Blog – Calin Alexander

"Words can be said in bitterness and anger,

and often there's seems to be an element of

truth in the nastiness; and words do not go

away, they just echo around..."

- Dr. Jane Goodall

Words can be said in bitterness

and anger, and often there's

seems to be an element of truth

in the nastiness; and words do

not go away, they just echo around.

Dr. Jane Goodall, primatologist and anthropologist

Words can be said in bitterness

and anger, and often there's

seems to be an element of truth

in the nastiness; and words do not

go away, they just echo around.

Dr Jane Goodall, primatologist and anthropologist.

Words can be said in bitterness

and anger, and often there's

seems to be an element of truth

in the nastiness; and words do not

go away, they just echo around.

Dr Jane Goodall, primatologist and anthropologist.

Words can be said in bitterness and anger, and often there's seems to be an element of truth in the nastiness; and words do not go away, they just echo around.

Dr Jane Goodall, primatologist and anthropologist.

Photograph by Vincent Calmel

Words can be said in bitterness

and anger, and often there's

seems to be an element of truth

in the nastiness; and words do

not go away, they just echo around.

Dr. Jane Goodall, primatologist and anthropologist

Words can be said in bitterness

and anger, and often there's

seems to be an element of truth

in the nastiness; and words do not

go away, they just echo around.

Dr Jane Goodall, primatologist and anthropologist.

Words can be said in bitterness

and anger, and often there's

seems to be an element of truth

in the nastiness; and words do not

go away, they just echo around.

Dr Jane Goodall, primatologist and anthropologist.

Words can be said in bitterness and anger, and often there's seems to be an element of truth in the nastiness; and words do not go away, they just echo around.

Dr Jane Goodall

...they are

THEY ARE JUST

ECHOES FROM OUR PAST

"Echoes" is where I write down some of my thoughts, ideas, and beliefs.

It's primarily a personal blog where I strive to express myself.

Writing can be a fantastic form of therapy. Thank you for taking the time to read!

Enjoy!

HUISSHT...

by Calin Alexander

POSTED ON APRIL 2023

LESS IS MORE

MOMENTUM

And more work, sometimes.

Zentsukudon - a collection of

haikus about taiko.

Zentsukudon - a collection of

haikus about taiko.

Zentsukudon - a collection

of haikus about taiko.

Zentsukudon - a collection

of haikus about taiko.

"Simplicity is

the ultimate form

of sophistication."

This is a quote commonly attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, and it has been widely adopted in the design industry as a guiding principle. This quote suggests that the most elegant and effective designs are those that embrace simplicity, rather than complexity.

When it comes to design, simplicity is not just about removing unnecessary elements, but also about creating a cohesive and harmonious composition that communicates the intended message clearly and effectively. A simple design can often convey a stronger message than a cluttered or convoluted one, and it can also be more memorable and impactful.

In addition, a simple design can also be more flexible and adaptable, making it easier to apply across different platforms and mediums. A complex design may be challenging to translate into various formats, but a simple design can be easily scaled and modified without losing its essence.

Creating a simple yet elegant design is often much harder than it appears. Many people assume that a minimalist design is easy to achieve, but the truth is that it can be a complex and time-consuming process that involves multiple stages of simplification.

The first stage of simplification involves analyzing the design and identifying all the elements that are unnecessary or do not contribute to the overall composition. This can be a difficult and time-consuming process, as it requires a deep understanding of the principles of design and a critical eye for detail.

Once all the unnecessary elements have been identified, the designer must then work to simplify the remaining elements without losing their essential meaning or impact. This involves a careful balancing act between removing elements and retaining enough to convey the intended message.

The final stage of simplification involves refining the design until it achieves the desired level of elegance and sophistication. This often involves making subtle adjustments to the composition, color palette, and typography, as well as experimenting with different layouts and proportions.

It is not uncommon for designers to spend hours or even days simplifying and refining a design until it achieves the desired level of elegance and sophistication.

Despite the complexity and effort involved in creating a simple yet elegant design, a lots of people I worked with during my career, assumed that such a design was easily obtained and therefore it shouldn't cost much. This is because a well-designed minimalist composition appears effortless and natural, as if it emerged fully formed from the designer's mind (like magic!), but it is the result of a significant amount of effort and skill on the part of the designer.

"Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero"

"You should take nothing on trust for tomorrow". In other words, don't take tomorrow for granted. So, if you have something to do today and that's not going to Mars, do it now.

That's also the idea behind haiku poetry (at least it's my idea about it), to capture the moment. Because the whole life it's made of these little moments as the ocean it's made of small water drops. The story behind this haiku collection lies in the lockdown conditions. (Again, if it wasn't for lockdown, these little thoughts might have never seen the light).

Like everyone else, during the lockdown, the taiko dojo was also in lockdown. So, my taiko family members start thinking creatively about how we can keep in touch and they came up with few challenges / tasks. One of them was to write down a haiku regarding taiko. But once I started I couldn't stop it... Here are some of our moments, during the training at the dojo or during the workshops in the Rotorua Forest Camp.

I hope you'll enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing. Thank you.

....................................................

01

Silence before the storm.

Shadow warrior awaits

The sound of the first thunder.

02

A still, calm ocean.

Deep down within the water

Raging Waves are born.

03

Nature awakes.

Colours flourish in the air

Lovely Spring Spring Spring.

04

Am I ready yet?

I will never truly be.

So, let’s begin.

05

In the garden, the drum

is waiting for the sun to rise.

Miyake cuts the silence.

06

All over again.

Fighting to get the perfect beat.

And move.

Right “from the top”.

07

A warm summer rain.

Over the Rising Mountain,

Sounds just like drumming.

08

Don-tsuku don-tsuku don

tsuku-don-don. Don-tsuku

don-tsuku don-tsuku don.

09

A journey begins now.

The same song is different.

Time flies.

10

A warriors challenge.

Powerful hits.

Still, nobody dies.

(apart from a few bachis…)

11

A warrior stance.

A moment of tension.

The most important of his entire life.

Right here, right now.

12

Late in the night

The sound of drums and

the joy of playing.

Also sake. ;P

13

Forest in my hand.

Air in my lungs.

Fire in my heart.

Still holding my ground.

14

Words are just sounds but

here, sounds are not just words.

Beautiful people.

15

The way to the top of the mountain

it’s tough. But we are making the journey

with two sticks in our hands.

