Saturday 19 September 2009

An intergalactic surprise from Bindu!


It was with great nexcitement that I went looking for our Tours bus the other day ... I had heard from the keeper of the Secret Intergalactic Cacti that there was a package from Bindu awaiting me at the Portal!

After locating the bus in our vegetable patch, (I'd forgotten I was supposed to load it up with sprouts for the Gleeful & Greedy Restaurant), I set off along the mountain road. The Secret Intergalactic Cacti are hidden deep in the gardens of the Cave of Beginning in the mountains. The journey is via a beautiful scenic route, steeped in our history - and the Cave itself - breathtaking! I will give you a guided tour one day.


As I approached, I could see an envelope hidden among the huge cacti, right next to the entrance to the Secret Portal ...


The ancient giraffe carving on the boulder above looked to be guarding the envelope, and I bowed my neck in thanks as I carefully picked up my gift. I almost ran back to the bus, and eagerly opened the envelope.

Oh how lovely! Three beautiful bookmarks created by Bindu herself in these gorgeous glowing colours! I particularly love the one with the sunflower-like patterns, I could gaze at it for hours. Thank you so much Bindu - I shall treasure them! They will go in my Journal, my current new read and my favourite book The Wind in the Willows, which I read on a continuous loop, so I will enjoy looking at them every day.
*
Dear bloggy friends, do visit Bindu's lovely blog, Transient Lives. It is one of my favourites, with beautiful photographs of Bindu's travels and a fascinating range of topics.

49 comments:

The Weaver of Grass said...

What a lovely surprise, Raph. So glad you are still reading WitW - takes some beating, doesn't it? Have a lovely weekend doing whatever it is giraffes enjoy doing at weekends.

Grizz………… said...

Glad to hear you're keeping up with your most important reading! :>)

Heather said...

Love those bookmarks Raph and I'm glad you explained about the bus in the veg. patch or I might have thought you had enjoyed a night out too well and not quite made it home!!

Barbara Martin said...

Receiving mail from afar is always exciting, especially when there are surprises enclosed. Happy reading, Raph.

Jinksy said...

All aboard the Blue Bus, I guess!

Anne said...

I enjoyed going on your tour. Thank you. It is always quite an adventure in your world.
Thank you.

BT said...

Oh what fun you had collecting your post in the bus. They are indeed incredibly beautiful and seem to have survived the inter planetary journey remarkably well. They are very beautiful and I will visit Bindu's blog soon. xxx

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Bindu's bookmarks are indeed lovely, Weaver - I've been showing them to all our friends.

I hope you have a lovely weekend too! I reckon I'll be enjoying the same kinds of things as you - the lovely Autumny countryside, good food and nexcellent company! And of course - splendid reading!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Of course, Grizzled - weather permitting, sitting out on the doorstep, overlooking the trees now tinged with hints of gold!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

That's more likely to be the passengers, Heather!! (Actually I remember hearing a snore-like noise coming from the rear of the bus, but thought it was the engine!)

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Barbara - my reading will be enhanced by the bookmarks!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

You're very welcome on our bus Jinksy - I'll let you know when we have our next Tour.

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Glad you enjoy our adventures, Choices!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

They have indeed survived the interplanetary journey well, BT. I'm really glad they are laminated too, because I will be able to enjoy using them as I read, and not worry about spoiling them with fingermarks!

Rosemary said...

What a lovely gift and thanks for the tip to check out Bindu's blog , how right you are it is amazing.......I also appreciate the picture of the Secret portal next to the Intergalactic Cacti, searching still searching!

Madame DeFarge said...

Lovely bookmarks. I think we need your postal methods here, as I'm still waiting on something that should have come a week ago, thanks to the postal strike. The bus is a transport of delight.

Unknown said...

Lucky You, Raph!

But I had thought you might share them with Maureen and the girls?!

Gentle reminder for our photo failures meme tomorrow. Hope you can join in.

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Glad you've found Bindu's wonderful blog, Rosemary!

I'll do a post one day about the Cave of Beginning, where the Secret Portal behind the Cacti is located.

