Zero 7 is currently the soundtrack to my life. And I love it.
The particular album is called Simple Things - I owe thanks to a new friend for giving the music to me.
I listen to it when I'm on the train to and from the city, and it works as a great bedtime album, when I need to relax and drift off to sleep. As the days grow shorter, and the weather takes a cool turn into autumn, this chillout music is the perfect backdrop for the peaceful sunny days at home.
The album begins with a great combination of bass and drum licks, which is the introduction to the opening track "I Have Seen". The music grabs me as soon as it starts, and it's great. The bass and drums keep the song moving, and the pulse is just right. Not too fast, not too slow.
Track 04, "Give it Away", features on the Ministry of Sound 2002 Chillout Annual, which I first heard sometime in 2003 or 04, thanks to another good friend of mine. The song is one of my favourites from that 2-cd set, and until now I didn't know or care who the group was, because it was a compilation cd (and I also had no tracklisting for the album). But as soon as I heard the song on Simple Things, I knew that I was going to like Zero 7 a lot. Needless to say, the album has grown on me and I can't get enough of it.
The music takes me to another world. It helps me find a peaceful place within myself, and I love that. Each song also has a personality that sticks out in my mind, which is unusual of chillout music - I find that it all tends to sound the same after a while. So the music on this album is special to me. It makes me think of cool autumn days, sunny but not summery; relaxations in the park, sharing time with myself and writing in my journal or perhaps reading a book; and generally escaping the world and greater responsibilities for a few moments.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
life, love and friends
This post is dated 17 Sept 2006. It was on an old blog which I got rid of, but I liked this entry so I kept it in a notepad file.
Sometimes I feel like I have moments of 'otherworldliness', where I don't feel attached to anybody or anything, and I feel 'abstract', so to speak. The feeling of detachment is hard to describe, but it’s a time where I feel at peace with myself. Maybe it's got something to do with the fact that I'm just feeling a little exhausted at the moment. I tend to be peaceful and calmly reflective when I'm tired.
Last night I went out to the city with a friend. We had dinner at Wagamama's on King St Wharf - the food was nice, but I wasn't that hungry so I couldn't finish my meal. I don't eat big meals - I eat little and often. 'Grazing', if you like. So when I go out to dinner, I get full pretty quickly. But funnily enough, there's always some space for dessert.
We went to Gelatissimo's for some gelato, and then we went for a drive to a special spot near Bronte beach. I say it was special because it was my friend's thinking spot, a place where he could escape the rest of the world and let his troubles go. And he was sharing it with me.
It took a while for my eyes to adjust from the brightly lit streets to the unlit darkness of the cliff, but even before I could see it all, I felt complete. (The purity of the natural environment - it always hits me hard and I love it).
---
It was beautiful.
To be able to sit there on the edge of a cliff and feel the calm of the sea,
to listen to the waves gently breaking against the rocks down below;
to look out to the boundless horizon and feel my soul sigh with peace and fulfillment.
To look up to the sky,
see the stars,
and sense the universe;
to be wrapped up in its cosmic infinity.
To be spiritually refreshed in a moment,
to have no wants,
no needs,
no desires;
to know that nothing in the world could possibly hurt me now.
And if my life had ended at that point in time
I would have died a peaceful death,
with the light of the stars in my eyes,
the song of the sea in my heart,
and the blood of the universe in my veins.
---
I don’t remember when we actually got there (maybe 10pm?), but we were there until almost midnight, talking, gossiping, and learning from each other as we usually do. It was an evening to cherish. And the best part about it was that I was sharing an awesome experience with a friend and not a lover. Because it would have been such a different evening if I had done the same kind of trip with my boyfriend. Not that that would have been a bad thing, but the love I feel towards the friends who mean a lot to me, feels to me like a wholesome love.. hard to explain, easy to interpret the wrong way. So pretend you didn't read that last sentence.
I could have stayed until dawn, were it not for the fact that it was quite cold (I was wearing shorts and a thin jacket) and I had to get home (protective parents). I would say that I’d love to do it again, to be in the city on a Saturday night (it’s always such an exciting event for me) and then to visit a quiet spot by the sea – but for some reason I have no current desire to repeat the experience. It’s a very unusual reaction for me. I have no way of explaining it. I think it’s because last night feels (to me) so out of place with the normalcy and routine of daily life. It was an unexpected escape from my usual world. And I’m afraid that if I experience it too often, the blissful retreat from my life, I’ll become dissatisfied with my day to day living, and become grumpy and glum and too addicted to unadulterated freedom.
