where art collides philosoperontap

March 4, 2018

Not all of January, written down

Filed under: chinks,diary — Trefor Davies @ 10:18 am

A partial diary from the month of January 2018, innit…

1st January 2018

There’s a ring to it, 1st January. It’s a beginning. It’s also a somewhat arbitrary starting point but it’s where we are at. Today is the first day of my no social media experiment. I also intend to avoid the TV and mainstream media sites such as the BBC and the Guardian.

Last night I uninstalled the Facebook app from my phone and did a last couple of posts via the web interface. The phone was left downstairs rather than charging by the bed and although the battery was showing 29% I didn’t bother plugging it in.

This morning I am already looking for things to do. I dug out a book and read a couple of pages and am now sat in the TV room writing this. John came in and switched the TV on which somewhat scuppered my no TV rule but he couldn’t find anything he wanted to watch so departed with the remote control, thinking he was helping me out. I thought that Postman Pat the Movie was a perfectly good choice of watching but John didn’t. He will learn. In time he will grow to appreciate such classics.

Breakfast was a very restrained bowl of fruit and fibre.

In my experience it takes a while before boredom spurred activity kicks in. The grate has been cleaned out and the fire lit. The flames are happily dancing away and soon I’ll remove the fireguard. I keep it on during the early stage of lighting as the kindling gives off lots of sparks. An open fire creates lots of dust, I note. The rug in front of it is full of burn marks. An utility space. There is no point in us replacing it.

A heavy base reverberates through the ceiling from John’s bedroom. Joe and Tom are working away on KoeFest in the conservatory.

I’m quite looking forward to taking down the decorations and putting the festive season properly behind us.

…

Out for a cuppa at the Wig and Mitre with Anne, Han, John and Jenny before she goes off to Thailand for a month. They were almost out of milk. Not enough left for a latte and we got the last for a pot of tea for two. I left my phone at home. It was very noticeable when the others had their noses buried in theirs. Still early days for me.

On the way home it was pointed out that the snooker starts in around 10 days. What would I do then? This is a good question. It remains to be seen. I like watching snooker and it doesn’t stop you doing other things at the same time. It’s an “on in the background” thing.

…

Log fire flickers

Worker bees busy in the kitchen

Sound of radio

Curtains are drawn

We are in for the night

 

ideas

The great winter photography exhibition

February – a dull month

 

2nd January 2018

Woke up in the night and kept reaching out to touch my phone. It wasn’t there. It was switched off downstairs in the kitchen. I lay awake for a bit without it and drifted off again. Up and off to the pool before breakfast only to find that it was shut due to a burst pipe. I tried. Nevertheless I’m back on the MyFitnessPal and the Garmin, monitoring activity and intake. January innit.

I did spend a lot of time on the internet yesterday. Not social media. I was researching kitchen butchers blocks/islands. Quite rightly Anne feels that if I’ve spent a thousand pounds on a greenhouse to grow some very expensive tomatoes then her ambition to replace the second kitchen table with a butcher’s trolley is realisable. On one occasion I found myself on mainstream media but this was the gardening section offering advice on which tomatoes to grow so I avoided the news.

I also did a load of travel booking, hotels and trains. The internet is not my gripe. It is unavoidably useful. Some good hotel deals around when I was looking last night. We are stopping at The Trafalgar in London before going to Rome for the rugby at the beginning of February.

The phone is far less useful without Facebook. That isn’t to say I don’t have an use for it but there is a lot less reason to pick it up. The idea of heading out for a coffee or a swim without it is fine but it does mean that I don’t have it in my hand for ad hoc photography. Just shows how much social media is driving the growth in bandwidth – photos and vids get put on Facebook.

…

The fire is lit and I am working from the front room again this morning. Joe and Tom have purloined my office. Tom is off home this pm so I will get it back after today.

…

Fire blazing away in the grate again. Had a home made carrot and coriander soup for lunch with a wholemeal bread roll and butter followed by an orange. Shame the pool was shut. My step count today at 1.30pm is only 1,300 out of my target of 8,000. That’s sitting on the sofa in front of the fire for you. Will have to do something about it.

Amazingly there is relaxing music coming through the floor from John’s bedroom. It’s often a loud thud. Maybe he is doing homework. Or meditating…

Been communicating using Messenger today. Sometimes Facebook is handy when you are going somewhere and you want recommendations – restaurants maybe. On this occasion I was able to do this using Messenger because I know someone who went to uni in Newcastle. Ordinarily I’d have just posted the question and see what came back.

 

Woman on fire in rain – dropped Hannah off at train station and there was this woman with an e-cigarette holder. It was as if she was on fire. Very smokey.

Woman cyclist with new toilet brush in backpack.

3rd January 2018

Still picking the phone up unnecessarily. I’m used to looking at Facebook so much. Suspect this will take some time to go away. There is no reason for me to casually pick the device up. Same in bed. Woke up in the night and reached over for the phone despite the fact that it wasn’t there. I leave it downstairs now.

Overslept somewhat. Finally woke up at 7.45 which left no time for a lie in before going swimming. In fact I was late going to the pool and would have had a shorter swim than planned were it not for the fact that the pool is still closed. The advice is that it reopens tomorrow but you would need to be pretty hardy to take the plunge. Should be back to full temperature on Friday.

Fortunately I have a “body balance” class at 10.30 so won’t be totally devoid of exercise. This is a combination of yoga, tai chi and pilates, or simlar. Will let you know how I get on obvs.

In other news the campervan enquiries are starting to roll in. No firm bookings yet but they will come. Need to get our press launch sorted for 2018. We have news.

…

Back from Body Balance. Boy is it a tough class. I was sweating buckets and had to remove my glasses as they were steamed up. It’s about core strength, flexibility and balance. Will have to persevere. I have no balance, core strength or flexibility:) Cancelled Friday’s Body Pump class. If I found Body Balance hard then BP will be too much methinks.

…

Bit of a boring afternoon spent staring at flight options and hotels in Hong Kong and Bangkok. I’m planning a trip for New Year 2018/19. Was intending to fly out to BKK and back from HKG. However I think the flight options are better the other way around. Flying back from HKG gets you in at four in the morning. BKK is a far more civilised 17.25pm arrival with an 11.15am start. That’s a very leisurely lunch and a car picking us up from Heathrow getting us home for around 9.30.

4th January 2018

Awake early again and after a while nodded off again. Seems to be a trend. No phone by the bed so went downstairs early to make the tea only to find that Virgin Media had a problem. Nothing admitted to on their website but we were without connectivity for a good hour or so. I survived.

