MAXI

Yesterday we prepared a short club demonstration for visitors in a shopping mall in Ljubljana. I spoke a lot, Tereza, Matej in Joze were working. It was quite refreshing after three days of illness, although tiring for a weak body ... But it is important that soul is flying! And we earned some money for our next year's international exhibition. I was surprised but also delighted that some of the people were there specially for our demonstration and they were there until the end. Feelings? Good, of course ...

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Včeraj smo v Maxiju v Ljubljani za obiskovalce v okviru kluba pripravili krajšo predstavitev bonsajizma. Veliko sem govoril, Tereza, Matej in Jože so delali. Po treh dneh bolezni je bilo prav osvežujoče, čeprav naporno za šibko telo ... A pomembno je, da duša leti! Pa še nekaj denarja za razstavo prihodnje leto bo padlo. Presenetilo a razveselilo me je dejstvo, da je nekaj ljudi tja prišlo prav zaradi nas in so vztrajali do konca. Občutki? Jasno, spet dobri ...

DEČIN

After we met Tomaž at main Prague railway station there was still one hour of driving waiting to be done. This time Czech bonsai association organized its annual exhibition in Decin, near German border, at mighty river Lab. Vaclav Novak, the president of association, gathered a nice international group of demonstrators (I was one of them), there were also demonstrations of Czech bonsaist and New talent contest. Even more then trees on exhibition the pots were really excellent. Czech and Slovak potters are really great masters.

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Potem, ko sva Tomaža pobrala na glavni železniški postaji v Pragi, je bilo pred nami še dobro uro vožnje proti severu. Vsakoletno nacionalno razstavo je Češka bonsajska zveza tokrat organizirala v Dečinu, na nemški meji, ob mogočni Labi. Vaclav Novak, predsednik zveze, je na razstavi zbral pisano mednarodno druščino demonstratorjev, bogat program so z svojimi demonstracijami dopolnili najboljši češki bonsajisti in tekmovanje novih talentov. Še bolj kot drevesa, so navdušile posode. Toliko čudovitih posod na eni razstavi še ni bilo videti. Češki in Slovaški lončarji so izdelovanje bonsajskih posod izpopolnili do popolnosti!

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Decin castle over heading the town which is slowly gaining his old glory after falling of socialism. 12. national exhibition was in private cultural center which was once prestigious shooting range. 

"Oh, you are all here, you east european bonsai mafia," Walter Pall saluted, he was a main demonstrator and moderator. In international group of demonstrators were also Kestutis Ptakauskas from Litva. Uwe Krotenherdt from Germany, Enrique Castano from Mexico, Vladimir Ondrejcik from Slovakia and me. Vaclav Novak was a great host and four days in Decin were special. 

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Dečinski grad kraljuje nad mestom, ki po propadu socializma počasi spet dobiva minuli meščanski sijaj. 12. vsedržavno razstavo je gostilo nekdanje prestižno strelišče, zdaj zasebni kulturni center.

"O, saj ste vsi tu, vsa vzhodnoevropska bonsajistična mafija," je pozdravil Walter Pall, tokratni glavni demonstrator in moderator, poleg njega smo mednarodno vrsto sestavljali še Kestutis Ptakauskas iz Litve, Uwe Krotenheerdt iz Nemčije, Enrique Castano iz Mehike, Vladimir Ondrejčik iz Slovaške in moja malenkost. Vaclav Novak je kot gostitelj poskrbel za vse in štirje dnevi v Dečinu so minili v sijajnem vzdušju.

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Friday morning we were exploring the suroundings. We visited the Silent gorge, cut into send stone, part of national park a few kilometers north of Decin. In such places one can always find something for bonsai inspiration ...

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Petkovo dopoldne smo izkoristili za raziskovanje okolice. Obiskali smo Tiho sotesko, ki jo je v sklade peščenjakov nekaj kilometrov severno od Dečina vrezal pritok Labe in je zdaj del narodnega parka. Paša za dušo in telo; vedno pa se na takšnih krajih najde tudi kaj, kar je lahko bonsajska inspiracija ...

The main event was Saturdays simultaneous demonstrations by six international masters. The main role was taken by Walter Pall who was once again excellent preacher and rhetoric but bad demonstrator. I was working on Juniperus chinensis, Raje was my assistant (without his help I would never finished the tree), at the end even Tomaz helped with wiring. But even so four hours were too short to finished all details. But feelings were good, tree has a good future.

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Osrednji dogodek je bila sobotna simultana demonstracija šestih mednarodnih mojstrov. Glavno vlogo je prevzel Walter Pall, ki se je ponovno izkazal za izjemnega govorca in retorika a slabega demonstratorja. Delal sem na kitajskem brinu, asistiral je Raje, brez njegove pomoči seveda ne bi šlo, na koncu je vskočil še Tomaž. Pa so bile štiri ure vseeno premalo za dokončanje čisto vseh podrobnosti. A občutek je bil dober. Drevo čaka lepa prihodnost.

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V konkurenci približno sto dobrih dreves je glavno nagrado v združeni kategoriji odnesel Michal Budik z svojo izjemno kompozicijo šohinov v izjemnih posodah Klike&Kuratkove. Nasploh so na razstavi navduševale posode čeških in slovaških lončarjev; posode iz centra v Nitri so od svetovne konvencije sem tudi uradno najboljše na svetu!

Krasna bukev Vaclava Novaka

Izjemna sahalinska smreka Kestutisa Ptakauskasa

Zmagovalna kompozicija Michala Budika

Čehi so z razstavo dokazali, da sodijo med pomembnejše bonsajske narode. Mi smo ponovno odnesli nove izkušnje, znanje in predvsem nova prijateljtsva; tista stara so le poglobljena. Bonsajisti smo velika družina, ki jo druži ljubezen do lepega.

