Eastern Flavours

Already for years my boyfriend and I have a habit to visit an oriental marketplace once in a while. We take the car, leave early in the morning and drive to Beverwijk, near Amsterdam, to spend a while in the bustle of the market. (Actually, I learned yesterday that it is the largest decked market in Europe.)

A day at the market is like a short, cheap holiday to a far-away country. We enjoy walking in the crowd, watching people and bargaining with the salesmen. There is probably nothing that they wouldn't sell in one of the hundreds of stands! The quality of clothes, shoes or furniture may not be really high, but you can get the best fresh fruits there.

When entering the hall of foodstuff, we get dazed by the strong aromas of herbs. Hills of herbs everywhere and all kinds of fruits and vegetables you can think of, and more... Piles of olives in all colours, aubergines in the deepest purple - it is all very beautiful.

Yesterday we got back home our bags filled with pineapples, dragon fruits, mangos, grapefruits... Of course Turkish bread and nuts as well. And this time we also chose the unusual delicacies sesame halva with pistachio nuts, baklava and Indonesian banana cakes. Mmmmmmm...

All in all it was a tasty weekend - on our way home we found and tested a Chinese restaurant in the neighbourhood. The food was excellent so we have a new address for take-away meals in the future...

Celebrate the One You Love

It is not easy to write about love. Everything I would want to say sounds too sugary and has probably been said already for thousands of times. Still, I will give it a try...

My need to say something about love has undoubtedly something to do with the fact that I'm preparing my wedding at the moment. It's very exciting! We have chosen to have a tiny wedding ceremony with the most important people around us, very intimate and hopefully lyrical...

My fiance is the number one person making my life sweet. He makes me happier than I had ever known before. Last night we were thinking back to the times when we first met. It's already more than eight years ago, unbelievable how quickly time passes by...

It's a big cliche, but I seriously KNEW he is the one for me from the very beginning. It made no sense that time, but my feeling was very strong and afterwards I can say it was the right intuition. However, there is no need to make it all look very romantic. During these years we have already been through a lot. Sometimes totally distraught with worries, like the past year with my devastating eye problems.

Yes, this is a confession of love to my husband-to-be. Already the moment he chose for proposal (I was that time nearly without sight and waiting for the operation) shows his intention to stay beside me also during hard times. And he is a master of black humor! Although my eye disease is a very serious matter, I would die without a good laugh once in a while - he made me giggle madly about some crazy moments during the darkest period.

70 days to go and then it is time to celebrate our wedding. I'm a bit nervous, but couldn't be more sure about this step we are taking. Together.

A Heavy Week Ahead

It’s almost time to say goodbye to my colleagues and I find it very difficult. Just a few days work left in my current job and then I'll move on and go for other challenges. Even though I’m very eager to find new work possibilities, it doesn’t fade out the fact that I hate that this period is ending. It's like reading a book: I feel empty because this book is finishing while I would have wanted to enjoy it a few chapters longer... At the same time I cannot wait to get my hands on another new, interesting book.

I will miss the people, I could not have had better colleagues. I will miss the relaxed atmosphere, discussions around the lunch table...

Most of all I will miss laughing together.

Now I'm really concentrated to the future - I'm curious about what it will bring on my path. Still, the coming week will be hard and I just want to get through it.

PS. Why are the best books so often sad?

Volunteer's Sunday

Can you believe that I’m writing this in a church from the 13th century! I'm sitting in the "office" of this little church and receiving visitors who come to see a culture-historical exhibition. Today is a quiet day, others are filled with guests. Most of the people I meet here are surprised to meet a Finn in the middle of the Frisian countryside in a tiny village. It has been a good onset for countless interesting conversations.

I love churches, the peaceful atmosphere and beauty in them. My mind really rests in places like this. (Although, just a while ago when there were no people around, I sneaked to the church hall and secretly sang from the bottom of my heart. Great acoustics, could hear my voice echoing echoing echoing…)

Here Again

A long break from writing... The last post was sad, but now I'm feeling great. My eyes are doing excellent at the moment and that means I should be able to search for a new job. I'm very excited and enthusiastic about that - maybe this will be the chance of my life!

Also, had a fantastic holiday and relaxed completely. In the picture sweet peace in a little paradise.

This Is Not Happening...

My mind keeps telling me that this is a kind of nightmare. But no, it IS happening in reality and I have to take it and accept it, there is no other option. I´m losing my job. The post that once was a dream-come-true for me. Unfortunately everything has happened differently than planned with my employer almost two years ago. I´m amazed by the unexpected turns in life, and with both fear and hopefulness I´m waiting for the next one to come...

My Favourite Work of Art

Many years ago I followed a series of lectures about contemporary art given by a Finnish artist Elina Saloranta. She made a strong impression on me, I could have stayed and listened to her thoughts for ages. While she was telling about the work and ideas of various artists, I learned to understand contemporary art better. I have probably never been following any classes with similar enthusiasm.

Take this example of a work of art: on the wall of a gallery, there are snapshots in frames. The pictures portray people and different objects. They are not exactly artistic photos, but simple shots.

Of course there is a story behind each picture. The artist, whose name I unfortunately cannot remember (have not been able to trace it afterwards), had asked a group of people for their meaning of the most beautiful things in the world. The work is starting to live: you can see through the eyes of these people those concrete things they had chosen. The things that meant for them the most.

One of these people has stayed in my mind. A little boy, obviously French, had chosen his three most beautiful things in the world: Virgin Mary, the Eiffel tower and fireworks.

Everyone of us could make such a list of our own. But the idea of this work of art was that the little boy and others who were asked this question, were all blind. Blind since their birth.

How important is vision for experiencing beauty? I can imagine the little boy had heard the fireworks and maybe held a miniature of the Eiffel tower in his hands. When thinking of him I don't know whether I'm sad or happy. Maybe both - sad because he has never had the pleasure to actually see those amazing things, but also happy that he has found his own way of experiencing and tasting the world.

I'm sure that in general the purpose of art is to make us think, discuss, consider things from different viewpoints.

Looking forward to keep broadening my mind...