Casa Rosales

Casa Rosales

Sunday 6 September 2015

Balancing act...

This is a difficult post to write. There are so very many things in the world that are dreadful. So many people in unimaginable situations and the outcome of some of their actions washed pitifully up on the shores of beaches. We are rightly outraged, horrified and terrified by the concept of people taking such desperate measures to get away from their homes.

As the photographs of little Aylan were being published, my family and I were on a different beach, in very different circumstances. I posted a photo on Facebook as we were driving home but I had to take it down again when I saw Aylan's body - the contrast seemed heartless. Like many others, I am hoping that the shocking image will continue to move people to action and that governments acknowledge that we are in a situation that needs a new response. Opinions are polarising and on hearing some of the negative ideas expressed in the media, I have been appalled and disbelieving. Fortunately, there are a lot of people who are doing things to help in big and little ways in many European countries. In posting my photos here today, I am at pains to say how much I recognise the differences in our situations and how I regret so very much that so many are suffering.

And we all have our own trials and tribulations to face and manage even though many of them pale into insignificance in comparison. However, the illness of a loved parent will always loom large in our lives. And right now, my dear, dear father-in-law is facing a gloomy future and probably not very much of a future either. FR went up to visit for a few days earlier this week and spoke to the doctors on Monday, together with his brother. The doctor didn't pull any punches from the sound of things and showed FR the x-rays and the spread of the cancer. The fact is, they are not sure quite how my father-in-law is still walking around, eating and breathing. And the good news is that to see him, he apparently looks quite well - he gets tired quickly and has a nasty night-time cough - but otherwise, he seems fine. We are dreading the day we find out he has pain somewhere...

Anyway, it was a beautiful afternoon and the children and I drove into Granada to meet FR and as we were getting to the end of summer, I decided we should take advantage of being halfway to the coast and that we should spend the rest of the day at our new favourite beach, Calahonda on the Costa Tropical. My plan was decided - collecting more pebbles to paint - and I had little intention of going in the sea. Last time we visited, it was freezing cold and most uninviting. However, when we arrived, Ruy and Romy - always first in - announced it was perfect. So we all swam that afternoon. And it really was glorious.

As well as collecting pebbles, I sat and built a few stone towers in a zen-sort of way. And then the children all joined in and I took some lovely photos of them. So please, enjoy with me, the pleasure of sunshine and stones. They are mindful pictures. We are mindful.


A small tower of balancing stones

Concentration

And more concentration




My various stone towers...

Very satisfying and calming to do


They did this for a good half an hour.....
And then today, FR shared this video with me on Facebook that shows how it's done really....

Please enjoy this - it is something that I find utterly hypnotic and beautiful. He also has a website called Gravity Glue which is worth a visit.


9 comments:

  1. Something that takes concentration helps enormously.

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    1. Absolutely, Helen. Dwelling or fretting doesn't help - we have to think about things but staying positive is essential.
      Axxx

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  2. Your strong and brave father-in-law is obviously determined to live his life for as long as he can. Your stone towers and the video are all beautiful. I'm glad they brought you peace for a while. xxx

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    1. I think you are quite right. He's happy pottering around at home at the moment - despite attempts by my mother-in-law to go 'on holiday'. He feels safer and braver in his own environment. I'm glad FR and Ruy are going this weekend.
      And we really had such a lovely afternoon on the beach - we'll remember it for a long time. Axxx

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  3. We all need to have some kind of escape from the sadness in the world and within our own families. This seems like the perfect way to do it. Lovely photos. Wishing the very best for your father-in-law xx

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    1. Thanks Ayak. You sum it up perfectly. Thankfully for us, we can find joy in many things around us.
      Axxx

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  4. A bittersweet posting, Annie. The photographs of your family on the beach are lovely and you should be proud of the young people they have become. We do our best to raise children with empathy for, and compassion for others.

    The refugee situation is heartbreaking, and made even more so by the selfish NIMBY of others.the vast majority of these people have lost everything, and are asking for help. I'm not religious but the parable of the good Samaritan comes to mind. How many 'righteous' people are prepared to walk by on the other side?

    I loved the Tony Benn quotation you put on the Facebook - or at least I think it was you, about how a government treats refugees is an indication of how they might treat their own people if the thought they could get away with it!!

    This is a problem/opportunity for all of us to turn the challenge of giving sanctuary to refugees into something positive for all of us as we move into the future.

    I am thinking about you and the family as you come to terms with you father-in-law's diagnosis, and hope that he can remain pain free. A difficult time for you all. Bon courage xx

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    1. Thank you fro such a lovely, considerate reply to my post, Gaynor. I'm most grateful and appreciative of all you have written here.
      I shared the Tony Benn quotation on Facebook - he managed to hit the nail on the head quite a lot in my opinion.
      This weekend, FR will go with Ruy to see his father. We will go in various combinations as and when we can. So far, he is feeling tired but not ill...I hope he can continue as long as possible like this.
      Thanks again,
      Axxx

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  5. We all need to celebrate the good things in our life. We never know how long they are going to last. Out of all the tragedy on our beaches in Bodrum, the wonderful response of ordinary people going out of their way to help strangers is something else we should celebrate. Sending hope to your F in L .

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