I am live from Copenhagen (update)

Have a look at this whole video ... you'll get a surprise!

And try it too.

*****

Update (24-10-09)
Today, 24 October 2009 is International Day of Climate Action

P.S. A quick note: some people thought that I really was in Copenhagen doing this. No ... it is an online Greenpeace thing (Action-Pact: demand a pact to act on climate change) which you can do from wherever you are in the world. Your name and photo will appear on the 'news report' once you have submitted your slogan, etc. It's to raise awareness about the 350ppm (read about what that is here)

Final Pod & Companion update for now

Miracles occur naturally as expressions of love. The real miracle is the love that inspires them. In this sense everything that comes from love is a miracle.

- A Course in Miracles -

Through the window: The skies which Pod and her Companion will one day inhabit
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This will be my final Pod update for a while ... until I hear she is flying free.

Every day the reports on her progress are more pleasing. She has apparently grown, is eating very well, looking better and is a lot stronger.

She and her green tanager companion are now, according to Detta, doing everything together: perching, begging, eating, etc. I wonder if they will stay together as a pair or instinctively return to their respective blue tanager/green tanager groupings once they are released.

God speed, Pod & Co.

Update on how Pod is doing now

Yesterday I made the decision to take Pod to Detta's. Her parents were flying around, looking at me as I removed their offspring from the bush. I could feel their anxiety ... and hers. Her small body was trembling.

At Detta's advice I placed her in a dark, quiet (cushioned/lined) box with holes punched in it and put her in the car. As I drove down the road I thought of her parents and wondered: "Am I doing the right thing by taking her from them?" Then I remembered this quote: Doubt whom you will, but never yourself (Christine Bovee). It felt like the right thing for me to do.

When we arrived at Detta's, Pod was immediately given a 'nest mate' - a baby green tanager. According to Detta, Pod is too young to be out of the nest.

She was eating pieces of mango and worms from the tweezers, but we noticed that at times she seemed to be ingesting her food with some difficulty. Possibly an intestinal problem. Also, apparently she had not been getting enough food from her parents and was a bit dehydrated - hence her weakened state.

At moments she would nod off, looking quite sickly.
When she had been in the bush at home, I'd observed that she had packed, dry stool in her bottom. Detta used a wet Q-tip to gently remove the dried plug.

Once the hard plug was removed, the softer bits came out. The plug had most likely been preventing her from passing out whatever food she was taking in.

Once the anal area was clean, Detta pointed out that her abdomen looked a little strange - somewhat swollen, with a large white spot on it. Maybe distended due to food that had been unable to pass out due to the hard plug of stool? Perhaps she had been injured during her fall?

She was given antibiotics (for possible infection).

Pod looking more alert while the other bird (see blurry yellow beak in background) sleeps in the nest.

Pod's 'room mate' sleeping after a meal of worms and mango.

"One day I'll be able to eat mangoes on my own."
Detta cleaning and preparing a healing cage for Pod and her room mate.
Pod gazes out at the garden while her room mate dozes in the nest.

UPDATE AS OF THIS MORNING:
Detta says that Pod is doing much better, looking stronger and perkier. Her little cries are louder. She is being given small doses of antibiotics and a special food for debilitated birds. In fact, this morning as Detta mixed the food, Pod started picking at it of her own accord.

When she is able to fly, she will be released in her birthplace (the garden at home). I will be out of the country, so won't be able to see her victory flight ... but I'm sure it will be a great moment.

Three photos

UPDATE:
It's official.
Melanie the Melon (after being transplanted) is no more.
But she enjoyed life while it lasted.

One sunflower seedling sprouted from the three planted recently.

This morning ... Sun shooting rainbow through crystal at window onto finger labyrinth on the floor of my room. The rainbow was just a little off centre and I shifted the labyrinth so that it fell as is in the photo.

Return of Synchronicity

Source of image: Archangel Gabriel who accompanied Synchronicity on the long journey

*

At last ... I got my camera back today.

Perfect timing.

Came in via UPS (which I will use from now on if/when I need to send anything).

Only $67.17TT (approx 10US) in courier fees to bring it in to TT.

I thought this would all have cost me an exhorbitant amount of money ... but in all I only ended up paying a total of approximately $300TT (approx $50US) to send to Texas and return.

Thanks to SONY Repair Centre for honouring the warranty - repairs/replaced part and shipping to US Skybox totally free. I'm really pleased with their swift and professional service.

And thanks to Gabriel too.

Latest on "Synchronicity", my camera

With Synchronicity before the 'adventure'
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Several people have been asking me what is happening with Synchronicity.

