Having been reading up on the demise of BHS this week, I wish I'd been able to buy it for £1, as Phillip Green did last year in the BHS takeover by Dominic Chappell. I appreciate The Guardian's view on BHS as it described and summed up the financial dealings behind the scenes as being "bang up to date, typifying the
ugly realities of the modern British way of doing business even if the retail aspect of the BHS story strikes a dated note." I have a huge dislike, like many people, of how big businesses operate to make the greedy rich even richer at the expense of the vast majority of people.
If I'd had the chance to buy it for £1 I'd have worked my vision and made it a truly British retailer. Imagine each branch with a brand identity as well as an individualism reflecting its local community. Stores stocking the company's own ranges of clothing, homeware etc as well as local designers work from clothing to jewellery to furniture. This would offer a platform to support business start ups, giving the established store a brand new innovative approach and a lot of unique stock, and really provide young companies with opportunities for development and growth. It's online store could work wonders, selling items made in Aberdeen to customers in Bristol, the way online selling should be done. That's how thinking outside the box should be done, as people are getting bored with the monotonous look of the high street and looking for individual style available online and creating their own identity, and that's the truer version of self expression.
Mary Portas has also written a piece about the issue, again from The Guardian :) saying she'd "add some small startups that are all young British makers or designers, housing them within a market place model and then you start a business with a point of view." I'm pleased I see myself thinking along the right lines it seems. Thinking like this needs to speed up and gain momentum now, not trickle slowly and be picked up by the next generation; collaboration needs to get a move on now and opportunities to take the means to accumulate more wealth for the super greedy need to be recognised and used by people who have the vision and imagination for an up to date version of retail and economy to begin.
Tuesday, 26 April 2016
LIFEstyle
It's gonna get more interesting around here :D
Instead of focusing on style only I'm going to talk about what I think and feel could be improved in the creative world (and pondering life in general). I have a lot of thoughts constantly zooming around my head so instead of being just about styling this is going to consider the creative industry, creative business development and a bit of philosophy. Looking forward to conversing with yas :)
Instead of focusing on style only I'm going to talk about what I think and feel could be improved in the creative world (and pondering life in general). I have a lot of thoughts constantly zooming around my head so instead of being just about styling this is going to consider the creative industry, creative business development and a bit of philosophy. Looking forward to conversing with yas :)
Business
It's a really poor show now that the concept of being an entrepreneur means having the ability and gall to exploit others.
I'm seeing more often that businesses use the outdated business model of requiring (demanding?) cash up front from up & coming businesses. When the fledgling business is an artist or designer who has already made a financial commitment to produce their works surely it would be far more sensible to give them at least a period of grace before requiring cash deposits/rent to stock their goods? Instead it seems they've got to work twice as hard to continue producing and to meet extra financial overheads, and to do extra marketing which you might have thought would have been part of their rental package.
Time to have a rethink about modern business operations I think! it's all about the handover of cash and getting nothing in return, that's not business, that's greed.
To clarify, what I'm particularly thinking of is shop units in malls who charge high rents. If the rents were used to pay for good marketing then that would be ok (say a team of photographer, stylist etc) to produce good commercial images, that would be an indirect payment from designer to team to provide good images to enhance their brand.
Also, I'm thinking of shop units on Edinburgh's Royal Mile which are just turned into yet more tacky tourist outlets to make a quick quid. How about they were turned into shops to show the real face of Scotland - it's innate talent for contemporary design with some traditional references, it's productivity and that's it's genuinely inspiring. Rent free for a period to let the new business establish which is far better than having a unit lie empty. How much more attractive and inspiring would that be for travellers from all round the world to see than another Wee Jock ginger cap? Even if a loan system was in place rather than paying up front would make establishing a business more beneficial. Start-ups I'm thinking of are more likely to not succeed because of heavy outlays at the point of launch, and time taken up with covering costs instead of concentrating on the productivity. I believe the commitment to the business is demonstrated by years of college and financing the production of garments, music, jewellery etc so an initial financial outlay to secure premises should be waived for a grace period at lease.
