A soapstone heart.

The outer layers of the wonderful statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro are apparently made of Soapstone.

Well, my husband isn't quite yet up to that quality of carving, but whilst staying in Brighton he spent a week learning the basics of Soapstone carving.

Presented with what he referred to as a chunk of rock, he worked all week shaping, filing, rubbing with a soft sandpaper, and finally polishing this lovely Heart paperweight.

The tutor was delighted with his work and said how difficult it is to get the two sides so equal, (and with very little sight I can't imagine just how difficult it must have been.)

Apparently Soapstone, also known as Steatite, has been used for thousands of years. It has a high Talc content which makes it soft and slightly soapy to feel, hence its name.

Garden

My garden looked like this a fortnight ago.

I took the photo on the morning that we left for Brighton.

In two weeks it seems to have exploded in a mass of colour and scent.

Roses have done their best since I planted them three seasons ago.

Poppies, Lupins, Alchemilla, Love in the mist, Marguerites....they took my breath away!

I love this clump of Johnson's Blue geraniums just along from beautiful scented pinks..

Now there are roses to dead-head, weeds to pull

and some tidying to do.

But how wonderful to come back to such a blaze of flowers!

A new day dawning.

Thank you.

I feel wrapped in warmth and loving support.

The sun's come up and it's a new day dawning.

Life has returned to 'normal' again. There will no doubt be other times in the future, but I am prepared now.

I have taken down the previous post now, and am so very touched by all your responses.
We return home at the weekend, and I am longing for my garden!

In Brighton.

Every day there is the option of a trip on the one of the big buses belonging to the Centre here in Brighton.

Brighton Marina was on the agenda today, so my husband went off with one of the Carers.

I shopped on my own in the city centre.

You cannot imagine the effort put into loading people in wheelchairs onto this bus. There is clanking of special belts bolted to the floor, seat belts specially adapted, and such great care taken to see that people are safe and comfortable.

There are blind and sight impaired residents here in their 20s and in their 90s, some as a result of war, some fitter than others, but all cared for and treated with huge respect and love.

I do a lot of watching.

A gentle handhold reassuring a very frail man.

A hug for another (yes they do touch people)

Laughter over a hat that has somehow slipped off.

Checking that gloves are worn.

Quiet chatting. Careful explanations.

Independence where possible, but in these cases it is more a build up of warmth, care and  love, that seems to pour from these very special Carers.

Last week was the hundredth Anniversary of Blind Veterans' (St Dunstans as it then was) founding.

A Garden party was held at Buckingham Palace where many of the members were introduced to the Countess of Wessex.

May it roll on for another hundred years, helping war wounded and blinded servicemen find their way back to independent life.

Tess.

Beautiful 'Tess of the D'urbevilles'.

I planted her last year and there were no flowers. This is her first this season, and the buds are profuse.

What a gorgeous rose.

Each petal looks and feels like velvet.

The fragrance is light but pervasive.

I leave you with her as we go off on our trip this weekend.

Thank you all for your lovely comments on my 'going away' post.