Sky Watch Friday # 20

Some holiday shots from Norway.

Click on the photos to enlarge.

Polarsirkelen - Saltfjellet


Saltfjellet



Bodø


Ramberg - Lofoten


Mjelle - Bodø


Mjelle - Bodø


Mjelle - Bodø


For more Sky Watch photos, visit the Sky watch site - hosted by Sandy, Tom and Imac.

Wild Things

Right, well, now that the second draft of the manuscript is complete, I'm off to where the wild things are. I'll see you in a week or so, when I'll start tackling the third draft of the manuscript.

Meanwhile, have fun, play nicely and if you care to take a peek at some of my cardinal rules of life, you can see them over at Scarlett's place!

08:08 08-08-08

08:08 08-08-08

So today is 08-08-08… Normally I wouldn’t bother noticing – I certainly managed to miss 07-07-07 and 06-06-06 etc, but something about 08 has got to me during the course of this week. Call me a flakey old bat, but I’ve been sensing an energy with which I’m not familiar and which seems really powerful. Moreover, I’ve had numbers swirling around in my head for the past few nights – and I don’t do numbers. Eek!

If I take all the eights – 08h08 on 08-08-08 I find I get 4 (sums reduced constantly down to a single digit). Then I ran a serious of other simple calculations and discovered that 8 run through the multiplication table gives me 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,1,2,3,4, and so on, endlessly repeating, continually cycling. I got a bit dizzy at that point and finally I thought I’d better sleep on it. And what happened, I started seeing symbols.

First the eight (8), then the eight lying on its side – the infinity symbol (∞)
Then the 8 and ∞ interlinked, so that it looked like a four leaf clover.
Then a zero (0) – and another zero (0) – symbols for nothing - then two zeroes (00) interlinked – the atom symbol.

Then I saw a circle ○ – which has multiple symbolic meanings including all, eternity, all time – and is often considered to be feminine.
Then I saw a square □ – which is often symbolic of the masculine and of Earth - where a circle might represent the Moon.
Then I saw, rather obviously, I suppose, an octagon.

Then I started seeing the infinity (∞) and eight (8) together in a circle (○)
Then the atom symbol also in a circle (○)

I mostly bypassed looking up the symbolism on all the numbers – it was all getting a bit much! But I can tell you though that 8 is evidently symbolic of renewal and manifestation – though manifestation of what, I don’t know…

At which point I may as well mention that someone on the great interwebby thing has remarked upon the relation between the concept of zero (0) and infinity (∞), alpha and omega, and beginning/end and how they are both contained within each other (implying they are the same thing).

Alpha and Omega – the Beginning and the End… Erm…
I was starting to think I was either losing the plot big-time, or something hugely significant was going to happen on 08-08-08….

Then I remembered that the Large Hadron Collider was supposed to be switched on to begin its first tests on 08-08-08 – oh shiver… (though I see the big launch has now been delayed until October, only small initial tests will be run this weekend.) The LHC, built into a mountain which spans the Swiss French border, is a particle accelerator which will enable physicists to

“accelerate beams of protons in opposite directions – each along its own nearly 17-mile circular path – to nearly the speed of light. Then, they will steer the hair-thin beams of protons into head-on collisions. From the subatomic mayhem that ensues, physicists say they anticipate discoveries that will fill out the picture they have drawn during the past century of matter and the basic forces of nature – the so-called standard model. They also expect to see evidence of new physics beyond the standard model, including insights into the nature of dark matter and dark energy, which make up the vast majority of the energy and matter in the universe.”

Now several people have termed the LHC the “Doomsday Machine” saying
that high energy collisions may result in the birth of miniature black holes which will swallow the whole planet. A case was brought which sought to delay the launch but was closed after the Safety Study Commission reported that there is no danger related to the production of new particles. Hmmm….

So, see, there’s a good reason to be feeling twitchy – never mind all those eights, zeroes, infinity symbols and whatnot. I mean really, do these scientists ever really know exactly what they’re meddling with – Atyllah would mutter a resounding “No” (followed by a rude “ba-kaak!”) and tell you they’re like kids with really expensive toys, or wannabe sorcerer's apprentices.

Anyway if anyone wants to offer an interpretation on the symbols and numbers, please do so – I’m happy to be enlightened! Just try not to scare me - unless it's to tell me the Mother Ship is coming to finally fetch me. (I was wondering how long it would take...)

I'm ready, I'm ready, beam me up!

