He Wishes For The Cloths Of Heaven
HAD I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
William Butler Yeats
The O’Keefe chest heaves with a sigh. Having been here in beautiful South Goa for four weeks I’m virtually stress free, yoga’d up and Diwali’d full. I have 2 dogs and a cat staying here, a fisherman’s bay on my doorstep and some lovely people to spend time with should I wish. I’m not sure if life could agree with me more.
After weathering a few storms in the UK I’ve come out the other side negotiating the coming year with a level gaze. I’m even feeling proud of my budgeting skills. Does that mean I’m finally growing up?? NO I can testify my Sunday morning hangover after the opening night of Silent Noise club proved there’s still ample room for maturation on the ‘managing weekend skills’ front. Drinking more than a few glasses of anything alcoholic here is not for the faint hearted, gawd knows what’s in it, so not worth the queasy stomach and headache the morning after. Those of us who could still walk and talk took ourselves off to Agonda beach to get an ozone fix in the pounding waves feeling very pleased with ourselves for being here this season.
Since I was in Rajasthan working I thought why not stay here in India, save money on airfares going back and forth from the UK and batten down the financial hatches Goan village style. We’re in year 2 of Hibiscus now and anyone can tell you it takes at least 3 years to get a business off the ground. Living the Hibiscus dream is a constant works in progress. As soon as I arrived I was greeted with hugs, and ‘where have you beens, we missed you last season’, it really took me by surprise how much I’d plugged myself in here and actually how much I slotted straight back into South Goa. Truth be told there’s an adjustment period of insect bites, rogue ants in the bed, fish smells, slight ‘can snakes get into the house at night?’ paranoia, rubbish wifi connection etc. After a few morning yoga classes, rechecking my overheads against what it would cost to stay in London over winter I know I’ve done the right thing.
Off season before the tourists arrive here in Patnem it’s a real treat to spend time at the end of the monsoon watching the villagers preparing for the influx of foreigners. My fisherman landlords have been getting their bar and 2 beach huts ready, the priest came round with the incense blessing each one offering prayers to Lakshmi the goddess of prosperity, all the boats were lit up in the bay with candles and flowers, the same with my house, the dogs shaking behind my ‘Haile Selassi’ style sofas terrified of the constant fire crackers. These Goans do festivals wholeheartedly and loudly.. below are paper effigies filled with fireworks ready to be set alight to celebrate the demon God Nagasur
An extra bonus to this stay in Goa has been Molly Russell . She’s following up every lead with her half crazed unforgettable driver Neil while working on Molly’s Death Diary. We set off in search of a cemetary after dark yep thats right… death and Diwali a surprisingly exquisite combination, each grave covered in flowers at night.
This is going off in a hurry, I’m on the move, bonnets on across the prairie.. moving to the next beach for some real Robinson Crusoe living. 🙂
I’ll leave you with the theme tune of the week from Neil’s car
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Thank you for sharing, took me back to Patnem for a bit and well appreciated in rainy, freezing Ibiza. xx
Get yerself over here! XX
Love the update Sarah! I hope your latest move goes well for you. Please don’t abandon London altogether – it would be a duller place with out you! x