#11: Some rain, some shine

Yesterday I logged into my Instagram account. I wanted to let people know that I was sending a newsletter today.

As a result, three things happened:

1. I received about five “welcome back” messages (I am not);

2. Precisely 0 persons subscribed to my newsletter;

3. Instagram went offline for the rest of the day.

Sorry, everyone. Also, you’re welcome.

I guess it’s just me and you.

September was heavy and full of doubts. I allowed myself an afternoon in bed, as if that was going to solve anything.

I blamed it on the rain.

In an attempt to come out of my shell, I met a lot of people. I went to meetups, signed up on a Discord channel, took a train and had one coffee too much.

I wondered if that was enough.

I was up at night wondering, among other things, what the hell was I going to write about in today’s newsletter. Was I going to write about the dream I had where I was taking photos of trees against a violet sky, and that maybe that was a sign for me to take photos? About my job search and how I’m terrible at putting myself in a good light?

That’s all too personal and it takes me one line to say it. So what now?

I stumbled upon this photo on Twitter

Ilse Bing (1899-1998) - Leaves and twigs, Paris, 1952

It reminded me of my photos of Things That Fall Down From The Trees. I also call them Chasing Pavements, because I always have a bad pun in me. And Adele sponsored me. That’s not hard to believe, she put a billboard on the Colosseum.

I don’t think I shoot “projects”. I take photos, then I look at them and notice common themes. Like the fact that I look down a lot.

Sweet-smelling flowers in May

Pomegranate flowers. I see a heart

I looked down and it was autumn

This can’t be my monthly newsletter. What now?

On 3rd October, the Mean Girls day, I went out for my first proper British Sunday roast. It was DELICIOUS (for the curious, I had the Sunday lunch from Dysh). On the way back, we walked through Endcliffe Park and the botanical garden.

Another running theme through my photos. I don’t know why! I like layers and an orangey-red?

Autumn’s bouquet

Flowers as fireworks

I stood on a bench, soaking up all the sun I could get, looking at the trees and the sky — my eyes seldom look out at a distance. I thought of my heavy days and how meaningless they seemed now. How this was a far superior experience to being on the Internet, and that we often forget it.

It was one of the most beautiful days of my life.

Blame it on the sun shower.

A bunch of links

• This Anglepoise lamp in the colours of the Moldovan flag. I’m happy it exists, wouldn’t mind if I owned it.

  

• A f**king master. A story about love of the craft of advertising, and love itself. This whole blog (on blogspot since 2007!) is a gem.

  I’ve been fascinated with the advertising world ever since I watched Mad Men. To recap, in my next lives I’d like to be a standup comedian, a florist, a chef and a copywriter.

• Can YOU Fix Climate Change? It’s complicated.

• Our new pressure cooker arrived today. I’m excited beyond words. Tell me your recipes.

This was my newsletter.

Was it enough?

I’ll see you when I’m one year older.

With love,

a Sagittarius.

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