Creative Voyage

I've been two timing you !

2008-09-24T20:47:00.007Z

I now have a new website all shiney and new - with downloadble thingy's and I've been learning to blog with a whole new kind of blogging technology. Much intense fiddling. I haven't got the spell checker to work yet so bear with me.

Please hop on over to Creative Voyage Mark II if for some reason only the banner comes up click on the banner image.

Autumn Receipts

2008-09-24T15:06:00.002Z

I'm still fighting Autumn or the concept of it. This means I'm still wearing sandals and bare feet but throwing a large woolen stole over the top half of me to keep warm.

But I made sausage casserole for lunch and have just put into the oven my favourite oaty apple crumble to take to work later.

Its very easy.

I shoogle out some oats into a pan and add some sunflower oil and cook over a low heat, mixing and then adding a little sugar and spices. Best would be cinnamon, all spice (today all I had was ground ginger). Then I took 4 apples cookers or eaters it doesn't matter. I chopped out the core and roughly chopped them up. I didn't peel them. I recon the peel is fibre and life is to short etc.

I put the chopped apple into an oven proof dish (a deepish one rather than flat) then I spread the oat mixture on top. If I had some slithered almonds I would have added that. Into the oven for about half an hour on a medium heat.

I love my moka

2008-09-23T11:17:00.004Z

Every morning I stumble out of the shower - throw on some clothes, empty out my Moka coffee pot of yesterdays grounds, go outside if it isn't raining and chuck the grounds onto one of my plant pots. ( I will get a composter soon ). Then I wash it out, fill it up - currently with a very mellow NY style half caffine fairtrade version from Marks & Spencer (£2.25 a bag) and put it on my gas stove. The lowest heat. While it percolates through, I tackle the the washing up by hand. Then if its good weather I go outside with my coffee and sit on my bench under my cherry tree and a notebook and sip coffee and write my 'morning pages'. Its total luxury and costs me probably between 30-40p a day.

In 2000 I moved into this house and away from flatmates I vowed to never drink 'unreal coffee' again. And I have never bought instant coffee over the threshhold - as god is my witness... Occasionally I've fallen and been so broke I've not bought fairtrade. (IKEA does £1 bags of coffee and Lidle does 100g tins for £1.29). But as luxury's go its pretty cheap.

Coco Chanel said that 'Luxury is a necessity which begins were necessity ends' - mind you she was in the business of selling very expensive perfume.

But part of the luxury of the real cup of coffee is the time to have it. Allow it to percolate up - the lovely sound it makes - the time to sniff the aroma and finally the time to sit down and drink out of a favourite mug.

You might be allergic to caffine or loathe the taste but its worth thinking about what is the one thing that really adds to your life which is worth not compromising on. What is your luxury which begins were necessity ends?

Upcoming events at the Scottish Poetry Library

2008-09-22T09:48:00.002Z

Sat 27th Sept 11-6pm By Leaves We Live - Free
One day poetry and art book fair.

Friday 10th Oct 7pm - £5/3
David Malouf: Selected Works
Poet & Novelist David Malouf is the 2008 Scottish Arts Council Muriel Spark Fellow. He will be taling about his favourite poems in conversation with Robyn Marsack.

Sat 18th Oct 1-6pm - Free
Two Minutes Pandemonium - hand picked selections from recording collections drop in any time.

More info from the Scottish Poetry Library.

knackered!

2008-09-21T17:09:00.002Z

I've just done my semi annual barbeque/braai. Its easiest with people bringing children to do something outdoors. The weather held ! I had contingency plans to casserole sausages and do mashed potatoes indoors if it tippped down. But two days of provisioning and housework has left me exhausted. I'm off to lie down on the sofa with the Observer. I used to entertain like a demon at least every two months a dinner party, party party... I'm now a semi hermit with my hostessing skills extremely rusty.

I'm not sure if the trick is to entertain more to make it easier or not or just to let off doing it at all.

Oh well the cake went down well, orange/almond/gluten free.

2008-09-19T13:18:00.005Z

If your everyday life appears to be unworthy subject matter, do not complain to life. Complain to yourself. Lament that you are not poet enough to call up its wealth. For the creative artist there is no poverty-nothing insignificant or unimportant. (Rainer Maria Rilke)

from 37 days

2008-09-19T13:18:00.004Z

I've reposted this for Photo Friday - as I do think its extraordinary that I managed to take a photo like this - its Portobello sandflats with the tide out.

Verde's Jeanette Winterson's shop

2008-09-19T13:18:00.002Z

In case you were wondering the picture in the post below is taken from Verde. Jeanette Winterson - the writer - I think got hold of the space or lives above it and she reopened it as a shop. Its very expensive, I've had lunch there but its an experience not to be missed. If you are visiting London I'd highly recommend it. Nice chocs too! but don't go on Sat - hideously crowded go during the week.

I must read more of her books - onto my list for the library.

2008-09-19T09:40:00.002Z

Window at Verde in Spitalfields

Good news ! Bitch Magazine manged to raise $46,000 in a few days $6000 over their target to keep printing. Since we hardly ever get good news I'm trilled. And Sandbagged a way of using supply and demand against Carbon trading. This site has been set up to buy up and permanently retire EU carbon permits to prevent companies buying their way out of carbon emissions. I made a list last night of Autumn Pleasures. I've accepted that summer is over...

