2010 has been a very extraordinary year in my life. It feels like all the paths I took so far have finally met and I can clearly see the road ahead, but also evaluate the past. I think I did not have a more difficult and challenging year yet, but maybe only because I seem to measure it all in the intensity of the emotions I got to feel, I am not sure. Our memories fade away and turn into the ever living pictures of our desires and hopes, so obviously all my previous years look brighter now, all my choices make sense. Rich has posted something very important today (again, he always does) stating that believing is achieving. Miranda has described perfectly the feeling of a return to our small habits and childhood memories, and I cannot help but wonder: how did I get here? You know, I did not feel this way before at the beginning of any of the previous years. I feel the shift in my life is taken on a shape – a majestic ship painted in all the colours of the rainbow, even pink…slowly resting on the shore of a quiet island, waiting….but once you come closer you start to notice the tattoos all over its body – the drawings left all over its surface..each telling its own story…little mosaic of who I am, and of the world the way I saw it back then, the way I see it now and always will comprehend. My way. All this reflected in his eyes, in his life. I met a man, who validated everything I am, I am not and I am supposed to be. Hence the change to my blog. I have only one commitment to this place – remain true to myself. This blog has always been the journal of my story, the one I was writing but on many occasions, life subscribed pretty heavily. We always think we walk our paths on our own but do we? I plan my on-line paths carefully.

I plan what I am going to say.

Yet, I wake up every single morning with my head full of ideas and dreams and I know – at least one of them will come true…on that particular day. I will make it so. So I hope you feel at least in a small bit of this reading my blog.

There is something sublime in Venetian masks. The more I read about their history and background, I cannot help but wonder how local, yet very generic ideas they all represent. Some even apply them to the idea of web anonymity, which I find intriguing. But most of all I like the various types they represent and their own stories. Did you know that Dottore Peste has its own very interesting story?

One of the worst scourges for the city of Venice was without any doubt the Plague, which struck the city on several occasions. Because of this the Plague Doctor isn’t a real mask but was a disguise used by local plague doctors who went on visits wearing this strange costume to people afflicted with plague.
Dottore Peste outfit consisted of a hat to show that the man was a doctor, a mask to protect the face which included crystal eyes to protect the wearer’s eyes and the beak which was stuffed with spices or herbs to purify the air that the doctor breathed, a wooden stick to push away victims who would get too close to him, a pair of leather gloves to protect the hands, a gown waxed from the exterior, and full length boots.

I spend a day of walks around few major areas of the city to understand the major types of Venetian masks and an evening of reading to look into the type I would like to take home. In the end, I listened to my boyfriend’s advice and purchased one made differently than most of the masks available in public stands – one made here, a jester of a less popular shape (this one here):

The origins of the Jester are said to have been in prehistoric Western tribal society. Pliny the Elder mentions a royal Jester (planus regius) when recounting Apelles’ visit to the palace of the Hellenistic King Ptolemy I. However, Jesters are mainly thought of in association with the European Middle Ages. Jester was symbolic twin of the king. All Jesters and fools in those days were thought of as special cases whom God had touched with a childlike madness—a gift, or perhaps a curse. Mentally handicapped people sometimes found employment by capering and behaving in an amusing way. In the harsh world of medieval Europe, people who might not be able to survive any other way thus found a social niche.
Jesters typically wore brightly colored clothing in a motley pattern. Their hats were especially distinctive; made of cloth, they were floppy with three points, each of which had a jingle bell at the end. The three points of the hat represent the asses’ ears and tail worn by jesters in earlier times. Other things distinctive about the jester were his incessant laughter and his mock scepter, known as a bauble or marotte.