16

This journey begins with one hit.

Others will follow.

Eventually.

17

Bachis, drums and sake.

An alchemist move.

Pure joy.

18

A buzzing bee.

No move; my heart is beating.

Here comes the rhythm.

19

Biggest drum in the sky

Holds secret sounds.

Sunset.

20

White and blue colours

come together in the sky.

A Kumo* family.

*Japanese word for "cloud"

........................................................

(To my Kumo family - for the joy we share and all the songs:

Raging Waves / Rising Mountain / Spring Spring Spring / Miyake)

"Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero"

"You should take nothing on trust for tomorrow". In other words, don't take tomorrow for granted. So, if you have something to do today and that's not going to Mars, do it now.

That's also the idea behind haiku poetry (at least it's my idea about it), to capture the moment. Because the whole life it's made of these little moments as the ocean it's made of small water drops. The story behind this haiku collection lies in the lockdown conditions. (Again, if it wasn't for lockdown, these little thoughts might have never seen the light).

Like everyone else, during the lockdown, the taiko dojo was also in lockdown. So, my taiko family members start thinking creatively about how we can keep in touch and they came up with few contests / tasks. One of them was to write down a haiku regarding taiko. But once I started I couldn't stop it... Here are some of our moments, during the training at the dojo or during the workshops in the Rotorua Forest Camp.

I hope you'll enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing. Thank you.

...............................................

01

Silence before the storm.

Shadow warrior awaits

The sound of the first thunder.

02

A still, calm ocean.

Deep down within the water

Raging Waves are born.

03

Nature awakes.

Colours flourish in the air

Lovely Spring Spring Spring.

04

Am I ready yet?

I will never truly be.

So, let’s begin.

05

In the garden, the drum

is waiting for the sun to rise.

Miyake cuts the silence.

06

All over again.

Fighting to get the perfect beat.

And move.

Right “from the top”.

07

A warm summer rain.

Over the Rising Mountain,

Sounds just like drumming.

08

Don-tsuku don-tsuku don

tsuku-don-don. Don-tsuku

don-tsuku don-tsuku don.

09

A journey begins now.

The same song is different.

Time flies.

10

A warriors challenge.

Powerful hits.

Still, nobody dies.

(apart from a few bachis…)

11

A warrior stance.

A moment of tension.

The most important of his entire life.

Right here, right now.

12

Late in the night

The sound of drums and

the joy of playing.

Also sake. ;P

13

Forest in my hand.

Air in my lungs.

Fire in my heart.

Still holding my ground.

14

Words are just sounds but

here, sounds are not just words.

Beautiful people.

15

The way to the top of the mountain

it’s tough. But we are making the journey

with two sticks in our hands.

16

This journey begins with one hit.

Others will follow.

Eventually.

17

Bachis, drums and sake.

An alchemist move.

Pure joy.

18

A buzzing bee.

No move; my heart is beating.

Here comes the rhythm.

19

Biggest drum in the sky

Holds secret sounds.

Sunset.

20

White and blue colours

come together in the sky.

A Kumo* family.

*Japanese word for "cloud"

..................................................

(To my Kumo family - for the joy we share and all the songs:

Raging Waves / Rising Mountain / Spring Spring Spring / Miyake)

"Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero"

"You should take nothing on trust for tomorrow". In other words, don't take tomorrow for granted. So, if you have something to do today and that's not going to Mars, do it now.

That's also the idea behind haiku poetry (at least it's my idea about it), to capture the moment. Because the whole life it's made of these little moments as the ocean it's made of small water drops. The story behind this haiku collection lies in the lockdown conditions. (Again, if it wasn't for lockdown, these little thoughts might have never seen the light).

Like everyone else, during the lockdown, the taiko dojo was also in lockdown. So, my taiko family members start thinking creatively about how we can keep in touch and they came up with few contests / tasks ideas. One of them was to write down a haiku regarding taiko. But once I started I couldn't stop it... Here are some of our moments, during the training at the dojo or during the workshops in the Rotorua Forest Camp.

I hope you'll enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing. Thank you.

.............................

01

Silence before the storm.

Shadow warrior awaits

The sound of the first thunder.

02

A still, calm ocean.

Deep down within the water

Raging Waves are born.

03

Nature awakes.

Colours flourish in the air

Lovely Spring Spring Spring.

04

Am I ready yet?

I will never truly be.

So, let’s begin.

05

In the garden, the drum

is waiting for the sun to rise.

Miyake cuts the silence.

06

All over again.

Fighting to get the perfect beat.

And move.

Right “from the top”.

07

A warm summer rain.

Over the Rising Mountain,

Sounds just like drumming.

08

Don-tsuku don-tsuku don

tsuku-don-don. Don-tsuku

don-tsuku don-tsuku don.

09

A journey begins now.

The same song is different.

Time flies.

10

A warriors challenge.

Powerful hits.

Still, nobody dies.

(apart from a few bachis…)

11

A warrior stance.

A moment of tension.

The most important of his entire life.

Right here, right now.

12

Late in the night

The sound of drums and

the joy of playing.

Also sake. ;P

13

Forest in my hand.

Air in my lungs.

Fire in my heart.

Still holding my ground.

14

Words are just sounds but

here, sounds are not just words.

Beautiful people.

15

The way to the top of the

mountain it’s tough.

But we are making the

journey with two sticks in

our hands.

16

This journey begins with one hit.

Others will follow.

Eventually.

17

Bachis, drums and sake.

An alchemist move.

Pure joy.

18

A buzzing bee.

No move; my heart is beating.

Here comes the rhythm.

19

Biggest drum in the sky

Holds secret sounds.

Sunset.

20

White and blue colours

come together in the sky.

A Kumo* family.

*Japanese word for "cloud"

...............................

(To my Kumo family - for the joy we

share and all the songs:

Raging Waves / Rising Mountain / Spring

Spring Spring / Miyake)

"Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero"

"You should take nothing on trust for tomorrow". In other words, don't take tomorrow for granted. So, if you have something to do today and that's not going to Mars, do it now.

That's also the idea behind haiku poetry (at least it's my idea about it), to capture the moment. Because the whole life it's made of these little moments as the ocean it's made of small water drops. The story behind this haiku collection lies in the lockdown conditions. (Again, if it wasn't for lockdown, these little thoughts might have never seen the light).

