Only one week has passed since
I came back from Spain but I’m already missing home after being there for three
weeks. I miss the sounds, I miss the air and, above all, I miss the sun!
It’s the smell of wet dog
fur, the smell of warm dust, the smell of a renewed childhood. Another hello,
another goodbye, another lapse of happiness in my life.
Do you know when you’re
having a really pleasant dream and then you wake up wishing it had never ended?
Well, mine sounded a bit like this...
Discovering my dad’s music
collection has to be the best thing that happened to me during my childhood. I
remember sneaking into my parents' bedroom and ‘stealing’ the music tapes that
my dad treasured in the lower drawer of his bedside table. The collection was
mainly made up of a variety of 60s and 70s pop & rock artists, his idolised
Ennio Morricone and, of course, The Beatles. Thanks to my dad, I was introduced
to different, definitely more mature sounds than those that a 10-year-old kid
would normally listen to, and I do cherish that.
One of the songs I found in
his music collection was "California Dreamin’” by The Mamas & the
Papas, which still remains as one of my favourite songs ever. It wasn’t until
very recently when I listened to the song again that I realised how much I actually
identify with the lyrics these days.
This month I wanted to bring
back a piece of my childhood, and I’m pretty sure that this cool version of the
above-mentioned song by Bobby Womack won't let me down.
Hope you enjoy the listen!
CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’
(written by Michelle Gilliam
and John Edmund Andrew Phillips)
All the leaves are brown
And the sky is grey
I went for a walk
On a winter’s day
I'd be safe and warm
If I was in LA
California dreamin’
On such a winter’s day
Went through the church, just me
I stopped along the way
When I got down on my bended knee
And I began to pray
You know the preacher digs a call
Cos he knows I’m gonna stay
He knows I’m gonna stay, I told him so
California dreamin’
Oh, somebody hit me know
I wanna go so bad, yeah
Cos all the leaves are brown
And the sky is grey, yeah
I went for a walk
On a winter's day, oooohhhhhhh
I’d be safe and warm
If I was in LA
California dreamin’
On such a winter's day
Such a winter's day
On such a winter's day, yeah, yeah, woahhh
California dreamin’
California dreamin’
Gotta, gotta, gotta get some sunshine
Can’t believe I blew my mind
Gotta get some sunshine
California dreamin’
California dreamin’
Ohhh, gotta get some
California dreamin’, ohhhhhh
Gotta get to LA
Get some sunshine every day
California dreamin’
Oooohhhhhhh
I tried to understand. I really
did. I tried to sew it, glue it, tie it, hide it. For days, for months, for
years. But then I realised there is nothing to be understood. Trust is not
meant to be broken. Hearts are not meant to be broken. People are not meant to
be broken. Full stop.
February was my own
‘independent film month’. Probably because of the extremely cold weather
forcing me to stay in most of the time, during the last month I’ve been
watching even more films than usual and, for some reason, most of them were
independent films, which I absolutely adore! It might be the unpredictable or
unexpected endings. It might be the real-life, down-to-earth characters I can
identify with. Or the fact that the films aren't just embellished stories but
do actually have a soul, no matter how low their budget may be. Whatever the
reason is, their warm imperfection fascinates me like no other films can do.
This month's pick is an
amazing track that belongs to the soundtrack of Once, one of the little jewels I've watched recently. And guess
what – the whole soundtrack was written and composed by the film’s two main
actors!
WHEN YOUR MIND’S MADE UP
(written by Glen Hansard and
Marketa Irglova)
So
If you ever want something
You call, you call
And I'll come running to fight
And I'll be at your door
And there's nothing worth running for
When your mind’s made up
When your mind’s made up
There's no point trying to change it
When your mind’s made up
When your mind’s made up
There's no point trying to stop it
You see you're just like everyone
When you share your falls
All you want to do is run away
And hide all by yourself
When there's fall, there's fall
There's nothing else
When your mind’s made up
When your mind’s made up
There's no point trying to change it
When your mind’s made up
When your mind’s made up
There's no point even talking
When your mind’s made up
When your mind’s made up
There's no point trying to fight it
When your mind, your mind
There's no point trying to change it
When your...
