Robert Woof anniversary

Today Dr. Robert Woof was buried in Grasmere, under the mountain and near Wordsworth's Dove Cottage, a few years ago in 2005. Above you see him with his wife Pamela. Incredible people both of them, larger than life as the expression goes.

The November Full Moon

Moon in the water by Pat de Groot

The Adoption Papers

Yesterday we went to see The Adoption Papers by Jackie Kay at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester.
It was publishefd as a book of poetry originally and then later adapted to the stage by Jackie Kay herself.
Performed by three actresses in a black box theatre where we sat in the square as it were. The staging was very simple and effective. 3 chairs in a triangle form several paces apart, and three large clear perspex panels suspended from the ceiling in order to create different spaces for the actors.
One was the birth mother, the second the adopted mother and the third was the adopted daughter. A very tight and emotionally honest piece and it was really good.
The only improvement could have been in a clearer ending, some sense of closure or a natuaral point of leaving off. As it was we were left hanging and not knowing if the piece was over or not. It may not have been in the writing per se but rather in the staging or even acting I am not sure which. I would like to see it again very much.
It can be read as The Adoption Papers published by Bloodaxe Books. The three voices are made clear by different typefaces.
A very thought-provoking piece and it also really helped me get into the problematic and issues of adoption and what it can bring up for all the different individuals involved.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I confess I feel nostalgic about this holiday. I used to love it when I lived in the States. A group of friends getting together with great food, conversation, walks and talks and togetherness. Of course each year was different since I did not have "family" as such there. I enjoy looking back over the many Thanksgivings and remembering each one's pros and cons. One year when Greg cooked his first turkey, the turkey was the other red meat!
I especially loved the ones I spent on Cape Cod! Local cranberries picked and used for the cranberry sauce and relish.
In any case this holiday is the least commercial and the most about being. Eating in good company and enjoying it. Hopefully!
However the Native Americans do not celebrate this holiday since it led to a massacre when they so kindly came to share their food with the starving pilgrims.

New arrival

Welcome Thomas Gordon born on Nov 11th 2007 in Devon to Eleanor Gordon!
Armistice Day as well so easy to remember.
Congratulations to Ele and Thomas, as well as Linda and Alex and Edwin, all of the Gordon clan!
I am looking forward to a picture soon!

Night mare

A recent night mare is still haunting me.
I am held hostage by a man in a hotel room on the 30th floor or higher.
He has a gun and holds it to my head. He says that the only way you can escape is by suicide, jumping to your death from the window basically.
I spend a long time looking down from the window in fear.
It is a dream that will not stop, seems to go on and on and I can not get out of it.
Suddenly Joel was there as well as a hostage.
The man, who now is called Udo Breger, has to go to the bathroom at the back of the hotel room and I see my chance. I go to the door but can not for my life open it. My limbs feel like lead.
We hear him in the bathroom and he comes out wearing some kind of sash partly over his head.
There is no escape but suicide or death by bullet.

Happy Birthday Ken and Ben!

Two Scorpios, one a very old friend from Cambridge, Mass. days and the other an old friend of Noah's from NYC days!
We had lost touch with them both but I talked to Ken over the weekend which was lovely! I hope we will reach Ben today!