Daydreaming of little things...

Last night I dreamt of leaving the cold wind
And grey skies behind me.

For a minute I thought about getting into my kayak and sailing into the sunset.
But images of amnesia and Panama crossed my mind.
A sad guy in a police station just down the road from me must be desperately wishing he had stayed at home.
Stayed at home, looking out at the North Sea and doodling...

Just as did last night when I dreamed of warmer climes...

I started with the usual curls. Just a few little things.

The pen came to life and I suddenly began floating away.

Guess where I landed?




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Two Blogging Years...

Two years on and this blog has been rated for general audiences.



Does this mean that people between 7 and 77 can log on without fear of having their minds warped by the content of my posts?

I started blogging because it was a novel way of wasting time. Most of you faithful blogfriends have been there for the ups, the not-so-ups and the downs...
You see, I often make the running of three restaurants sound like a walk in the park and it would be if I did not have to employ staff, feed customers, or just get back to work after my holidays.

When I started over 22 years ago, it was a challenge, a way of looking after myself, Karen and the kids. The first restaurant came at a time when the town was devoid of decent ons, so what I had learnt in a couple of pizzerias, came in handy. I began aiming for the stars and improving, got rid of the pizzas within a month of opening and got the place noticed by a few guides.
What does one do after such a cushy start?
Simply look for the next challenge.

Today, after a few moves and openings, financially it can be attractive to have three restaurants, ego boosting too, because of the recognition.

But I did not really mean for life to go so fast! And that's when the dreamer in me rises to the top.

Travel lifts my spirits and liberates me. Spain is exciting, the South of France, enchanting, Marrakesh, magical... And every time I go somewhere I want to stay for ever.
Art fascinates and transports me... I want to do everything, from mosaics to drawing, sculpture to painting...
Reading enchants me and tempts me to write in a language that is not mine, even though it is the only language I feel comfortable with.

















If this blog goes slightly quiet it is because this dreamer is dreaming of turning his dreams into reality, one at a time...
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The Rainbow Garden...

Last week a school governor phoned me to ask if I could open a school garden.

I was about to suggest she should contact a locksmith when she explained that the head of her local infants school had this marvellous idea of turning part of the school field into a garden. She enrolled the help of pupils' parents, grandparents and local firms to create it.

The school governor, a regular in our restaurants, explained that the idea of the garden was to promote healthy eating through direct student participation.

"If the children see how vegetables are grown, they may try them. We even sold a few radishes at last week's assembly." She announced proudly.

The young head welcomed me with a cup of tea and a tour of the school.

Once the children were lined up in front of the garden, alongside two dozen or so parents and grandparents and the mayor, the head welcomed everyone and then introduced me, suggesting I say a few words.

I am not one for speeches, unless I am talking about food or wine but on this occasion it all came easily.

"I am honoured that you have invited me to open your beautiful garden. You should all be proud to have come up with this fantastic idea. Now that you can see how vegetables are grown I am certain that you will enjoy eating them. "Yeah, right! It took my son 18 years before he tried a tiny bit of broccoli..."
When I was 5 or 6 my mother grew radishes from a bag of seeds. They were delicious. Nowadays, whenever I buy radishes from Asda, I remember our farm and the great times I had growing up there.

I am sure some of you think that chips come out of the freezer but you'll be surprised to know that they come from potatoes similar to the ones you are growing.

Once your garden is producing lots of vegetables you may even end up supplying my restaurants, you know! "They'll have to compete on quality and price!"

A couple of years ago I opened a cake shop for a friend and my reward was a few cream cakes. I'm wondering how many pounds of potatoes I should charge you!"

The kids laughed but I could see their brains working out my fee in radishes.

I cut the ribbon, the pupils sang a hymn and the priest from the adjoining church named and blessed the Rainbow Garden. We posed for the local paper's photographer.

Another cup of tea, a scone then I drove home with a smile...

Fame at last!!!

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Doodles...

Lately I have not had much time to doodle as I have been so engrossed in these books.
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini whose first book, The Kite Runner, I enjoyed so much. Then I read Burned Alive the true story of a Palestinian woman rejected by her family. Very gripping and eye-opening.
Now I am just finishing Winter in Madrid by CJ Sansom set during the Spanish Civil War.
Very enjoyable book on the lines of The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.

I often go through phases like this when I tend to read several books on a similar theme.

I have found a little bit of time to practice my doodles. I painted one ball and thought it could be very interesting to balls the painting up and hence the result.

New camera...

This morning, I received my new camera. A Sony Cybershot like the one used by Merisi.
Merisi takes beautiful photos of Viennese life.

