farion - paying attention

Sea Changes III_Becalelis

2012-01-29T16:51:00.001Z

The Geography of Silence

2012-01-26T18:10:00.001Z

Angles and Degrees

2012-01-23T17:40:00.001Z

You can tell by the angle of his mouth he's not happy.. Dan, sat at the printers, looking at the pages of a book we've designed, just hot off the press. On his right, the 'blue' proofs. On his left the 'purple' printed running pages. Not close enough, surely? The degree of magenta throughout is just too high.

Out of the 8 sections of the book – shown above, printed and folded but not bound – the first 3 are just patently too purple for us to handle. Publisher and printer are now in 'discussions' about who pays for the re-run. Print I tell'e, never, ever, simple.

Silence in Church please

2012-01-12T18:01:00.017Z

On the campus of Exeter University last week I had 30 mins to wait until a meeting.. went into the Chapel.. and.. peace. Absolute peace. And total silence. And that wonderful feeling that you get in some spaces when your behavior changes, your senses heighten. I was woken and calmed at the same time.

Apart from the feel of the place there was such wonderful features: lettering in the brickwork, old glass bending and softening the light through the huge windows, wonderful rich red - blood red? - drapes and curtains. And there was so much symmetry and precise placement of objects, pictures etc. Made me think how much symmetry can play a part in Christian imagery and buildings; the cross, I suppose, being the most obvious example. More time in religious buildings me thinks.

For Jestonbury; For Henry; For Love!

2012-01-09T21:44:00.003Z

Wallpaper Swan-dive

2012-01-06T20:37:00.000Z

Sea Change II_Happy New Year!

2012-01-02T19:58:00.006Z

Oh yes: Ben Folds

2011-12-14T16:10:00.015Z

Funny what actually moves you.. you see lots of things and line up lots of thoughts for p.a, but been too busy, too distracted. And then this comes through from the ever-discerning Jestonbury, and I just know it has to go up, and it has to go up now.

I'm not sure exactly how many things it makes me feel but one of them is pure joy. I mean, Ben Folds, one of our heroes, someone who has followed us through our lives – or rather, someone who we've followed. The last time I saw him stand on something like this it was his piano and I was in Leicester DeMontfort Hall for a truly memorable gig. I can remember it well and it was 15 years ago. I've often thought if I had to take one artist to a desert Island with me, it would be him.

And here he is on some big, cheesy, American mainstream show..even with a 'Thank you America!' at the end. Extraordinary. And yet. And yet. It's glorious. It's glorious because it's Ben, because it's a cheesy show, because this is a song about taking drugs: 'You took a trip, and climbed a tree...'

How did this happen? It's like two worlds colliding. I guess he just revels in the act of song, in the joy of singing. And In that way he's perfect for a show about singing. And I don't want to hear anything about him doing it because of the big paycheck he gets. He's doing it for love. I'm a believer. Sing after me: I'm a believer!

love love love / bike bike bike

2011-11-24T20:48:00.014Z

Rule #12
/ The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
While the minimum number of bikes one should own is three, the correct number is n+1, where n is the number of bikes currently owned. This equation may also be re-written as s-1, where s is the number of bikes owned that would result in separation from your partner.

* * *

Just seen this on Oliver's [congratulations on Eli!] fine blog, originally from Velominati. Marvelous stuff. Rather timely as I've just given away one of my 5 bikes as I was running out of room. No excuse I know. Though I did enjoy leaving her in the middle of a square on a sunny day with a label saying 'please take me! please love me!' The next day she was gone. Let's hope she's happy.

Sea Change_I

2011-11-17T16:27:00.001Z

It's not all bad news

2011-11-16T11:42:00.000Z

I'll be darned. Looks like the Keystone XL oil pipeline won't be built after all. Wonderful to be reminded that these bloody awful things can be stopped. I say stopped but I can remember 10 years ago when they said Hinkely C Nuclear Power Station in Somerset wouldn't be built; this year, work on Hinkley C has started in earnest. Still, let's enjoy this for now. Been going on a long time and thousands involved in one way or another. Here and here to really be inspired and cheered.

Fine in so many ways

2011-11-11T15:14:00.001Z

Made by Hand / No 1 The Distiller from Made by Hand on Vimeo.

Murmuration by Sophie Windsor Clive

2011-11-04T17:32:00.000Z

Generally taking the piss

2011-11-03T13:13:00.006Z

From Avaaz:

"It's unbelievable. The G20 -- the most powerful summit of world governments -- meets today to discuss the global economic crisis, and who is sponsoring the meeting? Banks and corporations! No wonder the site of the meeting -- the French city of Cannes -- is completely locked down to any ordinary citizens, while banks and large corporate CEOs have all access passes to tell our governments what to do.
Corporations and banks have captured our governments, winning vast bailouts after helping to create the crisis. Now they are buying their way into the very meeting that could decide the world's financial future. Together we can persuade summit President Nicolas Sarkozy to cancel the sponsorship -- let's build a massive public outcry that causes a media firestorm and forces Sarkozy to kick out the corporate sponsors and clean up the G20. Sign the petition here."

Is there a bigger, better or more realistic idea out there?

2011-11-02T20:39:00.013Z

This nifty little film was doing the rounds over a year ago. It's about a tax on the financial sector that has the power to raise hundreds of billions every year globally. Back then it seemed an excellent idea and the group behind it an impressive outfit, but it also seemed unfathomable that it might be taken seriously. Bit like Adbusters going on about Occupying Wall St back in June.

Now, however, the UK government said they'd do it if everybody did it. I'm not sure whether it now feels a lot closer to happening or if those hollow words still results in it having no bloody chance? It's surely true that something is happening and there's a palpable feeling of change in the air. Umm.. is it change or just pissed off? Don't suppose my generation have felt anything like it before, especially on such a global scale or with such a wide-spread public involvement. Got to get a bit more involved..

Hear Today Gone Tomorrow

2011-11-02T11:56:00.010Z

This seems like a marvelous affair in every way. GHOSTS OF GONE BIRDS are raising a creative army for conservation through a series of multimedia exhibitions and events that will breathe artistic life back into extinct birds species.

And it's got some artists involved who are nicely close to home. Tom Barwick - a lovely fella who is somehow involved in at least seven things all at once at any given time - also works at Plymouth University. That doesn't count as one of his seven things by the way. Above is his black and white drawing of the extinct ROBUST WHITE-EYE Zosterops strenuus. You can see the other 119 artists involved here.