Friday, 22 April 2016
A Great Philosopher Once Wrote...
Well, I'm the birthday girl today - 21 times two!!
Very much starting a new phase in life - nothing planned, just the way it's happening. This year so far has been much better than the last two years altogether, things feeling like they're falling into place at the right time, better perspectives on a lot of aspects of life. The last six months of 2015 was a process of redefining and reconciling a lot of thoughts and seeing that life is a series of interconnecting events. Some stuff was quite stressful, but the people who helped me deal with it all are amazing and I now see the part they have in my life in a renewed way, especially one particular person :) Also, there are some folk who come into your life and can totally change it, not in the way you expected they would, but have left it in a better place than it had been. Someone else inspired me to get back on the right track, I didn't realise I wasn't on the correct track until their influence made me remember what was more right for me and I redirected myself to a mindset and an attitude that was frustratingly missing.
Re my last post about redefining how I see styling and fashion etc; that was one of the things I was puzzling over and now I've nailed that through wanting to understand the psychology of fashion, art and the ego. I bought a book on psychology the other day and I'm looking forward to getting into reading that, I'm wondering if it'll lead to taking a course in psychology - we'll see!
The positive things so far in 2016 have been starting the year off with starting to put together an online magazine around the Scottish creative industry - showing all the creativity Scotland has and the ability we have to think progressively outside the box, to be motivated and inspiring, to have valid opinions and to be able to express these well. Then I was working on a feature film, then it was straight into Celtic Connections usherinf followed by Irish Dancing ushering for the Scottish then the World Champs. For once in the breadnbutter job I had the opportunity to be pro-active and manage people rather than , and I was mixing with the dancers too which made a huge difference to my shifts. I saw the Huntsman Winters War trailer which inspired me to do some gold warrior queen costume design which is still in the process of being made.
Then I did a wee bit of modelling on an alt photoshoot and had a brilliant time, and on the back of that decided I could put together a wee modelling portfolio of alt shoots, and combing that with my costume design. The most entertaining shoot so far has been with me lying in a bath of milk :D
Next project on the agenda is a fashion show after a hiatus of over two years. Got a partner in crime to plan the event with which is making all the difference. In hindsight I don't know how I did all I used to do in the planning of events cos so much goes into it but I did so go me! This show is following my favourite theme of the Creative VS the Corporate and me and P.I.C. (Partner In Crime) checked out the venue today which is totally perfect, and the VM loves the whole idea as it's developed so far. Also been planning a brilliantly surreal photoshoot (styling this one) with a brilliant photographer, Photobara
involving black giant balloons, a wrought iron bed and a beach with an abandoned fishing boat. Not giving any more away!!
And on top of that, there's the health issue which has been bugging me for the last few years which at first I thought was in intolerance to sweets, fizzy drinks and booze. I've done a lot of research and a lot of talking with friends with general sense and insight as well as some with similar issues, and seem to have found a cause for this intolerance which will hopefully see it rectified in a few months. It had better work - the carrot on the stick is the bottle of vodka I bought two weeks ago which will be indulged at the end of the three months! Between diet changes and meds to change the gut bacteria levels after being on antibiotics since as far as I can remember, I'll hopefully not itch like my fleas have got fleas. The internet's brilliant for finding so much helpful info, people with good helpful advice etc. So now on a very healthy diet which isn't a restrictive weight loss diet, it's been making alterations to what I eat every day. This was linked to me by a friend: http://Scientists Discover A New Link Between The Brain And The Immune System which is very interesting.
So, signing off for tonight :)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Changing your own attitude is much easier than changing other peoples behaviour.
Very much starting a new phase in life - nothing planned, just the way it's happening. This year so far has been much better than the last two years altogether, things feeling like they're falling into place at the right time, better perspectives on a lot of aspects of life. The last six months of 2015 was a process of redefining and reconciling a lot of thoughts and seeing that life is a series of interconnecting events. Some stuff was quite stressful, but the people who helped me deal with it all are amazing and I now see the part they have in my life in a renewed way, especially one particular person :) Also, there are some folk who come into your life and can totally change it, not in the way you expected they would, but have left it in a better place than it had been. Someone else inspired me to get back on the right track, I didn't realise I wasn't on the correct track until their influence made me remember what was more right for me and I redirected myself to a mindset and an attitude that was frustratingly missing.
