February was suitably dark and sunless in this corner of the globe – the sun hardly looked in. It really is a ‘wicked’ month as the end of winter has a final punch before the spring breaks through.
A few ‘spring’ days, though now
I literally began the month in Berlin, German in very Wintry conditions – the paradox being with snow, everything looks so much brighter.
A very nice centre about 30 kilometres from Berlin, and a weeks work with the Berlin Guitar Ensemble with a view to three performances at the end of the project. A good team and very honourable performances. Very much smaller than recent projects so really focused work.
Then, back and thrown into some academic work – proofs of my next book to read. A tedious activity and I am always dissatisfied with what I wrote – the temptation to amend is constant. It just looks different in a different typeface, and then some surprise that I had written what is before me.
I went up to Sheffield to give a lecture: an eighteen hour around trip that began very early and ended late. I certainly saw a lot of the inside of the train. An audience of 40 plus people turned out to listen to me and also some goods follow-up questions.
https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/education/research/csnl
Shrove Tuesday marked the beginning of Lent: I always give up meat and alcohol for Lent. Like, I am not a great imbiber of either, but I instantly feel better for it. A message there.
I cooked pancakes my family way – with lemon, currants and sugar.
Then, a trip down to Cornwall, and continued work on my quest to find out about Ithell Colquhoun. I am not sure I learn that much. However, I do get to speak to a lot of interesting people with their take on her, including a full Wiccan Witch, complete with regalia. And, very kind they were too.
Cornwall is a land of mystery and history: menhirs, stone circle and holy wells. For my week, also shrouded in fog – and so, very atmospheric.
With my interviews, it is often a case of putting fragments together. People say they do not know much, but there is usually a single piece that can be added to another that builds up a larger picture. I do now have a lot of material and hope to begin writing about it later this year once a few other pieces are out of the way.
The third session of the Cosmic Ecology course. Lots of fun and lots of ideas. It is really a modern extension of Bennett’s work in the Dramatic Universe:
Of course, everything has moved on since his day, so it is really bringing it all up to date and seeing the implications of it for today.
http://www.michaelgrenfell.co.uk/esoteric/reading-the-dramatic-universe-words-of-advice-and-support/
Art exhibitions included Paul Nash at the Tate Britain: a mixture of the surreal and the pastoral. Very good.
Also, an interesting book on music and how one can ‘measure’ one’s life by it.
