Westonbirt Tree Festival

As part of Tree and I having a relaxing weekend, we went to Westonbirt Arboretum for the annual tree festival. Amongst the usual wood sculptures and crafts we found some particularly inspiring work by artists such as Malcolm David Smith. His chairs are described as, "seating that just might be alive" and you would well believe it ! Tree and I have promised ourselves one each when we move to Wales. We bought some wood and had a good lunch in the restaurant. I do find it interesting how people pay to visit the show, yet miss some brilliant sculpture in the shape of the roof of the restaurant itself. During our meal I didn't see one person look up. When I build my workshop I intend to incorporate this style of roofing with a reciprocal roof centre window to maximise on the natural light whilst I work. We stopped at Ragged Hedge Wood on the way home and visited the circle where we were handfasted. I still love the calm within the wood when nobody is there. A perfect end to a chilled weekend !!

B Days III

Festie Eve

The shower was worth dancing about !

Amy & friends

The Fairygarden


Listening to the Deep Sea Jivers..Tequila!!

Worm & Diane

Gonen & Keren

At the risk of being quite boring, I shall post the final selection of photos of Beautiful Days. Although, if you were there, then it's a wholly different viewpoint.

B Days II

Blimey ! A week has gone by already since Beautiful Days and it still seems like only yesterday. Tree and I decided to take time out this weekend, just for ourselves, and started by going to Ceci Paolo's in the morning, for an exquisite lunch, and then on to Cheltenham in the afternoon. Cheltenham has become a bit of a disappointment these days and doesn't seem to retain the air of sophistication it once did. Anyway the point was for Tree and I to relax, and we did, so that's what matters. We stopped outside Bredon on the way home and picked wild blackberries. Tomorrow we are going to do sweet FA for a change. Can't wait ! Anyway, here are some more photos from B Days. There was a masked ball at the end and these are just a few of the hundreds that went by our tent.

Beautiful Days - Retrospective

(L-R, Alice, Diva, Gonen, Keren, Holly, Denise, Rosie + 2 old hippies)

We arrived back yesterday from a most interesting, successful, weekend at the Beautiful Days Festival. The weather was rain, sunshine, rain and,let me see now, more rain. In actual fact it wasn't that bad, apart from the tent leaking a bit on Friday morning, and we soon sorted out any leaks with a cover over the top. When we arrived we had some time to spare, whilst they sorted out the pitch, and got talking to our neighbours, Denise, Holly, Alice and Diva. We mentioned we had a spare ticket going to waste and they suggested a friend of theirs, Rosie, come down and help us. We got set up quite easily but we're knacked by midnight and decided to chill and finish in the morning. Trade was good and by the time Rosie came we were glad of the assistance. Rosie was a fantastic help and a lovely person to boot !! Our neighbours on the other side, Gonen and Keren, from Israel, introduced themselves and offered very welcome cups of rooibos tea. Gonen plays and sells didges and takes workshops as well. Every morning we had about ten to fifteen people playing. Keren is an artist and was painting alternative tattoos on people, in glitter. We all got on really well. We saw loads of people of all types and persuasions, so many I will not be able to mention them all. Special mention goes to Amy Coulshaw and her sister, Amy gave us a CD of her beautiful music, Worm and Diane who voted us the best stall of the festival and everyone who gave us support and compliments over the whole festival. Most of all, our thanks go to Rosie, without whom we would have had a much less relaxed time. I shall post photos a few at a time, as I took about two hundred in all !!!

Beautiful Daze or one hundred uses for a dead (cannabalised) flag.

At last, after all the hard work preparing for the Beautiful Days Festival , including P.A.T Testing, fire certificates, extending the tent, Public Liability Insurance and loading the van, with only a centimeter to spare, we are finally ready. To celebrate, after being in a whirlwind of organised chaos, Tree sorted my festie "Spiral" hair. What an excellent job it is too !!! In addition, we have created a special rasta stylee "Beautiful Daze" flag, so you can't miss us whizzing by in the van. Have no doubt, a full report of the days ahead shall appear soon. Ooh.. I'm all in a daze !!

A short break and thick nobs.

