Yes, I’m still here. :)

Another eventful week or so since my last entry. I do believe, it started Friday afternoon, when I decided to escape my hermitage and seek civilization for a while. Heading for some fresh fish for a late lunch I arrived at an empty Arte Cafe to find no fresh fish. Unperturbed I stayed anyway, chatted to Pedro and ate an alternative, while listening to the moans and groans of political scandals and fixed football games. He relaxed after a while and ate chicken soup while we nattered about all sorts of things, from his age, his kids to many other stories and dreams. He was a welcoming proprietor, all service and smiles. After finding out his age and his actual age, it turns out he’s a 2 Earth star in 9 star ki – Mother, nurturing, socially oriented characters. Do a lot of 2′s enter into a life of servitude of some sort or another? The passion for his small cafe, restaurant was obvious.

In all honesty, I can see a bit of potential in the place, given some work. I tried taking a look at his wireless system and the open sided PC he uses for music occasionally, wouldn’t connect. Made all the more difficult as the operating system was in Portuguese. He talked about the open space at the back, a courtyard of sorts. Wanting to rid the long wall of its old mural not in keeping anymore and possibly commission an artist who tags around town with huge black stencils of people and other characters.

I have some very organised glasses on at the moment. I think it comes from having no real fixed agenda, and with that perspective, I’m becoming very objective.  That and the fact I’m immersed in sorting the villa grounds out. It flexes ones logistical muscles. I digress. Mostly because I want to ;P – Onwards with Friday, and vowing to return that evening on Pedro’s assurance that it gets busy Friday nights, I headed next to the supermarket for a food shop before heading home again.

Driving on the right hand side along the N125 out of Lagos, excited to have a night out and wondering what would unfold, I almost forgot to stop at the garden centre. Pulling in and with my camera in hand, I walked through the gate, to a loud buzz. The place stretched further back than I thought, with rows and rows of plants, covered tunnels and trees along the back edge. I followed the walkway and spotted a cat curled up neatly in the top of a big black planted pot, sunbathing in the late afternoon sun. I paused and lifted the lens only to see it climb to its feet and writhe past some plants and over to me. Keen it was, and after a few minutes of attention it followed me along the path some way before making a u-turn.  Up this row and down that, snapping plants I liked the look of when I eventually came to a small covered poly-tunnel. Inside were yukkas, rubber plants and a table full of succulents; very reasonably priced too. I will be back!

Anyhoo… back to my ‘night out’ – and upon entering the Arte Cafe again, I notice a distinct lack of people. Still. Some usual suspects, the chef, and me. Feeling like a game of pool I challenged the chef, a Marley fan, obvious with exodus playing on the stereo, and we shot three games with some fun interaction and banter. Time ticked by and no sooner sat at the bar again to fill my glass, I turned round to find the place half full, a group of English lads playing pool almost filling the place with just their antics. One had a straw hat and a wooden sword by his side. Obvious tourists, I watched a while and it wasn’t long before I got heckled into taking the four of them on, apparently ALL brothers by the name of King to a game. Me vs them!

It was odd as I felt more like a local than a tourist, but after many merry handshakes, lots of cheeky remarks, sarcasm, and energy, the game seemed to take forever, one yellow and one red left. My turn and I get mine down, onto the black. Watched on by the four of them, I sidled up to the table again, taking the pressure. I hit the white ball, not too hard, gently enough to get the black in, plop, into the middle pocket it went, YES! chuffed! Only to stare in disbelief as the white ball veered onwards and over into the end pocket. Noooooooooooooooooo. I fell to my knees – ok, I’d had a glass of wine. The funny thing is all the lads came over and gave me one hell of a man-group hug! – shocking. I felt the love though – or was it just a huge amount of relief and feigned sympathy.

