Now is Wow Too

Thou Art Yoga Class Themes Feb 3 - March 6, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Elspeth) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:34:00 +0000

Please click on image to enlarge and see details.

Something T & T can learn from India

noreply@blogger.com (Elspeth) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:59:00 +0000

Close up image of sacred garland, Kolkata

In India I was impressed by the girl at the grocery entrance greeting customers each time in prayer pose, with a slight bow and pleasant "Namashkar". In general, interactions with people felt sacred. Being there, if you have any inherent respect for each other, it is inevitable that you also start putting your hands together and even just bending your head to others as you meet or part.

The meaning of "Namashkar" was real: "The spirit in me respects the spirit in you." Humility and reverence for everyday people.

On Sunday, I briefly went out for the first time since returning to Trinidad and was met in stark contrast by a sour-faced girl mumbling at me from behind the cash register. I'm not saying people in India are perfect and Trinbagonians are not, but culturally this is not a society where we naturally treat each other with reverence ... Which brings to mind Kamla (our Prime Minister, for those who don't know) bending to touch the Indian leader's feet. So what? Maybe instead of wasting time complaining about that, Trinbagonians should take an example from her . . . not to literally touch each other's feet when we meet, but to have some more "Namashkar" between us in our everyday lives.

Update: ... until February 14th, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Elspeth) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:22:00 +0000

Dear All,

Concerning the Transforming Steps project and the call for funds to aid three of the dancers in getting to London to perform ...

http://www.indiegogo.com/Transforming-Steps

Interest has been expressed in donating, but some are uncomfortable using their credit cards online. I understand. Therefore, I will accept donations from those wanting to give on behalf of the dancers, and will pay the lumpsum with my card. I am setting a symbolic lumpsum deadline of FEBRUARY 14th, 2012 to receive whatever you, if inspired, are able/willing to give.

Having personally met & worked with these brave & inspiring young women, I vouch for their potential and know that this will be life-changing not only for them, but for many others. The required amount of $5,000US (roughly $30,000TT) adds up easily when (working with multiples of ten to keep the maths simple):

1,000 people/organisations donate $30TT each
100 people/organisations donate $300TT each
10 people/organisations donate $3,000TT each
1 person/organisation donates $30,000TT
Or 300 people donate $100 each, etc ...

Thank you.

Elspeth

Help change these lives and more...yours included

noreply@blogger.com (Elspeth) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:57:00 +0000

In connection with the Transforming Steps project which we recently embarked upon in Kolkata, India, please visit this link to see how you can help/be involved http://www.indiegogo.com/Transforming-Steps

Let's say the target of only $5,000US works out to roughly $30,000TT. Working with multiples of ten to make the maths simple, this amount can be raised very easily if:

1,000 people/organisations donate $30TT each
100 people/organisations donate $300 each
10 people/organisations donate $3,000 each
1 person/organisation donates $30,000TT

Thank you for contributing to and/or spreading the word on this worthy cause.

Elspeth

What's happening

noreply@blogger.com (Elspeth) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:33:00 +0000

If you see a lot if spam in the side bar under comments, ignore it. Even though reported to Blogger, these spam comments continue to come. They are either about gold or weddings. I've given up deleting them every time I see them.

In other news:
1. The temperature is one degree celsius according to the internet. In no hurry to leave the house, but will soon.

2. Meeting Andrew (one of my best friends from Cambridge days, whom I met when we did Criminology together) for lunch, then returning home to resume our edit of the videos the girls created during the video workshop in Kolkata.

3. Bought two children's books yesterday, to help me learn Bengali. Starting with the alphabet...how to pronounce and write the letters. The other book is a picture dictionary featuring some common words in various categories. So far for the morning have learned to count to ten (N.B. spelling somewhat as pronounced): ek, dui, tin, char, paach, choy, shaat, aat, noi, dorsh

Looking forward to being able to put together sentences and converse, even if just the basics for now. Better yet to be able to write using Bengali script. So calligraphic.

Location:Brewhouse Ln,London,United Kingdom

Jack Frost...or is it Jill?

noreply@blogger.com (Elspeth) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:56:00 +0000

Early morning frost on field. This winter is mild.

Location:London, England

Kolkata to London

noreply@blogger.com (Elspeth) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:35:00 +0000

Goodby for now, India ...

Flying over some snow-capped mountains ...

I believe that's Venus to the top right. The planet of Love and Beauty.

Flying into London. Such a change from Kolkata.