Like everyone else, during the lockdown, the taiko dojo was also in lockdown. So, my taiko family members start thinking creatively about how we can keep in touch and they came up with few contests / tasks. One of them was to write down a haiku regarding taiko. But once I started I couldn't easily stop it... Here are some of our moments, during the training at the dojo or during the workshops in the Rotorua Forest Camp.

I hope you'll enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing. Thank you.

............................

01

Silence before the storm.

Shadow warrior awaits

The sound of the first thunder.

02

A still, calm ocean.

Deep down within the water

Raging Waves are born.

03

Nature awakes.

Colours flourish in the air

Lovely Spring Spring Spring.

04

Am I ready yet?

I will never truly be.

So, let’s begin.

05

In the garden, the drum

is waiting for the sun to rise.

Miyake cuts the silence.

06

All over again.

Fighting to get the perfect beat.

And move.

Right “from the top”.

07

A warm summer rain.

Over the Rising Mountain,

Sounds just like drumming.

08

Don-tsuku don-tsuku don

tsuku-don-don. Don-tsuku

don-tsuku don-tsuku don.

09

A journey begins now.

The same song is different.

Time flies.

10

A warriors challenge.

Powerful hits.

Still, nobody dies.

(apart from a few bachis…)

11

A warrior stance.

A moment of tension.

The most important of his entire life.

Right here, right now.

12

Late in the night

The sound of drums and

the joy of playing.

Also sake. ;P

13

Forest in my hand.

Air in my lungs.

Fire in my heart.

Still holding my ground.

14

Words are just sounds but

here, sounds are not just words.

Beautiful people.

15

The way to the top of the mountain

it’s tough. But we are making the journey

with two sticks in our hands.

16

This journey begins with one hit.

Others will follow.

Eventually.

17

Bachis, drums and sake.

An alchemist move.

Pure joy.

18

A buzzing bee.

No move; my heart is beating.

Here comes the rhythm.

19

Biggest drum in the sky

Holds secret sounds.

Sunset.

20

White and blue colours

come together in the sky.

A Kumo* family.

*Japanese word for "cloud"

...............................

(To my Kumo family - for the joy we

share and all the songs:

Raging Waves / Rising Mountain / Spring

Spring Spring / Miyake)

by Calin Alexander

POSTED ON JAN 2023

BREAKING GOOD

MOMENTUM

"The only Constant in Life

is Change" - Heraclitus

Zentsukudon - a collection of

haikus about taiko.

Zentsukudon - a collection of

haikus about taiko.

Zentsukudon - a collection

of haikus about taiko.

Zentsukudon - a collection

of haikus about taiko.

Changes that bring

new opportunities.

With the world coming to a halt, many of us have been forced to spend more time indoors and away from the distractions of the outside world. This presents the perfect opportunity to focus on learning new skills, breaking bad habits, and perfecting existing skills.

The first step in taking advantage of the Covid lockdown is to set clear and achievable goals. Whether you want to learn a new software, improve your time management skills, or perfect your design skills, it is important to set goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

Next, it is essential to create a structured routine that will enable you to achieve your goals. This could involve setting aside specific times of the day for learning new skills or practicing old ones. By creating a routine, you will be able to stay focused and motivated, and avoid getting distracted by the numerous distractions that are present in our daily lives.

Another way to take advantage of the lockdown is to make use of the numerous online resources that are available. There are numerous online courses, tutorials, and webinars that can help you to learn new skills or perfect existing ones. By taking advantage of these resources, you can enhance your design skills, and stay up-to-date with the latest design trends and technologies.

In addition to learning new skills, it is also important to break bad habits and adopt new good ones. This could involve quitting bad habits such as procrastination, and adopting new habits such as setting achievable goals, prioritizing tasks, and managing your time effectively. By breaking bad habits and adopting new good ones, you will be able to improve your productivity, stay focused, and achieve your goals more effectively.

Lastly, it is important to stay motivated and remain focused on your goals. This could involve setting up a reward system for achieving your goals, seeking the support of family and friends, or simply reminding yourself of the benefits of achieving your goals. By staying motivated and focused, you will be able to overcome any obstacles that may arise, and achieve your goals more effectively.

In conclusion, the Covid lockdown presented a unique opportunity for personal and professional growth. I took advantage of this opportunity by setting clear goals, I even changed my job and create a new structured daily routine for myself which helped me to stay more motivated and focused during this time. Where others saw boredom, I saw an opportunity for personal introspection. It's just a matter of perspective.

And, like me, there are thousands, if not millions of other people who have taken advantage of this opportunity. It was a good time to finally make those long-postponed changes happen.

"Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero"

"You should take nothing on trust for tomorrow". In other words, don't take tomorrow for granted. So, if you have something to do today and that's not going to Mars, do it now.

That's also the idea behind haiku poetry (at least it's my idea about it), to capture the moment. Because the whole life it's made of these little moments as the ocean it's made of small water drops. The story behind this haiku collection lies in the lockdown conditions. (Again, if it wasn't for lockdown, these little thoughts might have never seen the light).

Like everyone else, during the lockdown, the taiko dojo was also in lockdown. So, my taiko family members start thinking creatively about how we can keep in touch and they came up with few challenges / tasks. One of them was to write down a haiku regarding taiko. But once I started I couldn't stop it... Here are some of our moments, during the training at the dojo or during the workshops in the Rotorua Forest Camp.

I hope you'll enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing. Thank you.

....................................................

01

Silence before the storm.

Shadow warrior awaits

The sound of the first thunder.

02

A still, calm ocean.

Deep down within the water

Raging Waves are born.

03

Nature awakes.

Colours flourish in the air

Lovely Spring Spring Spring.

04

Am I ready yet?

I will never truly be.

So, let’s begin.

05

In the garden, the drum

is waiting for the sun to rise.

Miyake cuts the silence.

06

All over again.

Fighting to get the perfect beat.

And move.

Right “from the top”.

07

A warm summer rain.

Over the Rising Mountain,

Sounds just like drumming.

08

Don-tsuku don-tsuku don

tsuku-don-don. Don-tsuku

don-tsuku don-tsuku don.

09

A journey begins now.

The same song is different.

Time flies.

10

A warriors challenge.

Powerful hits.

Still, nobody dies.

(apart from a few bachis…)

11

A warrior stance.

A moment of tension.

The most important of his entire life.

Right here, right now.

12

Late in the night

The sound of drums and

the joy of playing.

