Small things I am happy that a friend has planted mint underneath her garden tap in the middle of California. I love chatting on Skype with my cousin; we are serious and silly in perfect proportions. I can review my VAT records without grunting or swearing. My first Saturday afternoon sleep in ages felt decadent and... Continue Reading →
Contemplating quality
Sources of Joy - Day 26 Day 26 – a Friday – started early and stretched itself to the ridiculously late, thus flying in the face of all that it methodical, disciplined, rational and desirable, even. It was a day to shift mountains, dig deep, travel far and yet stay fixed in one place. It was... Continue Reading →
Sources of Joy – Day 25
João woke up in a happy, bubbly mood, which had a domino effect on me – and, who knows, perhaps even a butterfly effect elsewhere. She has a red and blue butterfly tattoo on her right arm (which to her is a symbol of freedom), so this is entirely possible. I was already happy and calm,... Continue Reading →
Sources of Joy – Day 24
Just right Nothing at all stressed me out today. Things seemed leisurely, but I got quite a lot done. At my part-time gardening job, I trimmed hedges in the late afternoon with the electric hedge cutter and felt like Lara Croft, but did not look like her. The owners of the villa gardened too. We... Continue Reading →
Desk-bound, yet free
Sources of Joy - Day 23 Now that I have had the benefit of some quality sleep, I can highlight what brought me joy yesterday, when my workload meant movements were restricted to within spitting distance of my desk. There is a certain joy which those in occupations which demand imagination, creativity and problem-solving are... Continue Reading →
Sources of Joy – Day 21
Relaxation I was not of a mind to take photos today, so here is one from yesterday. It is a photo of a wall, but you may be tricked into thinking it is of a dry river bed. I loved watching the little kids singing in Church today. Each has their own distinct character and... Continue Reading →
Sources of Joy – Days 18—20
Fuel, and refuelling The only thing worth mentioning about my car running out of fuel for the second time in two weeks on almost the same spot on the same road is that both times I was able to phone a friend to rescue me; the second time rather more fortuitous than the first because... Continue Reading →
Sources of Joy – Day 17
Far from the crowd As the expression goes, I took the whole day for myself today. What I mean by it probably differs a little in the detail to what is generally meant. To me, it means that all I do is work; and I work because I want to. Apart from showering and dressing... Continue Reading →
Sources of Joy – Day 16
Lawns and hosepipes Today's joy was derived mainly from feeling the sun on my back this morning while mowing the lawn and other gardening delights at the villa in Boliqueime where I still have a part-time job, which I do not really need, but I do enjoy. It was with a sense of liberation after... Continue Reading →
Sources of Joy – Days 14 and 15
Festa da São Faustino It does seem a bit of a cop-out to write about two days together, although it does appeal to the non-conformist part of me. I love seeing other people working in cooperation with one another, especially when creativity of an ordinary kind produces something beautiful and shared. It is what makes... Continue Reading →
That elusive pair of jeans 