Oh yes: Gordy

2011-11-01T22:19:00.006Z

We've found a bicycle repair shop for the Small is Beautiful Project. Obviously a bike shop was a crucial addition to the growing collection of amazing establishments we're having the privilege of working with. This is the man who runs the place - well, this is the man who is the place - and his name is Gordy. Been a bike mechanic for over 50 years. Gordy's gone down as one of the most interesting people I've met, for all manner of reasons, and it seems I'm just in a long line of grateful customers and passers-by that have been charmed. Planning a return visit back soon to try and fully record what it is about him and his bike world that is so special.

Photograph by Steven Bond / University of Exeter © 2011

Feasible

2011-10-29T11:19:00.000+01:00

You can't walk past this

2011-10-28T19:30:00.000+01:00

43/93

2011-10-27T09:31:00.006+01:00

And this is surprisingly illuminating.. a mixture of pie charts and graphs is not usually so helpful, especially when there's so many, but each of them are worth considering and I love the photographs interspersed to keep the human angle. Makes for some mad reading.

"The Way of doing business as we know it has to come to an end."

2011-10-27T09:00:00.000+01:00

Well, Micheal Moore, that's quite a declaration. Quite a weird thing to think about, isn't it. The environmental cost of the current state of play was not touched upon alas, but this is still an interesting interview from BBC Newsnight to help fathom what's going on.

Oh yes: Nick Hand + Do Lectures + Boneshaker = marvelous

2011-10-25T19:59:00.014+01:00

Nick Hand, at the DO lectures, talking about the wonder of cycling, the potential of photography and story telling, and the beauty and importance of traditional crafts. Whilst wearing a Boneshaker magazine t-shirt. It's like a birthday party with everyone you'd ever want all in one room. Thanks to Jestanbury for the nod to this little gem.

Damned Good Thing

2011-10-13T09:08:00.015+01:00

Seems like things are hotting up.. all around the world. And London this weekend? Blimey. For ages I had been getting emails form Adbusters about this Occupy Wall Street malarkey and you hoped it would at least be noticed but you feared that it might fizzle. But fair play to them, they may just have started something..

"Let's treat this beautiful movement as if it is the most important thing in the world. Because it is. It really is."
Naomi Klein

What you want your emails to include when you open your inbox on what was an average working day but now can't be, gloriously.

2011-10-04T08:51:00.007+01:00

Oh yes: Beanshooter man makes my day

2011-09-30T19:11:00.003+01:00

Pick off a quarter in mid-air? The evidence is here. Rufus Hussey, we salute you.

Part two take two

2011-09-23T00:03:00.002+01:00

SiB: In another world

2011-09-22T22:21:00.013+01:00

Makers, Menders and Materials Part Two, our exhibition from the Small is Beautiful? Project reaches Bridport in Dorset this week. Currently enjoying the town after putting the work up. And my, what a town! Compared to other towns in the south west this has so many more shiny people, well-designed things and positive energy going around. There's loads of small independent shops thriving for a start! Another world.

It's like a train journey: say if you have a seat facing the right way, with a table, on the sunny side of the train.. and compare that to standing up, near the luggage rack, in the bit of the train that bends and has a draught coming through the join of the carriages.. the same journey, essentially doing the same thing, moving through the landscape to a destination.. but blimey, how different those journeys would be eh? Living in a place like Bridgwater or living in a place like Bridport. Essentially the same thing but oh so oh so different. Small things; but many small things and they add up to a big difference I guess. Oh, and small things are beautiful, obviously, as we know.

Anyway, let's hope the good energy rubs off on the 'conversation' we're having at our private view tomorrow night.

–

Photograph by Steven Bond

Oh Yes: Ben Howard

2011-09-21T11:41:00.008+01:00

Its been a funny old Summer, that's for sure. Luckily there's some good tunes around to provide a fine soundtrack. Here's one from Ben Howard, the Totnes boy who's gone from us watching him play to 5 people in Falmouth to hundreds of people at Latitude Festival et al. I've posted about him on p.a. before. Great to watch a friends rise; even better when you happen to love what they do.

And this video.. something about when you watch it, and you're thinking, yeh, this is all very nice, but it's all a bit, well, Totnes.. and then, whoosh, we're off into infectious fun that's hard to resist. Bloody marvellous.

And the words - even in the face of truly shit things - are good words to remember I guess. Always. Not sure if you can tell someone with cancer to keep their head up, but none-the-less, my mum has enjoyed this song and you can't enjoy too many songs, can you, so I'm going to put it in my pile of David's that are fighting the gigantic Goliath. So keep flying the flag fella, and we'll try and do the same.

A Language That Speaks the Truth

2011-09-19T18:38:00.019+01:00

BBC radio.. what a resource, eh. Just happened to catch Something Understood on Radio 4 the other night before I drifted off.. and I need to listen to the whole thing again and basically make notes of the words, the songs, the poems. Which is apt, as it's all about that really.. speaking, writing, listening, the languages we use, abuse. It features Studs Terkel, the celebrated American broadcaster and oral historian and his thoughts on the way we use language to articulate our ideas about ourselves. Go here for 30 mins of marvellousness. Only got 6 days left mind...shame they do this but I guess if they keep everything for ever that doesn't work really does it.

Talking of which, I must listen to this programme about Mr Schumacher again...also a treat. Especially if you want to hear the most profound and simple explanation of why nuclear power is most certainly not the way forward. And you've got until 2099 to listen to this; that's better. Makes me think of the fact that the time frame in question when dealing with radioactive waste ranges from 10,000 to 1,000,000 years. How is that ok?

More worlds to go to and tools to get you there

2011-09-15T10:19:00.017+01:00

When we had a Thompson Brothers, selling all the best type of tools money could buy, my Dad used to make concessions for a handful of 'foreign' manufacturers. It was unusual, but sometimes he would concede that a few things were made rather well by people who didn't happen to live on this particular island. Well one of those companies was Fiskars of Finland. They make knives, saws etc as you probably know.

Well, funny how things go, because two things have bought me round to Fiskars again. Firstly, when we first started the Small is Beautiful? project we were researching places, organisations etc that championed and practised traditional crafts, and found the Cooperative of Artisans, Designers and Artists in Fiskars. There's a good overview of what they're about here but needless to say they're right up our street.

And now, a fair while later, we're exploring the exhibitions and residences they have there. The image above is from their new show entitled Tools. It is 'the first major exhibition devoted to tools, their evolution and properties ever held in Finland'. How marvellous. What with friends of farion currently doing fine residencies elsewhere in the world, we're inspired to get away and make beautiful and useful things on other islands too. Finland and the Fiskars Village seems like a wonderful place to start.

A time of other worlds

2011-09-14T19:14:00.001+01:00

Morning

2011-09-13T07:39:00.002+01:00

First photograph of the day by me; second by Gabriella, my 6 year old niece. And yes, if you look closely in the top right hand corner, you will see the head of a fluffy yellow duck. Big old tent, plenty of room for all animals..

