Corner Stone

Today I see a horizon slashed by great swathes of black rain and think aha my stone for today and then I think  oh but it's the last day and then I know that no it isn't really because these stones make ripples and then bigger ripples and then waves and there are no beginnings and no ends...............

Hello Kitty Stone

I put my face against her fur and smell woodsmoke, that evocation of an English autumn with its bonfires, potatoes in their jackets, wet red leaves and chimneys smoking against a rusty sky. Knowing nothing of these things my Italian cat brings me this precious gift, this moment of memories, another life and another country.

Shoah Stone

I place my stone on history's memorial. It reminds me to remember never to forget what we, at our worst, are capable of.

fastfood stone

Six tiny fat little birds fussing and fluttering in the bush overhanging the balcony, one cat looking at them as I might look, luxuriously, at the contents of a box of chocolates.

ready salted stone

 We sit in the sun at our favourite bar. We order aperitivi. With ice. For the first time ever we eat the entire bowl of potato crisps  - another thing that not smoking does for us. I feel slightly reckless as if even being here is not wholly appropriate for a Monday lunchtime in January.

Proustian Stone

Reading the overture to Swann's way it strikes me that this is a veritable tsunami of stones..

molten stone

Yesterday I glanced at the sea in passing; occupying its space at the bottom of the road it looked like a big bowl of molten lead about to tip over on top of us all.
Today I glanced at the sea in passing and saw that it was busily rushing by us; we had been spared.

Sneaky stone

I'm supposed to be rushing around the market, feeling up the aubergines and sniffin out the oranges while he goes off on other business but instead I go into a bar, get an espresso to go and stand in the sun and drink it. Hee hee, how delicious this sneaky little moment is, just  me and my ego playing hookey.

Tea Ceremony Stone

Home
Keys on table
Bag on chair
Kiss kiss everything ok?
Kiss kiss fine
Bathroom
Kettle on
Washing machine on
Ok? You just asked! Oh ok
Teapot
Mug
Tea
Hot water into teapot hot water from teapot into mug empty teapot two pinches of green leaves in pot, wait, ok hot water from mug back into teapot and...

Now. Here. Finally. Three minutes and the world slows, and I'm  looking at the turquoise glaze of the pot lid,  and I'm breathing slowly and looking at the reflected lights winking and twinkling on the surface of the creamy worktop and I'm thinking tea.

monday's sunday stone

Looking out to sea as if from the deck of a liner, the view was so enchantingly perfect that I couldn't convince myself that it was really real until I took my sunglasses off.

heavy stone

Reading comments on the BBC website I feel such a dark dull ache building inside me. I simply don't understand how people can hate without cause, reason or fear and with such pleasure. I despair.

one bird, two stones

Sometimes it's more fun to be skipping stones on the beach than staying at home writing them.

I opened the window briefly to the sound of a neighbour cutting their grass and suddenly it was early summer 1965 in the school grounds under the cherry trees and the sound of tennis, the summer dresses, the sun, shade, regulation shoes and forbidden pleasures.

edible stone

That crazy sea air, so wild and free and sharp that I want to consume huge mouthfuls and be consumed in turn.

precious stone

Today's yoga lesson -  a whole ninety minutes worth of living in the moment.

not stoned....

Quite suddenly, in the middle of the afternoon, I decided to make pastry. This is what not smoking can do.

Sunday Stone

This morning I took a different turning and  rediscovered how thrillingly liberating it can feel to be vaguely lost.

Stepping Stone

 Sitting at the kitchen table with Liliana and Carmela; we are more or less the same age but I am suddenly aware that  I no longer find it strange or agitating that they call me aunt. Conscious acceptance brings me such peace.