Soup

Knitting

Watching films

Roast Chicken and Roast Lamb dinners

Walking by the sea

Library books

Writing to people

There were others but I'm posting the list back to me. Anyway it was good to remind myself that all is not lost even if the summer is over.

2008-09-18T09:10:00.001Z

Actually its dry here today ! and normally I'd be outside with my journal and coffee but don't feel very well today so my normal routine is interrupted.

Instructions on making Turkish Coffee and carrott mobbing.

Indian woman writer

2008-09-17T10:47:00.002Z

I've been over at Bitch magazine - they are having fundrasing drive to keep printing. Though that I found this link to an Indian woman writer's blog in Madras/Chennai. Really fascinating.

coffee & dry !

2008-09-17T10:38:00.002Z

But not yesterday... had lunch with two friends at Spoon Cafe. Really great wee documentary but not sure what the ESRC is doing funding this kind of stuff !

Been struggling the last few days with perfectionism and trying to get things done - how ever just bashing on seems to have helped inbetween lots of chocolate.

coffee & rain

2008-09-16T09:10:00.003Z

This picture is from Nextbook a really interesting online magazine I found on my excessive surfing. Its u tterly miserable and wet and gray here so anxious to post a nice bright cheerful image this morning ie not one of my holgas !

Yesterday the prayers failed as I got closer to Glasgow it got wetter. I'd hoped to post 9 parcels in Edinburgh before I got the train but as I got to the post office I found it shut due to an Edinburgh bank holiday. So I hauled my bag to the west and to my relief the post office was open there. So £12 later I was able to walk unencumbered.

I had lunch at the Lighthouse and as I was sitting there drew the salt & pepper and little pot of chunky sugar cubes in my journal. I've got to draw more - more bad drawings please!

Then I went up to the viewing platform which was a bit gray for photographs. Walked to view a room for teaching in. Then took the underground to Kelvinbridge. When in the train there was an ad for a fairtrade coffee/clothes shop near the underground so I made an effort to find it. Its down off the main road in Bank St. I had to take a photograph of the frontage! I love the name - 'stop being bolshie' is often said to young feisty women. Unfortuantly after spending money on slide medium format film I was down to my last £3 and had a scone and coffee. But I'd have loved to have got a couple of 'Bolshie' hemp bags. I'll go back some time. They seem to do fun events as well like knitting workshops so worth checking out if you live in the area.

By the time I'd had my scone and coffee it was time to make my way over the hill to Byres Road to meet my friend. We had an early supper in a deli/cafe which I can't remember the name of. This was good so I was able to get the 10pm train back to Edinburgh, and early enough not to have to splash out on a taxi. I bought a New Yorker to read on the train which I hadn't read for a while and it was great. Really interesting coverage of the Republican Convention and China.

Please pray for a dryish day

2008-09-15T08:47:00.002Z

I'm off to Glasgow for an Artist Date/bit of work/meeting friend. Its notorious for being wet but I want to spend the afternoon taking photographs. It does have amazing Victorian architecture which I hope will come out well on the holga.

Post office first so better get going !

tired

2008-09-13T19:16:00.002Z

EIFF closing night party 2008 - Holga

~*~*~*

I'm terribly tired. I enjoyed my breakfast out. Went to work but got the times wrong and where I work if you are late for a shift - they cancell the rest of the shift. I went home and was going to catch up on stuff with this unexpected parcel of time, even go and walk at the beach. But I realised I felt really tired, sort of overly hot, perhaps the strange weather, so instead all I have done is shove a shoulder of lamb into the oven with garlic and rosemary and veg. Open a bottle of cider ... and listen to Radio 4. But I did get home at 1.30 am last night and that was after consuming half a bottle of pink champagne so on the whole I'm holding up well!

