words amongst work

Blogging today amidst great activity to prepare for the first floor floor. Tracey's vacuuming the insulation space, James is measuring and drilling for lights, then Paul follows with more drilling and fitting. We've just had a very long discussion about where to put the bottom of the stairs lights ... lots of choice, many different opinions -so everything is normal here then.

I've drafted my first assignment poem for The Poetry School's on line course No Surprise for the Writer No Surprsie for the Reader; I have until Monday to acheive the required syllable count -something I always find very difficult.   The idea is to aim for uneven syllables but in a pattern ... well, we will see.
The other part of the assignment was to start with a walk down a snowy lane so memories of last year were necessary -there aren't even visible snow peaks on the Pryenees at the moment although I'm assured there's snow on the ski slopes.

Our indoor Hyacinths are slowly opening up, pink, then white and now blue blooms filling the house with their very special fragrence ... and now more vacumming to remove all the wood dust that has drifted, inevitably downwards .. its time to do something esle.

a return to prose

Morning writing today was more prose … maybe the start of a poem but maybe some flash or very short fiction … that feels like a return to a place I haven’t been for a while. I'm thinking that it  may be good to do this with support .. maybe an online course to start with, the Fish Publishing one looks OK and possibly an Arvon course this year some time. It would be good to go back to Shropshire, The house there was a great place to relax and write when I was there in 2009..

Wonderful walk with Crumble today, the long way round to the village with lots of inspiration for writing small stones.. I’m still confused by the Writing Your Way Home website/blog/Ning –can’t quite understand how it all fits together.    

I've added some new blogs that I’ve been reading to this blog. The piece about having extended plies of Books To Be Read or BTBRs resonated with me –something for the resolutions list.

Wood is being chopped and stacked as I write this. Its still sunny and warm but each night brings frost to the ground so those logs are very welcome. I woke today to see a blackbird rummaging in the stiff leaf litter under the tree outside my room, he had a very effective beak throwing technique, over his head  -all in aid of clearing the way for worm hunting, I guess? .

And in my inbox today some work! Will look more closely at that after the weekend … and will also need to find some time to start writing the second guide to education systematic review research for BEME . Presently, that has little appeal but once I get going it’ll be fine … 

writing time

I’m paying attention to my writing time, practicing the small stone thing and yesterday wrote something that could be a short story –something I’ve not done since I finished my creative writing diploma and that was four years ago. All to do with the topic –sometimes the idea for writing is there but its not one for poetry, maybe because for me ideas in poetry come from within the writing, they don't drive it.

Felt good to just write but I need to resolve the issue of by hand or on the computer with this longer writing –or at least to ponder on whether it matters and whether it has to be one way or the other.

The new quilt in progress  is progressing but rather slowly. Lots of cutting yesterday until I realised that the sea and sky fabric definitely had a one way pattern, So, a revision of the block pattern after a slow spread of fabric over the biggest table we have and much thinking about what to do. Rather like in poetry the form, or in this case the block pattern, is a support and a restraint, a way forward until a diversion becomes necessary. So, some blocks will go in another direction to deal with those upside down clouds.

Time to go … we have friends coming for lunch. Our turn to repay their hospitality earlier this week, to share the Christmas cake and Stolen and try the pineapple cutter James bought back from Hawaii.

the day after Christmas

the sun is breaking through the fog, we’ve gathered up a little of the wrapping paper that Crumble has scattered … and I’ve been ‘slow’ listening and reading. Listened to Andrew Marr interview David Hockney  -just listened … lots in there about paying attention, about light and colour and ipad drawing,  and now I know that abstract painters don’t, apparently, use much green. Hockney’s RA exhibition sounds interesting–especially having heard about  some of the ideas behind its construction. A date for my diary.

Then with coffee and toast I slowly read an A D Millar, (he of Snowdrops) short story in the Economist .. need to practise that lots more. I wonder where rereading fits with slow reading and close reading … mmmm.

Walked one of my favourite routes yesterday morning  -along the set aside by the edge of the woods and then up the hill, throwing sticks for Crumble, watching birds flit in and out of the hedgerows, the house a glow of terracotta in the distant glow.

                                           

Christmas Eve jottings

Wonderful sunny day –ideal for market shopping. It always amazes me how many boxes of oysters each fish stall has at this time of the year –the French really do the fish thing at Christmas. We settled for squid, prawns and a very large plump plaice.

Mince pies are made, there’s enough macaroons to feed the village & unsurprisingly lots of mayonnaise. The Christmas cake is covered with hand skinned, filleted and toasted almond, hazelnuts and pecans which means that the topping took longer to prepare than the cake  –but that’s what Christmas Eve is for.

James arrived late afternoon so now we have crackers. The present pile gest bigger each time I look –Crumble has given everything a good sniff so fingers crossed its all still intact in the morning.

