#: 2010

[rays of light]

All of a sudden autumn seems to be here. The world seems so different from last week. It is dark when I get up, raining all the time and the temperature has dropped considerably so layers are in order. Everyone is complaining, yet i love it.

I'm ready for autumn, my favourite season of the year. I'm ready to walk in the rain, drink cups of tea while hiding indoors for the storm. Ready for candlelit afternoons and evenings, good conversations with friends, while drinking a good glass of wine. Cuddling up underneath a blanket and re-reading my favourite books.

Yesterday I overheard someone at work saying; 'The world is beautiful if you are willing to see it.' I couldn't agree more. So...

...stop complaining about the weather. Start loving the seasons, including the ones without sunshine. Do the stuff that you love, and you'll create your own rays of light.

[things i love today]

The TOAST autumn collection, especially the Style Stories, I wonder what my style story is...

images via TOAST

Other things I love today...coffee & good conversation at Dudok, a walk in a grey but beautiful city, purring of the kitty, the touch of the wind on my skin, the smell of freshly washed laundry, a glass of good dry white wine w/ a fabulous label and drinking it in memory of a sweet lady and nights in South Africa filled with laughter & love.

'BE PASSIONATE
LOVE
DREAM BIG
BE SPONTANEOUS
CELEBRATE
CHANGE THE WORLD OR GO HOME'

Stormhoek wine, Western Cape, South Africa

[today]

[every day life]

There were times when I loved documenting every day life. By writing, photographing, making lists etc.But over the past year or so I seem to have lost that loving feeling. All i can think is what a fuss it is. Still, i would love to love it again.

So, I will try and post here daily from now on. If only to post the picture i plan to take daily (which is supposed to get me back into photographing)

There's a plan, now let's see how it will work out!

[fly ayway]

Early friday morning I took a train to Schiphol airport. As I walked through the arrivals hall in the direction of the panorama terrace I thought about the many times i've been there, coming back from some kind of adventure. Or about the times we waited with some coffee and a view of the termac at the panorama café before I needed to go through customs. Usually the panorama café is packed with people, but at 9 am on a friday morning it was still quiet. Only a handful of people, waking up with the aid of a cup of DE koffie.

The man behind the cash register asked everyone if they were going on holiday or not. I wondered what he would think when I answered his question with 'i'm not going away, i'm here to watch & sketch people' but he didn't ask me. I found a place in the back of the café. Nice and quiet and got my pencils and water colours out.

After the coffee & sketching I went to the terrace, sketched some more and enjoyed the sun. Later I walked through the arrival halls, bought some food and took in all that there is to be seen at an airport. I had a marvelous time, but was glad to be home at the end of the afternoon. So many impressions to process. A nap was in order.

[leiden]

On thursday i went to the city of Leiden. I decided to go early in the morning, as the weather is nice and warm these days, sometimes a bit too warm for my liking. From the train station I walked to Café Midi for an Assal coffee to go (which is coffee with milk and honey.) Then I continued the route I always took when i studied at the Leiden University. Oh those wonderful days.

The bench was still there, the view as well. I settled down with my coffee, sketchbook and pens and felt so at peace. It lasted about 60 seconds, as a group of teenagers had chosen the bench next to me as a meeting place with their teacher. Still, i sketched a bit, enjoyed my coffee and took in the view. And travelled back in time by listening to the conversations the teenagers had with each other. It was all good. But my, am i glad to not be a teenager any more.

[rekindled love]

Knowing that my holiday is almost over is making me kind of sad. Not so much because I have to get back to work, as that it means I have less time to explore cities and draw. Two things I always loved to do, but forgot about, a love rekindled this past week.

On monday I went to Amsterdam and spent some time with a dear friend. We went to the Van Gogh museum and wandered around one of my favourite streets in West. The last time I went to the Van Gogh museum was about ten years ago (i feel so old typing this.) It was on a art class trip in my senior year of highschool. Come to think of it, back then you could choose many of the subjects you wanted to take in your final year and take the final exams for. One of them was art. I chose art. Yet lack of interest in art history (at the time) and a teacher who valued the rules of drawing more than expression made me loose interest in art after i finished my exams.

But in the end i did chose art I chose art. I chose art. I have to repeat this, because sometimes i forget how much i like it. How i miss those hours in class, sketching, painting, giggling & talking with either Live or Alanis Morissette on the background.

I'll post some more details of my week later. My sketchbook, watercolours & Live are calling me.

[rotterdam]

[amsterdam]

[in the mean time]

Summer became more like autumn. I turned 26. Had a weekend full of family fun. Catched up with one of my best friends. Thought and talked a lot about the future.Had lots of fabulous breakfasts. Took a lot of photo's to document things, but still haven't got around to processing them. Oh, and I still have a week of summer holiday left!

To be continued...

[before during after]

Sorry for the crappy pictures.

Petit detail of today; the music from The Hague Festival. If the wind stays in this course I'll be able to enjoy lots of concerts for the next two weeks!

[quiet time]

Untitled from Silvia de Vries on Vimeo.

In a hectic week. Only a couple of days until my summer holiday. But for now, back to work! -and trying not to forget to take photographs...

[quiet]

It's been quiet here. no words. no pictures. It has been one of those weeks in which you just live, go with the flow and suddenly the weekend is present and there's nothing to show for it.

Not yet at least.

[last night]

[helsinki]

If only i could hop on a plane right now. I'd walk around Helsinki. Have breakfast at café Engel. Walk to Kiasma. Visit the store. Take more pictures and breathe in the fresh sea air.

almost weekend <3

[the beach]

Pictures from last friday. The weather was lovely. The food was good, as were the conversations.

[good night]

[yesterday]

[early morning]

[sound]

motorcycle passing by. typing. humming of the computer. birds. mumbling of the chinese downstairs. flushing of a toilet. van passing through the street. door closing. the kitten purring. seaguls. the toaster. someone's vaccuming.