Tindersticks

Last night I felt like I was in a Tindersticks song - I had the photo's out and yes the rain was coming in through the roof and through the ceiling and then down the walls.

Arvon

So this sign was just opposite the gate to Lumb Bank. Helpful or Threatening? You decide!

This caught my eye on the way to the grave of Sylvia Plath

Why would someone put this on her grave?
Or all this plastic tat?

ARVON 41

Much to my surprise - and joy oh joy! I have been awarded an Arvon 41 bursary place at one of the Arvon Foundation's (have I used my apostrophe correctly?) residential writing courses.

NEW STUDIO

A new venture. This week I took the keys of my new studio. I haven't had a proper studio since Waygood. That's a long time. It was there i realised the benefit a studio gives. However there is always that "Can I afford to have it? - Can I afford not to have it? dilemma. So I have taken the leap and will spend the winter making/creating in a much more focussed (hopefully) way.

A blurred camera phone image to give a hint of the flavour

At the moment it's bare - apart from the first few bits i could take. It will be becoming more studio like in the very near future. It's going to have to lure me in and make that hour long drive seem like a good thing - i know how grim winter driving is - and that whole leave in the dark get home in the dark thing . At the moment though it's all joy. I just picked up an overhead projector off freecycle so that will be making it's way studio bound soon. Beginnings - always exciting as they unfurl.

Outside In

On the 7th of august I was Lucky enough to attend the opening of Outside In at Pallant House Chichester. This is the Biennial of Outsider Art and it is a real privilege to be in such a brilliantly curated exhibition. Marc (Steene) and Kate (Hadley) have done an amazing job in pulling this off. The show runs until 8th November. http://www.outsidein.org.uk/

Nature

Today i found 5 baby rabbits in a hole in my garden - no sign of mum. So I put aside my fear of furry things, and put them in a box and drove them to where i know there are other baby rabbits. Whilst rabbits do destroy my vegetables i couldn't bring myself to despatch them with the back of my shovel or let the terriers (not mine) have sight of them and then face the carnage that would have undoubtedly ensued. I pondered this moral dilemma over a cup of tea which was not without stress as i was hoping the sparrow hawk wouldn't come a visiting as it is currently teaching baby to hunt.