Balance

Today I woke up in the gloom of an overcast and wet London morning.  I am experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms from being back from holiday and I really dislike it! Not only do I have to adjust to life without a swimming pool and breakfast on the terrace every day but the weather here is just rubbish. It's cloudy most days and we consider ourselves fortunate if we get at least one day of sunshine a week. It's miserable.. I miss the light and warmth and the goodness that comes with living in a part of the world where waking up in the morning is pure joy. 

Whenever I come back from holiday I often find the period of acclimatisation can be really tricky. There is a lot to learn from being on holiday about simplifying one's life. It's not just that one is away from the usual daily chores but one can choose to do nice things every day and make a point of creating an enjoyable atmosphere. Back home I rapidly get caught up in a seemingly chaotic environment and I forget to take time to enjoy the little pleasures in life. For example, I love to take time over breakfast and not gulp down a cup of coffee in my haste to get to wherever it is I have to be first thing in the day. On holiday I really like to take my time and linger over breakfast enjoying the flavour of the food and chatting to my companions at the table. These are important aspects of life that seem to get forgotten in normal daily life. I've been talking to my mother, for example, about how to hang on to those delicious moments from holiday and I have encouraged her to spoil herself a little and buy those little delicacies which are so enjoyable and in that way she can still feel that life is enhanced by the little ritual of eating good food.

Going to the market to buy food in Provence is another pleasure and has provided a marked contrast with being back home in London. Usually I enjoy going to Portobello Road to buy my fruit and vegetables but on my return the market has been quite a tense place and Cheryl, who I usually buy from, was really quite rude and snappy with me. I suppose it must have something to do with the riots of two weeks ago which has created this atmosphere. I also noticed in the supermarket that very few of the cashiers want to have eye contact and there is a general air of apprehension and nervousness. I'm not really surprised after what happened and I know a number of people who were directly affected by the rioting.  Fortunately I was away during the riots but was able to find out from my neighbours and by reading the press what was happening not just in the whole of England but also in my own neighbourhood. It was very unnerving for those having to witness it and another reason for me not wanting to come home. 

Being close to nature is another good thing about being on holiday. Every day there is something beautiful to look at and that sense of wonder at the extraordinary beauty in nature, whether it is looking out to sea or enjoying the scent of a flower - all that is important to me. My watercolours give me the opportunity to really look at nature and I choose to paint things that I want to somehow retain in my mind for as long as possible. 

So if you are about to go on holiday forget the Blackberry, Facebook, the office etc.. and have a lovely time!