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Madame DeFarge, maybe we could delightfully transport your post on planet Earth in our bus, during the postal strike!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Luckily, Derrick, Maureen and the girls are very happy for me to keep all three of Bindu's lovely bookmarks for myself - because they can see how happy I am with them, and also because it means I won't keep using bits of paper I find around the house which turn out to be important documents, or items of their homework, and losing them!

Thanks for the reminder about the meme - I will try!

A Cuban In London said...

Good on you and your marvellous giraffamily :-)! Congrats! I'm off to Bindu's blog.

Greetings from London.

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you, Cuban in London! My giraffamily send their greetings!

Eryl said...

I know people who forget where they put their spectacles but have never met anyone who's forgotten where they put their bus!

The bookmarks are gorgeous.

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Oh goody, am I the first? You'll probably meet someone else who forgets their bus in a vegetable patch soon - often these things happen in twos like that!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

PS - I forgot to put your name in the answer to your comment there, Eryl! Now what can I forget neckst?

bindu said...

I'm so glad you liked them, Raph! I wish I could have hopped into that envelope along with those bookmarks to visit your giraffe world. :)

Raph G. Neckmann said...

That would be nice, Bindu - we'd have tea and cakes ready for you here! Maye if you had held on to the envelope as it went through the Secret Portal you would have been transported through intergalactic space! :)

mo.stoneskin said...

For a giraffe you have a remarkably developed sense of humour. Not that giraffes aren't funny types - I would not want to come across as giraffist - but yours is exceptional.

(Apparently 'giraffist' isn't in the dictionary, but 'racist' is, what is the world coming to?)

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you, Mo.stoneskin! My humour is nothing nexceptional over here in Camelopardalis. Are the giraffes with which you are acquainted of a more serious disposition?

Cloudia said...

I'm totally abosrbed by your reality, Raph!

Aloha! Nice post today-

Comfort Spiral

Crafty Green Poet said...

very beautiful bookmarks, long and thin like a giraffe's neck

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Cloudia! Life here is very absorbing - today there is a lovely Autumnal mist with the sun shining gently on the undulating knolls to the edge of the Forest ...

Raph G. Neckmann said...

They are beautiful aren't they, Crafty Green Poet - and I'm sure our daughter Nexi would love some of those sunflower-like patterns painted into her neck fur!

Lyn said...

Lovely gifts that made it through the secret portal..so it does exist...I will find it!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Let me know if you do, Lyn, we'll put the kettle on for tea!

Rune Eide said...

You have given us yet en entertaing glimpse of the giraffe world - and a guided tour in addition. Thank you!

Re you comment: I shouldn't be surprised - the colours near the bottom indicate to where...

Raph G. Neckmann said...

RuneE - I will look for a similar door here in Giraffe World. Maybe you will be able to give me a tour of your beautiful country :)

kesslerdee said...

They are just gorgeous! And I love those cactus!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Dee! I like the bookmarks so much I've been looking at them instead of reading the books I've put them in!!

Cloudia said...

Please Come visit my Friday (25th) post to see some friends of yours!


Aloha My Friend!

Comfort Spiral

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Some friends of mine, Cloudia? Are they in Hawaii? I shall come over and see them!

BT said...

I seem to have repeated myself in my comment. Old age strikes again. I have posted about your giraffaway cards today Raph.

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you BT! I will come across and see!

Tom Atkins said...

It is such a delight every time I come here to read.

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Tom, I'm honoured that our world delights you!

marigirl said...

Raph, I can't believe it, but I may have found a clue to the location of the secret portal. Sightseeing around the base of Mt Fuji today I saw a sweets container with a very necky looking giraffe! Is there some way you can send me your email address so I can send you the photo?? You won't believe the resemblance!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

This sounds interesting, Marigirl! A secret portal in a sweets container? Or was the sweets container perhaps a signpost to the location of a secret portal? I can't wait to see this!

(Necky Becky hoofed her way through the Secret Portal Behind the Cacti last week, and it took us nearly all day to find her. There are some very nice places on planet Earth - I will post about our nexcursion as soon as I have the time!)

Kavita Saharia said...

One of the best designed template...a blogger giraffe...wow!!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Thank you Kavita!

It is such fun blogging across the intergalactic miles, from Giraffe World!