2008 rewind (1)

The year 2008 is drawing to a close. Although its beginning was a bit chaotic and full of surprising changes, it was a year of fulfilment.
Move
I moved to a new place. Finally? Hopefully? Sadly? Happily? Happily. Having my own place and almost not having time to live in it. Isn’t it ironic?
Tina
In January Tina, a beautiful Labrador, unexpectedly came to live with me. She was six months then. Now she’s a year and a half, of course, and hopefully, there is no mark of her disobedience, naughtiness and silliness except for the half-eaten kitchen chair, a dozen of sleeveless garments or shoulder straps and plenty of chewed shoe soles. It was a success to persuade her that bones and other dog toys taste much better than clothes and furniture.
Wedding
The whole year I was occupied with this one-day event, but it was worth it. It was the most memorable day in my life.
Job
I started working for one of the most prestigious language schools in our city and I met interesting people there.
Studies
It’s the last year of my studies. I hope to write more than one chapter of my master thesis.
Books
I got back to reading and I’ve been reading two books – Traktat o łuskaniu fasoli by Wiesław Myśliwski and Madame by Antoni Libera. I hope to finish one of them this year. The books differ a lot. The first one is like a philosophical tale about life. The other is simply entertaining. Finally, Polish writers have freed our literature from national independence theme. Here is a quote from Myśliwski:

Są przecież takie słowa, które nie mają swoich stałych znaczeń. Słowa wymienne na wszystkie nasze pragnienia, marzenia, tęsknoty, myśli. Można by powiedzieć, słowa bezcielesne, zabłąkane we wszechświecie innych słów, słowa, które szukają swoich znaczeń czy, lepiej byłoby powiedzieć, swoich wyobrażeń. Jak chociażby wieczność, nicość. Więc kto wie, czy i wolność do tych słów nie należy. Takich słów trzeba się jednak strzec, jako że potrafią się wcielić w każde znaczenie i w każde wyobrażenie. W zależności, na ile gotowi jesteśmy się im poddać i do czego chcemy ich użyć. Według mnie to nawet natura nie jest wolna.
W. Myśliwski, Traktat o łuskaniu fasoli

E.U

‘How come we’re getting there together?’ Poland asked Germany. They were riding in one bus. They were standing next to each other in awkward silence until that question. ‘I don’t even like you.’
‘And I wonder why,’ he replied with no trace of irony.
‘Oh, you wonder why!’ her soft accent strongly contrasted with German way of speaking. ‘Hmm… Let me think… Maybe the wa…’
‘It wasn’t my fault. And I’ve changed,’ he said dryly.
Poland snorted. ‘Whose was it then?’, she asked, ignoring the second sentence.
‘People’s.’
She snorted again. ‘All right, we should leave that subject… It was long time ago, wasn’t it. I forgave you, so what’s the…’
‘You did?’ Germany’s eyebrows rose as he stared at Poland in a surprise.
‘Forgave, but did not forget,’, she said, looking at him with her blue eyes. Germany blinked. In a minute he could hear Poland’s blabbing again:
‘Ahh, I don’t think this party is a good idea…’
‘Why?’, he asked.
‘Nobody likes me there,’ she smiled bitterly.
‘Lithuania likes you.’
‘He did like me, I’m now sure how his feeling are now.’ She sighed.
‘What about Spain and Italy?’
‘They like any girl, except France,of course,’ she frowned. ‘I don’t know why, she is nice. Thoguh she says she will do things that she won’t,’ her voice was filled with regret.
‘Nah, I don’t like her… She’s making such a mess every time I meet her – that’s so annoying!’ he complained. ‘Anyway, you say anybody likes you – so what should I say?’
‘It’s your fault. Shouldn’t have done that things you did.’ Poland’s comment was said with a mean smile.
‘I had no choice, I’ve already told you…’
‘Netherlands like you’, she interrupted.
‘I don’t like the way he likes me, if you know what I mean,’ Germany frowned. Even the thought of that man was giving him creeps.
Poland giggled and started to play with her hair. ‘Huh, that’s the prize for playing hard to get,’ she winked.
Germany opened his mouth to protest, but suddenly she grabbed his coat and pulled him towards the end of the bus.
‘What are you doing?!’
‘Shh! Russia’s coming, I guess neither of us wants to talk to him.’ She was right. Soon Germany glimpsed a tall blonde man in a colorful coat. ‘What d’you think of him?’ Poland asked. ‘In my opinion, he lost his charm long ago,’ she whispered.
‘I think you know my feeling towards him,’ Germany commented. ‘We don’t really like each other. And his accent is terrible.’
‘But at least he can drink!’, she laughed. ‘Even you, Oktoberfesters, should bow to him!’ she joked.
‘We don’t end up singing war songs on the table.’
Poland giggled and soon changed the subject. ‘I really hope that Hungary will come… She is a great girl.’
‘I don’t mind her,’ Germany said. Soon he added a curse in his native language.
‘Good day, my eagles!’, they heard Russian accent. ‘What my pretty eyes are seeing? Black eagle and White eagle together? It shouldn’t be this way!’
‘It’s only one stop to go,’ Germany said through gritted teeth, ignoring Russia’s talk completely. ‘I have one request though – don’t join when he starts singing Katyusha, I know you know the lyrics,’ he whispered to Poland.
‘I’ll see what I can do,’ she answered. ‘It seems you’re not as bad as I thought.’
As Germany smiled, she added in thoughts:
But I’m not sure whether I’m able to resist such a catchy song…