Dodgy name, good strapline: registered company 7403867

2011-09-12T17:58:00.074+01:00

Spent a fair part of the last year starting and building a company, which I unfortunately called The Bridge. Shame about that, but it does say something about what it does, and thestrap line helps: shifting the boundaries between academia, business and the community. It's a registered Community Interest Company, or Social Enterprise as they're often called. Proud of that. I've found out just how daft a decision it is in terms of the time-put-in / money-taken-out ratio, but I'm proud of it not being a purely profit driven business and rubbing shoulders with other like-minded companies.

Luckily, I asked a recent graduate (from the University in which I teach) to work with me, and Dan turned out to be Welsh gold. He's the one proudly holding the first book we put together as it comes off the press.

So he and I, along with many talented students, have ploughed on with a decent handful of projects covering graphic design, publishing, photography, film and web work. We've made illustrated info-packs for the NHS, books for the City Museum, bespoke brochures for a city art gallery, rebranded a legal-aid solicitors and made a series of films for the University. As well as all the bloody red-tape nonsense and hoop-jumping!

We're fairly pleased with what we've achieved so far and are currently in the middle of putting together a little web presence to showcase some of the projects. One thing we've certainly done, is give students and graduates the chance to work on 'real' project and pay them for their time and skills. Of this we're particularly proud.

One thing we've certainly learnt is that starting a business - the paper work, the bills, the corp tax, the bloody CT41G form and more letters from the Her Majesty than you can shake a cheque book at - is surprisingly time-consuming and complex. It's another world and we're not sure what to make of it, or, indeed, whether it's a good place to spend your time..

–

Photographs by Steven Bond

11.09.11

2011-09-11T18:11:00.017+01:00

Photographs –

Top: Amy Sancetta/AP

Centre: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Bottom: Mark Lennihan/AP

...the greatest struggle is...between those who embrace peace and those who reject it, those who look to the future and those who are blinded by the past, those who open their arms and those who still clench their fists. – Bill Clinton

Beauty of age smell of time light of then

2011-09-08T20:41:00.005+01:00

Patently uncool things that make me happy_Part I

2011-08-27T22:09:00.010+01:00

Things on my belt, like a rubbish country-bumpkin Batman.

(With a bit of Robert Mapplethorpe thrown in)

The Power of Wood

2011-08-25T22:01:00.001+01:00

Joel Sternfeld_Sweet Earth

2011-08-23T17:28:00.005+01:00

Seems a good time to discuss Joel Sternfeld's Sweet Earth. Good reading for finding your inner hippy.. and the cabin of mine has alas taken a bit of a back-seat (more of that later) so a fix for now. I still love books with photos / accompanying text. Simple as that. Nothing better.

In Sweet Earth, the format is simple: one page are photographs of the grounds of a community or of one or more of its members. On the facing verso page Sternfeld tells the story of the pictured community. In some instances all that remains are ruins, visible signs of poor planning or corrupted ideals. (There's an interesting interview about the book with Joel here at The New Yorker).

This relationship of word and image is constantly under examination though isn't it, endlessly playing in loops. Here's the writer Geoff Dyer's discussing the book in his essay The Ongoing Moment:

'Does the fact that the pictures do not speak for themselves - that they need to be seen in tandem with an accompanying text - diminish the value of the book? Sweet Earth continues Sternfeld's formal investigation into what he terms "knowability", but the result, appropriately enough, is more accommodating. A history of endeavour, hope and resilience resides in these places, in these photographs; the texts offer a kind of hospitality, an invitation to step inside, to share in it.'

Dreaming really

2011-08-18T10:41:00.014+01:00

Up in the daylight studio, on the 3rd floor, with the windows from top to bottom, it's a bit like being on a cloud. And there's something about photography that still gets me, that still feels a bit magic. If this is work, this is fine work to have. What a positive reality.

It's a constant conversation isn't it, but it feels good to connect with the notion when it's positive. Sometimes it feels like a privilege to work in the arts. Sometimes. As long as we don't start talking about the cuts. Still, appropriately enough for this image, there's something to be said about standing on your own two feet as well, isn't there? Complicated business eh.

Been dreaming

2011-08-14T02:07:00.009+01:00

Game On

2011-07-10T00:12:00.015+01:00

And so it begins. Had a fine chat today about an idea for me to build a log cabin and whether it was a goer or not. When I say cabin I really mean glorified wooden shed. But then I also kind of mean a second home of sorts, somewhere to sleep, somewhere to put stuff, somewhere to sit, to eat, to be warm and dry, and somewhere to have guests. Anyway, the conversation ended with this immortal line: 'I'm game'. So yep. Looks like I might be spending the rest of the summer time hanging out with my family in Somerset and getting to know an acre of land that we have particularly well. And learn how to do mortice joints and if a gable roof is much easier than a pitch roof. To sleep outside and have slug trails on my face when I wake up.

Oh of course it'll only be pretend in a true adventure sense - the nearest house would be, oooh, a huge 100 yds away? It won't be Walden Pond; more Wembdon Quarry. I'm not going to be dropping out of society and eating road kill. I'd go to my family house to shower and have beans on toast and, no doubt, tap on this plastic and metal box until words appear in the window. But in terms of proper work, a proper project and truly a chance to do something very different and productive with two months of my life, it is absobloodylutely there if I want it. Well, in the words of my father, I'm game.

Sinks In Slowly

2011-07-08T20:52:00.008+01:00

Well done Jestonbury for coup of the month, if not year. Yes, that's his project, Advice To Sink In Slowly, in partnership with none other than Howies. Yep, don't mind if we do. This month they have chosen one of the designs from the posters he's commissioned for their t-shirt of the month. Check out how good it looks here. Designed by illustrator Lizzy Stewart, it's hopefully going to be the first of many between A2SIS and Howies. There are prints to go with it on the A2SIS site here.

Jestonbury has stuck with this project for a fair while, all the time building it slowly, even when it looked like it might evaporate. Inspiring to see him keep it alive with all his hard work and dedication, and get some things happening with it and going onward and upward.. Upward to find a place to stop and be quiet. But you've got to love the fact that to get to this point, he's had to not stop and certainly not be quiet. Guess you prioritise where you channel your energy and just keep at it, and this is proof in a mighty tasty pudding right here. So here's to not stopping, and for getting yourself out there. All power to you J!

Small. Beautiful. Up.

2011-06-24T10:28:00.001+01:00

Always be ready

2011-06-21T23:35:00.001+01:00

Crafted space / Space for craft

2011-06-13T18:56:00.010+01:00

A fine body of work by Don Freeman. More information on it here. Has echoes of our Small is Beautiful Project and especially the last posting I put up on the blog. Reminds you there's a lot of loveliness in the world, and, at the basest level, a photographer can record that and that is in itself enough. Isn't it? In a way, I'm sure it is.

