Indelible Adventures: May 2016

Friday, May 27, 2016

Finding my groove

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I’ve always been an early bird! What can I say, since I was a kid I always tended to start my day off early and so it’s become a function of my very being. My inner voice likes to remind me that if I linger in bed I’m wasting my precious day…that little voice is such a pain in the ass! I guess over the years I’ve become wired to get “up and at em” around 6:15 am, and what’s more alarming is that often wake before six most days, then wait for my alarm. Clearly no fun in that! :-)

Most mornings after breakfast I walk over to my local coffee shop (Red Rocket Coffee – 1364 Danforth Ave), which is just a block from home and get a large coffee in my Hydro Flask (thanks AK!). Occasionally I’ll find a table to sit and write which I enjoy as I get to see the comings and goings of the clientele. And as you’d expect I also have my favorite spot at the back of the shop – close to a power outlet, a single seat so I don’t have to share my table with anyone (yes, no distractions thank you!) when it gets crowded, well you know the drill... This is particularly useful as I sometimes use local characters and their eccentric traits in my fictional stories. Eclectic is a great way to describe many of the regulars who frequent the Red Rocket!

A new Starbucks opened across the road about 3 months ago, and initially I was worried for the survival of the Red Rocket but I haven’t seen a change in the volume or flow of customers so I think we’ve born the brunt of the SB invasion and survived non-the-worse for wear. Thank goodness!

Here are three things I've been focusing on that may be useful to you:

Indelible Tip #1: Seek your favorite haunts - I find that as a global culture we now tend to predominately connect with others via our devices versus face-to-face connections, thus leading to feelings of physical isolation. My advice is that if you haven’t already found a local place or two that you enjoy going to its time to explore. It could be a coffee shop; teahouse, yoga studio, gym or restaurant…doesn’t really matter. What matters most is that its great way to connect to your neighborhood/town/city and become more socially and personally connected. My experience as a writer is that its sooooooo easy to become isolated because I often find myself heads down creating and writing stories, often working from home… Conversations with the barista’s or other patrons at the Red Rocket enable me to develop both a morning ritual as well as personal connections. I have to admit it’s nice to go to a place where they remember your name and you can engage in a conversation.

Some of my best writing, fictional or otherwise come from being able to use observations and situations that come from personal experiences. Clearly it’s another excellent reason for me to venture out each day and see what my local neighborhood has to offer.

Indelible Tip #2: License to wander – One of the other things I’ve been doing more and more of, especially now that the weather is more temperate is to walk whenever I can. I’ve become a big fan of walking to and from yoga (time permitting getting to, although always walk home). It’s both a great way to exercise and burn some extra calories after my hot yoga class as well as wander and take in all the nuances that you sometimes miss if you’re driving. I find the more I slow down and explore my neighborhood the more cool things I uncover.

I realize that it’s hard sometimes as we often feel time constrained, but I’ve made a point of not over scheduling my time or trying and pack in too much in to my day especially over the weekends. Perfect opportunity to take my camera and wander…remember you don’t always need a destination to have a grand adventure. Yep, its all about the journey my friends!

Indelible Tip #3: Finding beauty - One of my revelations over the past couple of years is that beauty is everywhere and in everything. I know this might sound a little airy-fairy but when I find beauty in something it nourishes my soul and makes me continue to look at the world in a different way.

A great example is last weekend, after finishing working on setting up my deck I sat for a few moments on the steps and had a cool and refreshing glass of water. Clearly I must have been a little dehydrated given the warm sunny weather, and as I finished a final mouthful of water I tilted it all the way up so that I got every drop. As I took the glass away, still above my head I noticed the amazing collage created through the bottom of the glass. I was struck by the beauty of the lines, shapes and blurred image that the glass produced and after observing it and marveling in its surprising beauty I took out my iPhone and took a photo just to remind me of that single moment.

If you take a look at my Instagram account (indelibleadventures) you’ll notice that the vast majority of my photos capture a nuance or surprising observation versus the grand and perfect photo. This approach seems to sum up my life in terms of finding the inherent beauty in almost anything.

Perhaps I’m just a hopeless romantic but when I wander, seek beauty and connect locally I feel more alive than ever, and isn’t that what life’s all about?

Connecting your senses to live a more contented life…enjoy your weekend!

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“Hanoi Posting”

A series of fictional micro-stories by Terence Wallis

Episode 46: From afar

For the second day in a row John had not received a bulletin from his desk in Hanoi and he could feel his annoyance rising. He lifted the receiver and asked his assistant to put a call through to Hanoi, moments later the phone rang in his office. When he picked up the phone he asked to speak to Bill, the polite response was that he wasn't in. How about Phuong? So sorry, but he also wasn't in... Well when do you expect them back? The silence was deafening...