day after

2008-09-13T09:46:00.002Z

One of those blurry figures is me outside the Opening Night party of the Edinburgh International Film Festival in June. Soon after I had to rush over and try and explain that as it was an old school film camera it had to be wound on manually.

~~~

Yesterday was my birthday. I've not been wildly good about organising stuff for my birthday this year (mainly because I'm going on a long long overseas trip in two months so it feels that I'm well catered for it the fun department). But yesterday I had dinner and drinks with a friend - thank you C! and today I'm having breakfast out before work and on Monday I'm off for a little day trip to Glasgow.

I have a confession

2008-09-12T10:32:00.003Z

You know how everybody has a compulsion? At least I think everyone does. Faced with one situation one person will light up a cigarette, always find the worst possible outcome, or cheerfully refuse to take responsiblilty.

Well my compulsion is when I talk to someone and find out that they have a dream is to make them make it happen. I know its up to them but really it kills me to see so many people not doing what will make them happy I ingnore the 'its up to them' bit and launch into helpful suggestion mode.

So back at my work-for-money job and talking across the desk find one other long term telephoneist desperate for a change with an empty nest and living an hour away from Edinburgh. I urge her to look into a council house swap to something closer. The bloke beside me I move onto and interrogate (especially since I'm mildy horrified that he's still here 5 months on from when I last was here). He eventually confesses that what he'd really like to be is a ..... taxidermist. A product of a childhood with a grannie who made blankets out of bunny fur amongst other things. Anyway he needs some kind of HND in Animal Anatomy to get full membership of the Guild of British Taxidermists and I'm immediately on the case. Scottish Agricultural College? Google it I encourage. It would not be impossible to mix a part time course and the job-for-money (the shift system is very flexible). Hummm its too late to think I'll change I'll just have to accept that this is part of my make up.

Collaging how to - update

2008-09-12T10:07:00.002Z

! love using this with classes as its instanteous art, its a quick way for people to make their own visions, its always 'unique and original' (people are very hung up about 'being original') and is FUN!

1. Get a stash of magazines/brochures/catalogues/newspapers A variety of starting media is best. If doing in a group at least 1 1/2 to 2 times magazines per person.

2. Get a A3 or bigger base sheet - using the back of cheap wall paper is good. If not IMPROVISE! tear out magazine pages and tape into a backing sheet eg 3 x 5 magazine sheets make a large basis to work on. (This also results in more 'happy accidents' in the final collage.)

3. Give yourself a timelimit of 10-15 mins to flip quickly through the magazines. Each time you see an arresting image or word or headline tear it out and put in a pile. No sissors !* (If you see an article which you simply must read. Don't but tear it out so you can read it later - so you are not depriving yourself - creativity students have major deprivation issues).

4. Then give yourself 10-15 mins to paste down your images quickly onto the backing sheet. No sissors - if you want part of an image tear around it.* Use a glue stick as the least messy alternative. Again the quicker you do it with out over thinking the results the more interesting it will be.

5. When finished I like to play 'Private View' if I've been doing my collage in company and we go around admiring each one.

6. Contemplation - I find its best to put the collage up someplace you can see it near a desk or in a bedroom so you can look at it at leisure. They often have surprising insights into your current foibles, obsessions, and interests.

Some people encourage the use of collaging to make 'Treasure Maps' or 'Vision Boards' which are more like visiual shopping lists of loot that they want into their lives. 'Stuff' doesn't have that much impact on people's happiness - what I find more interesting is that 'states' or 'qualities' are called up by the collage. For example in the post below one collage has a great big pink finger up to the world - as the creator works in a difficult part of the voluntary sector where her important work is not properly funded its not surprising she chose this image. This does not of course mean that she's going to manifest a large pink finger to put up against those with funding but perhaps expressing her feelings will help to find other ways of working. Another student might make a collage with a riot of colour in it. Again literally speaking this might be more to do with wanting to live a more 'colourful life' rather than redecorating en mass. The meaning of the collage definately is something that emerges over contemplation.

*I've found it helpful to ban sissors as I've had people sit for 5 mins cutting out something 'perfectly'. Squishing perfectionism is one of the delightful by products of collaging.

creative collages

2008-09-10T21:26:00.006Z

These are collages produced during my Artist Way Graduate group earlier this year. I love that everyone is totally unique and meaningful to each participant, fun and quick to do ! Luckily I had a participant with a digital camera who was able to take a record of these collages.

2008-09-09T17:11:00.000Z

40 things one should know by 40

2008-09-09T10:28:00.002Z

Off to the post office hopefully before it rains. In the meanwhile an interview with Keri Smith from Lab magazine.

Ever wondered what I look like?

2008-09-07T14:07:00.000Z

Hop over to 37 Days where you can find out !

Blogs of note

2008-09-07T13:59:00.002Z

Musings from Stonehead a blog about crofting near Aberdeen and The Patchwork Dress via Starry Blue Sky. All Scottish based blogs.

A grey and gloomy day here has ben leavened by breakfast out. A lovely hour noodling over my morning pages and a bit of writing work I had to do then off to library to snaffle up detective fiction.

2008-09-05T10:54:00.001Z

View from Lothian Road. As I worked there during the summer many many photos from that street.

Folding Trees a cool blog dedicated to the art of paper.

2008-09-04T12:54:00.001Z

Two projects trying to help women through sewing

Afgan Hands

Wrap Up Africa

2008-09-03T19:58:00.002Z

I've returned to an old work place - I've got to cross this park to get there. Nice thing about the work its an ok commute! Amazed to have new security pass done and the photo not too hideous.

Owl & Lion shop Grassmarket

2008-09-02T10:36:00.003Z

Owl & Lion is a shop in the Grassmarket which sells Owl & Lion shaped bags (I'm very tempted) and artists books, prints and handmade journals.

Radical Cross Stitch

2008-09-01T22:41:00.002Z

Seriously Seditious Stitching

I'm tempted to start knitting against the trams or crocheting cozies for the ticket dispensers..... an awfuly nasty shade of plastic maroon.. not adding much to our built environment.

Duke Ellington's Collages & an invitation

2008-08-31T11:30:00.004+01:00

I love collaging. Best way to recyle magazines. I always have at least one collage session when I teach the Artist's Way. Its the quickest way to create something unique without the whole hideous 'But I can't even draw a straight line?' nonsense (what makes you think straight lines are interesting anyway ? better to take a line on a long meandering walk).

I was in WordPower Bookshop picking up my copy of Life is a Verb on Thursday when I started to leaf through The Paris Review which had reproductions of Duke Ellington's collages. Not only was he a world class jazz muscian but spent his time decorating his tape boxes (I presume big reel to reels) with his own visual creations.

Which gets me thinking about my post below - is anyone interested in doing a travelling journal illustrated/collaged via 1001 Journals ?

1001 journals project

2008-08-31T11:05:00.002+01:00

It has an interview with Danny Gregory. I'd love to start off a journal of drawings again. I've been neglectful of it.

comfort food and comfort reads

2008-08-30T20:41:00.002+01:00

Strange day slighly oppresive earlier but hazy now moving into almost an Autumnal feel. But its warm in London I hear on the phone !

I am feeling slightly under the weather so made my favourite comfort food. Roast lamb and roast organic potatoes and veggies from my organic box. With a sprinkling of oil, harissa and rosemary. Followed by apple crumble, I shall now retire to bed in in the pages of O Douglas - John Buchan's lesser known sister. I was talking about her recently which made me pick her up off the shelves and take towards bed.

2008-08-29T22:43:00.002+01:00

Cricket on Leith Links.

The weather has warmed up - good to be out tonight at Orkestra Del Sol at the Speigeltent on George Square and it being balmy enough to be sitting outside and dry enough !

2008-08-28T12:40:00.000+01:00

Good intentions are the enemy of kindness

2008-08-27T21:56:00.000+01:00

You can't do anything with kindness. If you do, it's not kindness anymore, but the imposition of an expectation. Our expectations are implicit judgments that may be hidden to us, but obvious to everyone else. This is a subtle and persistent characteristic of our thoughts and feelings. When we are motivated by our own thoughts and feelings, we give people inducements to think and feel like we do. We want them to be like us. But sharing our egocentric thoughts and feelings is not kind. And believing our egocentric thoughts and feelings is most unkind to ourselves.

more here Moma Zen

2008-08-27T12:06:00.001+01:00

I had breakfast here a couple of months ago. Slowly working my way through a to do list this morning.

Rediscovering books

2008-08-26T20:59:00.002+01:00

I'm selling books on Amazon mostly to clear out some space, also my tastes have changed. I've got books that remind me of past lives which aren't really me any more. The good thing is that I've rediscoved a whole load which I'd kind of got lost in the house. So I reread Grace Paley this afternoon, a collection of womens' biographical essays and I'm hunkering down to bell hooks next. I've got to go to the library !

2008-08-26T15:13:00.001+01:00

Refound poet David Morley's blog

2008-08-26T11:34:00.002+01:00

Edinburgh blue door. I've been becoming fascinated by the painted, peeling, touched up and rubbed surfaces of doors.