So
If you ever want something
Then you call, call
Then I'll come running
I know, I know, almost one
month has passed since my last post and now it's the turn for the song of the
month again! The reason for my being so absent-minded recently is because,
since the year began, I’ve had to deal with some health issues (nothing serious
though), followed by my return to reality after a lovely stay with my family in
Spain. Also, reality reminds me that today is the birthday of a very special person that kissed us goodbye three months ago... And because reality can’t be changed but may be sweetened up with some
good music, I dedicate“Reality”
by David Bowie to those of you who are brave enough to have “never looked
over reality’s shoulder”.
REALITY
(written by David Bowie)
Tragic youth was looking
young and sexy
The tragic youth was wearing tattered black jeans
Bearing arms and flaunting all her mischief
The tragic youth was going down on me
And I swear
Woo hoo
Yes I swear
I built a wall of sound to separate us
And hid among the junk of wretched highs
I sped from Planet X to Planet Alpha
Struggling for reality
Ha ha ha ha
Woo hoo
Ha ha ha ha
Whoo hoo
Hey, now my sight is failing in this twilight
Da da da da da da da da da
Now my death is more than just a sad song
Da da da da da da da da da
And I swear
Woo hoo
Yes I swear
Woo hoo
I still don't remember how this happened
I still don't get the wherefores and the whys
I look for sense but I get next to nothing
Hey boy welcome to reality
Ha ha ha ha
Woo hoo
I've been right and I've been wrong
Now I'm back where I started from
Never looked over reality's shoulder
It would be impossible for me
to describe the past year in one word, so I’d rather say that to me 2012 was...
confusing. Too many ups and downs (more of the latter, I’m afraid), some sad
and uncomfortable personal situations and the pursuit of my yet-to-be-fulfilled
professional dream made me tumble and question many things and people. On the
bright side, however, I’ve made some amazing friends and have actually started
to take charge of my own life, which is giving me a newly-found sense of
freedom and confidence. It feels like I’ve been gaining momentum to hopefully
take off soon.
That box of emotions must be
the reason why it's been impossible to find the right song lyrics to summarise
my year. Now I know why – the music is there, I've already created it, but the
lyrics haven't been written yet. I guess they will just be added all
throughout the coming year when I have the answers to my questions...
And if I had to choose a song
with no lyrics that could express the mixed feelings scattered across 2012, I
know it could be no other than the incredibly beautiful Comptine
d’un autre été – L’après midi by Yann Tiersen.Delicate and intense at the same time, just like my year.
The new song of the month
follows the same thoughts that I shared on my previous post.
For the last month I have had some new, interesting and creative work
experiences that have provided me with great professional knowledge and, more
importantly, huge personal satisfaction. Even if these opportunities have not been paid,
they are definitely a step closer to my dream job and my professional
ambitions, and I have truly enjoyed them!
I like to think that it is
never too late to change your life path, both personally and professionally. Hard
work, tenacity and resilience are key for success; however, very often the most
important thing is to be able to recognise the right opportunities and seize them, which
sometimes we fail to do. Once you get started, the journey might even open your eyes and change your mind, making you realise what you really want in life and what the next steps are to fulfil your goals. "You can’t always get what you want, but if you
try sometimes, well, you might find what you need."
“You
can’t always get what you want” by The Rolling Stones is this month’s
pick – a great song with an inspiring chorus.
YOU CAN’T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU
WANT
(written by Mick Jagger and
Keith Richards)
I saw her today at the
reception
A glass of wine in her hand
I knew she was gonna meet her connection
At her feet was a footloose man
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes well you might find
You get what you need
And I went down to the demonstration
To get my fair share of abuse
Singing, "We're gonna vent our frustration
If we don't we're gonna blow a 50-amp fuse"
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes well you just might find
You get what you need
I went down to the Chelsea
drugstore
To get your prescription filled
I was standing in line with Mr. Jimmy
And man, did he look pretty ill
We decided that we would have a soda
My favorite flavor, cherry red
I sung my song to Mr. Jimmy
Yeah, and he said one word to me, and that was "dead"
I said to him
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes you just might find
You get what you need
I saw her today at the reception
In her glass was a bleeding man
She was practiced at the art of deception
Well I could tell by her blood-stained hands
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes you just might find
You just might find You get what you need
Ask the person you love out
for a drink and you may end up being best friends. Push hard to get your dream
job and you may be offered the work placement of your life. Make a hundred
friends throughout your life and a few of them may become your guardian angels.
