Neal Stephenson

I couldn't keep a blog without mentioning a series of books I have just finished by Neal Stephenson collectively known as The Baroque Cycle. A series of 8 books published in 3 volumes that encompass the lives and histories of a series of characters in Europe and their exciting adventures throughout no less than the entire world. Set in a place of vagabonds, pirates and large periwigs I have to say that this is the best thing I have ever read. Surpassing even Umberto Eco's Foucault's Pendulum or Baudolino.
You need a lot of time on your hands to read this since it unfolds in something like 2600+ pages. But if you like your history mixed with high adventure then you will thank me afterwards. I felt that I learned something new on every page and for a book so broad and long, it never gets boring. So um.. there we go, not much of a review but I just thought I would share since I had a wonderful experience reading these volumes.

What I am currently reading:
Umberto Eco: The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana
Paul Anderson: Hunger's Brides

Life Drawing

I have decided to take up life drawing again. That is if I can find a session in my area. Will be interesting to see if I still have a strange affinity for coloured paper and orange ink!

Trees

Ok so I am told I have an obsession with trees. This is probably true and I can never get enough of photographing them. Especially images like the one above that have an ethereal quality to them. There is something magical about forests, I suppose since that's usually where all the monsters and mythical creatures from fairy tales always live. I think it would be great to live in the middle of a big forest in a small cottage. reminds me of a James Herbert book I read as a kid... The Magic Cottage.

The above photo was actually taken in a mountainous region of Tenerife, famous for Loro Parc (Parrot Park) and it's volcano, which is in an awesome setting. When I first considered a holiday in Tenerife all I could think of was tourist hell, but this is a beautiful island and well worth a visit... and it has great trees! ;p