Spent all day preparing for next year’s tax return. Quite a complicated sitch due to various business interests and the need to sort a big bag of receipts from JoeFest. I have plenty of time to get it done (almost a year) but it informs certain investment decisions so the sooner it’s done the better.

Found that I spend quite a lot of time on the laptop trying to think of reasons for using it. When I was using Facebook all that time would be spent on the site. So still needing to wean myself off computer usage. I’m grasping around for sites to visit – remembering that it isn’t just social media I’m avoiding. It’s mainstream media sites as well.

I did use Twitter this morning – purely to see if the Virgin Media connectivity issue was being reported and to nudge the Virgin Twitter account. Most of my time has been spent researching our big Far East holiday.

Also spent a lot of time watching TV in the evening. This is not normal, or it wasn’t in the weeks running up to Christmas. I spent most of the time out partying. At least it’s keeping me out of the pub. I’ve been able to research the holiday at the same time. Also the greenhouse and the kitchen butcher’s trolley re which we are almost ready to push the button.

 

5th January 2018

Pool this morning. First time in yonks at yarborough. Half an hour. Only one other person in my lane so that was cool. Omelette and a bit of smoked salmon shared with Anne.

Lunchtime Joe and I met with Pieman to discuss JoeFest catering.

Ordered the butcher’s block island Anne has been after for a year or so. Don’t want to rush these things. It has to be the right one. Solid.

7th january 2018

V pleasant trip to Nuke arstle. Took Joe back. Stayed at the Hilton and had a room with a great view over the Tyne – swing bridge and the Tyne Bridge right in front of us. Out for a curry with Mike Kelly and his daughter Rebecca, Anne, Joe and Charlotte.

This morning we went to Tynemouth. Cold but enjoyable trip around the market and then a takeaway from Longsands chippy. Dropped Joe and Charlotte back in Nuke and headed South.

It’s a week since I last looked at Facebook. Had a near miss when I got home though. Was looking on Tripadvisor at restaurants in Florence, as you do, and followed a link to a restaurant website. Turned out it was a Facebook page. Saw that I had 57 mentions/engagement but refrained from looking. Won’t be going to that restaurant 🙂

We are off to Italy at the beginning of February and staying in London en route on the first of the month. That will coincide with my first day back on social media! If I return 🙂

8th January 2018

Swim first thing but stuck on the settee doing stuff today, apart from a trip to the Lawns from a coffee with Matt Russell. Booked Hong Kong hotel – Mandarin Oriental – figured might as well push the boat out. It’s in keeping with the first class flight out anyway.

Not even thought about Facebook although still need to replace the laptop with something else in my life.

 

10th January 2018

My hair is beginning to irritate me. This is a bit of a shame really. It isn’t helped by the fact that my specs need tightening a little. I suspect that I’m not going to end up with long hair. I’m going to stick it out until the end of the month anyway until I’m back on Facebook and then maybe i can have a before and after photo shot. Or even a video of it being cut.

I don’t missFacebook much although I do occasionally find myself wondering about something that I’d ordinarily ask the Facebook community about. I also still use the laptop too much. Problem is that is my work tool so I’m sat in front of it for most of the day whatever happens. Also still reaching out in the night as if to pick up the phone. I won’t be getting back into the routine of having the phone by the bed whatever happens and I think I might not reinstall the Android Facebook App and just rely on the laptop/web interface.

Bought joefest.com today. Paid a lot of dosh. We had .co.uk but I figured it was best if we bagged the .com. We would regret it downstream if we didn’t. Makes sense. Also had to look twice at Facebook – food vendors’ websites are Facebook pages. It’s so much easier for people to have a Facebook page than their own site. Certainly for simple shopfronts.

11th January 2018

Another swim this morning. another half a kg lost although the pre swim weight showed no loss. Whodathunk a swim would make that difference.

Small birds now starting to use the feeders at the bottom onf the garden.

12th January 2018

05.30 and I’m up and at it. Not really at much. Just downstairs in the TV room writing this. I’ve had enough kip, I think. It’s already Friday. Busy enough day today. Off to Newark to see a glamping equipment vendor for 11am (after my swim) and then various meetings this pm including around to the Smiths to get Nick to endorse the kids Irish citizenship applications. Cake Ball tonight. Not a big fan of balls any more but Nick has a table so we are going. It’s at the Doubletree. Thought about stopping the night. It’s £87. Anne would probably not approve. It’s only a fiver for a taxi home.

It’s almost half way through the month. I’m still not over facebook:) I decided whilst lying in bed this morning, before coming downstairs early, that I will have to start getting on the rowing machine every day, as well as the swim. Something to break up the need to be constantly on the laptop and also to get more exercise.

Back from my swim and another Anne’s vans enquiry in. Bacon with omelette for brekkie and then off to Newark to talk to a glamping equipment vendor.

13th january 2018

What would you do if you had 100% charge on your phone or laptop but knew that once it ran out it was the last ever time you’d be able to use it?

Watched John play hockey v Huddersfield. 1 all draw. Lincoln City drew 2 2 v Notts County.

Had a Tom kerridge style pizza on tortilla base. V good fair play.

Totes knackered after last night’s late late finish. Hot bath and bed by 10.

14th January 2018

Time marches on. The calendar ticks over another day. Breakfast is at 09.50. Omelette and Cumberland sausage given to me by Joe upon his return from visiting Charlotte. Anne is marching off to church, a little earlier today so that she can deliver a few Bailgate Independents en route. No sign of John. He was out with the lads this morning though Finn, who stayed overnight, has already upped and gone home.

I did most of the jobs yesterday. All that is left on the list is to mark out the position on the patio where the greenhouse is going to go (arrives tomorrow) and to write Anne’s sister Sarah’s invitations to her 50th birthday party. Sarah has Downs Syndrome and lives, very happily, in a wonderful hostel near to where she grew up.

Bit achey this morning so I think I’ll give swimming a miss. Chest cold. The beef stew is in the oven. Fingers crossed. My stews tend to be great but I do get the occasional boring one.

Delicious home made tomato soup for lunch. Anne accidentally added too much chilli but it worked for me. Halfa smoked salmon sandwich and half a ham and I’m sorted.

In other news the Masters Snooker has started. Annoys the hell out of me how good these guys are. Anne and I are sat in the front room watching it – the Archers has finished and she’s done her saxophone practice.

