I felt like 'the dregs' when the title of this may-be-a-book-one-day was born. Except the content (and subtitle) was about 'Tales and Fails of a Tea Poet'......
[Heading towards performing with animals in France, a 'Black Beauty Ballet'... tonight's the night!] We rehearse again after a day’s break, during which I offer to make a carrying basket for the hens, which a Parisienne hen-like friend of Marthe’s will then let out in the arena and demonstrate that hens, too, are intelligent. There are only two rehearsals to go, one of which is the dress…
[Following on from chasing after Velu the cow who'd escaped and learning a bit about 'cow time' (infinite)... TSM = The Sheep Man, Hurricane = a beloved chestnut horse I cared for.] This is our quick ‘time out’. I’m writing this on 12th August 2026, an important astrological date since it’s not only a New Moon but there’s a partial solar eclipse. All eclipses bring a disquieting silence. It’s…
[Oops! No wonder I was finding it clunky trying to write 'The Byre' section of The Book, I have just discovered the series of blog posts I wrote at the time, including the Velu escapade. It differs a little from the last post so for the sake of accuracy I'm noting the edited version here. And can I just also note that whoever is reading these excerpts, you are silently goading me on wonderfully,…
[You are waiting to be introduced to Velu - a cow I'm supposed to be performing with...] ‘Velooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!’ She is not where we left her, tied up on the shady side of the barn. We are running down the knobbly track, away from the barn-about-to-be-a-theatre, away from the tensions, away from the shouting of commands and the gloom of rehearsing-not-getting-any-where… … into the…
[Following on from arriving at La Combe - an Eco-Research Center] Although everything is parched, the air of La Combe is different – infinitely clear with a hint of freshness. It tastes like the cloudless blue above us. It is this we will be drinking from, water is precious. I am already taking in my new home-for-a-week, in large gulps. I do this every day, every morning, at home, here, now. And…
THE BYRE ‘Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle the cow jumped over the moon...’ Heads and horns up, the task we’re presented with amounts to a tad more than getting a cow to jump over the moon. Twenty-five in the druid animal deck, cow (or Bo) arrives just before horse, paying homage to all things mother. She also helps us recognize what is unhomogenized ‘whole fat milk’ – both metaphorical…
[Following on from serendipitous moments relating to geese...] The other thing about geese is their migrating, probably leading to being associated with Travels to Legendary Place. They go back and fore… and so will we as that’s the talent of the wild geese we’re going to embody. We can do this with consummate ease and not feel the slightest bit giddy. In time we are flying back to September 2013.…
[Following on from leaving the stables of beloved horses and preparing to wing it in France'. Chapter Break entitled 'Wild Geese'] ‘Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings these are a few of my favourite things…’ from ‘My Favourite Things’, Soundtrack The Sound of Music How does life orchestrate serendipitous and synchronous moments? The writing of this brief interlude happens over a long…
[Following from Hurricane finding his new family of circus 'horse whisperers' and being given the new name 'Han'] There was one more chance to see Han again at the farm. I woke before dawn to hear the sound of hooves – many hooves - in the field. Not quite conscious I wondered if it was fierce rain beating down on the roof, then thought it might be escaped sheep or horses from the stables down the…
[Following on from Hurricane the chestnut circus horse recovering from mud fever and dancing with me in the field for a further year... TSM = The Sheep Man] ‘Can we go and see Hurricane?’ It became the first question on the lips of the four sisters, part of a circus family who regularly visited. And Hurricane would amble across the field leaning his head of the fence to nuzzle, snicker and take…