MONA

Today was the first time in a long time that I had an activity planned purely for the experience, for fun for recreation.  I have been eager to see the new Hobart landmark MONA  that has everybody buzzing in town.  I purposely deferred the visit until after the initial frenzy and waited for my sister (and friend) to join me.

I admit, I did not do much research and thought I had enough insight to be prepared for the "shock factor" that MONA promised to deliver.  I had a sense that I was walking through a private estate as we approached the entrance.  I appreciated the entrepreneurial private gallery owner's contribution to our city.  His provision of employment, attraction of tourists to stimulate our local economy, the funky building and engineering spectacle.

I felt such heaviness as I wandered the corridors and hallways and showrooms for the prized possessions of this man.  I saw nothing that was unfamiliar.  I saw nothing that shocked or rattled me.  I was not horrified and repulsed by the perverse and depraved representations of the inner thoughts of the human mind.

What may have been considered horror in the media or illegal on the screen has been glamorised into a den of intrigue and culture.  It has been read that sex and death are the main themes and that these are the main drives of the human, the pursuit of one and avoidance of the other.

I have seen this world, touched it's fringes, explored it's promise of answers to my deepest questions and promise to fill my soul's largest chasms of emptiness.

I felt nothing but having walked through the familiar realms of human brokenness.  After all there is nothing new under the sun, a wise man once said.  My heart aches for the lost and confused who are fooled into believing that there are no other prizes worth pursuing.  Death has no need of avoidance, sex no threat of domination when the truth of the real goal is realised.

Maybe I am considered a fool by the intellectual and cultured and savvy of this world.  I am not trying to be popular in my thinking or narrow minded.  I just know another way, the wrestle is over and I am humbly grateful.

the little ones

Grandy :: a family treasure

We had a special visitor come and stay from far far away.  He was named Grandy Bandy by Felix within a half hour of his arrival.

Each morning Annabelle asked the question "Where's Grandy? Puzzles?".

The days of this week were woven with new fun and distant and familiar feelings of love and special memories.  My Grandy, always making time for us and slowing down the pace to let us help him.

Such a beautiful gift to see that through as an observer.  A healing of heart, soul and mind.  A renewal of the hope that there is goodness in this world.  Kindness, time, care, love, contentment and hope.

Annabelle spent near on eight hours a day cuddled up doing the same puzzles over and over again.

A happy man, doing what he loves best, enjoying his family.  

summer days

 Picking and eating raspberries at a local farm.  

Pretty summer dresses.

Beach cricket.

To the beach and back again.

A new experience.  Sand.