John left a message for one of them to call him as soon as they got in before hanging up. What are those two up to he ventured? But just as this thought had entered his head, so did a deep feeling of unease. These two reporters were amongst his best, and with unquestioned reliability and so began to worry. It was most unusual that neither one of them had reported in...

Minutes later John's phone jangled again, but instead of Bill or Phuong whom he had expected on the line it was his assistant Mary. She said that there was a Rupert Palmer from the Foreign Office to see him and it seemed quite urgent and asked if she could send him in?

Of course, show him in immediately John said brusquely. The only time he usually ran into Rupert was at their annual university reunion which generally ending with an enormous hangover and a promise never to do it again, which invariably they did. God, was it that time of year again he though? A moment later the door opened and Mary showed Rupert in, although not close friends there was a mutual warmth between them. "What an unexpected pleasure" said John smiling and reaching to shake Rupert's hand. Rupert seemed to be more formal than normal as they shook hands, but John put it down to the work setting and not being surrounded by all of their school mates.

Rupert was first to speak as John motioned for him to take a seat, "Have you heard from Conolly-West in Hanoi recently?" he asked directly. Strange John immediately thought, how does Rupert know Bill. Why, no actually... what's this all about Rupert? Rupert cleared his throat and said that the Foreign Office had been informed that Bill was being held as a political prisoner in Hanoi. Look I shouldn't be telling you this, and honestly shouldn't even be here, but because we know each other I thought I would do you the courtesy of coming to see you in person, using the phone was out of the question because of the sensitive nature of this situation. What can you tell me about Conolly-West? What was he working on out there? When was the last time your heard from him? Rupert questions peppered John as if they were machine gun bullets...

Stunned, John couldn't believe what Rupert had just told him and began to wrack his brain for their most recent report and stories.

"Um, nothing really, some regional trade stuff, the focus on this years rice harvest and the upcoming government planning session in Da Lat but none of that really warrants being held as a political prisoner" he said a little too defensively.

Rupert's demeanor didn't change and said that they had been in discussions with Hanoi and Canberra about the situation. He went on to explain that normally he wouldn't be bothered with an issue like this as Conolly-West was Australian and that the Australian government was responsible for him and would handle it, however because he is employed by the Times the British government has no choice but to be involved. John could tell that Rupert was far from happy about this hot potato being dropped in his lap.

All I can tell you is that the last time I heard from Bill was Tuesday at his usual 9:00 am report time, but nothing since then. John went on to explain that he had tried to call the Hanoi desk just minutes before Rupert had arrived, but with no luck.

Rupert stood, this conversation never happened he said seriously, we don't want this thing to get out of hand and need to resolve it quickly and quietly so would appreciate if we could keep this under wraps for the moment.

Look as soon as hear anything else I'll let you know, shaking hands Rupert walked to the door. As he approached the door he turned to face John, who was still in obvious shock. "At least was he a good reporter?" asked Rupert. John nodded heavily, "yes, exceptional - one of our best...he was our lead on the Dhaka story earlier this year". Rupert nodded knowingly, smiled and stepped from the room closing the door firmly behind him.

It wasn't till after Rupert had left the room that he realized what Rupert had communicated to him - "Was he a good reporter?" Shit, past tense...John thought as his mind now raced at 100 miles per hour as to what to do next...

Next week: Episode 47: Inflight

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This week's photos are all recent ones that capture the beauty of my life.

Enjoy!

Early morning light in Australia...yep this is untouched!

I give myself the gift of fresh cut flowers every week - this was a bunch two weeks ago.
Just gorgeous!

Took this with my iPhone on the subway as we went over the Bloor Street viaduct

Walking on my street in the early morning light

The long morning shadows as I walk to the Red Rocket for my coffee on
a beautiful spring morning

I took this one in NYC recently, where to next???

Stunning blossoms on the tree two doors down

I noticed this inviting front porch as I wandered in my neighborhood recently...

Such an interesting and cool bird bath in a neighbors front yard

The evening sky as I watched Sami play soccer

The afternoon light on the clock tower at the Summerhill railway station, which
has now been converted to a liquor store

My back deck after planting my flower boxes last weekend

Looking through the bottom of my glass...

The gorgeous Italian lilac plant I have on my back deck - just to remind
me where my heart is...

The lights at the Royal Alexander Theatre in downtown Toronto,
just loved the lines!

Riding the subway I spotted the handle with the color and contrast
of the carriage behind it...irresistible!

