My writing rose

The last few birthdays I have found myself saying: “Roses, give me anything with roses”, when asked by my offspring what they can get me.   I was mostly referring to perfumes and bath products, of course.

This year, what with the water shortage and all, I couldn’t bring myself to request the bath products – knowing what a conflict it would cause in me.  Although I love a guilty pleasure as much as the next girl! Make no mistake.

So this year, I came right out and asked for an actual rose: a specific climbing rose called ”Cecile Brunner”.

It has a delicate pink flower and was one of my mother’s favourite plants.  When one went home to visit, there would invariably be a tiny vase or glass with a single minute rose next to the chocolate bar and welcome card at one’s bed.

I recently decided to use my house in Fisherhaven as a writer’s retreat and have spent the last month or so lovingly painting and restoring my little house into a space filled with colour and creativity.

It has been a delight re-discovering forgotten nooks and crannies and deciding how to re-purpose the home and garden.

I was amazed again at the speed with which things unfolded and conspired once I had taken the decision to gift myself with, not only the space, but also the time to do what I love best.

The blessings along the way have been so touching and sacred.

The first blessing came in the form of my friend, Annorien, who offered to come and do a clearing and cleansing of the house for me.

A circle.  A spiral.  I met her when I fell in the love with this house.

She was living here and was understandably reluctant to move.  Her husband had created the magical garden which drew me to the house among the trees, like a homing pigeon.  They had filled this house with Love and Peace.

I had already put in an offer on the house and was driving past to gaze upon it in passing, when I saw her car parked in front.  On an impulse I got out, met her for the very first time and blurted out to the total stranger that I was buying the house.

And…get this…that I suspected she was holding onto the house!!!

Bloody cheek, I realize now.  In my defence, I did add that she could take as long as she needed to find a new home!

Amazingly, she and her family found a lovely place on the lagoon in no time at all.

Best of all, she forgave me and we remain friends to this day.

The latest blessing filled with me awe.

Out of the blue, I got invited to a birthday celebration. A breakfast for an exceptional woman.

She is, amongst, many other things the agent who sold me this house.  We became connected in a profound way and shared some beautiful, yet heart-breaking moments together.

To be invited to the celebration of her life and to realize what a sacred privilege it was to share those parts of her journey with her, was very humbling and life-affirming for me.

A blessing indeed.

As are the roses my loving daughter gave me for my birthday that we have planted at the entrance to this house.  With one on the balcony outside my writing space cheering me on me as I write.

A blessing also that my son and his love, who visited here this weekend, share my love of roses and plants especially “Peace in the Home”.

Best of all, perhaps, this amusing fact – Annorien’s surname is “Roos”.