Farewell to Garnish

Across the lawn 

                                   Past amazing tree ferns

                                 Over the stepping stones  

                                            By exotic shrubs

                                          Up endless steps



 

                                 

                                           Through a curious entrance





                                             

                               To look out from the Martello Tower





                                                                 

                                A last visit to the fragrant garden






                         

               A dahlia in memory of my mother who loved them so much






                                                                                       

                                 Back on the ferry waving goodbye to the seals





                                                                                                         

                                    Enjoying the boat journey

             

                            Savouring the last views


                                   

              A Big Thanks to the Blue Pool Ferry men for a wonderful trip.

Ps nearly forgot the Grecian Temple


Garnish Island

The island of Ilnacullin  ( Garnish ) extends to 15 hectares and is renowned for its gardens which flourish in the mild humid micro-climate of Glengarriff harbour assisted by a mainly pine shelter belt. Structures include a clock tower, Grecian Temple, Martello Tower, and an Italian Temple. Although noted for the "Italian" gardens, there is a strong Japanese influence running throughout the design. This is particularly evident at the Grecian Temple

Grecian Temple

 which frames the Sugarloaf mountain (in the Caha Mountains)

 in a manner which is highly suggestive of Mount Fuji in Japan .

For more information  Ilnacullin generally known as Garnish Island

                Here comes our ferry from The Blue Pool to Garnish Island

                    Almost there looking back to the mainland

              First view of  the basking seals everyone oohing and aahing !

We arrive at the Italian Garden  more Oohing and Ahing 

Ruth spotted the coins in the pond and that reminded me 

of all the wishes I had made at this pond during those childhood 

visits. Wishes for adventure , travel and excitement. 

With views like this from the Italian garden was it any wonder 

childhood dreams and hopes were ignited.

Back past the pond so much more to see on this tiny Island

Vibrant colours 

Along the herbaceous border.

There is so much more I'll finish my short tour tomorrow. 

Before I go don't forget 

T'ai Chi in Fitzgerald's Park next Wednesday July 31th 6 - 7.30 pm

This is an open session for all interested in our T'ai Chi.

No previous experience is required , it will be a relaxed fun practice .

We will be near the rose garden beyond the pond, ( or under the bandstand if it rains ).

The Magic of West Cork and Kerry

Garnish Island has been calling me back since I took my friend Deb there a few summers ago.
A trip there was an annual event with Uncle Seamus , magical, mysterious outings that inspired and fed my childhood imagination  . So  finally I persuaded John and my girls to come with me and share in the magic . .  . . .

           

The journey took us west past the Paps of Anu Sacred Mountains of Sliabh Luachra
          The city of the Paps

                  On to the town of Kenmare

      With it's beautiful bay overlooking the sea.

         Soft landscape and waterfalls.

               A stop our way to the Caha Pass

          Past mountain streams

           Through the tunnels

         To the stunning views
        More information here The Caha Mountains

                  The first view of Bantry Bay tells us that Glengariff and
                    Garnish Island are coming closer.


                   But it is late now and T'ai Chi is calling me so
                   I'll wait until tomorrow to finish our trip.

T'ai Chi in Fitzgerald's Park next Wednesday July 31th 6 - 7.30 pm

This is an open session for all interested in our T'ai Chi.

No previous experience is required , it will be a relaxed fun practice .

We will be near the rose garden beyond the pond, ( or under the bandstand if it rains.

                                         Rita Harris

                          21 June 1946 to 11 May 2013

There is a Gathering to Celebrate Rita's life in London this afternoon .

My thoughts and  sympathy are with her husband Jonathan and all gathered to celebrate her life.
                             


“In Tibet we say that just as it is the nature of fire to burn and of water to quench thirst, the nature of the Buddhas is to be present as soon as anyone invokes them, so infinite is their compassionate desire to help all sentient beings. Don’t for one moment imagine that it would be less effective for you to invoke the truth to help your dead friend than if a “holy man” prays for them. Because you are close to the person who has died, the intensity of your love and the depth of your connection will give your invocation an added power. Call out to them, and the Buddhas will answer you.”

Sogyal Rinpoche
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
Ch 19 “Helping After Death”

Au Revoir Hsiao Hwa

We met in Fitzgerald's Park last evening,  Hsiao  Haw's wish to see some Irish rain was fulfilled so we worked under the Bandstand's shelter. 

It was soft rain with no wind so it actually added to the atmosphere, the park was quiet and reminded Hsiao Hwa of her first T'ai Chi lessons when she was a dance student in Taiwan.

 She told us about the early morning practice in a quiet park and how much she enjoyed it and looked forward to the good breakfast with her teacher once the work was done. 

Then she remembered sessions with her recently deceased beloved  teacher Rita and we dedicated our practice to Rita's memory.

Hsiao Hwa is on her way home to the  Pyrénées as I write she is mid flight and I'm reflecting on the time we have spent  working together on John's exercises that she wanted to ' remember ' .  And also gaining our own new insights into this ancient mysterious art. 

Here working on Figure 8's with both hands doing the same 8. 

Working  the 8's here with the hands in opposition.

So much food for thought , so grateful to this practice which never fails to engage  , inspire , and challenge .

Adieu to Hsiao Hwa farewell until we meet again.

A visit to Doneraile Park with Hsiao Hwa

                     
           Blue blue skies on  fields of saved hay

               Curious deer resting in the shade

          Family sheltering beneath the oak

           Moving  down to the river

     
        Some swimming to cool off

            We cross over the bridge

       On our way home we stop again in wonder at these fields of hay.









And back to practice in the garden.

Subtle Energy

Taking the time to relax into open focus really helps one to become conscious of the energy surrounding and inter- penetrating the body. In open focus exercises we learn to pay attention to the space around and also in our bodies.  This awareness of subtle feelings allows us to tune into the subtle movements of energy between us when we practice.  Beautiful to feel and see this energy  move between and around people who have developed this subtle awareness.

 A big Thanks to everyone who came along  and made  yesterday's Workshop such a success.

What an interesting morning it turned out to be.  So much to investigate, so much to listen to,  and learn in,  from and through our energy bodies.  There is nothing quite like a morning of T'ai Chi , Open Focus and Energy Work to enrich one's life .

 A special thanks to Hsiao Hwa for sharing her beautiful Chi Kung energy exercises with us.

Remembering

Hsiao-Hwa has been visiting for the week , we often trained together in London so this was a week of remembering people and T'ai Chi gatherings.  We remembered especially Rita,  Hsiao -Hwa 's teacher who died just a few weeks ago and all our sessions were dedicated to her memory. Rita was an amazing woman and a great T'ai Chi teacher.







Here we are playing with the energy between our hands, listening, feeling,  connecting in mysterious ways on deep levels way beyond our minds understanding .

Trees are sanctuaries. Whoever knows how to speak to them, whoever knows how to listen to them, can learn the truth.
- Herman Hesse

West Cork on a sunny day.

                     When we reach Innishannon and cross the Bandon  river
                          it  really feels like  I'm in West cork.

         
                 By the time we reach Clonakilty Flowers are tumbling out
                       over windows and hanging baskets  -

Along narrow roads to

To visit the ancient stone circle at Drombeg

Obsessed with the abundant fuchsia

On over the hills to Glandore

Can't resist stopping to view the Church of Ireland 

 with its amazing entrance carved out of the rock.

This little church is warm and steeped in flower scent

Was there a wedding earlier ?

Stop to eat in Rosscarbery and head home tired

 and happy with out trip to West Cork.