A bikes reflection in the tour bus which was parked at the Danforth Music Hall
last weekend.

Friday, May 20, 2016

Big Week

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This week has been a huge week for Zach and Sami. I mean really huge! Once you read this weeks blog understand why I feel so proud right now!

Zach is currently completing Year 11 at a University Prep school, this semester he has four subjects one of which is History of the Middle Ages. A few weeks ago he was writing a major thesis on the Crusades and asked me to read it. I was blown away by his writing skills (although I likely shouldn’t be) but it was an amazing piece of writing. Almost a Tour de Force without being bias, particularly in terms of nailing the topic and summarizing the intricacies and political intrigue of the time while articulating it all in modern day parlance. When I asked him his goal, he was completely to the point – “I want to get 100%”. Okay then…

I’d never want to actively discourage him, far from it. In fact I want to be his cheerleader, but at the same time I also want to be realistic and pragmatic. Not my issue I thought, this is for him to handle and let the chips fall where they may...

So when he came home last night I asked him how his day was, and his response was that he got great news earlier in the day. “I got a 100% on the essay on the Crusades topic I submitted a couple of weeks ago”. Wow, I knew it was an amazing essay, but I didn’t realize how good it was. He said his teachers all read it and considered it University caliber quality…well done mate, well done!

Right now Zach sits with a 95% average across his year 11 subjects and so about 10^th on the Dean’s Honour roll across the entire school. I couldn’t be more proud of him and his academic accomplishments, and often ask him if he feels proud of his personal accomplishments as much as I do. His commitment has been outstanding, in fact this year he’s been going in early each day for extra help as well as going to the Toronto library for an hour or two after school to get all of his research and homework done.

He’s also enrolled in summer school to tackle one of his Year 12 Science courses ahead of time and get it off his plate. He’s one hardworking guy and now reaping the rewards for all of his hard work! He knows that if he can maintain his amazing grades that he'll literally have his choice of University with the strong likelihood of a scholarship. So proud of him!

Sami also got some great news this past week. Although similar to Zach and academically gifted and hardworking, her news predominately centered around soccer and the amazing opportunities awaiting her.

She plays on her school senior varsity soccer team, although her main soccer commitment is to the Academy (Sanjaxx) she's now with. She has been getting lots of playing time in the U18 and U21 squads and has last year was also called up to play in the open Women's League 1 team.

Last year she played on the girl’s U16 gold medal soccer team at the North American Maccabi games. She’s also been selected for the squad to compete later this summer at the 2016 games in Stamford, Connecticut.

In addition, she’s been asked to try out for Team Canada to compete in girls U18 soccer at the World Maccabean games in Israel in 2017. Now I realize it’s just a tryout and don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves, but what an amazing opportunity!

Now layer on top that this weekend she’s playing in her second Umbro Invitational soccer tournament for the year in front of 50 US College coaches and scouts which brings some of the most talented teams from across the United States and Canada to compete.

Earlier this week she was also invited to attend the North Dakota State University Elite training camp in July for a week…does it ever end? I know it sounds a lot of pressure, but as best I can I’m trying to be supportive and let her dictate how she wants to handle all of this attention.

Actually Sami is very good and saying when she needs a break, and I know between her heavy academic and athletic workload it’s a lot to expect of a 15 year old, but she seems to be coping reasonably well with it all. As I keep saying to her, the goal is not a sports scholarship (although a nice reward), but to explore and experience your passion fully. In Sami's case its all about soccer. So great to see the passion and desire in her eyes when she plays.

The honest reality is that no matter what happens in the future, she’s already learned some invaluable life skills and lessons, particularly around teamwork, commitment and leadership that she may not of had but for the opportunity to experience it through her passion for soccer.

I know I'm an extremely fortunate to have such amazingly well adjusted, mature and talented kids, so feel blessed right now!

I hope you have an amazing weekend, full of adventures and spending time with those that count most in your lives.

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“Hanoi Posting”

A series of fictional micro-stories by Terence Wallis

Episode 45: Face in the crowd

Phuong had been a familiar yet anonymous face in the crowded Chợ Đồng Xuân for many years and knew exactly where to position himself to observe Anh and her lieutenants and their comings and goings without attracting attention. He noted the young boy run from the stairwell within Anh's building and back into the mass of humanity, he also could see her pacing back and forth through the open balcony and sensed, even from this distance her agitation.

Later that morning Mai arrived and stepped from the car that deposited her at the entrance to Anh's building, as usual, even this heat she was immaculately dressed and positively stopped the traffic as she made her way from the car to the entrance.

