Drawn by a Star

At the hospital the charming elderly surgeon , Don Jose Maria, asked me if I needed help getting onto the operating table. It's  a mark of respect to call a doctor in  Spain 'Don - whateverhisfirstname -is.  'Ha,' I said.   'No thanks, with my 2 new hips I can do this easily now.' We’d exchanged a few pleasantries before this question. 'Did you get the new hips here or in England,' he asked seriously.    ' Here,' I said.  'Aha. ' he replied.  'Well then, when Brexit happens, we might have to ask for them back.'  I’m Irish I said.   'Can I keep them?' It was so great to be in the hands of a   gentle doctor with humour. This won’t take long he reassured me.   The 6 hour wait was immediately forgotten.  The first two waiting hours were spent in the tiny hospital chapel.      It’ll be quiet there I said to my friend.   It was,  and we both did some meditation...

Hello dear  friends, Here are 4 things I'd love to share with you about my summer in Spain.  Note to self.  Keep it short Meg, and colourful.  People don't have time to read screeds, especially on phone! So... 1. Milestones in my recovery. 2. New paintings. 3. New horizons and the message we were born to share. 4. The miracle of the mad dog. Autumn whispers around the farmhuse and the star filled nights are getting longer.  In the early morning, before swimming, I love to walk  in the glistening  dew through  the orange and lemon trees to greet my  chicken family.  They're  waiting to be set free  to lay their eggs  and play in the orchard. Add caption .July and  August were all about art-making, writing, recovery from the hip operation and waiting for the next all clear from the oncologist.  Home was the ‘Blue Hideaway House, near Comares, inland from Malaga, Spain. You can't see t...

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What I’m especially grateful for today: Finding I have a 3rd cousin in the US. This means we have the same great great grandparents on my Jewish father's side. Appearently he was one of the Tzar's bodyguards. How fascinating is that? Love this pic, but sadly she's not any relation. My dear friend Claire is still in a coma.  She's  peaceful in her Granada hospital bed. My daughter in law loved her three weeks late birthday chocolates, and my grandchildren helped her eat them all. The small white van that reversed into me yesterday in a narrow lane in the village did no more harm than give me two red bruised knees. I finally understand 90% of my writing is just getting clear. I'm grateful for hours spent with paint and pastels messing till the emerging stranger appears, and in a flash of recognition becomes family, and greets me. This is a real prodigal son/daughter moment. A meeting of hearts. Magical. Mysterious.Thrilling.      ...

The  bejewelled baker, a fiesty blond, and a fishmonger -summer adventures in Andalucia. My exploring today wasn’t nearly as intrepid as yesterdays with you Cathy, for many reasons.  One being - I forgot the map! I headed for Cutar where some interesting Danish artists have an arty B&B.  I wanted to check out it out , and I'd  liked the look of their online paintings.  Missing the turning, I  found myself in Olias , miles away  in the direction of Malaga. Olias was gearing up for their anual fiesta weekend. Driving into the small village I immediately spotted a bar/restaurant.  It was almost lunchtime, so I pulled over and parked my car, not brilliantly I admit,  but ok.  I got out, felt hungry, smelled pork, and breathed in the hot dusty air. At the very same moment the fish man  arrived  from the opposite  direction. He  parked abreast of me, blocking the road.  Then the bread van  arriv...

Today started with an 8.30 am blood test, a 9 am wasp bite, 10 am porridge, then developed into a day of long rests, lentil stew, and listening to the BBC's Radio 4 Women’s Hour for the first time in 21 years.    Then quiet time came,  thinking of friends who are ill, especially little Ursula in Canada whose brain tumour has come back for the 3rd time. The hot day is slowly closing in now.  The cool air comes like a beloved friend. Carmen next door helps me  give the chickens fresh water. I can't bend yet. 4 eggs today. 'How sweet she says, pointing to the two tiny quails. They lay about one egg a month I tell her. Now, after chocolate crepes (not quite right again, but made right with lots of vegan chocolate spread), before the light goes, some watering needs to be done. Evening. My Spanish neighbours are siting outside under their beautiful tunnel of vines, talking. Old Louisa  sits on a  broken Van Gogh chair and sw...