In more other news Liverpool beat Man City 4 – 3 at Anfield. Fair play. A v exciting game by all accounts.

Stew turned out very tasty.

15th January 2018

Decline and Fall is a cathedral of words and opinions: sonorous, awe-inspiring and shadowy, with odd and unexpected corners of wit and irony, concealed in well-judged footnotes. For example, in chapter VII on Gordian, he writes:

Twenty-two acknowledged concubines, and a library of 62,000 volumes attested the variety of his inclinations, and from the productions which he left behind him, it appears that the former as well as the latter were designed for use rather than ostentation.

His footnote provides a witty coda: “By each of his concubines, the younger Gordian left three or four children. His literary productions were by no means contemptible.”

Gibbon

Greenhouse arrives today.

…

In fact it’s just arrived. Also it’s chucking it down with rain. I think I’m looking forward to the day when I can potter in the greenhouse whilst it’s raining outside.

…

Went for a walk. Just up to the Lindum, around and back past the Eastgate crossroads. My trousers were absolutely soaking.

16th January 2018

HRFK79XH

KHLJW4WX

65L54NJH

L5GHJ26W

Train ticket reservation numbers.

 

20th January 2018 – Insomnia

In so mnia, in so mn ia?

Is this it? Lying awake in bed at four in the morning looking at the alarm clock, watching it click over.

Thing is I don’t feel tired so why should being awake be a concern? It isn’t really. Here I am now downstairs writing. The Dyson fan heater has been retrieved from the conservatory. Brr it’s cold out there. Here in the TV room it’s toasty.

I’m expecting the time to fly by now that I’m sat at the laptop. It only had 15% battery left so I had to retrieve the power supply from the front room where I had been working yesterday, sat by the fire.

If you knew you only had 15% battery left ever what would you do? It doesn’t give you much time to save the world? Say your online goodbyes? It’s been good knowing you. Remember me…

I’ve noticed that online media has started creeping back into my life. I’ve been choosy. I still avoid Brexit and Trump and anything else that gives off negative vibes. Still burying my head in cotton wool. Not sand. That would get up my nostrils. In my eyes. I only look at nice stuff. Although I do listen to the radio and watch the TV news so I am getting the news, just not every other minute.

This morning I took the lawnmower in to be serviced. Last year it kept misfiring and it is long overdue an overhaul. £90 plus parts! It’s not a particularly cheap mower so I suppose it needs maintaining.

Also in other news John got another unconditional offer of a place at university. Birmingham this time.

…

The fridge freezer in the garage has packed in. It was second hand in the first place so doesn’t owe us anything. Just a bit of a nuisance having to react and keep the frozen food somewhere. New one arrives tomorrow. Gone for a bigger one. May as well.

21st January 2018

Day 21 with no Facebook. Yesterday I posted an Anne’s Vans post on our Facebook page but that is acceptable. That’s business. Didn’t share it on my timeline. Have to keep the SEO stuff ticking along.

Yesterday we declared the fridge freezer in the garage kaput. Today, at around 09.15 they delivered the new one. Fortunately we had just emptied it in time. They took the old one away but left the new one in its packaging. Notionally to stand for 4 hours but they were supposed to unpack it first. No big deal. Found some mouse droppings in the vicinity of the old one. Unsurprising.

Today is a day that began without a jobs list. Then one of the doors is reported as having come of the shower and also I’ve decided we definitely need a new fireback. Those can be this morning’s tasks.

John didn’t come home last night. At 5am he texted his mum to say he was at Jamie’s. They were out celebrating Finn’s 18th and the fact that John now has two guaranteed places at University. I doubt he will be in a fit state to do anything today.

Anne and I ended up at the West End Tap lst night after  going to the flicks to see The Darkest Hour. V good fair play. I’ve read Churchill’s 2nd world war history numerous times and I might take another look at that period leading up to Dunquerque. Very emotional stuff.

Freezing cold outside. The radiator in the TV room seems to have started working again which is good obvs. Not particularly hot but it does take the edge off the chill.

Paid the last chunk of tax. That’s it for another year.

Tonight/tomorrow morning is an important moment in our 2019 holiday planning as I need to book the return flight from Bangkok. When we got in last night I waited until after midnight to check availability of reward flights. There were two in business class. I have to be on the phone at 6am to stand a chance of getting flights out of Bangkok on 11th January. If nothing comes up tomorrow I’m tempted to secure the HKG seats if they are still available just to have certainty. Could always change later. The return leg from Hong Kong isn’t ideal because the flights are close to midnight and land very early at LHR. Better than nowt.

…

Can’t fix shower door – the whole thing would need dismantling and putting back together and it still wouldn’t really sort it. Also B&Q didn’t have the firebrick.

…

Gentle snow. Unfortunately not sticking. Not a day to be abroad. This is one of those bunker down it’s winter days. The snooker is on the TV. Anne is packaging up some parcels to send off. I have a chicken casserole in the oven and the whole chicken has been stuffed and prepared for putting in the oven later. All very domesticated. All is well. In theory I should be out in the back garden with the blower shifting the last of the leaves in anticipation of the visit by the lawn care people in the week. Green Thumb. Greenhouse man comes on Tuesday too. Rather him than me in this weather.

This really is the most miserable time of year.

Just seen and ad whose strapline was “Go Mahoosive with the all inclusive”. You don’t get the feeling that it will have lots of like minded people on the trip. Not like me minded anyway.`

22nd January 2018

07.30 direct train to London for onward journey on Eurostar to Bruxelles. Slightly delayed due to signalling problems between Lincoln and Newark or simlar. Countryside is looking a bit bleak. Limp greens and dull browns.

Thought I might get some work done but this train is too shaky.

 

Last time I went to Brussels I forgot to take plug adapters. Last time I went to London I forgot my headphones and Oyster card. This time I have my adapters, headphones and Oyster card. This time I’ve forgotten my watch which was left charging in the kitchen. No big deal though. I did without for 30 years…

Indian bloke with very obvious wig sat opposite me.

Lots of water on the ground in France.

The dishwasher and other moments

Filed under: chinks — Trefor Davies @ 9:58 am

The dishwasher sends a relaxing shiver down my spine. Soft repetitive sound. Anne stands quietly in the corner sipping her cup of tea, looking out of the window. The snow is melting. Feels as if we are coming to the end of a long hard winter. In reality it has only been a week or so. The last of the snow is about to slide off the greenhouse roof. I’d quite like to capture the moment but I’m not going to stand there for hours waiting. I could give it a nudge but somehow that doesn’t seem right. Let nature take its course.