Learning and Unlearning

The past five years have been an interesting journey for me. Ill health has plagued me to the point where my life-force was, for several months, down to about 15% and occasions, much less. The experience has brought many interesting insights and lessons with it – and one which has struck me particularly in the last few days is the business of learning and unlearning.

Given the nature of the illness I’ve had, I’m well aware that there are certain things I simply can’t eat and that there is a limited amount (portion-wise) that I can eat. I’ve come to learn how important it is to trust my body, to listen to it and adhere to its recommendations. I’m also aware that at some times my body will request a particular foodstuff and at other times quails at the prospect of that same food. The lesson has been all about learning to listen and pay attention to my body’s wisdom. And generally I’m pretty good about what my body is saying, but sometimes, my conditioning, all the things that I’ve learned over the course of nearly five decades, shouts more loudly than the wisdom of my body.

You see, my heritage is primarily central European and my great-grandmother starved to death during the First World War. Finishing everything on one’s plate was a standard dining table requirement when I was growing up, as was eating pretty much anything you were given – whether you liked it or not. So I find myself sitting here with my body wisdom saying one thing and my conditioned learning saying another. Sometimes it’s like being caught in crossfire! Of course, common sense says “listen to your body” but I’m struck at how forceful and insistent conditioned learning is – and how hard it is to undo.

It strikes me then that learning is relatively simple by comparison to the difficult business of unlearning and breaking the habits and conditioning of a lifetime!

In pondering all this, I was reminded of the rather delightful – and telling - Buddhist story on the same topic.

A man walks down the road, sees a hole and falls in. He is anguished and feels hopeless and it takes him ages to find his way out of the hole.
The next day he walks down the same road. The hole is still there but he pretends not to see it and falls in. He can’t believe he’s made the same mistake twice! He’s convinced it’s not his fault but it still takes him ages to get out.
On the following day, he walks down the same road. The hole is still there and he sees it – but now he falls in because falling into the hole has become a habit. He knows what he’s doing but he can’t seem to stop himself. He knows it’s his own fault that he’s landed in the hole and he immediately pulls himself out of it.
On the fourth day he walks down the same street again. The hole is still there waiting for him – but this time he detours by walking around it.
On the fifth day he walks down a different street.

Broer som binder - Bridges Between

The Tjeldsund Bridge (Tjeldsundbrua) is a suspension road bridge that crosses Tjeldsundet between the mainland and Hinnøya in Troms county in Norway. The bridge is 1007 metres long, the main span is 290 metres, and the maximum clearance to the sea is 41 metres. The bridge has 32 spans.

After 30 months and 375 000 work hours, 112 000 bags of cement, 1200 tons of steel and the cost of 45 million kroner, Tjeldsund Bridge was opened by King Olav V on August 22, 1967.

The road is called E10. The Tjeldsund Bridge connects the municipality of Harstad to the mainland. Together with the bridges in Vesterålen, it also connects the major islands of Vesterålen and also Lofoten to the mainland.

Broer som binder - Bridges Between concept came from RuneE. Say "G'day" to him.

Writing - why bother?

I often wonder if people realised just how tough it was to become an author whether they would ever bother to even try and write a book. There are just so many impediments – and it seems to get worse, rather than better.

For one thing, while I know it is said that everyone has a book in them, the simply reality is not everyone can write. There are plenty who think they can write, but thinking you can write and being an outstanding writer are two vastly different things. A friend was muttering to me the other day about a colleague who was convinced she could write stunningly well. “I just shake my head,” said my friend. “Her writing is so bad I can’t even edit it, I have no idea where to even begin trying.” And never mind just the ability (or lack thereof) to be able to string coherant and resonant sentences together, but you also have to think about plot, characterisation, structure and pace.

Even for those who do write well the road to authordom is not guaranteed, you also need to have the right idea at the right time and it needs to hit the right editor’s desk on the right day. See, there are about four variables in that alone.

The simple reality is that publishers are looking for novels that will sell - and sell early, quickly and prolifically. Publication is less about the pursuit of great literature and far more about the bottom line. Face it, no profit, no chance of staying in business. No need for manuscripts. And the current economic climate is only going to make publishers even more cautious than before. It ain’t getting any easier…

The other sad point is that most writers don’t make enough to live on. Most have a day job. Most may write for ten years before they get a sniff at publication – if they’re lucky. John Creasey, the British mystery author, purportedly received 743 rejection slips before he finally made it to publication. Even J K Rowling garnered her fair share of rejection slips before Barry Cunningham spotted her.

And here’s the other thing; even if you write well and have you have great idea, if your timing is wrong, you’re stuffed. Trends, like tides, dominate publishing. At one moment it’s Harry Potter type books that are big, the next it’s paranormal. As with surfing, you have to catch the wave at exactly the right time, or you’ll miss the ride.