But it’s experiences like that which make me question my relationships. I could give all my love to the world quite easily; I feel as though my soul and spirit belong to the universe – how could I possibly give myself freely to one person? The universe has no boundaries, it has no expectations of me; but a human love is restrictive – it is filled with needs and desires, it asks things of you, and it is not easy.
I guess that’s a bit narrow-minded and perhaps hypocritical of me to say that. I’m in a relationship at the moment, and I’m enjoying it very much.
Sometimes I feel like I have moments of 'otherworldliness', where I don't feel attached to anybody or anything, and I feel 'abstract', so to speak. The feeling of detachment is hard to describe, but it’s a time where I feel at peace with myself. Maybe it's got something to do with the fact that I'm just feeling a little exhausted at the moment. I tend to be peaceful and calmly reflective when I'm tired.
Last night I went out to the city with a friend. We had dinner at Wagamama's on King St Wharf - the food was nice, but I wasn't that hungry so I couldn't finish my meal. I don't eat big meals - I eat little and often. 'Grazing', if you like. So when I go out to dinner, I get full pretty quickly. But funnily enough, there's always some space for dessert.
We went to Gelatissimo's for some gelato, and then we went for a drive to a special spot near Bronte beach. I say it was special because it was my friend's thinking spot, a place where he could escape the rest of the world and let his troubles go. And he was sharing it with me.
It took a while for my eyes to adjust from the brightly lit streets to the unlit darkness of the cliff, but even before I could see it all, I felt complete. (The purity of the natural environment - it always hits me hard and I love it).
---
It was beautiful.
To be able to sit there on the edge of a cliff and feel the calm of the sea,
to listen to the waves gently breaking against the rocks down below;
to look out to the boundless horizon and feel my soul sigh with peace and fulfillment.
To look up to the sky,
see the stars,
and sense the universe;
to be wrapped up in its cosmic infinity.
To be spiritually refreshed in a moment,
to have no wants,
no needs,
no desires;
to know that nothing in the world could possibly hurt me now.
And if my life had ended at that point in time
I would have died a peaceful death,
with the light of the stars in my eyes,
the song of the sea in my heart,
and the blood of the universe in my veins.
---
I don’t remember when we actually got there (maybe 10pm?), but we were there until almost midnight, talking, gossiping, and learning from each other as we usually do. It was an evening to cherish. And the best part about it was that I was sharing an awesome experience with a friend and not a lover. Because it would have been such a different evening if I had done the same kind of trip with my boyfriend. Not that that would have been a bad thing, but the love I feel towards the friends who mean a lot to me, feels to me like a wholesome love.. hard to explain, easy to interpret the wrong way. So pretend you didn't read that last sentence.
I could have stayed until dawn, were it not for the fact that it was quite cold (I was wearing shorts and a thin jacket) and I had to get home (protective parents). I would say that I’d love to do it again, to be in the city on a Saturday night (it’s always such an exciting event for me) and then to visit a quiet spot by the sea – but for some reason I have no current desire to repeat the experience. It’s a very unusual reaction for me. I have no way of explaining it. I think it’s because last night feels (to me) so out of place with the normalcy and routine of daily life. It was an unexpected escape from my usual world. And I’m afraid that if I experience it too often, the blissful retreat from my life, I’ll become dissatisfied with my day to day living, and become grumpy and glum and too addicted to unadulterated freedom.
But it’s experiences like that which make me question my relationships. I could give all my love to the world quite easily; I feel as though my soul and spirit belong to the universe – how could I possibly give myself freely to one person? The universe has no boundaries, it has no expectations of me; but a human love is restrictive – it is filled with needs and desires, it asks things of you, and it is not easy.
I guess that’s a bit narrow-minded and perhaps hypocritical of me to say that. I’m in a relationship at the moment, and I’m enjoying it very much.
Monday, March 17, 2008
top o' the mornin' to ye
Hurrah! The day of much greeness and Irishness!
I have a love of Irish music, namely their jigs and reels (such lively, toetapping, addictive music!), and I like the Irish accent, and the thought of learning Irish Gaelic, and the vision of rolling green pastures beneath a rainy, cloud-covered sky..