Re my last post about redefining how I see styling and fashion etc; that was one of the things I was puzzling over and now I've nailed that through wanting to understand the psychology of fashion, art and the ego. I bought a book on psychology the other day and I'm looking forward to getting into reading that, I'm wondering if it'll lead to taking a course in psychology - we'll see!
The positive things so far in 2016 have been starting the year off with starting to put together an online magazine around the Scottish creative industry - showing all the creativity Scotland has and the ability we have to think progressively outside the box, to be motivated and inspiring, to have valid opinions and to be able to express these well. Then I was working on a feature film, then it was straight into Celtic Connections usherinf followed by Irish Dancing ushering for the Scottish then the World Champs. For once in the breadnbutter job I had the opportunity to be pro-active and manage people rather than , and I was mixing with the dancers too which made a huge difference to my shifts. I saw the Huntsman Winters War trailer which inspired me to do some gold warrior queen costume design which is still in the process of being made.
Then I did a wee bit of modelling on an alt photoshoot and had a brilliant time, and on the back of that decided I could put together a wee modelling portfolio of alt shoots, and combing that with my costume design. The most entertaining shoot so far has been with me lying in a bath of milk :D
Next project on the agenda is a fashion show after a hiatus of over two years. Got a partner in crime to plan the event with which is making all the difference. In hindsight I don't know how I did all I used to do in the planning of events cos so much goes into it but I did so go me! This show is following my favourite theme of the Creative VS the Corporate and me and P.I.C. (Partner In Crime) checked out the venue today which is totally perfect, and the VM loves the whole idea as it's developed so far. Also been planning a brilliantly surreal photoshoot (styling this one) with a brilliant photographer, Photobara
involving black giant balloons, a wrought iron bed and a beach with an abandoned fishing boat. Not giving any more away!!
And on top of that, there's the health issue which has been bugging me for the last few years which at first I thought was in intolerance to sweets, fizzy drinks and booze. I've done a lot of research and a lot of talking with friends with general sense and insight as well as some with similar issues, and seem to have found a cause for this intolerance which will hopefully see it rectified in a few months. It had better work - the carrot on the stick is the bottle of vodka I bought two weeks ago which will be indulged at the end of the three months! Between diet changes and meds to change the gut bacteria levels after being on antibiotics since as far as I can remember, I'll hopefully not itch like my fleas have got fleas. The internet's brilliant for finding so much helpful info, people with good helpful advice etc. So now on a very healthy diet which isn't a restrictive weight loss diet, it's been making alterations to what I eat every day. This was linked to me by a friend: http://Scientists Discover A New Link Between The Brain And The Immune System which is very interesting.
So, signing off for tonight :)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Changing your own attitude is much easier than changing other peoples behaviour.
Thursday, 7 April 2016
Fashion Psychology
I'm needing to find a different take on styling which has more to it than just looking cool for the sake of it, and I'm really enjoying researching the psychology of fashion. I finished reading Mind What You Wear by Prof Karen Pine last night and I'm looking for more similar titles to read. I've also seen a few good YouTube vids.
Buying new clothes equals reinvention of self; clothes can't change you per se but can encourage you to behave in different ways. Adopting such behaviour traits into your personality is what changes you as a person.
Also more likely by adhering to a style demonstrates a desire to emulate a personality or a status associated with a look eg ladylike elegance. Rather than emulate someone else adopt and display the behaviour traits of such a person so you evolve your personality itself rather than trying to be seen as someone else. Emulating someone else indicates under confidence in oneself by having to display the characteristics of someone else. Make it about self reliance (and self like) and then you won't need to be as concerned about what others think as you know you've made the most of yourself from the inside out by assimilating attributes you admire into your own character, and therefore you're more likely to feel enabled to take control of your life rather than it being largely controlled by any perceived "authority" you don't think you possess. Increased self awareness allows you to take more responsibility for your own choices and direction in life.
