Monday 3 February 2025 Eskişehir, Türkiye What makes a life worth remembering? A long, long time ago (“American Pie” was written in 1971 and the time McLean is going to talk about is the 1950’s. This seemslike a long time ago ’cause of all the turmoil that occurred in the 60’s.)I can still remember how… Continue reading Ripples in Time
Category: Tradition
Shadows and signals
Sunday 2 February 2025 Eskişehir, Türkiye The second day of February is a day of shadows and signals, omens and revelations, of humanity’s eternal dance with the unknown. We search the skies, the ground, the movements of animals, and the echoes of history to divine what lies ahead. It is a day of crossings, where… Continue reading Shadows and signals
A friend in deed
Dear Dost, I know that people don’t send letters anymore. Rather we tend to rely on instant messaging or e-mail. Sure, they are convenient and instant, but they do not have the same level of intimacy as a personal letter does. Sadly, the joy of receiving real letters is something that fewer and fewer people… Continue reading A friend in deed
The joy of hikikomori
Hikikomori (Japanese): Total withdrawal from society Fujimaki: “I have been suffering from this disabling social phobia for many years and I am still struggling in my recovery. After receiving six months of therapy, I am gradually trying to reintegrate into society, but I am still pretty reclusive. When I think back, I realize that even… Continue reading The joy of hikikomori
The invisible man
Eskişehir, Türkiye Wednesday (Çarşamba) 25 December (Aralık) 2024 “There is such a sameness in my life at present it is not worthwhile to keep a journal.“ Nicholas Cresswell, Monday 13 October 1777 Above: British diarist Nicholas Cresswell (1750 – 1804) Cresswell was the son of a landowner and sheep farmer in Crowden-le-Booth, Edale, Derbyshire. Above: Holy Trinity Parish… Continue reading The invisible man
What am I doing here?
Eskişehir, Türkiye Wednesday (Çarşamba) 4 December (Aralik) 2024 Türkiye: Above: Flag of the Republic of Türkiye This richly historical land has some of the best cuisine you will ever taste, scenery from beaches to mountains, and the great city of Istanbul. Above: Aerial view of the historical peninsula and modern skyline of Istanbul A succession… Continue reading What am I doing here?
Songs without words
Eskişehir, Türkiye Wednesday (Çarşamba) 26 November (Kasim) 2024 Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensationDarkness stirs and wakes imaginationSilently the senses abandon their defenses Slowly, gently, night unfurls its splendorGrasp it, sense it, tremulous and tenderTurn your face away from the garish light of dayTurn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling lightAnd listen to the music of… Continue reading Songs without words
Daddy dearest
Eskişehir, Türkiye Thursday 9 October 2024 It has been a while since I have written my blog and the reasons are complex. Since my trip to Andalucia – the subject of the past few blogposts – I have changed employers, visited the Princes’ Islands off the coast of Istanbul and have been building a network… Continue reading Daddy dearest
Obituary (1): The little corner gathering
Eskişehir, Türkiye Wednesday 11 September 2024 Writing about death shouldn’t be easy, especially when there is far more happening in the world – pondering the past, dreaming of destiny, existing in the experience of this moment. People die every day. Even when I am not writing about it, people will keep dying. Discussion of death… Continue reading Obituary (1): The little corner gathering
The one with two lives
Poetry consists of “making notes in the margins of that photo album that is life”. Emilio Quintana Above: Archidona, Málaga Province, España Sunday 1 September 2024 Eskişehir, Türkiye In a sense, the poet lives not one life, but two: The life of he who holds the pen that makes the poem and the poem which… Continue reading The one with two lives