Memories

I have been really tired recently, not dead on feet tired or happy to nap tired, just tired - physically, emotionally, punctually, mentally!  You know that sort of tired?!  Yes, well then you will know what I mean!

I bumped into a friend outside school and she asked how I was and I said "oh so tired" and left it at that, later on that morning I rang that friend and said "can I have a hypnotherapy appointment please?" to which she of course was happy to oblige.  It was all booked in and as the date approached so did an email confirming it and saying how she was looking forward to seeing me.  I so nearly cancelled.

Thankfully I didn't.

I sat in her chair and we chatted, about lots of things and she asked me why I was there.  To be honest I wasn't sure but I said "because I am tired of feeling tired, I am tired of feeling I have nothing left to give and I am tired of always saying yes I can help when really I can't" all said with a smile and not a trace of negativity. I think I was asking her to tell me that I will stop feeling tired, that I do have lots to give but not all the time and that it's OK to say no.

Maybe that's what happened.

I find hypnotherapy a strange one and I can't explain it but after my snooze I felt calmer than I had done in a while.  Clare asked me to sit down somewhere comfortable, which was a chair in my granny's house in Warwickshire, she said look over the garden which I did and somehow the ha-ha led down to the bottom of my granny's house in Bath, where I watched the lights go off in a tall building.

Who knows what happened to my little mind but in a way I feel I recharged my batteries with memories of happiness, safety and security.  My two grannies were the most amazing people in my life and I call them my inspirations.  Sadly they're not here today.  

Last Wednesday I felt that they were really with me and they were hugging me tight on their laps whilst stroking my hair all the while saying "shush now little child, don't bother yourself, sit here quietly and when you're ready get down off my lap".

Maybe that's what happened!  I think it's OK to feel like a child sometimes.

More smells

As soon as I publish a blog I think I should have added in something else!  Bear with me, I'm new to blogging and clearly have a lot to learn!

Following on from my Smells blog I wonder how many have you have said "well where can I get lavender cream?".  I am very pleased to announce that I am a Consultant for a Jüstrich Cosmetics.  Please do browse the website and if you are in the Thames valley then contact me via the website to book presentation of Just ~ Swiss herbal bodycare  products.  If you do order anything and are prompted for the consultant code then my code is NPG2012.

Smells

As I write up this blog I can see and smell the beautiful stocks I picked up from Wokingham Market this morning.

Smells are very important to me.  I am sure my heart flips when I smell baby powder as it brings back the memories of those gorgeous little toes and the gappy smiles of my children.

Lavender is one of those smells that calms and awakens me.  What a bonkers thing to say, but it's true!  Lavender is well known for its calming qualities.  My children went through stages of bad sleeping and it drove me to despair.  Many years before the children rocked up I was invited to an Aromatherapy party.  Oh!  I am so glad I went!  My bonkers children had to sleep!  I would run a chamomile bath, wrap them in a warm towel and when dry, before the 'warmed on radiator' PJs I would cover their toes, ears, back of neck, chest and back with lavender cream.  Sleep.  Lovely sleep!

To say lavender awakens me is well yes I know daft!  However, lavender reminds me of two wonderful ladies who are sadly no longer here.  My father's mother was at home in the garden in Rowington wearing a quilted jacket stuffed full of mints incase a horse escaped and she needed to catch it!  My mother's mother was a girl about town who used to change for supper.  Those were the days!  Both of them had a bowl of lavender and would squidge the fading blue as they wafted into a room - smelling of mint, baby powder and Ellnet!

These two very strong ladies inspire still.  I am useless at flower arranging yet spent hours watching Granny Sheldon arrange the church flowers in Bath, I was too impatient to knit anything other than a square cotton dishcloth yet used to sit for hours watching Granny Pritchard-Gordon embroider.  I think they'd be proud of me, if only for my love of smells!

I am very lucky that The Original Present Cupboard  stocks beautiful bath oils and body lotions from Lubatti, their bottles evoke memories and the scents are divine.