But then I realised, I don't actually know what St Pat's Day is all about. I'm sure I've learnt about it or researched it before, but it's not something that sticks in the mind all too well. It's easy to associate the holiday with bright green, tall hats, leprechauns, four-leaf clovers and lots of drinking (particularly Guinness), however..
I've gone and Googled it, and found the following information:
Sourced from: http://www.history.com/minisites/stpatricksday/
St. Patrick's Day – Celebrating the Green
St. Patrick is believed to have driven the snakes from Ireland. Once a pagan himself, St. Patrick is one of Christianity's most widely known figures.
The modern secular holiday is based on the original Christian saint's feast day also thought to be the date of the saint's death. In 1737, Irish immigrants to the United States began observing the holiday publicly in Boston and held the first St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City in 1766.
Sourced from: http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Generic&content_type_id=851&display_order=2&sub_display_order=1&mini_id=1082
The First Parade
St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17, his religious feast day and the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for thousands of years.
On St. Patrick's Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink, and feast—on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.
The first St. Patrick's Day parade took place not in Ireland, but in the United States. Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City on March 17, 1762. Along with their music, the parade helped the soldiers to reconnect with their Irish roots, as well as fellow Irishmen serving in the English army.
Over the next thirty-five years, Irish patriotism among American immigrants flourished, prompting the rise of so-called "Irish Aid" societies, like the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick and the Hibernian Society. Each group would hold annual parades featuring bagpipes (which actually first became popular in the Scottish and British armies) and drums.
In modern-day Ireland, St. Patrick's Day has traditionally been a religious occasion. In fact, up until the 1970s, Irish laws mandated that pubs be closed on March 17. Beginning in 1995, however, the Irish government began a national campaign to use St. Patrick's Day as an opportunity to drive tourism and showcase Ireland to the rest of the world. Last year, close to one million people took part in Ireland 's St. Patrick's Festival in Dublin, a multi-day celebration featuring parades, concerts, outdoor theater productions, and fireworks shows.
---
I know of an old Irish blessing, but don't know it off by heart, so I went and searched that too. Found a few other gems which I like, and I've included them below for your enjoyment.
Sourced from: http://islandireland.com/Pages/folk/sets/bless.html
An Old Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
A Wish for a Friend
Wishing you a rainbow
For sunlight after showers—
Miles and miles of Irish smiles
For golden happy hours—
Shamrocks at your doorway
For luck and laughter too,
And a host of friends that never ends
Each day your whole life through!
An Irish Prayer
May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.
An Old Celtic Blessing
May the blessing of light be on you—
light without and light within.
May the blessed sunlight shine on you
and warm your heart
till it glows like a great peat fire.
An Old Irish Blessing
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!
---
I also found some amusing toasts -
Sourced from: http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Generic&content_type_id=53381&display_order=2&sub_display_order=8&mini_id=1082
May God bring good health to your enemies enemies
May you live to be a hundred years, with one extra year to repent.
May you be in heaven one half hour before the devil knows you're dead.
As you slide down the banisters of life may the splinters never point the wrong way.
There are many good reasons for drinking,
One has just entered my head,
If a man doesn't drink when he's living,
How the hell can he drink when he's dead?
May the best day of your past be the worst day of your future.
May you get all your wishes but one,
So you always have something to strive for.
Here's to you,
here's to me,
the best of friends we'll always be.
But if we ever disagree,
forget you here's to ME!!
Here's to your coffin...
May it be built of 100 year old oaks which I will plant tomorrow.
Here's to you as good as you are,
Here's to me as bad as I am,
As good as you are,
And as bad as I am,
I'm as good as you are,
As bad as I am.
May the sons of your daughters smile up in your face.
Health, and long life to you
Land without rent to you
The partner of your heart to you
and when you die, may your bones rest in Ireland!
May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
May your neighbors respect you,
Troubles neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And Heaven accept you.
An old Irish recipe for longevity:
Leave the table hungry.
Leave the bed sleepy.
Leave the bar thirsty.
I've drunk to your health in the pubs ,
I've drunk to your health in my home ,
I've drunk to your health so many times ,
That I've almost ruined my own.
May you never forget what is worth remembering,
Or remember what is best forgotten.
May you have the hindsight to know where you've been,
The insight to know where you are,
and the foresight to know when you've gone too far.
May you have warm words on a cold evening,
A full moon on a dark night,
And the road downhill all the way to your door.
May you never make an enemy
When you could make a friend
Unless you meet a fox among your chickens.
