Stepping Stones

Time for a New Beginning

2010-08-15T12:59:00.000+02:00

I felt it was time to leave this blog behind and move on to a new one.

If you'd like to continue following my journey please join me at Post-It Notes to Myself.

I wish you well and thank all of you who have returned time and time again to my blog.

Kim

A Token of Remembrance Perhaps?

2010-05-12T07:07:00.000+02:00

Gift Shop, Church of St. Mary,

Elbasan, Albania

April 2010

As If In A Dream He Appeared...

2010-05-11T08:34:00.000+02:00

He Only Longs for Love

2010-05-10T12:01:00.002+02:00

Simple Life

2010-05-08T11:33:00.000+02:00

In the Albanian Countryside, April 2010

When we endeavour to view something through the lens of beauty,

it is often surprising how much more we can see.

~John O'Donohue~

The Magic of Spring

2010-05-07T16:11:00.003+02:00

April,

Divjake, Albania

Sam

2010-05-06T16:36:00.000+02:00

Bashtova Fortress

2010-05-04T19:45:00.002+02:00

Bashtova Fortress, Albania April 2010

A 15th century Venetian style fortress located just north of Divjake, Albania

The Salon

2009-09-09T13:59:00.000+02:00

Korca, Albania July 2009

The Gentleman, Albania

2009-09-06T09:33:00.000+02:00

"In the morning of his days, he is in the afternoon of his life."

~Mary Oliver~

We often stop and pick up hitchhikers in the country, enjoying brief but lovely little episodes of friendship with real people. Our bits of Albanian get us through, but oh how we long to be able to communicate completely. This handsome gentleman waved us down between two tiny villages and asked for a lift to "the center". We tried to figure out the center of what, which turned out to be the center of the next little village, actually hardly even a village- just a small group of buildings with a dimly lit bar. He told us that he really could have walked the short distance, but well- his knees now gave him trouble- they ached. He hopped out of the car and happily let us take his wonderful photo.

Young Roma Boy, Albania

2009-09-03T14:57:00.000+02:00

Korca, Albania July 2009

What are little boys made of?

Frogs and snails

And puppy-dogs' tails,

That's what little boys are made of.

There's a story behind this young boy's eyes, isn't there? Because of our language barriers I couldn't find out what it was... but I have my ideas. He was obviously happy- you can see that around his eyes, but there's a hesitancy around his smile. I wanted to gather him into my arms and take him with me. He's a charmer, that's for sure.

Yes, In The Middle of Nowhere!

2009-09-02T14:48:00.000+02:00

Close to Voskopoja, Albania

For Ginnie... who asked if it was in the middle of nowhere... uh huh.... it truly is!

Fill 'er Up!

2009-09-01T18:44:00.001+02:00

Voskopoja, Albania July 2009

Paradise, Albania

2009-08-29T10:26:00.000+02:00

We were driving in the mountains somewhere near Permeti (southern Albania) when we drove past one of the most beautiful lakes I've ever seen. It immediately reminded me of Canada... a still lake surrounded by green pines and mountains. We slammed on the brakes and backed up. There was a small building that we assumed was a cafe so we wandered down to the water and tested the antique dock and wobbly plastic chairs. It felt like heaven. An thin old man with a smile on his face assured us the dock was safe and we ordered our espressos and water.

Half an hour in Paradise... pure bliss.

Time to be on our way.... I walked up to the little cafe looking for the old man so we could pay for our coffees. I peaked in the windows of the cafe and found myself watching an incredible scene. A dozen people were occupied with stacks and stacks of honeycombs! It was then that I noticed I was surrounded by a lot of bees. I was bothered by them but they didn't seem to care about me... whew! I called to my friends to come and see. The always friendly Albanians invited us in and though I was nervous about all the bees I couldn't resist the opportunity to see how the honey was being processed.

Everyone had their job to do...

From scraping the honeycombs...

to using the improvised centrifuge...

(notice the chandelier and elegant curtains!)

and then pouring the 100% organic honey into empty Coke bottles.

And of course, after being served a huge plate of honey to taste test, how could we resist buying a litre or two of this liquid gold to take home with us?

Really??

2009-08-24T15:58:00.000+02:00

First time I ever ended up here!!!!

The Game

2009-08-24T13:22:00.001+02:00

Korca, Albania July 2009

"There are places on the planet we belong and they are not necessarily where we are born. If we are lucky- if the gods are in a good mood- we find them, for whatever length of time is necessary for us to know that, yes, we belong to the earth and it to us. Even if we cannot articulate this intense physical sensation, even if language fails us, we know what home is then, in our very bones."

~ Elizabeth Huggan ~

From one of my favourite books: Belonging

Wonder

2009-08-23T10:25:00.000+02:00

There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child.

There are seven million.

~Walt Streightiff ~

Girl

2009-08-04T07:41:00.002+02:00

Korca, Albania (July 2009)

My eyes are an ocean in which my dreams are reflected....

~Anna M. Uhlich.~

Rest

2009-08-02T15:12:00.002+02:00

Near Elbasan, Albania (July 2009)

Rest is not idleness,

and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day,

listening to the murmur of the water,

or watching the clouds float across the sky,

is by no means a waste of time.

~J. Lubbock~

Summer

2009-08-02T14:47:00.004+02:00

Near Elbasan, Albania (July 2009)

Then followed that beautiful season... Summer....

Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape

Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow~

The Magic Instant

2009-07-02T00:08:00.000+02:00

By Paolo Coelho

"We have to take risks. We can only truly understand the miracle of life when we let the unexpected manifest itself.

Every day – together with the sun – God gives us a moment in which it is possible to change everything that makes us unhappy. Every day we try to pretend that we don’t realize that moment, that it doesn’t exist, that today is just the same as yesterday and will be the same as tomorrow. But if you pay attention, you can discover the magic instant. It may be hiding at the moment when we put the key in the door in the morning, in the silence right after dinner, in the thousand and one things that all seem the same to us. This moment exists – a moment when all the strength of the stars passes through us and lets us work miracles.

Happiness is at times a blessing – but usually it’s a conquest. The magic instant helps us to change, drives us forward to seek our dreams. We shall suffer and go through quite a few difficult moments and face many a disappointment – but this is all transitory and inevitable, and eventually we shall feel proud of the marks left behind by the obstacles. In the future we will be able to look back with pride and faith.

Poor are those who are afraid of running risks. Because maybe they are never disappointed, never disillusioned, never suffer like those who have a dream to pursue. But when they look back – for we always look back – they will hear their heart saying: “What did you do with the miracles that God sowed for your days? What did you do with the talent that your Master entrusted to you? You buried it deep in a grave because you were afraid to lose it. So this is your inheritance: the certainty that you have wasted your life.”

Poor are those who hear these words. For then they will believe in miracles, but the magic instants of life will have already passed.

We must listen to the child that we once were, and who still lives within us. This child understands about magic instants. We can muffle his sobbing, but we can’t hush his voice.

If we aren’t reborn, if we don’t see life again with the innocence and enthusiasm of childhood, then there is no more sense to living.

There are many ways to commit suicide. Those who try to kill their body offend God’s law.

Those who try to kill their soul also offend God’s law, although their crime is less visible to the eyes of man.

Let us be heedful of what the child within us has to say. Let’s not feel ashamed of it. Let’s not allow it to feel afraid, because it’s lonely and is scarcely ever heard.

Let’s allow the child within us to take the reins of our existence a little. This child says that one day is different from another.

Let’s make the child feel loved again. Let’s please this child – even if it means acting in a way that we’re not used to, even if it seems foolish in the eyes of others.

Remember that the wisdom of men is madness before God. If we listen to the child we bear in our soul, our eyes will shine once more. If we don’t lose contact with this child, we won’t lose contact with life.

Let’s live all the magic instants of 2009!

Love

There is always someone in the world waiting for someone else, whether in the middle of the desert or in the heart of some big city. And when these two people’s paths cross and their eyes meet, the whole of the past and the whole of the future lose all importance, and there only exists that moment and that incredible certainty that everything under the Sun was written by the very same Hand. The Hand that awakens Love and creates a sister soul for everyone who works, rests and seeks treasures under the Sun. Were it not for this, the dreams of the human race would make no sense.

http://paulocoelhoblog.com/warrioroflight

Pretty Peony

2009-06-23T15:33:00.001+02:00

Yes, It's Been a Month!

2009-06-12T03:23:00.000+02:00

I have a new toy... a beautiful Canon EOS Rebel xsi And I'm learning to use all the bells and whistles!

Today we went to the historic St. Lawrence Market in downtown Toronto. The first job I remember my dad ever having was in this wonderful old market. He was a butcher here and I still remember the smell of the sawdust they used to soak up the blood and other drippings on the floor. I looked everywhere today but couldn't find any sawdust anywhere.