March 3, 2018

Flight to the Isle of Man

Filed under: poems,poetry — Trefor Davies @ 4:10 pm

UK is covered in cloud.

2 worlds

Above the cloud

Below the cloud

We are descending

Gradually approaching the cloud

What lies below?

 

Frozen Arctic wasteland

Ordinary people leading ordinary lives

Is such a thing possible?

 

Bit of a disappointment I can’t see the Isle of Man. Maybe we aren’t there yet?

Strange to think that below the clouds might be the Irish sea

Boats

Waves

Fish

 

The cabin attendant goes about her business. She is prepared for landing

Now I can see the sea. It looks calm

The plane banks and Laxey comes into view

Followed by Doolish

December 31, 2017

January 2018

Filed under: chinks,diary — Trefor Davies @ 12:18 pm

My January ahead

In January I’m planning on not touching Facebook at all. The app is going to be uninstalled from my phone and I will be doing my best to avoid it on the laptop. I really enjoy communicating on Facebook but think it is taking over my life too much. You can be your own judge on your own situation. I’ll also be refraining from reading online media and watching the TV. My phone will be switched off at night and left charging downstairs in the kitchen. I’ll be attempting to use it less and less.

The social media thing is not hard and fast. If I need to use it for work I will do so. Netaxis on LinkedIn maybe and Anne’s Vans and JoeFest on Facebook possibly. We have a great announcement in the pipeline with Anne’s Vans and I need to decide whether that’s a January event or a bit later on. I’m also likely to continue the occasional use of Messenger as this is a way that our family stays in touch.

I will almost certainly be still taking pics and making videos but my aim is to compile these into an album or video for publishing at the end of the month. Instead of using all my time (free and otherwise) buried in a screen it will be interesting to see what happens. I’m expecting to read a lot more books and get back to my creative writing. I may well talk about the experience on philosopherontap.com and by all means tune in there for updates.

January is also traditionally a period of abstention following the Christmas excess of food and drink. I’m going to be cutting back on both and getting more exercise. Although I’m not ruling it out I’m not looking at a dry January. There are already a few dates in the calendar that to some extent preempt dryness – Lincoln Cake Ball and a few other other nights out. You can’t just get rid of everything worth looking forward to in life otherwise what’s the point of it all?

In the meantime I’d like to wish you all a Happy New Year ahead and hope 2018 brings you fulfillment. I’m looking forward to another exciting year. They are all exciting:) You have to make it so.

Ciao and wish me luck for January 🙂

May 1, 2017

Ruined shepherd’s hut in Higher Swaledale

Filed under: travel — Trefor Davies @ 4:37 pm

Sat in the car somewhere high above Swaledale. Pulled in to the side of the road near a ruined stone building with an enclosed walled garden. It’s small and difficult to describe it as a cottage although it appears to have a chimney. Maybe it was some kind of shepherd’s shelter.

All I can hear is a babbling stream and some unknown birds clattering away. I can’t see them. I’ve driven from Keld towards Kirkby Stephen and back. Turned around when the road began it’s descent. It has only taken 20 minutes to cover what Tom and I took maybe 6 hours or more on foot. Seeing a lot more this time as we are concentrating on just getting there when we did the walk. My feet hurt most of the way.

No cars have passed since I stopped here perhaps ten minutes ago. No mobile phone signal. A wonderfully peaceful spot.

It’s amazing that there are so few people around. It’s a Saturday on a Bank Holiday weekend. I’ve moved on to a viewing spot looking down on what is presumably the upper reaches of the river Swale.

March 6, 2017

Unrequited Facebook Love

Filed under: the art gallery — Trefor Davies @ 9:39 pm

rejected Facebook friend requests

plus a couple of dodgy Twitter followers

facebook friend request

facebook friend request

facebook friend request

facebook friend request

facebook friend request

facebook friend request

facebook friend request

facebook friend request

facebook friend request

facebook friend request

facebook friend request

facebook friend request

March 2, 2017

travel tosh

Filed under: travel — Trefor Davies @ 2:57 pm

tranes and planes

looking around me on the one carriage “train” between Lincoln and Newark everyone is appropriately dressed for February. Everyone that is except me. I am wearing a thin polo shirt and a lightweight jacket. I am off to Barcelona and didn’t think I’d be spending any time exposed to the British winter elements. This didn’t take into account the fact that the train was late and I spent more time standing on the platform that I had planned for. Didn’t matter.  🙂

Fields around are waterlogged in places with very little growth as you’d expect at this time of year. Sky is grey. I don’t mind leaving all this behind me for a few days. Barcelona, whilst an exciting city, won’t be particularly glamorous mind you. I’ll be spending most of the time at the Mobile World Congress trade show. The evenings will make up for it and I’m having breakfast with Jeff Pulver at 10am tomorrow.

I have a 40 minute wait in Newark so the slightly delayed departure from Lincoln doesn’t matter. I originally booked the train from Newark because there are more options. It was either going to be a lift off Anne, taxi or train from Lincoln. Anne is not available and figured

it wasn’t work paying the extra twenty quid to taxi it from Lincoln. Taxi back is quite likely.

Just had a great weekend. Tom and Joe were back for various activities. We had a JoeFest site visit and Joe separately had a Jazz Vehicle gig with John on Friday night and Pylons songwriting sessions on Saturday and Sunday. Had a very delightful late Sunday lunch. Roast port with crackling and all the trimmings. Opened a bottle of white wine to go in the gravy. The gravy didn’t need a whole bottle so I finished the rest of it. Sensible thing to do. Would have gone off!

Later on Sunday night we booked flights to go and see Dave and Cecile and George and Barbara in Geneva at the end of September.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,……………….,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

On board the plane. Bored. Brought an FT and a classic car magazine from the lounge. Can’t be bothered to read them. Just waiting for the drinks service to start. I have been a good boy up until now. Saving myself for the evening ahead. However I consider the evening starts here really. Large G&T please and a glass of champagne.

I can see movement behind the curtains. Cabin steward is mixing my  drinks for me. Not really. Hopefully he is loading up the trolley though. Nice smell of coffee permeating the business class cabin. Coffee always smells better than it tastes. Not too many of us in  business class and I’m in row 4 so should be quick enough. Reminds me of last Friday night when we went to the Jazz Vehicle gig in Coleby. Anne and I had dinner with Nice and Terry beforehand. Joe came to see us and said we should get there by 7 as it was flying up. We weren’t going to make 7 so he took some coats and lay them on the pews (for the gig was at Coleby Church). Came back and told us we were two rows from the back. I didn’t think this was a particularly good spot until I found that we were also four rows from the front. It’s a small church.