Plan the most amazing overseas journey and you may instead discover the most
special little corner in town. Try to become the perfect
person and you may become the perfect version of yourself.
Actually, you may need to
land among the stars before you can fully appreciate the moon’s value...
Last week Manchester was
bombarded with fireworks. Bonfire Night and the Christmas Lights Switch-On
ruled the city on the 5th and the 9th November, respectively. For those of you
who don't live in the UK and don't know what Bonfire Night is, it is an annual
celebration that commemorates King James I’s survival from the attempt on his
life by Guy Fawkes. You can find some more information on its historical
origins here.
The Lights Switch-On, however, is a more Christmassy event that includes
performances by some top music bands and theatre companies, as well as an
amazing fireworks display (see the video below!).
To be honest, I’m not the
biggest fan of celebrations of this kind (although, as I already commented on a
previous post, I'll make an exception for the fireworks at the Manchester
Christmas Lights Switch-On!), but I do love dropping by to an event as an excuse
to meet up with friends and have a nice time with them! What I mean is that
sometimes it doesn't matter what you are celebrating if that makes it possible
for you and your loved ones to see each other after a long time or just share
one more of those lovely moments together. I have always thought that there is
a halo of hypocrisy surrounding Christmas, with people becoming more and more
materialistic during those dates and celebrating something that very often they
don't have religious beliefs about (I must admit I am one of the latter), but
I’ve finally come to realise what Christmas means for many of us. Cheesy as it
may sound, it is a special time of the year to celebrate family,
friends and everything that makes us happy, go through the past year and plan
our new year ahead, be thankful for what we have, and maybe reconcile with
ourselves. It’s just an excuse... An excuse to celebrate all good things.
“The golden moments in the
stream of life rush past us and we see nothing but sand; the angels come to
visit us, and we only know them when they are gone.” George Elliot (Mary Ann
Evans)
This month's song is “Rise” by Ryan Spendlove. Just
beautiful. It was one of the last songs my friend posted on his Facebook page...
Now it almost seems as if he wanted to send a message.
“Give all you can before it
all falls down...”
RISE (written by Ryan Spendlove)
Give all you can before it
all falls down
Don’t hold a thought when you can say
If you can't always be that civilised
You know that I will understand
Oh shadows fall on every wall
But in the dark I was a man
Looking for the way to the door
And the hope I had before
When I never know where I may
land
Beneath the shelter of a smiling man
I play it down but not forget
I know the hardest fight I'll ever have
Will always be the one with myself
I'll paint my sky with blue and white
As soon as I can see again
Running with the tide and the breeze
It’s almost exactly ten years
since we first met, and only one week since you left. The last ten years have
flown by, the last week seems like an eternity. You always looked after me even
if you didn't have to. You always accepted me just the way I am, and that I
will never forget. I wonder what you're doing up there. Can you see me? Can you
see us? I have no doubt you’re still playing the guitar like only you can do
it. Hendrix and company must be very impressed with you. I carry so many
special memories with me... I will never stop feeling your support and
affection. Thanks for being my friend.
I can’t believe you won’t be
there any more every time I go back home.
I have been too absent from
here for the past month, I know. No, I haven’t gone on holiday or haven’t been
on a life-changing trip (I wish!). The reason is quite
dull instead – I have simply been working too much.
If you guys have read the
information about me that I included on my profile, then you'll already know
that I currently work as a freelance translator. I won’t go into detail, but I’ll
just say that the long working hours can end up taking over your life and, as a
result, you may be at a risk of forgetting what real life is about.
I thought that John Lennon’s
“Working Class Hero” would be a good choice this time, as it may reflect what
the last month has been like to me. Not that I feel like a hero, although I
must admit that on some occasions I need to use my superpowers to work 24/7.
