What more, you may ask, do we want? Ah, but we want so much more—something the books on aesthetics take little notice of. But the poets and the mythologies know all about it. We do not want merely to see beauty though, God knows, even that is bounty enough. We want something else which can hardly be put into words—to be united with the beauty we see, to pass into it, to receive it into ourselves, to bathe in it, to become part of it.
C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory
I spent years wandering within the confines of whatever worlds I found myself in, with a dog by my side ...
In Cromwell, New Zealand, Sandie-dog and I would travel through the gorge to the Arrow River, or disappear to a favourite bend on the Clutha River. In Blenheim, we were just as likely to wander over to Anakiwa and spend hours in the cove there.
In Te Anau it was McKay Creek, on the edge of Fiordland National Park, our secret destination, with its backdrop of mountains just a kilometre away, Or Lake Manapouri, Lake Te Anau ... a chocolate box selection.
In Dunedin, it was a case of mood leading us to whichever beach - we had a huge number of choices. Long Beach was a favourite, even though it took us off the peninsula where we lived and back up the other side, then over a hill. On the peninsula, we were careful not to bother the sea lions found lounging on those rugged beaches, and other times, there were penguins. But Sandie was a dog of great wisdom, with an overwhelming passion for water. She would even swim amongst ducks, caring only for the swim, willing to share with anything else that was out there.
Dogs are succour for the soul, companions of the heart ...
It's quite difficult not having one yet. I've been 10 years lonely.
Note: all but the Anakiwa photograph were taken by my lovely friend, and talented photographer, David Wall.
More than a few months ago, I discovered the photography of Enrico Pelos. He is a Genovese photographer and author who was working on a huge book project titled Passeggiate A Levante.
I sent him some questions about his life as a photographer and he very kindly answered them.
Erik gifted me a new word, in response to the post about rain just below.
I think that word needs a post all of its own ... Petrichor.
petrichor (PET-ri-kuhr) noun
The pleasant smell that accompanies the first rain after a dry spell.
[From petro- (rock), from Greek petros (stone) + ichor (the fluid that is supposed to flow in the veins of the gods in Greek mythology). Coined by researchers I.J. Bear and R.G. Thomas.]
"Petrichor, the name for the smell of rain on dry ground, is from oils given off by vegetation, absorbed onto neighboring surfaces, and released into the air after a first rain." Matthew Bettelheim; Nature's Laboratory; Shasta Parent (Mt Shasta, California); Jan 2002.
"But, even in the other pieces, her prose breaks into passages of lyrical beauty that come as a sorely needed revivifying petrichor amid the pitiless glare of callousness and cruelty." Pradip Bhattacharya; Forest Interludes; Indianest.com; Jul 29, 2001.
I usually arrive here at my office desk around 8.30am and begin. But it's a slow easing into my day, trying to clear email, catch up on any new (and inspirational) posts that have come in on my google reader overnight, and then there's facebook too.
But this morning, I deactivated that seductive thief of time. Facebook is gone for now. I love the social nature of that particular space but it's too much when I really look what I have in front of me.
In 5 weeks, there is a huge business launch party that must be prepared, with accompanying workshop offer. There is the book I'm putting together on Genova, using my photographs taken since 2008, and channeling my huge passion for that city.
The final touches are being put on the photography e-course but I'm also preparing a series of one-on-one photography coaching and wandering options, as well as more flexible times on journeys to other places for the website.
I'm interviewing Minske Van Wijk about her film in the days ahead. I'm also writing for two other websites but details on the second site still to come.
There is the continuing saga of manually uploading my posts from the old website to the new website. Only 800 or so to go...
Actually, truth be told, I dream about arriving here in the office and saying to assistant, 'Hey there, how about you work on this project this week, and I'll develop this one.' But that's not for now ... that's just a wee dream.
I really hope that your week is a good one. And below ... a photograph I took back in those Istanbul days.
4 April, 2012: An update. I lasted outside of Facebook for just 24 hours. A huge filling broke and I was left with a need to distract myself while I waited for an emergency dental appointment. Facebook, like google reader, brings interesting things into my world at times when I can't create for myself and waiting for a tooth repair did, so very much, interfere with my muse.
My tooth was repaired today but too late, I'm back in the Land of Facebook, although attempting to be measured in my time wandering there.