RECAP: I sent my camera via courier to the States on 16 February 2009.

After an unexpectedly long and frustrating period of waiting and wondering, on 3 March, my DHL online status update finally indicated that someone at Sony in Texas had signed for my camera.

The next day, 4th March, I received correspondence from Sony with details of my service number, etc (so that I could check repair progress online). I checked that very day and there was no report yet.

The next day, 5 March, I once again checked the status of my camera online and was surprised to see this message: The Sony product that you have inquired about was shipped back to you.

What?! I couldn't believe it. So quickly?! One day after they had received it?!! Sony states that prior to starting repairs, they send the customer a quote and then proceed once the customer agrees. I had received no such quote ... and, as the camera had accidentally dropped, I wasn't even sure if the warranty would have been honoured.

There were no details accompanying the message that my camera was being shipped back, so wondered what was going on. I wrote to ask them what had been done with the camera.

Almost immediately I got this response:

Greetings Elspeth Duncan

We are pleased to inform you that the repair of this Digital SLR Camera was restored to factory specifications. According to the technician's report the LCD screen was replaced as well as a part that is described as a CV LCD Lower Cov. You should not have any more problems with this unit in the future.

The package was returned via UPS 3 Day Service and shipped to the following address: (Sky Box address) If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us.

After the frustrating delays with the courier service and US customs, the SONY experience was a dream. Swift, efficient, honouring my warranty (free repairs), shipping at their cost to the Sky Box, all within two days. I am highly impressed with SONY's customer service ... from the time I made my first two overseas calls to them to report the problem and get advice ... to the time they received the camera and communcated with me. They have been professional, knowledgeable, responsive and courteous.

Whenever I check UPS online, it is up to date - scheduled to arrive at a friend's Skybox in Miami today. I went yesterday to the UPS office to give them the customs form so I won't have to pay the exorbitant fees of a new camera when Synchronicity comes in - most likely by the end of this week, all things permitting.

As I walked into the UPS office I instantly knew that I was in the right place. I had walked into a big bright box of Love. The entire office had hearts of all shapes and sizes pasted upon the walls and hanging from the ceiling in clusters and on globes/worlds. I felt like I had come full circle back to the Valentine's Day when my camera had fallen ... only this time, in a much better place.

The camera plot thickens

Enough is enough
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I called DHL first thing this morning as business hours opened. I got Donna, the same woman who had dealt with me when I'd called the other day.

As furious/frustrated as I am with DHL right now - and in the midst of my venting of displeasure - she remained calm and spoke so peacefully and kindly that I found myself softening and my bristles lying back down.

Well, I softened as much as one can when:
(i) one imagines one's camera possibly passing from hand to hand of strange customs people who may or may not be honouring the FRAGILE sticker
(ii) one learns that in US customs they like to "hold" things, especially in Miami and Ohio (the latter is where my cam has been since Sunday)
(iii) There is little that DHL TT can do other than re-open the trace on my item (which the US people closed when the shipment left Miami) ... and wait.

"Do they think my camera is a bomb?!" I asked Donna (feeling very explosive myself).

"Miami customs will hold anything for a long time ... even a document."

She is re-opening the trace and will get back to me when she learns why the camera is being held.

I told Donna that as a first (and last) time user of DHL, all of this is beyond ridiculous ... and at this point I just want my camera to arrive in Texas in one piece with no more damage done to it than the LCD crack I sent it off with.

So, I've done what I can ... contacted DHL USA (twice) where Jane is investigating ... and now there's Donna in TT re-opening the trace. Either one will contact me when they find out what's happening.

I hereby let go and close the matter with an affirmation:
My camera arrives at the Laredo Repair Centre in Texas, safe and sound within (at most) the next two business days. It is repaired swiftly and successfully, at no or minimal cost to me and is returned to me safely and soon ... like brand new, ready to begin again.

First and Last Time (camera update)

When DHL Trinidad told me my package would reach by Wednesday, perhaps I was overly optimistic to assume that they meant Wednesday 18th February ... when they really meant Wednesday 25th.

As you can guess, my package has not reached its destination. 9 days later. Even though I knew yesterday was Carnival Monday and businesses are closed until Wednesday, I still rang DHL Trinidad to find out what is going on. I was told by the voice message that the operator is unavailable ... which means she was no doubt out on the streets prancing around in her Carnival costume. For those who don't know, Trinidad and Tobago is in the midst of our annual Carnival, billed as 'the greatest show on earth'. The whole country basically shuts down for Monday and Tuesday to party ... and kind of goes back to normal on the Wednesday (Ash Wednesday).

