A flamboyance

A photographer advised me that beauty is in the glimpses. The unexpected snatch of light and colour that catches your eye. Thats the thing, they informed me, that makes a work stand out. These glimpses take you out of the everyday and remind you that the world is full of magic. I was doubtful, I thought it was fanciful, arty speak.

The morning had been difficult with a lengthy call which kept assuring me that I was important whilst keeping me on hold for ages, stubbing my toe, the dishwasher went on strike and the milk was sour. I wasn’t feeling inclined to any sort of enchantment.

I went for a walk and ended up on the cranky, growling crush that is Racecourse Road. It was busy, cars impatiently hogging the pedestrian crossings, blocking the way as they tried to turn, the sky was grey and a gritty wind snapped at my face.

Yet as I looked up, a single ray of sunlight broke through and hit the graffitied rail bridge and highlighted the pepper trees nearby. As if by agreement, the traffic suddenly stilled and the whole world, just for a second, stopped. That grubby, beat-up bridge suddenly looked curiously appealing, the scruffy art shone. Oh, I thought, I have never appreciated that graffiti could mean something, maybe it really is significant urban art. All the cars waited while a woman pushing a walker slowly crossed the road. Here was my glimpse into the creativity and kindness of humanity that lurks just below the surface. Then a train thundered overhead, a horn blasted at her to hurry up and the spell was broken. So much for my romantic notions of the beauty of the glimpse.

I turned down onto the stock route toward the river. Despite a jaded outlook toward a world where it seems kingdoms are falling and darkness is gathering across the globe (note to self: stop avidly following the news) I realised that there are many things which give delight, if I switch focus.

Make an effort, I said to myself. Buck up! So here are a few things which perked me up: There are good-natured baristas in the cafes who remember my name, I didn’t step in any dog poo, I ate a delicious piece of toast and marmalade yesterday, there was a group of people rehearsing Christmas carols in a room above a café I went into and it echoed through the space, I got some new trousers which I really like wearing and they were on sale, a cute dog stopped to say hullo, a friend had a baby, I paid my electricity bill and got a discount because of solar panels, there are fragrant roses in the gardens up the street, I saw a man with a magnificent mullet, the Christmas decorations are up and they look cheerful and the collective noun for a group of flamingos is a flamboyance.