Thames path

Thames path, a set on Flickr.

after the sun set down and with a bit of rain but not much, I caught finally the Thames path at the Millennium Bridge - walked till the Tower Bridge

The perfect moment

We never forget that perfect moment! Those rest embedded in us. Even when there are not followed by what we did think at that time. In me, even an hour when I waited for someone who never arrived remains as a very happy hour. And a day of expecting a perfect week, remains also a joyful memory. Of course also those happy hours or days, when all was absolutely wander full. And lately, the happy moments with my last love: the audience.

Yesterday, I had seen a movie on Netscape. At the end, the voice of the heroine, after a happy moment, summarise the premise of the film:

"there is no such thing as perfect job, perfect family or perfect life, but there are perfect moments in life."

So true. Let us make, take, enjoy, our life's perfect moments. Dare to enjoy and live them. As the movie suggest, make, at least once in life crazy things. I would say dare to go 'out of our comfort zone' more then once. At least, relationships. Creative endeavours. New things at old age.

Cake for gram

I am a really happy grandma! My grand daughter just told her father: "if you go to see gram only an hour later this morning, I could bake a cake for her!" T

hen she asked me if I would like a chocolate cake? Yeah! With nuts?

Wonderful! Perhaps, not so good for my weight, I thought, not told, but YES YES Of course, "I am ready to wait one more hour!"

She makes great cakes.

Remembrance day in UK

This is each year, before the St. John's Church in Blackheath, London. Remembering all those who fall while serving their country.

A minute of silence, poppies on the dress, veterans gathering and speaking.

My grandfather was a veteran of World War 1 and wounded for all his life. Alas, it made him also very irritable for his family.

He did like me. I remember, when he came to see me and told me "Ask any question and I will try to answer. If I can not, I will look in the books to find it for you."

There was no web yet, more then 70 years ago. But I learned to ask and I learned that one can find answers in books.

Today, I think of him. Grandpa Emil.

Trafalgar Square

This is by Richard, Waterford_Man from Flickr, I hope I will go tomorrow to see it during the Diwali.

Now you can embed from Facebook: just discovered!

Post by Julie Kertesz.

hospital entrance, another fall

If I remember it well, I was there last autumn too, and with bigger surgery, so relative this year was not so bad.

If I was apprehensive in fact was remembering the other times.

Margo, gone

Margo, gone, a set on Flickr.
My neighbour remains only in our memory, still difficult to understand that she will not come and will not see and speak with her again.

FlickrRiver badge: street

That woman is a succes

The new Toastmasters International President speech in Cincinatti

He begins telling stories of his life and how all of his problems lead him to Toastmasters (and his second wife). Towards 5.30 minutes he cites the Daoist paradox of "letting go":

when I let go what I am I can become what I may be
when I let go what I have I receive what I need
when I feel most destroyed I am about to grow 

… and I made the decision to turn back to Taiwan
there,
I had a blind date with Toastmasters.

Now he has been in Toastmasters more then 20 years. 

I lost my way

That was for the better: I lost my way.

I strolled in Depford 4 years ago, then 3 years ago. Found many interesting images to take with me from it's street. And this small restaurant, in a train off Depford High Street.

Firmly believed, there is where I have to go.

Nooooo.

The open Mic Red Bus Depford was on a parallel street: Depford Church street.
But looking for it, got me interesting new pictures!

It is, often if not always, worth to get lost!

And behind the small restaurant pizzeria, where the comedy gig was I discovered this:

Have to go back soon! Fascinating Depford, when one looks deeper...

In the London "TUBE"

Sometimes it is easy to walk.

Often returning in the evening the corridors of the tube seem interminable.

I took this photo one of those days, expressing my feeling and also stopping a moment at the same time.

I do not walk or exercise enough, true. But considering my age I am fairly active. My legs disturb me less in fact then the first years in London. So, I am happy after all.

Taxi Passing In BW

Discovering the different facettes of HR photos and or post processing.

Stunning, how much you can play with the same take and make so different looking photos!

Also a new App that takes three photos of a place and combines them to give better rendering of the high and low lightened parts.

Studying in the station

On the platform between East Waterloo and Waterloo train station, she set down to study. Read, but with a pencil, noting at the same time.