~~~~

Listed

I made a list of things to do before I start work again next week.

I've managed about one in an hour.... ach all the energy goes into writing them I think !

2008-08-25T14:28:00.001+01:00

Hanover St Holga July 08

I'm in such a gloom this suits my mood - even though the skies have cleared and a bit of sun has come out. Must Leave House - Might Impove My Mood.

2008-08-25T12:13:00.000+01:00

2008-08-25T12:09:00.000+01:00

Cool interview with Linda Woods of Visual Chronicles.

2008-08-24T15:38:00.000+01:00

Food porn from Istambul via CassandraPages

2008-08-24T14:46:00.003+01:00

"There are things you do because they feel right & they may make no sense & they may make no money & it may be the real reason we are here: to love each other & to eat each other's cooking & say it was good." Storypeople

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am home. I feel I've been away months. I'm disappointed to find that Edinburgh is still being ripped up for a tramway system (I'd hoped that I'd imagined that nightmare and when I got back it would be all back to normal) and dubious planning developments.

I feel I've been on a very long journey. Ot Azoy ! is a crash course in Yiddish at SOAS in a week. I'm amazed but I feel I've made enormous progress in a week and actually feel I have a chance to actually learn the language. I now realise that the feeling that I had no facility for languages has more to do with the bad way we we taught languages at school than any actual bearing in reality.

Next year there is a three week course in the summer in Paris and I'm terribly tempted to go. All my fellow students were interesting and varied and participants came from all over Europe, Norway, Sweden, Romania, Austria, as well as the UK. My only criticism being that the singing session where this non musical person cheerfully sang Yiddish songs badly and enjoyed it often ran over cutting the possible time to chat to participants from other classes. I found in the evenings my brain kind of fell apart into a sort of dazed fitfulness and so got up at 6am ! to do my hame arbeit with my brain fresh. The last time I got up at 6am to do work was when I wrote my first film script.

It feels right to do this and it makes no sense (many students are learning Yiddish as their grandparents spoke it - mine didn't - it was a total accident that I ended up in a Yiddish class one autumn evening with no idea what to expect).

BUT all the great things I have achieved have had a strong streak of at once feeling right to do and at the same time very illogical and making no sense. We have to listen to the non-sense and follow it.

2008-08-23T23:12:00.000+01:00

Muscian Ryan Adam's 'secret'

Greetings from the Bloomsbury Shetel

2008-08-19T22:14:00.002+01:00

Day three of my Yiddish Summer School. I'm sitting struggling with Hebraic letters along with the other beginners. We doggedly copy weird pictograms over and over (metaphorically with our tongues protruding). We try to encourage each other - Tes I mutter looks like a 'cat tail', Fey to another student is a 'Swiss Roll' yes with icing on the top... Gimel is a girly high heel shoe, Nun is like a flat sensible shoe worn by nuns... only another 35 or so to master...

