Latest Commission

What a busy week it's been. I was asked to do a piece of work for Action for Blind People's 150th Birthday to be presented to HRH Princess Alexandra. (Please read her website as she is a wonderful and amazing person). Of course I accepted. Action for Blind People have been the most helpful and supportive charity that I have ever had the pleassure to deal with.
I am in constant contact with their Self Employment Advisor (Hi Jon) and without him I know I would never have had the courage to set up and continue being self employed.
Their logo is the most wonderful Fuchia Pink and the ribbon and the writing reflect this.
As the creator and as it co-incides with my birthday I was asked if I would like to go to London and present it myself to HRH. Sadly, but putting business before pleasure I have had to turn them down as I am enrolled on my Wed Site Design course on Wednesday nights and as it will be only my second week I don't want to miss it.
Below is a detailed shot of the piece.

Merlin Am I

Well I've done it...the Dahm the Bard piece is finished....and I'm really over the moon with it. Above is the full piece and below is the detail. Don't forget to click on the photos to enlarge.

Mercian Gathering The Bands

We primarily (before getting roped into being a Trainee Dagda for the weekend) bought tickets to see 2 of our favourite bands Damh the Bard and The Dolmen.

Damh the Bard played on the Friday night and was visibly moved to see so many people knew the words. Something that was confirmed during my chat to him the next day. As far as Pagan musicians go….he’s the best. A more humble man you couldn’t wish to meet! Very gentle in spirit and an excellent singer and master of words. His background is Druidry and

you can download four of his tracks here

if you like these tracks please support this artist
by buying his albums here

His website is here

And he also has a Blog here

He’s a gem and deserves all the publicity he can get.
I’m doing a piece of work as a gift for him in gratitude for the pleasure he gives to others. I will blog about this as soon as I have finished it.

The Dolmen on Saturday night were crazily, lively bunch of characters and total contrast to Damh the Bard. But they were sure to get everyone up and jumping! They are certainly capable of sorting the young from the old….but trust me folks we did well….we jumped….we danced and were VERY energetic! The fact that non of us oldies could walk the next day was nothing to do with the Dolmen…honest! Well….perhaps just a little! But hey….you only live once! The trouble is we realised that the next morning. One thing I will say… despite the fact that some pagans like to drink….a tiny few like quite a lot to drink….there was no hassle, no rowdiness, no bad tempers and no fighting….in fact there never is! Not like the town on a Friday and Saturday night where you hardly dare venture out.

All too soon the weekend was over and it was time to go home. And Monday blues, back to work and a feeling of what the hell is this life all about. Back to Babylon…where people are too busy to even say good morning and care about each other as they could. Back to the real world, which as I go to more and more camps I realise is not a particularly nice place. Monday was dreadful. I started work late and finished early, yearning once again for that field full of kindred spirits. Life is so much more colourful there.

The Mercian Gathering Part 2

This post is continued from the one below...I can only put 5 pictures on each post whick is a bit of a pain in the bum! so it has to be done like this!
OK...where were we? Oh yes the Wicca Man....

The Wicca Man is huge don’t you think? And trust me the ceremony/ritual is nothing like the film!!!

The Wicca Man is decorated with offerings of all kinds as a representation of things they want to release. Once he has burnt to the ground people jumped the fire. I left before this point as they got a bit excitable and I felt vulnerable. I had good training when I first lost my sight and my own safety is gauged as a risk assessment…. A burnt out dead Dagda is no use to anyone!
Oh yes.....I said something about Pagans having little more than Earth Closet toilets and a cold water tap...

the picture above is of the portable toilets...probably the only time you ever need to remove your shoes to use one! There was carpet on the floor, hand basins and mirrors! Also in the field but I didn't photograph tem were some hot showers where the water was heated by a wood burning stove and also a hot tub!!!! Which I also didn't photograph to protect peoples identitys. Can't quite get my head round a hot tub and hot showers in the middle of a field!

And the pictures above and below are of animals which are helped by the running of such an event as all the proceeds go to this sponsored charity which cares for sick and injured wildlife. The badger weighs 3 stone by the way!
And these two sweethearts.....aren't they absolutely beautiful?

I was especially drawn to a tame barn owl which I have a very special affinity with. I love ALL animals, especially owls and barn owns just have to be my favourite. I had my picture taken with him and he was snuggled in like a budgie and loved being kissed...unfortunatly the photo is so unflattering I refuse to show even my best friends....so you'll just have to take my word for it.

The Mercian Gathering Part 1

The Dagda –

To be feared and revered!

Left to right: Phil, Eric, Vinny, Pixie Tony,

Elrick, Troll and Jean.

Liz, Dangerous Dave and Paul

were off galavanting somewhere

Phew! What a weekend!
We set off at 5am on Friday morning to get to Nuneaton hopefully by 8am. The map was sketchy and it took us a further hour to actually find the farm even though we were passing within about 100 yards from it each time we travelled up and down the road.
We arrived to smiles from friends but I don’t think either Tony or I were in the mood…lol. We had been recruited (more like blackmailed) into joining the ‘Dagda’ (see photo above!) for the weekend…how, why or what….I have no idea, but it happened. Only then when we did our stint on the gate did we realise that EVERYONE’S tempers were frayed and there were some near divorces and split ups as people were frustrated at the poor map and directions. In true pagan style we smiled and grinned and laughed as we made light of the situation. Each person turning up was told that everyone else had found it ok…quickly followed by ‘Only kidding’. I should add her that the Dagda do a fantastic job of being security, lost children finders, councillors and pranksters who DO NOT GET PAID…it’s all done for the love of it.

Soon the tents were set up around us as people arrived in a slow steady pace. To the front of our tent it looked like the Indians had moved in. Tony and I had settled for a Bell Tent as opposed to these things…they look great and you can have a fire in them but somehow the poles have to be transported. Only the modern day cars stopped us believing we had been transported back in time.

We walked over to the other field and saw the Labyrinth set out in sawdust ready for the burning of the Wicca Man on the Saturday night.

The Pixie Tribe were recruited to be in the Dagda Drummers and we drummed people to the ceremony that was about to take place. They look a gruesome lot but trust me it was the look of pure concentration on their faces. I was sat on the floor astride my drum as I prefer to play that was so was missed off the photo (fortunately!)
Then the Labyrinth was set light to and people walked the Fire Labyrinth to the beat and rhythm of the drums. Once the people had entered we (The Royal We of Dagda Drummers) set off to the other field to drum them into the burning of the Wicca Man.