We are very very close to formally opening the new sim Giverny.  Kaye Robianni and I have been obsessively and compulsively working on making Giverny a destination spot.  Not just a Furniture / Home store village or Garden Centre but a whole destination where you can wander and look and be. 

One day last week we both looked up from our places and said.. 'WOW' this is great!!!  And I think it is.. and has the potential for more and more beauty as we go along. Giverny will grow as we both do in skill and imagination. 

So here are some pictures to share with you of our Giverny:

Well I am not one for making resolutions.. but I am trying to catch up on my blog here.  So much does happen sometimes.  On the Second Life front our new full sim was dropped on Christmas Eve and true to LL's never getting anything quite right.. it was a week early.  Thankfully we had copies of all our major builds so not much was lost that couldn't be easily recreated. 

The New Sim is a joint venture between Kaye Robbianni and myself.  We merged our Open sims and have created Giverny.  Modeled after Monet's Village and estate and of course Gardens.  It has been a dream of mine to recreate the landscapes flora and fauna of the impressionists.. and the big change in policy just made it sooner rather than later.  One of those Lemons into Lemonade things.

Kaye has done a marvelous and impressive job of re creating the village of Giverny, whilst I tag behind landscaping the gardens to approximate scale and layout as the original.  My excuse is that we still have snow on the ground.  But I have developed a whole line of colorful and intreging Winter time plants. Elrik Merlin, collegue in Radio Riel has commissioned me to landscape his new 1/4 sim on Rothesay which is a nice challenge.

Also with all of the changes have come a re build at Lily's World and a new shop for me there as well as a new shop in the Portland Sim called the Portland Rose and most Shocking of all... I sold the rest of Stormhold and moved the Garden Centre in Caledon to Morgaine.  So busy busy busy.  And the more things  change the more it stays the same. 

Omicron is busily making us a new home.. a Chateau this time based on a Chateau in the Le Reine Blanche area of France.  It is quite an impressive built as once again he has designed made everything from scratch including the textures and amazing sculpted window frames, doors and sculptures.
So are we up to speed yet.....????

Well no, because in Real Life.. the black dog became vicious and horrible in November with me reaching new low depths of despair that left me contemplating suicide these visits would come and depart in a rapid cycling fashion that was not 'normal' and would last for maybe 20 - 30 min or an hour.  They left me weak, tear stained and worried for my sanity, and above all else terrified.  I tried to speak to people about it but it seemed as though I wasn't being heard.  Once again my competant and confident outer shell did not help I guess.  Well, one Saturday night late on the ISC Chat I was watching as someone talked about their Flare up with Rheumatoid Arthritis and mentioned that they had been taken Methotrexate but had a very rare neurological side effect.  So I privately Im'd her and asked.. it seems she got terribly depressed... Well I had been on Methotrexate since August and when they doubled the dose in October this was when things seemed to get very bad.  I was fortunate to have an appointment at the GP for the Monday morning.. and actually when I went in I was in the middle of the grip of one of these terrible 'things'.  Long story short.. no more Methotrexate no more of these Bizarre overwhelming attacks.  The Black Dog did come to visit over Christmas but, stayed quietly under the artifical tree, looking baleful and whining quietly.... Just a normal black dog. 

The other side effect.. an extreme sensitivity to the cold has lessened but not gone.

On the world front.. I remain  a skeptic.. but hopeful for the regime change in the USA... I watch in despair at the total disregard for human life in Gaza and Israel, in Zimbawe and the Congo, and all of the other places where a child's life is but flotsam on the storm of greed and self styled importance.  And once again the victims are the innocent.. Children and Women. 

Now I am up to date.. and will try again for a modicum of consistant blogging.

My Song today.. is from Pink.. Glitter in the Air.. and is dedicated to.. OL.

Vote For CHANGE

Vote and Be heard.. Let the world know, that the USA that people once respected ... is still there and still thinking.

