Bending

There could be another storm cycle like this coming up within two months. We had the devastating Brisbane and Ipswich floods just two years ago and now this. I really feel for the surf life savers and helicopter rescuers and all the others, especially the volunteers, that are dedicated to saving human lives. Many of the people they saved did not follow the given evacuation or other instructions in the first place. But that is the way it is, some people save lives and some people put others at risk. A cycle.

Here is an image of a rose that is not giving up.

Copyright Kirsi Reinikka 2013

Surviving

The storm is moving to NSW now but it is still rainy here. I have been reading Lucy Irvine´s book Castaway for the past week. She and her companion G were so unprepared for their one-year-long island experience in the Torres Strait that it baffles me. What were they thinking?? And it was G´s third attempt... Some people do not seem to learn from their experiences... Lucy and G´s adventure sounds like a suicide mission. Anyway, they were suffering from lack of water at some point. I have not got to that part the wet season starts... In Tom Neale´s book Tom was very well prepared, maybe that is why it is a pleasurable read; I do not have to get frustrated for him. He knew what he was doing whereas Lucy and G are incompatible and ill-prepared. Lucy´s motive to pair up with G never comes clear, or least I am not that far in the book, but maybe it was her desire for fame? Which does not seem like a good motivation to move to a deserted island with a whinging verbal abuser for a year. On the other hand there are always two sides to the story... Anyway, why I am writing about the these books (again) is that when these huge rainfalls torment us at the moment I just try to imagine how would it feel to be on an island in the middle of Pacific, and not sure whether the hut is going to take the beating, and wheather the beans and tomatoes are going to survive, not to mention if a giant swell would swipe me away...

The good thing is, naturally, that there is a lot of useful debris on the beaches after the storms. Heheh.

Here is an image of an flower on a beautifully dry day.

Copyright Kirsi Reinikka 2013

Wet

It is raining here. Yesterday the motorways were stuck (I witnessed a huge truck in the ditch so I assume the bumper-to-bumper traffic here and there was all due to several accidents due to rainy weather). Today I am expecting my friends to cancel the brunch meeting we planned a while back. If I am not meeting with friends I am torn between watching a movie or dusting and organising the bookshelves...

 

The art project(s) have got wind under their wings. It looks like there could be funding for it. It is always fun and exciting to come up with an idea that is worthwhile and doable...

 

I am very excited about starting the art therapy studies in a month's time. Good stuff!

 

The forecast predicts a bit of sunshine for Wednesday...

 

 

 

Copyright Kirsi Reinikka 2013

Indoors

The rain has arrived. I keep burning candles to keep the house a bit more pleasant and dry. It is flooding up north.

Here is an image of my only indoor plant. Orchid.

Copyright Kirsi Reinikka 2013

White

I just watched a documentary called The Cats of Mirikatani. It is about an 80-year-old Japanese Grand Master Artist who lived on the streets of New York until the documentary maker asked him to move in to her apartment after 9/11 because the air was toxic outside. It is an amazing story on many levels. It is sad, it is funny, it is healing.

I photographed this flowering bush during Christmas holiday on the island. I do not know the name of it. It is beautiful, like a summer bride.

Copyright Kirsi Reinikka 2013

Pushing through

I took this photo a couple of months ago when my long-suffering mulberry tree started to show signs of life... She looks like she is going to open her wings and fly...

Copyright Kirsi Reinikka 2013

Fresh

I am feeling fresh today although the weather is hot and humid. I think the freshness comes out of the fact that everytime after I go to volunteer at the support service, like I did today, I really feel I have contributed in some way to the wellbeing of others. I then come home and I do not feel down although I still do not have a paid job yet. I know I will find a job in one of these days. And most importantly I am very aware that my issues are really minuscule compared to many other people. I am not physically sick, I am mentally ok, I have a house, I have food, nobody is after my life and my loved ones are doing ok. I even have a piece of chocolate-beetroot cake left that I made yesterday! So what is there to worry about?

Here is an image of flowering ginger. Fresh!

Copyright Kirsi Reinikka 2013