I think we want to consider WHY we're compelled to behave and express in certain ways, not just the reasons because. eg I'm motivated to wear sharp tailoring as I need to be taken seriously as an entrepreneur today, or I'm wearing a short skirt because it'll make me feel sexy and the REASON FOR THAT is I want to assert or reaffirm my ability to be alluring.
Fashion is about being creatively inspirational and aspirational, so I love the idea of evolving your character to it's utmost potential - that's a true aspiration of spirit rather than a material apsiration to luxury and lifestyle. I've refined my concept of styling to use fashion as a kind of costume design, developing a character through references and themes and enabling people to feel their potential to be that person and achieve greater confidence and motivation in their own sense of self. To me that makes sense and is a far less superficial way of utilising and enjoying clothing. Not that there's anything wrong with enjoying clothes for their own sake, but I feel that fashion is perceived as frivolous in this business dominated world and have felt the pressure to make it more tangible than the whim of a mood, to intellectualise it. Now I've given my own thoughts some credibility and see my role as stylist more seriously which is enough to motivate me further to develop.
Buying new clothes equals reinvention of self; clothes can't change you per se but can encourage you to behave in different ways. Adopting such behaviour traits into your personality is what changes you as a person.
Also more likely by adhering to a style demonstrates a desire to emulate a personality or a status associated with a look eg ladylike elegance. Rather than emulate someone else adopt and display the behaviour traits of such a person so you evolve your personality itself rather than trying to be seen as someone else. Emulating someone else indicates under confidence in oneself by having to display the characteristics of someone else. Make it about self reliance (and self like) and then you won't need to be as concerned about what others think as you know you've made the most of yourself from the inside out by assimilating attributes you admire into your own character, and therefore you're more likely to feel enabled to take control of your life rather than it being largely controlled by any perceived "authority" you don't think you possess. Increased self awareness allows you to take more responsibility for your own choices and direction in life.
I think we want to consider WHY we're compelled to behave and express in certain ways, not just the reasons because. eg I'm motivated to wear sharp tailoring as I need to be taken seriously as an entrepreneur today, or I'm wearing a short skirt because it'll make me feel sexy and the REASON FOR THAT is I want to assert or reaffirm my ability to be alluring.
Fashion is about being creatively inspirational and aspirational, so I love the idea of evolving your character to it's utmost potential - that's a true aspiration of spirit rather than a material apsiration to luxury and lifestyle. I've refined my concept of styling to use fashion as a kind of costume design, developing a character through references and themes and enabling people to feel their potential to be that person and achieve greater confidence and motivation in their own sense of self. To me that makes sense and is a far less superficial way of utilising and enjoying clothing. Not that there's anything wrong with enjoying clothes for their own sake, but I feel that fashion is perceived as frivolous in this business dominated world and have felt the pressure to make it more tangible than the whim of a mood, to intellectualise it. Now I've given my own thoughts some credibility and see my role as stylist more seriously which is enough to motivate me further to develop.
Sunday, 16 August 2015
Curfew Tower visit
At the beginning of August I went to Cushendall in Antrim, Ireland to Bill Drummond's Curfew Tower (penkilnburn.com/events) which is where artists take up residency for a period throughout the year to work. This is an annual event at the beginning of August usually where people can vote on the artist they think has produced the best work in the previous year and win
the Curfew Tower Award for that year, and enjoy a drink and a curry in the kitchen and back garden.
This year was different, instead of the voting for a winner, the book The Curfew Tower Is Many Things which contains the poetry and prose written by those that were in residence in The Tower during 2014 (who were all writers of various forms) in the evening the artists gathered in the garden to read their piece from the book. During the day there was an open invitation for people to go into The Tower's cell to be recorded reading any one of the poems or stories contained in the book. These recordings will be broadcast I believe in November in Belfast in the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry, In the evening there was a great atmosphere as the daylight disappeared and people were gathering around the bonfire with tasty homemade curry and drink to listen to the readings by light of the bonfire and a mobile phone torch.
