Of Many Enchantments
May. 14th, 2024 02:11 pmIt's snowing blossoms outside.
I am not quite myself right now; after a chat to BUPA via MacMillan re counselling options, I went wandering to a pretty part of town where the farms take over; there were harebells, cowslips, bluebells, furze, and unkempt old lilac bushes reaching out to envelope me in heavenly scent. Then I saw my first ever black tulip. This may be ordinary to others, but for me it was a first. I tried to take photos but they are all fuzzy. There were two, not even in a garden but on a wild verge. No idea how they got there, but they stood out, so elegant and glossy!
I came back down the hill to check my phone only to find a puzzled message from my cleaner. She had left but was confused because she couldn't find her trainers (she always changes into house shoes for cleaning). I looked down at my feet; sure enough, there they were.
She laughed and will pick them up next week.
This is an enchanted time even if my head is a mess. It began on Friday night with this https://www.falkirkleisureandculture.org/whats-on/muiravonside-badger-watch/.
I'm a bit in love with that part of the country. It's beyond Gormyre and near Ratho, the latter known for the legend regarding its Witching Stone, which, when removed, supposedly released evil spirits into the village. The only spirits that occurred to me were those that looked to reside in a pleasant pub we passed on the Union Canal, worth a visit with friends I suspect, though the prices are steep. Then we found ourselves in the park, very faery in the twilight.
It works like this: you turn up, the ranger gives a fascinating lecture on badgers and then you go into a room with French doors adjoining the old courtyard. The ranger puts a little food out and you wait. And wait. And wait.
You have to be quiet because while badgery eyesight isn't great, their hearing is pretty impressive. And away went the sun and up came a bright new moon and suddenly bats were everywhere. Then right in front of us...
https://www.facebook.com/debbie.gallagher.7923/videos/2179723689035046
We would have been satisfied with our night had it ended there but chum checked their app which promised an 87% chance of seeing the Northern Lights. Our driver made the executive decision to take us to a grand spot for sky watching, pursued by the Aurora right along the dual carriageway.
Are there words for this? Social media is full of photos. Here's one of me posing for the cover of my prog rock album.

One moment was utterly celestial with surrounding shafts of blue white light, huge column-like rays and veils that shimmered close enough to touch, beyond which all was dark, as though we were in a section of sky and Earth cut out from everything else around us.
Eventually we had to come home. Right above the house were these slow radiances of purple and green coalescing, and we all watched for a while as the Cosmic Butterfly made its way to another garden.


There is so much beauty around me, so much enchantment pricking holes in my gloom. This is a tough time, but it is also the most magical Spring. Strange how it can be both but that's just the way it is.
I am not quite myself right now; after a chat to BUPA via MacMillan re counselling options, I went wandering to a pretty part of town where the farms take over; there were harebells, cowslips, bluebells, furze, and unkempt old lilac bushes reaching out to envelope me in heavenly scent. Then I saw my first ever black tulip. This may be ordinary to others, but for me it was a first. I tried to take photos but they are all fuzzy. There were two, not even in a garden but on a wild verge. No idea how they got there, but they stood out, so elegant and glossy!
I came back down the hill to check my phone only to find a puzzled message from my cleaner. She had left but was confused because she couldn't find her trainers (she always changes into house shoes for cleaning). I looked down at my feet; sure enough, there they were.
She laughed and will pick them up next week.
This is an enchanted time even if my head is a mess. It began on Friday night with this https://www.falkirkleisureandculture.org/whats-on/muiravonside-badger-watch/.
I'm a bit in love with that part of the country. It's beyond Gormyre and near Ratho, the latter known for the legend regarding its Witching Stone, which, when removed, supposedly released evil spirits into the village. The only spirits that occurred to me were those that looked to reside in a pleasant pub we passed on the Union Canal, worth a visit with friends I suspect, though the prices are steep. Then we found ourselves in the park, very faery in the twilight.
It works like this: you turn up, the ranger gives a fascinating lecture on badgers and then you go into a room with French doors adjoining the old courtyard. The ranger puts a little food out and you wait. And wait. And wait.
You have to be quiet because while badgery eyesight isn't great, their hearing is pretty impressive. And away went the sun and up came a bright new moon and suddenly bats were everywhere. Then right in front of us...
https://www.facebook.com/debbie.gallagher.7923/videos/2179723689035046
We would have been satisfied with our night had it ended there but chum checked their app which promised an 87% chance of seeing the Northern Lights. Our driver made the executive decision to take us to a grand spot for sky watching, pursued by the Aurora right along the dual carriageway.
Are there words for this? Social media is full of photos. Here's one of me posing for the cover of my prog rock album.

One moment was utterly celestial with surrounding shafts of blue white light, huge column-like rays and veils that shimmered close enough to touch, beyond which all was dark, as though we were in a section of sky and Earth cut out from everything else around us.
Eventually we had to come home. Right above the house were these slow radiances of purple and green coalescing, and we all watched for a while as the Cosmic Butterfly made its way to another garden.


There is so much beauty around me, so much enchantment pricking holes in my gloom. This is a tough time, but it is also the most magical Spring. Strange how it can be both but that's just the way it is.