I have been staying in my former house in Brigantia for a couple of days. Pendragon is travelling to the west to give a lecture in the Great Western University, so I went to Brigantia to do some work on the toadstool there. It is a very pleasant little place with two large bedrooms,and quite a big garden. I chose some new colours to paint the hallway,one of the bedrooms and the cookhouse. I kept busy,as I always miss Pendragon when he is away. He calls me on the woodland phone when he can, to reassure himself that I am alright.+ We laugh a lot on the phone, and look forward to being together again. I came back early today to my beautiful Flowerpot Cottage.. The sun was shining over the toadstool roof,and every flower smiled at me as I carried my overnight satchel up the path. Inside I made myself a peppermint tisane and re-read my draft for my column at the Daily Scandal. I was pleased with what I had put together. Both replies were within the 100 word limit set by Cumberpatch,and I felt I had been true to myself in what I had replied. To the lady with no confidence,despite an embarassment of riches, I urged her to write down all the things she felt she could do, her skills,and good points - no time was to be spent writing down anything that she "had". Then to think of all the ways in which she could use those skills -maybe for charity,maybe by taking a course/class in something, maybe by helping someone. Happiness and confidence come through our relationships with others. Feeling valued by others comes from what we give to folk in terms of time.I feel she needs to be dwelling less upon herself,and spending more time on just enjoying the adventures which life can bring. One step at a time,though.Start with something comfortable for herself,and then see where it leads. She has a close friend whom I am sure will want to help her find the first rung of the ladder. She must take courage and confide in her. As for the husband who does not have time to understand, well, when he finds her busy with her new activities, maybe he will see things and her, in a new light. If not, hopefully she will have the confidence to see him for what he is ,and ditch him with the fortnightly rubbish.!!
Letter two was more difficult,dealing as it was, with taking stuff from the supermercantile. The sprite who wrote the letter about his brother, clearly knows such behaviour is wrong,but is torn about what to do. Yet he has not told anyone, even his goblin mother and father.It certainly won't be easy telling them what his brother is getting up to. But I can't let him think that it is ok to turn a blind eye to it. So I told him the right thing to do is to tell whichever parent he feels he can talk to .Do it,and do it quickly. It may not be pleasant,but it is for the best.And in the long run,it will help his brother. You are never to young to learn that sometimes you have to stand up and be counted.
And so the column begins with some straight talking. It may not be the only way,but it is the way of Amarantha.
I dropped my ramblings off at the Daily Scandal. Portamus doffed his cap in my direction,and handed me next week's letters to be getting on with. He didn't comment on my work other than to say "no more than 100 ,remember."
I headed off for a late afternoon acorn tea in the Jolly Woodman, to celebrate my first column. One thing led to another, and I emerged, skipping, into the breezy air with four boxes of plants for the garden, fresh earth, new plant pots, and some cheeky nibbles for my friends ,the birds. A true day of celebration. Twilight found me,strolling round the garden, watering them with my Jolly Green watering can . I can't wait to bed them in tomorrow Won't Mandolini and the Backyard Boys be pleased ?.
Much good potting in the shed,to you all my fine friends, and may all your peonies and lobelia be trailing ones .From dearest Amarantha, the wild and woolly Rainbow Faery.