Explosive dance, Advent amusements and a big clear-out

Am still reeling from the incredible fabulousness (if that's even a word, or a phrase) of Austin's paso doble on Strictly Come Dancing last night. I was utterly and totally gripped. Until that point, I'd actually been going to vote for Lisa & Brendan (which would have been the first ever time I'd voted for Brendan as usually I can't stand the guy) - but that paso certainly changed my mind! If you missed it last night, here it is on YouTube. Ah, bliss ... Who needs central heating if Austin's around?

This morning, Lord H and I attended the Advent Service at church - I do so love all those great Advent hymns. So much better than the Christmas ones (hush my mouth). However I covered myself with glory (um, not ....) by sitting down in the pew, seeing that the Bishop of Dorking was taking the service today and saying in a stage-whisper to Lord H: "Ooh, look, it's the Bishop. We like him, don't we?" At which point the woman in front of me turned round and gave me a big smile. Yes, you guessed it - it was the Bishop's wife. Good job I didn't say anything negative then ...

Post-church, we have spent a lot of the day throwing out rubbish in our annual winter clean. Spring-cleans are so last century, dahhlings ... It's astonishing the amount of floor space we actually have here after two full car-loads to the tip. Not only that, but we've bought some storage boxes and are busy tidying up what's left as well. What heroes we are indeed. Now we just have to keep it like that. Hmm, could be a challenge.

I've added another 1000 words to Hallsfoot's Battle and this scene is really hotting up now. I have to sort out Annyeke and Johan, not to mention Talus, and try to work out what's happening to Simon and the Mind-Executioner in the Library. And I can't forget poor Ralph, struggling away in the Lammas Lands with those pesky magic Emeralds. Who knows where it will all end indeed?... It's a mystery. As ever, the author is always the last to know anything, dammit.

Tonight, I'll be watching those Strictly Come Dancing results (ah, Austin - swoon ...) and then there's the glorious Kenneth Branagh (who can do no wrong) in the new Wallander series. So I'll be glued to that as well.

In the meantime, here's this morning's meditation poem:

Meditation 13

The bright fragility
of water

washes only
hands and feet;

leaves untouched
the private shadows

of the heart.


And, last but not least, here's this week's haiku:

The bridge links two worlds.
Counterpoint of night, the moon
ripples the water.


Today's nice things:

1. Austin's paso
2. The Advent service
3. Clearing out the rubbish
4. Hallsfoot
5. Poetry
6. Haikus
7. TV.

Anne Brooke
Anne's website - still drooling, mmmm ...