'Fishing in Utopia' or 'Where's Walleye'!

'Fishing in Utopia' is a Grantis Book by Andrew Brown (2008) subtitled 'Sweden and the Future that Disappeared'.   So its all about Sweden and I'm in Stockholm reading it at the moment, but reflecting on the fishing in Finland, which is as near as I have been to Utopia in terms of fishing.   The A6 pastel painting above is inspired by the view on arrival at a Lake house in Ahtari (picture below) The dark deep waters awash with Pike, Perch, Pike-Perch and the more elusive Walleye

I'm not a fisherman but I enjoyed fishing on this occasion with Harri and his son, Joel.  We went our at least twice a day for a few hours at a stretch. Lake trolling I think its called, dragging a line from a small motor boat with a bright yellow and black lure.  Very relaxing.....   I enjoyed watching the shifting scenery and the beauty of creation. As well as the game of chance, which people call fishing.  I thought the game should be renamed: 'Where's Walleye'!      

Harri and Joel  are very much at home on the Lake and fishing almost runs in their blood. They have been going to Harri's parents' summer house for years and fishing the Lake, particularly in search of Walleye, which they think is the best fish in the Lake.   And at the end of the day you bring the fish back like ancient maniners/ hunters. And eat and sauna and fall asleep happily after the late sunset (10pm) comfortably exhausted.   That's the life.......

A quotation from the 'Fishing in Utopia' book, seems appropriate: 

Fishing anywhere is a form of enquiry. The patient watchful wonder of the fisherman seems to me to be the root of all science. In sea fishing this mapping and bringing of order from the formless, shifting waves is especially ambitious. Attention broods over the water like the spirit in Genesis, moving, casting, until suddenly all the possibilities are narrowed into one taut line. Perhaps this explains why I have always sought the sea at times of upset and disturbance in my life. The fish comes like an answer, the rod in my hand a divining instrument.'  (p83) 

     

I'm a little bit more like a fish out of water.  Someone even called this picture 'the old Man and the sea'. But inspite of looking out of place and uncomfortable (some people say I look cold), I am actually having an almost 'spiritual experience' as brown described. watching, brooding ..... and I did manage to catch a 2 kilo pike, which I also later filleted and we had it for breakfast, smoked along with 4 perch that Joel had pulled effortlessly out of the water and into a bucket on board. I have to admit I enjoyed the experience immensely. Going out in the boat and watching the changing scenery, coupled with the fishing lottery......  'will I, won't I' catch one today?      It really is pretty addictive......

Joel, being a pre-teenager, would also go out on his own whenever he had the chance for even mor efishing opportunities. And so I did a quick pastel stetch of him fishing alone,  which I left him as a momento of our 'fishing in Utopia' trip.

A Rocha, Lebanon

I received an update from Colin who has been working in A Rocha, Lebanon.  He has worked with the Aamiq wetland project.  A Rocha is a Christian conservation orgaisation doing an excellent job in many countries of the world. 

I thought his summary of his ups and downs of the past 4 years was worth passsing on: 

During my four rich, varied, often challenging years in Lebanon I went through the whole range of emotions – many times:
Excitement and trepidation to be going to a new country and a new kind of work
Joy at being surrounded by the mountains, woods, and marshes of Lebanon
Wonder at the sight of thousands upon thousands of storks, eagles, cranes and buzzards passing overhead twice a year
Frustration at the difficulties of communicating in a place where most people don’t speak my language and satisfaction when at last I was able to talk to people, and be understood in my very broken Lebanese Arabic
Gloom at the scale of the problems facing both the wildlife and the country as a whole: hunting, uncontrolled development, fires, poverty, political instability, assassinations, warHope that things could change and were changing and always the sure knowledge that however bad things got, God has a plan for Lebanon as for the whole world which is beyond anything that we can ask or imagine
Security and comfortableness (is that an word or did I just invent it?) to be surrounded by good, loving and supportive friends in the A Rocha team but also in the village, my church and especially the music group. The team in particular was much more like a family than just work colleagues
Sadness when saying goodbye to members of that family at different times during the four years but again joy in welcoming new brothers and sisters to the team
Disbelief, shock and fear during the summer war in 2006 and numbness followed by anger during the evacuation and immediately afterwards (and almost the same emotions again in early 2008 during the “mini-war” when it looked as though the country might descend into civil war again) Doubt about whether I ought to return after the war (and then again about what I ought to do during the tense days in May 2008)
Relief, joy (again) and renewed hope on my return to Lebanon in 2007 – and again in late May 2008 when, against everyone’s expectations peace suddenly broke out and a president was elected followed by the formation of a government.