Loved to look, and did not disturb her.

Took three shots, one after other. From near, from afar, and also another angle.

People reading fascinates me as much as books.

Yesterday, at a meeting, from 20 people, three told 'I do not read' or 'did not read last 6 month'. Well I read probably 60 books, paper and kindle since then.

Future Aspirations

New goals or aspirations, new directions ?

Continuing, finding new dreams.

Weather I achieve them or not, I can try.

Speak better, find a message, deliver the message so many could be inspired by it.

Judy Carte's book, DVD's and perhaps even coaching, and all I can learn to become better, can lead eventually towards a TEDx speech. Not a political one in Parliement, but there are many others nowadays. So perhaps, it is not such an 'impossible dream' as it seems for the moment. At any way, dreams keep alive.

Write, read / speak, listen

Recently, I stumbled on two books by Adler, written at 40 years of distance. One about 'how to read' : different ways of reading in 1940.

Skimming, absorbing, active participative reading. There is so many kind!

Even when I read for enjoyment 'only' it is never only that, even then I like to read with a pen in my hand or underscore on kindle, the passages I like, and sometimes, writing passages I particularly enjoy in my notebook.

Ten years ago, I was reading picking out the English words I did not understand, nowadays more expressions I want to remember. Later, I used to look up, make a list, try to learn by playing and putting the words in some other context, phrase. And of course, these days, to use the expressions in one of the stories I tell.

All my life, at least from 7 years on, I lived with books and stories they told, wisdom they told me directly or defused in a tale. Some from far away still stick with me as do my great grandmothers family stories. Or my fathers, like I lived them, was there.

It was never one way only! I participated, felt I was there.

Adler, wrote 40 years later, wrote about the importance of listening. Speaking / listening. Really communicating. Did not read yet the beginning of that one, his books are a bit heavy to read, but I am sure there is wisdom to ponder in them. For the moment, the importance of listening, while we speak,  or while we participate to a talk. And also, the difference between writing and giving a speech.

Margo healing

Take the picture here, with the flowers, Margo told me.

She looks so much better then three years ago!

Her cancer did not disappear, but instead of medical treatment, being active and feeling well in her skin, helps her a lot more.

I am so happy for her - and have high hopes for myself. Laughter, comedy will help me fight and put it farther away, too. Whatever comes.

Speak & Deliver - A Public Speaking Blog For the Speaking Public: What Came First, the Story or the Point?

Speak & Deliver - A Public Speaking Blog For the Speaking Public: What Came First, the Story or the Point?: "I have this great story - I just have to find a way to tell it!" There are many phrases that make me internally cringe when...

reproduced from : Speak & Deliver - A Public Speaking Blog For the Speaking Public (subscribe to it!) lots of good advice!