Well, from that game on. I was a brother of their mother, a kin and bonded so far that I was next invited to have food at a Mexican place recommended by a girl they found in another bar. Along I went, what the hell. It was filled with intelligent conversation and meant well jests and I got myself a nickname, Walter. More beer flowed at the dining table and slammers slammed  when I soon started to tire of the faces and remembered I’d left without even paying for my previous wine at Pedro’s place. Back I walked across the town centre up the back alley and into the door. Full of people, some wining and others dining, I sat at the bar and ordered one more glass of red. Pedro was in full volume mode, with music filling the air, respectable music, not totally electronic and young, but a more eclectic mix. From David Bowie to random tracks off a Buena Vista Social Club soundtrack. He had a laptop with uTube all keyed up to play a tracklist he’d compiled, but shouted me over to help. No sound. He couldn’t get anything regardless of it all looking like it was where it should be. I checked the laptop settings best I could again, in Portuguese but alas. Earlier I had lent him my dongle to get the other PC on the internet but he had brought his laptop by the time he’d got it.

Still, it was nice to have someone know my name, call me from behind the bar and I totally felt like I had a social life at last, here in Portugal. :)

So that was last Friday and I type to you 10 days later on the Sunday. No, I’ll not go into such detail with he rest of the week, but here is a rather elongated summary to whet your eyes with.

Monday, after a relaxing weekend of pottering around and caring to less strenuous tasks. I bought from MaxMat a chainsaw after approval. Ben arrived just after 11.30 and I promptly asked if he could help with building it. We fitted it all together and after a return trip to Zona Commercial for some correct oil, I put on a hard hat and visor, ear defenders and gloves. Pulled the cord and after a few tense minutes of ‘have we done it right’ it sparked up and with the choke back in puttered into life.

I’ve used lots of power tools (ahem) but never a chainsaw. I was quite excited. Ben and I had ear-marked a few tree limbs that had to come down and some that he considered over-due for a hack back. These in addition to the mass of dead branches hanging still in the trees, discarded fallen trees covering two huge mounds of wanna be compost and the odd proper chunky tree trunk which needed chopping into fire welcoming chunks.

It didn’t take long to fell two trees one needed and another not so, clean up some stray ends and work from the front garden into the part next to the garage car park area. We both had a go and we stopped as he was concerned about the amount of waste we had already accumulated. He knew then, as my lack of experience didn’t that it takes some getting rid of.

Monday night it howled with rain and so did the following morning. Constantly aware that my mound of waste from the front garden along the wall, was getting rained on. From the veranda above I looked down onto the wet tangle of vines, branches and total carnage left from Monday in slight dismay.

Tuesday came and the clouds lightened enough to give me a window in which to make a start.

Ignoring most of the chopped trees I decided to light a bonfire, and with some instant-flame blocks got some dry twigs to light and heat up enough to build upon. So it began, a moment of change. What followed until today has been one of a complete ‘lightening’ of the whole property.

I’ve totally removed from pretty much everywhere ALL the dead wood. The means trees, chopped from before, and left to dry on piles in numerous corners of the garden and over the wall into the ‘wild’ side. I’ve been stood up a ladder with a saw, sometimes climbing the trees to get at the brown snappable branches. Fire raging, it has been for more hours than I can count, Tuesday until this very moment, bar a little of Friday (well, I was being sociable!). The trees with growth still on, I’ve sawed down to manageable chunks, gradually! – ripping with hands the rest, mostly.

The area just below the curved edged drive ending has slowly turned into a campsite. One particular tree trunk, which was a factor in giving need for the chainsaw in the first place, turned out the other day, by sheer chance, to be a most amazing seat! You can sit with your legs fitted to its curving shape and a handy branch behind you to rest your aching back. Fantastic. I marveled at how it came about. Just what you need when you need it. :)

It’s been a logistical experience for sure, how to go about dealing with it all. I’ve now got four large piles of drying twigs and leaves, one pile of large branches, and one platform I meshed together with straighter branches, in a design for drying the leaves on, so they were off the ground and in the sun. I’ve plucked stones from the top of a square low structure almost hidden in the weeds to make a fire pit surround. Constantly feeding the hungry fire, today I pulled down a huge tree, barely alive but one small leafy branch.

In taking down these trees maybe older than me, touching the landscape with care and attention, I aim to help the energy lift. I think it has. The fire has in some way started to put life back into the garden, allowing it to breathe a little easier. All the dark, dry and outgrown life down to ashes, dust to return once more to earth. Trees in which deadwood was, are now sleek and uncluttered, climbing upwards. Letting more light through to the area below, I can almost visualize more plants here now, as I watch each day the sun pass from East to west, lighting up different areas as it goes. The view down into the garden has opened up loads. You now have a vista in which you want to explore.

