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The staple diet for sanity

ames — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:23:51 +0000

Chaos: the word that describes my last 3-months. Almost everything that could change, has changed. I love change, and variety but boy oh boy have I learn’t a few things about that lately.

Space: time to digest change is essential. Even if it is all splendid change and variety it is best for the soul to marinate on it.
Routine: my morning routine of meditation and writing went out the window about 6-weeks ago. I yearned to have it back so I started it again yesterday. Routine amongst the chaos keeps me resilient. No meditation, and no routine resulted in my resilience steadily decreasing over the weeks to the point where I didn’t even want to go have a drink with a friend: “No more, I can’t handle anymore planning, or doing!”

Arh so now I sit and get back into my staple diet for sanity, reflecting on that crucial moment when it was lost. This is my next mission: to prevent it happening again.

Morning delight

ames — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 09:59:31 +0000

Some things in life are profoundly simple and in there simplicity totally beautiful. Recently I’ve taken much joy in walking into my lounge in the morning and seeing flowers have bloomed over night ready to greet me in the morning. It is a such a simple thing, but a great way to start the day.

Mind training

ames — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 07:41:58 +0000

I started meditating about one year ago. I never thought I would have the stillness or mind or body to be able to, but also didn’t realise that was the whole point: to cultivate that! At first 10 minutes was painful with my back hurting, my knees hurting and my eyes wandering over to the clock every minute. A year on I can see and feel differences, yet nothing miraculous happens either. Gil Fronsdal and other Buddhist monks have said that some people have all sorts of experiences in meditation, while others, nothing. However those that have nothing often find other parts of their life transforming. I can definitely see I fit this category and have to remind myself of that when I get up early to meditate for nothing to happen!

I’ve noticed a few things which I attribute to training my mind through meditation:

My concentration is much better
I can create flow much easier in writing and other parts of my daily life
My memory is sharper
Multi-tasking is a thing of the past, which at first I thought detrimental but now I relish single-tasking’s quality
I am more present and generally less distracted

What have you noticed? I am curious to know of your experiences.

Spring springing

ames — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 09:42:19 +0000

Watching them bloom they suddenly smile

ames — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 09:16:44 +0000

My magnet, summers golden light

ames — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 09:36:25 +0000

Cosy

ames — Wed, 19 May 2010 13:21:19 +0000

The last photo on my Canonet before its light meter died. Not bad for 49-years of age though. I’ll give it that.

New digs

ames — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 19:50:06 +0000

Over Easter weekend I moved into my new place. One of twelve, my little one-bedroom in this massive old Victorian house is exactly what I wanted: spacious, high ceilings, central heating, affordable and functional. It is in Whalley Range, a short 10 to 15-min ride from the city centre. It is nice to be in the suburbs, with trees and birds singing each morning. Last night I got home from work and KC pointed out the window to a squirrel scurrying across the driveway next door. I never saw those in the city! Manchester is an interesting place. Massive old Victorian houses where you would imagine the maid ran around and lived in the basement, have been done up into flats or are boarded up, derelict. And they sit beside each other in all suburbs, in all parts of the city. A derelict building can sit beside one of the most frequented shopping centres in the city, undisturbed since its vacation.

I’ve only lived in Manchester for 9-months so I haven’t accumulated too much stuff. This meant the move was not too traumatic, but instead easily systematic and only one car load! After a mad March I look forward to a chilled April settling into my new place , a retreat this weekend in Castleton and a beach adventure down south to Cornwall next weekend.

Manchesters China Town

ames — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:21:14 +0000

Manchester from first sight does not seem that big. It only has a couple of high rise buildings, perhaps making it seem smaller than it is? The day I arrived here on the train I freaked out. I rolled into Piccadilly station and I couldn’t see any high rise buildings. I instantly thought #fuck!# what am I doing moving here, is it a small hick town? I’d never been here, but it seemed like a good idea to move here on a whim. Sometimes these random stick a finger in the air ideas just happen. My settling in Manchester (for my travel base) was the result of three random occurrences, making my finger rise high and test the air: my travel agent raving about it, and applying for two jobs (which I didn’t get) before I left New Zealand, which just happened to be in Manchester – a place I never considered going to, let alone living.

So when I arrived on the train I considered jumping straight back on it and going back to London. Upon departing the station it became clear that this red brick city had deceived me at first sight. When you start exploring the pockets such as China town, each suburb and other parts of the city, then you realise how big it is – twice that of Auckland according to Wikipedia! And how varied it is with each pocket having its own culture, colour and enticements. Seven months on I keep finding new places within places which is typical Manchester – a lot is hidden away behind its big industrial leftovers.

I was told that the first six months is always the hardest when settling into a new country. I wouldn’t necessarily say it was hard, but adventurous and it feels like I’ve lived a few years in this short time so much has happened. I still laugh at how the locals moan it rains too much. It is nothing compared to Auckland, but I do notice that there is a notable lack of sunlight! And that the strength of the sun when it is out, is a meager half the strength of Auckland’s blue sky days that penetrate your soul.

I think it’s important when you live somewhere that you find your niche, connect with it, and then you can find your home anywhere. When I lived in suburbs such as St Heliers, and Ellerslie in Auckland, I hated that city. It wasn’t until I lived in Ponsonby the last 3-years that I felt connected to Auckland, even though I lived there since I was 19. It takes a bit of work to find your place, but it’s worth it as there is no point being a coffee lover and drinking Starbucks. You’ll never quite feel satisfied. The Northern Quarter, and the Buddhist Centre have definitely given me that connection – my Manchester Ponsonby. I’m extremely lucky to have found a flat in this great suburb of the city centre.

A night out in China Town was on the cards with a wee celebration.

Abandoned?

ames — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:51:15 +0000

On the weekend I had one mission: clean my poor fixie of its 2-3 months of dirt and grime from commuting. The basement carpark of my building is home to many bikes. In the darkness I found this Bianchi Pista. I am not sure if it abandoned. Even though it is the size of a gate, I am hoping it is abandoned so I can restore it to fixie greatness. Next stop is the caretaker to find out if it is indeed a homeless gem.