A sunrise, a few sins and sculptures.

Happy New Year my lovely readers. Here's to new beginnings. Wishing you all many beautiful sunrises and the time to enjoy them.

This post goes out  with a special thanks to my blogger friends Pauline, Ananda and April whose comments on my last post made me think deeply about why I blog and why I should continue blogging despite so much pain and horror around us. Your posts my dear friends kept me enshrined in the beautiful world of writing and sharing- so -Thank You.

I started this year in America- visiting my sister and her lovely family. It’s always good to bring in the New Year with love and warmth and family and food and good wine.

Here at last is the post that I was working on when Peshawar shook my world. The shaking helped me to shed my doubts just like the tiny dust particles that fly off a dusty chair when you give it a big WHACK! Yes, some of the dust will settle back, but for now the chair looks cleaner and ready to be sat on. Just like I feel in this January of 2015. I am ready to let the dust that has been shaken off me turn into diamonds in the sunlight of hope. 

A hopeful me looks forward to a beautiful New Year.

So, I pick up from where I left off – at the Hampton Flower Show (London- summer 2014)

Can I tempt you with a peep show?  

Before you start panicking and furiously hitting the Esc button on your keyboard, let me explain: 

I am talking about the Conceptual Gardens at the show which were themed around the seven deadly sins.

The sins that were represented were...

I happened to start my sinful tour with lust.

I don't know why but I have bought a bunch of Anthuriums recently. 

Let's discard the psychological analysis and enjoy the sinful blooms for now. 

I love the dark plums and reds being naughty with the lush leaves of Ficus benjamina.

Next stop :WRATH- BLOW HOT

This was a dramatic garden. I was spellbound by the rage and fury- so much turmoil!

Don't the aloe blooms look like they're bristling with anger?

BLOW COLD

And just like that it all cooled off.

This garden is exactly how I behave when it's that time of the month and my poor family are left speechless and helpless.

ENVY was my favourite garden because of its simplicity. 

A green see through wall was enough to distort the reality and make one feel that the grass is greener ...

PRIDE

in who we are and what we do- without forcing our standards on others or expecting others to live by our rules. 

Simple.

Yet, the hardest lesson to learn.

GLUTTONY was very popular with the crowds. 

GREED.
enough said.

SLOTH- my favourite sin:)
Probably the anthem of the Procrastinating Peoples' Party!
Although, gardening is the one thing I don't put off till later. 
Dishes and cupboard sorting, on the other hand....

Moving on - to the land of sculptures...

The sculptures you've seen so far are all David Watkinson's. 

The ones that follow are an eclectic mix of whatever caught my eye as I moved with my camera- trying to avoid the crowds.

Food Fantasies

The 'cool' collection

The whimsical wonders

Isn't this the most precious planting idea? I will try it out and share it with you if it works. 
Ivy is easy to find in Doha, but the roses- let's see...

Attitude and Style...my kinda rabbit.

This is the kind of stuff dreams are made of. 

Maybe one day I will actually have the time to sit and enjoy my garden 

instead of toiling in the soil ALL the time. 

Here's to 'possibities'

Cheers!

It's almost time to wind up this post. So here's wishing you all a 
'do what makes you happy' New Year,

Listen to your favourite tunes.
Plant your favourite seeds.

Ogle at your favourite things and sigh with wonder.

Relish your favourite foods and taste your favourite flavours.

And if life puts lemons in your way, 
put them in a jar and let them be.
They look better with the blue skies on the window sill- contained.
Perspective,
my dears is a wonderful thing.
Step back from the bitter lemons- 
untangle your emotional strings and stand back. 
Take a deep breath. 
Close your eyes.
Now, very slowly...open them.
Voila!
A fresh new start.
Start planning a vodka party to use those lemons and have a blast!

Or if the skies aren't blue- just paint one for you; 
like this gardener did...

I'll leave you with some wise words from Natalie Goldberg
from her book Writing down the bones- 
thank you Pauline for the recommendation:)

Trust in what you love, continue to do it, and it will take you where you need to go..