TRAVEL DIARY

A weblog regularly updated by Jodi Rose.

Monday, February 13, 2006

8:27 PM
Posted by jodi rose

I woke this morning to birdsong.
This may not seem anything special, but is actually quite extraordinary, as I realised in Glasgow that I hadn't heard any birds along the Danube. Wasn't sure if it was a mass ornithological apocalypse, or just winter - but appears to be the latter. Wild ducks and swans last week now sparrows.

Having a hard time coping with small town life today - that and late winter blues, but only a minor meltdown. Couldn't focus or think, nothing else for it but thermal baths. Very calming, and the sunset is much later now than when I arrived, almost 5.30pm. Gorgeous.

Addicted to this Anti-Stress tea - not sure if it's a placebo, or the ingredients but seems to be helping (most days). Contains: jablko, medovka lekarska, lubovnik bodkovany, kvet lipy, kora citrona, kora pomaranca, cakanka obycajna and pirodna aroma. (can't find the correct accents on any options in my keyboard, so they're missing).

It's very strange living between so many different worlds. And in this one I walk through the town, smiling randomly at people who stare in a slightly more friendly way than usual, in case they actually know me and I just don't recognise them - and wishing for a decent conversation. Spoke with another high school class today - this lot really made no effort, except one or two of the boys I had already talked with -- I was already cranky, but made it much worse. Nothing like twenty blank teenage faces sullenly glaring at you for 45 minutes.
And really, I have better things to do - if I could just concentrate on them. Some of the kids are ok, but the majority: I worry about them.

Lovely feedback from various friends and colleagues - Christina passed her Masters and is sending me the documentation as she used some of the bridge recordings in her exhibition; Luka submitted the short video version of our performance at break 2.3 and it is being played at a festival in Germany; nice responses to food radio post I made about singing and dancing while cooking, and nomadic food - good to find the silliness and desire to dance inspiring others ;)

One of these days will arrange a site update to include more of this collaborative material, as it was originally made to publicise and document the bridge recording and symphony idea, but has morphed into so many variations and I'm aware some of them slip by with only an ephemeral mention, when they need to be incorporated into the fabric of the project as a whole. So apologies to my many wonderful collaborators and inspirators, you know I love you, love your work, and will make sure that the links between us are more visible and audible and recognised here as soon as I can.