But you know my brain has needed this workout. Sunday and Monday I was knackered but today I feel ALIVE ! Learning, growing - I can feel my brain expanding and knowledge filtering through. Its a good feeling. The school is very international with students from Riga, Sweden, Norway, Romania, Czech Republic, South African exiles. A small contingent from Scotland and my teacher from Edinburgh.

house sitting tales

2008-08-18T22:25:00.002+01:00

I'm currently in London for a course at SOAS and house sitting for a friend's mother. She left me instructions on how to use the shower - away from the taps ! doorlocking and security and strict instructions not to let Leo-the-cat from next door in as he pees on the beds.

On Saturday I went with a lives-in-London friend to a party in a pub in Battersea. A treck but seeing the amazing 1930's building up close at night was incredible. Mysterious lit trains trunded past this great hulk - which apparently isn't being redeveloped as some rare birds have taken up residence in it.

At the gatecrashed party I spoke to a German woman who was also in London house sitting for her Aunt. Her duties included, waiting for the plumber (4 days) and 1. feeding indoor cats 2. feeding outdoor cats (less expensive cat food) and 3. feeding the local foxes with different food in the garden. Only in Britain !

Regents Canal

2008-08-16T12:02:00.000+01:00

Yesterday after meeting a friend for breakfast I walked from Islington to the Thames via the towpath of Regents Canal. It was such a lovely day (I got sunburned my face and neck are all red - gone to Superdrug for sunscreen today). I was able to see narrowboats negotiating locks, single mother moorhens anxiously supervising moorchicks, geese and even some fish in the canal. I saw several groups of kids in canoes - I think various holiday schemes to keep the blighers off the streets and out of mischief. I stopped off in Victoria Park Hackey for coffee and cake before taking up my route. The towers of Canary Warf soon came into view and in Wapping many swish flats made out of former warehouses. It was difficult to find a path along the waterfront as often developments had cut it off. I made it to the Tower (yay ! loos!)and decided that as I'd been walking about 4 hours I could now take a bus along the Strand.

http://www.canalmuseum.org.uk/history/regents.htm

Regents Canal history - linking doodad doesn't seem to be working.

2008-08-15T09:11:00.000+01:00

Yesterday at South Bank - lunch and then looking at the crocheted coral exhibition - rain then came and thunder and I sat outside under and umbrella. Small children squeeled ran through a fountain and one stood in the fountain under and umbrella. I suppose the universal desire to play whatever the circumstances must be admired !

The celebrity portrait workshop

2008-08-15T09:07:00.001+01:00

A chance to use large format studio camera and lighting more info here at the National Portrait Gallery.

Rain postponed play

2008-08-14T11:34:00.000+01:00

Was going to walk along Regents Canal yesterday but the rainy weather and wind (more like November than August) mean't I stayed in doors and read The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon instead. About the 'frozen chosen' in Sitka. Chabon imagines what would have happened if the proposed resettlement of Jews had happened in Alaska. A imagined place where they speak Yiddish and the street names are redolent of the places they fled from. I feel I've been very very far away.

2008-08-12T22:31:00.001+01:00

There is something really compelling about this photo - NY 1942 - its so rare to see colour photos of this period.

artist dates

2008-08-12T18:56:00.002+01:00

I'm filling myself up with them. (An Artist Date is a tool developed by Julia Cameron in the Artists Way book, whereby people go off for a block of time weekly on their own to have fun - normally for about two hours). I find them the most difficult thing to persuade some students to do. They sound so pointless, indulgent, counter productive, surely to be more creative one should work more?

But I find that without them 'productivity' of a creative kind or otherwise dries up. We need the input and stimulus to have the building blocks for creativity. Art as Julia Cameron writes is an 'image using system'. We need to go out and fill ourselves with images to have something to express. This is true of every art form. Even for people who are 'not creative' it makes them happier, cheerful, more interesting and more passionate and centred. All this just for a spot of fun, a dolup of pleasure, a scoop of indulgence.

I'm just about to cross the road and go and read magazines for free in Borders - a favourite artist date.

4 hour walk

2008-08-10T14:59:00.002+01:00

from Islington to Charing Cross via pastries in Exmouth Market and the British Museum. I found a tiny exhibition there of Japanese Photobooks. Which was somewhat synchronous as I've been thinking about photography books a lot. In fact many synchronicity have been happening recently - I've made a conscious effort to relax and open up.

Lost in Islington

2008-08-08T13:20:00.001+01:00

which is great because I found the Make Lounge

2008-08-07T11:17:00.001+01:00

June 08 - rather dark to see.

Taken one Sunday morning in search of breakfast out.

Off to London this afternoon for various adventues so blogging will be light.

More Loving Burns

2008-08-06T23:19:00.002+01:00

I went to meet Alicia Devine the playwright, director and performer of this play ( and costume designer !) tonight for a drink. I ended up meeting more of the cast and crew and going out in the torrential rain for a meal. I've just rolled back in half a bottle of white later.

Just to say that its a lovely piece lyrical, moving, and earthy. On at the Roxburghe - off Charlotte Square at 5.30pm each day.

