Streams of Consciousness

I thought I'd try something a little different this week - stream of consciousness "poetry" inspired by music I've been listening to and some of my photos "tweaked" in the "digital darkroom". You'll have seen some of the images in original format on the blog already, others are tucked away in my Flickr account. Each "pome" is simply called Stream of Consciousness I, II or III etc. The body may ail but the mind, imagination and spirit continue to soar.

Stream of Consciousness I

Flowing spirals

drift

on ribboned lights

Blue dreams

sift through purple haze

Coral blush

lights up the sky of everwhere

Gossamer threads

billow in rainbow hues

Paint a picture

of a thousand words

stretch out

reach

Beyond desire

elemental whispers

bring home

Love

This, that and the other and a thinking toaster...

It's one of those moments in time... not feeling too great - the energy is down and the old trouble is being bothersome. Meanwhile I'm trying to get payment out of one of the local papers for an article and some photos I did for them a few months back. The article and photos, should you be interested, can be found on the Blag. It takes the reader on a brief tour of literary Oxford.

That aside and in order to amuse myself, I've been having a fine old time playing on Flickr and uploading a bundle of my photos there - a good deal more than have appeared on the blog - and uploads will no doubt continue and continue and continue... I've also been playing with light and reflections again, though had something of a hard time not being blown away. Spring, it seems, has gone into temporay abeyance and winter appears to be making a concerted effort at a comeback.

However, on the really good news front, the ideas are starting to flow again for my manuscript and although I have no idea where the story will take me (I never do, I just go along for the ride while the muse gallops along in her chariot dragging me behind her), I sense threads forming and weaving themselves together. It's possibly a bit of a mad way of writing - I certainly know that most of my plotting and planning writer friends think I'm a trifle insane (and they may be right but for now I'm going odds on that this is what works for me). Frankly, I find the minute I plot and plan the story sneaks off, hides and I can hear it blowing loud and gobby raspberries at me. Funny thing, stories, they really do appear to have a mind of their own.

Right, now I'm off to see if I can create a wishdosher. What, you might ask is that? Well, it's when you take a dishwasher, do some modifications, stack it up with dishes - everything needs to go in backwards, turn it on and instead of sparkling clean dishes at the end of the process, you get sparkling clean dosh (piles and piles of money) instead. Dishwasher, wishdosher - geddit? Well, you can't blame a girl for letting her imagination run riot, now can you?! I mean, just look below and see what happens when you take an ordinary toaster out of its natural environment and let it start having thoughts of its own... A reflecting toaster, what d'you know!

On Beauty

Flowers from my garden and other peoples' words today. Not really up to much else, I'm afraid.

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science."

Albert Einstein

"You cannot perceive beauty but with a serene mind."
Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

The last of Phoctober

And so… it is the last day of October and phoctober comes to an end. What will I do tomorrow, I wonder? I shall possibly sit here and wonder what on earth to write about!

I have to thank Maht of The Moon Topples for running phoctober. I don’t think he can ever possibly imagine just how much phoctober has given me. It has, for one, given me a huge boost in getting back into photography, something I used to love but simply gave up on when development costs became too high. And although I’ve dabbled a little since getting my new camera there hasn’t really been much aim or objective to that playing around. Phoctober, however, gave me the purpose that’s been missing. And in going out and exploring and finding things to photograph, I’ve learned to see again, as it were. Photography, I remembered, makes us look at the world with fresh, observant eyes – everything becomes an opportunity to find the beauty or the dramatic not just in the wonder of the natural landscape and changing seasons but in the ordinary and often the overlooked. I find myself driving and walking around looking at all sorts of things and thinking “Ooh! That would make a great shot!” Or “Yes, that could be the start of a brilliant series!” Or, “There is a chance for some photojournalism, a story to tell, that must be told.” But more than that, Maht has given me the opportunity for something else; to look at my own surroundings and realize how incredibly blessed I am to live amidst such amazing beauty. And in doing so, I’ve come to gain some balance to my perspective of the country I live in. Yes, of course the crime and the violence and the corruption, the greed and the poverty and the AIDS pandemic are all still here (I have taken shots that reveal some of those aspects too). Yes, the insecurity and irony of living here remains – but, and this has been critical, it has been given symmetry, been equalized by the sheer beauty that is this land. I remember long ago saying that if South Africa could resolve its people problems this would indeed be paradise. Perhaps once it was the original garden of Eden - given that it is said to be the cradle of mankind as homo sapiens and humanity spluttered and bumbled its way into being.
And so, Maht, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you’ve given me in hosting phoctober. And yes, fellow bloggers, this means I will probably continue to post photographs on my blog and on Flickr - though perhaps with less intensity!