Spotify is keeping me entertained through my Bose phones. They will also be serving afternoon tea shortly. Something to do. I don’t mind a sarnie and a scone. I have two small bots of champagne in preparation for it.

Still bored. Also although this plane has plenty of room to the side – they only use two out of three seats in business class – there isn’t much room to open the laptop.

…..

afternoon tea consumed. Coronation chicken, prawn marie rose and ploughman’s cheddar sandwiches with a fruit scone, clotted cream and strawberry jam. Only tiny sandwiches but hey… Onto second bot of chaperone. Listening to Steed Life by the Crusaders. It’s one of my all time faves. About time they introduced internet connectivity on planes in Europe mind you. It would help pass the time away

calcots

Just passed Toulouse. Barca is about 170 miles away. Totes relying on the skipper for this info. Window shutter is down against the dazzling sun.

Interesting trip this. You get mostly suits working for large corporates who are bound by their corporate rules. Because they send so many people on these trips they insist on flying them all in economy class. This business class flight was more expensive than economy but only by a few tens of pounds so I considered it worth the investment. Maybe added 10% to the cost. God I’d hate to have to be suit again. I was one but gradually rebelled. I’d only work for a large corporate again on my own terms. it would have to be an extremely senior position where you could write your own rules.

I can now see a vivid red sky at night over Spain. Orange really but it fits the bill for nice weather tomorrow. I turn my back on the drab UK.

People passing me on the plane, heading back from the loos, don’t smile. I don’t suppose there is much to smile about cooped up in a tube at 30,000 feet. At least we are above the clouds and the sky is red, ish.

I’ve determined that this trip I will not be taking my laptop bag with me. I do have it but am leaving it in the apartment. All i need is the phone and a battery charger. Travel light. Enjoy the couple of days of MWC, if such a thing is possible. The evenings will be good. I have a couple of top nights lined up. No idea what I am doing during the day. Others have lined that up. I’ll find out when I look.

e could have been a monk in the old days:)

Now playing Love Is The Drug. It’s another fave. In fact I’m playing songs of my fave playlist. It’s called Tref’s Faves. On my third little bottle of champagne. 187ml That’s 3/4 of a normal bottle I will have consumed.

People watching me using my laptop will have no idea that this is not work. Work is a mugs game. Not saying it doesn’t need to be done. Just that it’s a mugs game. Unless you don’t think of it as work that is. You should enjoy what you do.

We are sinking lower in the sky now. A blood red element has been introduced to the palette. Along with some very dark not quite black colours.

As I recall Barcelona is a big airport. Lots of traveling to get to the exit. Guy sat next to me reckons if we land at 7.30 it will take me until 9pm to get the the apartment which is near the Sagrada Familia.

Listening to Moondance. Van Morrison. Brilliant. Suits three small bottles of champagne. The rest of the cabin is very quiet because these Bose headphones are brilliant. Really good for cutting out the loud and intrusive background noises of the plane. The only thing they have going against them is the fact that they are over ear phones and as such aren’t particularly good if you want to sleep in them. Having said that the over ear aspect is much better for comfort than the in ears.

10 minutes to landing. I’m off

……..=====,,,,,,,,=======……..======,,,,,,,,,,

Back on the plane headed nowf. Seems to be more room on thissun although the flight is full and they had problems getting all the carry on luggage stowed. I’m alright anyway jack.

May attempt to have a bit of a nap on the plane – it’s been three 1.30 am days on this trip. big nights out. Quite looking forward to having a drink of milk back in the UK. Nothing like British milk on the continent. Also I missed pancake day on Tuesday so I will have to make up for that. Tonight maybe.

Wondering what the inflight nosh is going to be. Had a couple of miniature croissants and a jam on roll in the lounge with an espresso and a glass of orange juice. Croissants were a bit sweet and the ham roll doesn’t replace a proper bacon sandwich. Not that you’d get a proper bacon sarnie on a plane anyway.

Looks like the Pyrenees down below. Jagged rocks you could cut yourself on. Careful there.

Drinking a restorative Fanta. They only come in small cans on planes but it’s having an effect.

{POpdfh ionuq-8tru wsldbjfkasd fn98wer  lvbkl;’

Amazing how reviving a cup of tea can be. Although it is nice to go off to exotic places it’s always good to have your home comforts in this case represented by a decent cup of tea.

I will have to load up with stuff to watch when I head to Orlando later this month. Doubt they will have my kind of thing on the inflight entertainment system. Though I have no idea what is my kind of thing. When I land at Gatwick I have 45 minutes before my train goes. might even be able to  catch an earlier one who knows.y

lunch est arrived. salad by the looks of it. fine. had crunchy lamb last night. not sure what made it crunchy. it was too dark to be able to see. was meant to be crunchy. according to the menu. I’m avoiding booze this lunchtime. had enough over the last three days .

jaw just clicked when I was yawning.

Hello my friend it’s been along time
Where have you been?
What have you been up to?
Has your life gone well?
Do you have any regrets?
Come and drink tea
Tell me everything
It’s good to see you smile
There is no hurry to leave.

The Ace of Spades hammers against the sides of my head. Drums frenetic. Drummers must be very fit even though they send their working lives sat down. Gambling is for fools. I don’t want to live for ever.

These Bose headphones are absolutely brilliant.

There are now three persons in the queue for the toilet – wtf?

If anyone needs a landing card they will shortly be bringing them through the cabin.

We have two pilots. One has four stripes and the other two. The four striper has just brought out his empty food tray and is chatting to the stewardess. I can’t see her as she is stood behind the bulkhead. He has gone now. Think he went to the loo. Back now.

Drivel.

Sunny day in LGW but only 7 Degrees. I will have to stay indoors:) Not sure what the plan is for getting home. Probs a taxi from Newark Northgate.

Blog queuing for the loo wearing a Jack Wills t-shirt. I thought that was a kids brand? I’m wearing my Latitude tee.

Listening some of the lyrics of the songs on this playlist. Don’t normally do that. Subconsciously perhaps. They really are rubbish by and large. Pandering to the majority.

Just flying over the Isle of Wight en route to LGW. Cool. We are following the South coast towards Brighton. Should land on time. Scheduled 12.30 and eta is 12.20 which means may be at the gate for half past.