Also sake. ;P

13

Forest in my hand.

Air in my lungs.

Fire in my heart.

Still holding my ground.

14

Words are just sounds but

here, sounds are not just words.

Beautiful people.

15

The way to the top of the mountain

it’s tough. But we are making the journey

with two sticks in our hands.

16

This journey begins with one hit.

Others will follow.

Eventually.

17

Bachis, drums and sake.

An alchemist move.

Pure joy.

18

A buzzing bee.

No move; my heart is beating.

Here comes the rhythm.

19

Biggest drum in the sky

Holds secret sounds.

Sunset.

20

White and blue colours

come together in the sky.

A Kumo* family.

*Japanese word for "cloud"

........................................................

(To my Kumo family - for the joy we share and all the songs:

Raging Waves / Rising Mountain / Spring Spring Spring / Miyake)

"Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero"

"You should take nothing on trust for tomorrow". In other words, don't take tomorrow for granted. So, if you have something to do today and that's not going to Mars, do it now.

That's also the idea behind haiku poetry (at least it's my idea about it), to capture the moment. Because the whole life it's made of these little moments as the ocean it's made of small water drops. The story behind this haiku collection lies in the lockdown conditions. (Again, if it wasn't for lockdown, these little thoughts might have never seen the light).

Like everyone else, during the lockdown, the taiko dojo was also in lockdown. So, my taiko family members start thinking creatively about how we can keep in touch and they came up with few contests / tasks. One of them was to write down a haiku regarding taiko. But once I started I couldn't stop it... Here are some of our moments, during the training at the dojo or during the workshops in the Rotorua Forest Camp.

I hope you'll enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing. Thank you.

...............................................

01

Silence before the storm.

Shadow warrior awaits

The sound of the first thunder.

02

A still, calm ocean.

Deep down within the water

Raging Waves are born.

03

Nature awakes.

Colours flourish in the air

Lovely Spring Spring Spring.

04

Am I ready yet?

I will never truly be.

So, let’s begin.

05

In the garden, the drum

is waiting for the sun to rise.

Miyake cuts the silence.

06

All over again.

Fighting to get the perfect beat.

And move.

Right “from the top”.

07

A warm summer rain.

Over the Rising Mountain,

Sounds just like drumming.

08

Don-tsuku don-tsuku don

tsuku-don-don. Don-tsuku

don-tsuku don-tsuku don.

09

A journey begins now.

The same song is different.

Time flies.

10

A warriors challenge.

Powerful hits.

Still, nobody dies.

(apart from a few bachis…)

11

A warrior stance.

A moment of tension.

The most important of his entire life.

Right here, right now.

12

Late in the night

The sound of drums and

the joy of playing.

Also sake. ;P

13

Forest in my hand.

Air in my lungs.

Fire in my heart.

Still holding my ground.

14

Words are just sounds but

here, sounds are not just words.

Beautiful people.

15

The way to the top of the mountain

it’s tough. But we are making the journey

with two sticks in our hands.

16

This journey begins with one hit.

Others will follow.

Eventually.

17

Bachis, drums and sake.

An alchemist move.

Pure joy.

18

A buzzing bee.

No move; my heart is beating.

Here comes the rhythm.

19

Biggest drum in the sky

Holds secret sounds.

Sunset.

20

White and blue colours

come together in the sky.

A Kumo* family.

*Japanese word for "cloud"

..................................................

(To my Kumo family - for the joy we share and all the songs:

Raging Waves / Rising Mountain / Spring Spring Spring / Miyake)

"Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero"

"You should take nothing on trust for tomorrow". In other words, don't take tomorrow for granted. So, if you have something to do today and that's not going to Mars, do it now.

That's also the idea behind haiku poetry (at least it's my idea about it), to capture the moment. Because the whole life it's made of these little moments as the ocean it's made of small water drops. The story behind this haiku collection lies in the lockdown conditions. (Again, if it wasn't for lockdown, these little thoughts might have never seen the light).

Like everyone else, during the lockdown, the taiko dojo was also in lockdown. So, my taiko family members start thinking creatively about how we can keep in touch and they came up with few contests / tasks ideas. One of them was to write down a haiku regarding taiko. But once I started I couldn't stop it... Here are some of our moments, during the training at the dojo or during the workshops in the Rotorua Forest Camp.

I hope you'll enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing. Thank you.

.............................

01

Silence before the storm.

Shadow warrior awaits

The sound of the first thunder.

02

A still, calm ocean.

Deep down within the water

Raging Waves are born.

03

Nature awakes.

Colours flourish in the air

Lovely Spring Spring Spring.

04

Am I ready yet?

I will never truly be.

So, let’s begin.

05

In the garden, the drum

is waiting for the sun to rise.

Miyake cuts the silence.

06

All over again.

Fighting to get the perfect beat.

And move.

Right “from the top”.

07

A warm summer rain.

Over the Rising Mountain,

Sounds just like drumming.

08

Don-tsuku don-tsuku don

tsuku-don-don. Don-tsuku

don-tsuku don-tsuku don.

09

A journey begins now.

The same song is different.

Time flies.

10

A warriors challenge.

Powerful hits.

Still, nobody dies.

(apart from a few bachis…)

11

A warrior stance.

A moment of tension.

The most important of his entire life.

Right here, right now.

12

Late in the night

The sound of drums and

the joy of playing.

Also sake. ;P

13

Forest in my hand.

Air in my lungs.

Fire in my heart.

Still holding my ground.

14

Words are just sounds but

here, sounds are not just words.

Beautiful people.

15

The way to the top of the

mountain it’s tough.

But we are making the

journey with two sticks in

our hands.

16

This journey begins with one hit.

Others will follow.

Eventually.

17

Bachis, drums and sake.

An alchemist move.

Pure joy.

18

A buzzing bee.

No move; my heart is beating.

Here comes the rhythm.

19

Biggest drum in the sky

Holds secret sounds.

Sunset.

20

White and blue colours

come together in the sky.

A Kumo* family.

*Japanese word for "cloud"

...............................

(To my Kumo family - for the joy we

share and all the songs:

Raging Waves / Rising Mountain / Spring

Spring Spring / Miyake)

"Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero"

"You should take nothing on trust for tomorrow". In other words, don't take tomorrow for granted. So, if you have something to do today and that's not going to Mars, do it now.

