Snowed In

It started snowing here on the 16th of December, There was a thin film of the old style proper snow - the big flakes, or 'bin lids' as my mam calls them. As I returned from Bristol on the 21st an inch had brought the city to a stand still and cast the airport in to chaotic delay. As I look out the window today most of the snow has gone though there is a random patchwork on the hills. To my mind that makes a month of snow on the ground. The mercury is slightly above freezing.

We had a white xmas and a white New Year. Extreme weather events meant that i was snowed in alone at New Year and I remained snowed in for over a week. A lot of time and energy were bound up in the routine of coal and wood and keeping warm, keeping the chickens happy (or as happy as they could be given the minus 10 nights and minus 3 days). The Morso squirrel was a legend that never went out for 10 days. The occasional frozen spring meant no water and that means no central heating. It was all quite surreal, groundhog day gives an idea but doesn't explain the reality.

There was extreme beauty with the extreme weather. 2 metre icicles from the gutter. Fantastic ice crystals that you only get when the temperature is arctic cold. Immense hoar frosts that betrayed the direction of the winds. And then yes, a whole period of time where no wind blew at all. Perfect stillness. A rarity given the location and where for the past 3 years the vegetable crop has suffered due to the relentless westerly winds. On one still evening i ventured out and produced a light installation

So the snow grew deeper and became compacted. The bin man hasn't been for a month, the post man couldn't get through for over a week. At least the phone line stayed in, i don't know if i could have handled total solitary. And then last sunday the barn behind us collapsed with the weight of the thawing snow.

Here's the icicles

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.