The Value of Distance

I was in Amsterdam last weekend, partly work, partly social, partly just getting away from everything for a few days. I did not come back with a volume of new work, a stunning set of inspiring activities or even much written down at all, but after a weekend of drizzle and damp coats, I came back with a renewed peace. That comes partly from those friends (go visit Maria's site for poetry...) but mostly from places to walk and sit and simply think.  Reflect, review and meditate and appreciate not trying to deal with new projects, old proposals, imminent workshops and late deadlines

Hortus - lovely glasshouses (web image, not my own!)

There was Hortus, the Botanic Gardens, and the Allard Piersen Museum of Archaeology. I was reminded how intriguing it is to wander round an exhibition where one has no idea what most of the interpretation says and simply enjoy the collection and wonder at how subtly different the artefacts that were brought back to the Netherlands were

That sounds trivial but the strength runs deeper. This is time alone but observant, to enjoy the rush of humanity, to watch, listen and always watch. To think about what moves these children to run and play just there…or where do people stop and stare at a tree, an empty flowerbed, which sarcophagi draw attention…

Go away. The creativity never stops, the thinking, planning, planting, growing but there is a distance here physical and emotional and stepping out into a different place with only a notebook refreshes more than 4 days at home

Inside the Cycad House at Hortus, again not my own image