Oh yes: Matt Jones

2011-06-08T19:03:00.017+01:00

Although never ready say I held you steady

What was once yours is now ours

I lay there all night watching the satellites
your name was spelt out in the stars

As annoying people like to tell you, we've all got 24 hours in the day. All these folk that do all these great things have the same amount of time as any of us, don't they - that's extraordinary, annoying, empowering. Like my friend Matt Jones, who even though he has a full-time job, an amazing lady and two wonderful kids and all the many things that this means he has to pay attention to every single day ---- and/but he can still make time and have the nonce to write songs as special as this and make videos as fine as this (granted - with some help from the mighty Shane, John and some inflatable sea creatures) as well as managing to look strangely sexy on screen. Impressive stuff all round I'd day.

As ever Mr Jones: beautiful, useful, inspiring.

nothing getting nowhere if there's always something

2011-06-07T18:47:00.001+01:00

I was reading the other day how a human brain can only do one thing at a time; it's not a female/male issue, it's simply impossible for us to concentrate on more than one thing. Well no wonder I'm not paying attention to my blog when I'm paying lots of attention to too many other things. I'm feeling like I want to go and live in a field. Without a mac, without air conditioning, without invoices, without emails, without fluorescent tubes, without water coolers, without swipe cards, without short conversations with people in the corridor. As marvellous as these things are - and they are in their own way and in their own place marvellous aren't they - I'm feeling like a change of scene.

Anyway, here's some more designs for our exhibition. And here's to concentrating on one thing properly. Or maybe no more than three, maybe that would work...

Small getting bigger

2011-05-17T22:34:00.006+01:00

Just getting together the first exhibition for Small is Beautiful project. Just working on the poster/invite. Here's part of one of the designs we've got going on. Really enjoy this image and finally cracked the SIB 'logo' I think. 'Bout time.

Oh yes: Messi and Paul Hayward

2011-05-06T09:10:00.005+01:00

The redemptive act in a sometimes craven match was dream-like. Both sides surrendered to its power. Re-examine Lionel Messi's second goal against Real Madrid in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first leg and you will see José Mourinho's defenders reduced to helplessness and awe.

The player who can elect to change or kill a game, knowing his feet are packed with the talent to execute any move – cause any sort of damage, at any moment – is playing another sport to the mass of men who lack that capability. This is extrapolation, naturally, but when Busquets stopped the ball, like a servant, and Messi's little legs quickened to take possession it was as if he had seen enough of the ugliness in the game. Or maybe he had just had enough of Real Madrid. By any definition, that is power.

– Paul Hayward in The Guardian

Of Mice and Men

2011-05-03T19:59:00.002+01:00

The Importance of Being There?

2011-04-23T21:05:00.010+01:00

Photojournalists Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros, killed in Misrata, Libya, covering England's latest war.

Two Wheels Good

2011-03-31T21:36:00.004+01:00

A new paying attention label – Bicycle.

Pictured here is me and my Dawes Road Runner, surely the finest present I ever received off my parents. A few years ago I gave it to the younger brother of a friend of mine and I'm pretty sure he didn't appreciate it. (I heard he went on to father twins at the age of 15 so I guess he had his hands full from then on anyway. Should have stayed on the bike). Anyway, there's so many bicycle related things happening, as always, that I want to start collecting them together. So let's start with a definition and a beautiful quote to get us going:

-
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a pedal-driven, human-powered, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist or a bicyclist.
-

When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments. Here was a machine of precision and balance for the convenience of man. And (unlike subsequent inventions for man's convenience) the more he used it, the fitter his body became. Here, for once, was a product of man's brain that was entirely beneficial to those who used it, and of no harm or irritation to others.

– Elizabeth West

I Can See The Backs Of Their Legs_Part I: fluid

2011-03-29T20:58:00.014+01:00

2011-03-23T22:42:00.009Z

I have decided as of today I am officially a man. The first adult decision I have made is that I can change my mind on this at any point.

This'd be me with a value of 37 in contrast, 37 in brightness and 37 in all the other fields I could find in Photoshop. All in all, pretty 37.

Light

2011-03-20T17:53:00.011Z

Ah, just realised it's the perfect time for this posting.. as, from today on, there will be more light than dark as the season's press onwards. The Spring Equinox can be a nice marker as the day I really got going with my 'slide obsessions'. So here's a beautiful Magic Lantern slide I bought recently, again from an(other) ace little store in Totnes.

Like the poster below, they are, of course, almost perfect just as they are. But they also act to remind me about my Let There Be Light / Keep It Lit idea and the fact I've got a swanky new slide scanner and will be transferring all my old 35 mm transparencies to digital as soon as I've time. I think the next post better explain what the former is and how the latter can play a big part in making it all manifest.. well, you know, in theory.

And it can also mark a hopeful shift in some of my own personal adventures and relationships. It's been a dark couple of seasons what with one thing and another, so a bit of Spring, a bit of warmth, a bit of lightness would not go amiss. In fact, it'd be damn right welcome. I'm feeling pretty grateful and impressed by those who are keeping it light at the moment. And anyway, at this time of war and destruction in the wider world, I suppose we should try and keep our own little worlds as fun, mellow and positive as possible!

Almost perfect

2011-03-14T20:21:00.010Z

I recently found a great collection of old posters in a fine shop in Totnes.. most were 50's educational posters, all of which deserve posts of their own. Some just had to be gifts, but I kept hold of this beauty: a Wood pigeon, Nuthatch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, and the wonderfully named – and sadly now endangered – Lesser Red-poll. Does a poster get better than this? It frankly makes the room 17 times more liveable. Alas, the illustrator is not named.

Patagonia play a fine tune, as ever

2011-03-11T19:17:00.002Z

Always a sucker for what Patagonia is/tries to be/sells/offers me. At the moment they're doing a rather fine buy a song and benefit the environment affair here. I've plumped for the Phillip Glass. Beautiful stuff all round; reminds me it can all be good. So, working for Patagonia? Another reason for living in the states perhaps..

Only at my sisters

2011-03-08T15:53:00.000Z

Michelle Kanderson

2011-03-07T12:41:00.002Z

Sometimes there's too much work on to remember to pay attention to everything else.. and then I guess paying attention to everything else is the work that you've got on.. but there-in, if you're lucky, lies the work? Maybe. The work of who? - the photographer? - artst? - writer? - geographer? Certainly not in the work of the day stone-waller, or the lawyer, or the dentist. Who knows.