I'd missed this last year and had made up my mind ages ago that I was going this year, but left the planning till quite late on. I booked a B&B and my return ferry ticket from Troon to Larne at the end of the week before, and once booked I was really looking forward to going, especially as I've never been to Ireland before. I was pretty lackadaisical about planning transport from the ferry terminal to Cushendall thinking I would work it out when I got there. I got the train from Glasgow to Troon, and as a jammy fecker I cadged a lift in a taxi with a couple also going from the train station to the terminal who were going to visit their daughter. The ferry ride was fine on the first part of the journey, but the water was pretty choppy during the second half and there were countless weans crying at the constant movement of the boat - I lost my balance a couple of times so stayed sitting down as long as I could. As I was walking to the terminal exit I was thinking that I'd contact a friend in Belfast to see how he's doing and maybe catch up with him, when who was standing at the doors but Bill himself! You couldn't have written that scene any better! I've had little focus and motivation for the last while and hadn't even dropped him an email to let him know I was going so it was a total surprise for both. He was waiting for a friend to come off the ferry to give him a lift to Cushendall, turns out it was Johnny who I met five years ago in Stornoway the first time I met Bill when I went to one of The 17 performances at the standing stones early in the morning. I've caught up with Johnny a few times over the years cos he doesn't live that far from me (he's written a few books and does a lot of interesting travelling) and has become mates with Bill. So, jammy cadger part II, I got a lift to Cushendall with Bill, Johnny, Bill's son Flint and his mate. Fate was being damn kind to me that day!
It must have been a good half hour journey through beautiful scenery. We stopped at the Curfew Tower and I met Tracy Moberly again (Bill's photographer friend and colleague), Bill's daughter Tiger, Bill's brother John and his son and his girlfriend all from London. Bill invited me back later on to enjoy the evening with them all once I'd got my B&B sorted. Once I got myself sorted at the B&B I went for a walk (I didn't want to push my luck and intrude on the gang too much) and found a beautiful beach so had a nice wee time relaxing my mind for a while before going to hang out in the Tower.
It was amazing to feel welcomed and as it turned out there was a festival in Cushendall starting that evening with food on the street, a jazz band and a few stalls. I was chatting mainly with Tiger and Hugo (Bill's nephew) and with Johnny and a bit with Bill, enjoying a fine tasty beef burger from the local butchers stall (the butcher, Zippy, also looks after the tower) asking him about how the tower and how he found out about it, before heading off to a local pub know as Johnny Joes. There were a few folk who had travelled from Birmingham and I got talking to one of these guys in the pub and we were drinking the night away in a cosy wee Irish pub. I was chatting to Hugo as well again, and we were all chattering away about creative stuff, the usual interesting work vs commercial work. There was a guy who brought his guitar in and later we were singing songs and battering a tambourine. It was a really enjoyable traditional evening in great company and I enjoyed a few glasses of wine, when I'd originally planned not to drink anything but ach well, these things happen... I left at the back of 11 to hit the hay.
I was a wee bit hungover the next day, so had a long lie, and another walk before going back to the Tower around lunchtime on the Wednesday - again I didn't want to intrude on people who know each other really well but that was out of politeness cos I was made welcome. I enjoyed another walk along the river (it was raining, as per that part of the world but hood up and I was fine) then made myself helpful by getting messages and helping out with doing the best to fix an oversight in the book. Tiger and Tracy were making curry and scones (amazing tasty, fluffy scones) - the deal was that once someone had read their selected bit from the book their reward was a scone, jam and cream which was a pretty good deal. There were people popping in and out all day to chat and read, it was a great olde worlde atmosphere of an open kitchen door where folk were welcome to come in and chat, so easy going and friendly. A lad called George flew from London to Belfast to be there for the day and I loved talking with him.
Johnny, Flint and Oscar were away most of the day getting firewood for the bonfire, then arranged seating round it with breeze blocks and planks and just as the daylight was starting to dim the readings started. It was very inspiring to be there with such a bunch of people genuinely entertained by a simple evening around artistic work. The night had what I can only imagine as a druidic feel to it, which kicked off my motivation for a project that's been languishing with me and a friend.