Rather than wait until Wednesday to contact DHL Trinidad and possibly be told that they "don't know" what happened to my shipment, I contacted DHL in the US with the necessary information and asked them to investigate.

In a few hours I received the following from a customer service rep called Jane:

Dear Elspeth,

Thank you for contacting DHL.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you. Regretfully the package is being held by United States Customs officials for further inspection. Once the shipment is inspected and released DHL will expedite delivery to the receiver. DHL is unable to advise how long the inspection and/or release may take by United States Customs officials.

However, if the shipment is not delivered within 2 business days then please get back to me so that I can research further.

If I can be of further assistance please advise.

Thank you for using DHL.

**

Earlier this morning I checked the tracking information and was relieved to see: "Processed for clearance at DHL Wilmington Airpark - USA" (where it has been 'on hold' since Sunday).

11:50 a.m. Just checked again, thinking maybe I would see an update like: "Shipment on way to Texas".

But no ... what do I see?

"Shipment on hold" (... at the same place it's been at since Sunday! DHL Wilmington Airpark, OH - USA!)

This is the first and last time I'm using DHL.

"Out of the Box" video project

Out of the Box. Second video my company, Happy Hippy Productions, has been contracted to do on women, girls and HIV/AIDS in TT. First was Invisible. Started working on Out of the Box in December. Continued through January. Had to pause for a while. While I was recuperating, Dion edited. Client had requested a ten minute piece, but Dion felt there was so much interesting and usable material that he did a 45 minute first edit (actually it was even longer ... and he cut it down to 45). We subsequently went back into edit with a machete and cut it down to 10 minutes 4 seconds. Finished yesterday. Just to tie up loose ends and finalise today before burning to DVD for approval.

The adventures of my camera (cont'd) ...

Photo taken using Photobooth on laptop
*

My camera was supposed to arrive in Texas on Wednesday ... but up until yesterday when I tracked it, status message was "Clearance delay at Miami". Yesterday (Thursday) I called DHL and a woman answered. I gave her my airway bill and she tracked it.

"Hmmm, it's being held in Miami," she said.

"Why?" I asked.

"I don't know ..." she said slowly. I could hear her thinking. "Did you fill out a Commercial Invoice?"

"Yes."

"I'll have to call them tomorrow and find out what's happening. And I'll call you back." She referred to the information she had in front of her. "Okay, your name is E-l-s-p-e-t-h Duncan ... Your number, (868) 89 ..."

I stopped her there. "My number doesn't begin with an 89 ..."

Sigh. Whatever number she had for me was the wrong number. How come, I don't know, since I had personally written it on my documents. I guess the wrong thing had been typed into the system ...

Anyway ... tracked the package again this morning and it says "Clearance processing complete at Miami Gateway - USA."

Camera update

Screen shot of DHL tracking information
*

Just checked to see where Synchronicity has reached. The DHL man told me it would get there by Wednesday. From the looks of it, there have been two clearance delays ...

Update

Synchronicity still takes shots ... but I have no idea how they look until downloaded.
Here, the image on my computer screen is reflected in Synch's lens.

I called Sony e-support in the States to find out what can be done for my camera after yesterday's unfortunate turn of events. I got a rep called Adrian.

Like most people, he didn't know how to spell my name, but politely asked "Can you please spell your first name for me, Miss Duncan?" (As opposed to "Eh? Was dat? Nesbit? Lispet?")

It was refreshing to actually deal with someone who asked specific, professional questions and could knowledgeably answer the queries I had about my camera and the process without sounding like "the valued customer" was bothering or interrupting them.

What a huge difference is made by: (i) a well trained, polite service rep and (ii) good customer service. Trinidad and Tobago has far to go in that respect. In bigger countries, companies stay on top of the game with customer service, knowing that it can make or break their image and build or break their customer base. Here in TT people just accept "whatever" or laugh off bad customer service with a casual "Dat is Trinidad, yes ..."

As the afternoon progressed, I began to feel overwhelmed by thoughts of what to do with my camera. After further discussions with the Sony people (this time with a rep called André) and Chookooloonks, who called from Texas (where the Sony reps told me I would have to send my camera) ... I'm still not sure what I'll do in the end. But ... I intend to have a clear course of action soon.

In summary, what have I learned from this experience? A few things ... but the main one:
Listen to my inner voice above any other voice(s). Don't second guess myself.

Updates: Bijoux and Veronica's House

Sadly we have not found Bijoux yet. Whenever the thunder rolls (and we've had a lot since she disappeared on 6 October), I think of her and wonder where and how she is. Poor Pippa is not herself ... missing her companion/playmate/sister. Two days ago, driving along the Eastern Main Road in St. Augustine, I saw a wet, forlorn dog (her size and, from a distance, colouring) lying on the pavement. I stopped my car, excitedly got out and approached the dog. It was not her.

