predencia

What gorgeous weather for this time of year. My brother pointed out how little light pollution there is in Kegworth compared to a big city. I hadn’t noticed for I rarely look up at the stars. Him and his family really enjoyed watching the DVD (particularly as there was so much of them in it). I’ve been re-reading Marianne Williamson’s ‘A return to Love’ and marvelling at the power of love and forgiveness. There is no problem that cannot be solved when we surrender it to God. Need a lot of practice.

This morning I was grappling with the problem of how to respond to the court case and was taken back to an observation by Dr Martin Luther King Junior which I have on my wall.

Cowardice asks the question – is it safe?
Expediency asks the question – is it politic?
Vanity asks the question – is it popular?
But conscience asks the question – is it right?
And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular; but one must take it BECAUSE it is RIGHT.

There have been times in my life when I’ve felt I’ve had to act in a way that felt right for me; and that must be the case here. Whatever the outcome I must be able to look myself in the eye in the mirror and know that I have not compromised my integrity. I will do whatever the judge instructs if we cannot come to an agreement out of court – but whatever – I must know I have acted with integrity.

The sun came out as though to say ‘Amen’. I feel incredibly fortunate to be so close to beautiful countryside in Kegworth. A two hour walk along the river this afternoon was perfect. My brother and his family are coming tomorrow and I’ve spent time making curry mutton, jerk chicken and apple crumble. And the belly dance? About 10 minutes of hand practice. I’m strugling to get the downward undulations right – I just look like I need to go to the toilet.

A relaxing day despite the conveyor belt approach. The approach to the reception is very unusual – you walk across a bridge above a fish pond filled with brightly coloured fish with fountians playing tuneful jets. And as the tension begins to drain out of you its very quickly replaced by the barrage of information about all the features of the place. Where the spa is, where the gym is, where the Thalassotheraphy pool is, where to go for your treatment, how to wait in the room with your surname initial, where lunch is served, what time to check out, how to add purchases to your tab etc, etc. When the informer had gone we both looked at each other shell shocked. ‘I feel like I’ve done a day’s work’ I said. ‘Information overload’ Andrew agreed as he sank back into the luxurious settee; one of the many reserved for day guests. We munched on fruit coctails and craved ginger stem biscuits.

We managed to find the Thallasotherapy pool which was no less military style; being told when to move from jet to jet, when to sit on the bubble bed (blissful and I could have stayed there all day). If you ever use this pool be ware the jets that massage the back and sides. If you’re wearing a low cut suimsuit it can pull the top down and leave you unintentionally topless.

First experience of an aromatherapy wrap; skin brushed, oils smoothed on, foil wrapped over and tucked in under my chin (yes I now know how a turkey feels) and left to cook on a heated bed. Where I had it over the turkey though is that I had my feet massaged while I gently broiled. But again it was over all too quickly 25 minutes is not long enough to really go deep, but I would love to have this again for an hour.

Lunch was all healthy stuff and beautifully presented; even had a chef cooking veg tortilla to order. Felt very virtuous until about 4 o’clock when we headed for the cafe and tucked into muffins (we tried to mitigate this out by having green tea). And so the last two hours passed in those beautifully soft settees reading and jsut being together. It’s good to turn the phones off for a day.

And the belly dance practice? Hand movements in the Jacuzzi – a few strange stares but do I care?

Who would have thought life would beocme so hectic again. The hen night reunion was fabulous. It was like having a DVD night – but we were starring in the film. Unfortunately the bridesmaid couldn’t make it as she was ill. Shame as she was heavily featured. It was good to use our cards, books and numerology to track our progress in life and find out so much more about ourselves. Thanks for the Osho Zen cards A. Love the way they invite you to think.

Used my SATNAV for the first time on Sunday as Andrew refused to drive to the christening (after dropping some of my friends back to Brum on Sat night) Not as bad as I thought – used it again today to get to Oldbury for tiles. Lovely christening although we just about made it to the church in time. Eats at Kenilworth Cricket Ground. Beautiful sunny and warm day – seems we are getting July’s weather now. It’s been a long time since I felt the need to have a kip in the afternoon but he settee saw a lot of me on Sunday afternoon/night.

Went to court on Tuesday – judge a bit miffed that stuff from my blog was being used – could not see the relevance and said he had no wish to wade through pages of irrelevance. Neither of us filled in the statements properly so he wasn’t best pleased. A new hearing will be set in November – which will allow me sufficient time to respond to the plaintiff’s statement (unlike last time). Think I’ll use a lawyer for the next hearing. Plus for the day was a lovely meal at in the Jewellery Quarter and a large glass of Servignon Blanc while we waited for the traffic out of town to die down.

Andrew putting in some manic hours and I’ve just realised today that I’ve either been trying to match him or feeling guilty that I’m not. We’re both taking a break tomorrow – going to Champney Springs for a relaxing spa day (wedding present); massage plus two other treatments; lunch and our phones turned off. Really looking forward to it.

Working on bellydance routine – lots of hand moves – it’s all in the wrists.

