We received a flying visit from a group of whirling dervishes. They came and went in a flurry and a spin and were gone almost as soon as they arrived. Continue reading “Whirling”
Whirling
Japanese Joinery In Practice
Eight pages from the December 2021 edition of Fine Woodworking. Continue reading “Japanese Joinery In Practice”
A February Window
A mixed up mishmash of pictures, but connected by a shared interest in grids of one kind or another. I cast about, wondering what to include, but there’s a surprising amount in the net. I’m stealing the limelight with one of mine from years ago, so you’ll need to step in close to see over the top of it. But it’s a moveable feast. We’ll change it around, take things out, put things in, so please keep checking for updates. Continue reading “A February Window”
Twig Saints
A wall of Twig Saints at the Rowley Gallery. Hidden away off Kensington’s busy Church Street is a secluded refuge for these fragile relics. They are all boxed and beatified by Chris Kenny, each one annotated with its own story. Continue reading “Twig Saints”
Lock-keeping In Jig-time
I don’t know what took me so long. I should’ve found these boys long ago.
Ye Vagabonds are brothers Brían and Diarmuid Mac Gloinn.
This is us putting ourselves through a lock near Digby Bridge, Co.Kildare along with the tune Buried my Wife & Danced on Top of Her. Continue reading “Lock-keeping In Jig-time”
Morning
I found this lovely video on Instagram thanks to Myles O’Reilly.
Laura Quirke (guitar, vocals) and Claire Kinsella (cello, vocals) started performing together while studying music and languages in Maynooth University, Ireland. Harmonious vocal melodies simply accompanied by cello and guitar, lend a sincere and honest rootsy sound, borrowing from wide range of influences, traditional and alternative. The result is music described by Remy’s Music Blog as “soothing for the soul”. Continue reading “Morning”
Fools & Dreamers: Regenerating A Native Forest
Fools & Dreamers: Regenerating a Native Forest is a 30-minute documentary telling the story of Hinewai Nature Reserve, on New Zealand’s Banks Peninsula, and its kaitiaki/manager of 30 years, botanist Hugh Wilson. When, in 1987, Hugh let the local community know of his plans to allow the introduced ‘weed’ gorse to grow as a nurse canopy to regenerate farmland into native forest, people were not only skeptical but outright angry – the plan was the sort to be expected only of “fools and dreamers”.
Now considered a hero locally and across the country, Hugh oversees 1500 hectares resplendent in native forest, where birds and other wildlife are abundant and 47 known waterfalls are in permanent flow. He has proven without doubt that nature knows best – and that he is no fool.
Find out more about the film at foolsanddreamers.com.
Little Berkhamsted & Essendon
St Andrew’s Church at Little Berkhamsted is, like so many village churches, a place of worship surrounded by trees. Ancient trees are often found in churchyards. I imagine they’re vestigial survivors of the original forest, before it was cleared for farming and agriculture. Or planted as replicas of the Garden of Eden. A woodland glade is a naturally consecrated place. Continue reading “Little Berkhamsted & Essendon”
Pharoah | Fall
I just found this, posted a year ago:
Choosing to remain in the shadows, and always searching for the perfect reed, saxophonist Pharoah Sanders is one of the unspoken giants of jazz. He is one of the few musicians to have had the honor, and virtuosity, of playing alongside musical legends Sun Ra, John and Alice Coltrane, Don Cherry, and Ornette Coleman. Together they transformed the landscape of jazz by rewriting the rules of harmony and rhythm. Continue reading “Pharoah | Fall”
Mantras & Yantras
This little book arrived just in time for Christmas. Page after page of joyful loveliness. It’s a collection of oil paintings and watercolours by Jon Groom, from December 2020 to September 2021. Colourful rhythms and rhymes to brighten our winter’s gloom. I had no choice but to take photographs and share them all here. It’s a feast for the eyes. Continue reading “Mantras & Yantras”