Month: August 2022

The pursuit of personal music…

I’ve been clearing out my study. I’m a hoarder, and it’s an essential process once every year or so…if I’m honest, occasionally two! At the bottom of a yet another box of ‘memorabilia’, I found this. Back in the day, when I was a Computer Science student at Wolverhampton Polytechnic, I had very little money. My dad had bought me a decent stereo with … Read More The pursuit of personal music…

Fading summer wine

One of the most poignant moments of the year is the last week of August. There comes that first sense of ‘chill’, plus the heavy dew on the morning grass. We find the best way to deal with this is a bottle of white wine, taken just as the warmth of the afternoon has begun to ebb. We spend the time it takes to … Read More Fading summer wine

Hidden aspects of Kirkby Lonsdale: a journey in pictures

I’ve written about Kirkby Lonsdale, before. This lovely market town, on the border between Cumbria and Yorkshire, has many faces, some of them well hidden… A photo-tour is a good way of sharing these… Our journey starts with Devil’s Bridge, located below the town, and the old crossing point for the River Lune. This used to be the main road to Yorkshire… The way … Read More Hidden aspects of Kirkby Lonsdale: a journey in pictures

Slither hither…

And do you slither hither… When soft and dozing, August finds My sleeping skin beneath your sun My mind soft dulled with wine, and Sky so blue it sings like life Reborn… ————- When winter’s bite’s so long forgot Yet present in your kiss Drink this, drink deep, the she-snake smiles Let this be all there is And hither to my opened lips You … Read More Slither hither…

Time, place and lens

The River Kent forms a natural heart to the village of Sedgwick. The river has many faces. In 2015 it saw some of the worst floods in the region’s history. But most of the time, it’s peaceful and beautiful. It has some special moods, but you have to be there to photograph them. Not a matter of skill, rather right place at the right … Read More Time, place and lens

Defining Relationships (3) turning within…

In parts one and two, we looked at the relationships we build with the world and each other. We see that how we ‘relate’ to the world is coloured by many factors in our early development. Is there a single technique that will help correctly align us in relationship with the world — with the Universe of our world? Can we really call on … Read More Defining Relationships (3) turning within…

Set in Stone

The Silent Eye’s Landscape Weekends were born from a mad-cap day on Ilkley Moor and a number of subsequent events up there. Join us on Sue Vincent’s birthday (14th September) for lunch and a short walk to one of Ilkley Moor’s ancient monuments as we remember our former colleague and fellow director in the landscape she regarded as her home. Meet: Noon at The … Read More Set in Stone

Kirkby Lonsdale, Hot August evening…

It had been a long, hot day… A trip from Kendal to Leeds to catch up with our three-month old grandson. A walk and some street food in the eclectic Oakwood district, then a gentle stroll back to their house. We hit the busy time coming back, and decided to give Tess one of her favourite walks by the river in Kirkby Lonsdale. Walking … Read More Kirkby Lonsdale, Hot August evening…

Defining Relationships (2) look again!

In Part One we looked at the anatomy of relationships, in a general sense. We considered how the birth separation from our mother sets off a chain of reactions that strengthen us – as individuals in the world – but isolate us in a bubble of self, from which we form more distant relationships, perhaps only really opening ourselves to our world and others … Read More Defining Relationships (2) look again!

A Hebridean Diary (6-end) Great Bernera

Our two-week trip, ending in the Hebridean Island of Lewis, was coming to an end. The following morning, we would be on a ferry from Stornoway to Ullapool, then a fast route directly to Inverness, where we could pick up the main A9 to Perth, stopping in a travel motel, before setting off early for Cumbria and home. We decided to spend our last … Read More A Hebridean Diary (6-end) Great Bernera

August skies

Norfolk and Cumbria are both famous for having ‘big skies’. I’m sure there are others, but over the years, I’ve had the best summer sky shots from these two places – each one vast in its own right. August has long been my favourite month for shooting photos of such splendour. The one above was taken near where we live, on the edge of … Read More August skies

Defining Relationships (1)

We treat the word ‘relationship’ casually. We don’t mean to – we probably don’t know we are dealing with one of the most fundamental parts of our existence. If we could see the full implications of the idea of relationships, we might be better equipped to see how much symbolic ‘gold’ there is in them. To consider this, we should step back and examine … Read More Defining Relationships (1)