That's also the idea behind haiku poetry (at least it's my idea about it), to capture the moment. Because the whole life it's made of these little moments as the ocean it's made of small water drops. The story behind this haiku collection lies in the lockdown conditions. (Again, if it wasn't for lockdown, these little thoughts might have never seen the light).

Like everyone else, during the lockdown, the taiko dojo was also in lockdown. So, my taiko family members start thinking creatively about how we can keep in touch and they came up with few contests / tasks. One of them was to write down a haiku regarding taiko. But once I started I couldn't easily stop it... Here are some of our moments, during the training at the dojo or during the workshops in the Rotorua Forest Camp.

I hope you'll enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing. Thank you.

............................

01

Silence before the storm.

Shadow warrior awaits

The sound of the first thunder.

02

A still, calm ocean.

Deep down within the water

Raging Waves are born.

03

Nature awakes.

Colours flourish in the air

Lovely Spring Spring Spring.

04

Am I ready yet?

I will never truly be.

So, let’s begin.

05

In the garden, the drum

is waiting for the sun to rise.

Miyake cuts the silence.

06

All over again.

Fighting to get the perfect beat.

And move.

Right “from the top”.

07

A warm summer rain.

Over the Rising Mountain,

Sounds just like drumming.

08

Don-tsuku don-tsuku don

tsuku-don-don. Don-tsuku

don-tsuku don-tsuku don.

09

A journey begins now.

The same song is different.

Time flies.

10

A warriors challenge.

Powerful hits.

Still, nobody dies.

(apart from a few bachis…)

11

A warrior stance.

A moment of tension.

The most important of his entire life.

Right here, right now.

12

Late in the night

The sound of drums and

the joy of playing.

Also sake. ;P

13

Forest in my hand.

Air in my lungs.

Fire in my heart.

Still holding my ground.

14

Words are just sounds but

here, sounds are not just words.

Beautiful people.

15

The way to the top of the mountain

it’s tough. But we are making the journey

with two sticks in our hands.

16

This journey begins with one hit.

Others will follow.

Eventually.

17

Bachis, drums and sake.

An alchemist move.

Pure joy.

18

A buzzing bee.

No move; my heart is beating.

Here comes the rhythm.

19

Biggest drum in the sky

Holds secret sounds.

Sunset.

20

White and blue colours

come together in the sky.

A Kumo* family.

*Japanese word for "cloud"

...............................

(To my Kumo family - for the joy we

share and all the songs:

Raging Waves / Rising Mountain / Spring

Spring Spring / Miyake)

by Calin Alexander

POSTED ON OCTOBER 2022

MOMENTUM

Zentsukudon - a collection

of haikus about taiko

Zentsukudon - a collection of

haikus about taiko.

Zentsukudon - a collection of

haikus about taiko.

Zentsukudon - a collection

of haikus about taiko.

Zentsukudon - a collection

of haikus about taiko.

"Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero"

"You should take nothing on trust for tomorrow".

In other words, don't take tomorrow for granted. So, if you have something to do today that doesn't involve going to Mars, do it now. This is also the essence of haiku poetry (or at least, that's how I interpret it) - to capture the present moment. Just as the ocean is composed of countless drops of water, our lives are comprised of these small moments. The inspiration for this haiku collection came from the lockdown conditions. (If it weren't for the lockdown, these musings might have remained hidden).

Like everyone else, our taiko dojo was also locked down during the pandemic. In an effort to stay connected, my taiko family came up with various challenges and tasks. One of them was to write a haiku about taiko. But once I started writing, I found it hard to stop... Here are some of the moments we shared during training at the dojo or workshops in the Rotorua Forest Camp.

I hope you enjoy reading these haikus as much as I enjoyed writing them. Thank you.

.....................................................................

01

Silence before the storm.

Shadow warrior awaits

The sound of the first thunder.

02

A still, calm ocean.

Deep down within the water

Raging Waves are born.

03

Nature awakes.

Colours flourish in the air

Lovely Spring Spring Spring.

04

Am I ready yet?

I will never truly be.

So, let’s begin.

05

In the garden, the drum

is waiting for the sun to rise.

Miyake cuts the silence.

06

All over again.

Fighting to get the perfect beat.

And move.

Right “from the top”.

07

A warm summer rain.

Over the Rising Mountain,

Sounds just like drumming.

08

Don-tsuku don-tsuku don

tsuku-don-don. Don-tsuku

don-tsuku don-tsuku don.

09

A journey begins now.

The same song is different.

Time flies.

10

A warrior's challenge.

Powerful hits.

Still, nobody dies.

(apart from a few bachis…)

11

A warrior stance.

A moment of tension.

The most important of his entire life.

Right here, right now.

12

Late in the night

The sound of drums and

the joy of playing.

Also sake. :P

13

Forest in my hand.

Air in my lungs.

Fire in my heart.

Still holding my ground.

14

Words are just sounds but

here, sounds are not just words.

Beautiful people.

15

The way to the top of the mountain

it’s tough. But we are making the journey

with two sticks in our hands.

16

This journey begins with one hit.

Others will follow.

Eventually.

17

Bachis, drums and sake.

An alchemist move.

Pure joy.

18

A buzzing bee.

No move; my heart is beating.

Here comes the rhythm.

19

Biggest drum in the sky

Holds secret sounds.

Sunset.

20

White and blue colours

come together in the sky.

A Kumo* family.

*Japanese word for "cloud"

.....................................................................

To my Kumo family - for the joy we share and all the songs:

Raging Waves / Rising Mountain / Spring, Spring, Spring / Miyake

"Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero"

"You should take nothing on trust for tomorrow". In other words, don't take tomorrow for granted. So, if you have something to do today and that's not going to Mars, do it now.

That's also the idea behind haiku poetry (at least it's my idea about it), to capture the moment. Because the whole life it's made of these little moments as the ocean it's made of small water drops. The story behind this haiku collection lies in the lockdown conditions. (Again, if it wasn't for lockdown, these little thoughts might have never seen the light).

Like everyone else, during the lockdown, the taiko dojo was also in lockdown. So, my taiko family members start thinking creatively about how we can keep in touch and they came up with few challenges / tasks. One of them was to write down a haiku regarding taiko. But once I started I couldn't stop it... Here are some of our moments, during the training at the dojo or during the workshops in the Rotorua Forest Camp.

I hope you'll enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing. Thank you.

....................................................

01

Silence before the storm.

