012. My work now takes up less of my time and has greater variety. I travelled to and lived for a little while in a different beautiful city. I started making art works and writing. I have continued to try to live more in the moment and cherish the moments of serenity, joy and even the pain that brings as it means I am learning to bear even the difficult feelings that are part of life. I have made new friends and seen more of old ones and shared in the things that are important to them. I spent time with my godson. I went on holiday with my precious brother. And, for the first time, we grew an apple and tomatoes.

Yesterday, as we walked through London, I saw this winter blossom growing in a graveyard. It will see us through the grey skies of winter and into the new days of 2013.

Happy Christmas

Here is something beautiful.