New Year, new places, new boxers (maybe)

New Years Eve, another year. I suppose I should recap or reflect on the year ahead, no? But I’m not going to discuss what happened to the world, we all know what went on.

For me, this is the year I finished college, the year I started Vjing, the year I worked as an archaeologist (as well as the year I did my first commercial dig). It’s the Summer I lived finally with all the lads, the year I’ve been in a mosque, the year I’ve been at an Indian wedding (two in fact!), the year I started this blog! It’s most importantly the year I’ve finally come to India to work and live, following heart and mind. It’s also the year I’ve surfed least, the year I’ve moved away from all my family and friends and Ireland; whose wet, cold shores I do for some reason miss!

What a year, no? Looking forward to the next (maybe a little more settled and chilled out).We are probably going to go out for a meal tonight and celebrate new years at someones house, or if we’re lucky Natasha, a friend of Gayle’s may be able to sort us out with her terrace. I don’t mind either, but I think I have work tomorrow so that’s gonna be a bit annoying. We’ll see, maybe it is a day-off, but seeing as I have Goa next week it doesn’t seem I can just ask for a day off.

Well, it’s nearly lunchtime, I’ll see you next year. Here’s a picture that may interest you. It’s what I’ve been working on this week. It’s the Mihrab of Juma Masjid (an arch that is the focus on the wall facing Mecca.) I cut out all the pieces and coloured them one bit at a time. It’s taken 5 days to do this. The idea is that the heavy concentration of gold at the Mihrab will allow a greater focus on the direction of Mecca and can also play up the idea of light spilling through the arc from Mecca. It’s inspired by a mosque in Malaysia who uses this colour scheme. I want to take it one step more and add a bit more symbolism to the painting. But we’ll have to see if it’s cost-effective. Gold leaf may be a bit expensive!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!