May your fire be as warm as the weather is cold.
Happy St. Patrick's Day everybody :)
I have a love of Irish music, namely their jigs and reels (such lively, toetapping, addictive music!), and I like the Irish accent, and the thought of learning Irish Gaelic, and the vision of rolling green pastures beneath a rainy, cloud-covered sky..
But then I realised, I don't actually know what St Pat's Day is all about. I'm sure I've learnt about it or researched it before, but it's not something that sticks in the mind all too well. It's easy to associate the holiday with bright green, tall hats, leprechauns, four-leaf clovers and lots of drinking (particularly Guinness), however..
I've gone and Googled it, and found the following information:
Sourced from: http://www.history.com/minisites/stpatricksday/
St. Patrick's Day – Celebrating the Green
St. Patrick is believed to have driven the snakes from Ireland. Once a pagan himself, St. Patrick is one of Christianity's most widely known figures.
The modern secular holiday is based on the original Christian saint's feast day also thought to be the date of the saint's death. In 1737, Irish immigrants to the United States began observing the holiday publicly in Boston and held the first St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City in 1766.
Sourced from: http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Generic&content_type_id=851&display_order=2&sub_display_order=1&mini_id=1082
The First Parade
St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17, his religious feast day and the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for thousands of years.
On St. Patrick's Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink, and feast—on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.
The first St. Patrick's Day parade took place not in Ireland, but in the United States. Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City on March 17, 1762. Along with their music, the parade helped the soldiers to reconnect with their Irish roots, as well as fellow Irishmen serving in the English army.
Over the next thirty-five years, Irish patriotism among American immigrants flourished, prompting the rise of so-called "Irish Aid" societies, like the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick and the Hibernian Society. Each group would hold annual parades featuring bagpipes (which actually first became popular in the Scottish and British armies) and drums.
In modern-day Ireland, St. Patrick's Day has traditionally been a religious occasion. In fact, up until the 1970s, Irish laws mandated that pubs be closed on March 17. Beginning in 1995, however, the Irish government began a national campaign to use St. Patrick's Day as an opportunity to drive tourism and showcase Ireland to the rest of the world. Last year, close to one million people took part in Ireland 's St. Patrick's Festival in Dublin, a multi-day celebration featuring parades, concerts, outdoor theater productions, and fireworks shows.
---
I know of an old Irish blessing, but don't know it off by heart, so I went and searched that too. Found a few other gems which I like, and I've included them below for your enjoyment.
Sourced from: http://islandireland.com/Pages/folk/sets/bless.html
An Old Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
A Wish for a Friend
Wishing you a rainbow
For sunlight after showers—
Miles and miles of Irish smiles
For golden happy hours—
Shamrocks at your doorway
For luck and laughter too,
And a host of friends that never ends
Each day your whole life through!
An Irish Prayer
May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.
An Old Celtic Blessing
May the blessing of light be on you—
light without and light within.
May the blessed sunlight shine on you
and warm your heart
till it glows like a great peat fire.
An Old Irish Blessing
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!
---
I also found some amusing toasts -
Sourced from: http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Generic&content_type_id=53381&display_order=2&sub_display_order=8&mini_id=1082
May God bring good health to your enemies enemies
May you live to be a hundred years, with one extra year to repent.
May you be in heaven one half hour before the devil knows you're dead.
As you slide down the banisters of life may the splinters never point the wrong way.
There are many good reasons for drinking,
One has just entered my head,
If a man doesn't drink when he's living,
How the hell can he drink when he's dead?
May the best day of your past be the worst day of your future.
May you get all your wishes but one,
So you always have something to strive for.
Here's to you,
here's to me,
the best of friends we'll always be.
But if we ever disagree,
forget you here's to ME!!
Here's to your coffin...
May it be built of 100 year old oaks which I will plant tomorrow.
Here's to you as good as you are,
Here's to me as bad as I am,
As good as you are,
And as bad as I am,
I'm as good as you are,
As bad as I am.
May the sons of your daughters smile up in your face.
Health, and long life to you
Land without rent to you
The partner of your heart to you
and when you die, may your bones rest in Ireland!
May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
May your neighbors respect you,
Troubles neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And Heaven accept you.
An old Irish recipe for longevity:
Leave the table hungry.
Leave the bed sleepy.
Leave the bar thirsty.