We've just come back from a few days in Wales and feel refreshed and ready to face the challenges of everyday Worcester life. Although the weather was hot, we still haven't managed to get into the sea at Mwnt, but I'm sure we will next time. We explored the north of Aberystwyth and decided that we prefer to look at the Cardigan area to live. Whilst out and about we went to a car boot near Sarnau and met a nice couple there, called Claudine and Simon. Simon is a tree surgeon and makes handcrafted wooden furniture, how ironic is that !! We spent a long time discussing the merits of moving to Wales and they have kindly offered to look out for smallholdings for us. Anyway, I've posted a couple of photos of Aberystwyth, taken from the top of Constitution Hill, just to post a photo really. Oh, and I almost forgot, we stopped at a golf club for a spot of lunch at Newport, whereon we got a very snotty reception and we're told we had to book for lunch, whilst being looked up and down. We sat outside the main dining room, spoiling their view, judging by the way we were looked at, so I left a little reminder for them, made from a crisp packet, before leaving. It's good to confirm peoples negative stereotypes sometimes !!!

Yew seats, you see, Yew seats !!!

As promised, I have just uploaded the photos of some chairs I've just finished to the Wyrdewood site. But, in case you're too lazy, here's a taster.

I'm not ignoring you...Honest !!!

Oops ! Another two weeks have slipped by and I haven't even noticed. Work is well under way getting ready for Beautiful Days and I've still got s**t loads to do. Amongst other things, I am extending the back of the Haj tent. A bigger job than, at first, I anticipated. I feel like I am neglecting everything and everyone, so I am determined to take some time out and catch up with everyone.

P.S I will be posting some pictures, of two chairs I made this week, onto the Wyrdewood website. So keep 'em peeled !!!

B6 Photos

Just a quickie, to say the B6 photos are here as I couldn't get them all on this blog. Also, check out Dan's photos here .Catch ya later dudes !!!

Blissed out !!

Tree and I have just got back from Blissfields , a lovely, small, friendly festival near Basingstoke, and feel tired out....yet strangely relaxed. We had a good time and met some lovely people, an especial mention to Bryn and Clare of The Tiny Travelling Craft Exhibition, and Dan and Vincent of Veggie Heaven. Each, in their own way, provided a ray of sunshine in the rain. If you get the chance, seek them out at a festie this year !!! The weather was not too bad either. We had a bit of rain and lost the new pergola to the wind but, hey, worse can happen ! We have to thank Cuthbert St George for all the free coffee as well. It kept us going when we were flagging the most.We also got to see a fair bit of Dan (Worcester Dan) and tribe, which was good.At one point, on Saturday morning, Dan and I seemed to be the only people alive and ended up clearing the whole arena of rubbish from Friday night !! Paul and Mel had the usual look of exhaustion about them and said things along the lines of " maybe we'll take a break next year", but we will see !! I have too many photos to post, so I am going to post a few at a time over the next few blogs.

Saul Canal Festival

Just a quick one to say we went to the Saul Canal Festival on Sunday. We went primarily to check out the potential for having a stall but felt it was not quite what we were looking for. We met some nice people at the Cats Protection League tent and promised we would put a mention, for the good work that they do, on the blog. We also found some wicked stools made from recycled tyres. I am tempted to have a go myself !!!

Some Bloody bright spark..........!!!!!

BEFORE
AFTER

Not meaning to winge on about DIY disasters, but I do occasionally get right royally pi**ed off when I see bodge jobs that are dangerous. The point in question was when I started working on finishing off the conservatory on our house. On reaching around the back of the paneling, I received what electricians call, a "tickle", i.e an electric shock !! For some time I had wondered why the lights flickered a bit when you turned them on. The reason is self explanatory, when you look at the photos !!!! This could have caused a fire !! The bottom photo is after I rewired and shows how ALL the earth wires should be connected, and sheathed. In addition I have used the correct connector as well. Sorry about the wingeing, but it's off my chest......and down my arm and out through my fingers. (There is a faint singed smell in the air)

The old ones are good ones !

I should start by saying that the title does not refer to San's age in any way, but rather, it refers to old jokes and gags. A gags hilarity is increased the longer the person doesn't realise they are the focus and a good ten minutes went by before San did. Takes you straight back to being seven years old again. Bizarrely, on the same walk we encountered long horn cattle and Lamas and finished up being chased across a field by a huge wild pig !!

Wales....again !

Tree and I have definately decided to move to Wales. Tree has already been invited to apply for two jobs !! We could be moving sooner than we thought. Hoorah !!! I have got to focus on getting the house finished now, as well as doing three festies !! I might even stop using so many exclamation marks !!!!!!!!!! Anyway, in the meantime, here's some more photos of Wales.

P.S Check out The Prof's Wyrde World to see how the Welsh tackle environmental issues.

Wales II, can you keep a secret ?

