Thoughts of a Soo

Newborough Forest and the walk to the lighthouse proved to be just the tonic at the end of Autumn this year. Basking seals barked and Kath and I had my first paddle of the year.  A seagull on the walls of Beamaris castle also made me smile as did a teashop that served crumpets.

These photos make me smile, because smiles and words are great. At Lemn's reading in Chester, October 2016, I felt immersed in poetry. And perhaps afterwards Lemn read my poem which seems like a good sharing of words to me! http://lemnsissay.com/   It took until September 2019 for Ronnie to get his photo taken with Lemn!  

...spoke to us today as we walked a walk to enjoy the Autumnal air. I think we misheard him, but we enjoyed our time. He sent us to this field of sweetcorn:

Yesterday I took a trip to Manchester to spend a couple of hours in a workshop with Pascale Petit (my second Pascale worshop) before the afternoon's Poets and Players event. Today I have evolved a second poem from remnants of a conversation there. A good weekend for poetry and my sister says I have written my best poem ever from that remnant and my goth is on the inside! Here's the Poets and Players link for Pascale Petit's reading.

Took a Belgian Bun up a cliff and ate it whilst watching a beautiful seal swim. The simple things are the best. I have relaxed here before. And will return to photograph the seals many times I am sure!

A recent documentary featured a squirrel that froze to death in Scotland enabling a neighbouring squirrel to access double the amount of food in a tricky winter landscape. #6 is a poem in honour of that dead squirrel. The other poems came before and after that squirrel and now there is one for each day of the week. Accidental Squirrel Death #1 Disorientated tarmac kisser found faith too late; died halfway through a prayer. Accidental Squirrel Death #2 Fence footing faltered during flirty dance. Tumbled twice. Hit ground hard; forehead first. Accidental Squirrel Death #3 Green Cross Code denier does no pausing, no looking, no listening. Now no life. Accidental Squirrel Death #4 Rattled round tree by wide-eyed pursuer. Dizzied. Dazed. Suddenly frozen in time. Accidental Squirrel Death #5 Plum by sticky plum, dribbling juice gives way   to potent liquor. Slumped car target sleeps. Accidental Squirrel Death #6 Some hungers add...

I have tried a few times to photograph a full moon. Last night I went for a stroll and managed to take these and I rather like them. Thanks for teaching me to persevere Jim!

First there was barley, then later a rather splendid pint of Harveys. Two weeks later there were bales.    

I loved meeting the talented Simon O'Rourke (@treecarving) and seeing him use a chainsaw, a blowtorch and some sanding tools to create this piece of art.

Sometimes experimenting with technology simply results in a nice photo of Big Ted.

Enjoyed letting the conwebs blow and then chasing the sunset.

Loved seeing these creatures sun their bellies and leap from post to post today. Nice to know they are curious about those who go in to see them too

Sometimes you discover that you have been visiting a place quite often only to have never experienced the other side of it. This week I found the West Shore of Llandudno and was rather delighted. I would highly recommend a walk on the beach there.

Sometimes you need a walk by the sea to blow the cobwebs away.

Last night's Chester Vocale concert made me glad. I particularly loved Phillip Stopford's 'In My Father's House' and the fact that the performance of this piece made me tingle. The arrangment of 'I Got Rhythm', which has been included in the programme a number of times, never fails to make me smile and feel good. Some good moments for the soul in the music there and in a weekend that started with a watching of 'The Secret Life of Bees'.