Snowdrop Inn, Lewes

Found a very pretty pub on a sunny day in Lewes, Sussex. Discovered Burning Sky's 'Arise' they had an impressive crisp selection to boot.

Dreamy scenes from a wee holiday beside Loch Voil

Lucky to visit Tuarach again, home of Les and Juan. Here at their home beside Loch Voil they run a sheep farm, while various wooden huts now welcome visitors, but once housed the LEGENDARY West Highland Animation studios. Maybe it will return for production some day... The sun completely ruined my packing by shining for all 4 days! Not depicted: tooth ceremony conducted in the ancient stone circle, summoning the (London based) tooth fairy, necessary after Lois's front tooth fell out.

Arteles Residency - Ode to L.A. Kirpputori

 

Arteles Residency - Nokkonen 24.4.18

 

 

 

 

Tapani, Janius and Valo planting the nettle (nokkonen) crop at Frantsila herb farm.

Janius: ‘Some people like to wear gloves. Me, when there’s no pesticides or chemicals like this, I like to feel the soil.’

Arteles Residency - Frantsila Greenhouse

 

Looking forward to returning to @frantsilaherbfarm this week as this years planting gets underway. Having been in the founder’s family for 300 years, it became organic in the mid 1970s, and produces natural remedies from Finnish plants and flowers. More to follow when I return....

Arteles Residency - Quiet house, tucked away

Microclimates are visibly noticeable right now, with the springtime transition well progressed in some places, while spots like this one remain snow blanketed, lodged in winter.

Arteles Residency - Waiting for Finnish Springtime

I am in rural Finland, 60 km NW of Tampere, staying at Arteles Creative Centre on their 'Comic Blast!' program. While here I will be getting out and about, discovering first-hand about farming practices in the region, how people utilise natural resources in this age of ever-increasing technology and urbanisation. There has been plenty of snow in my first week, which - fabulous as it is - I am pleased to see receding and revealing the earth beneath, for the simple fact I will be able to move around without falling in snow drifts constantly.

Snowing in Edale

Glorious snowfall during a week in the Peak District, the stuff of childhood memories. Though I did make the mistake of going for a walk on the ridge, marvelling at the falling snow in the sparkling sunlight for about half an hour, before realising it was not going to stop and I could quite possibly get stuck. Which would be quite a way to go. This picture was done from within the safety of the bunkhouse. There's some hardy cows behind that gate.

More from Ollerbrook Farm

Bringing in the lambs because it's blowing a blizzard

I spent 3 days in The Peak District's Hope Valley with a farming family, a visit which not only involved early lambs but also heaps of spectacular snow. I came to understand that there is not one moment when a farmer's workday is over, and it is truly a group effort keeping one going.

Veles Ensemble rehearsal

Rehearsal / project planning for collaborating with this fantastic string trio. Having sat through this morning's rehearsal I'm keener than ever!

On the ward at Guy's Hospital

Don't know why I've never thought of doing this before, a great drawing opportunity I'll make use of on future visits. The NHS is on my mind a lot these days, it's under such threat of privatisation. I know it's not always perfect, I've had some frustrating experiences myself, but they're FAR outweighed by the fantastic care I've received. Love the NHS.

Front row scribble heap 8/2/18 Club Integral's fundraiser for Resonance FM

13 acts playing 13 minutes each. Seems that I was on a 'draw one skip one' policy that eve.

Bob Drake and his 3 minute / 50 second pop wonders

Mandolin and fiddle from the No Frills Folk Band

Quite loud and quite fantastic 'Two Horns' (with their umpteen effects pedals)

Glowering Figs

Strayaway Child. The phantom tin whistler on the right also had a pretty wooden shruti box, but alas it wasn't mic'd  up so we couldn't hear it being played. That's a new thing for The List then, to hear one being played live.

'Robin the Fog' : conjuring grand sounds from humble tape. Took me back to ye olde 'mending a cassette with sellotape' days.

Everyone hanging in the Waitrose cafe

Finally got to see' The Moon and the Sledgehammer' at LSFF

Peter Trevelyan's 1971 documentary about a family living off-grid in rural Sussex, presented at London short film fest by Andrew Kötting. This is a pic of the Q&A afterwards. A gorgeous crisp 35mm print exuded life. The subjects speak in gently warbling dialect, scattered with folk rhyme, leg pulling and bafflement. Their woodland cottage is surrounded by many steam engine contraptions, crumbling vehicles, rosebushes and church organs. Particularly loved some close ups of beetles and bugs escaping a lumber saw.
Some light shed here: Guardian article 25 May 2016

Hairdressers on fire

Thought this earlier sketch of clippy snippy hairdressers needed a bit of animating

Seasonal snapshots