Photobooks at Tate (9)

I met them at Tate, friday night, go to look at IC-YC photos, at flickr.

I like specially the book that was moved fast while the camera took that photo, it come out quite pleasant, showing what the camera does trying to follow what happens.

Ohtervise, for Fireworks, video and sound, even if short, goes to my photoblog.

11 november, Sunday

It does not have to be lots of tombs or signs, a few are enough to remember. Between all I have seen, that before the St John's church left me the strongest impression.

I do not think anyone is buried there, but it is to remember.

Those fallen and those wounded in the first world war: my grand father have been wounded during it too. Those from the other wars, like the second world war. I met a veteran of it yesterday at the London Bridge train station.

- I did not fight, I was in the Marines, he told me, modestly.

But he was sensible to my words of thanks and hold my hand before we parted. Thanking him, perhaps was my contribution to the event.

We went to see two cemeteries in East London yesterday. Not much remains from what was there once, so it was not easy to imagine, but going out, meeting people, seeing new places is always interesting.

Bonefire night at Blackheath

We were twenty, invited to a small and very nice apartment, in the basement across the street, and about 15 between us arrived from all over the world.

Japan and South America, Nigeria or Bulgaria, Vietnam or Poland. And so many more! A nice chat, two short prayers, a huge and good diner, and then we went out to see the fireworks.

Even with cold wind and later a bit of rain forbidden me finally to take more pictures of them, I had wonderful time and liked a lot the fireworks.

Frozen a bit, after that a hot drink and a hot dog in St John's church was welcome, but even more the interesting social mood I found there, so unlike anything I associated until now with "church".

A camera music in one corner, but not many listened, sitting in groups, on chairs or on the ground, chatting together instead. I was stunned and pleased too.

Last image from yesterday, three beautiful girls from the church entrance.

In all, it was a great night!

Tate London, Flickr, Blurb - and me

Great evening, yesterday, first, let's the images speak for themself.

This slide show is prepared directly from and by flickr.com, I discovered yesterday we can.

Make your own destiny

Make your own destiny of course whenever you can, as much as you can, this is the tee shirt I bought in the Argenteuil market, near Paris, and this was me only 14 month ago.

I like a lot "Yes I can" because that is what I was saying myself all my life perhaps, and for sure these long fourteen month too.

I could, at least I could loose more then 22 kgs (about 45 pounds) and I could change not only city but country, and I could find an apartment for myself to live, and I could meet people and discover new things, live a full life. I could begin to swim again, and to walk more then before.

Yes, I do.

I am now a bit different outside, not so much inside, but with a lot of more confidence as I can, I do, close the button on my new and tight trousers.

I think whatever Obama will do, in the future, by finding (does not matter who did for him, who suggested it) but by repeating it again and again, he did give courage to many of us. "Yes we can" is magical and can take us far, if we only believe in ourself that we can.

And then, of course, do everything we can to make it true.

Thinking of Patrick

The American elections have reminded me of Barrybar, from flickr. Photograph and journalist, around the world, here happy for some month with his new wife from Colorado, he is an angry american, never happy with what is happening there.

I hope, theses days show him too, othervise and sends him a strong message too. America is a great and evolving country!

I will never forget, when we went exactly 30 years ago to my birthday party, my hungarian origin scientist boss inviting us for the occasion to a fancy restaurant, when he had seen an elegant black man entering and sitting to a table, he told me, low voice and in hungarian: a few years ago you could not see here THAT! Even for him, alas, the presence of a black in a fancy restaurant seemed still a choc.

How far America got from those days!

I am proud at all those white people having send a strong signal to all, "we are not racists!" Even if the 44e president of USA is half white, by his mother, the familly that goes to the White House, is a black familly. I am proud for that country I begun to love when I stayed three years there to work.

Thinking of Barrybar nowdays, but preparing for the bonefire night, soon near my house. Even yesterday, we could see fireworks from my own window! There were somewere farther, but so beautiful! Saturday, I'll go out together with others to admire the Blackheath festival, while others of my neighbourgs go away from the noise.

Busy week before me, I just hope to have enough energy for all I propose to do during it. So many to do and not so much power any more in a woman after 70. Still, I'll do all I can. Live as intense as possible my lasts years.

Obama sweeps to victory as first black president (AP)

AP - Barack Obama swept to victory as the nation's first black president Tuesday night in an electoral college landslide that overcame racial barriers as old as America itself.

"Change has come," he told a jubilant hometown Chicago crowd estimated at nearly a quarter-million people.

I am happy not because of him, and I do not see him as "black" he has a white mother already, but the change in America that victory hints is very welcome. OK, so I hoped for a woman to be president, but probably that was too much, too early for the moment.

Change will come, and is welcome, but he will have a very difficult job to do in difficult times.

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