I like the idea behind animal masks also, but most of all I really cherish the mastery extended till modern times. Today we were extremely fortunate to come across the workshop which provided some of the masks featured in “Eyes Wide Shut” – a film, in which Venetian masks act as a rather important symbol. They were also selling hand made caleidoscopes – remember those toys we used to have as children? Such a pity you can hardly ever get them nowadays. I hope Dawid will appreciate it for his birthday. The man who sold us the jester mask happens to be the brother of the craftsman himself. As a true Venetian, he not only carried the family pride of the craftsmanship but proved to be a great dealmaker spotting my son’s sad look over a pile of little Pinocchio’s and quickly presenting the boy with a free toy. As you can imagine, we did all our present shipping there, happily:) As happy as when I went to another shop to get a simple pair of red sunglasses and I was told the colour matches me perfectly – graciously, on the way out, with a smile. This is how I will remember Venice this time – history combined with modernity; serious trade with toys, games and gambling; but also the unpredictable play of colours, sounds and gestures. Place where we become children again. Place where our love for life becomes a celebration.

…is fiction, but…this is exactly how I would like to see it all the time. Of course, it is impossible. I am one of the crowd who arrives at this still majestic city in search of glory in its brilliantly carved stones, fabulous bridges, proud people and more commercial image of old times – games, masks, Pinocchio toys in small shops scattered all around the city. Venice was magnificent once, but equally horrifying. I have just learned that the two sculptures working on the famous carvings of the clock on St. Marks square were actually blinded not to repeat the work for someone else! The glass blowers used to live marvellous and honourable life but one lived under the threat of a murder if they would ever decide to leave the city. The fight for power was played in the darkest of the darkest of streets and channels of Venice – so now that I look at the city in the evening light I start to realize the true depth of its corners. Yet, there is always something extremely attractive about the mixture of water, stones, glass and all their colours that make me want to come back – even if I am here in the crowd of random tourists who change the shades of day and night with their cameras. Well, just like me;)

Merry Christmas to you all! Thank you for reading!

I would like to start with expressing my gratitude for the invitation to the Matamorphosis Fundation. The E-Society conference help on the 1st of December in Skopje was my second occasion to learn more about new media and technologies in the region. Last year we talked about various aspects of new media, this year we focussed on government transparency – obviously topic I am increasingly interested in. Myself, I presented (within terrifying 6 minutes!;)) Technology for Transparency Network, but more importantly, I learned a lot of insights about the current state of government transparency – and that from the personalities and companies working directly WITH the government. It is truly amazing how the organisers managed to get onboard so many people involved in current and planned changes within the governmental bodies and local authorities leading to greater civic engagement via online channels. There were moments of scepticism (talking about collecting data and easy access to forms does not equal open data) however I was really happy to see and hear the ideas and investments made by the government of Macedonia and neighbouring countries. A real eye opener! I so wish we could have an equally impressive set of guest at Barcamp Transparency UK in 2011! I am also happy to be back with wiser head and yet another project to document for our network.

Some of you might have noticed my new Facebook avatar – Reksio, puppy character from one of my favourite childhood cartoons. Well, it’s a result of a Facebook meme dedicated to (and I am assuming initiated by) NSPCC. I send regular donations to this organisation as I strongly believe in its aims – children are our future and we need to ensure their safety and happiness. And here all you need to do it change your Facebook avatar!

Change your Facebook profile picture to a cartoon character from your childhood & invite your friends to do the same, for the NSPCC. Until Monday (6th Dec), there should be no human faces on Facebook, but an invasion of memories. This is a campaign to stop violence against children.

NSPCC website is ready for Christmas! I just wish they had some social media icons there too – it would have been easier to link to a blog post for example;) Well, here is one. Join us and let’s talk about Moomins, Smurfs and Super Heroes for our children’s sake!

When Jakub asked me to help out with the translation of the new version of Ushahidi yesterday I was a bit in trouble – ill child in bed, no school due to the cold and snow in the UK, and lots, lots of work after my trip to Skopje! I managed to step in in the evening a little bit, but I am really happy to see Jakub finalizing it all and building yet another good Ushahidi map for my homeland – this time to support people suffering from effects of bad weather.  Now, all we need to do is spread the word about it so that people actually use it.