what happened to April?

Somehow, April just vanished in a haze of work. After not knowing how much I'd earn month by month - which is exciting and a little daunting - all of a sudden I have four clients who are paying me a monthly retainer. It's really cool to have the certainty of income. I don't think the lack of blogging it is connected to the new arrangements because I had been working for many of them anyway, but somehow, in the midst of it all, April just vanished.

I subscribe to many of my favourite blogs through bloglines, and as of today I have 36 posts to read on Meri's Musings, 19 of Julie's to read and 98 of Seth's. 98!!

I could go on, but my bloglines notifier keeps popping up on my screen to tell me I have 2761 new items to read, and I feel like I may start screaming.

One of the new retainers is to work for the Spier 2010 Contemporary Art Exhibition for five days a month. I almost feel guilty about being paid for it. The office where I am working is in the visitor centre for the new Green Point Stadium. Actually, the office I share is in what is left of the old stadium (astroturf carpets! How cool is that!). It's a place of bustle and noise and life and good company. A couple of times a day, school groups come to see the presentation about the new stadium, and a fabulous production by the talented Apollo who tells the story of soccer in South Africa and the common. The children start their tour with a warcry: "We are the future! 2010!" which puts a lump in my throat for all kinds of reasons. And I get to write about art.

Keeping me grounded is another new retainer for a long-time client. Isandla Institute is concerned with issues of poverty and urbanisation, and the work the small team there does always leaves me feeling a bit more hopeful that the warcry of the children will reflect a positive tomorrow.

And, talking about all those tomorrows, our election has come and gone and all that is left is for the fabulously expensive inauguration of our new president. I could, and probably should, rave on. But I won't. Not today. I'll just gaze at the picture of the amazing rainbow coloured bug I saw in the garden yesterday (see above) and think quiet thoughts about what our rainbow nation was supposed to be.

And last but most certainly not least. I got a package of surprises in the mail from Julie, all the way from Denmark. The Swedish Ginger and Lemon chocolate was triply wonderful (as in three times and a trip) because it was the first chocolate I had eaten since December. Greg and I shared it out, square by square, and it lasted five days. The most beautiful hand bound books are on my desk now, waiting to be filled. I don't know if you are the same, but when I have something so beautiful, I'm almost reluctant to write the first word, or add the first sketch. But they will come.

The big, squishy envelope, covered in Danish stamps is also on my desk, slowly being filled with surprises to send back to Julie. I'll mention the stone from the Namibian desert, because I've already told her about that one. The others, both she and you are going to have to wait for.