Name in a log 7 comments

22 Feb 2007 @ 15:46, by Nigella Wraye Some misunderstandings appear to have occurred in connection with the name in this log. The first log of my divising and which found me going through several mental manoeverings. The newness of this as yet unknown locale and dimension to my life in relation to an unknown group of people or readers seemed to demand an exactness of posturing hard to pin down. Several permutations were tried out along similar lines before the one above finally settled into its domain with out further ado. The manoeuvrings however were not encountered with such ease. A whole life of a few decades, spanning different continents together with the adopted ones of a then-partner and now-friend were seen foremost as having a definite colonial colouration. You can take the white African out of the bush but not the bush out of the African white. A basic connection seemed a fundamental requirement allowing hopefully a broader range of topical viewpoint than without. Also it could reflect, at a glance, connotations not generally considered within the greater picture whilst being backdrop too, to statements of whatever kind so as not shock! Le Corbusier is now accepted since the recent publishing of Charles Jencks’ new book as being really quite successful in incorporating as many as 4 or 5 coded and or symbolic meanings into the design of his buildings. These add up to cosmologicial interpretations and strive to add meaning on multiple levels simultaneously. In other words, I suppose, different levels of existence and perception are crossed or traversed and reached by the construction of ONE space for the people experiencing the buildings, a transmutation. This is not easy task, and Corb has proved himself a veritable master of the art. In no way can I suggest that my humble offering competes at such a level, but the example, as of 2 days ago, is current and newly topical, of what also seemed applicable in the chosing of this log name. First for Hillstation, two meanings maybe three. As a family we were first “stationed” in central Africa in a mountainous area adjacent to plains, one such mountain rose from the back of the house literally, the forest could be touched by putting an arm out of the kitchen window at the rear. Secondly, the traditional meaning of hillstation is of a place away from the Summer heat and pace of city life while still retaining notions of definite home. It is to be with the real people of the country, also tending their land which in itself suggests a wholeness of living. Thirdly, the then-partner now-long-friend has similar associations in his colonial heritage from India and Burma, where the Hillstation notion is the quintessence of that life even now. His life, even more dramatic than mine was shared with others equally in dramatis personae, but so far never recorded or given acknowledgement. When something difficult is once known, like the hectic pace of city life, it can never, never be unknown to ones self, how ever hard one tries, it cannot be unknown. And especially if perhaps sad it leads to the next colouration. The Blues - in the “Recherche aux temps perdu”, the “longing for lost times” there is also very much the “hoping for the future”. Secondly on this addition, my then-partner had been a professional Saxophonist and jazz musical arranger after the war for many years. Thirdly, this type of music carries definite resonances within the entire art world for both the Modern and Change, the lulling and syncopating modulations representing tough breaks with the past, a drug to perceptions, crossing the spectra of existence without moving an inch. A bit like the buildings of Corb! When a friend forwarded to me a Letter from Zimbabwe this became the impetus for the initial cliff leap into blogging. Zim was a country in which I schooled without domicile but had many friends there. It is one of those experiences that cannot be forgotten, and one which one is forced to watch the unfolding of events to ever more wretched states, a wanton destruction of the most organised and successful country in Africa. The bread basket of Africa was secure with social and economic infrastructures in place for all aspirations to some form of respected living within its means, traditional or modern with future hopes well within the bounds of reason. My appreciation for modern architecture was discovered here while all of 12 years old; the famous five points of architecture exemplified by Corbusier and which caused him to be universally acknowledged as the genius of the Century. The destruction of this country is no different to the platoons fighting now in some Afghan Wadi, striving to take a hill or river, securing it and then being told to pull out, and to start all over in a few weeks time to secure the same hill and river again for so called unknown reasons. The hillstation is a comfortable safe retreat both in life and cyber life, an open house of definite welcome, and rest. A place too of discussion and ideas, of projects well underway undisturbed, of openness to the views of others as long as they are not restrictive to any of the matters taken in hand here, imaginary or real, and all else that goes with being in someone else’s home of the heart. It is a place of relative happiness for the well travelled very much recognising the past in planning for the future. Visitors may admire such a place, but they should beware because they do not and may never know how and what events brought such a place about for its user. The overcoming of such hurdles represents personal successes offering a share in their achievements whilst paying homage to the past. Actually, one would really like to be there. To emphasise the establishment of Hillstation a cyberspace meditation platform was created on a beautiful hill in Botswana, which exists in reality too, at least for those who know it, all of which is preferable to nothing. So it does exist, but we are not there, except when we return to the very name in the log! NW 22.02.07

[< Back] [Hill Station Blues]

Category: naturaliving 

27 Feb 2007 @ 14:06 by nraye : Projects underway
in chronological order:

1. Yoga Pavilion on Kgali Mountain - commenced planning 1984, still searching architect, preferably local.

2. Publication of sequel to Modular Man by Le Corbusier. Discussions underway with possible co writer.

3. Restaurant Franchise for completely vegetarian / Ayurvedic food and lifestyle regime, with 6 month and 2 year diplomas for all staff to be able set up on their own, mushroom style, eventually worldwide, tweeking to include recognisable cultural factors. The rules applicable to maintaining long life and health are complex and involve minute considerations, as yet, even now, unheard of in the West. - Seeking identification of location. Could possibly at some time create a rights issue for shareholders, need to know if the internet can support such an issue, safely.

4. Book for same - free to shareholders.  

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