Monday, July 27, 2009

Bon mot for the week

"To awaken alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world."


Freya Stark (1893-1993)

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5 comments:

Tony said...

Oh no it bloody isn't, unless you're Freya Stark.

July 27, 2009 11:11 AM
Froog said...

Well, it depends how strange the town, I suppose. And how bad the hangover.

July 28, 2009 12:37 AM
Anonymous said...

Froog, when has being alone (loneliness) ever been pleasant?
I know they are not the same, loneliness and being alone. But still I'd like to disagree with Freya Stark

By the way, are you on twitter now? It's such rubish and full of adds and fake profiles who "follow" you, and you are "following" 20 fake profiles from the minutte you sign on.

Earthling (still waiting for you to read my blog and make comments)

July 28, 2009 11:39 AM
Froog said...

Eathling, it would be easier for people to read your blog if you left link for it when you comment here. Or sent it to me by e-mail.

The relationship between 'lonely' and 'alone' is interesting. I suppose 'lonely' implies 'regretting being alone'; but even that, I would suggest, is not without its upside - it is a species of melancholy, and melancholy is not entirely unpleasant (and certainly a spur to the creativity). Being 'alone', though, can be marvellous - unfettered by concerns or responsibilities, completely free to explore any and every opportunity.

A friend remarked to me recently that his relationships with women always seemed to founder because they never seemed to understand why he wanted sometimes to be alone. It wasn't that he didn't want to be with them (in the long-term, serious relationship sense); certainly not that he wanted to be with someone else; just that there were times when he really wanted, needed to be on his own.... and women are so often reluctant to grant that.

Perhaps in general women appreciate solitariness less than men. Freya Stark may be an exceptional case.

July 29, 2009 6:08 PM
Anonymous said...

I would say, I might also be a bit "exceptional". I have the need to be alone too. But when the choice is there to have GOOD company and share some experiences with good company, then I guess most women -even I- do choose company.

Reg. link. I have once left the link here, but I think it got lost or deleted.

I am very shy and don't want people to know who the writer is.

Earthling

July 30, 2009 9:06 PM

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