Raining petals

noreply@blogger.com (Elspeth) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 03:18:00 +0000

Among other things, we had fun with garlands and petals yesterday.

Location:Kolkata, India

My 11th Anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (Elspeth) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 06:19:00 +0000

Today, eighth January 2012, marks the eleventh year of me not being a smoker.

Location:Kolkata, India

Bengali name

noreply@blogger.com (Elspeth) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 01:55:00 +0000

Elspeth, written phonetically in Bengali, by one of the girls in the workshop. Read more about the project here.

Location:Kolkata, India

It's working again

noreply@blogger.com (Elspeth) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:41:00 +0000

Finally got the Blogpress for ipad app to download again after it crashed ... So I can post photos again. Above, some devotional garlands I bought from a man at the corner of the street where we are staying. The image shows them sitting in the centre of the courtyard where we do our video workshops with the girls. Read more about the project at the work-in-progress blog being created by Sydney at the office http:// transformingsteps.blogspot.com A fantastic experience being here in many ways: getting to know the girls involved in the video workshops, the teamwork, creative exploration, being in India for the first time...and more.

The man who was selling the garlands - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Kolkata, India

2012 Greetings

noreply@blogger.com (Elspeth) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 04:37:00 +0000

Happy New Year to all.
May it bring all that you need. And may all that you need be what you want. And may your needs and wants be what the Divine selects for you.

We celebrated last night with a ride in one of the dangerous-looking autos. They seat three to five people squashed together and look like small green and yellow eggs with wheels speeding through the streets. We then walked through the streets looking for "something" happenin, but there was "nothing". Yet, in nothing there is everything.

At midnight we wished each other happy new year on the sidewalk, observed some fireworks and sidewalk explosions ( ie festive explosions) and returned to the hotel.

I was in 2012 ten hours ahead of TT, which, as I write this, has just crossed into the new year.

Testing blog online

noreply@blogger.com (Elspeth) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 04:45:00 +0000

The blogger app for the ipad crashed and i have no idea how to get it to work. Maybe i need to reconnect to my laptop which is not in india with me. So, until i figure that out, blogposts will be words...or links to youtube videos whenever i upload.

Two initial pics

noreply@blogger.com (Elspeth) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:20:00 +0000

Frost on window of Air India while flying over the desert at sunrise.

The desert was just sand at first then was snowcovered.

Arrived safely

noreply@blogger.com (Elspeth) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 09:56:00 +0000

Arrived safely in London yesterday morning. British Airways service was fantastic. Readjusting to time zone and preparing for the next time zone...India. Leaving tonight from Heathrow. Not sure how often I will update the blog, but will whenever I can. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

I'm going to India

noreply@blogger.com (Elspeth) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 11:26:00 +0000

Today I am leaving for London en route to India. It will be my first time there. I am going to Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), also known as City of Joy, Cultural Capital of India, Literary Capital of India, City of Furious Creative Energy, City of Palaces, City of All Cities, City of Processions, City of Bridges ... (among other things).

I will update when I am there . . .

40 copies of Daisy Chain

noreply@blogger.com (Elspeth) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 09:41:00 +0000

Yesterday I went to deliver the 40 copies of Daisy Chain which NALIS purchased. 4 will go to the Heritage Library and the rest will be distributed through other NALIS branches in T & T.

I sat at the desk of the person I was dealing with and personalized each copy with a word or short message and my signature. The young lady told me that most authors just drop off their books and go, and that it was a nice touch to sign them. She had a copy of her own on the desk and got me to sign that as well.

I love signing Daisy Chain. I love the the thought of some unknown person picking it up, seeing the signature and the message and feeling as though they are being personally invited through a little door in the paper. . . "Come in. I've been waiting for you . . ." or in the case of Daisy Chain: "we've been waiting for you."

What are the secrets of packing light?

noreply@blogger.com (Elspeth) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:17:00 +0000

Maybe having a smaller suitcase is the best answer. That leaves no choice but to take bare essentials.

Maybe the secret is also to pack enough clothes for 2 to 3 days and, if possible, buy new clothing, as needed, at the destination.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Practising and preparing for my journey

noreply@blogger.com (Elspeth) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:16:00 +0000

Now testing with my camera connection kit, which allows me to attach the usb from my camera to the ipad and download images to the photo folder. It works seamlessly. There's also another attachment into which i can directly insert the SD card from the camera.