2008-08-06T12:50:00.001+01:00

cup of coffee holga not taken with closeup lens

~~~

such a driech day only thing is to hole up in a cafe and try and keep warm!

2008-08-05T18:18:00.000+01:00

CV: What's the best advice you've received about the creative process?
TN: Not sure if anyone ever really told me this, but the best advice I can think of is to get comfortable spending a lot of time alone. Also, don't let anyone else hold the keys. If the galleries aren't liking what you make, come up with your own way of showing your work. If you can't get an agent, make the movie yourself and post it online. If you can honestly stand behind the work you're making, you can find an audience for it -- most of those gatekeepers are there to screen out the people who aren't committed. When you give other people the keys, you give yourself an excuse not to make the work, and then you might as well just go to a baseball game.

Tucker Nichols interviewed at Cecil Vortex

clearing

2008-08-05T17:58:00.002+01:00

Kalendar Cafe Parliament Hill - taken with my close up lens for the holga

Taking a break from clearing stuff from my bedroom. The worst thing being I've got a massive allergic reaction from disturbing dust. I sneezed 10 times straight. I'm mostly with Quentin Crisp that one should leave dusting well alone and that after 7 years it makes no difference any way. I was supposed to be seeing a fringe show but I've cancelled as I'm not sure sneezing my way through a modern dance piece would go down well with the dancers.

2008-08-04T16:35:00.001+01:00

SFgirlbybay via loobylu - lapped up pics as I'm planning a brief trip there myself later this year.

How to run a revolution in 5 easy steps

2008-08-03T22:54:00.002+01:00

knitting hints included in the comments.

WWMDD - what would Madame Defarge Do?

Approaching storm - Portland Place

2008-08-03T17:26:00.001+01:00

Barbara Rae

2008-08-02T19:06:00.002+01:00

I haven't been to the commercial galleries in Edinburgh for about two years. Going to see the Perpetua Pope gave me the impetus to visit 3 on Dundas St where a large number are located. Highlights include Willamena Barnes Graham prints at the Open Eye Gallery and Barbara Rae at The Scottish Gallery in the next room to Perpetua. There was a great book about her on display at the gallery with an interview where she explained her working methods and how a stay in the US changed her style fundamentally after getting the space to create on the floor instead of vertically.

After cake and coffee at Glass & Thompson - yum!

Women artists forging ahead

2008-08-01T11:27:00.002+01:00

Saw Loving Burns last night at the Roxburghe - a beautiful play, written, directed and performed by Alicia Devine. Tickets tonight are still the half price previews so if you go down today only £4.50 at 5.30pm.

Tomorrow Sat is also the last day to catch Perpetua Pope's exhibition at The Scottish Gallery. 92 and still painting and gardening. Until about 10 years ago in addition to painting she created and tended three gardens. I'm sure that being creative in multiple ways has helped her keep on painting and developing as an artist.

Walking back from the play last night - a sort of tropical downpour - very odd weather ! With a former student, she has been tremendously stuck in her career for a number of reasons but after taking up a Tai Chi class from a notice at a local supermarket feels released and not only more open to change but some interesting paid opportunities came into her work life.

2008-07-31T12:05:00.001+01:00

Dumbo Feather has a great blog about people's favourite bookshops across the globe.

2008-07-31T11:48:00.001+01:00

Random Things

Post Cooking Thoughts

2008-07-30T17:44:00.005+01:00

I've been in a rut cooking wise for a long time, which is why its been such a great thing to try something different. Using ingredients I'd never normally buy and even to start going to new food shops (Fruit Heaven).

It sounds horribly simplistic but when wrestling with knotted problems in life we tend to see them in the same light black/white good/bad right/wrong and then in dealing with the problem our thoughts travel in the same unproductive lines over and over. Somehow by trying something new in a different area of life my mind starts over makes new neural pathways and I start to think maybe the solution is not this or that but this and that. And maybe I should relax stop racing ahead so much and freaking out over what might be when I don't know what it will be anyway. Yes just try and stay in the now.

Do instead of stewing over a problem - make a stew ! or a Moroccan tangine.

Weirdly enough since my cooking outburst I've had a yen to repaint my flat outrageous colours, take up quilting and start a publishing firm. Cooking can be dangerous ! or rambling or learning a hobby or exploring a part of the city you've never been to before. Take off do something different go on a tangent and perhaps that will help out more.

2008-07-29T21:01:00.001+01:00

London near Portland Square.

Thursday opening of Loving Burns - Fringe show, written, performed and directed by my friend Alicia Devine.

Babotie update

2008-07-28T21:10:00.002+01:00

Delish even without the egg and sultanas (and the apricots). After an hour or so in the oven crispy on top. I ate it with chopped tomatoes. Yum. Enough for leftovers tomorrow. I want to stop buying lunch out - way to expensive and this is nicer.

2008-07-28T20:48:00.001+01:00

pia jane bijkerk

Babotie/BOBOTIE (you say Bobotie I say Babotie lets call the whole thing off)

2008-07-28T18:36:00.003+01:00

I was surfing over the weekend and made the acquaintance of a South African food blogger so I was inspired to make the very South African dish Babotie. I came home via the supermarket but unfortunately did not have the recipe with me and tried to remember the ingredients I needed off the top of my head. A few vital ones missing (eggs and none to be stolen off lodger) and sultanas but I'm going ahead anyway to make the improvised jazz creative voyage version.