The current paranormal trend is about, I suspect, to peter out. A bit sad for me who’s still trying to get to an absolutely bloody final edit with my YA paranormal… Meanwhile, it appears a new wave is already building – one related to the Mayan calendar. If you haven’t written your Mayan calendar story yet and got it submitted, forget it, by the time you’ve written it and edited it the requisite 65 (or more) times, you can pretty much be sure the wave will have hit the shore, run up the beach, knocked down your sandcastle and ebbed away - and it will be time for something new.

One might wonder why anyone ever bothers – and persists in bothering. I suppose it’s simply this: writers write because they must, because it’s life and blood to them. You persist because when you’ve gone so far you may as well keep going, because you believe in your story and your words. And because the thought of not doing what you’re passionate about is like being asked to stop breathing. Ultimately it’s less about being published and more about just needing to write. I wrote my first play when I was nine – set on rollerskates it predated Starlight Express by a good few years – and I charged the neighbourhood kids 5 cents to watch it. Now, if I’ve been writing for so long can I reasonably be expected to stop now? Of course, there is always the chance that I am incurably insane – but I suspect that may be a prerequisite for the job – that, and having a hide like an elephant.

Vanilla's PR Agency: Supporting the Little Guys

Flowers at Pot au Fleur

I’ve discovered a new Saturday morning treat. Instead of schlepping off to the supermarket with the ravening hordes, I’ve discovered farmers’ and organic produce markets. What a treat. Gone is the sterile shopping of the dreaded overpriced and impersonal supermarket and in comes the lively and fulsome experience of trading with growers and homebakers and cheesemakers and olive growers as I trundle around with my basket, sniffing and sampling and chatting. So, so much nicer! So much more real. This morning I came home with organic cauliflowers, spinach, cabbage and potatoes, goat’s cheese cheddar, mature cheddar, free range chicken, gluten free bread, farmer’s bread and Greek pesto. Yumyumpiggysbum! There is a lot to be said for supporting the little guys.

Breads, croissants, baguettes at Crocodeli

Fresh organic produce

Which reminds me – a while I ago I promised three different and very dear people that I’d “feature” them on ye olde blogge.

The first is my incredibly wonderful and dear counseling astrologer, Shirley. I have to confess that I used to harbour a certain amount of skepticism when it came to certain astrologers and mass astrology but Shirley has changed my mind. Her readings are so spot on as to be uncanny and she is so intuitive in her own right as to make her readings incredibly perceptive. Shirley is not a predictive “you’ll meet a tall dark stranger” kind of astrologer; rather she uses her skills for healing and guidance. Her readings can provide you with a “blue print” of yourself – revealing your personal foundation, how you relate to the world, the basis of your development. Her readings also observe trends and tendencies, and provide insights into you and your life patterns which can be helpful in finding clarity and direction. I always refer to Shirley as one of my guardian angels and just love her to bits. She is a remarkable, gentle and very special woman.

The wonderful thing about Shirley is that although she is based in Cape Town, she also does distance readings – doesn’t matter where you are – you can hook up via Skype or she’ll do a digitally recorded reading for you. And in September to early October this year she’ll be having a working holiday in the UK. If any of you would like to have a reading done by Shirley – and it is truly well worth it - please contact me and I’ll let you have her email addy. You’ll find my email address on my profile page.

The other person that the Vanilla PR Agency is supporting today is a very old friend who has recently found a new creative niche in creating exquisite beaded jewelry using Swarovski crystals, semi precious gemstones and sterling silver chain maille.

Claire and I met back in 1985 when we found ourselves stuck in the daily grind of corporate life. She’s a wonderful person with a huge heart who has overcome numerous personal crises including surviving what should have been terminal cancer.

Claire now lives in Sussex in the UK and sells her work through her website, thus making it accessible to all. Do go and take a look at the magic she creates at Moonlit Night Creations.

One of Claire's turquoise and chain maille creations

And finally, there’s Carien of Shoes of Flavour. I came across Carien at one of Cape Town’s many craft markets, where she was selling the most delightful beaded flipflops (thongs) and slip ons. Carien told me she had wanted to get out of the rat race and give something back to the community. So the wonderful thing about Shoes of Flavour that it supports social upliftment, and all the beading is done by women from the impoverished black townships. The sandals are bright, lively and funky – moreover, they’re really comfortable – just great for summer when the living is easy! Yes, of course I own a pair – mine are bright red!