These beautiful smoked bones caught my eye- such interesting shapes!

Red Star Monument

2009-05-12T13:53:00.004+02:00

In the middle of nowhere... a monument remembering the heroes of long long ago.

There are countless monuments of this type scattered all around Albania and they fascinate me to no end. I think I'm going to look for more.

Oh Yes!

2009-04-23T11:25:00.002+02:00

This is pretty intense but Ohhhhhhhh it IS what poetry should be!

Spring Has Sprung!

2009-04-16T13:51:00.003+02:00

The Real Beauty of Berat, Albania

2009-04-15T13:51:00.002+02:00

The Secret's Out!

2009-03-14T12:12:00.002+01:00

Hummmmm.... I think it's time to let you all in on a little secret----- we just finished MOVING house-- yes -- again!!! We're still in Tirana but after two years in a cold house we decided to find somewhere else to live and so we are now VERY happily living in an awesome new apartment in the city. It's wonderful and we feel so at home here. I'm still unpacking --anyone interested in a HUGE collection of baseball/hockey cards??? -- (just kidding P!).

Today is the wonderful Albanian holiday called "Summer Day" and the streets are full of happy people enjoying the warm sunshine.

I'll post a photo or two later today. Now I'm off to unpack a few more boxes.

Just Give a Straight Answer!

2009-02-27T08:06:00.002+01:00

Go read Chelsi's post and then come back here :)

I just want to add a couple more of these interesting conversations that happen in Albania...

1. "Your dog must have been expensive. How much did it cost?"

2. Regarding a gorgeous (mid 30's) Albanian friend: "Oh she (pointing at my friend) USED to be really sexy when she was young!"

3. Sitting at coffee with about 5 Albanian ladies: " Eda- you really need to colour your hair., it's ugly like that." And Eda has lovely salt & pepper natural hair colour.

4. Still at coffee with my Albanian friends: "She used to be so slim but now she is too fat." Said in the presence of the friend.

5. Two Albanian friends: "So Anna, how much do you weigh?" "55 kilos." "Nooooooo you can NOT weigh less than I do and I weigh 56 kilos!!!!!" (Astounded). Then they both stand up and touch each other's waists etc, making minute comparisons about all their measurements. They twirl around for everyone else to check them out as if it was a real competition. In the end one claims to have bigger boobs and must just look fatter.

6. How much is your rent? How much is your car? How much is your salary? Etc, etc. Nothing is sacred- Albanians just need to know the price of everything!!

Now, there's another problem. You can tell them the EXACT cost of everything and they DO NOT understand!! Foreigners are annoyed to no end by this. You see, MANY years ago - I don't know maybe 30??? - the government revalued the currency and everything got an extra zero. For some reason, ALL Albanians have refused to give up the old system, but ALL foreigners only use it. So if they say something cost 100 Lek, like a 1 Litre bottle of Coke for instance- you will be shocked (like I was) thinking that is way too much to pay for a coke (about $10) They actually mean about $1. But believe me, they're not trying to rip you off, they just can't grasp the new numbers. Even school children do this!

So, when you are asked the cost of something, don't worry about it. Just tell the truth and they'll be confused anyway!

The Kids of Shkodra, Albania

2009-02-25T12:18:00.003+01:00

Do you think YOUR kids would be so happy to go to the cabbage patch on a chilly day in February and pick a wheel barrow full of questionable looking cabbages, and then push them all the way home across the river and up a very steep hill?

It's Carnival time and these boys are still celebrating! Aren't they adorable?

I wonder what these boys are discussing on their way home from school? No school buses for these kids.... they have a long walk home in the cold.

And the girls- like kids everywhere these days-- carry backpacks heavy with books!

Oh Happy Day!

2009-02-21T13:11:00.007+01:00

My birthday lunch with my wonderful hubby Peter... and a very creative photo which he took of me basking in the weird and funky 'stained glass' sunshine streaming in through the windows...

Then off to the French Bakery where my girlies were gathering to share my day with me...

Oh I received such beautiful cards... almost everyone was handmade...

And some wonderful, and truly thoughtful presents...

...new palette knives from Jean, my left-hand painting partner...

And a new book that looks really delicious... (Thank you Jean!)

And look at this one! A perfect book for me and Lily to read together! Big thanks to Evelyne!

And this one is awesome! I adore Transylvania (having lived in Romania for 5 fabulous years) and my Transylvanian Princess girlfriend Iza-the-Bella somehow found this book that I am going to read from cover to cover... (Oh thank YOU Iza!)...

My adorable friend Sundus must know how much I love to sing in the car and gave me this disk of memories... (thank you Sundus... you made my day!)

And Elham, my spiritual sister completely thrilled me with these "Virtue Stones" which she handpainted with the letters of my name. Now I am to think of a virtue for each letter and think about it and practise it each week.... oh where I will go with these magical stones! (Thank you Elham-- for bringing magic to my day).

Now Sweet Sam really amazed me with her gift.... a dozen delectable homemade miniature mincemeat tarts!! I missed these at Christmas and she remembered that I told her I loved them... (Thank you Sam for making me feel special)...

And the sweet Chelsi and her lovely friend Ikuko, who gave me a colouring book and chocolates, and a charming handmade Japanese crane!

(Thank you for giving me things that bring me bliss!)

Oh and the flowers!

Bunches of gorgeous flowers-- Tiger Lilies ("our special flowers") from my SoulMate and best friend/lover/husband, Peter the Great...

And one perfect rose from Annette, my wise and wonderful friend and painting mentor.

And CAKES! Oh we had cakes all day long! A red heart cake, a white chocolate cake and another one of my soul sisters made me a huge tray of the bestest brownies ever!

(Mary that was so incredibly thoughtful of YOU!)

Big birthdays like this one (oh can I honestly already be 50???????), always make me feel very, very panicky. I have to hold back the tears. Life has been good to me and I never want it to end. You know what I mean?

But not a tear was shed yesterday. No not one.

Thanks to my wonderful, wonderful girlfriends (and my hubby).

And to all those who sent me greetings on Facebook-

I LOVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!!!

Thank you for being part of my life and for honouring my special day.

(I had a GREAT one!)

Love,

Kim

Albanian Daffodils

2009-02-20T08:58:00.000+01:00

I have a couple of reasons to toot my own horn this week:

One of my photos from last week's daytrip to a small Albanian village is now being hightighted on a lovely website all about daffodils. Who knew there was a site devoted only to these delightful spring flowers?? Go check out my photo- Daffodils in Krajen, Albania . I guess my photography course is already having good results!

And last week another website asked to use two of my older photos which I took during our driving trip through Italy 2 years ago. Italy's finest bottled water, San Pellegrino/Aqua Panna has quite a lovely website where they post interesting articles about Italian culture. Right now there is a good one about one of Italy's best-known architects, Andreo Palladio. We stayed in a gorgeous old hotel in Mogliano Veneto called Villa Condulmer and at the time we were unaware of it's amazing history. You can see two of my photos used in the article- they are in the 3rd and 4th rows from the bottom.

I think I'm almost ready for a new camera :)

The Shepherdess and Her Sheep

2009-02-11T18:21:00.001+01:00

Near Lezhe, Albania

Signs of Spring in Krajen, Albania

2009-02-11T18:06:00.001+01:00

No Need for a Guard Dog!

2009-02-11T18:01:00.007+01:00

I have no idea why.... but there were hundreds of discarded wine bottles all around the generator outside the restaurant where we had lunch yesterday. One idea... it would definitely prevent anyone from tampering with or stealing fuel from the generator. There'd be no way to get near it without making a very loud noise!

And Also Read ~~ Gezuar!

2009-02-10T20:08:00.004+01:00

Here's another link to someone who is living in Albania and writing about her experience. This is really a fascinating blog because the woman is a black American attending university right here in Tirana. Go read Gezuar and you'll be enlightened about this awesome country as seen through the eyes of a very aware anthropologist.

Vagabonds in Albania!

2009-02-10T19:24:00.003+01:00

Thanks to A Nevada Yankee in King Zogs Court for sharing a link to a truly awesome blog today.

If you love great travel writing, go take a look at Vagabond Journey where Monday's post will take you on a harrowing minivan ride over some Albanian mountains. Everything he writes is honestly what it is like. He has several posts just about Albania but he is a modern vagabond and is traveling all over the world. I'll surely be following his blog from now on!

