Winter solstice,
the sky divided in halves.
the sky divided in halves.
Sun takes upper hand.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Sunday, June 2, 2013
MS Walk 2013
Sunday morning, the weather looked promising, so I decided to ride my bike to the event. In some places there were remains after Friday night floods...
Finally arrived in Albert Park. Behind me runners end their effort...
Apparently some people found more comfortable transport devices...
Now time for walkers - a big, big crowd. One of these rare occasions when being in a big crowd lifts up your heart...
And real friends will find each other even in the biggest crowd...
Few minutes waiting for the start...
and off we go!
The lake is accompanying us all the way...
Long, long row of joyful walkers..
There are angels in the crowd...
The finish line....
The final outcome of my effort was over $800. Maybe I will hit thousand next year?
Finally arrived in Albert Park. Behind me runners end their effort...
Apparently some people found more comfortable transport devices...
Now time for walkers - a big, big crowd. One of these rare occasions when being in a big crowd lifts up your heart...
And real friends will find each other even in the biggest crowd...
Few minutes waiting for the start...
and off we go!
The lake is accompanying us all the way...
Long, long row of joyful walkers..
There are angels in the crowd...
The finish line....
The final outcome of my effort was over $800. Maybe I will hit thousand next year?
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Monday, May 6, 2013
Considering Nannerl
Last Friday was a cold, misty, windy day. But there was a glimpse of sun - morning concert in Australian National Academy of Music - ANAM and there - W.A. Mozart - Piano sonata for four hands KV381 performed by Laurence Matheson and Paavali Jumppanen.
I returned to this piece of music at home, on youtube - HERE performed by Daniel Barenboim and Lang Lang. And then a question struck me - is there any difference who plays on higher or lower keys? On the right or left side of the piano?
Many sources mention, that this sonata was to be performed by W.A. Mozart and his older sister Marie Anna in short - Nannerl. It is obvious, that females perform in higher registers, so Nannerl must have played on the right, as in this picture...
I searched youtube for a performance by a mixed couple - I found one - Martha Argerich and Nelson Freire - look HERE (part 3 Allegro).
Hey - why is Ms Martha sitting on the left, in man's place? Obviously it is a sign of respect. Play Wolfgang's part. That's why D. Barenboim and probably also P. Jumppanen (overseas guest of ANAM) were seated on the left.
And what about Nannerl? Just read her biography in Wikipedia. And here - Mozart's silenced sister. Looks like still in a shadow. Who will make a RIGHT choice? Perform the right side of Mozart's sonata?
I returned to this piece of music at home, on youtube - HERE performed by Daniel Barenboim and Lang Lang. And then a question struck me - is there any difference who plays on higher or lower keys? On the right or left side of the piano?
Many sources mention, that this sonata was to be performed by W.A. Mozart and his older sister Marie Anna in short - Nannerl. It is obvious, that females perform in higher registers, so Nannerl must have played on the right, as in this picture...
Source of the photo HERE.
I searched youtube for a performance by a mixed couple - I found one - Martha Argerich and Nelson Freire - look HERE (part 3 Allegro).
Hey - why is Ms Martha sitting on the left, in man's place? Obviously it is a sign of respect. Play Wolfgang's part. That's why D. Barenboim and probably also P. Jumppanen (overseas guest of ANAM) were seated on the left.
And what about Nannerl? Just read her biography in Wikipedia. And here - Mozart's silenced sister. Looks like still in a shadow. Who will make a RIGHT choice? Perform the right side of Mozart's sonata?
Sunday, April 28, 2013
MS Walk for the third time
The beginning was quite strange. Two years ago, browsing through various blogs I noticed one, written by Anna, young Polish girl fighting with Multiple Sclerosis...
The girl was young and slender, but she fought like a war-hardened warrior (and the fight continues).
Until then, I imagined Multiple Sclerosis is some kind of sclerosis. And sclerosis is some old-age ailment - memory loss, fragility of blood vessels, brain stroke, etc. So great was my shock to learn, that it attacks mostly young people, mostly young women, just like one I mentioned at the beginning.
This knowledge brought another sad reflection on poor condition of human existence and my inability to solve all problems of this world.
It would have stayed like this forever if not.. few days later, on the announcements board in my library, I noticed a leaflet about MS Walk. It could not have been a pure coincidence. It was time to ACT!
I looked at MS Walk web page and registered for the event. My stories about it are here and here. My walk, below...
Last year I was looking forward for this event, my account of it is here and here. I collected over $700 for this honorable cause. Thank you my sponsors from around the world. My last steps looked like this...
This year I will match every dollar donated to my appeal with 1 złoty of my personal donation to Anna, who has to fight not only with the cruel disease, but also with very serious limitation of Polish health system.
Source: http://annablack.blox.pl/html
The girl was young and slender, but she fought like a war-hardened warrior (and the fight continues).
