The shape of water and some other good things in Wales.

 

I am back in Wales. In the tiny village of Y Ferwig at Createspace Wales. 

Feeling very lucky to be here, keeping cool while the south east swelters.

Trying to think positively while all around me the world struggles with Covid-19.

Finding it hard.

So this morning I typed a list of positive words about this place. Things to be grateful for.

One of the traits of resilient people is to be able to identify good things around them, however small. 

 

I found this  TED talk about resilience a helpful reminder of how to keep going when the going gets tough.

The words that came to my mind mostly relate to nature. I have been walking down single track lanes to the coast, marvelling at the abundance of plants in the hedgerows. Feasting on blackberries and swimming in the bracing sea at Mwnt beach.

Here is my list.

HEDGEROW

BLACKBERRIES

SEA

SUNLIGHT

QUIET

BIRDSONG

SWALLOW

DEW LADEN GRASS

PINK STRING

COBWEBS IN THE MORNING SUN

SEA MIST

COLD SEA SWIMMING

THE SOUNDS OF SUMMER

COWS CHEWING 

GNOME PARTY

VERDANT

Most self explanatory. Gnome party is happening right now in the polytunnel at the top of the garden. 

It is a signal of hope.

Of how the imagination allows freedom, particularly if you are a child.

gnome party in the poly tunnel

Pink string; a cheerful choice. 

pink string

Talking to cows is always worthwhile.

inquisitive cow

Late afternoon sun on the roadside flora.

hedgerow

Some paths are a little too lush. Nettles and brambles in abundance.

verdant pathway

And of course there are the campers.

With a view of the sea from the top of a field.

All very tidy and organised.

It is the sound of happy holiday makers rising up onto the cliff top from the beach below that I refer to in 'the sounds of summer'.

A hundred happy people's voices melded into one characteristic soundtrack.

a room with a view

tidy campers

I have collected some leaves and flowers and had a go at mono printing.

hedgerow monoprint

leaves from the hedgerow

Finding inspiration is a struggle right now.

I am uncertain where all of this is leading. 

So I keep reminding myself that inspiration comes when it is ready. It is OK not to have a plan.

I'll just keep walking, and occasionally come across moments of magic that set me free.

Like the sight of sunlight on the sea at Mwnt from the top of the cliff.

A meditative moment that will linger long in my memory.

Streaming on the intergalactic superhighway

 Dungneness sunset

OH ( other half)  has decided that we need a broadband upgrade.

Doctor Who keeps stalling during intergalactic transfers

And  footballs keeps getting stuck between the player's boot and the goal………

Daughter in Canada freezes mid sentence on Skype. Not always a pretty sight; strange contortions held until the cogs get whirring again.

It is time to embrace the super highway he says.

I have to admit to having shown little enthusiasm for this change, despite being the 'early adopter' of technology in our relationship.

Status quo versus internet black hole as everything goes pear shaped and we are left with nothing but a land-line is my preferred option.

I am quite happy with what we have now. The thought of losing contact with my friends in The Arcanum or not being able to back up or upload  my photos are my main concerns . OH is not a technical prodigy; his expertise lies elsewhere, in the land of real people.

So when the new internet box arrived through the post, my heart sank and I decided to head south, to Camber Sands, in order to be absent throughout the period of teeth gnashing and mild to moderate swearing.

Down there there is no internet ( at least where we stay), so I have to read books and work on my images of rocks on the beach .

So this morning, I got up early to be down on the beach at low tide, to see how the rocks are doing. Men in high vis clothing and cranes were in action early. They looked picturesque on the bank. Photogenic even.

I switched on my camera. 'low battery'

This is becoming a habit, and is one of the perils of trying to escape suburbia. I always leave something behind. 

I framed my first photo, and the camera died. So I am going to have to share some old images of the works, taken when the workmen had all gone home.

 After a short walk in the early morning soft and gentle sunlight I headed off to my studio to prepare for the 'Feast of Delights'.

My 'delights' are boxed sets of cards and small framed images that might do for Aunty Mabel's or Uncle Bernie's christmas presents. I am an expert on making white boxes, and find it very therapeutic after the travails of worrying about my internet connection and a very unwell family member.

Camber Collection © Caroline Fraser

Light on Water cards © Caroline Fraser

As I sat making boxes OH rang me. He was busy setting up super fast broadband.

'I need your password to BT ' quothe he.

'It is in my book of passwords' I replied, and advised him where to find it.

He duly found my notebook of passwords and read what he could of my incredibly tidy handwriting.

I realised what was written and told him what the encrypted note said.

'that's a really stupid word' was his response.

'well it works fine for me'……..( and anyway, it was meant to be a secret , thought I)

'And how was I supposed to know that from what was written?'

'you weren't…………passwords are meant to be secret……..a book of passwords that anyone could read would not really be a very good idea……….' 

(Even I know that………)

Anyway reader, the really good news is that we now have new wifi that works, which is  huge relief.

Later that day I asked OH if it is faster and fulfilling his wildest dreams.

' I guess it does…..' he replied.

 I quote verbatim here.

Not really the response I was expecting. 

'I'll only really know when I try streaming…..'


What could I say?

Nada.

But I was so relieved that we remain connected that I went into Rye to buy cakes and took them over to Dungeness for a cup of tea and watched the sun go down with gentle folk who are lucky enough to work and live in the land of big skies.

tea and smoked garlic at the Dungeness Smokehouse

Roll on the next episode of Dr Who. Then we ( OH)  will really be riding the intergalactic superhighway.

The Secret Garden

Light on Water 7 © Caroline Fraser 2012

If your art work had to represent a literary work what would you choose?

That is the challenge put forward by the Sevenoaks Kaleidoscope gallery .

Having read the brief, I pondered for some days over how I could link my current work to the brief. I wasn't getting far until I considered the project that I am currently working on, 'Light on Water' . These images have been created from a pond that I visit, deep in the woods in the heart of suburbia.

Light on Water 5 © Caroline Fraser 2012

It occurred to me that this pond has become my very own secret garden; a place that nourishes the spirit and gives pleasure, just as the garden in The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett does for Mary Lennox.

This story is one of my favourite books from childhood, describing how the discovery of a wild and secret place transforms the fortunes of the sickly, unhappy child, Mary Lennox.

My wild and secret place also lies close to home, just as in the book.

It is a secret place for me.

I have never met anyone there whilst I have been there. Today I spent some time there with my camera, but also I took a notebook and wrote some words..........

The Secret Garden

The pond lies deep.

Unknown to most who pass her by

on the other path

to the top of the hill.

A secret place,

a refuge.

Shared only with my dog who stirs her up

and wallows in her murky bed.

Thirst quenched,

body cooled.

With each passing different patterns emerge

in this, my secret garden.

A place to play. 

Wind and  water  do their part;

transforming surfaces

from

leaf, branch, tree, bud

rain, drop, 

light.

giving pleasure

giving life.

Light on Water 6 © Caroline Fraser 2012

I will continue to work on this series regardless of the brief, but it may inspire me to work a little harder.