Each night I’ve reluctantly left the warmth of the glowing fire, not wanting to have bricks and mortar around me. I do actually think I’ve become rather fond of working outside again, connecting with the land and natures surroundings. I’ve worked my ass off this past week, but I don’t see it as work, it’s been amazing. I love the physical side of being here. It’s hugely satisfying, and being inside whether it’s work or forced by the rain, becomes less and less appealing. Otherwise, I’ve been spending all of it in my makeshift camp. Burning tons of wood!

That’s all for now..  What’s next I wonder! – Adeus – :)

It’s been a couple of weeks since my last update, Kelly flew back to the UK last Friday, and apart from the face to face interaction with Ben the weekly visitor and maintenance guy, it’s been a time of solitude. I have to admit I’m finding it quite hard. Trips to the supermarket mean I can mingle with other human beings, limitedly, but no conversation drives me to skype often and credit those who are available to answer.

Each morning I wake around 8am, and often get woken during the night with dogs barking, guarding the various properties nestled atop Monte Judeu. You would have thought from the amount of them there is trouble with burglars and break-ins. The mornings for the past 10 days at least have been glorious, sun rising over the trees to the left as I stand on the rear veranda, wispy streaks of clouds giving the horizon a feint hue of orange as it rises majestically upwards to warm my face.

The birdsong is truly varied, with blackbirds, robins, sparrows and many other birds I have yet to discover what they are. There’s a blue-ish bird with a long tail and a black cap, hooting in a high pitched way, gradually darting off downhill during the morning. They float down the gradient almost effortlessly, but when forced to fly they look cumbersome, appearing to struggle with their long tail which drags behind them.

The amount of dew each morning has been lessening with each passing dry day. I’ve even had to water some of the plants, particularly the one in the raised bed on the veranda, full of succulents, which although loving dry conditions, look a bit parched. It’s easy to see why water becomes a very precious commodity in the strong heat of summer. I’m keen eventually to build a water store to help with irrigation too, but all in good time.

Working on my FREEFLOW projects in the mornings, keeps me pretty busy until around noon. Fresh orange juice and the occasional smoothie, croissants, and a cereal I am loving with apple and cinnamon, puffed rice and a mixture of wheat flakes builds me up to get out in the sunshine in the afternoon.

It’s great to be working on the garden, and I have found myself pottering around starting this and that, but in a sense, building overall towards turning the villa into a much loved haven. The mass of overgrown weeds and vines on the left front side of the plot has taken me pretty much all week on and off to clear. Underneath all the tendrils of up to an inch thick rope-like vine is a beautiful rich orange coloured dry stone wall,  how old, I can only guess.

I’ve been working with a long sleeved top, hat and gloves and sometimes a jumper on, not because it’s cold, but to protect myself from the mass of mosquitoes that hum about at all hours. swatting at them when spied out of the corner of my eye and seem to be getting the better of them after a few bites early on. Despite that, it’s easy to get overheated and I do stop for regular breaks and flee to the safety of the veranda, ripping off my tops, panting for a glass of water.

Fallen trees, dried in the heat, lay here and there on the grounds. Gradually, I’m putting together a couple of big fires to light at some point. I really need a chain saw though to sort out the main trunks, as my bare hands just won’t do it! – Making do for now by sorting all other branches with a flex of muscles. These and the enormous pile of undergrowth I’ve ripped up, should be one hell of a blaze!!

I’m very fond of plants, care for them tenderly and have had amazing displays of all sorts of succulents in my old flat back in Norwich, but I have found myself not caring for vines ripping them out almost with disdain. Today I trimmed a few straggly bits off the carob tree outside of the kitchen window which were bugging me as I washed up. Constantly during the process I felt an empathy for the huge aged tree, apologising for taking my secateurs to it. Justifying my actions in believing it would allow it to put more worthy energy into it’s great, spreading  limbs above.

Trying to get better CHI into the property, I’ve scrubbed the white walls which bend inwards to hold the main gate. Ridding it of patches of green slime, and trimming the hedge away from the lights on top of the pillars either side. To me, it’s important to invite good energy into a property, not just for those living there but for those to find it too. In the back of my head, I am constantly using my Feng Shui knowledge and intuition to benefit the villa.