Until then, I imagined Multiple Sclerosis is some kind of sclerosis. And sclerosis is some old-age ailment - memory loss, fragility of blood vessels, brain stroke, etc. So great was my shock to learn, that it attacks mostly young people, mostly young women, just like one I mentioned at the beginning.
This knowledge brought another sad reflection on poor condition of human existence and my inability to solve all problems of this world.
It would have stayed like this forever if not.. few days later, on the announcements board in my library, I noticed a leaflet about MS Walk. It could not have been a pure coincidence. It was time to ACT!
I looked at MS Walk web page and registered for the event. My stories about it are here and here. My walk, below...
Last year I was looking forward for this event, my account of it is here and here. I collected over $700 for this honorable cause. Thank you my sponsors from around the world. My last steps looked like this...
This year I will match every dollar donated to my appeal with 1 złoty of my personal donation to Anna, who has to fight not only with the cruel disease, but also with very serious limitation of Polish health system.
Friday, April 19, 2013
A soldier who did not exist
ANZAC Day is coming closer. In supermarkets one can meet the forerunners - old gentlemen ih a poppy in a buttonhole and and tray with memorial badges. Such as this one..
- Are you a war veteran? - I asked politely. The gentlemen nodded with a smile.
- From which war? - I tried to judge his age - maybe Korean?
- No, from the big one, the Second World War?
- The Second World War? Wow!
- You do not believe me? Here is my photo - he pulled out a yellowing book and showed a photo of young man in a slouch hat.
- Where did you fight? Africa, Europe?
- No, closer to home - Papua New Gwinea, East Timor.
- Kokoda Trail?
- No. I served in a special unit, something like today's SAS. We were dropped behind enemy lines and our task was to kill Japanese commanders.
- You lived in a jungle and hunted enemy commanders?
- Yes, full 6 years.
- Unbelievable. I suppose you wrote a book about it.
- No. We made oath not to disclose any details for the rest of our lives.
- But after some 50 years all records are usually disclosed..
- There are no records. All was destroyed after the war. At the very beginning we were told, that there will be no promotions and we will not receive any war medals. In fact we were told, that we are not expected to survive.
- But you survived.
- I am the only one. Wal, I mean Wally, Wallace is my name. - we exchanged a handshake.
- Certainly you will be in the parade on Thursday.
- No. I have nobody to walk with.
Questions, questions crossed my mind. I stepped back and tried to gather my thoughts. When I looked back Wally disappeared. Was it real? Was I day dreaming? I reached into my pocket and found a badge with the slouch hat. So he was here.
- Are you a war veteran? - I asked politely. The gentlemen nodded with a smile.
- From which war? - I tried to judge his age - maybe Korean?
- No, from the big one, the Second World War?
- The Second World War? Wow!
- You do not believe me? Here is my photo - he pulled out a yellowing book and showed a photo of young man in a slouch hat.
- Where did you fight? Africa, Europe?
- No, closer to home - Papua New Gwinea, East Timor.
- Kokoda Trail?
- No. I served in a special unit, something like today's SAS. We were dropped behind enemy lines and our task was to kill Japanese commanders.
- You lived in a jungle and hunted enemy commanders?
- Yes, full 6 years.
- Unbelievable. I suppose you wrote a book about it.
- No. We made oath not to disclose any details for the rest of our lives.
- But after some 50 years all records are usually disclosed..
- There are no records. All was destroyed after the war. At the very beginning we were told, that there will be no promotions and we will not receive any war medals. In fact we were told, that we are not expected to survive.
- But you survived.
- I am the only one. Wal, I mean Wally, Wallace is my name. - we exchanged a handshake.
- Certainly you will be in the parade on Thursday.
- No. I have nobody to walk with.
Questions, questions crossed my mind. I stepped back and tried to gather my thoughts. When I looked back Wally disappeared. Was it real? Was I day dreaming? I reached into my pocket and found a badge with the slouch hat. So he was here.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
On leave from hospital.
Some time ago, last year, I made a guided tour of Melbourne Cemetery. Our guide, brought to our attention few rotundas.
Hundred years ago they were places for parties. At that time, the cemetery was a quite popular place. On weekends it could be visited by as many as 5,000 people. Bands played popular music, people brought food and drinks. Picnic close to deceased family members.
- People were not afraid of death because people were dying at home - said our guide. At these times each grown up person witnessed at least few deaths.. and births. Deaths and births happened at home, were part of LIFE. Now death and birth occurs in hospital. Death became a disease. So people are afraid of it.
Hundred years ago they were places for parties. At that time, the cemetery was a quite popular place. On weekends it could be visited by as many as 5,000 people. Bands played popular music, people brought food and drinks. Picnic close to deceased family members.
- People were not afraid of death because people were dying at home - said our guide. At these times each grown up person witnessed at least few deaths.. and births. Deaths and births happened at home, were part of LIFE. Now death and birth occurs in hospital. Death became a disease. So people are afraid of it.
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