In R. K. Narayan’s fine novel The Painter of Signs, set in the fictional South-Indian town of Malgudi, the protagonist Raman lives with his ageing aunt. She spends her days tending the home, receiving friends, shopping to feed herself and Raman, and in the evening, attending the local temple to listen to the reading ofContinue reading “Simplify”
Category Archives: Notes from Ben
Patience…
I’m reading Leonard and Hungry Paul by Ronan Hession. I nearly gave up early on, nothing seemed to be happening, then I found myself enchanted by its beguiling, funny, undramatic normalness. It’s full of well-expressed passages that sound just right: “With the morning all to himself, he moved to the living room and sat byContinue reading “Patience…”
Slices of Dreams
Todays’ picture, a fern from our small garden. Inspired by David Hockney and his beautiful spring drawings and timely reminder, “Do Remember They Can’t Cancel the Spring” – worth a look! Reading: inspired by one of my sisters, I’ve been reading short stories. Short stories are like little dreams, or slices of dreams even, andContinue reading “Slices of Dreams”
Circles of Inspiration
The photo above is by my friend Mike Randolph. Usually we have lunch about once a week, favouring simple menu del día places around Madrid, but nowadays, well, we’re staying in for a while! Apparently, partly inspired by a quote I mentioned to him, he took his professional photography talents to this new indoor life,Continue reading “Circles of Inspiration”
Windows of Happiness
While confined at home with the kids, drawing with them is one of the most relaxing things I have found to do. Above is a view from a window, an imaginary view in my mind that I drew with their felt-tip brush pens. I think I had Matisse in mind, his warm colours in paintingsContinue reading “Windows of Happiness”
This Day, in Peace
First, the illustration, it’s from another Haiku challenge from my sister: Autumn evening,there’s joy also in loneliness. Thank you to my friend Vincent V.G. for helping me with the sky 🙂 Now for a verse I wrote: This day, in peace.Whatever comes up,Letting go of everything. I keep this written on a piece of paperContinue reading “This Day, in Peace”
Art and Opportunity, Success and the Now
Being a little enclosed with the kids these days in Madrid (locked in due to Corona virus) seems to be a tremendous opportunity on endless levels. As the outside world has come to a near halt, the inner-world has a great chance to calm down too. How madly we usually live! There is much moreContinue reading “Art and Opportunity, Success and the Now”
Drawing and Change…
Over a month ago I proposed 4 changes I wanted to make; now that a fair amount of time has passed, I wish to hold myself to account! Change 1 is to draw more again. It’s going well! The picture above was drawn from imagination after spending two weekends in a row in Granada (Spain),Continue reading “Drawing and Change…”
Being Solid in the Storm
With regards to how to move through life, how to deal with difficult times, how to be with others, how to be with my children and my family, with myself, I am very fond of this text from Thich Nhat Hanh, taken from a talk around 20 years ago (hence the reference to Vietnamese boatContinue reading “Being Solid in the Storm”
A Personal Board of Directors
Every summer we go up to the mountains for a few weeks. It’s idyllic. Everything about it is perfect for de-stressing and relaxing. For several summers in a row I accompanied my time there with great books and podcasts. Three years ago it was Trappist monk Thomas Merton’s autobiography, two years ago it was manyContinue reading “A Personal Board of Directors”
