This week it seems I'm in the mood to write about the weather. Wet, thundery, stormy, cloudy, moody weather. Funny how a theme emerged in these syllabic snippets....
Some more songs that have been a sonic background to my life of late.
Ben Howard, Old pine
I listened to this album pretty regularly as we packed up our old lives and started our new ones here. It reminds me of first tram rides through unfamiliar streets, humid rain storms and walking around gazing up in wonder at the old sandstone buildings with a smile on my face.
Nina Simone, Lliac wine
A necessary song as soon as the lilacs in the park bloomed. I inhaled their heady scent whilst Nina sang about it. Nina Simone is just the greatest.
Kim Boekbinder, Girl on a bicycle
I've been hiring bikes quite regularly and zooming along the river. I almost always hum this song in my head when I ride along feeling happy and ridiculous as I pedal.
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Home
Because home is wherever I'm with my love. And right now it's here and I couldn't be happier.
The Jimmy Chamberlain Complex, Loki Cat
I randomly started playing this song a lot as I worked and it crept into my head and got stuck there and will forever remind me of the first few weeks here when we only had what we could carry on the plane in our rucksacks and the flat was empty and yet full of possibilities and happy moments.
Coldplay, Every teardrop is a waterfall
I've been listening to Coldplay a lot when I run along the river. I love the line in this song about being in the gap between the two trapeeze as that's where I was for a while before, during and after moving.
Smashing Pumpkins, Let me give the World to You
Pure joy in song form, filling my ears on my first trip back to the UK and then blasting out of our speakers when I returned as I twirled in our living room at 4 AM, spun round by my love.
The Grateful Dead, Box of Rain
My latest favourite source of inspiration. A song that reminds me not to be gloomy. Strangely enought I keep finding my direction around the corner where its waiting for me whenever I walk out of the flat (just like the song says I will).
A double portion of haikus today to get me up to date for the last two weeks...
Friday Knitting needles click, French chatter accelerates, my brain’s in a whir. Saturday Wet whiskers, webbed feet emerging from the river, muskrat colony. Sunday In seconds, grey clouds become rainstorms, drenching us, before we can hide. Monday Cet après-midi les heures sont longues, chaque minute une petite souffrance. Tuesday Night hours bring me apocalyptic visions, cold sweats and no rest. Wednesday Banging door foretells panic – water everywhere! Flood emergency! Thursday In this town I’ve found cobbled streets to wander round, I have happy feet. Friday On two wheels I float past everything, velo fun, Cycling is flying. Saturday The cat on the lead is an unhappy feline, He can’t chase the birds! Sunday Theatre full of song and heads thinking secret thoughts, entranced by the strings. Monday Impossible tree engraves candyfloss branches onto my mind’s eye. Tuesday Out of boxes we unearth forgotten treasures from the before time Wednesday Surprising flowers, unreal, petals everywhere until I awake. Thursday French horns ring out loud, echoing around the square, a blast of grandeur.
Friday Lost in translation, so we give up, sip beer and enjoy life in France.
Saturday Booming fireworks, bright lights, river reflections, explosive welcome.
Sunday Dimanche en France, so let's amble to market, rain can't dampen my day.
Monday Two new friends for me outside the épicerie; chat et coccinelle.
Tuesday After wine and cheese, talk turns to tortoises, what strange little creatures.
Wednesday Furniture failure, bureaucracy at the bank, wednesday blues mean beer.
Thursday All day long shivers dart up and down my spine, cold creeps into my bones.
Ummmm, re-reading this weeks haikuus as I type has made me realise that there are quite a lot of references to wine and beer! haha! Next week I will try and be more sober in my poetry. Lets just say a wee drink every now and then has been helping smooth the transition into France when our attempts to find cheap furniture have repeatedly met with failure.... x
We're deep in mid winter now, so it's high time for hibernating. I've swapped London's busy streets for quiet hills and forests deep in the Devon countryside. Days are spent sleeping late, reading Murakami's latest offering, IQ84 (it's a real page turner!) eating a lot, and walking off the food on long walks. Some new discoveries have been made including deer in the woods and a kingfisher flying past by the river. Here are these tales and more in haiku form...
Friday Cold air fills my lungs, Muddy puddles soak my feet. Winter seeps inside.
Saturday I blaze a path through bustling crowds busy buying Christmas bits and bobs.
Sunday A nostalgic song, a sepia coloured sky, visions of the past.
Monday Two deer bound away on the strangely green carpet, magic mossy scene.
Tuesday Cobble stones, twinkling lights, a little town bursting with countryside charm.
