Recycling

I ended up painting over my first painting (the cityscape) . This new painting of the house on the hill, whilst being small (about 5 x 7) is not as small as the image on the screen. This is actually my 3rd painting. I did another one in between the cityscape and this, but haven't taken a photo of it yet.

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Elspeth

The purpose

Do we see it?
Are we being it?
Be one - singular.
Be one - together.

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Elspeth

Divali

Some deliberately blurred/blurry shots from yesterday's Divali celebrations at my former primary school (where my nephew now goes). Divali is the festival of light over darkness. We need that!

Little girl embracing the deyas

Woman holding 'plate of fire' from puja.

(I'm not sure what the name for it is).

Puja

I moved the camera to make the deyas look as if they're in motion

Deyas in motion 2

Deyas in motion 3
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Elspeth

Still Life

Sitting in my car, I am still life in comparison to this speeding blur.

This is a photo I took yesterday at Manzanilla. I had just pulled to the side of the road and was snapping the image of the trees in my wing mirror when a car zipped by. It is a visual example of a question I usually ask when I am out in rural areas: why do people feel the need to speed when they can sit back, relax and cruise through a refreshing place like the country? I guess one answer is "open roads and not many pot holes."

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Elspeth

Maybe I shouldn't have listened

The other day when I had bought the white boards and paints from the art shop, the owner asked me to come back and show her what my first painting looked like. She's really nice. Sometimes I pop in just to chat with her. The above photo shows what I eventually got around to showing her day before yesterday. She said "I like this ..." (and held it close then at a distance). "The more you look at it from different angles, the more it changes ..." I asked her if she knew what it was and she said: "That's what I'm trying to figure out." I then told her it was a cityscape."

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N.B. What I showed her and what I have posted as a photo here are two different paintings. In other words, today I tampered with the original after she gave me advice: "use fine lines around the buildings to make them more disctinctly marked." In the process of doing this, I think I ruined what was previously quite an interesting representation of a city skyline. In an attempt to salvage what I had altered, I ended up doing over the buildings ... and now I'm not sure I like how they look. In the original version of the painting, they were more clumpy, somewhat darker and moody, with interestingly oversized and blurry yellowish lights. I did not use paintbrushes for this painting. I used Q-tips (hence the large dots and thick lines making up most of the painting). I think it looks a bit 'juvenile' ... but it's a start. According to the art shop owner: "Keep at it."

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Elspeth

Something

Something falls away

Something fills its place.

Something is taken by the sea

Something is brought on a wave.

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Elspeth

The answer to the question

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This was purely unintentional on my part ... but after putting these two photos here I looked at them and realised that they carry a message. In the first photo, the girl is holding an anthurium in her hands. Someone to her side also has an anthurium in his/her hands. You can see a piece of it. Anthuriums are heart shaped ... and many people in Saturday's procession were carrying them ... as a symbol of Love, I would imagine. The second photo (which I took after the whole march was over), shows two discarded anthuriums in the drain. To me, the statement being made is this: the answer is in our hands. We must not throw it down the drain.

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Elspeth

More messages

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On the day of the march I saw too many garbage bins around town overflowing with rubbish (as in photo). Ridiculous! In light of the fact that the bomber has been placing bombs in bins, there should be crews going around ensuring that bins are kept as clear as possible ... especially since there were thousands of people on the streets that day.
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Elspeth

Some pics from yesterday

Just a few of the many pics I took at the 'Death March' yesterday.

Rosanna (the friend I went with) and I made 100 copies of this prayer/quote J sent me ... and stuck it up around town - on lamp posts, trucks, car and van windscreens, trees, monuments, shop windows, walls, on the backs of people's placards ... etc. Anywhere solid.

Rosanna sticking one of the prayers on a sno cone vendor's cart

People with national flags gathering on Independence Square before the march

Ditto. There were thousands of people. I'm not too sure of the exact amount. I guess we'll see an estimate in the papers.

One of the many t-shirts that had different messages on them. There was an abundance of placards too.

The symbolic sea of 'blood' on the road in front of the Red House. The people in white represent the 306 people who have died (as a result of crime) for the year so far.

The symbolic dead lie down on the road as part of their presentation at the end of the walk.

Symbolic.

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Elspeth

3 months in one day

Today

we May

March

in October.

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Today is "The Death March" being organised by the Keith Noel Committee.