The flyer in the above photo was stuck to the back windscreen of my car and fell down just yesterday, so I removed it. The most it did was make more people than usual call out to me in traffic or from the roadside: "Yuh sellin' yuh car?" (i.e. they thought it was a 'For Sale' flyer).

Bijoux, there is still hope that we will find you or that you will return. But ... if that is not to be ... wherever you are, I hope you are safe, warm, dry, well-fed and loved.
As promised, here is a shot of Veronica's House, which is a few days from completion. It was raining when I went this morning - hence the wet haze and sheltering workmen.

The Foundation of Love in action

Opening doors

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Before you read today's post, read this very short post (about the stone in the above image). Its significance will strike you as you read on.

Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while will know the Dream House Window Lamp and how it was inspired by the need to build a dream house for Veronica and her children ... as well as it being a vessel of light into which any of us could place our dreams (as in a House full of Dreams), to give them positive and powerful energy for highest manifestation.

The Dream House Window Lamp
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Yesterday, about six months after the launch of the Dream House Window Lamp we finally began working on Veronica's House. Before telling this story, I wish to thank Babita Dubay, who came to see Invisible at the Film Festival, heard me mention the need for volunteers for Habitat for Humanity in my director's talk afterwards and told a friend of hers in England about it.

(l. to r.: Babita D. and Annisha of Habitat)

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Her friend, Nerissa, is a Trinidadian who lives in England and is married to an Englishman, James. They are celebrating their 5th anniversary this October and were coming to Trinidad to celebrate (as they had been married here, in Blanchisseuse).

The Anniversary Couple: James & Nerissa

Honey, I'm really digging this 5th anniversary celebration
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When friends asked them what they wanted as gifts, they opted for the 'gifts' to be donations to a charity of their choice. They decided to donate to Veronica's House (when Babita told them of it) and for them and their party of friends (who would travel with them from London to TT to celebrate the 5th anniversary) to put in some hard work as volunteers on the site.

Many hands. Light work.
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When I arrived at the site yesterday, Nerissa, her husband and a few of their friends, Babita included, were sweating it out in the hot tropical sun, shoveling sand, toting it in wheelbarrows and dumping it to fill the foundation. People talk about romantic anniversaries as candlelight dinners, champagne, etc. ... but I find this idea is also romantic and meaningful. Not only are Nerissa and James celebrating their love for each other, but they are extending that love to someone else, a stranger and her family ... and including their friends and family in the process.

Nerissa's dad

One of their friends

Another friend in action

There are so many couples all over the world and there always will be. If, for each anniversary for the rest of their lives, every couple honoured and celebrated their own love and then further extended it to the world through some mutual act of of kindness and service, this would activate a timeless global chain of love and healing. It would also strengthen the couples' own bond as they are infused with the special energy generated through mutual willingness to help others and make the world a better place.
I find it interesting that I found the heart rock at Toco after a 5 day silent retreat ... and James and Nerissa have been married for 5 years. Also that the heart rock/symbol of Love was the foundation stone for the Dream House Window Lamp ... and here it is that Nerissa and James, in celebrating Love, are building the foundation of the actual house.
On behalf of Veronica and her children, Habitat for Humanity and all who have thus far donated in cash or kind to this venture, I extend thanks to Nerissa, James and friends ... and wish the happy couple many more meaningful anniversaries.

Bijoux update

(l. to r. - Pippa and Bijoux - Hindi's daughters, each from one of her two litters)
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Yesterday I called Radio 97.1 and gave them the information on Bijoux so they could make a free community announcement.

I also photocopied some 'Help us find our lost pet' flyers (containing her photo, description, name, my cellular phone number, etc.) and went driving around to put them up in establishments in the area.

I stopped at the stationery place (Office Express) and the cashier said in that drawn out doo-doo-darling kind of tone: "Doh worrrrrrrrrry. I go put this up for youuuuuu. I does love animal and I does go all out for them!" She related a story about a cat she had picked up once and ended off with "... and I does cook all the food for my dogs! I doh make joke with dat! Dey eatin' cook food!"

Everywhere I stopped to put up flyers, I was struck by how genuinely concerned the people were - all of them saying: "I hope you find her." It felt like a small network of kindness and awareness being built up in the environs.

Driving home past the Creative Arts centre on Gordon Street (not far from home), I noticed dogs lying under the cars in the carpark and went in to see if any were her. I stopped and told the guard at the gate: "I'm looking for a lost dog" and showed him the photo on the flyer.

