Listen to the birds, not the news

Gradually retuning the world around me, focusing on the joy of Spring

Greetings, dear joy seekers,

I’m writing this as evening falls, with the golden light of actual sunshine spilling into my living room—pure bliss. We’ve officially entered British Summer Time, and I’m so grateful for the sunshine. Although, whoever decided to spring the clocks forward on Mother’s Day clearly isn’t a mum! Navigating new routines with little ones is tough, I hope your transitions have been gentle.

A Magical Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day this year was magical, blessed by sunshine and the welcome return of my husband from his latest trip to America. We spent the morning in the Isabella Plantation in Richmond—the closest thing to heaven on earth in London—marvelling at the blooming blossoms, enjoying a tiny picnic (with plenty of huggles), and listening to the birds.

This was the most photographed tree throughout the day…

I love people who have streams of trees in their camera roll. You’re my kinda people.

The Ritual of Hanami
I’ve always been fascinated by the Japanese tradition of Hanami—the cherry blossom viewing season that involves picnics and outdoor gatherings with friends and family to celebrate the fleeting beauty of the blossoms. It’s a practice rooted in mindfulness and appreciation. I can’t help but think this could be a beautiful tradition to embrace here in the UK, too. Many of us are already appreciating the blossoms in some way—why not make it a celebration here too? Grab a picnic under one whilst you can as they’re not around for long.

Crafting an Ostereierbaum
Speaking of blossoms, I’ve been working on my own little version of cherry blossoms right here in my living room. I think my dad thought I was a bit crazy when I started gathering branches from behind his house a few weeks ago. But slowly, I’ve been adding delicate paper blossoms to them, growing them into my own Ostereierbaum (Easter egg tree).

This is a fun tutorial I used for the cherry blossom.

Bless my husband and kids came back with eggs from Tiger last week to hang on it, the aim is to do some egg painting with the girls, I spied some good kits in Sostrene Greene. They go well with my beloved Amy Swann and Elizabeth Harbour decorations don’t you think?

Why not try making your own Ostereierbaum? It’s a delightful German tradition of hanging Easter eggs on trees, and my dad has already started planning his very own version in his garden, inspired by Mr. Kraft and his famous Saalfeld Easter Egg Tree. Magical men.

Listen to the birds, not the news

Now, here’s something that’s been on my mind lately—a mantra I’ve been holding close this month: “Listen to the birds, not the news.”

(I love decorating our front window, as all the school children walk past it, these birds are by Kate Slater.)

For a while, I found myself diving deep into the chaos of the world—I binge watched Adolescence (and every podcast about it), listened to every political podcast too and it all started to weigh heavily on me, leaving me feeling a bit low and cynical. So, I decided to make a change.

I’m taking a break from it all. From now on, I’m only watching content that fills me with joy. I’ve stepped away from social media, and now avoiding the click bait articles.

Instead, I’m focusing on the wonderful, kind people in my life—those who make our life much more happyfull. The school mum who checks in on me, the postman who always places our parcels in a hidden spot, the elderly neighbour who puts the bins out for us, or the other neighbour who makes extra pudding to share with us. These are my real-life influencers. My kindness influencers. Look out for yours too.

A Few Joyful Recommendations
If you’re in need of a little joy yourself, here are a few recommendations I’ve been loving lately:

• The Change – A brilliant programme by the genius Bridget Christie. Her line, “May all your transitions be joyful,” has truly resonated with me. Makes me want to move to the Forest of Dean!

• Stephen Mangan on Desert Island Discs – A deeply moving episode. Stephen’s reflections on loss are poignant, especially since he lost his mother in the same way and at the same stage of his life. His lust for life and care for others makes him a truly special human.

• Last One Laughing – Bob Mortimer is pure gold. The world needs more Bobs! He’s an absolute comedy genius!
  
  As we step into April, I’m wishing you all the joy and sunshine this season has to offer. Get outside, have a picnic beneath the blossoms, and don’t forget to look for your own kindness influencers along the way.
  
  Gabi xx