Happy New Year 2014

A family of elks

Spent a few days in the country. It was so invigorating to breathe the clean air, relax and work on my novel. But the best part was discovering a family of elks on a vast field on our way back to Toronto. Contented in their natural surrounding, they stared at us, strangers, gaging whether we were a threat while keeping their elegant and poised stance.

Nuit Blanche 2013

Creative minds on display and a huge enthusiastic crowd on the streets of our good old Toronto. Loved it all. The shared adventures of discovering art at night, the wonder in people's eyes, the revelry ... it was so much fun.

Ai Weiwei's Bicycles Forever

Balls? Look closer. It's an optical illusion created from the balance of shadow and light and the angle from which I took the photo. These are carton tubes stacked on a truck. Can't remember the artist or title of the project and can't find it on Nuit Blanche site but love the visual effect. It reinforces the fact that art is everywhere around us if we attune our eyes and imagination to see beyond the mundane.

Stratford, Ontario

Let music sound while he doth make his choice; 
Then, if he lose, he makes a swan-like end, 
Fading in music ...
Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice 

Creole Documentary & Mauritian Sega Band at Island Soul Festival, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto

I went to Harbourfront Centre on Sunday August 4th to see the Creole segment of my friend Christene Browne's documentary Speaking in Tongues: The History of Language during Island Soul Festival. Christene is a talented film producer and director, and you can read more about her accomplishments on her website. Since Mauritius is mentioned in the documentary and I say a few words of Creole in it, I was thrilled to be at Harbourfront that day to see it, and have a chat with Christene.

But as I rushed to the Studio Theatre,  I was pleasantly surprised to hear a familiar sound ... sega music from Mauritius blaring from the speakers. And of course, on stage was a Mauritian band and dancers rolling their hips and flipping their colourful ruffled skirts in rhythm to their gyrations. I was ecstatic. I had not expected my little island would be represented at Harbourfront in the Island Soul Festival. I thought it was mostly a Caribbean celebration since it was happening in conjunction with the Caribana Carnival Parade 

After  the 20 minutes documentary, which was very incisive and relevant, definitely worth watching for anybody interested in languages, its history and influence on our lives, I literally ran towards the stage to catch the last few sega songs. It was a gorgeous summer day, with spectators sprawled on the fake grass. Everybody seemed so relaxed and totally enjoying the music and dancing ... that it felt like  a bit of Mauritius had been transplanted to Toronto.

After the show I met the band, and had a chance to speak Creole, a bit rusty but nevertheless the familiar sounds, and the spontaneous warmth of  the performers brought back the heartfelt connection to an island I left ages ago.

Mew Lake, Algonquin Park

By the lake

we walked by the lake holding hands

precious minutes soon to vanish in the dusk

I wanted to flap my wings like the seagulls and fly

spread my love to the world in the never-ending sky

A misty evening in Toronto

"Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way."

E. L. Doctorow

Spring ... a carpet of scattered blossoms

Still Blooming ...

Tony Paglia at Desotos Open Mic

Tony Paglia is a very dear friend and talented guitar player who sings with great emotional depth. His music ranges from rock, reggae, R & B, soul, funk and much more. He plays solo, duos and also with his band The Nomads. He's jamming here at Desotos' Thursdays Open Mic. Desotos is one of my favourite restaurants and a friendly venue for musicians.

Dusk in the countryside

Toronto at dawn

It's such a treat to wake up early, and get lost in the awesome sky as it spreads its orange and purple hues over the city. It's also the best time to write, when the mind is fresh and full of possibilities ...

Speaking of writing, Ellington's, a café on St. Clair Avenue West, has become my favourite place to hang out in the morning, not only to write, but to listen to the morning jazz jam, and mingle with musicians, writers and artists. Winston, the owner has created a casual, artsy, world-music kind of atmosphere that is so inspiring. A little home away from home.

Smoky Toronto

Smoky Toronto on a cold winter day.

Wendy Weiler chante Sous le ciel de Paris

Ma chère amie Wendy Weiler chante superbement en français une chanson d'Edith Piaf au Reservoir Lounge à Toronto avec le groupe The Mediterranean Stars. Voyez la sur youtube

My dearest friend Wendy Weiler sings fabulously in french an Edith Piaf song at The Reservoir Lounge in Toronto with the band The Mediterranean Stars. See her on youtube

Fading Toronto

Fire

"There is a slumbering subterranean fire in nature which never goes out, and which no cold can chill." Henry David Thoreau

The path of the night

"One may not reach the dawn save by the path of the night." Kahlil Gibran

Best Wishes ...

As the year ends, I wish you all a wonderful holiday season, much love, and all the best for 2013.

Chapter from my novel in Immedia's anthology

A chapter from my novel has been published in Mauritius, in Immedia's anthology titled Facing Challenges. The book will be officially launched on December 7th at Domaine Les Pailles by the President of the Republic, Mr. Kailash Purryag, and the former President, Mr. Cassam Uteem.

Now, this is one incentive to finish editing the rest of the chapters. But can anyone whip an artist to produce faster? I'm one of those who crawl like a turtle ... yeah, slowly and surely, I've strung words into sentences, then paragraphs, then chapters. But the polishing part is another challenge. Imagine spending the day bouncing words inside your head, wishing them to turn into pearls, but they often rebel and spin into headaches. I'm thankful to wonderful friends who don't mind whacking me with a good dose of pressure when I'm not on track ...like repeating over and over, "when is that book going to be published?" Okay, it's happening soon, for real. Look, a chapter has been published already. One chapter a year? Let's see, mmmhh it may take over 69 years to get the whole novel out. That certainly puts things into perspective. All right, keep up the pressure. I'll aim for 2013.

Time to get back to the novel instead of rambling on here ... And there's a photo exhibition I'm working on also, not to mention the silk painting. And all the problems around the world that I wish I could solve ... and closer to home, I wish our politicians would move forward and close the Darlington nuclear station and switch to solar, wind and other alternative renewable energy, and I wish there were less greed and more love to spread around ...

A few hardy leaves bask in the last glow of fall