Shed Stories #10 ‘Days of Summer’
Sometimes Lammas (the period from the beginning of August through until the equinox around the 21st September) just takes the wind out of my sails and I feel emotionally and psychologically flattened. I spoke about this a bit on an Instagram post in early August and was intrigued at how many people feel the same way. That, despite the busyness of summer and the beginnings of harvest plenty, there is something about this point, a hiatus, where a kind of ennui takes over and one can feel quite empty. One kind soul pointed out that I probably needed a holiday, and I suppose this is why we traditionally take a bit of a break at this time of year.
Owing to various work commitments I couldn’t take a long holiday but I decided that I could manage a long weekend and felt the mountains calling to me. By some miracle my two adult children and one of my sisters were also free and in need of adventure, so we planned a few days walking in the Lake District. As it would be the first time in some years that we had camped together I had a fair bit of preparation sorting out tents and trying to remember all the stuff that we would need. Sadly, I discovered that our lovely old canvas tent had been eaten by mice so we had to take the mega family tent but that was a luxury worth having even for a couple of days especially now that the ‘children’ did much of the work!
We camped at Gillside campsite, Glenridding so that we could walk and swim for three days, and go to the shop and the pub without having to use the car. It was a perfect traditional campsite and I would definitely recommend it. We had a splendid walk over Striding Edge to the top of Helvellyn and actually had wonderful views though the wind nearly blew us away!
A week later Mike and I hosted a very special evening in our garden. The first time the core Wild Folk team had met in person (myself, Jackie Morris, John Mitchinson, our publisher, and Daniel Streat, the designer). We were also joined by Seven Fables, Chris and Davina Jelley who took some wonderful photos which we shall use as our author photos.
We also announced the fact that those who subscribe to Wild Folk now, before it is published, will receive a dust jacket with a different design to the hardcover of the main book. This was partly because Dan had designed two such gorgeous covers that it was hard to choose which one we would use on the book. We have decided on the ‘portal’ as it feels very evocative of a journey into the mystical and the book is a kind of pilgrimage into a mythical past, present and future.
In late August I also attended the opening of the International Festival of Glass in Stourbridge. It was an incredible event with so many stunning works of art in this wonderful medium. I was honoured to have had a piece selected and also delighted that stained glass is gaining more of a presence at this biennial event.
Over the summer I have also been producing work for the fabulous Seven Fables, North Somerset and Old Chapel Gallery, Herefordshire. If you are anywhere near either, do go and visit. They are both wonderful oasis of beauty and wonder.
And as soon as I sign off from this newsletter I am back to my workshop to finish a final few pieces for Wild Folk. Hopefully, by the time you receive this I shall actually have finished and I shall embrace the changing season and hope that we will have an Indian summer! I am certainly feeling inspired again and always find this time of year my most creative.