A time to be more IRL
'In real life' (IRL) encounters
I haven’t written for a while as I have been busy, but a ‘good busy’- doing lots of very lovely things. That doesn’t mean I haven’t had times; days sometimes when I wonder what the hell I am up to- do I need to go and get a ‘proper’ job, bring some more regular income in? Then I fall into the despair of realisation that I am probably totally unemployable nowadays, which in a really weird way after a bit of reflection, mostly cheers me up! I guess these first few months of the year are always pretty grey and a low mood is almost to be expected at some point, so I planned in a few really lovely ‘in real life’, (IRL) events to look forward to during this time.
Liz Overs and David Tomlins playing music from the album ‘Nightjar’ at our home last weekend. Here is a link to the album- have a listen, it’s excellent.
The first thing I did before the end of last year was to plan an ‘at home concert’ for early Spring with Liz Overs and ‘her’ guitarist David Tomlins. They came last weekend into our small seaside home and performed a beautiful set of songs- we managed to get 23 chairs into a fairly small room, added a complimentary drink and invited friends and family. It was a great success and an experience we will certainly repeat. I always think that listening to live music is such a treat- it fills me up and feeds my soul. I feel such gratitude for knowing and getting to know artists/creators of all types- musicians, dancers, singers, craftspeople, painters and more. What they can offer to the world at this time is immense and essential. I saw a good post today on Instagram about Human Integrity and our ability to create- here are a couple of screenshots from it. There is so much Artificial Intelligence (AI) information around at the moment it is good to have its counterpoint explained so well.
I hope the writer of the post doesn’t mind me sharing it in this way, but not everyone is on Instagram and I believe these words are very important.
Humans have always made/created. It is a way to express and to connect with others; to share a thought, story or experience. Today I went with my dad to The Beaney in Canterbury to a ‘Finds Identification Day’, we took 2 finds- one that he had found in his garden in Tankerton and another which I had found on the beach at Seasalter.
His artefact was hand made from clay and impressed with marks- it looked like a form of ‘cuneiform’, which is the earliest decipherable written language, originating from Mesopotamia around 3200-3500BC. If it is to be proved as this, (it has to go to the British Museum next) then, how it got into his garden is a massive mystery in itself!
This is the clay artefact being held and examined by one of the two specialist archaeologists on call at The Beaney in Canterbury as part of the ‘Finds Identification Day’.
Someone had made this artefact thousands of years ago and we are holding it today looking at it with curiosity and awe- what a wonderful thing to gift down the centuries! So, to reiterate- making, recording, telling stories and so much more is what makes us human. I often see a newly acquired sense of connection from participants on my Dwellbeing retreats, when they put paint to paper and record what they are experiencing, for example observing the colours of the season, in nature- it gives me joy. I know it gives them a sense of fulfilment, connection and understanding too. We are made to create. I have a Spring Dwellbeing mini-retreat booked for Wednesday next week at Stream Walk Community Garden in Whitstable and I look forward to seeing people create then. It is on the 4th of March and runs from 11-1pm. £15pp. Contact me here on this link if you are interested- there are some places left atm.
This is a photo of some Blackthorn blossom that I saw ‘glowing’ along the hedge line at Stream Walk Community Garden yesterday when I checked the venue.
I recently ran a ‘Dwellbeing at Home’ session too, my first of hopefully many to come. It was a rainy old day, to be honest there has been a lot of them recently but we had a really nice, relaxed nurturing time in the warm. It focussed on the season, our natural world and our joy at creating something together. Do let me know if this is something you would like to experience- if you gather a group of likeminded souls together at your home, I can come to you- all materials are included in the price of £20pp. I will just need a table and chairs for us to sit at. Let yourself relax and be in the moment, learning skills that can be enjoyed and practiced in the future- cosiness and creativity go well together.
A photograph capturing the enjoyable creative activity at my last ‘Dwellbeing at Home’ session. It is a great way to spend time with friends- contact me here for more details.
I also have an online Dwellbeing group that starts on the 1st of March- ‘How to Dwell Well- in Spring’. This is a seasonal membership for ‘Slow & Intentional Living’.
How to Dwell Well is designed to help you live in rhythm with the time of year, offering thoughtful guidance, self-care inspiration, and a sense of community - all within a private Facebook group. The Spring edition is about gently waking up, finding focus, and making the most of the unfolding months with intention and care. It costs £40 per month and has a lot to offer- use the link here to read all about it.
This is the find that I took along to the ‘finds day’ at the Beaney. (Stamp just for scale)
And, lastly- just in case you were interested to know what I had taken to the Beaney today it was this, an object I found on Seasalter Beach at the end of January. I was looking down searching the ground for a polished flint hand axe- one day I will find one, it is my dream! I saw a flint looking coloured object, not an axe, but an unusual shape, irregular compared to the cockle and mussel shells it was near. I picked it up and felt its weight- it was heavier than I expected and I could see immediately it was either a bone or tooth, not just any old stone. Today it was suggested by the archaeologists that it was a tooth from the Pleistocene era, ‘the geological epoch that lasted from 2.58 million to 11,700 years ago ‘, (AI is good for this info!) and either a cow or a horses’ molar. They ruled out Hippo, but it could have been from another animal in that era- the Ice age! The only way to really prove the age is to have it radio carbon dated and that would cost £300, so I think I will just believe it is from a horse as I used to be obsessed by horses as a child- they really are wonderful creatures.
A little posy of flowers on display for our ‘home concert’. The Spring display included Snowdrops, Cherry Plum blossom, Myrtle and Viburnum- it smelt gorgeous too.
I am ‘doing’ a Dwellbeing Walk through the woods at Painters Forstal, near Faversham next Friday- the 6th of March, there will be Snowdrops galore then- click here for link.
Oh and a Netwalk is planned for Friday the 13th of March, priced at just £5pp it is a great way to meet people and have a gentle breath of fresh air before the weekend starts proper. We meet at 11am outside The Marine Hotel in Tankerton. All welcome!