They need to start equipping aircraft with internet access. Do it already in the US of A. Apaz.

Shepherdess Cafe Shoreditch – have breakfast there.

Plane is banking to the left. Eeoowww. Fluffy cumuli float.

February 19, 2017

The Casual Observer or Seagulls not Allowed

Filed under: fusion — Tags: — tavernau @ 9:45 am

No shit Sherlock

Lloyd George knew my father. Actually he didn’t. Dad wasn’t born when old Lloyd George was alive. He didn’t know my grandfather either. Lloyd George was a politician. My grandfather was a miner. Their shovels would never have crossed.

I only mention Lloyd George because there is a statue of him in the square in Caernarfon. When I was a kid I used to catch the school bus from the square and there would always be a seagull stood on his head. There is no seagull in this photograph but that might just be because Tom, the photographer, had shooed him away. Either that or he waited patiently for the moment when the bird had flown away.

Photographers have to be patient. Especially wildlife photographers who have been know to wait months before capturing that perfect shot of bird in flight with fish in claw, mating rhinoceri. You know the kind of stuff I mean.

On this occasion that level of patience does not apply. The statue is there already posing for the camera. All we need to do is wait for the bird to vanish. Vanish it has done. Gone. Gone in search of nourishment. Scraps of food discarded by careless office workers eating their sandwiches on a nearby bench. The occasional chip dropped by a schoolboy because it broke off the end of his fork. Rummaging in dustbins and causing a general nuisance.

We are not informed as to the identity of the person being honoured in the form of the statue. Clearly a military type as is more often than not the case. Just reward for leading the charge at the battle of XYZ. Probably. No horse on show so not a cavalryman.

Costs a lot more to have a horse as part of the statue. More metal and considerably more carving time on the part of the sculptor. The sculptor would probably appreciate the challenge. You don’t get asked to carve horses that much these days. Not as many of them around as there used to be. Horses that is. Probably sculptors too.

Maybe we have passed the heyday of both horse and sculptor. Definitely true for the gee gee. I digress.

The title given to this picture is The Casual Observer. I suppose it is possible for someone in such formal attire to approach situations casually. After all he has time on his hands. He is not going anywhere. The people he observes may not have the same luxury. Our office worker and schoolboy has to get back after the hour allocated for the lunch break or risk the wrath of supervisor and teacher. An hour is plenty of time to eat your packup and sit around for a bit relaxing, watching the world go by, taking in the sunshine etcetera etcetera etcetera. I’ve often thought of not going back and taking off instead for the coast. Never had the guts to do it.

I wonder what was in the sandwiches. I like ham myself…

Tref

February 16, 2017

mind the gap

Filed under: the art gallery — Trefor Davies @ 4:07 pm

advice for the traveller

the gap

gap

mind, the gap

February 14, 2017

Port Solent Marina by Jen

Filed under: fusion — Tags: — Trefor Davies @ 11:29 am

gateway to the world

Port Solent Marina doesn’t really give you a feel for the history of the surrounding area. Home to the British navy since the Middle Ages I take the opportunity to quote from Wikipedia:

“The mouth of the harbour provides access to the Solent. It is best known as the home of the Royal Navy, HMNB Portsmouth. Because of its strategic location on the south coast of England, protected by the natural defence of the Isle of Wight, it has since the Middle Ages been the home to England’s (and later Britain’s) navy. The narrow entrance, and the forts surrounding it gave it a considerable advantage of being virtually impregnable to attack from the sea. Before the fortifications were built the French burned Portsmouth in 1338. During the civil war parliamentary forces were able to carry out a successful cutting-out expedition within the harbour and capture the six-gunned Henrietta Marie.”

This picture by Jen is the view from our friend Kev’s balcony in the marina. He has a private mooring but no boat. If I lived there I’d buy a boat. Half the expense of running a boat is having somewhere to keep it. It might be interesting to plot where the yachts from Port Solent Marina set off to. Do they go around the world?

Not sure the ones in this picture are big enough for that sort of thing. I quite like the idea but there are barriers to making it happen. I’d need to learn how to sail a boat and be prepared to take a few months off to make the trip. My wife would also have to buy into the idea.

The boats in the pic look good for a trip to the Isle of WIght or maybe France. Pull in to a little port along the coast and head into town for an evening of steak frites nand vin rouge. Sounds perfect doesn’t it. Some croissants and a baguette frosh from the boulangerie for brekkie and head back across the channel for home.

Keep your eyes open for big boats going across your path. Don’t want any accidents now do we?

It isn’t hard to imagine boats setting off from Port Solent to pick up troops from Dunkirk. I don’t think the marina was there during World War 2 but you get the idea.

One thing I did notice about this pic is that there are no flags in sight. Perhaps boats only put flags up when they are going somewhere. You can’t hear it because there is no sound in this picture but the wind is blowing the stays against the masts creating quite a racket. Can get quite noisy when the Marina is full as it is during the summer months. You also hear the shouts of people calling across to other boats and to people on the shore. “Don’t forget the towels”, or the beer or some similar essential accessory for the perfect cruise.

Gotta go. The sun is over the yardarm.

Tref

February 12, 2017

Ice cream?

Filed under: fusion — Tags: — Blues @ 6:00 pm

hang on I got a customer

So I said to him nah nah nah mate you got it all wrong. It was Nietzsche, it was Nietzsche wot said “Without music, life would be a mistake”. Not Nick Grimshaw. Ee must have been quoting Nietzsche. An anyway I’m still not coming wiv ya to Glastonbury. How dya think I can afford a ticket for Glastonbury wiv this job. I’d have to sell a lot of ice creams. I know I know I do like Adele. I think she’s great but do I really want to wade around in all that mud to get a glimpse of er. Nah nah nah mate. I’ll see you dahn the Crazy Parrot on Friday night if I can persuade the girls to come along.

What?

What?

I know, unbelievable innit? How they have the bare faced cheek to try it on.

So how’s that book coming along. Annals of Confucius. Yea that one. I thought it was a good read. Inspiring. Made me fink anyway. “Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life”.

Livin in cloud cuckoo land mind you. Snot as easy as that is it? Dya think I’m working in an ice cream van for the love of the job. The travel bit and the getting to meet people is all very well but it’s not quite what I had in mind when I left school. An it’s a real struggle to keep the weight off. I don’t want to have to go buying new clothes all of the time. On these wages!