Jeanette Winterson: Leaving Home

2009-02-07T09:31:00.001+01:00

[Taken from The Independent] and found on Dark Orpheus

When I was 16 I had to leave home. As I set off down the gloomy hallway, past the coats hung like dead men, and the coin-slot gas meter that ticked and glowed like a golem, my mother called out to me. I turned, wondering if there would be some regret or a kind word. She said, "Jeanette, why be happy when you could be normal?" My mother, if she had known it, had asked me a question as wise, complex, and potentially fatal, as any fairy-tale riddle, where the right answer leads to the treasure or the princess, and the wrong answer is death by ogre.

I had made the mistake of confessing first love, love that when requited makes us insanely happy. Unfortunately my love object was a girl and my family were strict evangelical Christians. And thus my mother's question... But it was really a question about life: life choices, life savers and lifelines. It was not a question about lifestyle. There is no such thing. My family home was poor, and I took nothing with me because I had nothing to take. For the next couple of years I lived where I could, sometimes in the back of a car, sometimes in a tent, and finally in a boxroom lent to me by a teacher – I was still at school. Trying to get to sleep in the back of a steamed-up car, I thought a lot about my mother's question. It wasn't a true opposition, like hot and cold, dark and light, and in any case, I wasn't so happy now that I was sleeping in a duffel coat in a Hillman Imp.

I realised that while living by other people's rules is no guarantee of personal happiness, living outside of those rules is no Wonderland either. Happy/normal was going to take a lot of unpacking, and while I was heaving ideas around in my head, I had to deal with the pressing practical question of how to make something like a home in temporary, transient, unlikely and uncomfortable places. It's a predicament that more and more people find themselves in, as life becomes less and less stable. That old fundamental, a happy home, is something we all want, but how do we make it happen? And is it possible to create a happy home, even when you yourself are unhappy? I only know of one way to begin – and it holds for the beautiful apartment, the nasty rented room, the bed-sit, the soulless little flat, the house you find yourself left with when the person you loved has gone, the place you take on because you have to get away, the nowhere-land, the transit zone. I call it private magic.

When I was a child, a hearth rug was a flying carpet. Remembering this, in my borrowed room, I saved up some money from weekend work and bought myself a rug the size of a duster, one that folded into my case as easily as it expanded in my imagination. From then on, wherever I found myself, even in a doorway, I put down my little rug, and I began to feel calm. Better than calm, I imagined myself free. My rug became my comforter. Years later, when I was awkwardly accepting a six-month stay at a rich man's house, I rolled up the Persian carpet in my room, and put down my own threadbare Arabian night. I believe that you have to begin with one single thing that you call your own. Possessions should be objects with which you have a connection. If your life is filled with meaningless objects, you will always be unhappy.

The modern medicine for unhappiness is spending. When people are left to start again – new home, or old home stripped of its past by an abrupt exit – the obvious answer is shopping. I think that is a disaster. If you can tell me a story about every single thing in your house, then you have a home. Anyone can go shopping, but meaning cannot be bought. You can, though, buy something simple and beautiful that you will always love – a cup for your morning coffee, a vase for flowers, a lamp that stands for light in all its meanings.

Private magic is about investing ordinary objects with talismanic power. Children do it all the time, and adults forget to do it at all. I once stayed in a strange castle with the sculptor Antony Gormley. The first thing he did was to turn the portraits of Scottish ancestors, faces to the wall. Then he asked us all to make some quick drawings of our own to pin gently on to the brown paper backs. Next he went outside and hauled in driftwood to lighten and subvert the heavy Gothic furniture. Then he found a dozen eggcups and turned them upside down to act as candleholders. This was another form of private magic – the alchemy that shifts one thing into another. If you are unhappy, or vulnerable, or hurt, or lost, it is still possible to live in or to create a happy home. This isn't sleight of hand, it is magic at its most sympathetic. And because it is magic, what can't be done is a version of the past. The thing has to be new, different, unafraid, even if you, the person making it, are very afraid. Fear is not a problem. Fear of fear is a huge problem. If you walk through your new front door and feel panic like the world is falling in, the first thing to do is to create a space within your new space where you will not take your misery or fear. This can be a room, or as simple as a chair, but when you sit in that chair you can have no negative thoughts, no tears, no rage. The moment you feel anything bad, you get up from the chair. This in itself is instructive – can you feel OK for five minutes? An hour? All evening? For me, the positive space is my study. I work there, I read there, but I don't stress there. If I want to cry or shout at the cat, I go somewhere else. When I had nothing, the safe space was my little rug. I could cry myself to sleep in bed, or sit with my head in my hands at the table, but the rug, as I understand it now, was a place of informal meditation. At the time it was more like a life belt than a flying carpet, but whatever it was, it worked, because once I had named it and claimed it as a safe space, I had to believe that it was so. If you shatter the magic, it's lost – and so are you. Gradually, if you have one safe calm space, the bigger space around you becomes safe and calm too.

It is important to make some rules for yourself about your home and you inside it, and if you live by those rules, they will work for you. This takes thought, planning, self-awareness, courage, and a sense of humour. You don't need a big budget or a TV show that helps you "create your space". Rather, you need a space inside to project on to the space outside. Inner houses, outer houses, as my Jewish friends tell me. Happy/normal. Normal/happy. Home is where the questions are answered well.

My little rug is still with me. It has gradually unravelled as my life has come together. The threads are loose, the loom-work visible, but the colours are still bright and strong. It was probably 100 years old when I bought it, and 30 years have been added since. It hasn't been well-treated, but it has been well-loved. And if I had to grab a bag and run for my life, my little rug would be the one thing I wouldn't leave behind. It is both memory and courage. Part broken, part whole, you begin again.

The 1st Robert Burns Ball in Tirana!

2009-01-25T09:03:00.001+01:00

Last night we went to such a fun event-- the very first Robert Burns Ball held in Tirana- probably the first ever held in Albania! Around the world Scots celebrate the birth of their national hero and poet, Robert Burns on January 25, his birthday. This year marks the 250th anniversary of his birth making it quite a special celebration.

Now a Burns Ball is no ordinary ball. There are traditions that apparently must be followed to the letter, including the official "Address to the Haggis". Last night's address was given by the British Ambassador, Mr. Fraser Wilson. Then we learned just about everything you ever wanted to know about Robert Burns but were afraid to ask, followed by a lovely reading of Burns' poems by Mr. John Withers, the American Ambassador, and by Albana Paco, who read a poem translated into Albanian.

After a toast to the lassies, my dear friend Sam gave the response which was absolutely wonderful and oh so funny! Sam- you should have been a stand-up comedienne!

Dinner was yummy and began with the Haggis. Now I don't know about you but the terrific reputation of the Haggis proceeded it and I really never thought it would be something I would taste. BUT- it was delicious! Something I'd definitely try again.

A few of my friends and I rounded up a couple of the men in kilts and took a few photos. I was even given the honour of holding the bagpipes! All in all it was a fabulous 1st Burns Ball in Tirana!

A Bit of the Far East in Tirana

2009-01-22T00:09:00.000+01:00

I had an awesome lunch today with Izabella-- Hot & Sour Soup-- California Maki-- Singapore Noodles-- All very yummy! We ate at one of our favourite restaurants in Tirana - Far East. We were basically alone and were attentively waited on. They have a awesome (and huge) aquarium which always fascinates me.

Only one thing could be improved-- they still need to bump up the spice a bit. Albanians seem to have a hard time with anything even a bit 'hot', and I've noticed that their worst fear is having to eat something called "Sweet & Sour". They have a repulsion to anything sweet combined with meat, which we just love. And the wasabi was rather tame... oh well.... at least we have sushi in Tirana! That's quite amazing in itself!

Exciting "News"

2009-01-15T15:04:00.003+01:00

In December something fun and exciting happened to me and a few friends-- we were interviewed for an article in an Albanian newspaper! Most of the article is about the delightful Izabella, my dearest friend. Almost all of the photos were my own which was such a thrill to see!

You can take a look at the entire article on-line. Good luck with the Albanian!

One of the Things I Miss About Toronto

2009-01-13T17:45:00.002+01:00

Spring Rolls Restaurant

Awesome Tornado Shrimp!!

Lemongrass Chicken Wings!

Please someone-- open a GOOD Pan-Asian affordable restaurant in Tirana!

Lily Now Lives in Tirana!

2009-01-13T17:34:00.004+01:00

Here's Lily and I last weekend at my brother's home in Canada. She was completely at home playing with his 3 dogs all afternoon and definitely held her own as far as roough-housing was concerned!

And here she is inside her carrier in the lounge at Vienna Airport on Monday morning. She was incredibly good on the 8 hour flight and seemed to like the security of the carrier better than being held on a lap. I was relieved that we had absolutely no problems bring her back to Albania. Not once were we asked for any kind of papers for her, not in Toronto at check-in, not in Vienna during transit, and for sure not when we arrived in Tirana. Whewwww! All that worry I did last week was for nothing.