The gravel drive comes in and then sweeps down past the left side of the villa and to the back ending to a raised parking area in front on the garage. The problem is, most of it doubles up as a river bed, when storms hit and rain forces its way through the white grit along forged ruts downhill. This is going to constantly happen and regardless of filling the ruts, (which I am gradually doing) it’s going to happen again.

There’s a pretty large pile of surplus grit right at the bottom end of the grounds, past the tennis court and into the virgin scrub of the next plot. It took me over an hour the other day to make a path suitable to wheel the barrow along and able to fill it with grit. Fighting my way through the tall, now dead old wood of a type of fennel… ..Well it smells like fennel. Anyway, finally getting the wheelbarrow to the mound of gravel I filled it up – FULL, navigated my way back, around orange trees, over the tall clover-like carpet, up the hill along the straight path to the area in front of the garage – I almost collapsed! Jeeeez, I dashed inside and grabbed a banana, my legs were shaking, light headed with exhaustion! LOL – It’s easy to get carried away, well I do get stuck into things.

It’s the immediate results of gardening/landscaping which is so satisfying. My other work, although gratifying, doesn’t give the same – look what I did and it’s there right in front of you – you can touch it and feel it – sense it and if you cared to, taste it!

It’s late, I’m tired and I will type more soon.

Love and Light :)

The journey started in the very early hours of Sunday the 2nd, 4am wake up time, in cold and dark Norwich. I jumped out of bed and without even making a cup of tea, dressed and proceeded to pack the car of what was left of my belongings. Wrapped up in several layers and a heavy coat I crammed the car the best I could and just managed to get everything in. Hoorah!

Thankfully, the recent snow and ice had thawed away to leave a fairly dry road surface, and we raced on out of Norwich along the A11 towards London in the dark. Hardly a soul on the roads, the journey down the the M25 was quick and without hitch. Signs of congestion at junction 24 and 25 appeared and I gambled on heading clockwise and over the Dartford bridge. Throwing a couple of nuggets into the hod, the barrier raised and we continued around to Junction 10 only to stop once at a almost deserted service station for a large tea and a stretch of legs.

The sun eventually peaked through the clouds to our left as we headed south along the A3 towards Portsmouth. An auspicious start to our long journey as we made good time and felt anticipation of arriving at the port.

We arrived in Portsmouth harbor at around 9am, to find rows of cars and mobile homes already queued up in ceremonial accord. Passing through passport control, we placed a tag on the rear view mirror and were given our cabin keys, and made our way to the end of line. Excited and relieved to have made it down so easily, we jumped out and headed to a rather ramshackle set of buildings for another set of refreshments and a break from the confines of the car. No sooner sat down, only to hear an announcement to return to our vehicles as embarkation was imminent. Here we go!!

well almost. We filed row at a time through to another large waiting area and ceremoniously queued up again just behind the ferry and watched a car after car, caravan, mobile home and vans were loaded up. Our turn came after around an hours wait and we were guided towards the front of the boat and shuffled the car between two huge pillars and wedged between other vehicles, with a foot or so either side.

Grabbing our day bags we headed out of the ‘garage’ and up three flights of stairs to find our cabin 6246. A poky little cabin with a thin single bed against the wall and en-suite. Dismayed at the thought of having to sleep top-to-tail we almost missed noticing a drop down bunk which lowered from the ceiling. Phew!

Up to deck 7 and a comfortable set of seats right at the front of the boat made us welcome and we slumped, exhausted and excited.

24 hours later and after a pretty uncomfortable nights sleep, we arrived in Santander.

The ferry passed so close to a sand bank on the way into the harbour, it was hardly believable that it wouldn’t become grounded, deftly steering the front of the ship into position we all eagerly grabbed bags and stood waiting to gain entry into the garage and return to our vehicles. Only minutes passed and then it was our turn to disembark, no ramp, just straight off and into another queue, but this time for Spanish passport control. A quick glance at our documents and ourselves and we were free to go!

Drive on the right, drive on the right… we headed out of Santander and into the hills. It was warm, sunny and slightly overcast as we pushed onwards, through tunnels and winding mountain roads. Through Torrelavega, and onto Palencia, Valladolid and Salamanca unabated along clean and clear roads. The hills of northern Spain were replaced with land which reminded us of home, flat and agricultural. We made excellent time, stopping only twice for petrol, the second time, as dusk closed in, near Cáceres.