Obviously, Lennon’s lyrics go beyond the song title and there is a deeper and
broader meaning to them which deals with society, but isn’t society itself and
the current economic pressure that are making some of us go that extra mile in
our jobs so that we can enjoy some of the essential things of life?
WORKING CLASS HERO
(written by John Lennon)
As soon as you're born they
make you feel small
By giving you no time instead of it all
Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is
something to be
They hurt you at home and they hit you at school
They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool
Till you're so fucking crazy you can't follow their rules
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is
something to be
When they've tortured and scared you for twenty-odd years
Then they expect you to pick a career
When you can't really function, you're so full of fear
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is
something to be
Keep you doped with religion and sex and tv
And you think you're so clever and classless and free
But you're still fucking peasants as far as I can see
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is
something to be
There's room at the top, they're telling you still
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill
If you want to be like the folks on the hill
A working class hero is something to be
My last holidays at home in
Spain reminded me of many things. They reminded me of the long hot days, the verbena nights, the fiestas, the late gigs until the early hours, the charanga, the swimming pool afternoons, the
alfresco dinners, and the feeling of
never-ending summer.
No doubt that the new song of
the month had to be one that brought all these memories back, and what better
way to do that than by remembering one of the songs I used to listen to during
my teenager summers?
Suitably enough, the lyrics
of “Años 80” (“The 80s”) by Los Piratas,
a Spanish band, also have a melancholic touch. But this month’s choice is
not about the lyrics or the music (although I must say I’ve always loved this
song!), I guess it’s just about the nostalgia that songs can evoke – the music
curse nobody escapes.
I hope you like it!
AÑOS 80
(written by Los Piratas)
Cuando me hiciste llamar no sospechaba
Plastilina con color
Ropa interior
Recuerdos de allá fuera
Cómics de ciencia ficción
Vida interior
Y yo no quiero volver
No me repitas jamás
Que no sabes qué hora es
Las siete y veintisiete ¿o no?
Ya terminé...
No te echaré de menos en septiembre
Verano muerto
Veré a las chicas pasar
Será como aquella canción
De los años 80
Seré como el tipo que algún día fui
Bloody Mary's en el bar
Un déjà vu, Matrix está cambiando
Por la confesión brutal de tu relato
Y yo no quiero volver
No me repitas jamás
Que no sabes qué hora es
Las siete y veintisiete ¿o no?
Ya terminé...
No te echaré de menos en septiembre
Verano muerto
Veré a las chicas pasar
Será como aquella canción
De los años 80
Seré como el tipo que algún día fui
Será como aquella canción
De los años 80
Seré como el tipo que algún día fui
Será como aquella canción
De los años 80
Seré como el tipo que algún día fui
Ya terminé...
I’m home in Spain at the
moment and there's a song that comes to mind all the time. I find myself
constantly singing to myself “Here Comes The Sun” by The Beatles (more specifically by the amazing George Harrison).
I know, it’s a classic, you
may have listened to it hundreds of times, but I personally never get tired of
it. In fact, it becomes more and more special every time I listen to it, from
the first chords to the last “It’s all right”.
It’s a song that always leaves
me with good vibes. And not only is it the perfect song for my current stay in
sunny Spain as opposed to rainy England, but it also has a double underlying
meaning of positive change with which I identify these days. It’s a message of
hope, of calm after the storm and of things eventually becoming better.
All in all, definitely one of
my favourite songs ever.
HERE COMES THE SUN
(written by George Harrison)
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun
And I say, it's all right
Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun
And I say, it's all right
Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun
And I say, it's all right
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun
And I say, it's all right
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun
It's all right
It's all right
When my friend Kim of
Becoming Sevillana nominated me to take part in the HostelBookers 7 Super Shots little game, I thought it was an exciting and cool idea for a new
blog post, being a photography lover xciated
by a friend for themyself!
My love for photography has
always been there, even unconsciously. Or at least my love (almost obsession!)
for taking hundreds of photographs everywhere I go and even in my daily life. I
‘see’ photos everywhere. I am sure that if I had my camera with me all day, I
could not walk a few steps without pointing it somewhere! Photography can do
everything, from treasuring a special moment to transforming the ugliest of
sights into a beautiful image, and it is this power that has recently awaken my
interest in the art of photography itself.
