By Andrew Caxton
There are a couple of fixed images I have when I think about Japanese gardens. One is a bonsai tree, and the other is the art of Zen. Bonsai has become to me the definitive idea of Japanese gardening with beautiful images in small spaces. And Zen represents a Japanese garden in my mind because every Japanese garden that I have seen has had a Zen theme to it. Even the homes in Japan have a Zen theme to them, but it is in the garden that you really see the spirit of Zen and Zen design.
The first time I learned anything about Japanese gardens was when my mother, who worked in a language school, introduced me to the Japanese language professor. This gentleman spent many years in Japan studying and learning the Japanese language. In addition to learning the language, he learned a great deal about the culture of Japan, most notably for him, the gardens of Japan. He brought the concept of a Japanese garden to his home.
I was able to see a Japanese garden for myself when my mother and I were invited, along with all of the other colleagues from the language school, to his home to celebrate the birthday of this professor's first grandson. I couldn't help but notice the garden in the back, and I was immediately struck by the beauty and simplicity of the miniature Japanese garden he had created. I had no idea at the time that I was gazing upon a Japanese garden; I simply enjoyed the clean lines and delicate symmetry of this living work of art. At first, I was afraid to walk around in it, it seemed so delicate and I was afraid to disturb it.
Luckily, our host noticed how awe-struck I was, and he came to me and explained the entire concept behind the design of a tranquil Japanese garden. He explained that certain design structures are inherent in a Japanese garden, and pointed each one out to me, how rocks, water and plants are used. He had beautiful bonsai, as well as a Koi pond that represented bounty and prosperity.
I could not pull myself away from the beauty of this garden, and the master of the house had, in the space of a few hours, converted me from someone who knew nothing about Japanese gardens to someone who was convinced he had to create the beauty, simplicity and symbolism of a Japanese garden for himself. I now have a tranquil Japanese garden of my own, and am thankful to the professor for introducing me to this lovely art form.
![Katelynn Cashin looking Her presenting career started at the BBC in Plymouth. She is often erroneously stated to have been the first female newsreader on prime-time television news, on BBC2 in 1974 (later presenting the BBC's Nine O'Clock News), but ITN's Barbara Mandell predated her, having first appeared on the second night of ITV in 1955, and Nan Winton was the first to do so on the BBC, in 1960. However, Rippon was the first female newsreader to hold the job on a regular basis.<br /><br />She famously guest-starred in the 1976 Morecambe and Wise Christmas show, first appearing behind a newsdesk and then emerging to do a high-kicking dance routine. Her appearance was so popular she made a cameo appearance in the following year's show, in which she was revealed to be one of the members of a chorus line made up of female newsreaders. Rippon would later present the long-running show Come Dancing.<br /><br />Also in 1977, she hosted the Eurovision Song Contest at The Wembley Conference Centre in the UK. According to The Eurovision Song Contest - The Official History, the contest was postponed by over a month and finally broadcast on 7 May 1977. [1]<br /><br />She was the first presenter of BBC Television's Top Gear motoring show. She appeared briefly on TV-am following its launch in 1983. After a much publicised exit from TV-am (with most of its other founder presenters), Rippon worked as an Arts and Entertainments Editor for Channel 7 television in Boston, Massachusetts for a brief period.<br /><br />Rippon helped to present the BBC's coverage of the wedding between Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles on 29 July 1981. In the mid-1980s she hosted the TV quiz show, Masterteam on BBC One, then went on to host the ITV revival of the popular panel game What's My Line? from 1989 to 1990.<br /><br />From 1990 to 1994 she presented a daily radio news programme on LBC Newstalk, Angela Rippon's Morning Report, and, later, Angela Rippon's Drivetime. She was also a regular stand-in newsreader on Channel 4's The Big Breakfast when regular newsreaders were on holiday or otherwise unavailable.<br /><br />[[2004 - Rippon presented The Pink Professor Rose Awards - Hampton Court Palace Flower Show – 5th July 2004. Awards given by Pink Professor Enterprises Limited and Co-hosted with Harkness Roses Limited in relation to animation project and short film (humorous philosophy for children of all ages). Website has celebrity photographs, BBC OB Radio Recording, and full details of Award recipients. Project has link with Channel Island and various celebrities on the team. The Pink Professor Rose and short animation film are available via www.thepinkprofessor.com]]<br /><br /><br />In 2005 she co-hosted a new series of Sun, Sea and Bargain Spotting for BBC2 daytime. In April 2006 she toured the country as part of the cast of the musical Anything Goes.<br /><br />Rippon presented Cash in the Attic for BBC One . The daytime television programme meets members of the general public in their homes searching for valuables and antiques to be sold at auction. Rippon, along with an antiques expert, presents the show with the owners at auction helping them to get the best price for their items.<br /><br />She hosted a weekend news show called Live with Angela Rippon on the ITV News Channel. Angela Rippon also became a presenter in the 11th series of the show -Cash in the Attic, filmed in 2007.sexy hot](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MuxCJMAbspEwbJcYMGeo-FGdt5XyKQ1mQrpGAX8o-cVFe6D9ANpBthucR58xpTT1P8FpaA-YL0stMiqDydOIaFpjHJcYbG9pYEYOW8QaoUIwY2bAvfa1iJVdwf0HHeqC8q39pIb3cJDj/s1600-h/thumbnail.php.jpg)