So, it happened that we entered Portugal at Badajoz without even a welcome! The only give-away being a difference in the road signs. Elated and somewhat disappointed not to receive a huge applause we proceeded onwards through a toll gate heading to Lisbon E90 in the dark. The roads were fantastic, no pot holes and very little traffic at 7.30 in the evening, I was fixed to the road ahead. One more pit stop for petrol just before we turned south down the A2, another smooth sleek road, being overtaken by cars travelling well over 100 mph. My steady 120 kph (75 mph) seemed a snails pace.

At last, signs for Faro, Lagos and names I remember from my trip over in October, how exciting! We turned right onto the A22 after paying just over €27 in tolls, we counted down the junction numbers to 4 where I turned off and relied on memory for the very last part of the journey. No problem, it was as if it were yesterday; even though in the pitch black, we turned up the road from the N125 heading to Monte Judeu, passed the recycling lay-by under the A22 and viaduct through the one car width bridge and winding our way into the foothills. I got so excited at being on the final 100 yards I floored the car and was promptly reprimanded by Kelly, ironic at doing 10 hours previously without even a murmur!

Jumping out of the car at just past 10pm on the 4th January, Kelly opened the gates to let me through to park up on the gravel drive in front of the villa. Muito Bem!

How relieved was I! – The car was a dream, and my co-pilot did fantastic (thanks TomTom ;-) )

We unpacked the car in a daze, headed towards the kettle and pretty much to bed straight afterwards. We made it, totally shattered from 2 days travelling and my Mum really wouldn’t be happy I did the whole drive without swapping with Kelly, but I was determined and yes, ever-so slightly stubborn. 650 miles – easy!

NEW WORKSHOP – 9 Star Ki (Feng Shui Astrology)
18th September 2010 @ Friends Meeting House, Norwich (TBC)
10:00am to 4:00pm (lunch for 1hr at 1pm)

Fee: £50 (Earlybird offer of 20% discount if booked before 22nd August)

Limited places available – please book now to reserve your place.

This workshop is an introduction into this accurate and fascinating system of Oriental Astrology called 9 Star Ki.
Based on the five Taoist elements and I Ching Trigrams, learn to build your own character profile, which can be used to plan ahead or understand further where you are at this moment in time. Work out how you interact with family members and friends on an elemental level and discover aspects of health observations using this system.

A great set of handouts will also be provided.

Full Details – http://www.freeflow-fengshui.com/feng_shui_workshops.php

Even though we are still feeling the cold and being hit with the odd snow shower, the days are none-the-less lengthening. Brighter skies provide a bit of needed sunlight on our heads, and the temperatures are gradually rising. Snowdrops are lifting themselves finally from the soil, and dormant trees – feeling the warming days – undergo an awakening process, pushing once more outwards into another cycle of growth.

This time of year, is often very transitional. It’s just turned a New Year in China, a Tiger year. February is also a Tiger month; this particular Chinese astrological sign being an Earth symbol. Earth months, like February, bridge the gap between the seasons. They act like buffers, easing us between the pressures of a main cardinal direction. By that I mean North to East, a throw back from my Feng Shui knowledge, makes me look at seasons from a directional point of view. The tail end of The Plough reassuringly now pointing more towards the East, spring and growth, a time of ideas and forward thinking, turning your plans into working practices. North on the other hand represents Winter, stark contrasts, hibernation and the peak of Yin; a time for self regeneration and fortifying ourselves. I digress.

SO, back to the Tiger Earth month and the wavering, not sure if i’m coming or going, in between bit: the Northeast (or strictly speaking between 52.5 deg. and 67.5 deg!). Have you felt just that little bit more progressive in attitude recently? The faint memory of the festive period, being washed aside with ideas and a creative feeling of what’s approaching – it’s tantalizingly tangible. The pouncing Tiger making us want to leap into spring and make the most of any and all opportunities. But before we jump ahead maybe reflect while we have time, make the most of this transitional changing time of year, before the East is upon us, and create yourself a level playing field from which to grow and develop.

