In the past I've written of things that charm, that awed or inspired. There is much indeed to prompt a sense of wonder in our world. Yet real life does not abide in those comfortable places long. There is much encountered that is raw and bitter to the tongue. There are battles with comprehension and things that prick our conscience. Ugliness cannot be avoided in the end. While these things are acknowledged and examined they are not condoned or embraced. There is much to learn from all aspects of life. Within these pages I've woven a fabric of life's coarser textures; putting a face on curiosities, contrasts and pains, I trust they will illuminate our human condition in ways that engage.