It is 6.30 am, 29th October 2024 and a glorious morning here in the valley of 1,000 hills. The early air is cool and silky, and the sun is busy waking up the flora as the dawn chorus heralds in the day.
I come out here some days to sit and marvel as the sun’s moving angle changes the colours and shading.
The days seem to start very early all of a sudden. After spending Summer months in the UK and leaving as the days draw in, it is a jolt to my reality to have the sun rising at 5am already.
Overhead, the tiny blossoms on the macula tree are glowing pink against the bright blue sky. This is a good sign, as there will be lots of fruit for the monkeys to eat, and, hopefully, for me to harvest the valuable nuts inside. The monkeys are rascals, as they pick the fruit too soon and, after taking one bit, leave it on the ground. However, there is enough ‘windfall’ to go round later in the year.
Springtime in the valley is spectacular as everything becomes green again after the 4 month drought of our Winters. The colours shine, almost fluorescent, in the early morning sunshine as the sun backlights the leaves and petals. I spent “lockdown” creating a garden in the front of the cottage and the plants are now in full bloom and giving me a lot of pleasure.
Those who live here will know the common name for the ibis, and the sound they make !!
The hadidas fly across the azure sky and like to settle on the lightning damaged tree to survey their territory. They make a very distinctive cry as they call to each other. It is almost a cry for help – one would think they have vertigo !!
Now, what to do on this lovely day
At this stage of my life, my motto is ‘do a bit, rest a bit’.
I try to do at least 10 minutes of yoga stretches every day and made a video of these to share.
Another 10 minute routine is my vocal warm up and, on most days I will sit outside if the weather allows and sing to the valley the songs that I have known and loved all my life. Today I will welcome in the Summer.
Later – around 6.45 pm. the sunset is spectacular. It’s orange glow is spreading a strange luminescence as the sun sinks on this glorious Spring day.
Great to read this fascinating life story. Best of all to see a live shiw in the UK