Shadow warrior awaits

The sound of the first thunder.

02

A still, calm ocean.

Deep down within the water

Raging Waves are born.

03

Nature awakes.

Colours flourish in the air

Lovely Spring Spring Spring.

04

Am I ready yet?

I will never truly be.

So, let’s begin.

05

In the garden, the drum

is waiting for the sun to rise.

Miyake cuts the silence.

06

All over again.

Fighting to get the perfect beat.

And move.

Right “from the top”.

07

A warm summer rain.

Over the Rising Mountain,

Sounds just like drumming.

08

Don-tsuku don-tsuku don

tsuku-don-don. Don-tsuku

don-tsuku don-tsuku don.

09

A journey begins now.

The same song is different.

Time flies.

10

A warriors challenge.

Powerful hits.

Still, nobody dies.

(apart from a few bachis…)

11

A warrior stance.

A moment of tension.

The most important of his entire life.

Right here, right now.

12

Late in the night

The sound of drums and

the joy of playing.

Also sake. ;P

13

Forest in my hand.

Air in my lungs.

Fire in my heart.

Still holding my ground.

14

Words are just sounds but

here, sounds are not just words.

Beautiful people.

15

The way to the top of the mountain

it’s tough. But we are making the journey

with two sticks in our hands.

16

This journey begins with one hit.

Others will follow.

Eventually.

17

Bachis, drums and sake.

An alchemist move.

Pure joy.

18

A buzzing bee.

No move; my heart is beating.

Here comes the rhythm.

19

Biggest drum in the sky

Holds secret sounds.

Sunset.

20

White and blue colours

come together in the sky.

A Kumo* family.

*Japanese word for "cloud"

........................................................

(To my Kumo family - for the joy we share and all the songs:

Raging Waves / Rising Mountain / Spring Spring Spring / Miyake)

"Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero"

"You should take nothing on trust for tomorrow". In other words, don't take tomorrow for granted. So, if you have something to do today and that's not going to Mars, do it now.

That's also the idea behind haiku poetry (at least it's my idea about it), to capture the moment. Because the whole life it's made of these little moments as the ocean it's made of small water drops. The story behind this haiku collection lies in the lockdown conditions. (Again, if it wasn't for lockdown, these little thoughts might have never seen the light).

Like everyone else, during the lockdown, the taiko dojo was also in lockdown. So, my taiko family members start thinking creatively about how we can keep in touch and they came up with few contests / tasks. One of them was to write down a haiku regarding taiko. But once I started I couldn't stop it... Here are some of our moments, during the training at the dojo or during the workshops in the Rotorua Forest Camp.

I hope you'll enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing. Thank you.

...............................................

01

Silence before the storm.

Shadow warrior awaits

The sound of the first thunder.

02

A still, calm ocean.

Deep down within the water

Raging Waves are born.

03

Nature awakes.

Colours flourish in the air

Lovely Spring Spring Spring.

04

Am I ready yet?

I will never truly be.

So, let’s begin.

05

In the garden, the drum

is waiting for the sun to rise.

Miyake cuts the silence.

06

All over again.

Fighting to get the perfect beat.

And move.

Right “from the top”.

07

A warm summer rain.

Over the Rising Mountain,

Sounds just like drumming.

08

Don-tsuku don-tsuku don

tsuku-don-don. Don-tsuku

don-tsuku don-tsuku don.

09

A journey begins now.

The same song is different.

Time flies.

10

A warriors challenge.

Powerful hits.

Still, nobody dies.

(apart from a few bachis…)

11

A warrior stance.

A moment of tension.

The most important of his entire life.

Right here, right now.

12

Late in the night

The sound of drums and

the joy of playing.

Also sake. ;P

13

Forest in my hand.

Air in my lungs.

Fire in my heart.

Still holding my ground.

14

Words are just sounds but

here, sounds are not just words.

Beautiful people.

15

The way to the top of the mountain

it’s tough. But we are making the journey

with two sticks in our hands.

16

This journey begins with one hit.

Others will follow.

Eventually.

17

Bachis, drums and sake.

An alchemist move.

Pure joy.

18

A buzzing bee.

No move; my heart is beating.

Here comes the rhythm.

19

Biggest drum in the sky

Holds secret sounds.

Sunset.

20

White and blue colours

come together in the sky.

A Kumo* family.

*Japanese word for "cloud"

..................................................

(To my Kumo family - for the joy we share and all the songs:

Raging Waves / Rising Mountain / Spring Spring Spring / Miyake)

"Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero"

"You should take nothing on trust for tomorrow". In other words, don't take tomorrow for granted. So, if you have something to do today and that's not going to Mars, do it now.

That's also the idea behind haiku poetry (at least it's my idea about it), to capture the moment. Because the whole life it's made of these little moments as the ocean it's made of small water drops. The story behind this haiku collection lies in the lockdown conditions. (Again, if it wasn't for lockdown, these little thoughts might have never seen the light).

Like everyone else, during the lockdown, the taiko dojo was also in lockdown. So, my taiko family members start thinking creatively about how we can keep in touch and they came up with few contests / tasks ideas. One of them was to write down a haiku regarding taiko. But once I started I couldn't stop it... Here are some of our moments, during the training at the dojo or during the workshops in the Rotorua Forest Camp.

I hope you'll enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing. Thank you.

.............................

01

Silence before the storm.

Shadow warrior awaits

The sound of the first thunder.

02

A still, calm ocean.

Deep down within the water

Raging Waves are born.

03

Nature awakes.

Colours flourish in the air

Lovely Spring Spring Spring.

04

Am I ready yet?

I will never truly be.

So, let’s begin.

05

In the garden, the drum

is waiting for the sun to rise.

Miyake cuts the silence.

06

All over again.

Fighting to get the perfect beat.

And move.

Right “from the top”.

07

A warm summer rain.

Over the Rising Mountain,

Sounds just like drumming.

08

Don-tsuku don-tsuku don

tsuku-don-don. Don-tsuku

don-tsuku don-tsuku don.

09

A journey begins now.

The same song is different.

Time flies.

10

A warriors challenge.

Powerful hits.

Still, nobody dies.

(apart from a few bachis…)

11

A warrior stance.

A moment of tension.

The most important of his entire life.

Right here, right now.

12

Late in the night

The sound of drums and

the joy of playing.

Also sake. ;P

13

Forest in my hand.

Air in my lungs.

