My Blog

but as we know love is always here

i only ever wish to share my light

i am faceted

there are many sides to me

i do not rely on one

i play with them all

this is fun and i love me for being myself

and when i am not myself – i love myself for hiding, for being oblivious, and for seeing

Xin Nian Kuai Le !
Gong Xi Fa Cái !

Happy Chinese New Year. 2012 is the year of the Dragon. People born under the Dragon are passionate, brave and self-assured.

Chinese New Year celebrations lasts 15 days, from the first day during a new moon – to the 15th day, a full moon. Each day holds a special significance that varies according to local traditions. It is a time when families get together and feasts on specially prepared food.

The Chinese New Year is a chance to leave the problems of the previous year behind. It is important to start the New Year fresh, so clean your house and buy new clothes.

… or decorate your home in fine art prints!! . Looking ahead with a positive start, I have created an online shopping page, which allows you to buy prints easily through my brand new Etsy shop.

But back to the exciting Chinese New Year… In the West, the dragon is seen as a fierce creature that breathes fire and destruction, but the Chinese dragon is a benevolent animal that is revered as a protector against evil.

There are a several legends as to how the animals were chosen for the Chinese zodiac – after searching a few I have chosen this one as it is my favorite –

“Long ago, in China, the Jade Emperor decided there should be a way of measuring time. On his birthday he told the animals that there was to be a swimming race. The first twelve animals across the fast flowing river would be the winners and they would each have a year of the zodiac named after them. ‘Of course’ said the kind ox. ‘Just climb on my back and I will take you across.’

The rat and the cat quickly jumped up and were very excited when the ox soon took the lead in the race. They had almost reached the other bank when the rat pushed the cat into the river leaving him to struggle in the water. Then just before the ox was about to win the race the rat leapt on his head and on to the bank to finish first.

‘Well done,’ said the Jade Emperor to the proud rat. ‘The first year of the zodiac will be named after you.’

The poor ox had been tricked into second place and the second year of the zodiac was named after him.

Shortly after the exhausted tiger clawed his way to the river bank to claim third place. Swimming across the river had been an enormous struggle for him against the strong currents. The Emperor was so delighted with his efforts that he named the third year after him.

Next to arrive was the rabbit, who hadn’t swum across at all. He hopped across on some stepping stones and then found a floating log which carried him to the shore.

‘I shall be very happy to call the fourth year after you,’ the surprised Jade Emperor explained.

Just then a kind dragon swooped down to take fifth place.

‘Why didn’t you win the race, as you can fly as well as swim?’ the Jade Emperor asked.

‘I was held up because some people and animals needed water to drink. I needed to make some rain,’ the dragon explained. ‘Then when I was nearly here I saw a poor little rabbit on a log in the water and I blew a puff of wind so that the log would float to the river bank.’

‘Well that was very kind of you and now you are here you will have the fifth year of the zodiac named after you.’

The next thing the Jade Emperor heard was the sound of the horse’s hooves. Just as he was thinking the horse would be the next animal to arrive, a sneaky snake wriggled out from around one of the horse’s hooves. The horse was so surprised that he jumped backwards giving the snake a chance to take the sixth place in the race. The poor horse had to be satisfied with seventh place.

Not long afterwards a raft arrived carrying the goat, the monkey and the rooster. They explained to the Emperor how they had shared the raft that the rooster had found. The goat and monkey had cleared weeds and pushed the raft to the shore. The Emperor was very pleased that the animals had worked together. He said the goat would be the eighth zodiac animal, the monkey the ninth and the rooster the tenth.

The next animal to finish was the dog.

‘Why are you so late when you are one of the best swimmers?’ asked the Jade Emperor.

‘The water in the river was so clean that I had to have a bath on the way,’ explained the dog.

His reward was to have the eleventh year named after him.

Now there was one place left in the zodiac and the Emperor wondered when the last winner would come. He had nearly given up when he heard a grunt from the boar.

‘You took a long time to cross the river,’ said the Emperor to the boar.

‘I was hungry and stopped to eat,’ explained the boar. ‘After the meal I felt so tired that I fell asleep.’

‘You have still done well,’ said the Jade Emperor. ‘The last year of the zodiac will be named after you.’

As for the cat who had been pushed into the water by the rat, he finally crawled out of the water but was too late to have a year named after him. He felt very cross with the rat and since then cats have never been friends with rats.

From that day to this the Chinese Zodiac has followed this cycle of years named after these twelve animals.”

The story is thanks to Topmarks education website for children. Use their calculator to work out the Chinese zodiac animal you are born under.

Soooooo – Happy New Year!!! I hope yours is full of love, peace, joy and prosperity.

To everyone who has given me moral support, shown love, offered me advice, shown me friendship, shared tears and laughter and purchased my work – thank you!!

I asked people on Sydenham Road, “What is Christmas?” This is what they had to say.

I did not get time to record myself on the film, but for those who are interested in my thoughts on Christmas, see below.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Christmas to me in the first instance triggers an anxiety. The erection of the tree tends to bring a hazy sense of nostalgia and my daughter’s excitement brings me joy. But if I was to speak from the heart, which is what I asked everyone else in this film to do, it is a time of unease: where will I spend it, the finance and I give thought to those who were close to me that are no longer on this physical plane.

Love is always there 365 days of the year

I make chutney every year and give this to friends and family I see during the holiday period.

I appreciate that Christmas gives some people the opportunity to share love, to give gifts, express gratitude, peace and good wishes… to rest and spend time with family.

What is Christmas to you?

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