Indelible Adventures: 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...