Well, I do think it is necessary for me to talk about Linden Labs unilateral decision on Open or Void sims.  The history and full explanation of this can be read here: gigaom.com/2008/10/30/protest-threatens-linden-labs-profitability/ and you can read the numerous posts and responses on the Second Life (tm) forums here: forums.secondlife.com/forumdisplay.php  WARNING: The forum posts are painful, heart wrenching, thought provoking.. and in some cases.. well head scratching. 

Never the less.. here is what this change means to me personally and I am writing it because I know that I am not alone in this sentiment and situation.  The truth is: I love my two OS sims.  I moved Snook's Garden Centre for business reasons but, I love what I have and am able to create there.  I love being there.  Now this is sad.. because it is a virtual world.  But to me, it is my haven, my refuge and my only social net work.. My real life sucks and is at this moment  not changable for a variety of reasons.

Because I am genetically pre disposed to the joy of making and selling having come from a long line of Shopkeepers and Horse traders, part of the fun for me has always been the making and selling of flowers and plants.  I chose this medium and area because it was something I love to do in RL.. I have a passion for it.. for growing things and seeing a niche in the market a year ago.. Gardening seemed the best choice.   Besides, plants were the easiest to make.  I can not tell you how many hours and days and weekends and holidays I spend and spent learing to do what I now do.  

The results of these increases and changes.. will just about price me out of the market and out of Second Life.  I am like many others, my garden centre paid for itself and allowed me to have some fun too.  Once I even cashed in about £40 of lindens. 

Now my whole effort, my creativity, my sweat and heart could be ruined, wiped away with on stroke of the delete button.  I am really trying hard not to whine, but for fucks sake..

What really reallly gets up my nose is that Linden Labs marketed Second Life (tm) on the concept of user created content.  You could create your own virtual world.  It was first, viewing the amazing creativity of individuals, then learning how to create that kept me coming back and has me investing money.  Now the very thing that is Second Life's USP (unique selling point) is something that they are going to kill.. squash, trample.. destroy.  This makes no sense to me.. it is like 'What were you thinking?' . 

With the rest of my friends on Orcadia, Caledon and Winterfell I will be burning fires on Giggleford and Oran na Mara in protest.   I hold out a bit of hope that the light might over come the darkness here.. and that LL will step back and re-think.  But, as my dearest friend, now second life partner, Omicron Llewellyn said to me this week 'Lube up Sol, we are about to get screwed'.

and my song for today  4Blondes What's up

Ok I am going to rant here.  I am going to rant about change.. because as my blog title implies I am a tad cynical nothing ever really changes.  But you know It must change for America.. I am a US citizen who lives in Europe and I have watched the rapid degeneration of my country happen over the last 8 years..Watched in horror at 9-11, watched in abject fear at the Patriot Act and the subsequent stripping of civil liberties, AND watched in shock when my fellow americans.. agreed with it. 

The subtext on my blog title is 'You can't get there from here'  means exactly that.. We can not continue the same path and get where we should be, could be, or want to be.  Now that is a collective we.. but it is true for me personally too.... 
So Vote and Vote smart
I have..
shake off your fear.. and change



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Avoidance behaviour is a speciality of mine.  But I have been noticing that all of my friends except one have been avoiding talking about politics and the economy.  Is this because we think if we ignore it it will go away?  I don't think so, I think it is a process of shock and awe
as the economic world as we know it prepares to crash around our ears, maybe, we think.  But Maybe not.  Its sort of like the millenium bug.  Remember?  Doom and Gloom the end of the world as we know it .. and then.. it didn't happen. Have too many incidents like this happened in the past that we are numb.. and don't pay attention?  These are rhetorical questions.  But I have to say I saw it coming, heard it predicted for years.  But sort of watched with a corner of my vision and got on with the how and now. 

I think there is much to be hopeful for.. I hope that this is a close call.. I do not want us to fall into utter chaos.. I do hope that we have and Awakening of values to things like compassion, poverty, and what is really enough.  It seems as though my bain of existance, my constant  whine of never having any money might just become a blessing.  I have nothing to loose.  Nothing really changes for me in these turbulent times except my Cassandra flopping in frustration saying 'I told you so, you no listen'.