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Elspeth

Some may not want to see it

On Wednesday I went to Lopinot with two friends to shoot some footage for a project I am doing with them (the same project that led me to find Celine, the little girl who makes jewelry out of ixora flowers). It was about nine or ten in the morning and we were peacefully shooting footage by a river ... water babbling, birds chirping, bamboo creaking, breeze ruffling the leaves. All of a sudden we heard that dreaded noise that often upsets tranquil nature lovers ... a rackety old car approaching, blaring Indian music. Two Indian men and an Indian woman promptly jumped out of the vehicle and, without any delay, started setting up their pot under the thatched CPEP structure.

One man explained to me that the fire is made with wood from telephone poles, since that wood burns very well.

My friends and I looked at each other and rolled our eyes, acknowledging that our quiet retreat was no more. It always amazes me (and others I know) why people would come to a peaceful place like a river or beach to blare music. Anyway ... I asked one of the men if they could turn off the music for about ten minutes, since we wanted to record the sound of the river on the camera. He happily obliged and, once we were finished recording, they proceeded to offer us drinks. "Wha' yuh drinkin'?" When we all said we would have Coke, they looked shocked: "Allyuh ent takin' nutting harder?!"

Another cook-up point on the ground

We ended up drinking Coke and liming with them for a five, whilst they explained that they did this every Wednesday to relax ("while de chirren in school") and that they always had such a good time that even the state of the country was the furthest things from their minds. They looked blissfully happy, almost drunk - although they may not have been inebriated yet. We understood ... since that day, lost in the tranquil greenery and old time feel of Lopinot, crime was the furthest thing from our minds as well.

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The river limers' menu, apart from alcohol and chaser, was not for vegetarians: beef, chicken and ... something that made us all cringe (even though they swore it was delicious)! If you are an animal lover or vegetarian and don't want to look at this graphic photo, then don't scroll down. N.B. I am both animal lover and vegetarian, yet I felt compelled to take a photo of it ...

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Roasted goat head, ready for the pot.

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Elspeth

Rare specimen discovered

If you did not come up with a list of eight words yesterday, do so now before continuing.

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(When finished, or if you already did words yesterday, scroll down)
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Fill in the words you came up with to read about this amazing creature:

The ___________ is a very peculiar specimen which lives deep in the heart of _________ . It feeds on ___________ in order to strengthen its body for mating season. Mating is a strange ritual which occurs once every __________. The female usually lays ________ eggs, of which only 2% survive once the weather is ________. Legend has it that this rare creature is a ________ blessing to humans and that those who view its image will find _________.

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Elspeth

Words

Get a piece of paper and write down a word of your choice for each of the following. Keep the piece of paper until tomorrow to see how your words fit ...
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1. The name of an imaginary animal (i.e. you make up a name for it)
2. A place anywhere in the world
3. Something edible
4. A month of the year
5. A number
6. An adjective describing something in nature
7. An adjective describing something that makes you feel good
8. Something valuable
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Elspeth

Listen

The indwelling Silence speaks.

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Elspeth

Ixora Garlands

Yesterday I went location hunting for a video project I'm going to be doing. My quest led me to the back yard of a small blue wooden house in Surrey (an area on the way to Lopinot).

A little girl there (Celine) announced upon my arrival that she loves to make jewelry out of ixora flowers and proceeded to make me a rather large ring and a bracelet. I ended up having quite a fascinating little visit with these strangers ... Celine, her little sister Renelle (who was 2), her mother and their outspoken grandmother. We all sat outside where it was cool and breezy, under a large tree in the front yard - the mother sat on the steps near the roots of the tree, the children and I sat on the roots and the grandmother sat on a chair on the little pathway nearby. Celine strung her ixoras together and pounded purple Morning Glory with a small rock to make "ink" whilst her little sister Renelle copied everything she did, pounding ixoras, squeezing them between her chubby fingers and making fistfuls of ixoras and gravel which she proudly kept pushing into my camera lens. Apparently they spend their spare time making flower jewelry, 'cooking' flower soups or, according to their mother, "jes ripping up all meh plants!"
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Elspeth

Slippery fish

When I woke up this morning I tried to grasp my very first thought ... but it's so nebulous, seeming to exist in the space between the 'dream' and the 'reality'. It will take me some time to be able to grasp it. I feel that the first thought is like a precious, slippery fish ... like something from a legend: this slippery fish, when caught, whispers something valuable.
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Elspeth

First thought

When I woke up this morning I was very aware of my first thought. Now, several hours later, I can't remember what it was, but I am feeling I should keep a book by my bed and write down that 'first thought' upon waking. What is the importance of that first thought or feeling of the day? Does it determine the mood of the day in some way? Is it something to think about further or to forget? Is it the remnant of a dream? Etc ... I think important messages exist in our first thoughts. Something to explore.
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Elspeth

6,4,1,1,

Enlightened by a leaf,

Windswept and free:

Just

Be

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Syllables per line (6-4-1-1) for this poem

inspired by the Directory Inquiries telephone #

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Elspeth

E is for ...