I didn't get much time to talk with Bill during the two days which was a bit of a shame, but I had great conversations with other people and enjoyed the company I was in hugely. It was exactly what I needed to make me feel inspired again after being on a rollercoaster in several ways during the last year and a half. There were lovely new people to talk to, and I find it quite liberating to just talk to strangers and find out what we've got in common.
Bill had said to stop by the next morning to say bye but by the time I got there all the guys had gone fishing but at least I got a hug from Tiger. I had about an hour to wait for my bus back to the ferry terminal and, bumped into a couple of the women who had come from Birmingham and had been a bit pished the night before (it was really nice for me to have been stone cold sober, seeing drunk folk when you're not is either amusing or annoying, the night before it had been amusing) so we went to a wee cafe for a while. As it turned out, the bus never showed up due to a funeral so I got a taxi back to Larne, and really enjoyed another deep conversation with the driver about how we dislike the world the way it is, how it's so unfairly controlled and how we see how it could be. A wonderful last minute inspiration that just happened to be dealt to me.
So, back to Glasgow on a smooth ferry ride, it was a bit depressing seeing some of the unmotivated gargoyle faces but that's the situation with big cities... My motivation was totally ignited and after getting my energy back I've updated my stylist site and been on the hunt for work in and beyond Glasgow. I've got a few good contacts made in a few days which has helped with making me motivated and productive again, which is something I've missed for months. It's good to be back :)
This year was different, instead of the voting for a winner, the book The Curfew Tower Is Many Things which contains the poetry and prose written by those that were in residence in The Tower during 2014 (who were all writers of various forms) in the evening the artists gathered in the garden to read their piece from the book. During the day there was an open invitation for people to go into The Tower's cell to be recorded reading any one of the poems or stories contained in the book. These recordings will be broadcast I believe in November in Belfast in the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry, In the evening there was a great atmosphere as the daylight disappeared and people were gathering around the bonfire with tasty homemade curry and drink to listen to the readings by light of the bonfire and a mobile phone torch.
I'd missed this last year and had made up my mind ages ago that I was going this year, but left the planning till quite late on. I booked a B&B and my return ferry ticket from Troon to Larne at the end of the week before, and once booked I was really looking forward to going, especially as I've never been to Ireland before. I was pretty lackadaisical about planning transport from the ferry terminal to Cushendall thinking I would work it out when I got there. I got the train from Glasgow to Troon, and as a jammy fecker I cadged a lift in a taxi with a couple also going from the train station to the terminal who were going to visit their daughter. The ferry ride was fine on the first part of the journey, but the water was pretty choppy during the second half and there were countless weans crying at the constant movement of the boat - I lost my balance a couple of times so stayed sitting down as long as I could. As I was walking to the terminal exit I was thinking that I'd contact a friend in Belfast to see how he's doing and maybe catch up with him, when who was standing at the doors but Bill himself! You couldn't have written that scene any better! I've had little focus and motivation for the last while and hadn't even dropped him an email to let him know I was going so it was a total surprise for both. He was waiting for a friend to come off the ferry to give him a lift to Cushendall, turns out it was Johnny who I met five years ago in Stornoway the first time I met Bill when I went to one of The 17 performances at the standing stones early in the morning. I've caught up with Johnny a few times over the years cos he doesn't live that far from me (he's written a few books and does a lot of interesting travelling) and has become mates with Bill. So, jammy cadger part II, I got a lift to Cushendall with Bill, Johnny, Bill's son Flint and his mate. Fate was being damn kind to me that day!
It must have been a good half hour journey through beautiful scenery. We stopped at the Curfew Tower and I met Tracy Moberly again (Bill's photographer friend and colleague), Bill's daughter Tiger, Bill's brother John and his son and his girlfriend all from London. Bill invited me back later on to enjoy the evening with them all once I'd got my B&B sorted. Once I got myself sorted at the B&B I went for a walk (I didn't want to push my luck and intrude on the gang too much) and found a beautiful beach so had a nice wee time relaxing my mind for a while before going to hang out in the Tower.
