HIGH TIDE

I

I close my eyes

waves crash once more,

eroding the rocks

of my very core

II

They roll with power

to depths unknown,

The fear of what comes next

has drastically grown

III

Ploughing through pebbles

and seaweed alike,

What ever is coming

is about ready to strike

IV

An odd beam of sunshine

strobes down from above,

As if a sign from the universe

portraying it's love

V

Clouds overhead make

it hard to see,

Dimming my sight

muting my glee

VI

This pain is silent

these emotions scream,

This anger so clear

it could be a lucid dream

VII

For how long more will

this tide continue to rise,

It's timeless attitude

i've learnt to despise

VIII

For now I will sit

sit in this space,

and clutch onto hope

and it's saving grace

by Caitriona Mc Mahon

Weeping Rocks

(i)

At a glance so resilient 

a symbol of strength,

Creating beautiful landscapes

where our time can be spent

(ii)

Weathered and eroded

to attention you stand,

A soldier at the front line

protecting our land

(iii)

But your tears I have noticed

as they flow down your face,

Returning to the river

as a gentle flow of grace

(iv)

We are all one my friend

there is nothing to hide,

Waves of sadness come and go

just as the tide

(v)

Those cracks are your armor

all experiences from the past,

The pain will ease but

the lessons they will last

(vi)

So the next time you weep

thinking there's no one in sight,

Call me my friend

together we will fight

The Race

One foot forward at the start line
elbows out to be prepared,
On your marks then he lift's
the gun up there's no time to be scared

Taking off like a bolt of lightening
nothing but the winning trophy in sight,
Losing is not an option
I won't give up without a fight

Born and bred to hunt
I take my prey out one by one,
Dipping at the finish line
I can't believe it but I've won

Standing on the podium
a sense of anti climax deep inside,
I know now it's not about the end result
but the passion and the pride

Why didn't I feel the breeze?
or the grass beneath my feet,
Instead of letting the ego 
convince me there is nothing worse than defeat

Competing in packed arenas
not being able to hear a scream or a shout,
It doesn't take a genius
to know that's not what life's about

Life is about the journey
it's not a sprint or race,
Stop slow down and sense the world
each moment just embrace

January core workout

January has arrived which will mean leisure centres all over the world are packed with clients trying to shift a few pounds or sculpt their beach bodies for that summer holiday that's already close enough to grab. Tell me this! if you washed your car daily but never checked under the hood how long do you think it would run for without breaking down? A year or more at most? There's no guarantee really.

With this in mind I encourage you to pause for a moment! when was the last time you weren't thinking about something? Can you remember the last time you felt your heart beat or heard your own breathing. The first time I heard my own breathing I jumped a mile with the fright! How crazy is that? As humans we think more or less constantly and only because of habit. Thinking is an addiction just like drugs or alcohol and what's worse is that we believe these thoughts are who we are. This couldn't be further from the truth. These thoughts are preconditioned into us by circumstances and people involved in our lives as we grew up and also by a thing called the ego.  I had often heard the phrase 'She has some ego that one' but the penny never really dropped as to what it meant. The ego is what causes us to identify ourselves by the job we have, the car we drive, the clothes we wear as well as being very protective by nature and defensive. We are all familiar with Bridget Jones and her introductions with details. Our society is the very same because of ego. This is Caitriona from .... she likes to.... . This is why when we lose a job, our posessions or circumstances change etc we feel we are nothing anymore we have no purpose here. The ego says we are not good enough, or we will never succeed. This couldn't be further from the truth! I believe losing the things you identified yourself with previously is the beginning of an amazing journey. A journey into who we really are. Anthony Moran in one of his recent talks asked the question 'Who are we and why are we here?'. This question haunted me but i now see it was a turning point in my life. It made me look inside somewhere we avoid at all costs.

Try standing or sitting and glancing around without labelling or focusing on any one thing.. just be. This is one way to get a break from the constant noise in our heads. Or try walking in the countryside but be 100% aware of everything around you. The smell, the breeze, the wildlife. This awareness recharges the soul or services the car. Meditation is another wonderful getaway. Once you've discovered this true happiness there is no going back. The thinking and the ego quieten and for the first time we see life as what it really is! An amazing adventure full of smiles xx 

Life's waves

       Life's Waves  

     Swept out to sea 

       by thoughts and fears,

    lost and alone

    swimming in tears

      The scent of wild roses

       the sound of wind in the grass,

     becomes a faint memory 

   of the distant past

Waves come crashing in
sending shivers to the core,
the person I once used to be
I no longer recognize anymore

Exhausted and struggling
i'm pulled underneath,
then thrust in the air
waves under my feet

Catching the waves
all becomes clear,
sometimes you have to fall
to discover why were here

Trying to control life's waves
will end in disaster,
learn to surf them instead
and become their master

Nature's Presence

                                                  Nature's Presence

                                                In a world of chaos,
                                                She stands so still,
                                               Leading by example
                                               for those who will!

                                             Teaching us presence
                                                 along her shores,
                                          Lose focus for a second
                                          and end up on all fours.

                                          Surrounded by reflection
                                               of what lies within,
                                             Pause for a moment
                                  for its like nowhere you've been!

                                            A pathway of rainbows
                                              gradually disappear,
                                       While the dance of the rain
                                                  removes all fear.

                                                  Guided by light
                                      I see waves of clouds above,
                                             I feel a passion inside
                                          only a surfer would love.

                                      Who knew the ego was not me?
                                             Living from the heart
                                                 I feel totally free!

                                                  One final word
                                         and I'll leave you with this,
                                                Say yes to nature
                                            and live a life of bliss.

Coconut bundt

Coconut Milk Cake by Marian Keyes 

Ingredients
170g butter
300g caster sugar
4 eggs
1 tbsp vanilla extract
250g self raising flour
Pinch of salt
3/4 tsp baking powder
50g dissecated coconut
200ml coconut milk

Syrup
200ml coconut milk
40g light brown soft sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 170 degrees and spray a bundt tin with easy release spray.

2. Beat the eggs & the sugar until plain and fluffy. Add eggs Individually mixing well. Add vanilla extract. In another bowl mix the sieved flour, salt, baking powder and coconut.

3. Pour 1/3 of the coconut milk and the same of the flour mix into the butter and eggs and mix well. 

4. Add another third of each and then add the final amount.

5. Pour into the pan and bake for 1 hr. 

6. Cool on a wire rack then using a skewer prick the top all over. 

7. Make the syrup by gently heating the coconut milk and sugar together .Then pour half over the cake and few hours later pour the rest and allow to soak through.