What troubles me is that I have watched the stock markets these past 10 years or so and found it to be completely based on emotion and not on fact, assets and bottom line.  Is this the new trend.. the 21st century economy of ideas? Or are we viewing the lack of critical thinking skills that seem apparent in many these days.  BIG SIGH here.. you see.. pondering these things makes no difference.. and I think that HOW and NOW still is the watch words.. What is Now and How do we do cope..

The song for today:  Jackson Browne..'Alive in the World'

This poem was suggested on a thread of conversation in Second Life on the Independent State of Caledon Chat I went to the link and read.. and became utterly charmed and touched by the writings of Ravindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941) a Bengali poet who was the first Asian Nobel Prize laureate in 1913.Ravindranath Tagore.

So by a chance glance at a chat screen I became acquainted with a lovely, haunting poem that surrounds me and grips me and here it is below:

And the song for today  "Come Away with me" by Norah Jones



(Excerpts from The Gardener by Ravindranath Tagore)
I try to wreath all the morning, but the flowers slip and they drop out.
You sit there watching me in secret through the corner of your prying eyes.
Ask those eyes, darkly planning mischief, whose fault it was.

I try to sing a song, but in vain.
A hidden smile trembles on your lips; ask of it the reason of my failure.
Let your smiling lips say on oath
how my voice lost itself in silence like a drunken bee in the lotus

It is evening, and the time for the flowers to close their petals.
Give me leave to sit by your side,
and bid my lips to do the work that can be done in silence
and in the dim light of stars.

 

---

Do not keep to yourself the secret of your heart, my friend!
Say it to me, only to me in secret.
You who smile so gently, softly whisper, my heart will hear it, not my ears.

The night is deep, the house is silent, the birds' nests are shrouded with sleep.
Speak to me through hesitating tears, through faltering smiles,
through sweet shame and pain, the secret of your heart!

 

---

Speak to me, my love! Tell me in words what you sang.
The night is dark. The stars are lost in clouds. The
wind is sighing through the leaves.
I will let loose my hair. My blue cloak will cling round me like night. I
will clasp your head to my bosom; and there in the sweet loneliness murmur
on your heart. I will shut my eyes and listen. I will not look in your face.
When your words are ended, we will sit still and silent. Only the trees will whisper
in the dark.
The night will pale. The day will dawn. We shall look at each other's eyes and go
on our different paths.
Speak to me, my love! Tell me in words what you sang

 

---

Love, my heart longs day and night for the meeting with you
-for the meeting that is all-devouring death.
Sweep me away like a storm; take everything I have;
break open my sleep and plunder my dreams. Rob me of my world.
In that devastation, in the utter nakedness of spirit, let us become one in beauty.
Alas for my vain desire! Where is this hope for union except in thee, my God?

 

---

Peace, my heart, let the time for the parting be sweet.
Let it not be a death but completeness.
Let love melt into memory and pain into songs.
Let the flight through the sky end in the folding of the wings over the nest.
Let the last touch of your hands be gentle like the flower of the night.
Stand still, O Beautiful End, for a moment, and say your last words in silence.
I bow to you and hold up my lamp to light you on your way.

 

---

Then finish the last song and let us leave.
Forget this night when the night is no more.
Whom do I try to clasp in my arms? Dreams can never be made captive.
My eager hands press emptiness to my heart and it bruises my heart.

 

---

Hands cling to hands and eyes linger on eyes: thus
begins the record of our hearts.
It is the moonlight night of March; the sweet smell of henna
is in the air; my flute lies on the earth neglected and your garland of flowers
is unfinished.
This love between you and me is simple as a song.

Your veil of the saffron colour makes my eyes drunk.
The jasmine wreath that you wove me thrills to my heart like praise.
It is a game of giving and withholding, revealing and screening again; some
smiles and some little shyness, and some sweet useless struggles.
This love between you and me is simple as a song.

No mystery beyond the present; no striving for the impossible;
no shadow behind the charm; no groping in the depth of the dark.
This love between you and me is simple as a song.