One thing he learned during the American war was to be successful was to play all sides. At the time he'd found out that Bill was missing, he had put a call into both the Australian and British consulates to tip them off, explaining anonymously that Bill was being held as a spy and that he would be put on trial unless there were certain concessions made by these imperialist governments. This initial call had then initiated a flurry of diplomatic calls between Canberra, London and Hanoi to untangle the situation, although with Hanoi being clueless as to what was actually going on.

The revolutionary council began investigations immediately and through their network, of which Phuong had been one of the operatives contacted concluded that Anh was at the center of this unfortunate and ultimately embarrassing mess. The revolutionary council had long ago ceded control of the Chợ Đồng Xuân too Anh, but in this instance she had clearly overstepped her sphere of influence and power and stepped on the councils turf. She knew better than to kidnap foreigners, especially since Vietnam was just starting to find its feet on the international stage.

Phuong waited expectantly for the inevitable which was about to unfold. He was not disappointed, as within the hour he watched as the truck loads of soldiers begin streaming into the old quarter and cordoned off the streets as the local inhabitants began to fade into the shadows. Momentarily the loud speaker system, usually reserved for the afternoon indoctrination broadcast came to life warning the locals to stay indoors. Moments later he could see Anh, Mai and her entourage being led from the building and being loaded into the waiting military vehicles which clogged the streets around her residence. Let's see who squirms now he mused...

Nhu Ha was safely ensconced in an anonymous safe house only a short distance from where they held Bill, and so now all Phuong needed was to wait for Bill's release and he would also release Nhu Ha without harm.

A fair trade he thought...

Next week: Episode 46: From afar

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This week's photos are reminiscences of my trip to Venezia late last year...can't wait to see my beloved Italia again soon!

Enjoy!

Beautiful Burano and its colorful houses and quiet streets

Gondola's lined up on the Grand Canal near San Marco Square

The four gondoliers all readying themselves for new customers on the Grand Canal

No headroom as the water taxi makes its way into the Rio del Vin from
the Grand Canal in Venezia

Rain spattered glass window - looking out from the Peggy Guggenheim onto
the Grand Canal after an afternoon shower

Riding the Vaperetto along the canals - such a slice of life!

The Unicorn doorway...interesting?!

Love the worn exteriors of the buildings in Venezia

Bridge over one of the busy canals in Venezia - lots of water traffic!

The Grand Canal mid morning...

Lots of tourists and Chiesa's (churches) in Venezia

The famous Hotel Cipriani on the Grand Canal adjacent to San Marco Square - water taxi stop

The Doges Palace on San Marco Square - still amazing after all the centuries...

Friday, May 13, 2016

Time heals all or does it?

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You often time heals all...or so you think, until one day it creeps up on you and hits you right between the eyes.
My mum passed away in 1987 and although deeply upset at the time and for quite a few years afterwards I also felt like it was a blessing in some ways as her life had fallen into a never ending series of hospitals and nursing homes. This once vivacious and vibrant woman (note headstrong, stubborn and opinionated...as all mothers tend to be) now had very little quality of life given the series of strokes that had left her incapacitated both physically and linguistically. To be honest I think one day she just decided that she'd had enough and decided she didn't want to do it anymore...no more pain, no more struggling, no more anything. The mountain was just too steep and she was too tired to go on...

I often talk about my dad but rarely about my mum, and it wasn't until this past weekend when I remembered that it was Mothers Day that a lot of memories began to resurface. As I read the public outpouring of love and affection that people have for their mothers I felt the deep feelings of loss and sadness come flooding back.

There was definitely a part of me that wished she was here with us, and able to meet and spend time with Zach and Sami, but also a big part of me wished that she was here for me too, so that I could get to know her as an adult. Hoping above hope that she might be proud of me in some small way for the person I've become and the life I've created for myself.

Although, if you knew my mum from childhood and teenage years, you'd also know that would be a rather unlikely scenario. She had a low boiling point that needed little to set her off, with a wicked temper and a sharper tongue you needed to watch not only what you said, but what you did. I inevitably became a "pleaser" and did what I was told, while at the same time I continued my retreat into self imposed exile, trying to keep under her and everyone else's radar. Deep down I realized that this approach worked for everyone concerned given that my mum and dad really didn't know what to do with me as I had disengaged from the family in lots of ways through out these years.

Whenever I got the chance I was away from home, mostly playing sport - it was my salvation and one of the only ways of keeping my sanity. They also sensed that I was looking for a way out and I think they felt threatened, especially when I wanted to stay at school. This is the part they found most difficult and pushed hard to get me to "stop wasting my time and get a job", but the more they pushed, cajoled, and harassed me the more I was determined to stay at school and find a way out.

