Monday at Rest

With my assignment (and basically the course, other than the exam) out the way, Monday didn't seem terribly blue today. It's a beautiful almost-summer day outside, it's been a good weekend full of great food and places/spaces and weather. Other than a "piet-my-vrou" (red chested cuckoo) waking up at 5 this morning to shout, before it even got light, and my son's awakening at 5:30 on a SUNDAY morning to ask if he could watch TV, it's been a good start to the week.

I actually have time this morning to properly read all the blogs I like to stop by on a daily basis. Sure, there's work to do too, but suddenly it seems as if all that pressure is off, that I can do things in-depth instead of rushing from one barely-done job to another.

I almost feel like it's Friday! or something...

I really did have a good weekend. Some highlights:

* Unexpected church attendance, as I went to support my son's school choir at their praise-service appearance. And discovered two distinctly-divided congregations attempting their first bi-annual together service of celebration. Although I still felt like I didn't belong, I sat up alone in a corner of the balcony and enjoyed it.

* Trip to the strawberry farm late afternoon, coming home with 2kg of still-warm strawberries, a packet of mixed-dried-fruit-squares, some interesting new cheeses to try and a bottle of citrus-flavoured water. Nearly tried out an offered tiny sample of "Hot Sex" liqueur (ginger, ginseng, cream, vodka...all sorts of strange things!), but resisted the temptation.

* FINALLY got the bonnet of the car open after a good few weeks. Dad and brother slammed it shut, and so it stuck. After much levering, breaking of the plastic grill, bending of metal - I got underneath in good morning light to find a mere lever that needed moving to one side. The bonnet promptly popped open, we checked the oil & water, found that the last idiot mechanic hadn't tightened a bolt (now missing) on the alternator, closed the bonnet - and now it won't open again! :) Will be taking it to have the cable replaced later in the week, but it's OK for now.

* Trip to the big fruit and veg shop to stock up on such great stuff as watermelon, basil pesto, nectarines, MORE interesting cheese, jam tomatoes, wonderful olives etc.

* Results of various food-related trips was a delicious "snacky supper" - chips with guacamole, salsa, bits of the interesting cheeses, peppadews stuffed with feta, olives, veggie bits and pickles. Amazingly filling, incredibly yummy.

* A chance to sit and read Wendell Berry's thoughts on so many issues - and wonder why everyone can't see things this way, and make the changes this planet so desperately needs.

* Re-watch of Return of the King. Still an awesome movie, and still makes me want to find a sword and stand up for all that is good and right in the world. Eowyn - my heroine! Considered making and wearing a few of those lovely elven robes/dresses for work, but likely to get kicked out or sent home to change... :)

There are swallows darting past my office windows this morning. Starlings are swooping on red-tipped wings to their nests and back. White-eyes scrounge among the grass below the road. A slight breeze moves the leaves of the big gum tree.

Amazing how all these together can produce a soul steeped in peace.