Tuesday, May 30, 2006

This weeks wallpaper is "Orchidee"



Is flowery because it's still spring time (officially last day of it!) it's bright and Graphic Design thrives in here. It also looks great on a brightscreen. If you want to look for more wallpapers have a look at my last link and visit the gallery of the website. Happy downloading!

By the way, I have a feeling next week is going to be a National Geographic wallpaper...see you then


Ithaca

By Constantinos P. Kavafis (1911)

When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,
pray that the road is long,
full of adventure, full of knowledge.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the angry Poseidon -- do not fear them:
You will never find such as these on your path,
if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine
emotion touches your spirit and your body.
The
Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the fierce Poseidon you will never encounter,
if you do not carry them within your soul,
if your soul does not set them up before you.

Pray that the road is long.
That the summer mornings are many, when,
with such pleasure, with such joy
you will enter ports seen for the first time;
stop at Phoenician markets,
and purchase fine merchandise,
mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensual perfumes of all kinds,
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
visit many Egyptian cities,
to learn and learn from scholars.

Always keep Ithaca in your mind.
To arrive there is your ultimate goal.
But do not hurry the voyage at all.
It is better to let it last for many years;
and to anchor at the island when you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.

Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage.
Without her you would have never set out on the road.
She has nothing more to give you.

And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you.
Wise as you have become, with so much experience,
you must already have understood what Ithacas mean.

Dartington College of Arts Interview in Totnes/Devon







At the beginning of May I was to visit Totnes for an Interview at Dartington College. I had applied for Theatre Studies and Visual Arts sometime in February and I was really happy to be accepted for an interview at that place.

I did my research about the College which was literally in the middle of the fields and surrounded by nature. So was little Totnes, small, green and simple village. Sorry, but I don't think this is a town by no means! I should also add that little Totnes is far more eco-friendly and organic products based than Thessaloniki itself. Shame on us Thessalonikians...anyhow. It was exactly the kind of life I would love to have. In contact with nature, against ageism and access of knowledge and a combination of my past education with new interests, hey!

I had the luck to stay in an B & B somewhere 30 minutes from the centre of Totnes. Heather was a lovely host, taken care of a lovely cottage which took her 5 or so more years to build to look as beautiful as it does now. I was mesmerised, I have to say. I could not stop taking pictures of my the place! Heather noticed it and asked me to take some pictures for her website in return of money. Of course I grasped the chance to take pictures, but not money of course. For the Greek readers of the post... φιλότιμο ρε, έτσι λέγεται και ταπεινοφροσύνη! But in all good faith Heather pampered me all right! The warmth of this place, the hot coffee first thing in the morning and the organic breakfast waiting for me at the table, the yogurt and bananas at dinnertime and the chilled out chatting about her life stories and mine by the fireplace, was a beloved experience and learning process! Once I get the website, I promise to add it to my links. So, here is the website: http://www.organicbedandbreakfast.info/

So back to the interview, yes I was a wee anxious, even though I turned dissatisfied and even upset at the end of the day. Here's the facts. Dartington College is beautiful college and a prestigious one. The course is a vocational course, no theory there. All the students in and outside the campus are about 600, artists with different backrounds. During the first 2 years physical work is primary, 2 & 3 year you kind of get into practise and meeting the combined module. The accomodation, the usual boxed rooms, dear as well. Internet connection to communicate with the rest of the world, dearer. Work? part time job at the Milk factory nearby or the pubs of course. Careers office and statistics of people finding work after that? There I met the English discrete irony!

I realized the fairy tales I heard in Theatre and fair enough the fairy tales I believed or created myself. I prefer to have a quality of life and a life-long learning. By means of γηράσκω αει διδασκόμενος and not the forever student. I want to have something more concrete with reagards to my education and the job that will feed me.

So, after that revealing interview. Upset enough for "opening my eyes", I continued taking pictures for Heather and sharing our life stories and Iridology information with her.

I am very glad I went there. I gave myself the chance to see, critisize and balance out my needs. Without this little trip I would have never set out and sail away, nore would I have had the chance and the strength to say no to Dartington and their unconditional offer! Saying all these, I remember Ithaca by Kavafis. which I will post in another post for those who never read this elegant and meaninguf poem, bringing tears into my eyes...~

Sunday, May 28, 2006

My flickr Gallery









This Flickr Flash Gallery is a competely new feature for me. I want to note that I am writting in html code for the first time! Hence some adjastment mistakes,whihc may occur.Sorry, this is a transition face or ongoing process, whichever you like to call it best!


So time to introduce my new post I guess... In this little flash you can see some of my public favourite pictures taken both in Totnes-Devon and Pilio-Volos Greece. I will speak for each of these trips and mind shaping experiences separately in new posts, which you are welcome to review. In addition to that, you can always post your comments, hey lets make this little page more interactive and communicational lads and lassies! For example I would like to know which one you liked most and what touched you in that specific picture. Did it remind you of something?


Enjoy

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