South Coast impressions

A creaky, old cottage overlooking the ocean... time with dear friends... the temperaments of a moody sky mirrored in the sea's vast surface... dense green everywhere in the chaotic manner that coastal bush has; every now and then a banana tree reaching above the mass like a waving hand... pops of bright hibiscus blossoms and frangiapani... the rumble of a train rushing along tracks sewn like trimming along the coast... the sticky feeling of salty air and not wearing shoes for days on end... gathering sea shell-treasures with the kid during walks on the beach and putting her to sleep to the roar of the ocean after being up far too late with the grown-ups...

yes, it's definitely time to unplug... time for holidays... so until next year then and thank you to everyone for your support of this little creative space.

In memory

It's been a while since I've read this book. I thought it time to take it down from its place on my shelf and page through it again. I found such beautiful words and took these from the final chapter:

"I never lost hope that this great transformation would occur. Not only because of the great heroes I have already cited, but because of the courage of the ordinary men and women of my country. I always knew that deep down in every human heart, there was mercy and generosity. No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. Even in the grimmest times in prison, when my comrades and I were pushed to our limits, I would see a glimmer of humanity in one of the guards, perhaps just for a second, but it was enough to reassure me and keep me going. Man's goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished." 

 "I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can rest only for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended."  

Words to think about

Words are powerful. Strong, carefully-arranged words can do a lot; they leave an imprint on the things they touch. I'm thinking about that at the moment. So, between catching up on emails, preparing dinner and responding to recurrent calls of "come and see, Mama" I just wanted to pop in and leave you with these words. Some of my favourites.