I do know I've got a growing list of people doing lovely things, collecting things, beautiful things, important things, seemingly useful things.. perhaps if they're lovely and important they're useful? If they're useful and important are they lovely? No. Oh well, let's try and catch up with ourselves anyway, and with this list, and with the feeling that we're doing what we want to be doing.

Some fine images to be found with the Portland based photographer Michelle Kanderson.. Interesting that when I go to her website, it's not longer up.. been too long with her name on a list. Then I find her with her flickr page where it says about her site expiring (see bottom image).. all somehow seems fitting. We're always flitting - well, some of us - and yet we want to stay in loops and for loops to stay within us and around us. I'm part of the flitting crowd. But in a way I guess, these binary stands that bind us, which don't really bind us of course that they don't really exist do they. Still, what is all this website blog business all about if not for sharing and being shared with? That's all it's about really, isn't it.

Get Out More

2011-02-27T20:57:00.000Z

Cycling in the wind and the rain and the mud is usually a surprisingly good idea. Sock/dirt dividing lines are always a treat. What we've found to improve matters is to make the destination a steamy sauna/swimming pool.. and to get a lift back in a friends van. Must be getting older.

2011-02-14T09:23:00.009Z

Image: You Are Here by Roll and Tumble Press

Bring It On

2011-02-13T19:01:00.019Z

It doesn't happen very often anymore, but certain bits of music get me animated to a fantastic degree. Thankfully I've got fine fellow music lovers to point me in the direction of tracks like Pendulums mix of Plan B's Stay Too long. When he starts rapping, the building intensity, the frenzy - phew-wee, I love it. Bring it on. There's power there you can actually have.

It took me back to a band that I and my friends had a lot of time for: Senser. (Go here for something that still kills me. Wait until you can listen to the whole thing at full volume of course, they'd never forgive me otherwise). Thoroughly underrated and forgotten – in perhaps the way that some really good bands have to be – they used to make us almost burst with their music and performances. I swear we used to climb mountains on their lyrics alone.

And that's the other thing that I'm wondering - when we were at the Newbury road protests or the May Day demo's in Oxford Square up against riot police, Senser's lyrics and power was in our heads and across our shoulders. Do the student demonstrators of a few weeks ago have this Plan B mix in their heads? I'd like to think so. But I'm also glad that our music was charged with an obvious political and environmental element, not just the pursuit of money, drinking and Effy off of Skins (though you gotta love the fine dancing in the video). Still, not moaning about the superficiality of it 'these days'; clearly that's not the case. Anyway, as long as there's music that takes people to bursting points, we're all lucky, lucky listeners I guess.

Jumping the Gun / Taking the Biscuit

2011-02-01T22:30:00.009Z

Oh, you just can't beat this. So there I am doing some research for the Hypothetical Cycle Ride To The Arctic Circle, and I find this anti-Hinkley video. Has there ever been such a marvelous/dreadful merging of community activism and disco music? I think not. Do we need to trawl through other examples to make sure? I think not.

And Then We Remember Words And Numbers Were Invented By Men

2011-01-26T22:11:00.019Z

"The problem, the contradiction the scientists are stuck with, is that of mind. Mind has no matter or energy but they can not escape its predominance over everything we do. Logic only exists in the mind. Numbers only exist in the mind. I don't get upset when scientists say that ghosts exist only in the mind. It's the only that gets me. Science is only in your mind too, its just that that doesn't make it bad either.

Laws of nature are inventions, like ghosts. Laws of logic, of mathematics are also human inventions, like ghosts. The whole blessed thing is a human invention, including the idea that it isn't a human invention. The world has no existence whatsoever outside the human imagination. It's all a ghost, the whole blessed world we live in. It's run by ghosts.

We see what we see because these ghosts show it to us, ghosts of Moses and Christ and the Buddha, and Plato, and Descartes, and Rousseau and Jefferson and Lincoln, on and on and on. Your common sense is nothing more than the voices of thousands and thousands of these ghosts from the past. Ghosts and more ghosts. Ghosts trying to find their place among the living.

– words from Zen and the Art of Motor Cycle Maintenance by Robert M Pirsig.

The river don't know when it's flowing

2011-01-21T18:56:00.011Z

After a long old week I'm thankfully heading to see the singer/songwriter Jeffery Lewis perform tonight. Here's one of his songs set to a video by Wes West. Could anyone fit more wit, wisdom and tuneful pathos into 2 mins? It's a great thought to think we're all doing better than we know, isn't it. Thanks Jeff.

Definition of Something # 1

2011-01-15T17:26:00.011Z

"You were disappointed?" "I was angry." "I'm sorry." "No. There's nothing to be sorry for. I thought about it. I thought about it all the time. My father told me where he'd left things, and what he wanted taken care of. He was responsible. He was good. It's easy to be emotional. You can always make a scene. Remember me eight months ago? That was easy." "It didn't sound easy.""It was simple. Highs and lows make you feel that things matter, but they're nothing." "So what's something?" "Being reliable is something. Being good."

– Words and image: from Jonathan Safran Foer's Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan

2011-01-13T09:52:00.013Z

Lately more or less I'm feeling less incomplete
I got no direction so I follow my feet
When I think on everything my heart skips a beat
– From Lately

A fine record, Hawk. Wouldn't mind living in track 13. I want to go to that river, I want to go to that church, I want to go to that bed.

Old Crow Medicine Show

2011-01-09T12:09:00.009Z

Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show. Fine tip from a friend. Somehow think I should know the song; it's the kind of song that seems to be in your bones already. You can listen to it time and again like you can eat your favorite food again and again. Nicely odd video adds the special element. Perfectly American, yet perfectly not that kind of American. I don't need any more reasons to live there than I've already got, but I'll add this to the list anyway.

I owe money to the money to the money I owe

2011-01-07T10:56:00.019Z

Credit cards. Let's not get started. But I've been sitting on an idea for what to do with the one I've paid off. I want it to suffer, I want it to be humiliated, I want it to feel pain. A search doesn't find many - shall we say 'emotional tributes' - out there, though there's this site here which has several fine examples of credit card art, including the marvellous piece above. My odd plan has something to do with a Steelers Wheel song and Quentin Tarantino..

Note: The title for this posting comes from the fabulous tune Bloodbuzz Ohio by The National. Go here if you want 54mins and 36 secs of throbbing pleasure.

Less is more

2011-01-05T19:15:00.000Z

The Design of Understanding

2011-01-03T18:43:00.004Z

Trip to London anyone? This looks like it would be a few quid well spent.
Image: from the St Brides website
Postscript: All sold out in mid December apparently. Note to self - become a member of St Brides.