Merry Christmas in the fields

It was cold. Slow trains called it a day for the Christmas Eve supper. That’s why they aren’t, though meant to be, in the picture.

The orchestra series (4)

I wake up this morning and I’m very surprised – my world has changed, I am a harp! God, why am I a harp? For what sins? It’s a very strange feeling for me. I have a wooden, gold painted frame and metal strings. One thing hasn’t changed – I’m still big. A small, pocket harp would be ridiculous. After the first negative impressions I can say there are good sides of being a harp too. There is only one harp in the orchestra and I’ll play a very important role at concerts. Playing me isn’t easy and only few people in the world can do it. It’s a privilege to play a harp, usually women do it. It will be very exciting, when a pretty woman puts me between her legs, gently touches my strings and the music plays. A fantastic feeling, many men would like to be a harp I suppose. Fortunately there aren’t many men who play it, one of the best known is Andreas Vollenweider, called the master of the harp. The harp is big and solid, but the sound of it is very beautiful, delicate and soft. It’s one of the oldest musical instruments. It’ll be a very strange experience for me, but it isn’t the worst thing that could happen. I could be a whistle and everybody could blow me. God, thanks for making me a harp.

HAPPINESS

Yesterday I’ve seen a nice film – it’s called ‘Happy-go-lucky’ (trailer here ). I don’t really know what it was about, what the plot was or what the point of the story was. But when I walked out of the cinema I felt so happy that I could share the remaining chocolate with random people, dance, hug and sing! I have no idea what made me feel this was – was it the chocolate or the film? Both, I guess. So I came to a conclusion that the main message of the movie was: BE HAPPY.
Now as I’m writing it, something came up to my mind. Not long ago I read somewhere that everyone affects your happiness. For instance, if people you know are happy, you’re happier; but also, if people you know are happy, they make me 6% happier, and the other way round.
Amazing, huh? Happiness is a contagious disease! It travels! It spreads! YAY!
(at least American scientists say so.)

I’m happy.
Are you?

