So much for the space in-between

I was meant to be moving house, as in my web domain. I thought they were kicking me out of blogger.com. Apparently not. Good thing really; I have been as remiss in my blog maintenance as I have in much of the rest of my life. Other things I should have done include (but are not restricted to) filing a tax return, completing my residency application, putting the broken fridge somewhere else....and so it goes.

I have been putting my energy into Langford Ink and Fish Forever (campaigning for marine sanctuaries in the Bay of Islands) and that has left very little for anything else, except the odd blow out party that simultaneously rejuvenates and depresses. In the past couple of months I have existed in a state of mild perplexity interpersed with flurries of activity followed with moments of sheer exhaustion. I think the word "moderation" should apply somewhere. The expression "all or nothing" resounds the blog halls of freelancers/startups/sole operators. "All" is seductive, exciting, productive. "Nothing" is confused, frustrating and smarts with a sense of failure. We are the bipolar of the business world.

There must be some interstitial space; somewhere more moderate to exist. If anyone cares to tell me how to find this in-between space, I'd be grateful.

The Last Post

Blogspot have told me to move. They won't host my blog anymore. I'm being evicted.

Whoop whoop!

I'm forced to buy a new domain. I am maneuvered into a position where I have to start all over again. It's chance for a revamp. This time I might do it a bit better, especially now that I know at least one thing about the concept of blogging (stage whisper: you're meant to have a Purpose).

Maybe this time I'll also find an audience. I might even capture them and then I'll have lots of friends who'll look at my photos and read my words and think nice thoughts about me.

Yeah right, said Tui.

I'm not an especially refined blogger. But I don't care too much about that at the moment because all I can think about right now is that I have to buy a domain which means (drum roll) that I can have a new name. Hurrah for small pleasures.

Fun Naming Project got me thinking about what my blog is about. This then made me wonder whether it has one of those purpose thingies. Of course it has a purpose, even if that purpose is selfish and exclusive i.e. safe place (no audience, remember) for me to air my purpose-lacking ideas.

Does it have any wider relevance? Will it bring any of YOU value? (Yes you out there! Anyone? Hullooo...? Hmm, thought not).

I've decided that my blog does have a purpose. Its raison d'etre is to find a small spot of beauty in the everyday, whether in a word, an image, an idea, a stunning equation or...or...well, whatever really, even a splodge of chewing gum on a drain cover that looks like Marge Simpson if that's what rocks my boat that day.

The purpose for me is to make it my daily mission to be receptive to the unexpected, the un-thought-of and to find freshness in the mundane. I want to keep my brain wired with all the synapses as synaptic as they were when I was ten. I don't want tired, grumpy neural pathways, trodden down by the daily footfall, always the same way, same angle, same time.

My friend Miriam recently told me you should try and do daily tasks a little bit differently too - at least one a day; say, brush your teeth with your other hand, or shower in the dark. Apparently it activates different neurones, surprising your brain into exercise mode. The new elixir of youth! No more baby placentas for me.

I found a name. I've booked www.thespaceinbetween.com as I think this is the kind of place where you might find those treats that make our mortal world more bearable. It reminds me of the letter I wrote to the tooth fairies when I was little asking where I could find them. They answered that I would find them at the end of the rainbow. I searched for years. In a way, I'm still searching.

Tom's snapper

An English guy called Tom is staying at the Pickled Parrot. He's been a bit depressed. He went fishing off the wharf at Paihia to cheer himself up on a rainy Saturday morning. To everyone's disbelief he caught a beauty snapper. He was then a bit sad because he really needed a good photo and his cousin had trodden on his camera so the view finder didn't work. How could I say no?