Gabrielle Brinsmead Blog Website
After planning our move from Karachi, Pakistan to Melbourne, Australia for more than a year, we arrive on Thursday, January 3, at 11 pm. While our first week is exciting, moving in turns out to be even more difficult than we anticipated, with each small win accompanied by a seemingly larger drawback. Back in November, […]
I was raised in a Christian family by very devout parents. My father was a minister while my mother, a classically trained musician, was an organist. For a number of reasons, we all drifted away, but no matter what other pleasures and distractions I eagerly pursued, nothing could fill the giant God-shaped hole in my […]
Our cat Zizi left us yesterday, and it was so hard to say goodbye. For weeks we have known that her last day was approaching, but we kept hoping that she would stay with us a little longer. Her hips collapsed two weeks ago. I found her behind the couch, legs splayed out sideways, unable […]
I was born into a Seventh-day Adventist family who regarded health and holiness as the twin goals of existence. It is thus no surprise that I am devoted to feeling and being well, and am assisted by a growing list of habits.Turmeric and ginger water in the morning, before coffee. A good skin-care routine. Organic […]
Driving into the center of Melbourne, I am dazzled by the clouds, the light, the gardens and the trees. Am I remembering scenes and impressions from my childhood, or is it a shared memory that transports me? As children we only visited Melbourne every second year, but two of my four grandparents were born here, […]
The house is in chaos, and so is my mind. After twelve years in Pakistan, we are moving back to Australia. Blocks of orange, yellow and pink paint represent excitement, anxiety and fear of the unknown. Blue soothes, a reminder that God, our guides and our ancestors will accompany us on this journey. I am […]
An old, unfinished canvas gets updated with a brand-new look. Over two days, I layer cadmium, scarlet, crimson, magenta and rose, then surround it with a contrast of lamp black, olive green and mid-yellow. I add splotches in the same green-black tones, beginning gently and slowly and rapidly increasing in force, until I am breathless […]