Each night after dinner I'd sit at our small kitchen table, which was approximately the size of a card table to try and study. Literally feet from a blaring television and a house full of blue smoke it was not the most ideal situation but that's all I had to work with and so that became my nightly haunt. I wasn't much for television, and knew that if I was going to get a passing grade I'd have to commit myself to study every night. Yep, even the nights that I had football practice till late, often dragging my wet and muddy ass home in the dark to eat a lukewarm dinner before cracking open the books and endeavoring to put in an hour or two on the mountain of homework I often had in front of me.

I think the hardest thing for me to accept were the often snide remarks from my mum when I was trying to study. When mum was sober she pretty much left me a lone, but if she'd been drinking then I sort became a focal point of her annoyance and frustration. "Why are you wasting your time with those bloody books?" "You think you're better than the rest of us don't you? Well, you're in for a rude shock!" "Christ almighty (followed by an exasperated sigh!)...

In those days my dad wasn't a whole lot better, as he considered anyone who wanted to go to University a "bloody waste of space", although his favorite saying was "nothin but a bunch of long haired hippies that wouldn't know a hard days work if it hit em in the face".

Yeah - fun times!

Somedays I would just shake my head at some of the stuff that would be bandied about, and the sheer ignorance associated with the comments. I also knew that I had to bite my tongue, cos' I knew that if I reacted then they got what they wanted but the more I ignored the situation and the comments the more it irked them, and so my mantra became to just keep my head down and my mouth shut. I remember thinking that if I kept working hard that things would turn around eventually, or so I hoped.

Receiving my letter of acceptance to University was one of the sweetest days of my life - I'd done it...the first in my immediate family to go to University but more importantly I'd found a way out. I could start again.

So after much reflection this past week around Mothers Day, I think I miss the romanticized idea of Mothers day more than anything else. Honestly, a few of the notes I read on Facebook brought tears to my eyes as you could feel the love and respect in the words. I guess missed out on that type of relationship with my mum and so I'm envious when I see it in others.

I try to be reflective and look upon my childhood as the foundation of who I am today, without the adversity goodness knows who I'd be or where I'd be so in some ways I'm thankful for the crucible that moulded me albeit painful at the time.

We all have a backstory...why not make yours a best seller?

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“Hanoi Posting”

A series of fictional micro-stories by Terence Wallis

Episode 44: Rage

Anh enjoyed seeing Nhu Ha each morning as she swept into the Chợ Đồng Xuân on her scooter, her mothers broken smile beaming as she greeted her, but today as she approached it wasn't her mother that greeted her, but her distraught father. Anh listened intently as Quang explained what he'd found when he'd returned from his first trip to the square earlier that morning.

Within minutes of hearing of her mothers disappearance she had summoned Trung and demanded he find her.

Phuong knew that Anh was dangerous, especially when cornered and so proceeded carefully once he knew that Nhu Ha was safely being held. He also knew that Anh would have Trung and his thugs out on the street scouring every corner of the city, and that her anger would be total, but he also knew her reactions and thus considered her anger an ally to his cause.

Shortly after a hand written note was delivered to Anh at her apartment at the Chợ Đồng Xuân, the nervous youth who delivered it knew better than to look directly at her, but presented it and slowly backed away from the door with his head bowed before running for his life.

Anh had snatched the note from the youth and began reading it as he fled down the stairs and out into the crowded market. She was incredulous at the impudence of the kidnappers, didn't they know who she was?

Screaming for Trung, she seethed with anger as he breathlessly entered her presence.

Taking a deep breath and composing herself she turned on Trung, speaking in quiet and hushed tones as her searing gaze bored into his. It was at moments like these that Trung thought that Anh was at her most dangerous, and that her sharp, black and venomous eyes were more akin to that of the Hooded Cobra than anything human. He shuddered before averting his eyes.

Heaven help whoever had kidnapped Nhu Ha he thought, for they were surely dead...

Next week: Episode 45: Face in the crowd

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This week's photos are from a recent photo shoot right here in Toronto.

Enjoy!

Wrong side of the tracks...

The disused docklands in Toronto's east end are one of my favourite places
to shoot - so gritty

Toronto on the move

The seagull wings its way along the waterfront

View from the barge toward the rarely used tugboats

The last outhouse on the wharf!

Afternoon departure from the Island Airport

The barge Radium 617 sits rusting in the channel

Look who I found on the Cherry Street lift bridge

The Gardener Expressway runs along the disused Keating Channel in Toronto's east end

The last grain silos - almost time for them to come down...

Roadworks under the Gardener Expressway - its a never ending money pit, but with no
alternative we can only watch as our property taxes keep rising...