From this place

2011-01-03T18:28:00.009Z

One thing that feels worth concentrating on this year is the need, no, the necessity, no the progression, no, the realness of getting more things printed, more things made, more things manifest. And need to read more about the process's involved; Beatrice Warde's book The Crystal Goblet: sixteen essays on typography (1955) might be a good place to start. Been on the list for a while.

Here's a poster of the fine verse she penned in 1932. Would make an obvious, but none-the-less glorious addition to the hypothetical farion workshop which is, of course, just around the corner.

Facts are sacred: let them look fine and be of great use

2010-12-30T16:55:00.026Z

"[Journalism is] going to be about poring over data and equipping yourself with the tools to analyse it and picking out what's interesting. And keeping it in perspective, helping people out by really seeing where it all fits together, and what's going on in the country." - Tim Berners-Lee

Never get round to checking all the blogs that are full of all the glorious information that continually spills from the internet... but thankfully today I came across the new Data Blog from The Guardian. (The above shows the work of David McCandless, one of it's regular contributors). Seems like it was launched only last week, so I feel this is a blog I can stay on top of.

Reminds me of something I'm presently doing which has the working title This is Sacred (Whether You Like It Or Not). It's going to take ages to do but the length of time is hopefully going to represent the amount of love involved. Bloody artists eh?

Remind me again?

2010-12-30T12:41:00.028Z

"Under pressure from the CBI, and under the confused assumption that we can carry on consuming power as we do now into the future, and too afraid to think out of their own isolated political fuzzy cloud, the British government is committing to build a new round of nuclear power stations for which we don't have the money. Great. Just perfect. Well done fellas. You've really thought about this haven't you?" – Thom Yorke

Was looking for an image of the classic Nuclear power? No thanks! badge, and I come across a link to a note by the Radiohead singer on his blog. Was happy with that. A little more trawling discovered some fine material to inspire and inform the Imaginary Energy Tour for next year. (Imaginary considering the awful family situation that's going on but I think I'll crack on with planning it 'cause it makes me happy. And if I look for things it reminds me why I'm looking).

A letter on energy policy published only last week here, and a fine back story for the aforementioned design here. There's also a review of green technologies here and a concise and informative rundown of the years environmental issues by John Vidal on The Guardian's environment blog.

An Ode to (Christmas) Pain

2010-12-26T18:50:00.011Z

12 Foxs Wonders
11 Co-codamols
10 Citaloprams
9 Domeridones
8 Ramiprils
7 Folic Acid
6 Prenisolones
5 COL-PER-MINS
4 Omeprazoles
3 Dexamethasones
2 Mince Pies
And a Milka Chocolate Bar

An Ode to Joy

2010-12-21T22:13:00.023Z

It's hard to tell if I'm so excited and moved by this because he is a friend or because his work is as good as I think it is. Bumping into people you haven't seen for a couple of years and then finding out what they've been up to can be humbling / inspiring / extraordinary can't it. Well, turns out our old friend from Falmouth days Ben Howard has become a full-on singer / songwriter. Saw him perform last night in a magical gig.. when I've seen him before he'd play on his own; now with the wonderful combination of a cellist and a drummer the three of them are worth nine. And the thing that will stay with me as much as anything is the smiles and the joy they've got going on. Properly beautiful.

Yep, I live in a town that's twinned with Narnia, so words like that get bandied around a lot, but it was there, and there in spades. Look on the smile on the cellists face, on the drummers face, on Ben's face.. now that is what we should all be having for Christmas. Funny when people you know become successful like this, but bottom line is I bloody love his voice and his musics, so I'm just going to enjoy them and continue to be inspired. And it's simply joyous to see a friend do something that they enjoy and that they're good at, isn't it. Just so happens that now hundreds of thousands of people listen to his music on-line (see the link above - there's a few tracks there to sample if you fancy it) as opposed to the handful that used to watch him in Falmouth. So Ben, you're a bit of a star turns out, in lots of ways. A lovely guy writing sublime music. All power to you.

69 steps to the circle line

2010-12-11T22:44:00.003Z

Very special and slightly strange, just as we like it

2010-12-11T15:19:00.015Z

This is how Caitlin summed up our trip to Dorset this week on the latest AHRC Small Is Beautiful adventure. It's a developing into a bloody wonderful project. We've been visiting some extraordinary places and meeting some amazing people. The superlatives are indeed valid. We're getting involved in what seem like magic little worlds, and deep, deep connections and emotional resonance. Really. The SIB blog is growing into a very interesting collection of words and pictures - ours and other peoples.

An inquiry into making and mending doesn't immediately suggest profundity but we are talking heavy-weight material here. And always with a refreshing slice of strangeness. I think I mentioned before how working in my family hardware shop used to sometimes make me cry; well, it's the same sort of thing. I look forward to trying to explain - and show - what I'm on about, 'cause I'm not actually sure myself yet.

–

Caitlin and Portland Bill lighthouse, way out on the limestone shoulder of Wessex. Photograph by Steven Bond

Seems to get me through

2010-12-09T10:08:00.011Z

Here's to smiles returning and to art that makes you smile.
(This one's for NG).

What big houses are for

2010-12-08T23:00:00.003Z

Long weeks these

2010-12-04T19:36:00.024Z

Like most of the country, there was snow in Devon this week. Not much (as you can see here by our neighbors inspired snowman) but enough to get excited. Well, try to anyway, lots of sadness in the cold air these days for one reason or another. And not quite sadness but more like madness at work what with the experience of now having an accountant. I've managed to stay away from them until now. Now I've got a 'proper' Limited Company it seems it's required. Let's just say it's aneye-opener.

An example: to get the money that you've earnt - your money, essentially - you have to set up a system, a framework in order to do this. Ok, not so surprising so far. This will cost you at least £1500-£2,000 a year. Eh? Then there are the 'oncosts'. What are they, I hear you cry? Some fabled thing that I don't have to worry about? Er, no, it's the £10 on every £100 that you pay to the HMRC for the privilege of paying any employees. It's called, aptly, Employers National Insurance and it's blown my mind. And yes, the employee has to pay NI too. And yes, best not forget the money you need to find to account for any salary in the first place. If there's ANYBLOODYTHING LEFT. Still, strangely glorious to be involved with the real world for once.

I had to make my own Monopoly money so we could understand what the heck was going on. If you want my accountant to explain it to you it'll cost you £90 + VAT an hour but you can borrow my hand-made notes for nothing. Thankfully, I still get to play with Pantone books. Here we were seeking the perfect red for something in a great book that we're designing. More good work up ahead as well. All we need to do is get good at finances then we can concentrate on getting good at the things we want to be good at.

