One of my favourite parts of the day is

that very first cup of coffee, taken outside

in the front garden with my dog.

It’s a ritual now.

After she’s had her breakfast, she waits-standing expectantly in the

lounge, ears pricked at the sound of the kettle clicking on. She knows

that the is part of our rhythm.

I walk out of the kitchen & she watches me closely. If I turn right, it

means we’re heading to the settee or the back garden. But if I go left,

it means the front. She dives into her toy bag, grabs something soft

between her teeth & bolts to the front door, tail wagging, blocking the

way with excitement.

I sit in my chair. She flops down on the grass next to me, nose

twitching, eyes alert. I settle in with my cafetière of coffee, the

intention always being to just sit. Just be.

But the moment I pause, my mind begins to whir. Words rise. Hands twitch & thoughts turn into sentences.

And so, inevitably, I head back inside to grab my phone or laptop. I return to the garden, not just to sit but to write.

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This has been my rhythm for a while now. I used to sit in the back garden where it is peaceful & enclosed. The laurel hedge muffling sound like a living wall. There’s a twist of wisteria through the trellis, giant daisies nod in the breeze, birds come to rest on the fence. It’s quiet. Private. Secluded.

And so I got to wondering, why am I so drawn to the front?

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My house sits at a crossroads in a quiet old English village but the road is still a cut-through. The village pub is opposite & so early morning deliveries pour in. Cars pass. Tractors rumble by. People wave. This world is moving.

And this morning, it landed.

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In Human Design, we each have a specific environment that nourishes us-one that connects us to our creativity, our vitality & our essence. Mine is External Markets.

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When I first learned that, I pictured a Moroccan souk full of vibrancy, colour, texture & life. A place where people gather, exchange, connect. Where respected value is felt & offered in return. That’s the frequency I thrive in.

And I realised... my front garden is my external market.

I sit in my Adirondack chair, surrounded by roses, buddleia, lavender & there's movement all around me-cars passing, neighbours strolling by, insects weaving through the air. I can feel the weather shift. I can see the sky in all its moods & I can hear life in every direction.

I'm surrounded by energy exchanges right here!

The bees move from one lavender spike to another collecting nectar & pollen & then dusting it off onto another flower before going home to make honey. The cherry laurel gifts its berries to the robins. The hedge is an apartment block for the sparrows & thrushes. There’s constant movement here of birds, people, traffic, weather, time. 

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This is my version of an external marketplace & it’s right on my doorstep.
A space where I feel energised, inspired, alive.
It’s where my creativity flows, where beauty is constant & the frequency of life hums all around me.