Imagine an outside terrace on a balmy September day.
Sitting in the shade of some plane trees
with the sun peeking through the tiny spaces between the leaves.
Can you feel the warmth on your skin?
There's a soft unobtrusive murmur of voices from other tables.
They do not perturb the peaceful atmosphere as the tables are well spaced.
You look up to see how a natural shady canopy has been formed
by the branches of the trees and how the sun illuminates the leaves,
creating moving patterns in an almost imperceptible breeze.
You lower your eyes where a glass of wine has been poured as you await your meal.
See how the sheen on the glass creates a soft background of colour.
There are impressionist-like soft smudges of green and orange
created by oleander bushes and geraniums
The back of a wicker chair enters into your line of vision
and you notice little dapples of light which escape through the spaces on the weave.
Just close your eyes for a few moments.
Slow down your breathing.
Feel any little signs of stress just melt away
letting the scene and ambiance envelope you through your mind's eye.
Doesn't that feel good?
This is what it's like to sit on an outside terrace by the lake
on a sunny September day.
*****