Christopher's Online Journal

The vacation is over, a week after the G7 we too were in Carbis Bay, though not in the £6,200-00 a week hotel on the beach, where we watched the guests having a barbecue, cooked and served by their very own private chef - oh how the other half live. Instead we tucked into the stickiest flapjack in the world, while watching the surf school kids learn their stuff, some of whom were attentive, some who were there clearly  to have fun; reminders of how we were back in the day. Tate St Ives was quiet, ok we did go on a Sunday, but without the café open what is there to attract the punters. I did buy a notebook, and a postcard of  Horizontal Stripe Painting   by  Patrick Heron painted between  November 1957 - January 1958, was it a slow winter? For a number of years, I have been encouraging my son Joseph, who lives in Devon to catch up with the St Just artist Kurt Jackson. We went the backroads through what Marija felt was real Cornwall to the Jackson Foundation galle...

Having seen the wonderful photographs of Peter and Jane Conner's decking and gardens, and having been with them to Malcolm Tait's brilliant exhibition at the North Sea Observatory, I was inspired to show a collection of my decking works now that the rain has come to my rescue... The ratchet screwdriver has called it a day, new tools are awaited, alas a vacation is awaited, the decking may have to wait for some time. Thankfully, if you can go with that, the poetry will always be waiting in the wings... Structures And Constructions You were modifying a house By the beach, somewhere overseas Lots of ContiBoard involved Sheets and sheets of it, dividing The big rooms, which, for the moment Contained only beds; single beds, double Beds; two, three, and four beds to a room They were long beds, very long beds With Aztec or Arabian designer covers You showed me all through the house I asked who the beds were for; the Children showed me which ones They were using, then we went outside

A power outage brought the writing group to a standstill, or rather it did for me because the others were able to carry on. Whereas I was stranded, with no way of knowing how long the disturbance would last; what could I do, how could I be in awareness when so clearly among the impermanence. In any event, the power interruption became the focus for a poetry workshop. I now present you with the skeleton of the session for you to work up your own poetry. 

 On the first day of June, in strong sun, after the morning's sea fret we began the next stage of construction, such that by mid-afternoon we had our second planter in place, even with a break for a fish and chip lunch by the canal. But today the grandchildren are visiting, so the workmen's tools are put away, and the paddling pool is restored to the garden. Though first, no doubt, we will take a trip to the beach, there to lay on the sand to wade in the water. The beach came a day later, such was the enthusiasm for playing in the garden; we set out under grey skies, yet warm, and when the clouds relaxed their presence the sun was strong enough to leave me with sunburnt feet. The paddling pool is turned into a washing out area, to release the tadpoles from the algae which has taken over the pond, this then is the impetus for a second pond, without a pump, at the bottom of the garden, for next years frogspawn and tadpoles.

The decking project is delayed. My son, the young, willing, and strong assistant lives in Kirklees where they have been told not to travel. Instead, it is a run around the DIY joints to find a cement mixing tray, eventually sourced at Louth Building Supplies, which, as it happens, is the nearest one to us, so why didn't we go there first? The quiet room's outside wall is to be painted (the one with the door). White is the chosen colour. I am also thinking that there is an idea afoot that the wall opposite the utility might go the same way; it's not my idea so a bit of negotiation needed. But the suggestion of an Acer in a pot ( Acer palmatum dissectum Firecracker - Japanese Maple ) has been agreed upon, but not in that pot! The best discovery of the day was thanks to those nice folks at sheepinc. My V neck jumper had a deal of pilling as they call it, we might say bobbles. Anyhow they suggested I shave it. And, just as the pretty useless trimming razor was to be sent bin-wa...

The new quiet room is completed. A trip to IKEA provided the mat for the floor, the fabric for the wall, the table for the stereo, and, on a previous visit, the lamp for illumination. All ready for this mornings meditation, in a new place of spacious awareness. This then, thanks to the week of rain showers and thunderclaps, a welcome break from the decking project, which was, without doubt, the explanation for my fingerprint being worn away, to such an extent that my computer could not be unlocked through the fingertip recognition method. Image by Immo Wegmann on Unsplash Spring cleaning has also got underway in another area, thanks to WordPress deciding to not allow me to post to any of my sites. I'm sure it's just a glitch, but in a fit of pique, I decided to clear them all out! Job done,  christopheratcoastmoor.wordpress.com is no more. Christopher has he was at christopheratcoastmoor A seriously late start to the day, mainly thanks to last nights viewing, until after midnig...

A future faith then is what awaits me. But how to unload the past faith. Where to shed the burden of responsibility, and those wasted opportunities. It is time to feel relieved, and what better time, to step on the gas with the decking project. The first planter box is constructed and positioned, thanks to some invaluable help from my son Andrew. Also, the large stones are moved from the garden to a new chill area in front of the utility room. The stones act as steps, into what will soon be my solo meditation room. Today is the fifth time (5th) of trying to get BT to put in a second broadband line, to service to the Old Stables specifically. For whatever reason, the previous four orders have all been automatically cancelled, lets hope it is fifth time lucky. Here is a poem from 2014: Decipher Up here This is the autumn light As gold leaf laid On cathedral cottage windows Out there Way beyond the sea fret The silver-blue skies of love The soft blue light of longing In my mind The grey g...