Myrea Pettit

Christmas doesn’t seem so far away and is creeping into my thoughts and discussions, particularly after this lovely week out in the countryside seeing and picking the ripening fruit and the mass of red berries and mistletoe on the apple trees. My thoughts always turn to what I might make as this years decorations and what to wear to parties especially those that require a theme. I remember at one festival I was in conversation at the bar downstairs when I was cajoled by someone to join them, and found myself on stage in a competition. Thank goodness my friend and fairy sister, Priscilla from Barcelona was there to encourage me, she is used to performing on stage with her wonderful singing of her musical compilations. Still by the time the result was announced all was forgiven shown by my tears of joy that my outfit was appreciated. I was so happy that I was sent his little video excerpt to remember and share with others.

My friends Albert and Supanee Gazeley invited myself and David to pick fruit in their orchard just outside Cambridge. Wow! what a beautiful experience to see Albert and Supanee again and to share time together picking the most beautiful fruit from within over fifty-nine acres of prime orchard. The whole experience was so uplifting and creative, there was great healing and it was very spiritual. There are definitely Fairies and little people that live among those trees.

Ever since I hurt my back I have been slowly strengthening and recovering to start jogging again. Seeing this image of me a couple of years ago is spurring me on

‘The Grand Reunion’ that is what my husband David called it,  set up  with two of his working colleagues whom he met over forty years ago and hasn’t seen them for over thirty years . My first trip to Snowdonia and I enjoyed every moment from start to finish. especially meeting David’s friend’s and families,  the experience was an eye opener to me to see how friends can pick up where they left off and the intervening years simply melt away as their stories unfolded. I can’t wait to return I so loved the whole experience.

So now I know that my husband might have traded me if there had not been a shipping and customs problem to ship twenty five thousand camels to UK. That has really given me the hump!

Wedding Bells in Fairyland , a treasured book if you have one, highly collectible. This was published in the early 1950′s and translated into many languages but never republished. I am so often asked for this title which is full of the enchanting illustrations of Swedish illustrator Ann Mari Sjogren.(1918-2010) .

I have been asked so many times about Ann Mari’s book A Day in Fairyland mainly because it has never been reprinted and copies only become available rarely and fetch a premium price. I have made a simple film of the glorious pages within the book showing the illustrations. My best suggestion to anyone who loves collectibles and is especially nostalgic about fine children’s books, is to keep looking and searching. The book was translated into many languages and you may find alternative language versions but the illustrations remain the same.

I was reminded by Elle my youngest daughter who was 18 today that it was also my birthday ( well the day she was born) she presented me with a wonderful gift of lingerie as a big Thank You! Not a dry eye in the house! What a kind thought. Tonight we had a really enjoyable family dinner out at a restaurant of her choice Nandos. The Happy Birthday took us all by surprise!

My sister Michell had a longed for IVF baby girl in October 2005 called Storme, and by strange coincidence the moment she was born there was a rainbow hanging its pot of gold over the maternity wing! Storme has spent a lot of time with Auntie Myrea and Granddad David who was able to capture probably her last crawl up the garden before she started to walk. I really gave David a piece of my mind for getting her clean clothes ruined, and I remember him saying, believe me Myrea they will wash and she will grow out of them, but the video I have taken will be a priceless reminder of a special moment in time of the innocence and beauty of Storme. Now I can see what he means and have to agree with him.

My daily routine is keeping fit and eating healthy food and drinking plenty of water. I had just been to Bournemouth to celebrate my artist friend Josephine Wall’s wonderful 60th birthday party and then it was straight up to Scotland staying on the edge of Loch Tay. I so enjoyed that week it was a prelude of what was to come two months later at my wedding to David in the Alameda Botanical Gardens in Gibraltar. Wow