In one sense I am back to normal, in that I am able to do a regular post. I confess, however, that other aspects of “normal” life are subject to question.* The break in communication has been caused by my participation in a residential course on meditation and contemplation. It was certainly a very interesting experience, staying in a monastery (the Community of the Resurrection, in Mirfield) although it did have rather unfortunate echoes of my boarding school. No doubt aspects of the week-end will crop up from time to time in the blog.
The great news is that I am well and truly back into painting. The series of pictures based on ancient trees is really coming along well. (I’ve now finished seven of them.) The grounds of the monastery were really wonderful, consisting of picturesque old woodland, and on an early morning walk I collected some more reference material which will enable me to continue this line of work.
My primary problem at the moment is that I have been diagnosed as having a minor heart problem, which will require a pace-maker to be fitted. Until then I am banned from driving, and advised not to climb. My wife is doing a sterling job providing an occasional taxi service, but there are limits to what I can expect here. I guess it has its up-side, in that there is absolutely no objection to my painting, which I fully intend to allow to fill the spaces created by the lack of other activities.
I’ve been wondering over the week-end about the flexible boundaries of “normal”. The celebration of Armistice Day on 11 November is a significant public festival in the village.** Certain music has acquired traditional associations with the occasion, for example, “Nimrod” from Elgar’s Enigma Variations. I was surprised this year to discover that Sting’s “Fields of Gold” appears to have been added to the canon. Any suggestions as to why this has happened would be welcome.
*I’m certainly not going to go into the madhouse which British politics has become over night. It’s almost as crazy as American politics!
**For overseas readers perhaps a word of explanation is needed. This date was originally chosen on which to remember the fallen of the Great War, but it has since expanded to become a remembrance day for all those killed in war.