I've drunk to your health in the pubs ,
I've drunk to your health in my home ,
I've drunk to your health so many times ,
That I've almost ruined my own.
May you never forget what is worth remembering,
Or remember what is best forgotten.
May you have the hindsight to know where you've been,
The insight to know where you are,
and the foresight to know when you've gone too far.
May you have warm words on a cold evening,
A full moon on a dark night,
And the road downhill all the way to your door.
May you never make an enemy
When you could make a friend
Unless you meet a fox among your chickens.
May your fire be as warm as the weather is cold.
Happy St. Patrick's Day everybody :)
Sunday, March 16, 2008
inspiration
I've just finished reading the entire blog of a new friend and his experiences of living in Japan a year or two ago.
The style of writing and expression made the entries fun to read, and also made me realise how unsure I sound when I write my own blog entries - it's always "I think" this, "I think" that, or "maybe" this, "maybe" that.
From reading his blog, I've been inspired to try and write on a regular basis, possibly about more interesting things than my current topics of choice. Although I find that I enjoy reading what I've written, months after the original posting. Flicking through my handwritten journal to find the next blank page and catching a glimpse of names and emotions I felt months or years ago, brings back memories that I would have never recalled without a visual aid (namely my own bad handwriting).
The style of writing and expression made the entries fun to read, and also made me realise how unsure I sound when I write my own blog entries - it's always "I think" this, "I think" that, or "maybe" this, "maybe" that.
From reading his blog, I've been inspired to try and write on a regular basis, possibly about more interesting things than my current topics of choice. Although I find that I enjoy reading what I've written, months after the original posting. Flicking through my handwritten journal to find the next blank page and catching a glimpse of names and emotions I felt months or years ago, brings back memories that I would have never recalled without a visual aid (namely my own bad handwriting).
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
indecisions
If you hang around me long enough, you'll realise that I can be a pretty indecisive person a lot of the time. Mostly it's to do with food, but can also extend to clothes, music and even relationships.
I think it's because I want to be able to experience everything while I'm here, and I don't want to have a set path, whether it's hanging out with a small close-knit group of friends (which I've never really done - I'm a social nomad), or choosing a flavour for the gelato I want (so many wonderful choices, I just want a bite of each!).
I enjoy variety but I'm also averse to change. I'm here, but I'm there too. Does this signify a continuing search for my own identity, or am I just plain difficult to live with?!
Hmmm.
Having said that, I also have days where I'm sure of the flavour I want. One develops favourites over time, and when you hang around somebody who always picks their favourite (and doesn't go for anything new), you start to take on that habit. I make sure I don't fall into that though. Variety is the spice of life, after all..
I think it's because I want to be able to experience everything while I'm here, and I don't want to have a set path, whether it's hanging out with a small close-knit group of friends (which I've never really done - I'm a social nomad), or choosing a flavour for the gelato I want (so many wonderful choices, I just want a bite of each!).
I enjoy variety but I'm also averse to change. I'm here, but I'm there too. Does this signify a continuing search for my own identity, or am I just plain difficult to live with?!
Hmmm.
Having said that, I also have days where I'm sure of the flavour I want. One develops favourites over time, and when you hang around somebody who always picks their favourite (and doesn't go for anything new), you start to take on that habit. I make sure I don't fall into that though. Variety is the spice of life, after all..
Friday, March 7, 2008
scribble
I enjoy learning about people. I like to discover people; listen to their stories, and find out what makes them tick.
If you were to ask me why I enjoy this, I wouldn't know what to say. I just get a kick out of sharing thoughts and feelings I suppose. Maybe that makes me a people person. But I'm not much of an extrovert these days, in my opinion.
---
What's the difference between handwriting in a journal and typing entries into a blog such as this one?
To me, the difference is that with an online blog, I write to the silent listener, somebody other than myself. With my handwritten journal, I find myself writing to myself most of the time.
If that makes sense to you, you're one step closer to understanding me :)
If you were to ask me why I enjoy this, I wouldn't know what to say. I just get a kick out of sharing thoughts and feelings I suppose. Maybe that makes me a people person. But I'm not much of an extrovert these days, in my opinion.
---
What's the difference between handwriting in a journal and typing entries into a blog such as this one?
To me, the difference is that with an online blog, I write to the silent listener, somebody other than myself. With my handwritten journal, I find myself writing to myself most of the time.
If that makes sense to you, you're one step closer to understanding me :)
Monday, March 3, 2008
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