Here's Lily!

2009-01-07T23:26:00.002+01:00

We have just a few more days here in Toronto before returning to Tirana and we made the big decision of getting a puppy. She's absolutely sweet as Shih Tzu's generally are and is slowly but surely scratching her way into our hearts. It's a long, long flight back to Albania, via Vienna and I'm a bit nervous about coping with her as she'll be under our seats in the cabin. I just hope she sleeps a lot and doesn't need to do you-know-what.

She's 3 months old and we've named her Lily!

Peace

2008-12-27T02:26:00.002+01:00

" As long as one person commits acts of violence for the sake of peace, you will have war."

Jane Roberts in The Seth Material

Shopping on Boxing Day I overheard the sales staff in one store complaining about having to listen to Christmas music over and over again for more than a month. I, on the other hand, have come to the conclusion that Christmas songs and carols are awesome. Listen carefully to every one and you will see that they are almost all some form of positive afirmation!

"...peace on earth, goodwill to men..."

"Silent night, Holy night, All is calm, All is bright..."

I'm thinking a lot about Peace lately. Is it possible? Can we have it? I believe we can. I truly believe this.

Peace will not descend upon us like a blanket of snow. No. Peace must come from within. It must begin inside each of our hearts. Inside us. And then it will spread. Spread over all humanity, over all the earth. If we want Peace, we must be Peace-full. And the way to have Peace inside us is to understand the Oneness of us all. I am you. You are me. We are One.

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

2008-12-19T20:19:00.000+01:00

Ho ho ho! It's beginning to look A LOT like Christmas!!!

Here's the view from the 29th floor... just minutes ago (2 in the afternoon!)...

I'm Good

2008-12-16T16:55:00.003+01:00

I bet you've been wondering where I've been haven't you??

Well I am once again ensconced in my cosy condo high in the skies over Toronto, enjoying the marvelous view and the endless warmth of the wonderful heating system. No one believes me when I tell them my house in Albania is permanently at 17 degrees celsius. But it's the truth! Well at least between October and March. In the other months it's about 37 degrees. I love being able to walk over to the thermostat and nudge it just a tad and wooooosh suddenly I have heat. No waiting for 2 hours for the radiators to heat up, no enduring the cold blast of wind from the air conditioners which are used in winter for heat. No, I am warm and snuggly here and loving it. (Okay sometimes I do complain about overheating!)

I flew here last Friday with such ambivalent feelings- I was torn between cancelling my ticket because Coco has still not reappeared in our lives, and wanting to be 'home' with my family in Toronto for the holidays. Well I am here and it is the right place to be. Now we're just waiting for Dec. 31st when Peter will join us for about 11 days.

I was reading a blog this morning on Skirt.com and I was reminded of one of my favourite poems, Desiderata by Max Ehrman, so I'm sharing it with you this morning. Every bit of spiritual wisdom from all the world's great religions is summed up in this treasure. Read it, believe it, live it, and the world changes.

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others,
even to the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

(c) Max Ehrman 1926

Italy Confronts Puppy Smugglers

2008-12-05T18:25:00.002+01:00

Italy has announced a campaign to stop the illegal smuggling and traffiking of dogs.

Here's a link to the BBC News video special report from yesterday.

Notice they specify Shih Tzu's as being one of the most wanted breeds.

LuLu is actually Sara!

2008-12-05T17:27:00.002+01:00

Well.... how fast our lives change!

I was just about to take 'LuLu' to the vet for her check-up when a friend called me and told me that she had someone at her door looking for a lost Shih Tzu puppy. I got the info and gave him a call (ohhhh how I honestly wished I didn't have to!)... and he came round to see if it was his lost puppy. Of course it was his. He had bought it for his mother and she had been crying all week. I understand the feeling. I (relunctantly) gave her back, after reassuring him that I had been loving her since Monday afternoon and that she had two baths so far. His smile was all I needed to see to know that I had done the right thing.

So she is gone... and for Sara the story has a happy ending.

But for us... we are still waiting for a miracle.

Introducing... LuLu

2008-12-05T08:14:00.004+01:00

As I told you... a little Shih Tzu puppy 'miraculously' appeared at our gate within hours of our Coco being stolen. I think it's time for you to meet her!

After 4 days without a name and being called 'puppy' and 'baby', we have decided to name her LuLu. She's incredibly sweet (as all shih tzu's are), but completely unhousebroken. This leaves me in a difficult position because I already have my ticket to Canada for a week from today. Peter will be here in Tirana until the end of the month but he's working of course, so I will have to see if our lovely Albanian dogsitting family would be willing to take her for a month and to try helping with the training. I pray they won't mind.

My feelings are quite torn in two by having her. She isn't our Coco, but she is so charming. I'm not sure it's the normal thing to do-- getting a new puppy as soon as your dog has disappeared, but LuLu seems to have been sent to us as a little angel. Holding her this week and being able to talk to her has helped me deal with the heartache and pain of not knowing where Coco is.

I Am Nothing

2008-12-02T21:26:00.000+01:00

I thought I was God. I can do anything. I helped my parents. My wife's parents. My sisters. My children have all they need. My wife is happy. There are so many people we have met in our travels that I have been able to help. A sweet Colombian girl that had so many issues. She is happily married to the man of her dreams. A Romanian friend has a husband and a dear child. Our Macedonian friends are expecting a child. Another Romanian friend has her small business and has been described by one of her peers as the 'energizer bunny' of the Romanian north. She has her own bed and breakfast and her tour agency. And I am so proud of my staff in Albania. But I couldn't keep my Coco safe. She was stolen. I don't know where she is. I am so tired of being God. I am so small. If there is a God, how does He live with himself? There is so much suffering. God can stop it. Why doesn't He? I am nothing. It must be so hard to be God.

Peter

The Story Thus Far

2008-12-02T19:25:00.000+01:00

What can I say? I am heartbroken, P is heartbroken... our world has changed. I will never understand theft of any kind, but for someone to brazenly open our gate and lift our dear little Coco into their arms and take off with her, is beyond my understanding. After some investigation, 2 boys and a man told us that they had just seen 2 teenage boys walking down the street with a fluffy white dog in their arms. They asked for directions out to the main road, which makes us think they weren't from the neighbourhood. They've either taken her impulsively or they might work for some local dog stealing ring. The police are investigating as are all our friends in the city. Our vet has been notified. We miss her more than you can know.

BUT this is where it gets very weird.

Later in the afternoon the doorbell rang and I ran downstairs. Our next door neighbour was standing there with a tiny dog in his arms. A dog that looks just like our Coco but is only a few months old.

"Is this your dog?" he asked. But of course not. I burst into tears and took the puppy into my arms. Apparently the puppy had just been found in a nearby woods. He told me there was another bigger dog somewhere in the woods that looked like this one but was bigger. Then he told me to jump into his jeep and go look for the other dog. So I did. But by the time we got there, there was no other dog, just a group of boys who were calling her name and looking under the bushes. I was so disappointed. We got back into his jeep and came home. He promised we would find my dog somehow.

I asked who the puppy belonged to, but he repeated that it had been found and had no owner at the moment. So I asked if I could keep it until someone came looking for her. "Yes, yes" he said.

So here I am.... missing my dog with all my heart, but with a tiny angel at my feet. I dare not give her a name because she might be taken away at any moment. But she's a tiny changeling and she's slowly making her way into my heart.

Stolen!

2008-12-01T14:31:00.000+01:00

If you live in Tirana and see my dog... please email me khakkenberg (at) gmail (dot) com

Someone stole her from my garden this morning and my heart is broken.

There are Two Kinds of People

2008-11-23T19:24:00.001+01:00

"People who read are voyeurs... people who write are exhibitionists."

The Big P (my hubby)

The Joy of Blogging

2008-11-17T14:52:00.000+01:00

Leaves in Vienna, Oct. 2008

So I bet you've been wondering where I have been right? Hahaa... I know the truth is I can disappear for weeks, maybe months at a time and you wouldn't even notice!! I could hide myself in the piles of leaves I found last week in Vienna and would you even think to look for me? Like the proverbial needle in a haystack, I would be difficult to find. Or perhaps not. The real truth is that some of you would miss me- I know it!

There's something totally wonderful about the blogging community. Once you've established a presence on the web through a blog your readers become your friends. Not friends in the traditional sense of the world, but in a completely new and lovely way. We open ourselves to each other. Yes we make ourselves vulnerable. And to me that is so utterly awesome! When you (yes you) don't blog for sometime, I wonder about you. I think about you. I worry about you. Are you alright? Has something happened to you? Did your computer break down?