Examples of people getting my name wrong!

Photo by J.S.G., on the Islands (Toronto)
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I have no idea why most people here have problems pronouncing a simple two syllable name. Els - peth. The range of bizarre variations I get is baffling to me: Lispet, Lesmit, Elizabeth, Lispet, Esspet, Elsapet ... the list goes on. Sometimes I introduce myself as "Spec" (my nickname since primary school) or leave messages with the operator where friends work like "Just say Spec called" - to avoid going through the hassle of repeatedly spelling my name. The 3 examples below will give an idea of what often transpires ...
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Example #1
Yesterday I called someone to find out about a cheque I am to collect. She asked me for my name and the following conversation ensued ...
Her: Can I have your first name, please?
Me: Elspeth
Her: What's that?! Spell, please?
Me: E-L-S-P-E-T-H
Her: Oh-oh-oh! Slow down! What was that?!
Me (slowly): E-L-S-P ...
Her: E-L-S-T ...
Me: No, P ... as in pineapple (I always have to say this when I reach to the "T" part)
Her: Oh, P! Ahaaaaaaaaa ...
Me: ... E-T-H
Her: Ok ... now exactly how do you pronounce that?
Me: Elspeth
Her: Ok ... Elsteth (N.B. Still pronouncing it wrong)
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Example #2
When I came back from Canada on Sunday and opened my mail, there was a letter from BWee with a new BWee Miles card (since my other one was lost). My name on the card is spelt wrong (Elspbeth). The letter is also addressed to Elspbeth Duncan. To compound matters, the letter confidently begins: Dear Mr. Duncan ...
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Example #3
This one happened a long time ago, but I'll include it since I found it was a classic. I had called a friend of mine at his office and he was not there, so I left a message with the operator. The essence of the conversation was this ...
Me: Can you just ask him to call Elspeth, please?
Her: Esspet?
Me: Elspeth
Her: Oh, sorry. Lispet.
Me: No, Elspeth. E-L-S-P-E-T-H.
Her (slowly): E ... L ... what's next?
(I remember having to spell my name quite a few times before she eventually got it ... and when she finally did ... this part really threw me ...)
Her: And what is your name?
(After all of that she thought that Elspeth was my business place and not my name!!! Perhaps the way I'd asked her to tell him to 'call Elspeth', not knowing that it was a person's name, she assumed it was a business. As if I had asked him to 'call Mario's' or ' call Courts Superstore').
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ElsPeth

Not then, but ...

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Where are you?

What do you feel?

What are you thinking?

What are you wearing?

Are you breathing deeply or shallowly?

What are you sitting on?

Where are your feet?

What is the weather like outside?

What "is" now that will not be as it was a second ago?

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Elspeth

Not complaining ... just observing

CUSTOMER SERVICE: Since being back from Canada where the people I encountered were generally polite and courteous (in shops and in public), it is almost glaring when met with the opposite. What struck me most was the beggars on the side of the street who cheerily said: "Thank you! Have a nice day and God bless you" even when someone told them "Sorry" (re giving money). When I commented on this, the friend I was with pointed out that it's a small neighbourhood and the same people will pass back. It struck me as being customer service. Be kind to your customers and they will come back. Even if they don't buy (give you money) now, one day they very well might because of your cheery disposition.
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Meanwhile, back in Trinidad: Coming through Duty free I bought some large bars of chocolate. In giving the woman at the cash register the money, she grabbed it from me. I was a little taken aback. She then pushed the change at me, all the time looking down with a tight-lipped face. I said "Thank you." She did not even mumble and still has not looked up.
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Yesterday at the gas station auto shop buying oil for my car, the man giving me change was looking down. He took my money (exact $16) and counted it, still looking down. I waited, as though expecting him to say something. When I realised he wasn't going to, I said "Thank you" and was going to walk away with the oil. He did not look up. I said it again, a bit louder, in case he hadn't heard: "Thank you!" He still did not look up, kept looking down, as though his neck was stuck in the position. The woman at the counter who was busy writing in a book mumbled, as if for him: "Okay den ..." I don't think he was mute or deaf. Some people just don't care how they are with customers. Maybe it's not necessary to treat customers with respect or politeness because they will come back anyway (for convenience, etc.) Maybe customers themselves don't care and don't say hello or thank you, so it doesn't matter.
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HOWEVER ... not only these unrepsonsive and impolite customer service reps have been glaring to me. Those who have been friendly are standing out. Yesterday I called 6411 (Directory Inquiries) to get a number. Admittedly, feeling a bit lazy, not wanting to go and look for the phonebook. I had to keep spelling the name of the place I wanted for the woman on the other end to understand. She was still having trouble understanding and finding it. I began to feel frustrated, realising I would have spent less time looking for a phonebook and looking up the number myself. My tone began to develop a frustrated tinge, but hers remained constant and pleasant. I was just about to tell her not to bother when she said "Oh, here it is ..." She proudly called out the number for me in a sunny voice. I said "Thank you." She said: "Youuuuuuuuuuuu're welcommmmmmmmmmme" in such a warm, proud tone, like an old woman (even though she was young) speaking endearingly to a younger person. My frustration dissipated as I thought "What a pleasant person .. even though she took so long." I then called the number. It was the wrong one ...
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Elspeth