It’s a great time of year to start looking at your living space and home from a spring clean point of view. Some of us are gladly feeling less full of cold which in it’s own way is a ridding of any stagnant, unwanted energy. Why not try applying this to your home. Open all the windows when we get a sunny bright day and with your newly defrosted eyes, glance around for any lingering effects that are either redundant, unwanted or chores you’ve just been meaning to ‘get-round-to-it’ for a while. I had a massive sort out in my home office, throwing away paperwork which has been occupying cupboard space for far too long. Old files, which have no relevance in my world today.

I find it very cathartic and allows space, chi and furthermore opportunity into the room and your life. Light some candles and burn some incense while the room gets some fresh air, shifting the energy from any hidden places with a sharp clap of the hands, any dull notes clap again. Get behind the sofa and under the beds, if you can!>? Whether you car boot, charity shop or give things away, anything you can’t do immediately, add to a to-do list so you are all prepared for when springs full frontal energy finally kicks in.

David Walters

I’ve been meaning to write about these amazing creatures for a while now, having kept them for over five years and at one point, catering to my best efforts, a breeding pair or two. The different behaviours of these Amazonian fish are complex and varied, frustrating and also incredibly rewarding.

Apart from the usual ‘pecking order’ found in most animals, the most amazing and intriguing behaviour in these fish shows when they come into heat. Sexing discus, is difficult, and often the only way to know for sure, is to study the mating ritual and the reproductive area which swells during this time. Of course you’ll know as soon as the eggs are being laid.

It all starts with a flare of the fins; a female who feels it’s time, will sidle up next to a suitable male, slow down and from a slightly raised head position, stiffen and extend her dorsal (top) and pelvic (long, thin, bottom) fins, showing her colours – set to maximum brightness and intensity. She dips during this flaring action and comes to a near stop. Of course, the reaction she is after is a reflection of her own. A perfect reciprocation.

Around three years ago I rescued a tiny fish from a local shop, emaciated and very frail, and named it Titch. Now, she’s a good 7″ long and has just recently started this flirting behaviour with the only two remaining adult fish in my tank, Nev (leopard snakeskin) and Flash (Callico White). At first she was trying it on with both fish, but soon came to favour the larger and eldest of the two, Nev. Who incidentally, has never seen eye to eye with Flash.

Flash even though second in command generally holds dominance over the left hand side of the tank. Nev on the other hand, has the right, and being the alpha male as such, first picks of any food I put in the tank. This end being more open in its architecture and landscape, as well as where I drop in the food. Titch therefore, had a problem!

The left hand end of the tank is where the long outlet pipe dips into the tank nearing the sand on the bottom. An ideal spot to lay eggs on; straight, smooth and easy to waft. Waft? – I’ll explain later. It’s also the stillest place in the tank just below the water inlet. So when the current comes back after hitting the other end of the tank it is very weak. The right hand side is where the air pump releases a cascade of bubbles, and being at the receiving end of the outlet a lot more turbulent.

Nev and Flash would face off on a regular basis, whenever each felt the other was encroaching on their territory. Looking like an angry kiss, the two face each other and dash mouth against mouth as they nip and bite in quick succession, two or three times – fins erect and in a strong stance, until one backs off and ends the bout. If they all hide under the log while I’m cleaning the tank I see them constantly nudging and nipping and tail slapping each other.

So, Titch and her dilemma… Flash has the higher ground with respects to a suitable place to lay her eggs, but Nev is proving to be the more popular choice in partner. Maybe as he’s the elder, but also the larger of the two. Either way, she seemed to have made her mind up. She tried for a while to entice Nev over to the left, with her dancing and bright red eyes, but to no avail. Each time Nev even went close to the pipe he’d be under attack from Flash. Instead of fighting Flash for the ‘chosen ground’ he flicked back over to the right, under or round the log and to safety. Titch therefore resigned herself to the fact, she’d have to spawn at the right hand end of the tank.

She then starts to clean the area, with Nev joining in with the duties, picking small bits of algae and debris from around the area, even going so far as to nudge out of the way, the plant which sits in front of the bubbles. Once happy the area is prepared and she has ample space in which to manoeuvre, she starts a dummy run up the side of the tank on the glass. Fluttering her pectoral (side) fins like a butterfly, she slowly, slowly glides upwards with her undercarriage facing the side, eyes fixed in concentration.

