“Paradise can take the form of anything! It can be a flower or it can be a word or it can just be a sincere smile!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan
Today is the sort of day that makes me realise that I'm living in paradise. Today is one of those days when I want to do everything that I can with a sort of frenetic urgency. Today the temperature has soared to the heady heights of 15℃ without the strong, cold, northeasterly wind which has plagued us for the last week. Today the sun is shining and, by Lewis standards, Bayble Beach looked down on from the house is packed with families enjoying the rest that the Sabbath here gives them: no cutting peats nor supermarket shopping here on a Sunday.
For me today is a day inside catching up and admiring the sun from outwith its rays; a day of writing emails and letters (using one of my many fountain pens); a day of rest from the 20 plus hours that I spent in the garden over the previous two days: hours which told my body when I rose this morning that as I start the year towards my seventieth birthday my body is not quite as supple as it was when I came to the Island in my 31st year.
Today I have played no music: I have listened to the sounds of the birds; the voices drifting up from the beach; the water tumbling down the waterfall into the pond; and the silence.
Today I have done no work: I have wielded my pen and typed on my keyboard; I have looked at my garden and I have pondered on the beauty that surrounds me; I have watched a bumble bee.
Today I have been in paradise.
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| A far-away Blackbird waken the neighbourhood with his heralding of the new day |
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| Part of the garden lookng North |
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| Looking down to the crowded beach |
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| The strikingly beautiful and rare (only found in the Hebrides now) Bumblebee - Moss Carder - Bombus Muscorum |
indeed, Graham, I agree with you about paradise being all around! I love the music of nature; I seldom can hear it above the roar of mowers. a very pleasant day to you!
ReplyDeletepersonally I've found that the 7th decade has made the biggest impact on my energy level (73). but I keep plugging away; I refuse to give up!
I am fortunate Norma in that environmental noise where I live is largely confined to that of the wind, the sea and nature.
DeleteIt's amazing what s bit of sunshine brings.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Adrian. It lifts up the heart. You'll be having a wonderful, calm and sunny crossing to Lewis this morning.
DeleteYour correspondents may not realise that for the islands, that IS a crowded beach. We used to go to a beach and if there was someone on it, we'd find another.
ReplyDeleteAnd look at those slabs, straight as a die - well, apart from the bendy bits obviously.
True, Marcel, that really is crowded by our standards. As for the slabs, we did a good job there my friend!
DeleteGlad you got a day like that to catch up a bit with yourself and enjoy your Hebredian paradise :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Monica. Days like that are few and far between and all the more appreciated for it.
DeleteThat was a wonderful post, Graham. It is days like that we all need every now and then, I think.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea you'd been on the island already for so long!
Thanks Meike. I've been on the Island for the larger portion of my life: coming up for 40 years.
DeleteThe simplest days are the best days.....Paradise indeed....glad you had a good day.
ReplyDeleteThe bee photo is stunning.
I spent the better half of the morning in the garden, but working hard. I'm sure I'll be able to sit back, relax and enjoy all the work that I'm doing. My day of Paradise soon to follow I hope.
Thanks Virginia. I see that you had a productive, if sad, day in the garden. You are quite the inspiration for finding and appreciating the good things that happen in life.
DeleteSounds like a perfect day.
ReplyDeleteThat bumblebee is amazing. Glad you got such a good photo of it.
Thanks Kay. It is an amazing bumblebee even by bumblebee standards.
DeleteHow refreshing to read the words of a truly contented man! Mind you, with a bumble bee shot like that who wouldn't be contented?
ReplyDeleteYes, Pauline, the day was as good as it gets.
DeleteThat is indeed a beautiful bee.
ReplyDeleteThanks Helen. We have a few bumblebees here but no others are as grand as this one.
DeleteA very, very nice post - and how I love the bird, singing its heart out. Today I saw some amazing roses, and I was feeling a bit grumpy so I didn't let them reach my heart like I usually would. I will look at them tomorrow, in the right way, when I pass.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jenny. I do hope that you can now look at the roses with a happy heart.
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