Month: June 2010

Hermit Weekend

Semester has finished, and I think I can confidently say that I haven’t failed the subjects (although final grades aren’t released until July). I surprised myself, greatly, with a high distinction on my major English essay. The final exam wasn’t as bad as feared. Music … music was hard and it remains to be seen how well (or not) I went.

So now I’m on a four week break before brand new subjects start. I get to read Wuthering Heights, one of my favourite books. I have already started … the intention is to read all the set texts in the break before semester starts. But I’m also reading other things … devouring them. It feels so GOOD to have completed the semester and have some ‘free’ time.To go out to dinner with friends, to wake up and not feel guilty because I’m not immediately studying.

See that round logo in the sidebar? I’m doing an online course over the next eight weeks that sounds like it’s going to be a lot of fun, and very freeing. I have assembled parts of my play kit … a beautiful cheerful box, some silly string, bubbles for blowing, cards and envelopes, post-its (colourful ones, of course!), gel pens, crayons etc, sidewalk chalk, a chocolate bar and some grape-flavoured bubblegum! Bought some pick-up sticks on ebay. We get to do secret missions. And I have already formulated ideas for anonymous ‘happiness bombs’, a kind of guerrilla art/writing thing. Simple things, lots of fun, bringing happiness to strangers’ days. WEE what FUN!

Pictures from my hermit-long-weekend last weekend:

Outside reception at Diamond Beach resort.
Outside reception at Diamond Beach resort.
Outside reception and restaurant
My ‘cabin’. There’s no seeing how nice, if very small, this was from this photo. Huge flat screen tv. Lovely sparkling self contained kitchen. Sounds of the surf pounding all day and night.
Miles to walk. To the north …
… and to the south (zoomed in). Is this the perfect spot or what? Imagine living in one of those farmhouses up there…
The perfect way to study poetry
The dunes between the beach and resort.
A stone I found during a walk on the beach. I took it as "a sign" that I found a heartstone when I badly needed it. I have been reading A Path With Heart, and the day I found this stone on Diamond Beach, my heart was writhing in sadness. Such a beautiful, beautiful find.
A stone I found during a walk on the beach. I took it as “a sign” that I found a heartstone when I badly needed it. I have been reading A Path With Heart, and the day I found this stone on Diamond Beach, my heart was writhing in sadness. Such a beautiful, beautiful find.

Beethoven’s letter to the Immortal Beloved

(Beethoven’s ‘Immortal Beloved’ was Antonie Brentano, a married woman.)

“Though still in my bed, my thoughts go out to you, my Immortal Beloved [unsterbliche Geliebte], now and then joyfully, then sadly, waiting to learn whether or not fate will hear us–I can live only wholly with you or not at all– Yes, I am resolved to wander so long away from you until I can fly to your arms and say that I am really at home with you, and can send my soul enwrapped in you into the land of spirits– Yes, unhappily it must be so– You will be the more contained since you know my fidelity to you. No one else can ever possess my heart–never-never– Oh God, why must one be parted from one whom one so loves. And yet my life in V[ienna] is now a wretched life– Your love makes me at once the happiest and the unhappiest of men– At an age I need a steady, quiet life–can that be so in our connection? … Be calm, only by a calm consideration of our existence can we achieve our purpose to live together–Be calm–love me–today–yesterday–what tearful longings for you–you–you–my life–my all–farewell.–Oh continue to love me–never misjudge the most faithful heart of you beloved.

ever thine
ever mine
ever ours

L[udwig]”

*sigh*. Handsome, passionate, genius Beethoven…