We do not stray out of all words into the ever silent; we do not raise our
hands to the void for things beyond hope.
It is enough what we give and we get.
We have not crushed the joy to the utmost to wring from it the wine of pain.
This love between you and me is simple as a song.

 

---

Your questioning eyes are sad. They seek to know my meaning
as the moon would fathom the sea.
I have bared my life before your eyes from end to end, with
nothing hidden or held back. That is why you know me not.
If it were only a gem, I could break it into a hundred pieces
and string them into a chain to put on your neck.
If it were only a flower, round and small and sweet, I could pluck it
from its stem and set it in your hair.
But it is a heart, my beloved. Where are its shores and its bottom?
You know not the limits of this kingdom, still you are its queen.
If it were only a moment of pleasure it would flower in an easy smile,
and you could see it and read it in a moment.
If it were merely a pain it would melt in limpid tears, reflecting its
inmost secret without a word.
But it is love, my beloved.
Its pleasure and pain are boundless, and endless its wants and wealth.
It is as near to you as your life, but you can never wholly know it.

Well I haven't even mentioned the Garden Centre... But I bought two void sims (open sims) in August with my cousin Otenth's region of Orcadia.  And my companion Omicron Llewellyn and I set out to open a Larger garden centre in Second Life (tm). 

We are opening this weekend.  The soft 'Preview' was last night and went very well.  I can not thank Omicron enough for all of his help and builds and support.  It looks fabulous. 

Autopilotpatty Poppy has a photo exhibition in our beautiful Perbeatium Conservatory. 
You really should stop by and see everything.  My goal is to have a graceful beautiful place full of lovely and unique plants, builds and accessories. 

Additionally, We have the beautiful and really best roses in Second Life (tm).  Omi and I have expanded into the Wedding flower area.. I think we make the most beautiful bouquets of roses.  Come by this weekend.. enjoy the music, the scenery and the the beauty!! OH the song for today?  Lakme of course 'the Flower Duet'.

The Song for today:
Never been much of an Electric music fan.. but this pretty much says, sounds like it all.

Well this is not about the world.. this is about me.. (though in hindsight it could be the world at the moment).  I have Sjogren's syndrome.  It's and unusual auto-immune disease like Lupus that affects your eyes, mouth, mucous membranes, kidneys and sometimes lungs, causes joint pain and severe fatigue.

I have been living with this in RL for quite awhile now.. and have learned.. that in my energy account.. with my body I have no overdraft..
I go directly to.. bankrupt..with long term recovery.  So I use the button method.. each day in my mind I have 10 buttons... to spend on energy somedays it takes 10 buttons just to get out of bed.  Many days it only takes a half of a button.  But, all through the day, I am assesssing .. how many buttons do I have left.. how long is the day.. what else must I do?  I am in an energy crisis, the buttons are gone and the overdraft is close to bankruptcy..

I just feel so overwhelmed at the moment.. by juggling all of this.. buttons, energy.. fatigue, pain, black dog.. sometimes it just seems more feasible to go back to the .0003 before the big bang.. or perhaps.. be the big bang.. in my case though it would probably more of a small squish.

How did I ever get to the place where, the only refuge afforded me is in this electronic world of binary meaning?

Today's song : hmm no song today.. not even a low hum.

Ahh the Black dog sits with me.. these past few days.. and makes me wonder if it isn't time to just well.. just.. get rid of the Black Dog the best way I can.  So insidious is this creature that it creeps in when I least expect it.. sits on my chest and breathes its hot breath on me.  Damn.. if only someone.. something could take him  away..   I pretend.. he's not there.. do not indulge him.. and then for my efforts I am rewarded by his chest crushing presence when I don't want it. Making me make decisions I would not normally make. 

Weary of the Black Dog I am...

Song today.. is Robert Cray: The Forcast Calls for Pain

Here I am sitting on a Sunday Autumnal morning pondering the meaning of Patience. Waiting, that nether world of between ending and beginning or continuing. Hmmm.. Patience when practised as a virtue is not waiting in the sense that one waits for a bus, or a train but, rather, it is the watching as events unfold in their own rhythm and due course. Watching as players and pieces move into place, being ready to step into one's square as it were in this wonderful dance of life. (Now how is that for mixed metaphor?)

