Eckhart Tolle says that stress is being here and wanting to be there.

I understand that. For most of my life I have wanted to be ‘there’. Wherever there is. But what I do when I’m thinking about ‘there’ is miss what is ‘here’.

This past weekend I was really aware of being ‘here’. It was delicious, delightful and de-lovely.

I’m watching a drama on Four right now called Any Human Heart and it is truly resonating with me. The story of a man’s life and the adventures he has, the people he meets and the loves lost. But it’s the scene where he stands at the river’s edge and speaks of all the different people we become throughout our lives that touches me. I think that now I am a parent I am more acutely aware of passing the baton of life on to another human being or two human beings in my case. It won’t end with Robert and I any more as we have reproduced, don’t ya know! And this oft clichéd circle of life has me thinking.

If I’m not here, in the now, then I’m nowhere. And to be perfectly honest the now is never as scary as one may think it is at first.

This last weekend there was the best coffee in the land in the ‘Now’.

And there were family members in our home for my famous Roast Rib of Beef.

My children had their Uncle Paul to hold them.

And their beautiful Aunt Louise to sit and play and hold them too.

Aunties & Uncles are so important in children’s lives. They fill a different hole especially as the children grow. They may even become confidants and friends. But for now they are as much a part of their formative years as is possible.

Of course when you’re living in the ‘Now’ you have to seize the opportunity to sneak off and have a nap when the aforementioned precious Aunts & Uncles are feeding your children.

I was busted for that act of pure selfishness and sent off out to get the papers.

Have you ever roasted a Rib of Beef? I’m sure you have.

Do you not just LOVE the fact that within moments of putting the joint in to the searing hot oven the smell is already wafting through the air? Of course this means that for the next 90 mins your mouth is watering and every adult needs a bib to catch the saliva but Roast Beef is a true master at building anticipation.

My daughter has a cold at present. This manifested itself in snot, teary eyes and a general sense of her not quite being herself. So the best place for her was with her Mummy. Where she napped in the crook of my arm and felt altogether better for it.

I was present for that.

Thank goodness.

Ned was feeling much perkier and although he is currently facing the very same cold on Sunday he was feeling bright and breezy.

He even managed to fly for a short spell.

And use the phone at the same time of course. Bit of a multi-tasker is our Nedlet.

When he told me that he wanted to catch up on the latest headlines from the weekend I insisted that he rested. Burn out at five months old is so 2009.

My angel. When she awoke from her cold induced sleep Aunty Louise brought her in to the kitchen and built a den for her in the rocking chair.

This is what she observed.

This is the scene she’ll see weekend after weekend for her entire life.

I’ve fulfilled every dream I’ve ever had if this is the case.

Family. Food. Safety. Home. Love.

Making from scratch all that we eat because I love to, not because I have to.

I’m rather sick of anything ‘domestic’ being disparaged and ravaged by people who don’t enjoy it and therefore insist that one must be very lazy or very wealthy to be able to do it.

Do go and take a flying leap is my response to that. Making people a home, feeding hunger and promoting a environment that is one of safety and love is my dream job/life/career whatever you wish to call it. I also happen to think that it is just as helpful to society as a whole as doing anything else. I think you have to be brave when you are deciding what it is you love to do because it may not be the most obvious of paths.

We all need each other.

Treacle Pudding anyone????

They are so happy on her lap.

I love seeing my children with others. Apart from the fact that you can’t really see their faces when you are holding them it is fascinating to see them interact. Especially with people who will know them forever.

So bloody proud of that Yorkshire Pudding. My Nana would be very pleased with me for that one.

And she would have loved the homemade Horseradish.

Babes on laps, wine in glasses, logs on fire.

A well hung piece of meat, blush pink in the middle. Would anyone object if I picked it up by the bone and bit in to it?

Anyone for seconds?

Thirds?

The daylight had faded before we had any room for the steamed pudding which was rather good news as if you eat a pudding such as this in the dark then it has no calories because it’s too dark to see them.

Little known fact that!

I’ll dish it up.

Gosh, it’s late and we’re all so full.

But warm.

And sleepy.

So the dishes can wait until later.

Because Mummy wants another cuddle.

The precious Present. Full of moments that are here and then gone. Never to return.

So if anybody needs me I’ll be in the ‘Now” because I don’t want to miss a thing.

I love you and thank you so much for reading.

Cherry x

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Cherry Menlove

Related posts:

1. With Them in Delicious Joy
2. On The Outside Looking In
3. Oscar, Oscar & Hello World!
4. Farewell My Summer Love – 2010
5. The Stuff of Life # 16 – It Surrounds You

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