26 January 2014

Why it's Good to be a Beginner

“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few” 
Shunryu Suzuki author of Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind

Sometimes it's hard to be a beginner.  When you set out to learn something new there is often uncertainty, doubt and self-criticism.  It feels uncomfortable when you are out of your depth and sometimes it is tempting to take the easy path and give up. 

It can be like this when you first go to a yoga class.  You might be unsure of the poses and feel that you're one step behind everyone else but, if you stick with it, at some point you'll realise that yoga is to be practiced without comparison to others. It's a relief to acknowledge that we are all different, we each have our own strengths and weaknesses and that your practice doesn't have to be "perfect" - it's just you on your mat, breathing, moving and feeling. 

For those who have been practicing yoga for some time, having a "beginner's mind" can be extremely beneficial.  You can learn a lot when you do each pose as if you've never done it before. Forgetting what you know and really paying attention to how it feels can give you a new perspective on something you may have done hundreds of times before. Even the simplest pose can teach you something and offer you a new insight about yourself. 

This is the essence of yoga - on the mat and in life, for the beginner or the experienced practitioner - to be able to stay aware, present, interested, curious and open to the many possibilities available to us in each moment. 

"Allow yourself to be a beginner. No one starts off being excellent."

This week I'm making..... Flapjack

This is a simple, tasty and quick recipe a friend gave to me some time ago.  It remains a firm favourite as there are lots of nutrients in the oats, seeds and fruit.  I have decreased the amount of sugar as I am trying to cut down (the original amount was 4oz sugar) , and you could experiment with decreasing the amount honey too or trying maple syrup instead.

Ingredients:
10oz rolled oats
2 oz Demerara sugar
4 oz butter
3 dessertspoons of runny honey
A pinch of salt
Extra goodies including small handfuls of sunflower seeds, pumpkins, cranberries, and soft dried apricots cut into quarters, or anything else you fancy.


Method:
Mix the oats, sugar and dried fruit and seeds together in a bowl.
Heat the butter and honey in a saucepan until melted, then add the dry ingredients and mix together.  If the mixture seems a bit dry, add a splash of orange or apple juice.
Spread the mixture and press it down into a small lined tin, and cook in the oven at gas mark 4 or 180° electric for 15 minutes.
When nearly cooled, cut into squares. 


This week I'm visiting..... The Cafe at the Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL http://www.vam.ac.uk

If you are ever in London around the Kensington area and feel in need of a coffee or a bite to eat, the cafe at the V&A is a unique and atmospheric place to stop.  It is open from 10.00-17.15 each day (on Fridays until 21.30) and serves a wide range of hot and cold drinks, hot food, deli food and sandwiches - all freshly made on the premises.  It was busy when we were there on a Saturday lunchtime, but it wasn't long before we got a table.  Next time I'll go on a weekday and take a wander through the museum too.


The Morris Room
The ceiling in the Gamble Room
The cafe comprises 3 interconnecting rooms, the Morris, Poynter and Gamble rooms, each having its own distinctive decorative features. The Morris room was designed by William Morris and features paintings by the artist Edward Burne-Jones, the Gamble room is very ornate, with embellished columns and vaulted ceilings, and the Poynter room is designed with blue and white tiled panels.  The serving area, in contrast, is modern and contemporary.


This week I'm growing.... Snowdrops

Well, I'm not exactly growing them - more like planting them really.  You will have noticed my recurring failure to plant bulbs at the right time (see previous blogs on planting tulips late, and planting garlic late!)  This week is no different!  

Each year I have the intention to plant some snowdrops to brighten up the dull January days. They are the first bulbs to emerge and they offer the promise of the spring that is to come.  I wanted to plant them in the front garden so that I can see them every time I come to the front door. 

If you buy snowdrop bulbs in the autumn they can be difficult to establish, so it is recommended that you buy them "in the green" when they have just finished flowering but the leaves are still green. Growers lift and divide them just at this stage of growth and they are available in garden centres for a short time only.  They need to be planted immediately and then the leaves die back until the following winter.  However, although this is the cheapest way to buy them, it leaves such a tiny window of opportunity for planting that I keep missing it!  

Seizing the moment, I went to the garden centre and bought my snowdrops in flower, in pots. This is the most expensive way of buying them, but at least I get the benefit of looking at the flowers now, and they will clump up and multiply as the years go by.   Another benefit is that the process couldn't be simpler:  1. buy pot of snowdrops, 2. dig hole, 3. take clump out of pot and put in hole so the surface of the compost is level with the soil, 4.  press soil back gently around clump. 5. no need to water at the moment (!) but should you be planting when the weather is dry they might need watering in.  Hey presto - snowdrops in my garden! No further care needed.



Did you know that there are hundreds of different types of snowdrop, some of which can cost over £150 per bulb?! And that enthusiasts are called "galanthophiles"?   My snowdrops cost £3.99 for a pot of 5, and I bought 4 pots to establish my colony.  

This week I'm loving.... a vase of pink and orange tulips



So beautiful - they make me think of Spring!

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