happy new year

Happy New Year

| Mairead

Orange

(Way too much chocolate….)

Is it morning already? I’ve been away in the land of Christmas and I have jet lag (or… sleigh lag.) So just enough time and energy to wish you a Happy New Year – it’s 2013 – and encourage you to consider your hopes and dreams and wishes this year. For a start scribble something you really, really want on a bit of paper and stick it in the back of your purse or wallet. Don’t look at it again until 2014.

07 01a

(Way too much food…)

Or if you’re really brave…. send your bit of paper to someone who will encourage you; or send it in an email to lots of encouraging some-bodies; or do what I did and set up your own team of people to encourage you! That’s why I’m off out the door now to draw and paint at this un-holy hour (well 8.30am…) instead of lying in bed. And even though I’d rather be lying in bed at this moment…. I am very glad I started this journey.

Happy 2013 and start scribbling, Mairead.

Happy New Year

| Mairead

1

(Memories of Paris)

As I write we are driving down to Cork to visit the relatives. It’s a rainy Friday but the winter morning smell as we got into the car was beautiful and reminds me of motorbike trips in the rain. On the bike you can feel the rain on your helmet and waterproof jacket and trousers but inside you are warm and toasty! Unlike sitting in the car, on the bike you get to smell the smells and feel the sensation of the rain plop, plopping.

2

(Police horses for Lusi)

So that got me thinking about how sometimes we don’t want to smell the smells or feel the feelings of the things that are going on in our lives. It’s much more comfortable to sit in the car, it’s more consistent, there’s no sudden temperature drop or farmyard smell! But we miss so much. We miss the raw feelings and the joyous ones. We miss the unexpected, we even miss the expected.

3

(Winter gardening)

You don’t need a motorbike, Laura (my Camino walking friend) would say the same about a walk. So, take a walk or a ride with the smells and feelings of your life and if you’re in Ireland make sure the immersion is on for a hot shower afterwards….

Happy New Year, Mairead.