A few minutes into 2014 Becky, Antonio and family, alchemists of Levittown, called to wish us a magical New Year. Later yesterday morning BF spent an hour plunging and ‘snaking’ one of the loos which resisted all of his efforts to unblock it. ‘Let me have a go’ I said. I plunged with renewed gusto and hey presto there was a toiletty gulp and a lavatorial swish and our loo was liberated and flowing sweetly again. And then the rest of our day followed suit and simply flowed. 
A day of cold sunlight, we drove about 25 miles along twisty mountain roads to Highlands, a posh, touristy town with delightful shops, salivatory eateries and one of our favourite churches. First stop was the outfitters where we found a new titfer for BF as last year’s hat (you know the one) had suffered a rainy battering and is now looking a little droopy. We also bought the snuggliest pair of muppet gloves ever known to man for my frozen paws. BF then found a ridiculously expensive pair of wonderfully elegant clogs which were snapped up for my birthday present. 
Old Edward’s Inn offers a sophisticated, warm welcome to elegance from another century. The service is friendly but never fawning and the food is inventively delicious. As we ate our chicken on wholewheat foccaccio and burger with kitchen sink salad (absolutely everything green and salady is in it) I checked my emails. Through tears I read that my dear friend in England, Fiona, is in hospital in a diabetic coma, her usual feisty unputdownableness sedated to allow her body time to rebalance. This was the first call of the day for our Love and prayers. Later in the Ladies’ Restroom I met the Mexican attendant who wished me a Happy New Year. There was a catch to her voice. She then told me that her 4 month old granddaughter had been killed a month ago when the car her daughter was driving was involved in a crash. She sobbed as she told me of her anquish for her daughter who just cannot stop crying. ‘Morte, morte…’ I cried with her, hugged her and assured her we would add her and her daughter to our prayers. When I returned to BF he was already in his ‘spooky’ place, as he felt healing being drawn through him. Nowadays he is always open to those distant requests for help and all he knows is that somebody is asking for healing and that it is passing through him. He is the conduit not the source. 
We walked across the road to the tiny white church with fingers crossed that the door would be unlocked. Not only was it unlocked but the warmth of the heating and the glow of the spiritual welcome enfolded us as we passed on our requests for help. Many churches leave my heart untouched, but this one radiates the true ambience of Communion. My heart swelled and the pile of soggy tissues grew as my tears silently cascaded through my dissolving mascara. 
We then wandered back down the main street to window shop in our favourite store – the Silver Eagle where we have purchased some of our most beloved jewellery during previous visits. As this was closed we went into another gem store nearby, causing immediate laughter as we went through the door and BF mistook a motionless customer for a mannequin. Even in spooky mode BF doesn’t lose his sense of fun and humour, he just becomes a little more distracted than usual. As we looked through the gemstones set in silver, gold and copper we chatted to the assistant, Thomas. His passion for gems of all kinds just shone through him. He asked how BF and I had met and having recounted the story BF went back to the car to collect a copy of ‘The Mourning After’. In those few minutes Thomas and I discovered our spooky similarities – bereavement of a kind, sofa years, transformation, synchronicity. When he invited me to choose a ring from several expensive displays I chose a simple square turquoise set in silver which fitted perfectly. He insisted I took the ring in exchange for ‘Mourning’ and would accept no payment. As I had been choosing my ring he had already started to read! BF positively glowed! We hugged Thomas with our Goodbyes, promising to return later. 
After coffee and an email check on news about Fiona, we headed homewards for groceries at Ingles where the delightful Victoria put together the biggest, goopiest sandwich ever for BF. Then we headed to the gym so BF could check his emails. After nearly a year’s absence he was warmly welcomed and soon was chatting with Debbie one of the assistants. She told him of her step son who had recently been struck by a hit and run driver. Her step son is 28, like my son Harry, and he is now facing possible amputation of his leg, a lifelong colostomy and devastating soft tissue injuries. I watched from afar as Love flowed from BF. He listened, nodding occasionally, giving a few words of comfort but mainly heart listening, attuned to her pain. I, in turn, loved BF more than ever. 
We then headed home to prepare the next day’s dinner of post roast beef (woops and apologies to Elyse and fellow veggies!) in the crock pot. Again Becky added to the day with her lovingly pre prepared marinade doctored with goodness knows what – BF always has to add something extra to whatever he does! 
After filling his tummy and his beard with his sandwich and after I had devoured a hot chicken leg (free range) we opened the champagne and settled into cuddle mode on the sofa to watch ‘A Dolphin Tale’. Utterly perfect! 
6 weeks in Levittown, with the Love and Joy of family and dear friends, but with little Nature and scant spookiness we had returned to the Forest feeling rather like our loo at the beginning of this amazing day. Becky and her family of Alchemists worked their Magick when they sent their good wishes. The ‘So Much More’ had felt our blockage and with divine plunging had freed our Flow. Yesterday was a day when we opened again to Love, Communion, Compassion, Joy and Sadness. Just as our loo had gigglegurgled into free flow we too regained that wondrous Serenity along with such Gratitude that we were maybe able to help and comfort some precious folks which after all is what life is all about. 
So we in turn pass on that same Magick to you all for a wondrous 2014.