Fire in my heart.

Still holding my ground.

14

Words are just sounds but

here, sounds are not just words.

Beautiful people.

15

The way to the top of the

mountain it’s tough.

But we are making the

journey with two sticks in

our hands.

16

This journey begins with one hit.

Others will follow.

Eventually.

17

Bachis, drums and sake.

An alchemist move.

Pure joy.

18

A buzzing bee.

No move; my heart is beating.

Here comes the rhythm.

19

Biggest drum in the sky

Holds secret sounds.

Sunset.

20

White and blue colours

come together in the sky.

A Kumo* family.

*Japanese word for "cloud"

...............................

(To my Kumo family - for the joy we

share and all the songs:

Raging Waves / Rising Mountain / Spring

Spring Spring / Miyake)

"Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero"

"You should take nothing on trust for tomorrow". In other words, don't take tomorrow for granted. So, if you have something to do today and that's not going to Mars, do it now.

That's also the idea behind haiku poetry (at least it's my idea about it), to capture the moment. Because the whole life it's made of these little moments as the ocean it's made of small water drops. The story behind this haiku collection lies in the lockdown conditions. (Again, if it wasn't for lockdown, these little thoughts might have never seen the light).

Like everyone else, during the lockdown, the taiko dojo was also in lockdown. So, my taiko family members start thinking creatively about how we can keep in touch and they came up with few contests / tasks. One of them was to write down a haiku regarding taiko. But once I started I couldn't easily stop it... Here are some of our moments, during the training at the dojo or during the workshops in the Rotorua Forest Camp.

I hope you'll enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing. Thank you.

............................

01

Silence before the storm.

Shadow warrior awaits

The sound of the first thunder.

02

A still, calm ocean.

Deep down within the water

Raging Waves are born.

03

Nature awakes.

Colours flourish in the air

Lovely Spring Spring Spring.

04

Am I ready yet?

I will never truly be.

So, let’s begin.

05

In the garden, the drum

is waiting for the sun to rise.

Miyake cuts the silence.

06

All over again.

Fighting to get the perfect beat.

And move.

Right “from the top”.

07

A warm summer rain.

Over the Rising Mountain,

Sounds just like drumming.

08

Don-tsuku don-tsuku don

tsuku-don-don. Don-tsuku

don-tsuku don-tsuku don.

09

A journey begins now.

The same song is different.

Time flies.

10

A warriors challenge.

Powerful hits.

Still, nobody dies.

(apart from a few bachis…)

11

A warrior stance.

A moment of tension.

The most important of his entire life.

Right here, right now.

12

Late in the night

The sound of drums and

the joy of playing.

Also sake. ;P

13

Forest in my hand.

Air in my lungs.

Fire in my heart.

Still holding my ground.

14

Words are just sounds but

here, sounds are not just words.

Beautiful people.

15

The way to the top of the mountain

it’s tough. But we are making the journey

with two sticks in our hands.

16

This journey begins with one hit.

Others will follow.

Eventually.

17

Bachis, drums and sake.

An alchemist move.

Pure joy.

18

A buzzing bee.

No move; my heart is beating.

Here comes the rhythm.

19

Biggest drum in the sky

Holds secret sounds.

Sunset.

20

White and blue colours

come together in the sky.

A Kumo* family.

*Japanese word for "cloud"

...............................

(To my Kumo family - for the joy we

share and all the songs:

Raging Waves / Rising Mountain / Spring

Spring Spring / Miyake)

by Calin Alexander

POSTED ON AUGUST 2021

TIME WAITS

FOR NO ONE

TIME WAITS

FOR NO ONE

TIME WAITS

FOR NO ONE

TIME WAITS

FOR NO ONE

TIME WAITS

FOR NO ONE

Today, 12:45pm

"Time is what you

make of it."

During the lockdown, when all the days start to blend together, it becomes important for each of us to find ways to make them stand out. One way to achieve this is by learning something new, perhaps something you've always wanted to do but never had time for. You can also consider restarting old projects or reviewing current ones. Or maybe just take some time for yourself and learn how to reconnect with the neglected parts of yourself that have been overlooked due to the work-home-work routine. The pandemic presents an opportunity to do all of these things - now is the perfect time.

The pandemic-induced break can be incredibly beneficial. Not everyone has the luck or knowledge to make a ton of money during crises, so we have to adapt. Time, happiness, and health cannot be bought with money. The best way to care for these things is to take care of ourselves. The pandemic has spurred necessary cultural changes in all aspects of life and has accelerated new developments that we all thought would happen later.

"Time is what you

make of it."

During the lockdown when all days seem the same, every each of us needs to find a way of making them look different. And we can achieve this by learning something new, something you always wanted to do but you never found time for it. By restarting old projects or reviewing the present ones. Or just simply to take some time for yourself and learn how to reconnect with the other "you", the one you neglected for so long, being so busy with a work-home-work-home routine. Now it's time. Actually now it's a perfect time.

The pandemic "break" can be transformed into something incredibly benefic. Not all of us have the luck or the knowledge of making sh*t tones of money as some of the "smart" guys can during crises, so we have to adapt. And things like time, happiness and health cannot be bought with money, the best way is to take care of all of these by yourself. The pandemic has created a necessary change culture in all aspects of life; it has brought forward and accelerated new development, much that we all thought would happen, but probably later!

"Time is what you

make of it."

During the lockdown, when all days seem the same, every each of us needs to find a way of making them look different. And we can achieve this by learning something new, something you always wanted to do but you never found time for it. By restarting old projects or reviewing the present ones. Or just simply to take some time for yourself and learn how to reconnect with the other "you", the one you neglected for so long, being so busy with a work-home-work-home routine. Now it's time. Actually now it's a perfect time.

The pandemic "break" can be transformed into something incredibly benefic. Not all of us have the luck or the knowledge of making sh*t tones of money as some of the "smart" guys can during crises, so we have to adapt. And things like time, happiness and health cannot be bought with money, the best way is to take care of all of these by yourself. The pandemic has created a necessary change culture in all aspects of life; it has brought forward and accelerated new development, much that we all thought would happen, but probably later!

"Time is what you

make of it."

During the lockdown, when all days seem the same, every each of us needs to find a way of making them look different. And we can achieve this by learning something new, something you always wanted to do but you never found time for it. By restarting old projects or reviewing the present ones. Or just simply to take some time for yourself and learn how to reconnect with the other "you", the one you neglected for so long, being so busy with a work-home-work-home routine. Now it's time. Actually now it's a perfect time.