This emotional rollercoaster continued as I prepared to leave – gloom followed by hope followed by uncertainty followed by excitement about what I might do next

I'm sure that sort of experience is something many of us can identify wih, as we blown about by the winds and elements, a bit like flocks of migrating birds. 

Migrating white storks in Lebanon.

  

The Soul of Asia

This was my forth trip to Seoul and its growing on me. I picked up a small booklet produced by lonely planet at the Korean air check in Counter. It’s called ‘Seoul Asia’s hidden treasure’

It is full of tourist hype

‘Way back in the 20th century, Seoul was a bustling Metropolis looking to make its mark on the world stage. With unbridled energy, spirited passion and a sense of identity forged by its own Asian mystique and 21st century dreams of peace and prosperity, Seoul can now claim place as one of the world’s great cities. It’s nothing like you expected and everything you hoped for.’

The booklet tries tackle what it calls 3 myths about Seoul 

(a) Its expensive 

(b) Language is a barrier   

(c) Seoul is just another Asian Mega city. 

In some way all 3 myths are true, and I have certainly thought them myself. It’s certainly a lot more expensive than many Asian cities, although as the book points out, affordable options are available and good food can be had on a tight budget. I find that like in many other Asian cities, a lot of people do speak some English, but getting around can be very confusing. And there are many places where English is not spoken and yes, that is either an barrier or an opportunity. But if Seoul is really going to make it on the world stage then presumably it needs to embrace the Global Market language. Or is that my prejudice shining through? Seoul is BIG, (some 10 million) it is fast paced and there is a lot of concrete around. The buildings are huge and plentiful. Its also a very useful and vibrant commercial hub in East Asia

And there is so much that breaks out of the urban jungle, like flowers in the cracks -the courtesy and hospitality, the tradition and culture, and a sense of vitality and drive. And the food is so exotic and varied and interesting (except for sea cucumbers - Yuk!) But bulgogi (barbequed beef) and Soju (a sort of rice vodka) - Yummy! And a sense of gentile sophistication and artistic appreciation. Which is why, I suppose, the tourist board posers advertise Seoul as the ‘soul of Asia’.

Not far from the Anglican Cathedral (and the British embassy) where I was staying in a peaceful Convent. is Changdeokgung Palace with it daily changing of the guard. A colourful, musical extravaganza of traditional dress and ceremony. Pomp and circumstance. And within the palace peaceful gardens and traditional wooden buildings and slate roofs. I visited last time I was here and then I also visited the Chong Dong theatre and its cultural show with its astounding synchronized Korean drumming.

One place I really love to walk is along the Cheonggyecheon Stream.     A revitalization effort by an enlightened city council, 6km of roadway was dismantled and the stream uncovered and then sculptured and developed into an urban ecological park. At one end in Cheonggye Plaza there is a Fountain Waterfall and after dark light show. Gardens, grasses, bridges, stepping stones, even an underground art gallery, the stream winds its way though the city amidst High rise buildings, but for the length of the walk you are transported into an tranquil green wonderland.

I think every city should have one

Big Garden Birdwatch - the power of participation

This weekend 24-25th Jan was the Big Garden Birdwatch. 

According to the RSPB it has now been going for 30 years. It started by asking young birwatchers to count the birds in their garden and has grown into the biggest survey of its kind.  Some 3 million BGB hours  (380 years!)  have been clocked up and 6 million birds spotted. RSPB then literally work out the pecking order! Because the survey is conducted the same way each year, population trends are observed and the RSPB can then target those species more in danger.   It's the best wildlife survey in the world. 

It's also a great example of how social networking contributes to research and the power of participation. I felt I had taken part in something much bigger. Contribution creating ownership.  

I spent a great hour before Church on Sunday morning and saw Magpie, WoodPigeon, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Robin, House Sparrow, Great Tit, Blackbird, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Long Tailed Tit.   And three Grey Squirrels.  The highlight was seeing the longtailed Tit and the Woodpecker in the Garden for the first time.  And the birdsong was heavenly. Better than Church.  Which is maybe why we are told to 'consider the birds of the air'  - what John Stott  calls 'Orna-theology' !

The results of the survey will be out in March.