A bouquet of newly-sharpened pencils...

It's that time of year for back to school sensibilities. That wonderful quote from 'You've Got Mail' where Kathleen Kelly (she is 'enchanting') talks about sending a bouquet of newly-sharpened pencils. What an expression; I recall hearing that for the first time and thinking YES, EXACTLY, that is exactly what this time of year is like. I am the one who loiters over the back to school supplies in a stationery shop, casually touching HB pencils and lined notepads. I am the one who buys journals at this time of year with intentions of becoming a diarist. Incidentally, I did write a dairy until the age of 22; I have them in a box still. They are a treasure and a burden at the same time. If I ever re-read them I am both joyful and mortified that I recorded every waking thought from ages 12 to 22. I stopped when life required living, not just writing about. Let me know if you want me to transcribe extracts - I am fairly sure they would be hysterical...

via are so happy

I am in a 1990's funk at the moment. I blame this book: 'One Day' which has been raved about on other blogs. I am certainly not the only one who loved it. I loved that it captured that 1990's era so accurately. I lived through that era and at the time felt nothing occurred that was note-worthy; it seemed to me to be a decade of nothingness from a cultural and social perspective. But then I read 'One Day' and after countless wide smiles of recognition and snorts of 'I sooo remember that' I realised, the 1990's were defining. I know I have read a good book when my instinct is to tell my University friends about it. I still associate reading with them; as I did an English degree, my main scholastic pastime at University was to read. So after finishing this book I immediately texted to say 'you must read this! It's about OUR time'.

So at the moment you'll find me watching films like 'The Bodyguard' and 'Indecent Proposal', reminiscing. Whilst on the topic of 'Indecdent Proposal', can I just say Demi had a great wardrobe in that film; it really was quite progressive for its time, don't you think? I always loved that black cocktail dress she got from the hotel lobby and recall at my University Ball that year someone (her name was Amanda) had a perfect copy and the same hair.

I am ever so slightly nostalgic at the moment (read: complete sentimental and an over-emotional mess) for various reasons. Life is changing and I am clinging to what I know. It's something in me; an instinct that makes me look back with fondness. Must now look to the future...move on.

So maybe the answer is to just think about today. Not yet tomorrow. Here are apples from my garden, complete with bruises and bugs, in a Sussex trug, ready to be made into apple sauce or apple crumble. Time to start...