Then I experimented with a photo app I downloaded. Photostudio HD. That accounts for the slight effect on the image of the flower. The article i was reading said the app was really good, that it had all these effects and there were even favourable reviews to back it up. I think its effects are a bit cheesy, but then again, it's not the pro version. Anyway, I am a firm believer in "it's not what you have, it's what you do with what you have ..." I'm going to see if I find something more like photoshop . . . Or maybe there is even a photoshop app?

Gradually getting used to the ipad, making sure blogpress isn't crashing (which it hasn't since I reinstalled it), making sure i can upload pics, have my email account set up, etc . . . All in preparation for my travels.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Trying this again . . .

noreply@blogger.com (Elspeth) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:24:00 +0000

Yesterday a friend advised me to use the blogpress app to make blogging to Blogger easier. It is indeed easier, but last night when testing it out, it crashed. In reading about it, there were many bloggers complaining about it crashing with IO5.

When I tried it this morning it came up fine. In fact I am writing this post with it. In a while I will see if it posts successfully.

Now to upload a pic and see how that works. Same pic of bedroom window from yesterday since I don't have any other shots of the iPad right now.

- Posted using BlogPress from my ipad2

Hello from my new ipad2

noreply@blogger.com (Elspeth) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 20:22:00 +0000

This is my first blogpost from my new iPad. Very compact and great for traveling. The only thing is, I can't upload photos directly to blogspot, or even to Facebook. I have to use photo bucket and paste a link in order to see the image

The above shot is just a random one of the bedroom window, to test how the pasting of the code works. I'm sure there's a more direct way. I'll figure it out.

There is also an app for uploading images to fbook. Everything is 'an app'. Why not just keep it simple and direct? Oh well, anything to get consumers to spend . . .

The other thing is, safari browser doesn't allow me to blog in compose mode, only in HTML mode. Too confusing for me when it comes to changing font, etc . . . Certain things will take getting used to. So, in time to come, the blog posts you get from me may be quite basic,as I will be traveling and using my iPad.

Perspective

noreply@blogger.com (Elspeth) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 08:43:00 +0000

Evolution of Now

noreply@blogger.com (Elspeth) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 09:32:00 +0000

A friend of mine, Gregory Sloane-Seale

"We do have the power to influence now...We must be awake & conscious of the fact that every interaction, every utterance, every time we stop to allow someone to cross the road, every time we do something that's going to assist someone, uplift someone...If you could do it, do it. Evolve in that moment. That is what feeds us. That is what sustains us & that is what we need to be focused on...Let the process be us living in the now, evolving in the now, moving forward. Peace, Love & Possibilities. (Gregory Sloane-Seale, The Evolution of Now).

Shoot

noreply@blogger.com (Elspeth) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 13:58:00 +0000

Looking forward to Sunday's One Hour Wonder shoot.

Interested in booking one of these portrait specials for you and/or loved ones? Contact me for details.

Who are you out there?

noreply@blogger.com (Elspeth) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 08:13:00 +0000


Early morning sun through my bedroom window

This blog is like a window. You can see in to me (as much as I reveal on any given day) but I don't really see you. I "see" some people, like Lynn and Param Atma . . . and I know there are people who read the blog but don't leave comments here. They may email or say something in person.

But I often think it would be nice to know something of whoever else is out there checking in regularly or from time to time. Even if just for today, will you introduce yourself and say a little something?

Now is Wow Too

Thou Art Yoga Class Themes Feb 3 - March 6, 2012

Something T & T can learn from India

The meaning of "Namashkar" was real: "The spirit in me respects the spirit in you." Humility and reverence for everyday people.

Update: ... until February 14th, 2012

1,000 people/organisations donate $30TT each 100 people/organisations donate $300TT each 10 people/organisations donate $3,000TT each 1 person/organisation donates $30,000TT Or 300 people donate $100 each, etc ...

Help change these lives and more...yours included

What's happening

Jack Frost...or is it Jill?

Kolkata to London

Raining petals

My 11th Anniversary

Bengali name

It's working again

2012 Greetings

Testing blog online

Two initial pics

Arrived safely

I'm going to India

40 copies of Daisy Chain

What are the secrets of packing light?

Practising and preparing for my journey

Trying this again . . .

Hello from my new ipad2

Perspective

Evolution of Now

A friend of mine, Gregory Sloane-Seale

Shoot

Who are you out there?

1,000 people/organisations donate $30TT each
100 people/organisations donate $300TT each
10 people/organisations donate $3,000TT each
1 person/organisation donates $30,000TT
Or 300 people donate $100 each, etc ...