Well we have just got back from, sunny, Wales and it met with all of our requirements. We stayed at a place near Cardigan, called Mwnt (pronounced Munt). It had a gorgeous beach, one that could easily rival Mother Ivys bay in Cornwall. Apart from the fact that you get to see migrating wild Dolphins swimming in the bay ! Apparently, every year they come to the West coast. Some people pay a fortune to swim with Dolphins in places like Florida, here you get to do it for free !!Anyway, the weather was good and we loved the surrounding countryside. It was quiet, even during what we know as "rush hour" back home. I shall post photos, periodically, to give you the idea ! We have decided to look further into moving here and Wales is definitely the well kept secret I thought it was.

Wales....The forgotten country.

After Tree and I had our small sojourn to the South West counties, and realised that moving there will not meet with our requirements, our sights turned back to Wales. To be honest, I was not sure why we discarded the place on our last visit. I mean, we want to live somewhere quiet, with not too many tourists, near the sea, open countryside, nearer to our pagan roots and with our own woodland, preferably. This doesn't sound like Cornwall really. I think the problem with Wales has been it's negative image. Think of Wales and most people think of rain, burning holiday cottages, sheep and chapel. In fact, after nerdy boy here did some research, I found out that the mainstay of industry isn't sheep farming, but willow withy growing. There has been a massive resurgence in the craft and lots of farms are restoring their coppiced willows. Also, and not to be boring, the rainfall in mid Wales is less, yearly, than in Worcester and the average number of hours of sunshine are greater and hotter !!
Tree and I are off soon to investigate, so I will keep you posted !!!

Old age relics

In the same way that we hold ancient buildings and monuments in great reverence, one day I can imagine we shall do the same with everyday objects that, at present, are considered blots on the landscape. Take the pylon for example. Thousands of them around us all the time, and yet how often does anyone really look at one. Engineering wise they are a brilliant piece of design, I mean, how often do you see one fall over. Not very often ! Like windmills, one day we shall marvel at pylons that have been moved to museum sites, like Avoncroft, and explain to children, " Yes Son, we used to transport electricity with those before solar panels ! "

The light at the end of the tunnel.

I was brought up to believe that, "the light at the end of the tunnel" was,"a train coming the other way", as my grandfather would, always, say. Yet, the other day, I was walking in an avenue of trees and I saw the whole concept in a completely different way. No longer do I think as I used to, but rather, that there is no light at the end. I am already in the light and the trees are kindly providing some shade. And, what lies in the distance ? Maybe someone looking from the other end, wondering what's going on where I am. And just beyond, round the bend a little, is a wonderful future. But I'm in no hurry to get there. I'm enjoying the shade !!

WDYSOYTAGADSMI

No...not a cryptic code but more of a revelation. Sometimes I realise that I have been pondering some concept or idea without knowing it. In this case it all started when I changed a few sounds on the computer. When I switch it off a voice now says ,"It's about time. Why don't you go outside...nerd". On it's own, it means very little, but then this morning I was talking with Tree in the shower about how Television has become bland, predictable, crap that doesn't reflect real life. Again, this in itself is not much to think about. But it was at breakfast that I suddenly remembered a 70's programme called Why don't you switch of your TV and go and do something more interesting instead. Revelation !!! The feeling of losing where it is I am going is all because of the fact I have bought into all of this bland, predictable crap. This has made my resolve even stronger to cut out the crap and go and do something more interesting. Tree heartily agrees and we are going to look at alternative ways to live, with even more determination. People of the world unite, get off your ass, the REAL world is out there !!!

Yet another catch up !!!

Full of good intent and resolute that I would keep my blog up to date, I must report a miserable failure. To be honest I have been so knacked with everything going on, it has been the last of my worries. Anyway, to make amends I shall catch up now.
Tree and I went down to Cornwall, as mentioned in the previous blog, for her job interview. We stopped in a lovely hotel, in a place called Ilogan, and would recommend it to anyone. It provided a nice break away from work and all the usual hassles of daily routine. Tree went to the interview whilst I trawled all the estate agents checking out prospective properties to buy. We stayed over an extra day and went to Sennen Cove . It gave us quite an insight into life in Cornwall out of season, as the photos show there was hardly anyone there. To cut a long story short, we came away from the whole thing having had a good rethink about whether it's really what we want. The problem is that we have always been there for holidays and we aren't sure how we would feel once we were living and working there. After long deliberation, we have decided to look at the possibilities in Wales. We certainly could get the sort of land we need to build and develop the business,whereas in Cornwall we would in effect be downsizing.
The only other bit of news is that the Eastnor woodland fayre was cancelled due to bad weather. This left us at a bit of a loss what to do with the spare time. Two car boots later and the decision was made !!
Sorry, yet again, for the lack of update but I will keep you posted....promise.