To get to this stage she must have built a reasonably strong bond with her partner and be trusting in that cohesion – as both will play an important part in the next few weeks, with the upbringing of up their brood.

They lay their eggs generally in the evening, and occasionally just when I’m about to turn off all the lights, which happened to be this time. I noticed Titch being more determined and regular in her efforts. Nev hanging close, being very attentive and nudging her now and again.

When I had my breeding tank set up, with a purpose terracotta looking plastic breeding cone, Sky would flutter up the cone making delicate, sticky beaded rows of eggs along her way. After making one or two passes the male, Patch would swim to the same area next to her and mimic the same fluttering action as he fertilises her eggs. One after the other they perform this life-making ritual, synchronised with each other in a strange innate harmony and knowledge. It’s amazing to watch. The result can vary, but sometimes, a patch as large as 2.5″ of almost transparent eggs are laid. They are a little bit orange coloured and some with a speck of life within them. The ones not fertilised turn white within 24 hours or more, and are diligently removed from the area, less bacteria takes a hold and infects the other good eggs.

This is a very nervous and frantic time for the fish. They need to both eat, tend to their tiny eggs and make sure there are no predators around. When the tank was full, I had quite a few tetras of one sort or another. The hardy ones that cope with soft water, cardinals for example, would shoal together and as soon as the mother left the eggs to find food. They would dart over to the pipe and steel the eggs wrestling them off the pipe with a twist of their little bodies. I saw quite a few disappear like that, as one female Discus learnt the hard way about the responsibility involved in having a successful spawning.

Nev’s seen this all before, as the above mentioned female spawned once with Nev before defecting to another male. He’s been quite forceful with Titch this time, nudging her out of the way when he’s looking after the eggs, bringing his fin forwards and wafting it over the eggs gently, giving them fresh water and keeping debris off. Then swapping duties with her as they pass with a reaffirming flare of fins to each other. Titch, once the eggs were laid, has become increasingly aggressive towards the other two fish in the tank, heading full pelt into them to warn them away. And from that to a hyper attentive mother to be, who on the third day is expecting her eggs to hatch and then she must catch.

Sky and Patch, as mentioned earlier, a long standing and relatively successful breading pair, most have spawned together 30 to 40 times at least. Both isolated from the main tank in their own 75 Litre love nest. I kept them as happy as I could to allow them the right conditions and attention to help them have a fruitful batch. They were so dedicated, admittedly I think Patch, the male, lost interest in the whole affair after a while, but they were forever a couple. She was so intensely fixated on breeding he would match her with his loyalty and I ended up being the proud owner of around 50 fish at some points.

I went to see my old friend Julze.. at the weekend who has a brand new shop on one of the main roads leading up from Wells-next-the-sea harbor side.

d e – l i s h – 60 Staithe Street, Wells-Next-The-Sea, Norfolk, NR23 1AQ

He’s taken over the old fish mongers shop on the left hand side. Go visit him and buy some of his lovely home-made Chocolates and for those that like meat, his amazing smoked and cured hams, salamis, venison haggis to name just a few..

VISIT – d e – l i s h

Over this weekend I took the foundation level 1 Touch For Health with Gill Tarlington – Head of Optimum Health Balance kinesiology OHB. It is a fascinating method of analysing the body using muscle testing of numerous groups of muscles that relate directly to the medridians – the two major governing and conception meridians and the other main 12. The more ‘hand-on’ process I found much more accessible than the OHB icon kinesiology method, although once I get my head around the Touch For Health I’m sure that I will be more confident with OHB. My aim for the future, hopefully joining in September, is to take the foundation Shiatsu training. I can see how my practice of Reiki and now learning kinesiology will come all together. It would be interesting to see if there is any correlation between organs found out of balance and the ‘house’ a person is occupying either for that day, month or year. Or, simply looking at the weaker organ out of their ki profile.

I am also really grateful for Kate in setting up the bodywork exchange group on FaceBook. Like minded alternative therapists and holistic practitioners swapping treatments, therapies and knowledge. I’ve met some wonderful people through it. Swapping both 9 Star Ki reports and a little Hand Reading for a hot stones treatment and a kinesiology balance.