I have never done any courses
or workshops, I do not have any technique whatsoever and I still only own a
little digital camera that takes the most basic photos, as all I can do with it
is zooming in and out! So technically speaking and from a photographer’s point
of view, my pictures may not be of the best quality, but I am of the opinion
that photography, as much as any other type of art, should be something
subjective whose value depends on the eyes of the spectator. When I take a
picture I like being as creative and artistic as possible; still, nothing can
beat a photo that captures emotion.
And emotion is exactly what the
HostelBookers 7 Super Shots challenge is all about! So here we go...
1. A photo that takes my breath
away:
The fireworks at the
Manchester Xmas Lights Switch-on are one of the most impressive things I have
ever seen (seriously!). The fireworks come up from behind the Town Hall and, as
they fall down, paint the façade with colour light. The colourful explosions
create a unique and trascendental atmosphere – you will find yourself staring
at them open-mouthed!
2. A photo that makes me laugh or
smile:
I had a laugh when I saw this
baby watermelon in its pram in some festival in a park near Manchester. Awww,
so cute!
3. A photo that makes me dream:
Spooky as it is, this Tudor
dress is a beautiful memory of what the past once looked like. It belonged to a
female member of the Radclyffes, the owners of Ordsall Hall (Salford). We have
seen old costumes like this so many times in films that we forget that one day
people like us used to dress this way. I have always been fascinated by the
Middle Ages and the Tudor period – if only I had a time machine to see how life
was in the old times!
4. A photo that makes me think:
These are the remainings of
Belchite, a Spanish village that was bombed during the Spanish Civil War. You
can still walk through its streets and contemplate the skeletons of the houses
and the churches. It is a distressing view and you can almost feel the panic and
the tragedy of the moment. This photo just makes me think of the horrors of
war.
5. A photo that makes my mouth water:
It may not be a 5-star dish
but the Spanish omelette (tortilla de
patata) is much tastier than some luxurious meals – especially if it is
cooked with a little onion! Besides, you can create your own tortillas– the one in the photo
includes chopped courgettes!
6. A photo that tells a story:
More than a story, this photo
tells history. It shows the silhouette of the castle and one of the churches of
Uncastillo, the Spanish village I am from. Entirely made of stone, Uncastillo
is a beautiful village that was named Historical and Artistic Heritage by the
Spanish Culture Ministry. Dating back from the Celtic era, thousands of stories
could be told about its past and its various settlements along the centuries,
including the numerous battles against the Arabs.
7. A photo that I am most proud
of:
My little camera did a good
job here! To me, this photo almost seems like a painting. The light and dark
shades create a beautiful contrast, embellished by the sun reflections on the
water surface. I believe this is an elegant picture that captures the swan’s
majesty as it swims.
I hope you have enjoyed this post! And now, these are my five
nominees:
"It wasn’t until I fell in
love that I started to understand love songs". How many times have you heard something similar? How many times has that happened to you?
Well, in my case it’s always been
quite the opposite – it’s my falling out of love and the feeling of betrayal
that have made me sympathise with the ‘breaking up songs’. And the more harsh
the lyrics are, the better.
I think there’s a sensible
reason for that. Most love songs tend to rely on the same formulae and make use
of general and boring sentences like “I need you”, “I love the way you kiss
me”, etc. That doesn't say anything special about your relationship! However,
'breaking up songs' have been written by broken or raged souls who need to take
their feelings out of their chest, and so the lyrics contain a storm of real
feelings by real people.
“Special”
by Garbage is a great example of that. I really love this song, especially some daring
and brave lines like "Do you have an opinion?", “I thought you were
special”, “I couldn’t care less” or “There’s no way in hell I’d take you back”.
Have you ever felt that a song has just been written for you at a particular
point in your life?
SPECIAL
(written by Shirley Manson)
I'm living without you
I know all about you
I have run you down into the ground
Spread disease about you over town
I used to adore you
I couldn't control you
There was nothing that I wouldn't do
To keep myself around and close to you
Do you have an opinion?
