This an ensemble of photographs I’ve been working on for quite some time now. In fact some of the photos here date as far back as 13 years and is a collection from several continents. Day to day living holds within it a richness, an essence that is meaningful and distinct. But many of us do not see it. Feel it. Or hear it. Because we’ve been immersed in it too long. The purpose of Life in Mono was to capture that unspoken voice that whispers to us everyday.

It was a bit dark out this morning, and I could smell rain in the air. The sky eventually opened up, and a light drizzle has hung in the air for most of the day. I’ve yet to see the yellow of the sun today, a bit of a nice thing actually. I’ve set my laptop up out on the patio, and have been working from here since lunch. The temperature is nice and cool, skin perfect. If Malaysia had more days like these I think I’d think less of distant lands. I’d probably have to set cushions out on the patio, get loss in a book, or be lost in thought.

Well, it’s been a week since our maid of two years returned to Indonesia for good. Normally, we’d cope fine without any additional help. But with Oliver now in the picture, having an extra pair of hands and eyes around really goes a long way.

So we’ve been looking for a replacement, but the process is apparently going to be quite long. Maybe 3 months or longer. Until that happens, the gloves are coming on for me.

Did not get any writing done today… well except for this blog post. Today’s routine was a tad different from the usual. Sophie wasn’t feeling well, so I had to drop her off at the doctor’s after I left Oliver at my Mom’s

Cleaned the house from top to bottom when I got back in the late morning, and in the process discovered all the rugs under which all the dirt had been swept. I’m sure there is more buried treasure around the house. Will find out in the coming days.

Am in the process of building a small gate under my wood work bench to keep them monkeys from messing with stuff. Was negotiating with some wire mesh that didn’t want to be moulded into the shape I wanted.  And one of the sharp edges drove itself into one of my fingers.  I started bleeding Kill Bill style. Well, maybe not that bad. I seem to dramatise stuff more these days, now that I’m in the process of cooking up a novel.

So today ended up being ‘House Cleaning Day’,  ‘Caring for Sick Wife Day’ and ‘Taking Care of Oliver Tonight Day’. Which I guess equates to me being a House Maid, a Nurse Maid and Night Maid.

I normally am quite happy doing chores around the house. It helps break the monotony. My only complaint is that I did not get any writing done today. Arrrghhh! If only they would just give me my bloody maid. Now! Wait a minute… I’m that too. A Bloody Maid. Thanks to the friggin’ wire mesh.