Well, I have a new song I am totally enamoured with. Crash into Me by Dave Matthews.

Well, I am home after a wonderful Calecon. The first of what I hope is many. How can I describe this wonderful adventure except to say what a privilege to meet such wonderful, lovely, intelligent and generous spirited people in Real Life. This Calecon was special, because as Gabrielle Riel points out.. we were the first and the smallest. Delightfully we all liked each other so very much and we all had such a good time, partying, eating, shopping and of course learning. The best I can do is to copy and put in here the sentiments of my new found friend, Scotti Lyle (with my edit in regards to Kaye Robbiani as she is not my sister.. and of course adding my thoughts about Scotti herself)

And now.. to the rest of the trip. I spent the rest of the trip on a soul journey that took me to the west coast where I had the deep honour to be reunited with my spiritual centre. It is from this journey that I share this wonderful song and lyrics from Pete Morton.. which came to me in my sleep the first night of a two day walk in paradise. And a step of faith out into the void.. learning to not look down.

Interestingly enough, I have been reading blogs. Not something I normally do unless I am using avoidance behaviour to do what really needs doing. So because of this behaviour I believe no one else reads my blog. This assumption can lead to dangerous revelations of a personal nature.

I find these revelations facinating, admirable and embarassing. Often my writings are just a snippet of what I am experiencing or feeling at that particular moment.. sometimes they are a meme of what I have been reading. Always they are fleeting, elusive and changing. I fear logging on some day and reading what I have written and thinking Oh Damn, did I really say that?

But the interesting thing in reading these past blogs is the progression.. from RP of a victorian nature in Caledon to now.. a blend my RL personality and Soliel. We two have really become one.. and for the better I think. Finding Soliel has meant for the RL me a re aquaintance of who I was before now.. before the slide into the kennel with the black dog.

So many people say that Second Life is dangerous, addictive etc etc. But I must say my experience in-world, and how it has affected me personally in such a positive way, has been invaluable. Oh the black dog still lives here. But, now I know it does, for a good number of years, I didn't recognize the black dog. I thought I was the dog. Now, even though the Black dog still lives here, sits here by me most days, I know it for what it is. Not me. And this success I owe to Second Life and my friends.. Yes.. real friends.. who visit and talk to me in a virtual world. And creativity and possibility. It is the re introduction to the Possible that has given me life again.

And so.. for who ever reads this.. here is a glimpse into the internal world of the virtual Soliel and the RL Seònaid. As Calecon gets Closer.. and we all meet our real Life counterparts.. I ponder these things.. most of all what is real? Certainly at this time the world here in this box is nicer, kinder and more loving than the other one.. where I live, eat and sleep. (in questionably small amounts) But Like Soliel and Seònaid merging.. I think that perhaps, I have hopes that maybe, the kindness, the loving and the graceful virtual might leak.. step out soon, someday into the Real Light of Day. One never knows.. what change is around the corner. So, that is my obscure and rambling rant that started from a blog on relatonships my monday meme.

Slàinte Mòhr
S/S

Dear Reader,

I constantly fall behind on blogging.. for months at a time. It is not because I am lazy but, that so much goes on that blogging seems to be at the bottom. AND Living it is so much more interesting than reading about it.

So rather than discuss the past lets talk about plans for the future:

The Garden Centre hit a slump after 6 months of good trade. The reason, well I think in this case it was a multiple thing.. an effect of several factors coming all at once. Also, the same problem remains for me and the garden centre, that, while I have the prims to place the work I do not, because of my plots being scattered.. have the room. In other words, the traffic pattern, to make the Garden accessible to the customer just isn't possible. Plans are afoot to remedy this by November.