A mind of your own?
I thought you were special
I thought you should know
But I've run out of patience
I couldn't care less
Do you have an opinion?
A mind of your own?
I thought you were special
I thought you should know
I used to amuse you
I knew that I'd lose you
Now you're here and begging for a chance
But there's no way in hell I'd take you back
Do you have an opinion?
A mind of your own?
I thought you were special
I thought you should know
But I've run out of patience
I've run out of comments
I'm tired of the violence
I couldn't care less
This song of the month is
dedicated to those of you who are going through a bitter-sweet time. It may be
a bitter time because something bad has happened or maybe because you have been
feeling low for a long time. But it is a sweet time too, since you have become strong
enough to slowly realise that almost nothing can bring you down any more. All
you have to do, all you can do is put your head up and, as the song says, “take
a sad song and make it better”.
You are still here, trying
hard, so you have already succeeded. You have touched the ground and now you
just need to take impulse and jump. You are already coming out of the haze and
almost laughing at the past. Just let the tide take you back to the shore.
Enjoy the comeback, enjoy the bittersweetness of it all, for “there is beauty
in the breakdown” and sugar tastes much sweeter after tasting salt.
And remember, do not wait for
things to happen, make them happen and enjoy the ride. As Vivian
Greene-Gantzberg once said, “life is not about waiting for the storms to
pass... It is about learning to dance in the rain.” Make the most of your life
under any circumstances, you only have one!
Frou
Frou’s “Let go” is the song of the month – half a song, half a
therapy.
LET GO
(written by Imogen Heap and
Guy Sigsworth)explain, lisi sweet time
because you have finally realised that g low for a long time
Drink up baby doll
Are you in or are you out?
Leave your things behind
'Cause it's all going off without you
Excuse me too busy you're writing your tragedy
These mishaps
You bubble-wrap
When you've no idea what you're like
So, let go, let go
Jump in
Oh well, what you waiting for?
It's all right
'Cause there's beauty in the breakdown
So, let go, let go
Just get in
Oh, it's so amazing here
It's all right
'cause there's beauty in the breakdown
It gains the more it gives
And then it rises with the fall
So hand me that remote
Can't you see that all that stuff's a sideshow?
Such boundless pleasure
We've no time for later
Now you can't await
your own arrival
you've twenty seconds to comply
So, let go, so let go
Jump in
Oh well, what you waiting for?
It's alright
'Cause there's beauty in the breakdown
So, let go, yeah let go
Just get in
Oh, it's so amazing here
It's all right
'Cause there's beauty in the breakdown
Have you ever wanted to go
‘off the grid’? Well, not literally. But have you ever had this feeling that
you are overwhelmed by the big city and its chaos and need to get out of all that
for a while? I guess that is what Eddie
Vedder was thinking about when he wrote “Society”.
This has been a recurring
thought in my mind lately. A few weeks ago, when I went home to Spain for my
Easter holidays, not only was I looking forward to seeing my family and my
doggies, but I was yearning to enjoy the quiet and peacefulness of my little
village. I am from a beautiful tiny village surrounded by mountains where all
you can hear at night is the barking of dogs in the distance and the singing of
birds at dawn; where my favourite hobby is going for a walk with my dogs and
feel the nature around me; where I can breathe. After spending a few months in Manchester, it all
feels so quiet on my first day at home that it takes me a while to get used to
the new calm atmosphere. Even time seems to go by more slowly and I almost feel
that I am out of the mundane society – a comforting
feeling sometimes.
But Eddie Vedder goes even
further in his song. He talks about greed and consumism, in opposition to the
‘less is more’ notion, which I particularly could not agree more with. That is
also why I feel so comfortable at home – the lack of
infinite consumer options makes you value what really matters. It is in places
like my village, where you do not have everything you want on the palm of your
hand, where you realise that you do not really need most of the things that are
included in your ‘wish list’.
Sadly though, we humans are
never satisfied with what we have and, ironically, after a few weeks of peace I was
already longing to go back to the lively and noisy city. I guess almost no one
can escape the clutches of materialism, and I am not less guilty...
