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Living in a fairy tale

The Silent Eye                      Painting by Brian Froud I’ve been looking into old faery lore lately. Not the sanitised Victorian version of miniature winged  beauties, but at the old tales of strange encounters, customs that go back beyond memory, time lost in the faery realm and the darker aspects of the hidden folk. At the instigation of my writing partner, I watched a documentary … Read More Living in a fairy tale

Song of the Stones V…

French Postcards 5

Bernie and I are creatures of contrasts. We will, on such a holiday, take a train some thirty kilometres to visit a highly recommended canalside fish restaurant. Then, having taken our bikes on said train (an experience in itself), the meal over, and hopefully noted in our little book of highlights, we will spend the next six hours struggling back along the canal path … Read More French Postcards 5

Going west -a final glimpse

The Silent Eye We were much later than planned leaving St Davids. All of us had a long way to go before we would be home as we had come together from the far-flung corners of the land. The weather was foul, with heavy sea-mist and rain making driving difficult so we chose the back roads instead of the motorway… it would take longer, … Read More Going west -a final glimpse

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We began yesterday with twin objectives – Bernie to buy some previously spotted presents from the lovely craft shops that adorn many of Carcassonne’s tiny streets; and I to take advantage of the clear and stark light of early morning to get a final set of shots from the interior of the ancient, walled city.  There were few people around as we agreed our … Read More French Postcards 4

Going west – a simple man

The Silent Eye Behind the High Altar of St Davids Cathedral there was once an empty space, open to the winds. In the early 1500s, Bishop Edward Vaughan created a chapel there which, for me, is the loveliest part of the cathedral. The Holy Trinity chapel seems to be a very simple space of hewn stone; such is the sense of harmony there that … Read More Going west – a simple man

Summer storm

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The old Carcassone is gloriously medieval, but much restored. Walking thorough its streets at night – with thousands of others – gives you the feeling of how ‘protected’ its former inhabitants must have felt; and how lucky, to have such a home in savage times.  Step outside its walls to take the twenty minute walk down the winding road and across the river Aude … Read More French Postcards 3

The Unseen Sea – 3: the hand of time

LUCA reaches out… The Silent Eye Part Three of The Unseen Sea: adrift in the enneagram The busy square is suddenly hushed. He watches as the four-year old girl with the golden hair runs ahead of her mother towards him. “Grandad! I beat mummy!” she says, gleefully, climbing on his knee. The constant pain from the arthritis makes him wince – she is getting … Read More The Unseen Sea – 3: the hand of time

Going west – the painted church

Way Old Time…

Originally posted on Stuart France:
* ‘Of circular possibilities’… ** ‘Eyeing the Chasm’… ** ‘Extending a welcome’… * * ‘An Other Time’… ** ‘Presence is everything’… ** ‘Two O’Clock Shadow’… ** ‘There was an Old Woman’… * * ‘Who looked out’… * * ‘Through a Shoe’…

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Two of the most welcome sights after a long, hot journey by train: the destination station – Carcassonne; and our own hotel room key! Relaxation for two days, then the bikes arrive and we can start pedalling. Ironically, the TGV from Paris travelled our cycling route to Sète in reverse, so we got a clear view of the landscape ahead of us. We’ll need … Read More French Postcards 2