TomQhat

Living Intuitively

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Braniff, 1953

Theme Week: Travel 🌎

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This was one of the happiest days of my life (11 Sept 2017). Tomorrow, the @johannesburgqueerchorus resumes rehearsals, which I’m also pretty happy about! It’ll be an all-masked, distanced, and ventilated affair, but with the positive vaccine trial news today hopefully we’ll be back to a non-masked reality soon! As will my brothers at the @bgmc1982 😘 (at Norwood, Gauteng) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHYkpyTJQY6VbSf6ckwPEx4TJfDzZO4CNa0hys0/?igshid=joz0kp66hwqv

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During my time studying in America, I grew to love and appreciate the American constitutional project. This is a nation of strong and layered institutions which collectively make for a very effective state - both from a bureaucratic and from a democratic point of view. It is by no means clean or a walk in the park, but it does embody a sincere vision for governance by the people, for the people. In the photo above, I read out a prepared statement on behalf of a global organization representing informal worker rights to a committee of legislators in New York City hearing public submissions on a proposed street vendor bill. The process enthralled me in its inherent sense of contestation - a true agora of diverse views jockeying for attention.

I mention this experience today perhaps for obvious reasons: that I hope Trump is booted out of office because he is corralling an attack against the foundations of American democracy, and that I hope he does not dispute a losing outcome because this would cause a constitutional crisis, the likes of which America has never seen (at least since the Civil War).

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I started a choir called the Johannesburg Queer Chorus. Like all choirs, we were affected negatively by Covid-19, and had to abandon rehearsals after having only ONE rehearsal. But I nevertheless managed to get together an awesome group of people, and we’re planning to get together again on November 10th. It’ll be an all-masked affair - nose & mouth - AT ALL TIMES, and will take place in a socially distanced and well-ventilated hall. We’re also having special masks designed for us that allow for greater room around your nose & mouth, making it a bit easier to sing. It’s also a bit more ‘structural’ in nature, meaning the cloth doesn’t get sucked in every time you take a deep breath. This graphic was made by my talented partner in celebration of Joburg Pride this past weekend (30 October).

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134 days to Midsummer: I’ve stopped doing a daily countdown but I’ll still try keep track of the amount of days to midsummer because I’m fairly keen to get beyond this Winter of discontent (it’s already warming up, halleloo!). This Arum Lily next to the outdoor shower is the happiest plant because it benefits from *oodles* of water daily from the shower. As such, there is usually always a flower or at least one about to poke its head through. #tomsolstice (at Norwood, Gauteng) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDuFu3apex_6ZWVa1ksuN57ncat03uX6KbLta80/?igshid=1j0qaqxr9amss

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Day 137 of 140: Thomas, property of the University of the Witwatersrand. (Legit love these masks which I found popped into my pigeon hole yesterday.) #tomsolstice (at Norwood, Gauteng) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDmmWQnJ16F28akvsCFaPmm2SByY7L6lb6s69U0/?igshid=jqltkyt496h5

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139 days to Midsummer: These two generally live their best life in the Coggin-Trangoš household, but Wintery-light afternoons spent on the spare bed elevate that life even further. And why not? #tomsolstice (at Norwood, Gauteng) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDhWJSZpRC54rVKiuXnRiogynlVc-2PX8Jmegk0/?igshid=17mzeyzz6ctju

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140 days to Midsummer: This entrance way is something. Discovered today whilst exploring a new route with @harrybearandfridapear. #tomsolstice (at Houghton, Johannesburg) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDe0uHfpJijfbmjNMi00htRRoOuHQTgdpsFyhc0/?igshid=vz5w7rhffkuw