What do you see when you're told not to look

2010-11-30T20:01:00.004Z

Ways of Seeing of Seeing

2010-11-24T21:13:00.006Z

Looking at looking again. So, photo's are great, yes. Photo's of photo's are in some way a different kind of great. There is often something evocative.. granted, there is also a sense of being removed - you're clearly taken out out of the photo and into something else. But hey, we 're artists aren't we, so we have to balance these things, it's one of our luxuries/crosses to bear. Talking of crosses to bear, my mum 'forgot' to get my hair cut for about 3 years.. this is me seemingly at the start of my extended-mop period. Reckon I'd still go for that shirt though..

You don't know what you've got till it's going, going, gone

2010-11-23T21:01:00.014Z

Okay, so I think on closer inspection they're not exactly the same, but I saw this chair pictured below listed in a magazine article of the '10 Greatest Designs.. and I thought Thompsons had some of those.. and we sold three of them in the auction for £2 each. Phew, what a time that was, when we could let those things happen. Seems almost a time of insanity. Funny, I think we as a family are in another one now.

– above: The famous No.14 chair designed by Michael Thonet in 1855.
– below: One of the three chairs from Thompson's that were sold in the auction for £2 each.

Let's go exploring

2010-11-21T20:48:00.013Z

Whenever I've spent time across the pond these two were a big part of my reading.. heard a wonderful R4 programme (still available on iplayer here) with Phil Jupitus about them and their creator Bill Waterson. Wonderful on many levels. An artists who resolutely refused to sell out for a start, not to mention Calvin & Hobbes themselves. And that one day he just decided to stop, ending in the last frame with Calvin saying 'let's go exploring!' Plus, listening to this programme I was once again reminded that radio is definitely the most visual medium. Got to get involved somehow.

Viva la Columba livia!

2010-11-14T19:41:00.016Z

Always felt a strange affinity with the humble pigeon. Been thinking they would make a lovely subject matter for a comprehensive study. Clearly been examined as often as the Somerset Levels but I'm just letting myself go with the things I'm drawn to and that seem to bring me some sort of peace.

I stood for 20 mins in a London Park this weekend just looking up into these lovely big Plane trees just waiting for this group of pigeons to fly and they just sat there. Reminded me of the wonderful lack of help you get when working with animals - refreshingly unconcerned about you and want you want. You can't really make them out on the branches but there's a good 40 of them in this image. It's their flying styles I'm really going to try and record.. I've always marveled at them. I'm looking forward to sitting peacefully like a tree and just watching.

–
Note: There is no strict division between pigeons and doves, which share certain features, including small, rounded heads, small, slim bills with a small fleshy patch a the base, rounded bodies with dense, soft feathers, tapered wings and short, scaly legs, and cooing or crooning calls. The wild rock dove (Columba livia) has long been domesticated and ‘escaped’ to live wild as the familiar town pigeon.

A Minced Oath

2010-11-11T09:36:00.015Z

I have resisted the temptation to call this post 'For Peat's Sake', but there needs to be some sort of exclamation here because I've just been trawling over my photos from the Summer and am a little agitated. (I've been through about 3 computers one way or another lately and am not as organised as I could be, shall we say).

I found many nice things that have been buried in the digital underworld, not yet seeing the light of paper or pixel. One particular batch that caught me eye was from the cycle ride back from Glastonbury Festival. Shown above is a particular favorite. The peat moors/industry of the Somerset Levels are a much photographed affair but you can see why. Might dig more of this collection out (ahem) and do something with them.

–
Note: For Pete's Sake - Biblical origins. Think of St Peter. Think of the omnipresent medieval church and think of hitting your thumb with a hammer. You can't swear, else the local priests will have you up before the Bishop and the Lord alone knows what the outcome of that will be, so you exclaim, in appropriate tone of voice, "For Saint Peter's sake" and carry on erecting the shelves. This phrase was amended to "For Pete's Sake" in later, less religiously oppressive, times. This is called a "Minced oath," a substitution of a less offensive word. Source

Mending (we say)

2010-11-04T19:29:00.002Z

No mending (they say)

2010-10-24T21:01:00.004+01:00

Boxes of Light

2010-10-17T10:13:00.017+01:00

Had a talk with an Irish man on a train yesterday.. always a good thing to do probably.. and we were talking about community spirit and rural Ireland. He was saying how the fabric of the community had unravelled and when I asked why, he fired back with a one word answer: television. He proceeded to tell me about the Black Valley, a remote location in the MacGuillycuddy's Reeks, down in County Kerry, Ireland. Evidently it was the last place in the country to be connected to the electric and telephone networks. What a fine photographic story that would make is what I was thinking.. the valley, the families that remember the transition, folk lit by television light - thought of the Glastonbury photos from a while back - and any evidence of the community spirit thats surely alive somewhere. (You can never imagine it's all gone can you?)

Funny, 'cause ironically I've been watching a lot of TV lately and even enjoying some of it. But there's also a new urgency - or rather, shall we say, a determination and importance - placed on work these days. Conversation had me thinking about both things anyway. And reminded me about the other reason I've got to go to Ireland - to see a man I met in the press tent at Glastonbury who works on The Falls Road in Belfast. We came up with a fine idea for a photo essay. Will explain more when the sun's gone in.

Image: MacGuillycuddy's Reeks (unknown photographer)

Do the locomotion

2010-10-14T17:43:00.009+01:00

Been on a lot of locomotives lately.. but then they're not all the same are they. All this push towards faster and faster trains; everyone getting excited about London to Glasgow in 4 hours or whatever. Well, I'll take the Totnes to Buckfastleigh over that any day. Steam train, puffing along the River Dart, beautiful old interior, marvelous old-school ticket. Marvelous.

When angels flew over (Hopefully on the way)

2010-10-12T22:29:00.000+01:00

Sign of the times

2010-10-11T22:43:00.006+01:00

Small is Beautiful Project is off and running. It's focused very much on 'making and mending' now but I do find myself going into the small shops even more than I used to. And one thing they nearly always have in common is lovely signage. Nice lettering, sometimes hand-done, and always considered and attractive. Not sure what distinguishing one of these signs of integrity from signs of today, but I'd say it was a good use of time working it out.

Image: Strete post office, near Blackpool Sands in South Devon. Went there for breakfast the other weekend and it was ridiculously lovely. Reminded me of the wonderful Gylly Beach caf in Falmouth only with less people around and more sea to swim in.

2010-10-10T22:32:00.008+01:00

Moor Torso. (Happy Birthday Jon)

Touch

2010-10-09T22:22:00.004+01:00

BSJB! APTY! Part II

2010-10-02T10:36:00.018+01:00

I'm afraid your jokey positivity is misplaced; I'm afraid.

