Day 289 - In the light of day

As I said, I wanted to photograph the carved archway in daylight so that the colours weren't distorted by the flash.

Here are a few pictures of the work Sergei and Olya did in our church.

It's interesting that the pictures selected each day do not always explain everything that happened, and in fact sometimes conceal things which are either too painful or inappropriate to reveal in a public blog.

Yesterday, for example, was a day of mixed feelings. We had our hearing at the Heidelberg's Magistrate's Court for the fence dispute between our neighbour and us. Without going into detail, although our neighbour has unfairly threatened us to pay full costs for a several decades old fence, and made strange, irrelevant and untrue accusations, we've decided to forego further court proceedings. Considering how angry we are, and the bad feelings we have developed towards our neighbour, I think it may be wise to let go of what's fair and right in order to avoid further animosity building as well as financial debts.

In contrast to this infuriating saga, it was all joy when the carving arrived. Funny how things often turn out complex, with conflicting emotions playing out simultaneously. I remember 20 years ago, when we found a beautiful old dresser. The day it was delivered was also the day (or thereabouts) my father had unexpectedly passed away, and the joy of owning the dresser turned sour; I resented how much the dresser had meant to me, thinking that I'd give away all my possessions to have my father back. The meaninglessness of such loves was revealed in the face of the most tragic loss. I thought I'd never be able to look at that dresser without feeling resentful, but the years have taken those feelings away. I've been able to focus on meaningless things again and many times. Life.

Yesterday's joy in having the archway installed was joined by feelings of sympathy for my colleague's loss of her father - which sparked my own memories.

Day 237 - Still life with string instrument

Still life. How many of us have a still life? Is it true that, with our busy lives and the creeping of technology into every little nook and cranny, we have unlearned stillness? I read 'All our heads full of noise' by Isabel Allende. Interesting. http://www.thedrawbridge.org.uk/issue_8/all_our_heads_full_of_noise/

Day 236 - At the end of the day

Not everything worked out the way I would have liked today. But at the end of the day, it's not the most important thing in my life. If you had to list the 5 most important things in your life to keep them, what would you choose?
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.(Matthew 6:21).

Day 230 - Oops

When I posted yesterday's photo, I had the nagging feeling that I'd included this photo before. And I have, now I realise. Yes, I cheated by using a photo taken on a different day. So what. I scanned my flickrsteam for generic photos of everyday life because, by the time I'd finished with dinner and dishes, photo hunting seemed a bleak prospect. I know, I know, we're supposed to post a photo we've taken on the day, but some photos aren't linked to a specific time. They could happen any day and sometimes do. Just to prove a point, today's photos are witness to the timelessness of everyday, anyday home life. Which isn't a bad thing.

Day 222 - Resilience

It's interesting to see things growing in surprising places. Who would have thought the lavender would take root and grow in such a small, waterless crack in the footpath. I think we can say the same for people. In the physical sense, some people survive in the harshest of geographical locations. In the emotional sense, there are also people who somehow manage to live in the harshest relationships.

When you lose a loved one, it can feel so devastating that you wish you could turn away from life itself. You feel as if you've dried up, and yet you manage to exist just enough at first, and then slowly begin to look up at the sun again.

Day 162 - Another day in the kitchen

Wake up in the dark, get dressed, have breakfast, drive to school, work, talk to people, gnash teeth, drive home, make dinner, do the washing, talk to people, laugh, gnash teeth, go to bed, sleep, wake up, start again....
Hmmmm.....
Annoying or strangely comforting?

Day 79 - Back to the mundane

After my big day yesterday, it was kind of a relief to go back to everyday life without the emotional intensity. I'm never good with big days which centre on me. Even on my wedding day I was looking at people going about their normal business and wishing it was me. Here's a shot of my mundane life in passing.