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What Came First, the Story or the Point? Posted: 03 Jul 2013 07:06 AM PDT "I have this great story - I just have to find a way to tell it!" There are many phrases that make me internally cringe when I hear them from a speaking client - and this is in my Top 5 - it's right up there with 'I know you suggested I do this, but my MOM says..." Invariable, the story has nothing to do with the speech they are trying to build, but they are determined to shoehorn it in, because it's cute, funny, or personally important, but not pertinent in anyway to what they are already trying to say in their speaking life. Make no mistake - I love stories. Stories are crucial for connecting with the audiences. Stories will be what people remember. Stories are, oh, forget it, I have no idea what metaphor to use this morning. Suffice it to say, stories are important, and I wouldn't want to listen to a speaker who didn't use them. But no matter how great your story is, if it doesn't match the point you're trying to get across, it's nothing more than a diversion, and in the worst cases, can completely derail your speech. Because most of us love to hear and tell stories, this is an easy trap to fall into. When we're just learning to speak, we're told - "Just get up there and tell a story". Toastmasters, much as I love them, fall prey to this easily, as they are encouraged to come up with a different speech every month, which puts them into a position of starting their speech with a story, and then, if they're really good at what they do, finding the point within the story to provoke their audience. When you're learning, this is a fine approach. When you're ready to get out into the real world, it's a trap. You can't get in front of an audience and just string together a few stories and hope to get by and speaking skills and charm. They might say they loved it, and they might have actually enjoyed the presentation, but it doesn't mean anything you've said, or anything about YOU, will stick with them beyond the next 30 minutes. Building a speech for the real world means having a real point to share. Granted, it may start with a story you want to tell - surviving abuse, climbing Everest, passing the 400th level of Candy Crush - but ultimately it must have a takeaway point - a spine on which the muscle of your stories can always attach. Which means that the 'story you just have to find a way to tell' may not work. I don't care how funny it is. I don't care if it makes me cry. All your audience really cares about is 'does this matter' - otherwise known as, 'why is this important to me, or the reason I'm here?' Be on the lookout, always, for stories. File them away. Look for points within them. Identify which audiences they might resonate with, and consider alternate speeches you might create for them. Just don't marry yourself to the idea of using them just because you love to tell them. If you're building a keynote - start with your point. Then support the point with stories. Even if your next speech is 'Organize Your Speech' in the basic Toastmasters manual, consider starting with your point, and building the speech around it, finding supporting material from your life and the world around you - it'll be a tougher exercise than simply ranting about your day, but you, and your audience, will get more out of it when all is said and done. And even if you are sitting there saying - 'But Rich, I have a great story to tell' - STOP. Tell me why you want to tell it, and more importantly why I need to hear it. Does it support the message you're already delivering? Does it have a point that is important enough to build a new speech around? Or is it simply an indulgence, hanging there, tempting you to take your audience on a detour from which they may never return? Find your point, then your story, and you'll be well on your way as you Speak....and Deliver!

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Julie Stands UP

Director: Irene Fernandez
15 minutes

A short portrait of Julie Kertesz, an 80-year-old woman who decided, in her late 70s, to take up stand-up comedy. Originally from Hungary and a French citizen, Julie Kertesz moved to London 5 years ago.

Julie’s stand-ups not only defy preconceived ideas about ageing but also communicate the power of creativity as a means to deal with the past, present and future. Her journey became a path of self-discovery, empowerment and self-realisation.

Screening: Friday 5th July / 6:30 pm
New Academic Building, Goldsmiths College
New Cross, London SE14 6NW

Gay Pride London 2013 and portrait workshop

There are roules, and i tried to think about them: give an uniforme background to thé portait.

Other times, you go against the rule.

In this case, the similar blue backgrounds, even add more. Reinforcing and bringing the eye back.

So many pictures, I tried in each to convey the impression they gave me. As much as possible.

Some, like this one candid, and others, taken after permission was asked. Mainly out of the parade, or just with a nod of head.

Looking at my 100 pictures, 80 already on Flickr, I realised I am more 'documentary' photograph then 'portrait' or 'street portrait.

In any case, why give an etiquette? Why put photographers in a box?

Poster of the documentary film 16'

The image choosen for the poster.

Il y a de la vie après 70 ans: Poster of the documentary film 16'

Il y a de la vie après 70 ans: Poster of the documentary film 16': Le film va être montré en public, la première fois, le 5 juillet - quelques jours avant mon anniversaire qui sera mon première pas vers les... My grandson wrote an essay on the comedian he prefers, his gram. Between many, he tells, that my Hungarian pronunciation sometimes misunderstood, makes laugh even more. Another proof of the advantage of being different.

By Irina Fernandez, documentary film

A short portrait of Julie Kertesz, an 80-year-old woman who decided, in her late 70s, to take up stand-up comedy. Originally from Hungary and a French citizen, Julie Kertesz moved to London 5 years ago.

Julie’s stand-ups not only defy preconceived ideas about ageing but also communicate the power of creativity as a means to deal with the past, present and future. Her journey became a path of self-discovery, empowerment and self-realisation. The 5 July, she will be there, too.

A bunch or one?

More and more I find analogies between photographies and public speaking.

I just took a few photos of the flowers on my table this morning, and read a prepared speech someone will deliver tomorrow.

Too much information and not enough detail.

Then I took a photo with focus only on one of the margaritas from the vase, suddenly it had lots of information in it and spoke more to me.

Same for a story or a speech.

Taking out does not mean less expressive, it leads to easier to remember.