A 'thinky' day after watching the destruction of the Oil Sands in Canada!

I was looking for a new bike. I came accross the Bristol bike project and found a website that made me think: http://biketales.wordpress.com/about/

For some reason after watching a programme on the destruction of the oil sands to the canadian forests last night and being in the 'whats life all about mood', I felt the urge to email them and for my future records here is what I wrote.

Hi Jen and Jet

I just read your blog, I got the site from the Bristol Bike Shop. http://biketales.wordpress.com/about/

What a trip you have had, you are my inspiration!

Myself and my partner have travelled a lot in the last few years. After 3 years of being on the road we have arrived back to England with a bang. We now live in Bristol . When you look around and see nothing but concrete and council tax, the world feels so small. Claustrophobic.

The vibrancy of India is electric. Colours, noises, horns, cows and the people. Even the poorest are kind and dress amazingly well.

When you travel I believe you find the reasons for life, why we were on this earth. The beauty of the earth is slowing dying and we must appreciate what it has to offer before it is too late. So little of us, reach out and grab the beauty and discovery.

I am not sure why I am sending you this email, maybe just to convince myself of the path I really want to be on. The path of exploration and non conformity. Maybe this email was just a justification of the urge I feel to get back out there and get my reality back. My brain constantly stuggles with this concept. 

I sit at my desk, stare at a computer, email the person next to me, return home to a concrete box (although my flat is lovely, its a metaphor hehe), and repeat the process 5 days a week. I worked for a marine conservation charity so I work hard to change the minds of people who slaughter our apex predators. But still this doesn’t seem to be enough. Why I think, maybe the world has already made its decision and who am I to attempt to change it. Its already on a destructive path.

After an email of self discovering lol, I would like to send you one piece of travel advice. Cycle to Hampi, west of Goa . I do not even need to describe it, when you arrive you will know.

A fellow searcher, Jennifer

Tailor Made Ceremonies

My fabulous new business is doing well. I trained as a Independent Wedding and Naming Celebrant last year and am now a fully qualified celebrant. I have a beautiful website, thanks to Mike Collins and have had a great start. I have attended the Marriott and Holiday Inn wedding fairs, along with my sidekick Terence and have been invited into Debenhams to exhibit there!

For those of you who do not know what a celebrant is, hopefully my blog post for a mother and baby website will help explain (this is focussed on baby namings, but I am working on weddings and renewal of vows:

In our ever increasing secular and modern society, many people choose to not have a traditional Christening for their child. Many Christenings now are often with other unknown children and are combined with regular visits to the church before hand to gain acceptance for the chosen location and date. Many people who are not religious and do not attend church regularly anyway, find such an activity often an extra, dare I say, inconvenience.

A Naming Ceremony offers families an opportunity to announce the birth of a baby, officially name the child in front of families, friends and communities and declare their support and commitment to the child for their welfare, upbringing and for the child’s freedom to express dreams and aspirations.

The ceremonies can be held in any location; some families prefer a ceremony in their own home to make it easier for the baby as well as make the ceremony very personal. Other families choose a marquee or some an Urt, for something really original.

Naming Celebrants will write a ceremony script based on the family and tailor make the script to reflect the families’ journey to the birth of their child. It can include other siblings and family members.

A family may still choose to have Godparents but there are alternatives. The parents can choose the names ’Guardians’ or ‘Supporting Adults’, and ask them to uphold commitment and support to the child as he/she grows and offer friendly guidance to them in their future. These members can be announced in the ceremony and will be asked to make such promises should the couple wish.

It is important to celebrate such wonderful occasions and mark those special moments in life. With a naming ceremony, a couple can choose to add any significant poems, readings and/or spirituality. You are free to decide how to name your child.

At Tailor Made Ceremonies in Bristol (www.tailormadeceremonies.co.uk), we will create, inspire and captivate a beautiful ceremony for your family. We will write a personalised script for you and deliver the ceremony wherever you choose.

Grace those special moments in life with a ceremony that has significance to you; as every family is unique and every baby deserves a unique celebration.

http://www.tailormadeceremonies.co.uk/

Christmas and a Change of Heart

It has been nearly 2 months so I have posted a blog so thought it was about time I wrote again. We are still in Bristol and about to move into a new flat on Saturday. Its all very exciting. It has 2 double bedrooms and is beautifully decorated.

Christmas was great. It was lovely to spend a week in Portsmouth, cat sitting for Hayden, Tel's cousin. It meant that we had plenty of flexibility with seeing family and friends in Southampton and Worthing. Christmas day was nice. Really relaxed day at Kirks house. Seeing Alfie open his presents was priceless. It was worth more than any Christmas present I had. So sweet!

Our wedding plans have changed dramatically. We have decided to cancel the whole thing as it was getting extremely stressful. I was worried about all of the arrangements and I decided that it is not worth ruining the meaning of marriage over it. We have now booked a huge mansion in the Brecon Beacons in Wales and are going to marry under a 900 year old oak tree. Its a lovely venue and a weekend away for all of the family. We are very excited! We are now planning the honeymoon and a big trip at Christmas. Morrocco, Egypt, maybe central america...the choices are endless!

Heres a few christmas snaps!