You don't own gold. Gold owns you.

When we saw Pompeii exhibition at the British Museum some weeks ago, I noticed one thing survived intact. Gold. Everything, furniture, bread, fruits became carbon. A dog and humans were steamed alive and left as void as the ashes rained down on them.  There was one display for a wealthy woman who wore lots of pure gold jewelry. She seemed to return her house to take more gold jewelry after the eruption. But she was killed at the entrance of her house with the gold.

There was another display of not-so wealthy woman. She wore some metal jewelry with beads, they were all carbonised.

This month there was a big fall in the gold price. It hit a two year low. Then I again remembered Pompeii.

We don't own gold, but gold owns us.

Last year my own mother frantically tried to sell her gold, which she bought in 1980's at the height of the previous gold boom. I don't know if she actually sold it or not.

I don't hold a position in gold. I think gold is too dangerous, too powerful and too risky for mere mortals, like myself. It is the only metal that doesn't corrode, as you know. There is something very special about it. The story about dragons collecting gold must be a cautionary tale to us.

I wear it. I enjoy it. It only goes to someone else after I die. But I am not going back to home to retrieve it in fire. It will stay there after the fire is put out, probably as it is.

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We are slowly getting better at the pace of two steps forward and one step backward. Mike felt better during the weekend so he did too much. He took a sick leave and had stayed in the bed this afternoon. I started a little bit of clay work yesterday, but found it exhausting, so I have rested and done desk work today.

Hellebore, narcissus and primura

Here are some garden flowers. Apple blossoms started. Most spring flowers opened. It has been bright recently, still temperature has been quite low. Saturday was 9C. Sunday and today are just 12C maximum. (That's about 50F) The sun makes a big difference to me, especially because I have stayed inside except for quick dog walks (poor dogs!).

The first apple blossom

Watching flowers, birds and the sunshine from the window makes me feel good. Little birds are busy. We had a chaffinch. They only come to the garden once a while. They are one of my favourite garden birds.

Mt favourite Lilly flowered tulip.