Knitting a sweater

So I've just started to knit a jumper. And I am hugely excited about it. It's got me a little troubled though, because I like to think of myself as a feminist, or as I rather call it, equality. But when I enjoy to knit/cook/fit-into-the-proverbial-girl-hobbies-box. I feel as if feminism is just correctness gone mad. Men and Women are different. Actually.

Anyway, I'm doing my chunky knit. Knitting really fits me- its quite rhythmic and logical. It's a bit like a maths problem, you have to concentrate and take care and it'll get done. It is not about being creative and artistic. Which I'd love to be, but really I am not. I seriously hope I will finish it, because before now all I've done is a scarf. I have a couple of ancesterol generations on hand to rescue me when I don't understand the jargon of the knitting world.

It is not what you look at, but what you see

Now that's my kind of quote.

My tenuous link to said quote, is from the Pentax K-x. I want one. I can't quite bring myself to separate with the money, too much saving I should be doing right now, etc. However, it takes some really really nice shots. And in moments of weakness I convince myself I can even 'make' money from it, as I obviously will take such amazing shots as these.

I think it's kind of a trend for people to feel arty these days. And photography is a good way to do that. With DSLRs coming down in price and technology and softwares becoming much more accessible to the 'entry-level- enthusiast I think it makes photography a hot ticket. And the design on the K-x is hitting all the right buttons.

What is green?

I'm having a philosphy-phase at the moment I think, well and truely inspired by de Botton and too much time with my own thoughts. It's nice to feel in touch with my angst-ridden teenage years. I don't think I quite ever grew out of them.

I think the first time I got into philosophy and in fact at the same time into science, was when reading Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder. All I'll say is if you haven't read it, read it.

One of the things I remember about that book was in considering what it 'green'. What do you mean when you say something is green? This leads on, in the book,  to considering 'what is a horse?' In the sense of how do we recognise things. What factors make us decide something is a horse.

Going back to being green....a tree is green. But is the green I see the same as the green you see? Or is it all just relative?

I got back to thinking about this whilst watching the chef Raymond Blanc on the TV last night. His description of the food he was cooking was so vivid and passionate, I wondered 'what exactly is he tasting?' I couldnt imagine having so much excitement about the food as he has, despite the fact that I love love love food. Is it experience, can it be taught? For me, I think that is what makes someone gifted. This ability to, for example, taste food with so much depth means Raymond Blanc can create exceptional food.

Maybe this also makes 'genius'- added dimensions of perception. A real basal understanding of the topic at hand. It could be how deeply and vividly you see your 'green'.

Essays in Love

Currently I'm reading 'Essays in Love' by popular philosopher Alain de Botton. Some how, it just sits well in my life at the moment. It follows the rise and fall of a relationship.

It could really be any relationship, it's ordinary and mundane. But de Botton captures the essence of that feeling of unique individuality to every relationship and its all consuming nature. He charts its evolution sharply and manages to describe the details that often feel small and insignificant to perfection and make you feel that he has a window into your life and mind. Or maybe that is just me. Either way, I love that engagement one can occasionally feel with a writer. That funny feeling that someone you've never met understands you completely. In those small inane details you can't express. It reminds me of The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Milan Kundera. It has a good ability to touch you, on a subject you thought no one else knew, or could express.

'What is an experience? Something that breaks a polite routine and for a brief period allows us to witness things with the heightened sensitivity afforded to us by novelty, danger, or beauty - and it's on this basis of shared experiences that intimacy is given an oppotunity to grow. Friendships nourished solely by occasional dinners will never have the depth of those forged on a trek or at a univiersity. ' ~ Alain de Botton, Essays in Love.

Beauty is the wonder of wonders

Oscar Wilde once said, 'Beauty is the wonder of wonders'. Oscar Wilde I salute you.

I want to share all things beautiful. In particular- all things culture and design. Culture has become a vulgar word associated with pomp and prentension. But for now, for want of a better word, you know what I mean. I also want to share the little things that make my days that little bit sunnier, brighter and beautiful.