One of those many philosophical questions for which there is no definitive answer is founded on Heraclitus’s assertion that "No man ever steps in the same river twice". Another iteration of this was stated by Heraclitus thus: “Everything changes and nothing remains still". In essence, since everything is in a constant state of flux, including physical atoms, no-one can ever truly assert that any one thing they are observing, or experiencing, at any given time, is actually the same thing which they had previously observed, even if it is described as that one, or same, thing. Heraclitus used the river example since a river is clearly in a permanent and obvious state of flux and, at any given second, the river is really quite different from the river it was in the previous second. Indeed, the word “flux” is derived from the Latin word for river, namely, “Fluvius”. More topical examples might be the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Even though one might say that one has seen THE Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, in fact, one really sees one of numerous versions of the orchestra since the personnel, or musicians, are in a permanent state of flux, by their leaving and joining etc (and, of course, by their fluctuating musical abilities). And, actually, since even human being’s molecules are constantly being destroyed and replaced even we humans are not the exact same humans which we were even moments ago. In order to avoid chaos, however, part of human consciousness actively assumes that familiar things which we have previously observed or experienced ARE the same as they once were, but, instinctively, we judge this by a variety of things such as what qualities the object possesses or, more subtly, what effects this may have on our psyche. Interestingly, the effect on our psyche is driven primarily by memory, which happens to be a fundamental pillar of our consciousness. In turn, it must be noted that memories are themselves a fluvial construction, as it were, so, each time we recall something, we cannot access an actual experience, we access a memory of it, or, more basically, a collection of synaptic connections in our brain. These connections are notoriously delicate and thus susceptible to variations due to multiple factors. Therefore, since reality itself can never be re-created, our memories, our fluvial memories, become the reality. This means that “reality” itself is effectively fluvial. I will not take this further, as the implications might be quite unsettling for anyone who likes to think that reality is a rock solid and trusted entity. However, I will relate this notion to the picture above. I happen, as one of my common qualities (like most people) to hold specific memories in my own mind and however malleable, fluvial, temporary or delicate they may be, they can generate in my own psyche, or my own consciousness, an entire set of feelings which can represent a whole range of emotions. I suspect though, that my abilities in this area are especially honed. Just as a piece of music or smell might evoke a certain moment or collection of moments, then a place or building can do likewise. Today, I happened to go to a funeral in a place far from where I live. By co-incidence, I realized the crematorium was adjacent to a road in which the above house was situated. So I went there, and took a photograph. This house was a place I visited on numerous occasions, usually late at night, during the 1970’s. And, of course in relation to Heraclitus’s grand theories, the place was not the same as it once was. But somehow, its qualities were undoubtedly present, in that by just looking at it, I was able, within my consciousness, to once again feel those feelings which resulted from my experiences there. I would also say that those experiences are incredibly eclectic, since they relate to not just direct experiences whilst there, but also to thoughts and memories raised there and lodged within my own mind by others who were there. These memories and feelings span multiple links and vicarious associations which include Oxford University, people in service in Mayfair, hideous injuries whilst climbing over metal railings, mental illness, biblical obsessions, pure mathematics, tax exams, betrayal of a friendship and a bizarre conclusion to the entire episode which comprised of a best man’s speech and a final goodbye, which only I knew was the final goodbye. All of that, all of the above, comes out of that image and, I must say, I think that is quite something.