The pandemic "break" can be transformed into something incredibly benefic. Not all of us have the luck or the knowledge of making sh*t tones of money as some of the "smart" guys can during crises, so we have to adapt. And things like time, happiness and health cannot be bought with money, the best way is to take care of all of these by yourself. The pandemic has created a necessary change culture in all aspects of life; it has brought forward and accelerated new development, much that we all thought would happen, but probably later!

"Time is what you

make of it."

During the lockdown, when all days seem the same, every each of us needs to find a way of making them look different. And we can achieve this by learning something new, something you always wanted to do but you never found time for it. By restarting old projects or reviewing the present ones. Or just simply to take some time for yourself and learn how to reconnect with the other "you", the one you neglected for so long, being so busy with a work-home-work-home routine. Now it's time. Actually now it's a perfect time.

The pandemic "break" can be transformed into something incredibly benefic. Not all of us have the luck or the knowledge of making sh*t tones of money as some of the "smart" guys can during crises, so we have to adapt. And things like time, happiness and health cannot be bought with money, the best way is to take care of all of these by yourself. The pandemic has created a necessary change culture in all aspects of life; it has brought forward and accelerated new development, much that we all thought would happen, but probably later!

by Calin Alexander

POSTED ON APRIL 2021

ACORNS AND

PINECONES

ACORNS AND

PINECONES

ACORNS AND

PINE CONES

ACORNS

AND

PINE CONES

ACORNS

AND

PINE CONES

Autumn is coming.

"Spring is beautiful, and summer is perfect for vacations, but autumn brings a longing to get away from the unreal things of life, out into the forest at night with a campfire and the rustling leaves."

Autumn is once again arriving in New Zealand, as it does every year. This marks the 14th year since I first landed in Auckland.

Before coming here, I was excited about the prospect of having Christmas on the beach - it seemed like an exotic and interesting idea. But as time went on, I began to deeply miss the mesmerizing change of seasons and all the beauty that comes with it.

I miss experiencing four distinct seasons in a year - the spring, the not-so-hot summer, the winter, and most of all, the autumn. I guess what I miss most is the essence of existence - the beautiful dance of colors and sounds that come with the changing seasons.

Instinctively, I started collecting acorns and pinecones that reminded me of my dear colorful autumn in Europe. I even found myself looking for oak, birch, or beech trees that would make my heart race.

Living in the Evergreen Realm of New Zealand, one of the most beautiful countries in the world, where the landscape remains unchanged throughout the year, made me reflect on immortality. The beauty of life comes from the perpetual change, the circle of life's permanent dance - the death and the rebirth, which is marvelously revealed through the life of a small, seemingly insignificant leaf - a vital part of any tree's existence.

This led me to ask myself, would it be the same for an immortal being? To be always "green" - not dead - for years, decades, aeons? To me, it sounds as boring as it can be and more like torture than a gift.

With this thought in mind, my soul continues to long for autumn, for acorns and pinecones, like the ones on my desk.

"Spring is beautiful, and summer is perfect for vacations, but autumn brings a longing to get away from the unreal things of life, out into the forest at night with a campfire and the rustling leaves."

Autumn is coming to New Zealand. Again. Like every year. For the 14th consecutive year since I first landed in Auckland.

Before coming here, I was curious about having Christmas on the beach, it seemed a very exotic and interesting idea and I couldn't wait to experience it. After the beginning excitement started to fade out, I deeply and subtly started to miss that mesmerising change of the seasons with all its beauty in differences.

I miss the four seasons in a year time. I miss the spring, I miss the not-so-hot summer, I miss the winter and most of all - I miss the autumn. I guess I miss the change which is the very essence of existence; the beautiful dance of the colours and sounds of the four seasons.

Then, almost instinctively, I started picking up acorns and pinecones; they were reminding me of my dear colourful autumn from Europe. After a while, I started looking for any sign of oak, birch or beech tree that would make my heartbeat rise.

The Evergreen Realm of New Zealand, one of the most beautiful countries in the world, with the same colours and so little change of the landscape throughout the year, made me reflect on immortal life for a second. The beauty of life comes from this perpetual change, the circle of life permanent dance - the death and the rebirth, which is marvellously revealed through the life of this small, almost insignificant (for us) leaf - the vital part of any tree's existence.

So I found myself asking: "Would this be the same for an immortal being? To be always "green" - not dead - for years, decades, aeons?... If so, for me it sounds as boring as it can be and looks more like torture than a gift."

With this thought in mind, my soul keeps longing for autumn. For acorns and pine cones. Like the one on my desk.

"Spring is beautiful, and summer is perfect for vacations, but autumn brings a longing to get away from the unreal things of life, out into the forest at night with a campfire and the rustling leaves."

Autumn is coming to New Zealand. Again. Like every year. For the 14th consecutive time since I first landed in Auckland. Even I am in New Zealand at the time I write down these thoughts and I do consider New Zealand as one of the most beautiful places on the planet, some subtle things haunt me all the time, that kind of things hidden in the back of your mind, pocking you all the time.

I miss the four seasons in a year time. I miss the spring, I miss the not-so-hot summer, I miss the winter and most of all I miss the autumn. I miss the change; the beautiful dance of colours and sounds of those four seasons.

When I came here, I was curious about having Christmas on the beach, it seemed a very exotic and interesting idea. I couldn't wait to experience it. After a while in the evergreen paradise tho, with the excitement gone, I deeply and subtly started to miss that mesmerising change of the seasons. The time to swim, the time to rejoice, the time to reflect and the time to admire the mighty show of Nature. I even use to pick up acorns and pinecones that were reminding me of my homeland dear colourful autumn and to look for any sign of oak, birch or beech tree that would make my heartbeat rising.

The "Evergreen Realm" with the same colours and a little change of the landscape throughout the year, made me reflect on immortal life. The beauty of four seasons comes from this circle of life - death and rebirth, which is beautifully revealed through the life of this small, almost insignificant (for us, humans) leave - a vital part of the life of any tree. And I found myself asking "Would this be the same for some hypothetically immortal being? Always "green" for years, decades, aeons?... It sounds as boring as can be and looks more and more like torture than a gift."

With this thought in mind, my soul is longing so bad for autumn. For acorns and pine cones.