So far

2009 has so far been very good to me in terms of productivity.

Firtsly, in January Bloodaxe Books' Alternative Anthem by John Agard came out with a DVD of a couple of his live performances which I had put together. It was a good accompaniment to the book because John is an amazing performer and it really gives an insight to his work to see him perform it. I enjoyed working on that very much.

Secondly, Life is IMMENSE visiting Samuel Menashe is a 66 mins DVD accompanying his book with Bloodaxe Books coming out in June. That film was a great challenge to make. From hours of incredible footage shot at his apartment in Manhattan last year I had to do what a sculptor does and that is chip away at the stone rather than add. It was very hard to select the material because everything was good. Samuel is great! In the end I feel quite good about the film and I think it does Samuel justice. It will be shown at Ledbury Poetry festival in July 2009. That is a wonderful full circle because that is where I met Samuel last year.

Thirdly, the next film is Borderline, a work in process, being shown in late June at a symposium on Northernness at Northumbria University organised by Ysanne Holt. I have been responding to Tarset where I live since I moved here and few years ago. Filming things that interest me and occur to me as very specific to here.
There are extremes I am trying to capture: Silence and Noise, Vastness and Claustrophobia, Beauty and Bleakness, Stillness and Busyness, Birth and Death...
It is an ongoing project and I can imagine that it will always be in process as I continue to respond to my surroundings in Tarset.

That is the first half of this year!

Eden Nede

I want to address the issue of the bucolic pastoral idyll that seeps through onto these blog pages!
From reading DJANG it most probably seems like an idyllic Eden here.
However...
In reality living isolated and so remotely rural can be quite challenging.
It gets lonely, especially when the weather is inclement and the great outdoors, the very reason to be here at all, is out of reach.
A car is a necessity, and errands take time since the nearest Market town is at least 20 miles away.
Any cultural events taking place let's say in Newcastle or Edinburgh is a serious drive, an expedition! Now add precarious weather to the equation...
For all that life is rewarding here. A closeness to nature and animals, a dependance on my own inner resources, a lot of time for creative work...
Still the isolation has its drawbacks. In winter especially.
This time of the year is glorious and autumn as well, with the fells draped in purple heather. Lambing season is wonderful!
The garden is a blessing to me and thanks to Bens help I can actually progress with it slowly by slowly!
The newly planted Braeburn apple tree has some blossoms! The cherry, plum and pear are settling in well. I am planning where to plant another gooseberry bush, the one I have is so happy here. Raspberry canes are all around and black currants thrive.
Meanwhile I am allowing and encouraging wildflowers to inhabit the "meadow" area.
The walks around here are very pleasant, each one with spectacular views of the North Tyne valley, varied terrain like woods, fields, river sides, and country lanes...
I do miss the company of good friends, good laughs and wonderful inspiring conversations.
The cats are lovely companions, no doubt about that!

The Rat

Today was the most glorious day so far this spring, it was warm and sunny and practically windstill.
Had my morning tea in the garden just simply enjoying the early morning sun. As I sat there quietly I noticed that a bluetit was flying in and out of the birch tree near me. Then I saw that is was going into the slate birdhouse I had placed near the roof and the drainpipe several years ago.
WOW! Our first bird family in the slate condo. So exciting, I had been concerned that I had hung it in the wrong place really with it being so close to the front door. But now I can sit on the bench sipping tea and observing the tit family! Hurrah!
Yesterday I brushed oil onto the wooden garden furniture; two benches and a table plus the latest addition a steamer chair. This is very comfy for reading. It smells really nice and should protect the wood for a while. The seasons are quite something around here with a lot of rain and wind. Many of the older trees have moss and lychen growing on them.
Lunch at the Rat Inn with Noah sitting outside in the sun and eating crab sandwiches with real chips, as they called them, with aioli. Yummy.
After that a motoring adventure around Corbridge to this place called Bywell where Basil Bunting liked to go for serenity and peace. It has two very old churches right next to eachother and we walked around the graveyards...Noah loves cemeteries.
In one a group of goths were having a picnic with a basket full of beer! Lovely site.
Had coffee at Noahs and cuddled Sofie and talked, we had a really nice family outing day.
I love exploring. Halcyon days like this are so rare in Northumberland. Tarset seems to have its very own micro-climate anyway.
Coming home makes me happy because I can be in the garden again. I laid out a blanky on the grass and spent time listening to the sounds and looking at the sky. The cats came to visit wondering what I was up to being horizontal rather than vertical as they are used to me being. Luna sat on top of me.
These days of spring are really a treat because every day there are changes in the garden and the nature around us. New blossoms appear as others fade, leaves become greener, and the countryside becomes more and more lush.
I want to enjoy them to the max.
Soon it gets busy again. Dublin for the Writers Festival in June, finishing a film for Northernness a symposium late in June etc.
I do feel fortunate to be able to do work that I enjoy and which is creative. Hopefully some of the things I have completed give something back like inspiration, encouragement and pleasure.