Yeis yeis I am coming round to yours on Sunday. It’s my day off. He wants me to do some overtime but I’m not going to. He can find someone else to do it. I got to have a life you know I told im. E doesn’t like it but hard luck. I’ve been looking forward to havin a good natter. Specially when we are both readin the same book.

Nah I can’t do Tuesday. We’ve got to go and see my uncle Steve. He’s not been very well and mum wants to take some stuff round to his. Grapes and that kind of fing. She’s knitted him a scarf as well. I told her Uncle Steve must have loads of scarves. He’s a Chelsea fan. She wouldn’t have it. Took her weeks to knit the thing. It’s not even the right colour but she said he doesn’t have to wear it to a match. He doesn’t go that often anymore. Not since he had the problem. Anyway we’re going Tuesday night. Yea yea yea I know but you can’t tell em.

How’s Darren? Oo is he? Did he? That’s very good then. What are you going to wear? Oh yes you look great in that dress. You can wear the gold earrings he gave you last year for Christmas. And those red heels. Phoar. I can just see you now.

Hang on I’ve got a customer…

Tref

incinerator

Filed under: fusion — Tags: — Trefor Davies @ 1:39 pm

rusting

Very satisfying standing by the incinerator burning things. It’s a blokey thing. Like barbecuing. Sometimes takes a while to get going. Use a bit of kindling and maybe a fire lighter or two. On this occasion I was burning green wood so it took more than a couple of fire lighters. Lots of stuff to get on with in out back garden. The greenwood was cuttings from apple and pear trees. The pear is going. Diseased. Not borne fruit for years. Decided we are going to get specialists in to finish the job. Need a chainsaw and need something doing with the roots. Also 60 metres or so of hedge to trim front and back. I was eventually able to put the lid on and leave the fire to its destructive and sanitizing work. The weather was closing in. Stripped off and had a shower. My clothes stank. Wore the same coat a week or so later and you could still smell the woodsmoke. It’s ok in mild doses. We also have a ciminiere though that seldom gets used. There is also the fire pit which is great for sitting around of a summer’s evening drink in hand. I like the colours of this incinerator. A thin layer of rust blended with the galvanised steel. It lives inside the old fort at the bottom of the garden. It’s not a real fort. I built it a few years ago for the kids. They used it once or twice. I left it too late. They had grown out of playing with forts at the bottom of the garden. I’ll probably take it down this year. Health and safety. The ash from the incinerator is good for putting on the raspberry beds. Surprising how little ash we had left over after burning the fruit tree branches.  The ideal time for incinerating is on a cold winter’s afternoon. The sun is low in the sky and it will be getting dark early. You are well wrapped up, gloves on, scarf around the neck and a wooly hat pulled well down. The heat from the fire feels good on your face. Occasionally you have to move to avoid the swirling smoke. The wind keeps changing direction. Occasionally you put on more wood and press it down with a branch held back for the purpose. Some branches need cutting down to size before they can be burnt. A branch lopper recently purchased from B&Q does the trick. Feels good to be able to snap thick branches as if they were little twigs. Crack, crack and in they go. You would think that an incinerator would engender camaraderie amongst family members. Everyone gathered around warming their hands, a bit of banter. It is rarely like that. It can be a lonely job stood there at the bottom of the garden. Still it’s a job that needs doing and if I don’t do it nobody else will. Can you smell the wood smoke?

Tref

prison ships of the modern era

Filed under: fusion — Tags: — funkypancake @ 10:01 am

another antipodean adventure

We got on board in Southampton.
The good times start from the moment you’re onboard
Would the person in cabin C520 please return to your cabin and close the balcony door. We are running into some heavy weather seas.
I was seasick all the way from Southampton until we got to Gibraltar.
Glad we went for an outside cabin.
I like the first officer – very nice.
You do get a bit fed up with three five course meals a day.
Getting sick to death of deck quoits.
Bit worried going through the Suez Canal
It’s our third cruise
Good job I don’t get seasick, much.
Oo there’s the captain
I think maybe 3 months was too long
Not sure I want to go ashore here
Is that an albatross?
Dolphins on the starboard bow.
I thought Singapore was lovely
Don’t think I could cope with being cooped up with them for much longer
The modern day prison hulk. Non stop and one way to Australia.
Combine the excitement of cruising with the sophistication of a five-star hotel
Over 10 places to dine
Over 10 places to unwind
7 entertainment venues
8 bars and places to socialise
Let me off I want to go home
Are there any stowaways in the lifeboats I wonder? Just like in the movies.
Don’t talk to me about the Titanic.
Step aboard and find everything you need for a relaxing holiday including plenty of restaurants, bars, pools, a luxurious spa, a gym, a theatre and shops.
“This was the best holiday that I have ever been on and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would recommend this ship to anybody looking to go on a family cruise”
Norwegian Fjords 7 nights full board from Just £679* per person.
Sailing on over azure oceans, spend a day in Grenada with its waterfalls, rainforests, volcanic craters and beaches to die for – especially Grand Anse – just around the bay from St George’s, and you won’t be disappointed with lush St Vincent – fresh seafood, gentle calypso and unspoilt coves – it has an allure of its own.
Never been on a cruise meself
Could have sworn the guy on that balcony was naked.
Hoist the mainsail
Splice the mainbrace
Just 15% deposit secures your booking.
£400 onboard spending money included
Floor to ceiling sliding glass doors leading to balcony with table and reclining chairs
Step aboard the elegant flagship of our fleet and be captivated by her charm.
Pirates in sight skipper
Sail before steam
I don’t ever want this cruise to end
We made such good friends
The Cookery Club is a great way to learn from top chefs
why not try your hand at deck tennis, the golf net or the state of the art gym?
Nice to see dry land after all this time
See Naples and die
You get a bit bored with lobster thermidor
We had a lovely cabin steward
I this Australia or New Zealand?
I am ready to go home