I have to first clear the sink of dirty dishes so am taking the digital radio to the kitchen to have radio 7 for company and will report back later.

2008-07-27T19:00:00.002+01:00

New ways to use the internet - 3 bucks for Brendan

100 Strangers - one for R

All Hail Summer Fruit

2008-07-27T17:01:00.002+01:00

Yesterday I made a special effort to visit Fruit Heaven a local fruit and veg shop instead of my local supermarkets. I bought punnets of strawberries, raspberries and courgettes, tomatoes, cherries and an artichoke all for £8. I hauled home my supplies and made summer pudding last night while watching Foyles War. Lodger reported that the stewing fruit could be smelled out in the street. With dollops of sheeps milk yoghurt it is simply divine. I've been defrosting my fridge a major effort so am using up supplies while it defrosts. I am going to make a goats cheese fritata with my tomatoes and courgettes for later.

Summer pudding really is the taste of summer. I can't belive that this weekend is nearly over. I went out to meet a friend for breakfast and was 45 mins late due to oversleeping and failing to put my alarm on. But I walked half way home to Leith down the High St so feel I've managed to get some exercise in on a beautiful sunny day.

2008-07-26T14:49:00.001+01:00

I love this pic - one of my favourites from my 'processed in Kentish Town' batch.

Beautiful day here in Edinburgh. Breakfast out and bought fruit to make summer pudding. Just off for a few more supplies before starting.

2008-07-24T14:44:00.000+01:00

London to Cambridge via medium format cross processed rail...

2008-07-23T22:15:00.001+01:00

Inspiration boards - interesting interviews with creative types.

2008-07-23T18:06:00.000+01:00

after a suggestion by Ink on My Fingers

2008-07-22T20:42:00.001+01:00

European Cake Project - I'm not sure what the Scottish cake would be - a nice Dundee cake perhaps stuffed with fruit? I think a Victoria Sponge is more English. Maderia m'dear?

2008-07-21T19:54:00.000+01:00

2008-07-20T14:42:00.002+01:00

Yesterday I had a stange ache all over. Spent most of the day in bed with the radio for company. Today I feel much better and sat outside reading in the sunshine. I'm about to tackle homemade bagels as they need to be made at a 'at home day'.

Bonus links

Keri Smith's How to Be an Explorer of the World

Time Management for Creative People

9 Insane Strategies for Transforming Your Business

2008-07-19T14:58:00.000+01:00

2008-07-17T23:51:00.000+01:00

Cross processed holga of Covent Garden in the rain

2008-07-17T23:46:00.002+01:00

I had to go to London to get my films processed..... seriously I've been on a 6 month trudge around processing places in Edinburgh trying them out. Rather like a Princess and pea, they are too expensive, not in the right format, just bleugh ! I treck 500 miles and not only do the pictures seem better but the service was polite ...

A good time was had. Taking in a bit of culture (Wolfgang Tilmans) a bit of socialising, a job interview (highlight the teenage foxes beside the railway track and having to walk down 'Goldfinger Way' to the office) and lying on Parliament Hill in the evening sun picnicing.

2008-07-17T23:44:00.001+01:00

2008-07-16T13:27:00.002+01:00

Dumbofeather - 4 years ago I picked up the first issue in Sydney when I was staying there. I loved the look of it. Its beautifully designed and has great inspiring content about creative people forging ahead and making a difference. I've tried to find it online without success but just before I went to London I stumbled across it and found that it is now available to buy in london at Magma. I braved the monsoonlike rains and failed to find it in Convent Garden - I'd stupidly not written down the address of the shop. I slowly made my way towards Shaftsbury after getting throughly lost and found it by accident! The current issue has an article on Sabrina Ward Harrison, a soap maker, novelist, shoe repairer and a social entrepreneur.

the slow lane

2008-07-08T11:34:00.003+01:00

Having a slow morning - good after 2 months plus of going pell mell.

Australian slow guide to life.

Also Seat 61 a guide to travelling in style by train.

2008-07-07T00:09:00.002+01:00

A miserable and dreary wet day here. I foolishly on Thursday said to a friend that my many years of clothes angst had been vanquished. I had now been able to go out and find nice, flattering clothes in my size after a change in attitude (the attitude before being that I wouldn't find anything and it therefore becoming a self fulfilling prophecy.

HA ! said the Universe and I've spent a fruitless day trailing about trying to find a jacket for an interview - A Very Important Interview. It monsooned down as I trailed wearily between shops. I did manage to get a bag, shoes and an umbrella but no jacket.

2008-07-05T17:27:00.000+01:00

Great interview with Patti Digh of 37 Days.

2008-07-04T22:28:00.001+01:00

strange creatures living in Liberty's

2008-07-02T21:22:00.003+01:00