Ah yes, some predictable photographs of the equipment, the tired hand, the quickly scribbled writing of a loved ones long earned moniker.. and the bucket of red water? A what sorry? Oh, a litre and a half of liquid, of unknown origin, which came out of someone's lungs. Not supposed to be there, see. Took 72 hours to come out though. As in 3 days? As in 3 days. Tubes, like hose-pipes, stitched into your back, into your lungs. For 3 days? All the time. Yep, for 3 days. All the time. Like Dr Octopus. Only less aggressive. And with less arms.

Be Strong Jenny Bond! All Power To You! Part I

2010-09-28T22:48:00.017+01:00

An odd, quiet, storm

Try not to look down

For there would be sickness

And there is quite enough sickness

And this is the time - this is THE time -

When we need our energy, when we need our lightness

And when we need to look forward even if we can't see anything

At times, the grayness parts and some light gray comes through. Sort of

Mostly, these enveloping, surprising clouds

Thick and disorientating, don't allow you to see

Still, don't look down; lift people up God damn it

Smile; for there is life. And that other thing

The thing that exists WHERE THERE IS LIFE

But you walk where you used to walk

And the path has moved, and is still moving

The edge of the cliff right there

Then the walls of brambles, and then

- fucking wild dogs! Are they wild dogs?! -

These are all new

Concentration is needed, sharp thoughts and wise movements

Eyes and heart set to open. Open. OPEN

And remind us, if you could, that when we trip

- because we are going to trip - to try not to look down

For there would be sickness

And there is quite enough sickness

7+1

2010-09-23T11:43:00.016+01:00

Okay, so where do we put all these things? Firstly, there's the fact that 'mums got cancer'. (I had to write this down 3 times in row to try and make it go in. It worked actually. I thought of doing it here but figured that would be a bit too much for now). Then there's the moment when you notice they have to take 7 tablets in the morning and one in the evening. Surely a photo. Make us think of how lovely our (us 'well' people) own breaky is. This is swiftly followed by the feeling that that's an obvious photo, that if you're not careful you're just going to take the same photos as all the other arty offspring that watch their parents suffer and help deal their own pain and confusion by composing images of medical cabling and worn arm-chairs where their loved ones have been sitting all. fucking. day.

Then there's the fact that the mighty lady, (ah, just thought that would be a good name to use instead of putting 'mum' all the time: TML) whilst struggling to seat up and breath, manages to say: 'well, the one I've got to take at night is bright red so you should go and get one for the photo...' Now that is my kind of ill mother. Be Strong Jenny Bond! All Power To You!

Enveloped by Love

2010-09-22T22:02:00.019+01:00

Bad news confirmed on the Autumnal Equinox I'm afraid. Bad news indeed for the seasonal turning point that marks the end of Summer; the light does indeed become slimmer from here on in. For a while at least anyway. So, what do you do when you find out your mum has cancer? (I'm refusing now, and forever more, to not capitilise that word
out of principle) Well, it seems in my own case you tell your friends. And, if you're lucky, your friends come back with many, many wonderful words, and cards, and messages - and, indeed, an emoticon no less. A sad face. Yes, a sad face for a sad face. Apt? Well, on those terms very much so.

Somehow mixing technological graphics and serious illness seems incongruous, but why? It's no different to the black edge letter paper. In fact, as a way to transmit feeling when the recipient is not physical present, I guess it's pretty bloody similar. Made me think of putting the two together.
I came across these letters (and envelopes) with the black edges the other day (thought it might interest a melancholic friend of mine). And, though thankfully the news today wasn't one of a death, which these used to signify, it seems in the same world. News about something sad, something bad. News which deems that your life, for as long as it lasts from then on, will not be the same again. (Though of course it might be glorious).

And yet, so much goodness was evident today and so much strength. And, as my mum uttered in a quick phrase I shall never forget, she feels 'enveloped by love'. How good is that? How important to make sure that remains the case; to keep it lit. And we shall. As mighty Nick wrote to me today: 'What a dastardly day, but determination's there I'm sure to nurture resilience and hope'.

–

A black-edged letter: designed to 'gently prepare the receiver for news of the grave' in the mid 19th Century. An emoticon: 'a representation of a facial expression used in electronic communications to convey the writer's feelings or intended tone'.

2010-09-19T22:05:00.016+01:00

O • S • D • R • W

T • O • N • D

M • O • C • E

S • E • Y • A

P • I • C • T • U • R • E • S

D • O

So what happens in difficult times? When you're sad, when you're doubtful, when you're scared? You watch Antiques Roadshow with your parents. You find hanging the washing out in a good breeze strangely joyful. And you write things down and read things that make you want to cry. That's what's happening to me anyway. Words, sport, creativity. That'll do, things to latch on to. Especially when there's something special missing, something that has been a huge part of your everyday life for a couple of years and is just no longer there. Big gap. Might not be right to fill it quickly, or to fill it with something that doesn't fit, and certainly not a good idea to fill it with something that is not as deep, so that whatever you put in, just covers the top and there's still a bloody big hole underneath.

I love that line and then suddenly I realised that words and numbers were invented by men, and the feeling was life giving. Love that. Then again, in these blue days, words are so bloody useful and powerful and helpful. I realise I want them and need them and that pictures are wonderful but/and I should concentrate on words for a while. Was reading the Sport section of The Observer today and was moved by a couple of Paul Hayward articles - who looks like the glummest man in journalism in his pic but there's so much in his prose, and so much love for sport. Did it for me. Here he is talking about Andrew Flintoff, and then about Federer/Nadal (who have always made me happy anyway.. all that respectful vying for perfection).

He looked like a country when he went about his work in those Ashes Tests. He sent electricity through our homes.

It counts as a miracle for tennis that a single generation has yielded such a glorious rivalry. But what is this deep cognisance of Federer's genius? Perhaps, the sense of just how hard it is to make the body function so beautifully.

Reading his words reminded me I was even thinking of putting some of poetry up on the blog the other day. Though of course I can't do that until I can think of a better way of saying this apart from 'putting up some of my poetry'... sounds so.. rubbish. Maybe the only way to share your poems is with no introduction and no dissection. They're not for that, are they. And it's not like pictures - where life has presented itself in a nice fashion and you record it with a box. (Not saying it's easy but you know what I mean). It's not yours to take responsibility for, all you've done is notice it. But your words - your choice, in your order, an attempt to say your truths, your lies - no, not sure about showing that. Especially not when you know you sound cheesy and that you don't quite have that distinctive thing that makes you special, or, more importantly, that thing that marks you out as not trying to be special.

Still, difficult times might as well do something useful. Let them change things. Let them pull words from our mouths and feelings from our fingers and even, in these oddest of times, let them show you that the The X-factor is actually sort of entertaining, and mostly about singing. I'm enjoying it.