"But eh-eh, I did see this dog here Monday on my shift! I sure is she. They always have dogs in here, but this one different and she had a collar."

He told me to look around the compound and ask the lady in the cafeteria. No luck.

Driving up St John Road, I stopped at a small grocery and asked the one female customer and man behind the counter if they had seen her (gave them the flyer).

"But ... that is the dog that just just came across on 97!" the woman exclaimed after reading the description. "The announcer just say it lost in the vicinity of St John Road!"

The man behind the counter said: "Lemme see?" He looked closely at the photo on the flyer. "But this is the dog that was in here just yesterday!" He went in the back and called out to a woman to show her the flyer.

I heard him ask her: "This is the dog that was in here yesterday?"

Her voice floated back: "It looking so ... only the one yesterday had more brown."

The picture was taken a few months ago and since then Bijoux's hair has (as my sister confirms) become more brown. Maybe it was her ...? All clues seem to be pointing to the fact that she could be wandering around the area, perhaps trying to make her way back home, but running scared again every time the (now daily) thunder rolls. We will keep our eyes peeled, our thoughts positive, our intuition sharp and the spirit of good old Nancy Drew, girl detective, by our sides.

Update on Veronica's House

Still frame from the mini documentary 'Invisible'
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Screenings at TT Film Festival:
Saturday 20 September, 8 p.m.
Monday 22 September, 5:30 p.m.

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An update for those of you who are/were aware of the drive to get a house built for Veronica and her 2 children. Habitat for Humanity is on board and will be using a 2 bedroom prefab house from Agostini Interiors ... valued at $140,000TT. This will be faster and easier than constructing one of their standard homes.

Those who are willing to help but cannot contribute in cash, can do so in kind, by volunteering for the immediate tasks of:
1. Digging the land (manually) since the backhoe is sticking in the mud with all this rain
2. Sand filling (manually) with buckets

No need for gym membership. This is great exercise for a worthy cause.

Interested volunteers, please call Habitat for Humanity asap at 675-1222, reference: Volunteering for Veronica's House.

For those willing to donate cash:
Republic Bank
Account # 1804732621001
Habitat for Humanity T&T/Special Project

Brief baby macaw update

The baby macaw a few months ago, just after being rescued from animal trade horrors.

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For those who are interested in an update on this baby blue and gold macaw which was a victim of the local animal trade ... I asked Detta, wildlife rehabilitator about its progress in a recent e-mail. The following is her response:

It's doing well....climbing up and down everything, and making one awful racket. Some of the swelling on the knees has resolved but the legs are still stiff and it cannot lift its foot to its mouth which is how most parrots feed themselves. It will never be able to fly. Otherwise it is in good health and spirits and has most of its feathers now including a long tail.

Whatever became of The Dream Tree?

Remember back in May when we placed a multitude of our dreams (which had been deposited in the Dream House window lamp) into a hole in the earth and planted a Flambouyant sapling (the Dream Tree) in that hole in this special tree planting ceremony?

Well, yesterday I went hiking back up to that spot with three friends: Wayne (who owns the estate), Nic and Simone ... to see how the Dream Tree and the other tree (which we had named the Protector) were doing.

I am happy to report that our dreams are alive, lush, vibrant, healthy and flourishing!
Interestingly, the Dream Tree is actually growing in the form of two trees (a forked tree) coming from one base stem. Harmony, togetherness, unity, balance, connection. As Nic or one of the others pointed out: "It is growing so well because of all the Love that went into it from all of us that day." Indeed, a lot of positive energy and healing vibes went into the planting of this special living monument to our dreams. As such, it has a fantastic energy to it. The kind of tree that you cannot resist hugging, touching and/or kissing. (For more photos from that auspicious May day of planting our dreams, see here).

Wayne stands next to the Dream Tree to show proportion. When we planted it in May it was just a few inches above our ankles. Note how lush the surrounding vegetation is with all the rain we've been having. When we planted the trees in May, that area was practically bare.
(l. to r.) Nic, Simone, Wayne, me.
N.B. The Dream Tree in the background between Simone and Wayne.
Perhaps because it was planted in a less moist area, the other tree (The Protector) is much smaller than the Dream Tree. Nevertheless, it is healthy and growing well, at its own pace.
This (which reminds me of a waterfall cascading down a sheer mountainside) is the wax that dripped from the candle we had lit (symbol of light for our dreams) when were planting the Dream Tree. Imagine about 2 - 3 months later the wax is still there on the moss, looking as fresh as if it had happened yesterday.