It was amazing to feel welcomed and as it turned out there was a festival in Cushendall starting that evening with food on the street, a jazz band and a few stalls. I was chatting mainly with Tiger and Hugo (Bill's nephew) and with Johnny and a bit with Bill, enjoying a fine tasty beef burger from the local butchers stall (the butcher, Zippy, also looks after the tower) asking him about how the tower and how he found out about it, before heading off to a local pub know as Johnny Joes. There were a few folk who had travelled from Birmingham and I got talking to one of these guys in the pub and we were drinking the night away in a cosy wee Irish pub. I was chatting to Hugo as well again, and we were all chattering away about creative stuff, the usual interesting work vs commercial work. There was a guy who brought his guitar in and later we were singing songs and battering a tambourine. It was a really enjoyable traditional evening in great company and I enjoyed a few glasses of wine, when I'd originally planned not to drink anything but ach well, these things happen... I left at the back of 11 to hit the hay.
I was a wee bit hungover the next day, so had a long lie, and another walk before going back to the Tower around lunchtime on the Wednesday - again I didn't want to intrude on people who know each other really well but that was out of politeness cos I was made welcome. I enjoyed another walk along the river (it was raining, as per that part of the world but hood up and I was fine) then made myself helpful by getting messages and helping out with doing the best to fix an oversight in the book. Tiger and Tracy were making curry and scones (amazing tasty, fluffy scones) - the deal was that once someone had read their selected bit from the book their reward was a scone, jam and cream which was a pretty good deal. There were people popping in and out all day to chat and read, it was a great olde worlde atmosphere of an open kitchen door where folk were welcome to come in and chat, so easy going and friendly. A lad called George flew from London to Belfast to be there for the day and I loved talking with him.
Johnny, Flint and Oscar were away most of the day getting firewood for the bonfire, then arranged seating round it with breeze blocks and planks and just as the daylight was starting to dim the readings started. It was very inspiring to be there with such a bunch of people genuinely entertained by a simple evening around artistic work. The night had what I can only imagine as a druidic feel to it, which kicked off my motivation for a project that's been languishing with me and a friend.
I didn't get much time to talk with Bill during the two days which was a bit of a shame, but I had great conversations with other people and enjoyed the company I was in hugely. It was exactly what I needed to make me feel inspired again after being on a rollercoaster in several ways during the last year and a half. There were lovely new people to talk to, and I find it quite liberating to just talk to strangers and find out what we've got in common.
Bill had said to stop by the next morning to say bye but by the time I got there all the guys had gone fishing but at least I got a hug from Tiger. I had about an hour to wait for my bus back to the ferry terminal and, bumped into a couple of the women who had come from Birmingham and had been a bit pished the night before (it was really nice for me to have been stone cold sober, seeing drunk folk when you're not is either amusing or annoying, the night before it had been amusing) so we went to a wee cafe for a while. As it turned out, the bus never showed up due to a funeral so I got a taxi back to Larne, and really enjoyed another deep conversation with the driver about how we dislike the world the way it is, how it's so unfairly controlled and how we see how it could be. A wonderful last minute inspiration that just happened to be dealt to me.
So, back to Glasgow on a smooth ferry ride, it was a bit depressing seeing some of the unmotivated gargoyle faces but that's the situation with big cities... My motivation was totally ignited and after getting my energy back I've updated my stylist site and been on the hunt for work in and beyond Glasgow. I've got a few good contacts made in a few days which has helped with making me motivated and productive again, which is something I've missed for months. It's good to be back :)
Crazy Man
I loved you, you crazy man
How the hell could you not tell
Every day I still think through
All I wish I could redo
What did you think of my persistence
Up against your thoughtless distance
You never gave things a proper chance
Kept me jigging a futile dance.
You judged too soon, based on what
Next to nothing, not a lot
Drink and light conversation – chat
Someone can’t reveal their soul like that
I left my emotions in that place
I saw the expressions on your face
Honest, earnest, eager and kind
To out of sight out of mind.
Now we’re miles and poles apart
At least I escaped a broken heart
But that is little comfort today
When I can’t tell you what I want to say.
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