Don't let anyone tell you we aren't 'real' friends. We make connections here. We share what is common between us, and we are also free to share our differences. Some of us share our observations, especially those of us known as 'expats'. The worlds we now live in are sometimes so completely different from our places of origin that we experience our lives at an entirely new level of intensity.

There's a paradox here.

My world feels smaller because of you -- and my world feels larger because of you.

Isn't that magical? I think so.

My blog, and my blogging friends bring me joy.

And so I thank you for being there -- and for being here when you can.

Wage Peace

2008-11-12T08:15:00.002+01:00

Trees at Apollonia, Albania

Wage peace with your breath.

Breathe in firemen and rubble,
breathe out whole buildings and flocks of red wing blackbirds.

Breathe in terrorists
and breathe out sleeping children and freshly mown fields.

Breathe in confusion

and breathe out maple trees.

Breathe in the fallen

and breathe out lifelong friendships intact.

Wage peace with your listening: hearing sirens, pray loud.

Remember your tools: flower seeds, clothes pins, clean rivers.

Make soup.

Play music, memorize the words for thank you in three languages.

Learn to knit, and make a hat.

Think of chaos as dancing raspberries,
imagine grief
as the outbreath of beauty or the gesture of fish.
Swim for the other side.

Wage peace.

Never has the world seemed so fresh and precious:
Have a cup of tea and rejoice.

Act as if armistice has already arrived.

Celebrate today.

-Judyth Hill

Found at Abbey of the Arts

Apollonia, Albania (Illyria)

2008-11-11T08:09:00.000+01:00

The Bouleuterion (Administrative Center)

The ancient city of Apolonia is a real Albanian treasure! Founded as a slave trade port by the Corinthians in about 600 BC, it maintained an important status for centuries, before falling into ruins. The building in the photo above reminded me of the Parthenon in Athens of course because of the lovely columns, though it has only 4 while the Parthenon has 8 across the front. They are probably about the same age historically.

The most wonderful thing about our little gem is that there are virtually no tourists (especially at this ime of year), and we had the entire park to ourselves, along with a local guide.

A Beautiful Corinthian Column

Aristotle considered Apollonia an important example of an oligarchic system, as the descendants of the Greek colonists controlled the city and prevailed over a large serf population of mostly Illyrian origin. The city grew rich on the slave trade and local agriculture, as well as its large harbour, said to have been able to hold a hundred ships at a time. The remains of a late sixth-century temple, located just outside the city, were reported in 2006; it was only the fifth known Hellenic temple found in present-day Albania. Apollonia, like Dyrrachium further north, was an important port on the Illyrian coast as the most convenient link between Brundusium and northern Greece, and as one of the western starting points of the Via Egnatia leading east to Thessaloniki and Byzantium in Thrace. It had its own mint, stamping coins that have been found as far away as the basin of the Danube. (Wikipedia)

The Steps of the Theatre

The city was for a time included among the dominions of Pyrrhus of Epirus. In 229 BC it came under the control of the Roman Republic, to which it was firmly loyal; it was rewarded in 168 BC with booty seized from Gentius, the defeated king of Illyria. In 148 BC Apollonia became part of the Roman province of Macedonia, later being incorporated into the province of Epirus. In the civil war between Pompey and Julius Caesar it supported the latter, but fell to Marcus Iunius Brutus in 48 BC. The later Roman emperor Augustus studied in Apollonia in 44 BC under the tutelage of Athenodorus of Tarsus; it was there that he received news of Caesar's murder. (Wikipedia)

Apollonia flourished under Roman rule and was noted by Cicero in his Philippics as magna urbs et gravis, a great and important city. Its decline began in the 3rd century AD, when an earthquake changed the path of the Vjosa river, causing the harbour to silt up and the inland area to become a malaria-ridden swamp. Christianity was established in the city at an early stage, and bishops from Apollonia were present during the Council of Ephesus (431) and the Council of Chalcedon (451). However, the city became increasingly uninhabitable as the inland swamp expanded and the nearby settlement of Vlora became dominant. By the end of antiquity the city was largely depopulated, hosting a small Christian community which built on a hill which probably is part of the site of the old city the 13th century Monastery and Church of Panagia -Shën Mëri in Albanian- (the Saint Mary). (Wikipedia)

The Local Byzantine Church of St. Mary

Olive

2008-11-10T21:16:00.002+01:00

It's the time of year when the first olives are ready to be harvested.

The old fashioned way... Shake the branches- or chop them off the tree!

Then smack them with a big stick until the tiny olives break free...

Gather them up on big sheets of plastic... and by hand...

It's back breaking work...

And take time for a smile when strange foreign women ask for photo...

She's absolutely beautiful... isn't she?

Daisy

2008-11-10T20:58:00.002+01:00

Today we met a charming elderly Albanian woman...

who told us that for a kilo of these tiny daisies she receives 100 Lek (less than $1) from a local company.

When we asked what the flowers were used for...

she had no idea.

For her story, we paid the toll, with gratitude.

Ardenice Monastery, Albania

2008-11-10T20:38:00.003+01:00

Oh I had a wonderful day!

Who knew that the middle of November could still be so incredibly warm, sunny, and calm?

We started out just after 8 AM this morning for the monastery of Ardenice and the ancient city of Apollonia. Both were in their autumn glory, basking in golden sunlight and long shadows. Even at midday any photos we took were still shockingly beautiful.

Ardenice is an old Orthodox monastery which was saved from destruction during the times of totalitarianism. 4 monks still live and work there but they were away at the seminary today so we didn't get to see them. The site has been 'reclaimed' in recent years and is being well maintained and lovingly restored after being used for everything from a restaurant to a small hotel.

Poison from Canada!

2008-11-09T12:14:00.002+01:00

Poison... from Canada... yes that's what the sign says!

I was in the car so I couldn't discover what's hidden inside the door. Is it a bar?? Is it a cafe??

I have no idea!

Since I'm the One With the Camera...

2008-11-05T08:58:00.001+01:00

Glassblowers of Malta

2008-11-05T08:41:00.003+01:00

Malta has a tradition of glassblowing as well as lovely silver and gold jewellry work.

We stopped at the Ta'Qali Crafts Village where the workshops of various types of crafts are housed. It's an interesting place because the village once was the WWII air field, and the shops are inside the old Nissen Huts.

The Balconies of Malta

2008-11-05T08:23:00.005+01:00

The Boats of Malta

2008-11-05T07:56:00.005+01:00

Malta has so many wonderful harbours full of boats of all shapes and sizes.

From the traditional and colourful Maltese fishing boats... boldly painted in red, yellow and blue...

To the water taxis and expensive yachts...

All very charming and picturesque!

Our Malta Experience (Day 1)

2008-11-05T07:44:00.004+01:00

Yes, it's taken me some time to sit down and share our recent vacation on the beautiful island of Malta. Do you know where it is? Well, it's actually not that far from Albania (as the crow flies). But we're not crows and must take airplanes so it ended up being quite a long trip (via Munich), but everything went smoothly and we were in Malta well before dinner.

The warm air and the sound of the sea immediately took away any left over stress from the travelling, and we enjoyed a lovely dinner and watched the sun setting in the west.

On Vacation

2008-10-23T17:10:00.000+02:00

Guess where I am right now??

No not in Vienna, though I was there for the past 3 days.

I'm on holiday----- on he lovely island of Malta smack dab in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea!! It's warm and humid, but a little bit overcast right now. We have a huge suite with a view of the rocky sea, and we'll be here for the next 10 days. If I manage to take some photos, recharge my laptop and get them connected, I'll try to keep the blog up-to-date.

For now, the battery is almost out of juice-- so ciao for now!

The Wedding Costume

2008-10-16T08:08:00.002+02:00

We recently attended a birthday party in which you were supposed to wear some kind of "Mad Hat". Although I did bring a hat I didn't really wear it since it was such a hot evening.

This charming Alabanian gentleman not only wore his hat but he actually wore his complete wedding outfit! I thought he was adorable and had to have a photo taken with him.

So this is one costume that an Albanian man might wear to his own wedding. I forgot to ask him from which part of the country he was. Do you know?

Time for Some Love Awards

2008-10-15T13:16:00.002+02:00

I have a new friend over at Wandering the World who has just awarded me with the "Proximidade Award"--- sounds rather serious doesn't it? But it's a really nice one to be given because it's all about this:

“This blog invests and believes, in ‘proximity’ meaning, that blogging makes us 'close'. They are all charming blogs, and the majority of them aim to show the marvels of friendship; there are persons who are not interested when we give them a prize, and then they help to cut these bows; do we want that they are cut, or that they propagate? Then let’s try to give more attention to them! So with this prize we must deliver it to eight bloggers that in turn must make the same thing and put this text.”

I really do think that reading and writing our blogs brings us closer together, especially if you tend to read expat blogs or blogs from unusual locations, like I do.

