Wednesday 16 December 2009

Greetings - to anyone out there who might still be checking in with this woefully neglected blog.

Things are changing. To be more precise, the migrating stones project is changing. I have just heard that the beloved Arts Council has said and almighty YES to funding the next migrating stone.

Given that I am in post swine-flu recovery, the strength of my response to this news cannot, and is not, going un-noted. I am, quite simply, delighted. Happy. Excited. Already my mind is buzzing with new ideas and thoughts about how to proceed and I'm in that 'i can't wait' to get on with the research and play involved in developing the project further.

So, it's interesting to note what a Yes can achieve: my self esteem seems to have leapt a few inches higher today and the prospect of money has set the synapses firing. Given that I'm a fairly impoverished (financially at least) poet who ventures forth irrespective of pecuniary reward for the most part, I cannot deny the relief involved in knowing that money - lovely money - is going to enable me to eat, pay bills and commission the next stage of the work. Body, mind and soul are more than delighted to receive financial recompense for work about to be performed.

So, watch this re-enlivened space - ask questions if you have any - and let's see how things develop. I've got a funny feeling that stone number four is going to need to help of a lot of people in order for its journey to come to fruition.....

Tuesday 13 October 2009

13th October, 2009

Greetings dear friends,

this is just to let you know that if you missed the programme on BBC Radio 4 this morning about my migrating stones project, then you can either listen again on the bbc i-player or tune in on Wednesday 14th October at 9 p.m.

There will soon be movement with regard to the next and fourth migrating stone and as soon as this movement achieves verbalisation then i'll be blogging about it!

Thursday 23 July 2009

At last there is movement.
After a long interval, the journey of the migrating stones continues.
This time, it is in the form of a programme that will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on October 13th at 11 a.m.
The programme, Nature: Migrating Stones, is an audio diary that I made when taking stone number three to Australia last year.
This curious project evolves slowly, unexpectedly, consistently.
I am currently applying for funding for the fourth stone.
I will keep you posted about plans for the future......

Saturday 28 March 2009

Greetings and best Equinox wishes to you all.

The stones are still rather dormant at the moment, but meanwhile there's an exciting new adventure afoot. I'm going to start teaching again - after a year and a half's break - at the wonderful Home Farm in Welcombe.

The short courses are open to anyone interested in writing - we're close to the sea here and the remote landscape is simply stunning.

If you're interested, I invite you to visit the website at www.way2go4.com/writingcourses

Monday 23 February 2009

Finally a few new ideas are beginning to arise and I am now wondering how to fund the next stage of the project. All Arts Council funding has been spent and, as with most things, the project cannot move forward without some money.

It's interesting to contemplate the need for cash in a time of economic crisis. As a poet and author I have never known anything other than economic crisis and to a certain degree it has become my norm. Financial constraint is something that always has to be factored in to plots and plans and yet curiously I have always managed to find the money to enable me to do the things I have to do.

I live a very rich poor life.

Much like a pebble or a stone I suppose.

And on that note I read an interesting article about the French artist Messager. At one point in her life she decided to name the tasks she undertook in order to define herself. I thought it might be fun to do this too. And so what am I? I am poet, author, stone carrier, dreamer, carer to my unwell mum, walker (walking is as much a daily need as breakfast for me). It's good to name the different occupations as I often think I should narrow my focus and concentrate upon just one thing. But that wouldn't be me - and what's the point of being someone other than myself?

Let me know if you have any ideas about good funding sources for the next stone. I'm wanting to open the project up to a lot more people this time and need a good, strong wad of money behinid me!