1. This incredible plant is called Dracunculus Vulgaris is flowing in my garden this week. It has an amazing form and colour and actually sinks just a little, its a member of the arum family and it attracts flies and other insects. Of course it also looks like an erect penis and when it fades, it goes limp and shrivels taking on a sad but familiar state. I was three three bulbs for my birthday a couple of years ago. They are very exciting plants. The foliage is robust and the flower is spectacular.
2. I'm enjoying the Ting Tings. "We Started Nothing" which Little Phil suggested I listen to. It comes as an immense and welcoming relief to find some new and brilliant happy pop music (...Alphabeat must die...) I saw this band on the television a while back on the BBC "Culture Show" a place I've been introduced to some very welcome alternatives to my usual choices. "That's not my name " is an easy target and its been very popular but actually this is a great album almost all the way through. I'm adding it to my list later. What makes this record a beautiful thing is more to do with feeling connected to the world than it is about quality of the invention of the artists. This isn't anything new, but it is bright and part of a long tail of style and happiness I wouldn't want to loose a fingertips touch with.
3. Feedback is a beautiful and sometimes difficult negotiation. You have to assimilate the news, absorb what's so, checking if there is space for the consequences if you take it on board and eliminate the parts that don't feel right. Mistakes can be made and gems easily missed. I pretty open to feedback but also pathetically easily taken out by it. I generally bounce upwards again if I've had a down. I'm not so very good with compliments, they seem so unlikely and I feel alternately unworthy or more worthy than they turn out to express. I asked someone how their day went and he said "not great, how was u'rs?". Perhaps thoughtlessly I responded with a list of stuff that hadn't been so great in my day. He was generous and patient and then said he had to go, conversation over. But as a last reminder that it doesn't take much to be perceived as selfish he said "But anyway you didn't much care why my day wasn't so great did you?". He was wrong, I did. But I'd been stupid enough to think he'd tell me about it when he was ready. I missed my opportunity to be a good friend and show that care. It was a tiny and beautiful gift, a little slap of recognition and a reminder to be more conscious.
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