A (not so)
personal
diary

“He thought (...) that beauty was not a luxury, luxurious and unnecessary things were actually unbeautiful, since beauty was closely allied to necessity and nature. (...) needful things had dignity and deserved to be made seriously and well.” Olivia Laing – The Garden against time ✒This summer, instead of seeking sun-drenched coasts, we chose a quiet village in my home country, craving for respite and a slower pace. We rarely visit the places we come from, somehow assuming “back home” will always be there. As such I humbly rediscovered why roots matter, perhaps a reflection of age - a certain sensitivity and porousness that comes with it, but not only. The village, set in the heart of Transylvania, dates from early 14th century, the house we lived in - a traditional saxon house - preserved at a maximum of its original state, whilst still ensuring a decent level of comfort and utility. We felt disarmed and somewhat overwhelmed by the absolute harmony of all that surrounded us. Everything had endured and belonged to its place, nothing superfluous or purely decorative but all handcrafted and cared for: wooden cabinets, painted benches, hand weaved carpets and curtains filtering the daylight, all softened gracefully by time. There was a comforting sense of continuity - feeling at home in a place made home by others – the simple people of the village - long before our arrival. A state of peace embraced us as we unpacked, we were in the presence of beauty. Words and picture by Madalina Anghelescu