The orchestra series (3)

It’s quite an early evening on a big day today for me, because I’m playing in the orchestra the hundredth time and I’m a little bit nervous and excited at once.
I’m standing in my, cosy velvet case and waiting for my owner, for her long and agile fingers. I can’t wait for her to take me out and start playing, but first she wipes my hand-carved soundboard – gently, slowly, inch by inch, around my f-holes. Next she delicately bends my strings while tuning them.
Now she uses the bow. It always makes me vibrate, the whole of me. But what I like the most, is when she plucks my strings.
Today she looks different and she behaves more proudly and reverently. I’m sure that something must have happened. Although my owner is still the same, tonight she smells different and her new dress is more womanlike.
It’s high time we went to the philharmonic, so she puts me into my comfortable case and takes it with her.
I know my place in the orchestra very well. My section is the string section, on the right of the conductor, in front of the double basses. I like my place with the violins, violas and double basses behind me. I’m sure you know this feeling of being in the right place, it gives me the sense of belonging.
I hear the muffled sounds of arrangements through my case. She takes me out and something has ruined my calmness – her hand is shaking. Don’t panic! It’s just ordinary stage fright! But I’m not sure of that.
She goes into the concert hall, full of audience, and so far so good – nothing special, but that shaking hand …
Hey! You’ve passed by our place! My place!
She sits down on the lonely chair in front our section, and immediately I realise that we are playing solo tonight.
I feel her hug me with her knees stronger than usual …

The orchestra series (2)

I’m very proud of being a trumpet. I must confess that I’m not a common trumpet from a second-rate orchestra. I’m probably one of the most famous trumpets in the world, because of my owner, who was Louis Armstrong.
Now I’m old, but as a young trumpet I travelled the world with maestro, and together we filled most of world’s biggest concert halls like Carnegie Hall and Royal Albert Hall to name just a few.
One of the greatest moments of my life was when the curtain was up. Before every show I felt a lot of positive energy coming from the audience as well as a kind of strange fright.
After a while I felt the air blow through the closed mouth. It was a very strange feeling, although very important to sound effect, because of it’s tension and length.
As a very experienced and sensitive trumpet I must to admit that I can translate trumpeter’s emotions and feelings to the audience. That’s why I can easily tell amateurs from the experts. As a very selfish one, I’ve always preferred solo concerts or concerts with a lead singer whom I accompany.
Like Ella Fitzgerald, for example. What wonderful times!
I always hated orchestras. Maybe it was because I felt jelaous among other instruments? I guess the reason was that I always had small parts to play in two-hour concerts, unlike cellos or violas. That’s why I got bored with a classical music. I fell asleep every time I had to take part in such concerts.
Now, as a matured and experienced trumpet I can say that the most important points of every cooperation between the musician and his instrument is empathy, patience and indulgence to each other.

The orchestra series (1)

I’m the violin, the smallest of string instruments. I have a beautiful and sophisticated shape, which is a result of evolutionary changes in the space of many years. I don’t like lying in a case. I love when my owner takes me in his hand and bases on the left shoulder. He keeps me in place snuggling to me. I feel the warmth of his feelings and know in a few seconds I’ll produce a beautiful, unique sound. I always wait for this moment. I feel his fingers and a bow on my strings. My body vibrates a little. The rubbing is nice and sensitive. While the strings are plucked by his fingers, my emotions run high. The sound is strong and loud. It’s unbelievable and I feel like a boat in a gale. Gradually vibrations become weaker until I feel completely nothing. What a pity that I have to lie in the case again.

On a trip to England

I’m on a trip in England. I see huge rocks which are called Stonehenge, and green meadows. The sun is shining intensively and I hear blue birds singing. It’s very windy but warm. Next, I’m going to London, where my good aunt and uncle live. My mum, father, younger brother and older sister have been there for two weeks now. I feel relaxed and happy.

My shelter

I’m in the beautiful and amazing UK. I bought a big house last week. I live there with my husband. I can see a lovely, mysterious and large garden. There are a lot of gold leaves falling down, because now it is autumn. I can hear birds singing silently and I can smell fresh air. I feel really good. I’m so happy that I’m here.  I love this place really much.

Next Page »