So "wanderer", I thank you for this meaningful award and pass it on to 8 dear friends.

1. Maria at A Piece of My Mind
2. Laurel at Trailing Spouse in Katmadu
3. A Nevada Yankee in King Zog's Court
4. Inside Albania
5. Swenglish Expat at Fruits of My Mind
6. Simon at Simon Varwell's Website
7. Rositta at The View From Here
8. Lulu over at Lulu's Bay

Hopefully you will all enjoy spreading the love around-

the world needs MORE LOVE!

Faith

2008-10-15T09:29:00.002+02:00

We can let our lives be directed
by the same force that makes
flowers grow. {…}

To trust in the force
that moves the universe
is faith.

Faith isn’t blind it’s visionary.
Faith is believing that the universe
is on our side, and that the universe
knows what it’s doing.

Faith is a psychological awareness
of an unfolding force for good,
constantly at work in all dimensions.

Our attempts to direct this force only
interferes with it.
Our willingness to relax into it allows
it to work on our behalf.

Marianne Williamson
A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles

Borrowed today from Simply Blessed

Our Albanian Journey (pt 1)

2008-10-12T17:04:00.001+02:00

This is the tale of six enthusiastic foreign ladies... one cheerful Albanian guide... a cautious driver and an Albanian Furgon (minibus).

We departed Tirana at the crack of dawn (6 AM) on Tuesday morning, just as the sun was rising over Mount Dajti. Bleary eyed, but eager to be on our adventure, we chose our seats and settled down for the ride through the city. Who knew that at 6 AM there were people up and on their way to important business? We drove with ease out of the city and made our way to the cutoff just before Shkodra, direction Puka and beyond.

At close to 9 AM we made our first stop for coffee and a bit of cake at a lovely restaurant on the edge of a lake. Mist was still rising from the chilly water but the air was quickly warming up. It was a beautiful morning, holding promises of an unforgetable day.

By 10:30 we were in the line-up for the big event of the day- our 2 hour ferry ride through the spectacular Albanian Alps. Touted by the Bradt Travel Guide as a "world-class journey through outstanding fjord-like scenery", and "one of the world's classic boat-trips, up there with the Hurtigrut up the Norwegian coast or the ferry from Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales in Chile". How's that for a recommendation?? It's a trip I'd been wanting to make since I arrived in Albania more than 3 years ago. Finally we were on the boat and we scrambled up to the top deck and choose our seats near the front. The ride through the fjords was spectacular! Steep rocky cliffs, tree covered slopes, isolated ancient homes perched on the mountains, and water so blue-green that it hardly looked real. Two hours flew by and I really didn't want it to be over. But over it was.

We drove off the ferry and flew through the town of Bajram Curri, once noted for its lawlessness and criminality. It seemed perfectly safe to us, but we didn't stop. We still had a lot of road to cover before dark. Now came the best part of the drive- several hours of bumpy, winding, often unpaved road beside one of the most incredibly beautiful rivers I've ever seen- the Valbona. Thousands of years ago it must have been a deep, raging river, but now it is relatively low, though still powerful. Ancient boulders, now exposed, have been worn silky smooth and white. The sparkling clear water winds its way around the massive fallen rocks, creating eddies and waterfalls, causing all of us to yell "stop" so frequently that the driver eventually doesn't have to be told when to let us all out for a photo opportunity.

Everything went smoothly until we came face to face with an enormous boulder recently fallen from the side of the excavated slopes. Our jaw dropped and I think for a moment we all felt a huge sense of disappointment. Would we have to turn back now after such a fabulous journey? No way. We gathered our faith and mustered all the strength our bodies held, but that rock just wouldn't be moved. Don't let anyone tell you that if you have enough faith you can move a mountain. It didn't work! So then we drove around it. Yep. The minibus tipped precariously to one side, but made it! Once again we were on our way.

Another stop at the very picturesque village of Dragobi, where we met two enchanting brothers munching on fresh chestnuts. They tried very hard to charm us out of one of our digital cameras, but in the end they happily settled on my large bar of chocolate.

By 4 PM we arrived in a village just before Valbona, not far from the border with Montenegro and Kosovo. When I think of heaven, I'll always think of this special part of Albania. What can I say? Pure paradise- air as fresh as any I've ever breathed- abundant pastures full of all the good things the earth provides- and people warm, friendly, resilient. Pure Bliss.

We dropped our bags beside our bunkbeds, grabbed our cameras, and went out exploring. Here is where you find lives almost untouched by the world. A chopped off tree stump served as a cutting board. A handsewn bag held warm, fresh milk as it slowly turned into yogurt. Family gravestones were fenced off in the midst of the cornfield. Laundry carefully hung on primitive fences. This is life as it once was in the west many years ago.

We dined like queens in the local restaurant. Soup- salad- fresh lamb- and many glasses of Raki (to keep us warm of course!) and then off to bed, where we all dreamt about the glorious day we'd just experienced.

Heaven certainly can't be any better.

Oct. 4 ~ Feast Of St. Francis of Assisi

2008-10-04T09:30:00.000+02:00

Two years ago we took a wonderful driving trip around Italy with a very memorable stop in Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis. No other saint has made an impression on Peter and I like Francis has. He stood for all the things we believe in- kindness, gentleness, courtesy, and benevolence to the poor and downtrodden.

For more on St. Francis visit The Catholic Encyclopedia

Peace Prayer of St. Francis

O Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Peace!

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is discord, harmony.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

Where there is sorrow, joy.

Oh, Divine Master, grant that I may not

so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Prayer of Peace

Attributed to St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226)

Roman Catholic friar, founder of the Franciscans

Known as the patron saint of animals, birds and the environment

His feast day is October 4

All photos by Kim H. ~ Assisi, Italy, Nov. 2006

Autumn Bliss

2008-10-03T19:06:00.002+02:00

It's Friday... It's October... and it's 7PM. The normally quiet neighbourhood streets are filled with the delightful noise of happy children still playing outside even after darkness falls. They're outside- in Tshirts - playing football under the glow of the streetlights. In the distance the western sky is a radiant orange and pink. The temperature is slowly falling from the 25C it was late in the afternoon and there are no threatening rain clouds to be seen. Mount Dajti is clear and if you look carefully there are stars twinkling in the deep blue sky.

Is there anything more wonderful than an early Autumn day in Tirana?

Is it Wise to Eat Local?

2008-10-01T11:34:00.000+02:00

I often shop at the big supermarket called Euromax out on the autostrada. It's inconvenient to drive there since the traffic is often a mess (although now that the new overpass is open it is MUCH better), and it is a bit far away. Plus I not only have to shop there, but I also find myself stopping at several other supermarkets just to find the basics I need in the kitchen. Things have become a lot easier in the 3.5 years we have lived here in Tirana. In the beginning there were no large supermarkets and it was often really difficult to find good fresh food. Now it is rather easy and you can almost always find what you're looking for, sometimes even things which you'd never expect.

Now there's an interesting challenge out in the blogosphere. It happens in October and it's called the Eat Local Challenge. I'd love to participate BUT- and it's a big BUT- it's virtually impossible to know if what I'm buying is really truly locally grown or produced. I actually asked Euromax to please start labelling the produce signs with the country of origin, but nothing changed. So who knows where they came from?? It's disturbing don't you agree? What if all the produce came from China? Would you be comfortable with that? Not I.

But then again-- is local produce really that trustworthy here in Albania?? Friends say it must be kind of organic since local farmers don't have the money to spend on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. That may be so, but what about the residual toxic wastes that must be in the soil especially around Elbasan where a lot of produce is grown? I'm not sure local is a better choice in the end! What to do??

And so I can't really take part in a challenge that I think is a good idea even though I'd like to try. I've decided to do it in my own little way. I'll ask where it is from when I buy fresh produce and hope for the best. At least when I can, I'll choose local and hope for the best.

Switching Places

2008-09-25T09:28:00.002+02:00

Everywhere I went in Toronto I bumped into Albanians! It was quite weird in a wonderful way. I'd go out to do shopping or run some errands and come back and say "Guess what?" Mom or dad would answer "What?" and I'd inevitably laugh and tell them about the Albanian who had done my banking or sold me a new purse. In every store I'd overhear Albanians speaking to each other or having arguments that they thought no one could comprehend. It was fun explaining that I now live in Tirana and watching the confused looks on their faces. At first they stared at me in disbelief, then came the quick language test to see if I was telling the truth. A few "po po's", and a "faleminderit" or two and I was warmy welcomed into their life. Invitations for coffee were offered, and connections were made. Sometimes the connections brought unfortunate results- let me warn you- never tell the hairdresser that you're from her home town in Albania until she has FINISHED cutting your mothers hair. My Mom was virtually scalped and it took weeks to grow back in!! My son told me of the time he let it slip to a new hairdresser that he had lived in Romania and the stunned stylist took a chunk out of her own finger, bleeding all over the floor! Be careful who you share such exciting news with ok?

