In Transit

Image from amassblog

So, I'm doing this from Cape Town International Airport. I find being in transit is on the one hand frustrating, irritating, stressful; on the other hand (if everything goes well) very nice. I find a certain solitude in being anonymous and doing the waiting-thing just like everybody else.

What have I done here? I've been to the Design Indaba. Yes, the most amazing event every year for really ANYONE, whether you're an architect, accountant, dressmaker, mother, teacher, cook, fashionista. I came to this event completely drained of all creative energy and once again came back totally inspired. There were so many amazing speakers but the two speakers who made a profound impact were Michael Wolff and Francis Kere. I cannot describe to you the way in which both of them spoke to the world and touched the heart of hearts in every designer. I was truly humbled to see these great, great individuals.

A few other thoughts on this week:

1. Our city can learn so much from Cape Town. Yes, it is not at all a perfect, but there are a few things in place such as recycling bins all over, pedestrian-friendly intersections, bicycle lanes (YAY!!), community security and an awesome, cheap shuttle service from the airport.
2. People who are really really good at what they do are the most humble. I think all young designers can learn from that.
3. Pretoria is so ready for inspiration, change and some good design. A few ideas / events / things are coming this way!! 
4. The Old Biscuit Mill Market is amazing! Will post some photo's when I'm back.
5. In the meantime, a water pipe in my house decided to burst (why do these things always happen at the worst possible times??). So I'm getting mentally ready for a good Sunday afternoon clean-up.
6. If I don't get off this computer now and on the plane, I might have to stay here!!

The music matters

Photo from the Faithless Facebook page

What a night! On Saturday 5 February these guys rocked my world. I do not have words to describe the amazing music by these legends. Maxi Jazz had this wild, primal look on his face and when the spoke the first words with his powerful soothing voice it was like the world could stand still. We were lucky enough to get Golden Circle tickets (a great wedding present) and we were standing about 5 rows from the front, which made it an unforgettable experience.

They opened with the intro of Drifting Away and ended with the most amazing version of We Come One.

I felt so inspired afterwards - may their music and messages stay alive for years to come.

From within

This is not to make up for three weeks of absence from blogging. I received a message from a friend today and it made a profound impact. I didn't realize that this blog, this escapism, actually inspired someone. And I got to think why I'm really doing this. So, I remembered this  poem by Mary Oliver that was stuck on my wall at the office for years (don't know why I took it off) and it all dawned on me: It's that soft animal from within. And all these things that I write about is feeding it and nurturing it. And if this exercise inspires someone along the way, it just makes it so much more worth it.

Wild Geese 
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves. 
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting--
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

© Mary Oliver