The idea for this blog was thought up early this morning after I won the struggle and raised myself up in bed. As some people might know, or not know, I have been out of a job for a few weeks already and I have made a habit out of wandering through Leiden, usually sitting either at the Coffee-Star sipping coffee, or drinking tonic (without gin) and/or a few beers at Jansen, with a book as company.
Last Friday was just such a day and I managed to spend six hours at Jansen together with Gogol’s ‘Dead Souls’. Thankfully and as might be expected, my recent frequenting of Jansen hasn’t past unnoticed and I have had the pleasure on many occasions already to get introduced to some very nice and talented people. Friday was an especially fruitful day, I had the pleasure of meeting H. with whom I spend a couple of hours discussing literature, heart-break, the challenges of writing and life’s philosophies. Not only did she inspire me to pick up writing again (many attempts have been made and equally as many attempts have failed), she also raised my mood a little, which was good.
After she left I had a hard time getting up to leave myself and I introduced myself to J., V., and G. V. left early, but I sure had a good time with J. and G., this time talking about photography among other stuff (Both J. and G. are photographers). After telling G. that I had a camera myself, but that I hardly use it, it was G. who suggested I should take the camera with me on my daily wanderings through Leiden with the Gogol’s and Dostoyevsky’s in my other hand.
This morning I did the math; ‘This is a great theme for a blog, which might actually keep me busy in a creative and positive way!’.
I always wanted to write on a regular basis, but I never had the motivation, the inspiration and above all a theme. My mind full of current events, Dutch politics, philosophy, it all wearied me down at some point, which didn’t contribute to my writing style. So let’s cut the crap, and let’s go back to basics; a daily blog with a daily photo or photo(s), the book(s) I am currently reading, and actual real time thoughts and observations.
Let’s hope this will keep me going. Sure enough today my mind was in creative overflow. One moment I could hardly keep my thoughts with Dostoyevsky’s ‘Crime and Punishment’, while at other times I was right in the middle of it, and while Raskolnikov was having his nightmare of the small grey mare who got flogged to death, I pictured the ‘Nieuwe Rijn’ as the Neva, and ‘de Beestenmarkt’ as the haymarket. I thought about Gogol’s ‘Dead souls’ which I finished late at night last night and I thought about his struggles writing and the way he burned his own masterpieces and I couldn’t repress a slight smile. Let’s see how this story develops.
Leave a Reply