Tref

=============================================================

It must have been about eight to nine years ago. At least seven anyway, because it was before the Chapel had been redeveloped and that was finished back in 2010. I was worship leading a service about something or other, and I used a picture of one of those eighteenth century Atlantic slave ships to make a point. This picture of a prison ship of the modern era took me straight back there. Funny how things link up in one’s mind and lead you down paths you might not expect (nor want to go down), the past jumping into the present, unbidden – a stream of consciousness, Mrs Dalloway moment.
I do like today’s picture though. I mean, if you’ve got to be “locked up”, why not be locked up with a sea view, full board and decent wi-fi? Hopping from port to port, “Only one more sleep to Venice!”, the Captain’s table, full English every day. The weather looks good too. But even the Med gets rough, it’s not the mill pond some people mistakenly think. Ask the boat people. And as for the Bay of Biscay, don’t even get me started.
But if the weather’s too bad for outside, there’s always the entertainment or the bar. Or both. Some go for the all-inclusive package including booze. They been on scores of cruises, maybe hundreds. HUNDREDS! They love the whole thing though, the vibe, the new people, the food, the isolation from the grunge of “ordinary” life. You’d have to be sociable, though, you really would. And I don’t suppose a domestic’s much fun. Back to the bar to cool off maybe.
Sleep must be good though, and a calm relief from the rigours of the day – physical (the pool), mental (the crossword), gastronomic (unending). The hum of the engines drowning out next door’s shenanigans. The gentle rock, no hint of anything to get too worried about. “They don’t get icebergs in the Med, do they?”. The thought of tomorrow’s breakfast and a stroll up the Rock of Gibraltar, fighting off the baboons trying to nick your mid-morning croissant.
I wish I could remember the theological point I was making way back then, as worship leader. It would have been something about injustice and Christ’s teachings and how sad He’d be if He was around now. I do remember the picture I used then though, to illustrate the point, whatever it was. I’ll never forget it. Very different from today’s picture. Row upon row of decks, bunks and bodies, forced migration, cheek by jowl, suffering, death and disease. A few in the congregation wept and I was close to tears myself, having to catch myself every now and again, and “pull myself together” so I could continue. Hymns sung with a lump in the throat, prayers heartfelt, the collection plate bulging.
I’d like to say we have moved on, and in a sense we have. At least we know it’s wrong now. Most of us do anyway. Unlike back then.

Phillip

Picture by Scott Murray

Filed under: fusion — Tags: — Paul Tyler @ 9:50 am

going off the rails?

At some point in the Eighties the artist, musician and writer, Bill Drummond hatched a plan to stand on a manhole in Mathew Street in Liverpool (home of Erics and The Cavern), while at the same time the bands he managed, Echo and the Bunnymen and The Teardrop Explodes would perform in Iceland and New Guinea. ‘The Reason?’ as Bill explains in his book ‘45’ – ‘This was pretty unfocussed, but had something to do with harnessing the powers of the interstellar ley lines for my own personal gratification’. It didn’t come off due to complications with Julian Cope being too off his mash to be communicated with and The Bunnymen being too good at pop music to bugger about on a whim.

Bill has been a direct and subliminal influence on my artistic life for some time. His words, music and correspondence have pushed me to do things and create art that I would have previously dismissed as a daft idea. I’ve thrown paint at a wall to the sound of ‘Song 2’ by Blur, I’ve made a radio show that was also turned into an exhibition by visiting randomly selected grid squares from the A to Z  map of Lincoln. I’ve set up the National Leaning Helpline – 0844 487 8464, and most recently I’ve dug a hole somewhere in the UK and buried £100 in cash for anyone to find via the Buried Treasure Podcast.

For some time I’ve been wanting to do something with lines, Interstellar Ley or otherwise. The usual one page of Google research done and the ‘ley line’ thing is too mystical for me. I like the idea of creating lines rather than interfering with forces I don’t understand.

I’m already working on a project to gather musicians at different churches in Lincolnshire and record something dedicated to a medieval Church that burned down. Lines will then be drawn between the churches and displayed at St Georges at Goltho. If you are a Timpani player let me know, I’d like you stand outside a church and bang your drum please.

This picture was taken on Cross Street in Manchester. Time could be spent trying to find connections to Cross Street in Lincoln, but we can take this opportunity to create something new rather than trawl the internet for something tenuous.

At some point soon the photographer will find a manhole on the pictured street and stand on it while at the same time I will stand on a manhole on Cross Street in Lincoln.

What we will do and how long we will do it for, while stood on the manholes remains unfocused. There is a good chance it will involve keeping an eye on traffic. No suggestions please. We also don’t know how we will explain our actions to our loved ones as we leave the house, let alone passers-by. We will however have done something that we would not have done without the Picture Paints 500 Words project taking place, something unique.

Paul

February 7, 2017

psychotherapy and mind

Filed under: fusion — Tags: — Iwyna Brand @ 8:34 pm

the worried snake

Took me a while but I decided that the snake is not scared. He is worried.

The girl, I’m gonna call her Lucy, or Luce for short, is a believer. The snake, who shall remain nameless, does not understand this. Not for he the finer aspects of faith or philosophy. The snake sees things in black and white, or in this case red and yellow.

Luce however is on a journey. It matters not whether she is butterfly hunting, snake hunting or even out collecting dragons eggs. It’s a journey. Where this journey is taking her is another issue. She may be about to enter oblivion, the fire emanating from the recently cracked open egg horribly consuming.

There could be a dragon flying overhead about to swoop down and sink its claws into her. I suspect the artist may have wanted us to think the snake came out of the egg but the egg is far too big for the snake. Old snakey boy may have been circling the egg and wondering whether it was too large to swallow whole when it was taken by surprise and saw the dragon hatch.

On the other hand our heroine  may reach the top of the ladder, step trustingly into the lava filled ovoid cauldron and sink with deep satisfaction into its warm and comforting embrace.

Our duty here at first glance is to admire Luce. We should not be concerned with the tribulations present in the mind of the snake. Luce is where it is at. Or is it? Luce is unquestioning. Trusting. Perhaps devoid of anything really interesting to talk about beyond her faith.

Does the snake represent the thinking person? What are you up to Lucy? For goodness sake girl. The snake is not worried that Luce is trying to catch him.  Her net is implausibly small although try telling her that. He is thinking her trust in any outcome does not make sense.

He may also be wondering where he could get hold of one of those ladders. Looks very handy, being able to be climbed up without having to prop it up against anything solid.

The disappointing thing about all this is that we will almost certainly never find out what happens to Luce or to the snake. It is something beyond our capability. Unless of course the artist has a sequel in mind but I suspect that is not the point.

Where does the snake go from here? I think he certainly wants to talk to someone about what he has seen. If you are worried about something then talking about it is a good thing to do. I don’t even think worry is the right word here. It’s an enquiring concern.

Whatever happens we are where we are. The backdrop has been painted and we click frame by frame through the scene emerging before us. We can change the colours and even alter the brightness but can we change the outcome?

THE END

Tref

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