Time to wish you all a Happy Christmas, and for one last check on the NORAD website –Santa was in Saudi Arabia last time I looked!

and the mist cleared

A typical Enmatte wintery day,waking to fog that finally clears for a sunny walk over the fields & into the woods. As usual the dogs, especially Crumble, covered a greater distance than me! There’s young wheat, freshly green, growing in machine controlled rows, dead branches covered with turquoise lichen and coffee coloured slippy Le Gers clay   .. much to pay attention to for more small stones.

Lots of creativity in the house today. I’ve started cutting fabric for a new quilt –so wonderful to be able to spread everything out and leave it all out until I'm done. Paul has turned the kitchen into a macaroon production line –he’s planning boxes of them for Christmas gifts. The pistachio ones get my top vote.  My turn in there next as the Christmas Cake needs decorating.

It feels good to be back into writing regularly again … even if its just this blog and a few practice small stones ..its putting the words together, towards more.  .

@ Enmatte, Dec 21st

Feels so good to be here again … even tho’ its rather damp and  Toulouse was deep in mist when my flight arrived. All the villages are decorated, some more tastefully than others -we passed one house that must have bought the shop out of Christmas lights.

I’m always amazed how short a time it takes for me to settle in again –suitcases are unpacked, I’ve found the French plug for my laptop and had lots of cuddles with Crumble& Cookie. Even Tom put in an appearance although I think that was for food and not in my honour at all.

There is change as always and this time its a brand new shower room for me! A stunning room, with Tracey’s usual high standard of tiling and everything that needs water in good working order thanks to Paul. Just needs the floor in the rest of the space and that’s waiting to be unpacked. I’m writing this in the family room which now has the most amazing down lighting … so much better than the strung up strip light that was here when I left at the end of August.   Photos will follow.

The house is filing with the fragrance of the fish stew Paul’s cooking –its time to put more logs in the burner and for a glass of wine.

Mid winters day

Good morning –just realised its Dec 21st –always a turning point for me. So good to look forward to days getting longer, a lightening of the the morning dark and bird song.

Delivered last of my Christmas gifts last night to the sound of local Carol Singers –as always here singing in the dark …  except for all the strings of flickering festive lights. 

Next entry will be from Enmatte … so looking forward to the tranquillity it offers, I’m ready for the opportunity to write more, read more –presently I’m still deep in The Field Guide to Getting Lost and, as always, to being in the kitchen cooking with Paul, dogs around our feet waiting to be walked..

last minute catch up

Just back from lunch at Mimi’s –healthy soup and not so healthy but very delicious chocolate brownie and last minute Christmas shopping. Looking forward to almost being at Enmatte this time tomorrow and very excited that my floor has arrived …its going to be my top Christmas present I think  -tough choice cause I’ve already had some wonderful ones.

Spent a great weekend in Camber –family Christmas meal & bracing walk on the beach admiring the forbearance of long board surfers, crunching shells into wet sand with some precious memories close to hand.

Have packed my new poetry notebook –ready for the writing of small stones and hopefully other poems. Suitcase feels heavy –Christmas cake, a stollen, just a few books, lots of wrapped parcels and a collection of journals and bits from the newspapers I’ve not yet read  oh and some yarn that needs dying  … nearly ready.

writing practice

Started a beautiful new poetry notebook today from Running Press –the paper feels as though it will receive my words with kindness and attention. First of my practice writing small stones is in there

evening sky, clouds couched with sliver thread above a balcony of fading cerise

also thinking about a poem relating to the installations and art in the Turner Contemporary in Margate –so well curated, mixing words, video, sculpture, and  some early work by Turner with sketches by novice artists and of course, many that I have not heard of. It was great to visit with Bev and Andy with their knowledge and insights. The surroundings are not that special, Margate seemed a long way from anywhere else; on the edge –made me wonder if living on the edge of your country makes a difference – mmm

The ten stitch blanket is progressing –its a great tv project now I’ve mastered how to turn a short row corner and decided on the colour scheme.  Only tv I can’t knit through is The Killing –need to keep my eyes on those sub-titles..

One Man, Two Governors

Saw One Man, Two Governors yesterday, its wonderful, –tear jerkingly funny, acted with perfect timing, it bought back some great memories of the 60’s and Brighton for me, and the live music was a surprise and so good. Go see, that’s if you can get a ticket!

Dull day here presently, my Christmas gifts, bought throughout the year, are spread out ready for wrapping but a few are missing so a second cupboard hunt is needed.  Catch up news on sewing etc is that the patchwork bag is finished (pic to follow) and a pair of mitten ready for cold weather walking. Now learning how to knit a stash busting blanket with 10 stitches and lots of turning corners ….

more later, need to eat before I go to the gym –not been for a while so it maybe a tough hour