"People generally see what they are look for, and hear what they listen for." -- To Kill a Mockingbird

Welcome spring, hello sunshine, warmth and you gorgeous flowers. CoLoUR!

The beauty of timing- When a sequence of events tie together.

Last week I was a bit down. Frustrated for numerous reasons, mainly my body has not been too friendly towards me. It all seems a little vain to be such a focus- however as an athlete- when your body is your main tool- and it isn't functioning, reality is... you cannot work.

We must therefore, honour reality. It's ever so important to consider alternate avenues and maintain other pursuits if, what most would consider the 'inevitable' occurs. Injuries. Or in some cases passion can be lost. Having other interests is important. No matter your ability or potential.

Typically, each day we physically dedicate 2-4 hours to our sport. Whether it be weights, team training, individual sessions, video sessions etc. Also allowing time for travel- an extra hour or two. It is a significant part of ones day, however in saying that there is a lot of time we do have to ourselves. Right now, having left Australia, I made the conscious decision to break free of major commitments bar my football.

My health has been my focus, time for me, self reflection, making a stern effort to just be... Re-educate/educate myself, explore, be less critical, eliminate old patterns that i have been carrying for a long time. It has been strange, difficult, confronting but also pleasurable and liberating adjusting to this life. It won't be forever, so i am enjoying it and savouring all aspects of the experience.

Occupying my life away from the pitch...i have some interesting stories to share. Not all of this can come down to coincidence. Surely.

SPRINGing in to life...

I woke early last week to take some photos of the farm. It is a very beautiful time of the year. Considering the warmth of spring- the plants are all blooming... the earth is coming to life- slowly. The whole process reminds one of patience.

I bumped in to Barbara (owner of the Walnut farm) outside our house and she wished me a lovely morning 'snapping'. When i returned to the warmth of our walls she insisted i join her for a walnut leaf tea. How could i resist. We spoke about the farm as she prepared the brew, my eyes couldn't help but wander around the room. Such a beautiful array of items placed delicately throughout. She grew up here on this estate, with her two older sisters. Her father built the neighboring house on his own, completed in the 1960's. Barbara's mother was content with her husbands creation, however always dreamt of a home which was not typically a German farm house. Her wish was granted some years later when Barbaras father extended the original house (which is now occupied by tenants), forming quite the estate. Today several tenants reside on the Walnut farm.

Barbara left the farm to pursue her studies in gold-smithing and other creative hands-on pursuits. However returned to the farm when the time felt right. I soon learned the pieces of jewellery on display were her creations. We flicked through an album which included photos of her father back in the 1960's. She spoke of her fathers birthday soon to be in May, and her yearning to do something for him.

I stepped up to our apartment with an idea for her fathers gift, something was brewing...

Exchange of shear kindness...

Last Saturday, we had the day free. Ideally we would escape in to Cologne and explore, yet the day before a game we decided not to venture too far. Faithfully we caught the bus in to Leverkusen's main shopping centre. Katie set up her laptop at Starbucks and began eagerly working with her online project. I let her be, having scrumptiously devoured my Soy Latte & sheepishly dunked my biscotti, mmm soggy goodness. Very few people would be excited by the amount of froth in my cup- 3/4 was occupied by silky soy froth. They must have known. It was going to be a good day.

I wandered to my little camera shop i'd discovered some weeks before to drop off my holga films and have a browse around for a vintage camera. I knew the owner spoke broken english so perhaps i could incorporate my small amount of german, his english and my hand gestures for some fluid conversation. Having handed him my film and exchanged very little words a gentlemen approached me and asked where i was from. He proceeded to share---he is visiting his friend (owner of the cute little camera shop). Well timed. The classic banter began. Where you are from? What your doing here? etc etc. I mentioned that i was interested in purchasing a camera...

After half an hour we had a bundle of joy in my grasp. I knew it was something special. It was made in West Germany, dated 1961. How appropriate. I will elaborate on the significance of the year shortly... May the suspense not ruin the remainder...

My new friend Uwe is a keen photographer and spoke of his hobby so passionately. How special it is to capture a moment. Memory can serve you well, however a picture... we went on and it was a really lovely human encounter. One i didn't expect, yet warmly welcomed.

Time ticked by and there i was... insisting that a man who was a complete stranger bar the last 30 minutes of my life, not to buy camera for me. Of course I thought to myself what a lovely, kind offer and he was very adamant, but... we came to an agreement, half and half. He was rather assertive as i said ;) Even still, as i type this and reflect upon the experience, it was one of very unique circumstances. Undoubtedly photos soon followed and we exchanged contact details. He lives in Berlin and travels extensively with work, we may again bump. I'd like to think i am quite intuitive when it comes to peoples souls... And his was quite pure.

Which brings me to the significance of the year...

1961- The year the Walnut farm was first established. The year is paved in the drive-way outside the old farm house. My project for Barbara and in memory of her father. A Photo album.

Timing. You are beautiful.

"Enjoy the little things in life…for one day you'll look back and realize they were the big things" --- Robert Brault.