Llewellyn Roses, Snook's Garden Centre is expanding into the Bridal and bouquet market by introducing Llewellyn roses. These are exquisite, perfectly shaped and coloured roses made by the artist and builder Omicron Llewellyn. Each petal of each rose is crafted and hand textured, they are extra ordinary and by far the best prim made rose I have ever seen in Second Life.

Baroque Blues: Well I have talked about my wonderful adventure with Radio Riel, and it continues. At Radio Riel we have a second stream that we use for our events, dances etc. Even though we are extremely busy ( I myself did five gigs this weekend) I find myself wanting to play and share my favourite music: The Blues in all of its forms. I have in real life.. over 150 discs of Blues that must, no nay need to be shared. So to this end starting this coming Thursday from 8pm - 10pm GMT I will be broadcasting my own show on the second stream. Baroque blues, intended to be listend to from in or outside second life. But, for the hard core Avi in us. Soliel will be parked at Roy Smashcan's Norseman Pub. Please join me this Thursday or any coming thursday.. to enjoy and listen to the Blues with me.. Soliel Snook.

CALECON

Soliel is privledged and blessed to attend Calecon in Canada at the end of August. A Singularly amazing set of events unfolded to make this possible. The universe has a sense of irony.. if nothing else.
Pax

Dear Reader,

I constantly fall behind on blogging.. for months at a time. It is not because I am lazy but, that so much goes on that blogging seems to be at the bottom. AND Living it is so much more interesting than reading about it.

So rather than discuss the past lets talk about plans for the future:

The Garden Centre hit a slump after 6 months of good trade. The reason, well I think in this case it was a multiple thing.. an effect of several factors coming all at once. Also, the same problem remains for me and the garden centre, that, while I have the prims to place the work I do not, because of my plots being scattered.. have the room. In other words, the traffic pattern, to make the Garden accessible to the customer just isn't possible. Plans are afoot to remedy this by November.

Llewellyn Roses, Snook's Garden Centre is expanding into the Bridal and bouquet market by introducing Llewellyn roses. These are exquisite, perfectly shaped and coloured roses made by the artist and builder Omicron Llewellyn. Each petal of each rose is crafted and hand textured, they are extra ordinary and by far the best prim made rose I have ever seen in Second Life.

Baroque Blues: Well I have talked about my wonderful adventure with Radio Riel, and it continues. At Radio Riel we have a second stream that we use for our events, dances etc. Even though we are extremely busy ( I myself did five gigs this weekend) I find myself wanting to play and share my favourite music: The Blues in all of its forms. I have in real life.. over 150 discs of Blues that must, no nay need to be shared. So to this end starting this coming Thursday from 8pm - 10pm GMT I will be broadcasting my own show on the second stream. Baroque blues, intended to be listend to from in or outside second life. But, for the hard core Avi in us. Soliel will be parked at Roy Smashcan's Norseman Pub. Please join me this Thursday or any coming thursday.. to enjoy and listen to the Blues with me.. Soliel Snook.

CALECON

Soliel is privledged and blessed to attend Calecon in Canada at the end of August. A Singularly amazing set of events unfolded to make this possible. The universe has a sense of irony.. if nothing else.
Pax

Many remark on Second Life time being compacted and intensified. I think this is true and wonder why this is? For myself, my Second Life has been very intense since December. Blogging seems to be the last thing to do and I don't know how people manage to blog, do SL and have a RL at the same time.

SNOOK'S GARDEN CENTRE is looking lovely and since I added another land parcel we are a large swathe of the centre of Stormhold. Spring flowers are blooming and once again I have been re arranging and re-vamping. I acquired a mountain parcel at the weekend giving us a 'prim farm' that is really useful. Who can't use more prims? The asparagus is up and other veg seeds that I planted are poking through the ground. Snow Drops are everywhere and the daffs look particularly lovely.

RADIO RIEL I began my adventure with Gabrielle Riel and Radio Riel at the beginning of the year and I have never looked back. What a lovely wonderful way to spend time in SL. AND now I am DJ-ing.. well starting to. And I will venture on with VOICE soon as the new mic comes. Playing music is my passion.. and.. the flowers love it!!