Raje je na poti domov na dušek prebral knjigo, Tomaž je menjal CD-je, mene je zaposlovala vožnja. Vsi pa smo bili z mislimi pri drevesih. In tišina je bila zgovorna ...

ZAKLAD

Today Andrej took me to his treasure. To picea which is close to 600 years old, some might say. No matter how old it is, it is an extraordinary finding and excellent material. We prepared it for next year digging. We returned home with another spruce, which will now be part of mine collection. Thank you Andrej!

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Danes me je Andrej peljal k svojemu zakladu. K blizu 600 let stari smreki, bi rekli nekateri. Kolikor je že stara, gre za izjemno najdbo in vrhunski materijal. Pripravila sva jo za izkop za naslednjo jesen. Domov sva se vrnila z drugo smreko, ki je obogatila mojo zbirko. Andrej hvala!

Tomorrow morning me and Raje will travel towards Czech republic. In Prague we'll meet Tomaž and together we'll be guest at XII. national exhibition in Decin. My demonstration will take part in Saturday. Report will follow!

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Jutri zjutraj z Rajetom odrineva proti Češki. V Pragi pobereva še Tomaža, potem pa bomo gostje na XII. nacionalni razstavi v Dečinu. Moja demonstracija bo v soboto. Se beremo!

ZA DUŠO

Today I was biking again and of course I was looking around for yamadoris. Oh yes, I'll return up there as soon as possible. And I am in good shape too - a climb which I was never able to ride is now my new trophy. A feeling of fulfilment is doubled. And views are astonishing ...

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Dopoldne sem bil spet na kolesu in se seveda oziral za jamadoriji. O ja, tja gor se bo treba čim prej vrniti. Pa še v dobri formi sem - klanec, ki ga doslej še nisem uspel zvoziti, je nova osvojena lovorika. Občutek izpolnjenosti je tako dvojen. Da razgledov ne omenjam ... 

This is Triglav, the highest Slovenian mountain through spokes of my bike ...

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Takole se je skozi špice mojega kolesa videl Triglav ...

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When I was returning home I stopped in Tora for making some good photos of juniper which I was working on in Pordenone in Sunday. Yes, there is good future waiting it!

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Nazaj grede sem se ustavil še v Tori, da sem napravil nekaj boljših posnetkov brina, ki sem ga v nedeljo oblikoval v Pordenonu. Jap, čaka ga lepa prihodnost!

LUNA

I thought that I'll just be among the visitors in Pordenone. But It was not so. Early sun, on the western part of the sky was still moon in its full glory, we were on our way to Italy. Roberto Nogeroth organized a meeting in Villa Varda. There were Italian, Austrian and Slovenian clubs. This was an extraordinary day; a lot of laughing, I was enjoying with my tree.



Mislil sem, da se bom srečanja v Pordenonu udeležil le kot gledalec. Pa je naneslo drugače. S prvimi sončnimi žarki, ko je na zahodnem delu neba še kraljevala luna (a ne Raje), smo bili že na poti v Italijo. Roberto Nogherot je v vili Varda organiziral srečanje italijanskih, avstrijskih in slovenskih klubov. Bil je izjemen dan; veliko smeha, sam sem neizmerno užival v ustvarjanju svojega drevesa.


Roberto Nogeroth - always full of energy


Roberto Nogeroth - vedno poln energije in dobre volje


I was working on juniperus rigida. With friends watching me and Raje were enjoying our trees and in the end we were satisfied with the results.
From complicated material I created a han-kengai with a lot of shari. Tree has strong character and when it will be transplanted into proper pot next spring this will be a fine bonsai!


Delal sem na trdolistnem brinu. S prijatelji za hrbtom, sva z Rajetom uživala vsak na svojem drevesu in bila na koncu z rezultatom zadovoljna.
Iz dokaj zahtevnega materiala sem ustvaril polkaskado, z veliko suhega lesa, ki ga bom seveda še dopolnjeval. Drevo ima izjemen karakter in ko ga bom naslednjo pomlad presadil v primerno posodo bo to bonsaj kot se šika!

Thanks Raje, Andrej and all the others who did make this day extraordinary!

Tako prijetnega bonsajskega dne že dolgo nisem doživel. Hvala Rajetu in Andreju in vsem ostalim, ki ste dan napravili izjemen!

OGENJ

Juniper, which was first time styled last December in Tora, was re-styled today. I was not satisfied with it, so in the spring I cut all the wire off and let it grow freely. Now it was time for shaping. Tomaž was my assistant ant there is a completely new tree:

Kitajski brin, ki sva ga z Rajetom oblikovala lani decembra, je doživel preobrazbo. Spomladi nisem bil zadovoljen z njegovim izgledom, zato sem ga razžičil in pustil prosto rasti. Zdaj je bil čas za novo oblikovanje. Na pomoč je priskočil Tomaž in tu je povsem novo drevo:

I wanted to film this re-stiling. But it was something wrong with camera. If I'll save some material I'll publish it.
In Sunday Raje will be the main man in Pordenone, then we'll travel to Czech Republic. On their national exhibition I'll be one of the demonstrators. This time Raje will be my assistant.

Zgodbo preoblikovanja sem hotel ujeti tudi na filmski trak. Žal je v nepravem času zatajila tehnika. Če bom nekaj materiala le uspel rešiti, ga seveda objavim.
Prsti so torej ogreti. V nedeljo je na vrsti Pordenone, kjer bo v glavni vlogi Rajko, potem pa že potujemo na Češko, kjer bom na njihovi nacionalni razstavi nastopil kot demonstrator. Tokrat mi bo Raje pomagal.

P.S.: I named this tree Fire. Anyone knows why?

P.S.: Drevo sem poimenoval Ogenj. Ali kdo ve zakaj?