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141 days to Midsummer: This is a lazy post, but meh it’s been a day of Zoom and more Zoom. I recently crossed the 2000-post landmark, which seems significant enough to ponder. This shitty photo was my first photo ever posted on the Gram, taken with an iPod Touch I purchased after saving up during my articles of clerkship and after writing my first set of board exams (which were bloody awful). I had been using my trusty Blackberry to take photos up until then and posted them on a blog called JoziBerry which then changed to JoziPod once the iPod came on board. As you can see, it took ***terrible*** photos, but I thought it was absolutely marvellous, and found this new app (Instagram) even more amazing (along with Doodle Jump) because of all these really cool filters you could apply to photos to give them a distinct air about them. I actually still love this app, TBH, probably because I’ve always treated it as more of a blog than anything else, and so it’s very much my space (lolz see what I did there) that I treasure for its memories and reflections. Poor old 1Time though - a pity they did not survive! #tomsolstice (at O.R. Tambo International Airport) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDcVwkupiaIRg2LbWNJaZ8NLIAPQiuOPB3NRzo0/?igshid=r1rdn1so2ini

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141 days to Midsummer: Today I finally had the chance to visit @victoria_yards. “Through building an eco-system where tenants thrive as a community, Victoria Yards presents a uniquely integrated urban complex that is as much about social development as it is commercial enterprise.” I *loved* the vibe! Warmer weather, the sound of a solo saxophonist drifting through the narrow corridors, the vendors selling unique & interesting ware (the Orange & Sweet Basil Lemonade was incredible) and eager to reflect a vibrant local economy, the fresh vegetables being grown almost everywhere it seems as part of its urban farm project, and the serenity of the space in general... all created a very good vibe indeed. Of course, the COVID cloud was there, but everyone was masked and seemed resigned to this new normality of mask wearing, hand sanitising, and distancing as much as possible. #tomsolstice (at Victoria Yards) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDZm4DyJqpmL-mbbBV2aOuk1pTTPCFDzhiDaBI0/?igshid=9qdm3vify95g

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143 days to Midsummer: Afternoon tea, a rusk, and puzzling are just fabulous! This puzzle is higher grade though: its shapes and colours play tricks on your mind. Just like a puzzle should, of course! ‘Twas a wholesome day in general, which included a pleasant diversion off the usual walking routes, watching the goofy Kath & Kimderella, and the deliciously witty & HILARIOUS mockumentary abut vampires on Staten Island, What we do in the shadows. #tomsolstice (at Norwood, Gauteng) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDXHWqzJC1o/?igshid=1fmgeg7nxmb6s

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145 days to Midsummer: The clue for this week’s #guessthecityfriday is the river. It’s long. #tomsolstice (at Guess Where) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDUg9nNJ-j2/?igshid=1f1so1cugotby

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145 days to Midsummer: A lake with @jmnosek on it to provide me with a segue into my thoughts on Ozark. We finished season 3 today, and I was completely mesmerized by @tommypelphrey ‘s performance. He deserves an Emmy for his beautifully textured portrayal of someone struggling with mental illness. The whole show is pretty amazing though. Highly recommended! #tomsolstice (at Boston, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDSAxcups5Q/?igshid=mtk7tdempaw1

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146 days to Midsummer: Frida Pear. Artwork in the background (or part thereof), of which we are the caretakers, is by @Gawie_joubert. We love it! #tomsolstice (at Norwood, Gauteng) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDPZPq8J-WS/?igshid=pivzdo91nwth

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147 days to Midsummer: This evening’s quiz with @letsgetquizzicalsa hosted by Gugu the Quizmaestro, aka Googles. Three questions from the quiz for you to answer: 1. Solve the anagram on the screen. 2. What is the name for a public transport minibus in Nairobi? 3. In what year was Umkhonto weSizwe formed? #tomsolstice (at Norwood, Gauteng) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDM0EoEpI7M/?igshid=ti5ya85hmxeg

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148 days to Midsummer: Phumza the Social Distancing Bear (who, incidentally, is exactly 2 months younger than I am) was canning themselves with laughter when I told them my latest joke. #tomsolstice (at Norwood, Gauteng) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDKM2LkJHRp/?igshid=1bc5zszqbr5mf