Back home

Returned home yesterday. Still trying to assimilate what it feels like after having a different atmosphere and being in a different place for what felt like so long yet went by so quickly ...
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BWee was on time. We had a lot of turbulence in about the last hour or two of the trip (flying for what felt like an hour through a massive, never-ending grey/white cloud). Somehow the 5 or so hours felt much longer. I was looking forward to touching down on solid ground. The man who sat next to me was returning home for his younger brother's funeral. We spoke (or rather, he spoke) a lot during the trip. We both agreed that even though BWee has a reputation for being late (Better Walk If Able, etc.) we like flying with them better than any other airline. He was saying that he has been living in Canada for the past 15 years and comes home often (this was his 4th trip home for the year) ... so he has a wealth of stories about BWee. He began to tell me a few - and his eyes even filled with tears for one of them - one where he surprised his wife by appearing on the plane, in the seat next to hers, just before take off. He was able to pull this off because the BWee ground staff got in on his 'plan' when he told them and they helped him to orchestrate it at the last minute. In his words: "What other airline would do that for you?" He is the kind of person who goes to the back of the plane and tells the BWee attendants that they are doing a good job then calls the company after the flight to say something appreciative. We began to discuss how people say and write negative things about the national carrier in letters to the editor, etc. and how positive stories like the ones he was telling me are rarely heard. At the end of it all, he said something that struck me. Basically it was this: "I've flown many airlines throughout my lifetime and I know a real smile when I see one" (meaning BWee attendants). I understand what he was saying.
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Elspeth

The day before tomorrow

Today is my last day in TO.

Leaving tomorrow on an early a.m. flight ... after three weeks of simple, wonderful and spontaneous experiences. After days of weather that felt like summer, I finally got the weather I was longing for on my whole trip - temperatures dropped. A birthday gift from the Cosmic One. Not that the warmer weather wasn't nice - it had its place and purpose. Yesterday was colder, grey and rainy. Whilst some may find this annoying, it was actually the best weather to have that day. The weather shapes the day and its activities when plans are not fixed and can be moulded accordingly. Once dressed properly, grey skies and rain can be enjoyable.

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7 October 2005 was a day of amazing discoveries.

Thank You.

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Tomorrow at this time I will be in the air, heading home.

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Elspeth

Happy Birthday

To me

Today's 'ings'

Walking
Talking
Gawking
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Meeting
Eating
Treating
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Elspeth

Day 16

Mist shrouds the CN Tower.

The Sun peeps through this cloudy blanket

Waking up the city morning.

Will it be:

(a) Hot

(b) Warm

(c) Cool

(d) Cold

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Maybe all of the above.

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Elspeth

blank

empty day
chalk of adventure
writing stories
yet unknown.
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Elspeth

So far ...

1. Daily labyrinth walks
2. Yoga classes
3. Food (e.g. pancakes at Futures, Panini sandwiches at Urban Annex, Thai veggie burgers at Fresh, warm up frozen dinners at Tracey's, fruit, trailmix, Maltesers, Strawberry flavoured Tropicana Twist, home cooked)
4. Cinema
5. Visiting art galleries
6. Picnics
7. Visiting friends and family
8. Lots and lots of walking from point A to point B to point C ...
9. Riding trams, buses and subways
10. Minimal shopping (may do more)
11. First Nation People's drum, chant and dance session (and got invited to Pow Wow for today)
12. Taking a few photographs
13. A few video shots for music video
14. Sitting on balcony watching city
15. Sleep
16. Writing little poems
17. Being aware of the senses
18. Played games (Scrabble, Question game, cards)
19. Dressed warmly, sometimes not
20. It

Etc.

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Elspeth