Tomorrow the hen night possee come together to view photos, DVD, drink wines, coctails, eat savories and sweets and relive the day (and night). The house is cleaned, the albums sorted and the curry mutton cooked. It will be supplemented by some samosas, veg curry, and maybe a chocolate cake. There should be about 10 of us and there should be some laughs. Need some sleep as we’ve got a christening on Sunday morning.

While searching for something completely different last night I just found this link to the Daily Telegraph’s article on our wedding. If you didn’t manage to get a paper on the day (or didn’t want to spend £1.99 just to see a few words about us) here’s your chance. Mind you – it’s not the full article – there were more pictures in the mag.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/5988858/Summer-weddings-reflecting-different-cultures.html

All good bellydancers must have some presence on the web and apart from my tentative attempts on my website I am now on YouTube! Hurray! The wedding bellydance is finally posted by the videographers. You can watch it at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo_30l44LoY

They’ve only put up the veiled dance. The raunchier Shakira one (which so embarassed my boys) willbe posted on my website in the portfolio section – waiting for Andrew to do that for me but he’s so busy just now….

So how has my first week been? Dedided to keep paper journal as I have a big enough handbag to carry one – laptop doesn’t quite fit my bag. Viewed loads of flamenco style dances to see if there are any moves I’d like to incorporate in my dance; eventually after seeing a dance by my teacher decided on; square turns, penatgon turns, fireny walk, zig zag hot backs, cash steps, shoulder and hip shimmies, floreos, knee raises and a fair bit of skirt ruffling. I was sent home to practice upward and downward undulations and piston hips (which involve an amazing amount of glutes work) Have been given specific glutes exercised – my I’m going to have a tight arse. Need to lose about 7 pounds if I’m really going to look the part (how quickly it shot back on after the wedding).

On another performance matter. Passed up the opportunity to perform at a Black History Month event on October 10th as that weekend is a social whirl with a bit of R&R at Champney Springs thrown in. It’s all very exciting . Being Mrs Dixon is much more fun than I expected.

I’m always amazed at the time gap between post. I think its a week or so and when I come to write again find it two or even three weeks. In the last few weeks I’ve had a birthday – very low key coming so close on the heel of the high profile wedding. We had a hot stone massage; our first one-and a wedding gift. The stones were beautiful and I must confess to being very impressed with Banatynes in Brindley Place where we had it. One of my sons joined us for dinner in one of the Italians restarants in Brindley Place. He was working early the next day and Andrew was driving so I was forced to drink most of the two bottles of Survignon Blanc by myself. And was really surprised when the waiting staff who found out it was my birthday brought me a candle in my dessert and all gathered to sing me happy birthday.

I had a most amazing reading at the mind, body, spirit fair at the Council House in Birmingham on Saturday from a guy called Ian on the ‘Lizian’ stand. Apparently I need to get back into my creative activities and from my last birthday I come into a most ‘progressive’ phase – roughly translated means I can do anything I set my mind to. SO I’ve set my mind on becoming an international bellydancer!! Well, if the man is right it should be possible.

So this is where the creative path come back into the blog. I’ve agreed with my bellydance teacher to learn a dance to be performed solo at the next Hafla. I enjoyed the performance at the wedding so much that I have a real taste for solo performance. To keep me on track and to chart my progress I’m going to keep a diary (Diary of an International Bellydancer) may even do it on line. There’s a mixture of fear and excitement at this prospect but if my chances of acheiveing whatever I want in the next 6-7 years are so greatly increased why not go for it?

WE GOT THE WEDDING DVD yesterday. I’ve watched it 3 times. It is fab and was certainly worth the wait. I saw so much that I didn’t on the day. I can’t get over how much laughter there was- how happy everyone appeared and how much fun we had. Everyone was so beautiul – so proud of my boys.

So – my next performance will be at the Christmas Hafla in Sutton. I just have to perfect the dance – watch this space!!

If you are reading this please know that I hold you in a place of love. Whatever has gone on between us, however acrimonious it may have felt to you; please know that I have always trusted that the outcome will be a fair and just one. Please go in peace.

Two weeks since I last blogged and it feels like two days. Where does the time go? Loads have happened since which I’m sure I’ll get round to writing about when I have a bit more time. And yet no news from the contractor taking me to court. If you’re reading this – what’s going on? Please send me a reply to my email.

Been sorting out the photo albums/books/dvds/cd. Takes ages. Now have absolutely fantastic collage on wall. A1 size beautifully framed. Also got some really lovely frames from Debenhams for wall pictures of me, Andrew and the guys. Managed to deliver a few framed pictures of friends to them and and little personalised albums to bridesmaid, ushers and bestman (back in the UK for a few days before jetting off back to New York).

Went to a performance workshow with WWB today. Made relaize how far I’ve drifted from the performing world – haven’t done any writing in ages – so decided to book myself into a poetry workshop the day before my birthday. Wedding hardly over and having to think about what to do for my birthday. Current options. Party at home…Glee Club….Dinner with Andrew….Girls night in…Dinner out with friends…Still thinking about it.