COURTING: Ha.. here is the irony of this spinster of independent means.. I find myself totally enamoured by one Jomander Trefoil. We have been keeping steady company since Christmas and each day is as lovely as the last.

PRIM PERFECT/ META MAKEOVER Well this is the beginning of an interesting project. I am to be the garden designer for one of their shows. We will see how this turns out.

So, back to my beginning statement.. time is compacted and intensified...who could have done all of this in RL and Sorted textures to boot?

Well, this post finds my typist in an amazing RL place. (amazing in that there is WIFI service) She is traveling at the moment on the Train through the Great Glen as the sun rises and the frosty heather moors sparkle in the apricot winter sun as it peaks over the hills. Absolutely breathtaking! A herd of Red Dear run accross the meadow as the train rumbles slowly by. (It was -8c this morning and it must have something to do with the frost on the rails.

What a brilliant sight to see!!! We love SL but there is nothing quite like this in RL when you get to experience it.

I have however purchased land in Brigadoon, and have begun to move it. I do so love the house that was designed by Martini Dicovalante and provided by the Guvnah. A few little tweaks and it is just lovely and a bit of the the Highlands in SL.

The Garden Centre is doing very well and the Grand Opening went extremely well.

Ah I have been very busy indeed, dear reader, for now I am the proud purveyor of and owner to SNOOK'S GARDEN CENTRE. Through a series of events in October, I purchased two plots of land from Miss followmeimthe Piedpiper and traded my dear friend Abigail Raymaker her large plot for my small one (and some linden's of course) This gave me a large section of the centre of Stormhold to make my dream of a Victorian Garden Centre come true.

I have had the pleasure and privledge of having the help and friendship of Mr Icterus Dagger in this endeavour and could not have done it without him.

The Garden Centre is finished now and we await our Grand Opening on 2 December where Otenth Paderborne will host and DJ for us. The Garden Centre has a Christmas Section, a formal Victorian Garden, Cottage Garden, and woodland plant sections. We have some wonderful water features designed by Mr Dagger, as well as lovely topiary, unusal plants and georgeous Roses.

Because of this huge undertaking I have made the decision to sell my property in Regency. A consolodation of assets is required and it is with great reluctance that I do this. Fortunately a wonderful purchaser has been found and when the sale is completed I shall announce it at that time.

Well, I do not feel so bad because it has been only 15 days since my last post. Ahh the joys of SL and how time flies. I went to the advertised Burning Life sim/party opening last night. Nothing very interesting there actually but the same old same old. With a lot of cool and hey and ok. Sim -work was average and the people friendly. On my way home I stopped in at the Princeton sim and enjoyed the last of a concert.

Aunty has been named as a Housemother to the Debs in Caledon, which it seemed was a good idea at the time, relieving me from the tedious and boring social RP that would take place, and put Aunty in a fine position as a chaperone. But, alas, I think I will miss the dressing up and parading around. Though Aunty has many ideas. The affectation of a Social Season in Caledon is a bit to efite for me, but, it is a dual edged sword because once one is into the thrall of it all it can be fun. Perhaps Aunty should wear the new 'On your knees Boyz' outfit purchased at some odd BDSM store recently!

I met a lovely gentleman, Colonel Hotspur O'toole. A fine anarchist if I ever met one. We were at the Autumnal Equinox dance given by Lady Amber.

On Sunday I attended Miss Lapin Paris'opening and experienced our caledon group in full voice. I do not think I like voice so much.. it is altogether too confusing. My thoughts come out much more coherent (if there is such a thing with me) in the typing/chat mode. Voice unfortunately leaves me struck dumb.

I have been working hard at developing my plants and flowers and have begun to make products for the Garden Centre 'Snook's Plantaria'.

Titles: Well, more and more of our good citizens are affecting titles in Caledon. all of the Your Grace's and the total affectation of genteel politeness begs the question 'Is Caledon truly a free state or are we only serfs in a bloated aristocratic fiefdom?'

Well I will leave you to ponder that whilst I return to my potted plants.

Soliel