Today there wasn't enough work in the office so instead of surfing aimlessly or worse checking out facebook I went to personnel and suggested we have an afternoon off and come back when the work was more plentiful. Some how on the way into town towards lunch H suggested this place she had read about in the Times. Yes ! I remembered the same article - indeed I'd remembered his original venture Pierre Victoire. I knew were it was located so we marched down there. Avoiding Paperchase (its just about the dream of being organised I realise - expensively). It was a simply lovely day in Edinburgh. We got to Chez Pierre about 1.45 nabbed a window table immediately went over the £6 fixed budget by opting for a glass of wine each. Oh but it was delish. Ravenous we hardly spoke at all. My rose so fruity and fresh I'm afraid that I drunk it rather quickly. And as I rarely drink at all got quite tipsy in no time at all. We began to expand on the subject of our various businesses and career adventures. I'm waiting for something to come off or not (currently not) I'm an impatient woman. Despairing slightly (ok ok I was tipsy). If this did not come off then I would have to do that etc etc. A note book was produced a calculator - tipsy calculations were made. Then they were abandoned as a friends' mother spied us in the window and she came in and had a class of wine. Much merriment. Then we finally left at 4.30. A very French meal I thought later. And even later realised helped me to just chill out about the something. If one thing happens it happens if not, not. In the meanwhile I want to hold onto the intention that the kind of work life I want includes 2 1/2 hour plus lunches.

Werner Herzog on Filmmaking

2008-07-01T19:49:00.000+01:00

"Herzog gave me a quick run-down of his tips on how to be a successful film-maker: “Work as a bouncer in a sex club, work as a taxi driver, work as a butcher – earn the money and make your own film. Today, with these little digital cameras, there is no excuse any more.” Herzog stole his first camera and ended up using it to make 11 films. “It fulfilled its real destiny,” he says. "From here

ordinary everyday miracles

2008-07-01T18:58:00.003+01:00

Today on the way home I looked over the fence and saw a teenage rabbit nibbling on municipal rose leaves beside one of the busiest streets in Edinburgh. So cute, so unconcerned apart from getting the freshest newest leaves into its mouth. I got the bus to Portobello walked on the beach and on the way back to the bus stop stopped to smell each rose poking over the fences of the gardens I passed.

2008-06-30T20:54:00.000+01:00

I love park plantings.

Off to bed with a new book. Feels indulgent.

2008-06-28T12:46:00.003+01:00

"... You need to realize something else: you can lead a perfectly good and satisfactory life even if you are not a writer (artist). When I figured that out I could be perfectly happy and not be a writer, I became a better writer. The unhappiest people in the world may be the ones who think their happiness depends on artistic success of some kind." Wendell Berry via Keri Smith

I know that my happiness has more to do with seeing The Cutest Niece (TM) eating blueberries by hand this evening. Watching a fantastic film last night Encounters at the End of the World, my cat sleeping on me, a perfectly ripe nectarine and knowing I'm meeting a friend for lunch.

2008-06-26T21:09:00.000+01:00

2008-06-22T22:47:00.001+01:00

2008-06-16T23:41:00.005+01:00

This evening my work computer had a nervous breakdown and decided to rebuild my mailboxes. Reimporting my work emails - 17,005 individual emails - took 20 mins. I've only been there since mid April. Friday the 13th was the day when the server went down and after two days working over the weekend I'm still finding crucial bits of information missing which might mean if I don't fix it people might not have a place to stay. Yes Homeless ! Sleeping in the park !left work early tonight at 10.15.

What has sent me over the edge today was nothing to do with work as such but a friend who has been sending me emails demanding the phone number of another friend who I didn't want to pass on but I did tell friend C that friend B wanted her to get in touch. One reason amongst many that I didn't give her the phone no being that I don't actually have the phone no of said friend C with me. Bugger me but remembering to haul myself to work and deal with the 400 or so guests keeps me well occupied. Of course she sent me an email which sent me over the edge this morning. I forgot the sane council of some and tartly replied and put her on my junk email option. I wonder a) is there something wrong with me b) is there something wrong with B c)Is this what happens when you set boundaries ?and d)I don't wonder I know I HATE being a go between. Its the 21st centuary you have the option, of writing, emailing and god love you even visiting a person in the flesh in addition to phoning someone. So get off your arse and do so.

PS promise I'll go back to my hiatus

2008-06-15T11:07:00.002+01:00

I promised H this photie yesterday. Been taking loads recently just walking to and from places doing errands.

Will probably be on a mini hiatus until July due to work pressues.

2008-06-11T00:22:00.003+01:00

Grief ~ over the past few days, perhaps even weeks, a profound grief has been nagging me, tugging at my skirt, catching me in moments where I can't shake it off. Postponed grief cannot be put at bay forever. I spent a lot of time with my dead friend doing the work I am doing now. She knows or knew exactly the pressures I'm under right now. She knows the lack of time, racing to do things, check things, she would sympathise with the sheer waste of time in meetings as our deadline moves inexorably closer. I sit and look at documents whose aesthetics would have her birling in her grave if she saw them.

I miss her

I left work at 11.15 pm today. Outside I could see a strange glow in the sky -cloud shapes.

As I walked towards my bus stop the grief rose and when I left the bus again I walked under the trees wracked by tears. I walked into the park silent and empty of people and I scanned the sky for the moon. I thought if I see the moon I will be comforted.

I saw the moon and the grief is still with me. I got a message on my answerphone from a friend's husband - she has just given birth to a baby girl. Life goes on but we grieve for those who are not with us and the parts of ourselves that they represent.

2008-06-07T09:31:00.000+01:00

Soho door - the sign says 'NO Prostitutes here'