Coming back to Tirana is fun too. Yesterday my friend Iza and I had to stop in at one of our favourite stationery shops in the Blok area. It is a treasure trove of office supplies and always has exactly what we're looking for. It helps that there's a charming young man who delights in chatting with us and making us feel important. He asked where I'd been since he hadn't seen me in several months. I told him I'd been in Canada all summer and he scurried over to his computer and quickly changed the music to one of my favourite Canadian groups- "Great Big Sea". How sweet is that?? We discussed the band, both agreeing that they were quite folky- perhaps a little 'too' soft, and did I know any other Canadian bands that he could look up on youTube. All I could think of was the "Barenaked Ladies". Try explaining that name to an Albanian! We had a laugh and a few minutes later "If I Had A Million Dollars" was playing over the sound system. Can I tell you how nice it was? Mmmmmmmm so nice!!

Real Life Begins Again

2008-09-24T10:54:00.003+02:00

It's been so long since I've blogged that I've forgotten how! I used to be able to just sign in and blog without having to think about each step, but I find myself sitting here this morning having to do it step by step. It's been far too long...

Summer of '08... sold our home in Nova Scotia... drove with my parents through New England... stayed with my cousin Karen for most of August... found and fell in love with a condo... managed to buy it and get my Mom and Dad moved in before September started... got them all settled in and hopefully used to the new way of life... enjoyed being a bit lazy for a week or two... and flew back here to Albania, arriving yesterday afternoon.

My feelings were mixed. I wanted to stay in Toronto and I wanted to be back in Tirana. Flying home I gulped down the overwhelming sadness of leaving my family behind. I felt closer to my kids than I have in quite some time, both of them now live in Toronto and I was so very lucky to have been able to spend lots of time with each of them. I love you two.

But coming through the arrival doors at the airport here in Albania, I knew I was in the place where I am supposed to be- back in the arms of my sweetheart. Nothing feels more right, and nothing feels more wonderful. I am so blessed to be his partner in life. Lucky me!

And once again my life begins to get busy. Meetings, dinners, parties, and a few vacations are already filling up my calendar. After 3 months of very few things on my agenda it feels good to see my week spread before me with many appointments written in bright green ink. I have things to do, places to go, and people to meet, and I'm going to share it all with you right here. Let's get started!!

On today's agenda:

Unpack (argggg)

Lunch with The Big P

Board meeting for TWIG

Grocery shopping (the cupboards are so bare I feel like Old Mother Hubbard!)

Farewell to Nova Scotia

2008-08-02T11:29:00.000+02:00

Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia

Our last night in Nova Scotia... sadness sets in and a knowing in my heart that it is the last time I'll see the atlantic fog roll over us. In 1752 my ancestors, arriving from the Black Forrest, were one of the founding families of Lunenburg, a charming fishing village on the south shore, and even before I knew that I felt a deep connection to this part of Canada. It's clean and natural here, full of birdsong and billowous clouds, and people who are friendly beyond belief. Nova Scotia... I miss you already.

I'm reminded of this song, one of my Maritime favourites.

The sun was setting in the west,
The birds were singing on every tree.,
All nature seemed inclined for to rest
But still there was no rest for me.

Chorus

Farewell to Nova Scotia, your sea-bound coast,
Let your mountains dark and dreary be.
For when I am far away on the briny ocean tossed,
Will you ever heave a sigh and a wish for me?

I grieve to leave my native land,
I grieve to leave my comrades all,
And my parents whom I held so dear,
And the bonnie, bonnie lassie that I do adore.

Chorus

The drums they do beat and the wars to alarm,
The captain calls, we must obey.
So farewell, farewell to Nova Scotia's charms,
For it's early in the morning I am far, far away.

Chorus

I have three brothers and they are at rest,
Their arms are folded on their breast.
But a poor simple sailor just like me,
Must be tossed and driven on the dark blue sea.

The Sad Fog of Leaving a Place That Felt Like Home

2008-07-30T01:05:00.000+02:00

Life Update

2008-07-30T00:39:00.002+02:00

Since I've had several emails and comments asking about our upcoming move, I thought I'd better clarify the situation. The Big P and I are NOT moving. We're staying in Tirana and have no plans to leave in the near future. However, we do own a home in Canada and it has been sold. I am in Canada assisting my parents with moving since they are the caretakers of our home. We've all thought a lot about where my mom and dad should live and we decided to move them back to Ontario where we grew up. That way they'll be closer to my brother and his family, as well as my two kids, and lots of other extended family members. Moving at any age is stressful, but in your 70's it is particularly disfficult, even though they are looking forward to a change in lifestyle. In Toronto we'll look at various retirement living options as well as some beautiful condos with lots of fun amenities.

On Friday the moving company will load up the truck and then mom, dad, and I will take a 4 day road trip together through a few New England states, reliving some old and very special memories of trips we made many years ago.

I'll let you all know when we arrive next week!

It's Lovely?

2008-07-28T18:03:00.000+02:00

If you've ever looked at a house, bought a house, or sold real estate, take a look at this site!! Very, very funny!

Sunday Silliness!

2008-07-27T15:22:00.000+02:00

What Kind of Frog Are YOU????

These colorful toads are very active and fun for beginner pet owners. They enjoy spending their day swimming and singing with other frogs of their species and become more active when not alone. Weird fact: Firebellied toads cannot extend their tongues like other toads or frogs. To feed, they must leap forward and catch their prey with their mouths. After they have grabbed a cricket or worm with their mouth, they usually use their fore-arms to help stuff food the rest of the way in. Then they squish their eyeballs down in their heads to push the food into their throat.
What kind of Frog are you?

Thanks to Susanna's Sketchbook for the link!

This One's for Brenda

2008-07-26T00:13:00.002+02:00

Brenda, my Favourite American Baker in Tirana- I hope you folllow this link:

Cake Wrecks

Nothing you bake will ever end up on this wacky website!!

Is John McCain Smarter than a 5th Grader?

2008-07-25T23:52:00.000+02:00

I'm not saying I'd know any better but I'm not the one who's running for President.

Check out Shakesville's take on What Johnny Doesn't Know

As Long As It's Not Permanent!

2008-07-22T23:17:00.000+02:00

Magic in the Morning

2008-07-21T16:27:00.002+02:00

Guess what you're seeing in this photo? (Excuse the blurrrrrr- Dad knocked on my door and woke me from a very involved dream and I jumped up and grabbed my camera. The 12X zoom should never be used without a tripod I know!)

Two awesome deer that were on our front lawn this morning at 7 AM!! They nudged around in the garden and then strolled up and down the street before running off into the nearby forest.

It was magical and it's another reason why we're going to miss this place when we move next week. *Sigh*

At the Bay

2008-07-19T15:34:00.000+02:00

Imagine the stories this house has to tell...

And the things these gulls have heard...

How many fishermen has this lighthouse protected?

And how many storms have these weathered boards survived?

Margaretsville, Nova Scotia (on the Bay of Fundy)

New Blogs About Albania

2008-07-10T14:29:00.003+02:00

Here are 2 new blogs written by foreigners living in Albania:

www.insidealbania.wordpress.com

http://anevadayankeeinkingzogscourt.blogspot.com/

It will be interesting to see the country through new eyes!

Check them out!

Albania's Childhood

2008-07-09T22:04:00.004+02:00

Radio Netherlands has a very interesting post about one man's personal point of view regarding Albania's accession to NATO. Fatos Lubonja was arrested in 1974 under the dictator Enver Hoxha and did forced labour in Albania's work camps. He was not released until 1991.

Lubonja says Albania is "a traumatised childish society, a nation without memories and lacking moral leadership. When the democratic party was founded - this so called anti-communist party, most of its leaders were communists. They do not have the sensitivity towards democracy and our past, and were mainly even responsible for what happened in the past".

This is an observation which I think is tragic but generally accurate. Now I'm not saying that as individuals Albanians are childish but the society and government tends to operate at very childish levels. I wonder if this 'trauma' contributes to the low level of perceived happiness?

It's interesting to compare Erik Erikson's 8 stages of childhood development with the development of a newly reborn country like Albania. These stages don't take the hugely damaging trauma that it has suffered into account however, which would likely prolong each stage for much longer periods of time.

Here's a useful chart of the stages of development. It may well be that Albania is stuck in the very first stage where they learn to trust or mistrust the caregiver!

What do you think?

Cheers for Berat!!