And so to the final phoctober post… Continuing the theme of beauty, I thought I might show you my more immediate surroundings. Now try not to be too envious when I tell you that these shots were taken at a location which is but a five minute drive from my doorstep… Yes, this is what I live amongst, and you’re right, I am indeed very blessed – both to be able to “see” it and enjoy it!















And a special note to Verilion who seems concerned about these things - yes, the wine is very good! Come along and try some, one day.

Bubbles in Bottles

On the second last day of Phoctober... bubbles, bottles, light and shadows.

Doorways and Windows

There is something evocative, I find, about doorways and windows and shop façades…the prospect of a glimpse into another (or another’s) world. I remember when I first lived in the UK gazing in wonder at the brightly lit windows at Christmas time…trees and tinsel sparkling behind the glass, families gathered together, manikins dressed up doing Santa’s work in faux snow – it was like looking in on a story. No, it wasn’t “like” – it was looking in - on multiple stories. I remember too, walking along the street on the Ile de la Cité in Paris at night, staring up into the golden windows of old mansions that held sumptuous wealth, multiple tales, rich and varied lives… I suppose it comes back to a writer’s imagination and an inherent love of a good story well told, of the opportunities for magic and make believe, the desire for glimpses of things that lie beyond, an innate curiousity and wonderment at the worlds and peoples around me… I like to look, to imagine, to make up – you might say I’m a voyeur of life and its potential and possibilities.

And so, continuing the phoctober theme, some glimpses through doorways, of windows and façades all rich with a promise of story… The photos, once again, were taken in that little corner of France not too far from where I live… Why don’t you tell me what stories you see through the glass and the doorways…

Enter the darkened doorway to behold the treasures within, flying carpet, magical lamps...

Multiple lives painted in colour...

Through the door, beyond the twinkling lights, a witch doctor, an elf and a princess are gathered...

In a land of bubbling chocolate creatures arose amidst plumes of vanilla, strawberry, amarula...

She's waited a long time, hidden with her memories, waiting for him, for all time...

His lips are sealed but his soul speaks in volumes... Oh he has many tales to tell...

Outside is sunny, inside things whisper, rustle and wait... Take me home, they sigh, take me home...

FEAST! Franschhoek Food, a Thoughtful Award and... Babies!

Continuing the Franschhoek theme started yesterday along with phoctober fun.

These are scenes of pavement cafes and restaurants along the main street of Franschhoek - called Huguenot Street. If they look a little empty it's because most had finished munching - it was about three in the afternoon and a Thursday. On the weekend, if you don't make a reservation, the chances of finding lunch anywhere are slim and diners are known to linger until four in the afternoon! It's that popular. We had lunch at La Petite Ferme, just a little way out the village, perched on the mountainside looking out over the valley. No photographs of the sublime views, I'm afraid, as elderly ladies, I've learned, like to eat and run. Time is, I suspect, too short to linger...














The weekend fun continues... Sameera has very kindly given me a "Thoughtful Blog Reader" award. Thank you, Sameera!

She said, "I felt an award should be there to celebrate not the writers alone, but the readers as well. Reading is not a passive process as most people think it to be; it takes great depth ofmind to understand the true essence of what the writer wants to convey". The award is "for those people who have constantly motivated me with their opinions till now, each in their unique way."



As with all bloggy awards, the idea is to pass this on. I, however, have a slight problem with this... I know there are many who read my blog and think about what I've said but they don't leave comments, which means I don't really know who my most thoughtful readers might be. So, here's what I'll do - I'm passing this award on to each and every one of you who reads my blog. Thank you for taking the time to stop by, thank you to those who add a few words and thank you to all the readers of this blog for sharing my blogging journey with me. This one is for all of you. Please put the award up on your blog and please, in keeping with the spirit of the award, pass it on.

STOP PRESS!!! STOP PRESS!!! STOP PRESS!!!

And now.... THE BREAKING NEWS!!!

We have babies...!!! Yes, spring is definitely here! The guinea fowl, who've been displaying the most bizarre mating behaviour are finally starting to see the er... fruits of their um... labour...

This particular family of guinea fowl have nested in my neighbour's garden and the shots are taken kneeling on the composter, hanging over the garden wall with a 300mm zoom lens! I'm guessing the chicks must be about a week old. In another two weeks or so they should be big enough to flutter and flap their way over the six foot wall and into our garden where there's always a feast waiting.