Taking great photos is not just about owning a good camera. Anyone can point and shoot. It takes great taste, skill and art to take photos that stand out from the rest.

Sometimes one can enhance dull but interesting photos using various programs. I took the above photo just to test the new camera. The reflection of clouds on the water. I was about to delete it when I decided to doctor it using Corel Painter.

I love the sea. The incessant movement of the water, the boats, the sounds of seagulls.
Most of our customers ask for window tables to watch the yachts bob up and down while dining.
Al fresco dining is a luxury that does not occur very often up North and it is understandable that one ray of sunshine brings diners flocking to the tapas bar terrace.

Is al fresco dining something you like doing?

Seven random things about me...

Spanish Goth has tagged me even though he knows that, just like him I am not that keen on these memes...

1-I have been trying to learn to play the guitar since the age of 12. I am still crap! I try for a little while and then give up because my fingers hurt. The only thing I can "play" very badly is a little bit of El Concierto de Aranjuez.

2-I can live on salads for weeks on end. A massive bowlful of lettuce, fennel, celery, apple, tomatoes, grilled peppers, olives, radish, etc... with grilled chicken, smoked mackerel, or tuna...

3-I cannot do just one thing at a time. I have to be active because I worry I am wasting time even when I am wasting time. I can watch the telly, doodle, listen to music and drink tea all at the same time. When I go to the loo, I always read something or do a sudoku... Tick-tock-tick-tock....

4-Although I hate cleaning my car, I did just that for the first time in two years this Sunday because I was bored out my brains. I found £4.75 in change, 7 pens, a packet of chewing gum and 4 pairs of sunglasses...

5-I am forever daydreaming. Even at very important meetings I doodle and look out of the window in the same way I used to do when I was at school.

6- I celebrated 22 years in business last Friday. "May the fourth be with you!" has always been my motto since 1985.

7-I would love to sell the lot and head back to the Med, buy a country house in France, become a real artist (rather than the "peace artist" I am) and learn to play the guitar properly.

As per usual, I do not tag people so, anyone who wants to reveal seven random things about themselves, please feel free to be tagged.

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Doodling away...

Akelamalu tagged me to do a Jackson Pollock doodle.

So I decided to give it the Cream treatment and turn out something complicated. Only because I have a very complicated mind.

I will not tag anyone but go on have half an hour of fun.

When you've finished your masterpiece, print the screen then paste it on a painting program. I messed about with mine then uploaded it.

Can you see what it represents?

HINT: I think it comes from my student days.

Pottering around (Episode Deux)

You may remember back in February when I ordered my tagines from our potter friend, Bill.

He rang me last Friday to tell me that a few were ready to pick up at last. He has another eight waiting to be fired. Bill works at his own pace, never hurrying in this frenetic world of ours.

I went to collect the dishes and, once again he regaled me with jokes and tales.

He told me of his wild old days when he chatted girls up by pretending his mother had passed on her gypsy powers to him.

"Beautiful girls, models! Film stars, in fact! They all believed I could read their palm and I made it all up."

"You will meet this dark eyed stranger in a nightclub, he will tell you your fortune and you will instantly fall in love with him."

"And a few of them fell for it, you know!"

Yes, Bill, I believe you...

Lost in curls...

If I could just doodle away for the rest of my life I'd really be happy.

I doodle away all day
I get lost in curls
Lines and colours
Shapes and forms
Wild imaginings

My lines begin straight
Aiming for the horizon
Full of expectations
But they curve round
Back to another start

Chasing after dreams
Then chasing them away
Chasing my own tail
Like a rabid hound
Going round in circles

I run after passing caravans
Briefly following their dust
Aching to embark on their journey
Then I slump back in the sand
As they slowly fade away

I go down to the well
Then turn away dry
Clutching my empty urn.
I am left full of thirst
For life as it slips away


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Cock a doodle doo...

The last post gave rise to many different takes on the subject.
Sorry, I did not answer your comments but here is a thought.
I still insist that the heart does rule most of our decisions.
You may not realise it but even in the most banal of cases of day to day decisions, it is invariably the heart that wins over the head...
Let's say for instance, you get up, shower and then stand in front of the wardrobe for ten minutes, (less than 10 seconds in my case) wondering what to wear...

Of course it will depend whether you are going to work, play or dance... But in each case it will be your heart that will rule the choice.

Can you think of any instances where you heart has won over your head or vice-versa?

This doodle is really a doodle...


Akelamalu tagged me for my five favourite blogs:

Hayden for her thoughts on life and the living...
Daphnée and her really amusing stories...
Lettuce for her great variety of writings and photos...
Merisi and her amazing Viennese photos...
Homoescapeons to provide a gender balance...

All the above are now tagged...