2008-07-09T02:31:00.002+02:00

I'm really thrilled to hear this announcement today from UNESCO:

Berat, an historic Ottoman town, was added to the list of World Heritage sites by UNESCO, Tuesday. The addition is an extension by the UN heritage committee, which added the city centre of Berat to the site of Gjirokastra, which was put on the heritage list in 2005.

"Berat was added as "a rare example of a well-preserved Ottoman town," UNESCO said. Located in central Albania, "Berat bears witness to the coexistence of various religious and cultural communities down the centuries."

"The town of 64,000 inhabitants features a castle locally known as the Kala most of which was built in the 13th century, although its origins date back some 2,400 years. The area includes many Byzantine churches, mainly from the 13th century, several of which contain valuable wall paintings and icons.

The town also has several mosques built under Turkish occupation which started in 1417 and several houses for religious communities, notably some used by Sufi brotherhoods in the 18th century.

Source: The Earth Times
All photos taken by Kim H.

Happy? Unhappy?

2008-07-08T19:32:00.002+02:00

From The University of Michigan

Top Ten Happiest Countries in the World:

Denmark
Puerto Rico
Colombia
Iceland
N. Ireland
Ireland
Switzerland
Netherlands
Canada
Austria

Bottom Ten Happiest Countries in the World:

Zimbabwe
Armenia
Moldova
Belarus
Ukraine
Albania
Iraq
Bulgaria
Georgia
Russia

I guess I live a fairly balanced life!!

Thanks to Gadling for pointing this out!

The Dock

2008-06-30T15:35:00.000+02:00

Dobrota, Montenegro

Beautiful Albania

2008-06-29T17:29:00.000+02:00

For a terrific video all about Albania go here

but take what they say with a grain or two of salt :)

Excuses... I have a Few...

2008-06-28T18:35:00.004+02:00

What can I say? Oh I could make a list of excuses as long as my arm I suppose. Yes, I could. A 2 week visit of my adorable son, a week in paradise (AKA Montenegro), a few days in Toronto where I stayed for the very first time in my son's brand new condo, a delightful dinner with both of my babies (oh how I miss having them near me), and already a week has gone by here in Nova Scotia with my parents. Time does fly, especially when you're having fun.

The view from our hotel room in Kotor, Montenegro

I bought my new laptop, an HP, on the recommendation of my son Josh, and I am already in love with it. It's mighty fast and has loads of memory and some terrific gadgets- the Big P doesn't call me Gadget Girl for nothing! It has a built in webcam and even has a tiny remote control! Now I just have to figure out how to use my old iPod with this new computer without losing everything that's on the iPod. Any hints??

Swimming in the Bay of Kotor, Adriatic Sea

Not much to report on here... I wake up when I want to (what's new eh?), drink my Dad's coffee (the bestest!), slowly get ready for the day, decide what to make for dinner, and read LOTS and LOTS of books! Can life get any better? I think not.

Montenegro might be paradise, but this is heaven!

Catch Up

2008-06-21T19:32:00.003+02:00

Have you missed me? Oh please say yes :) Some of you have found me over on my literary blog, some of you have emailed me, some of you have even phoned and complained about the lack of posts. I'm sorry, I really am! I made a pledge to read a LOT of books this year and the only way to do it is to spend more time away from my computer. So I've been reading and reading and have just past the 50 book mark for this year so far! I'm impressed if I do say so myself. Can I make 100 by the end of December? I'm trying my best. You can see what I've read so far over on My Literary Travels.

But I've also been doing a bit of real traveling of course. We just returned from a week in Montenegro which was just amazing. We stayed in a beautiful boutique hotel right on the Bay of Kotor, which is just north of Budva. It is incredibly lovely. The mountains just dive straight into the sea which is almost always smooth and clear. We lazed around the pool a lot, drove up to Dubrovnik again, spent half a day on a splendid sail boat, swam in the middle of "the most beautiful bay in the world" (according to UNESCO), and ate fresh, natural food at every meal. Refreshed? Oh yes. We were to come home yesterday but I begged the Big P to stay one more night and he quickly agreed with my plan.

So now we're home again and I'm doing laundry which has to be packed back into my suitcase in an hour or two. I have a flight at 5 AM to Toronto via Vienna, and then I'll be flying on to Halifax on Monday afternoon. It seems like only yesterday I was spending time with my mom and dad (it was just 3 months ago!) and I can't wait to be with them again. This year I've been spoiled with so much time in Canada and with both my kids visiting us. Josh has been here two weeks and we'll fly together tomorrow. Hopefully later tomorrow we can run into an electronics superstore in Toronto and purchase my new laptop and a new Slingbox. Then I'll be all set once again and ready to blog all about it.

See you soon and have a wonderful Summer!

Farewell to my Presario...

2008-06-12T13:24:00.002+02:00

Guess what happens when you neglect your blog for several weeks?

Your laptop gives up the ghost!!

Yes that's just what happened to mine two days ago. Oh it is sad... very sad.

The Doctor says it would cost as much to repair it as it would to buy a new one. *Sigh*

Is not not strangely serendipitous that I decided just last week to go to Canada at the end of next week (yes again!)? I prefer to buy it in Canada- better prices- better choice etc- and the timing couldn't have worked out any better.

As for my baby, the good part is that it's mainly the monitor which is blown and all my info can be saved! It boots up and I can use a second monitor for the time being- a little inconvenient, but not too bad. The Doctor did send it back to me this morning with one problem- I can't get it to connect to the internet either wireless or with a cable. Pooooh! So for now I'm borrowing The Big P's really old laptop (which he still happily uses). It has this weird personality however and you have to keep watching what you're typing because your words will suddenly be 6 rows above where you were typing! Very bizarre, but not too bad considering this is the laptop which had a full glass of water spilled on it when it was 6 months old.

Any advice on new laptops would be greatly appreciated!

Friday Update

2008-06-06T09:26:00.003+02:00

Oh I know it's been over a week since I blogged here and I've received emails and even an SMS from my friend in India asking me what's wrong! No need to worry everybody! I've just been doing a lot of work on my other blog- my literary/book one and it involved setting up an extensive database of books I've read and will read. So though it may look like I abandoned the BLOG365 project- I actually haven't. To qualify for the project you just have to write a post a day on any of your blogs. Whewwwww! I did think about giving it up a few days ago because I found myself just writing something- anything- and that's really pathetic I'm afraid. But anyhooo-- I'll keep going for now, especially since the big P made a comment to me last night saying he was missing my posts because that's how he finds out what I did that day! LOL!

I've got a bunch of photos to upload and post- maybe later today.

I had a fun week- went to a HUGE Ball in Vienna last Friday, helped organised a fabulous Fiesta Party earlier in the week, and took part in a great TV program on Albania's KLAN TV. My son is arriving tomorrow from Canada for a 2 week vacation- yippeeee!

All in all... I had a great week and even got some reading done! Check out my other blog to see what I've been working on.

Ciao!

A Simple Day in Vienna

2008-05-29T23:04:00.003+02:00

So it wasn't a 'new' King Tut exhibit- it was the one that's been circulating around the world for many years already, but since I'd never seen it before, it was new to me, and very, very interesting. Lunch at 'The House of the Palms', and then an afternoon of shopping in the centre of Vienna, made it a really nice day. Even the weather was perfect- much cooler and a little breezier than Wednesday.

That's all for now. Tomorrow is another day.

Killer Queen!

2008-05-28T23:55:00.002+02:00

Woo hoooo... two minutes before midnight and I finally get to blog. It'll be short and sweet (again) but I've had a lovely hot day here in Vienna. We shopped a bit, bought shoes and books, made appointments for manicures/pedicures and hair for Friday's big party, enjoyed a delicious lunch out on a terrace, and then went to see We Will Rock You! That was fabulous and the cast got 5 ovations! I saw Queen with Freddy Mercury in concert many, many years ago and the show tonight brought back memories. What a great band they were- their music will never go stale. The ladies and I kept on singing all the way home. Now I can't wait to put Queen on my iPod and sing it out loud.

Tomorrow we have a busy program including a visit to the new King Tut exhibit and a city tour. I better get to bed because morning comes too soon. Night night XX

Vienna... Hot and Sunny!

2008-05-27T21:58:00.003+02:00

I wanted to post a few photos but-- arggghh-- we are in a very beautiful hotel in Vienna with the slowest internet I've ever seen, so I'm not even going to try tonight. Maybe tomorrow it will be better or I will try the wireless down in the lobby.

So for now... hope you had a lovely day! I'm once again happy in Austria! Woo hoo!

Current Paintings

2008-05-26T19:06:00.002+02:00

Here are three paintings that I've recently completed and am pleased with. Don't ask nor try to figure out what the first two are because they aren't anything! The third is a collage with a dog. *hahaha!*