Two Wheels Good!

Perhaps, if I have the energy I will do a longer blog post about this year’s Northern Green Gathering, if not not. But for now, proof positive that I cycled all the way there and all the way back.



Observant readers (or reader would be a fine thing) of this blog will notice the Northern Green Pixie herself sipping one of her rose hip wines, one of the tastiest home made wines I have ever tasted. Herewith another picture of Gael



anyway, surprised more greenies did not cycle all the way, are Merrick and I a dying breed of cycle fetishists in the Green movement?

Splashdown Again!

I forget when I left the site of the Northern Green Gathering (aka Hippies Up North) yesterday, I think it was 1633 hhrs. Got safely back home to Old Blighty (Armley, Leeds) at about 2210. Not bad! It was a wonderful experience cycling. Glad my tyre survived the journey, had to pull two thorns out of it and fix 2 punctures before setting off, took me ages. Oh the hazards of the countryside.

I needed a holiday after Crowbar 2! I might just have had the holiday I needed, special thanks to NGG Wellbeing crew.

Camping times

Well, after Crowbar 2, I need a holiday!!!! JAH willing will put in an appearance at the northern green gathering.

Pictures from Hourne Farm

I originally planned to upload these pics with any commentry I felt moved. I hope to publish another post about what I did down in Sussex, but for now, perhaps a picture can paint a thousand words. I certainly learned that in art history. A few of the pics I am having difficulty rotating at the photobucket, so they will come later.



In the refrectory.




Contemplation of Lentil Soup



a path leading somewhere, a parable of life perhaps



The Mosaic in the yard



This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius!



A view of Sussex



The Swans



The swans from a distance



A vision of the New Jerusalem!



Behind the stable



Goethe, yer man!



Inside the Goethe Room



Musicians! And singers



The Open Space Timetable



Rise Up Singing!



Heather’s Café Choco Celtica!



Dodgy Quaker types………..



Firepit



Bluebell’s David Beckham sarong



Group Photo from the firepit



Michael’s Birthday



the last supper, or dinner



Chocolate cake



Orlando looking perplexed



DON’T MESS WITH THE CHEF!!



In the main meeting room. Who’s that fat bastard?




Everyone’s gone home



bluebell (endymion non-scriptus) again





The Library



Even a section on sex and marriage, popular subject!

Bluebell the Photographer (part 2)

A few weeks ago I wandered round the Aviaries in Armley. It was a hot sunny day and I took the following pictures.

Dodging Bombs and Bullets

Ello Fellow Creatures.

Well, I safely got to Hourne Farm and back and spent 6 days there at Community Building in Britain's "Facilitating Ourselves" gathering. It was held at Hourne Farm (or should that be Hourne Funny Farm) near Crowborough in Sussex, hence often referred to as Crowbar 2.



It was only passing through London on the way out that I kept hearing things about do not leave packages unattended due to the heightened security situation. Indeed at Victoria Coach and Underground Stations, such a reminder we got every two minutes.



But get a load of this! Boarded my coach at Victoria and the driver says that due to the heightened security thingy, we were to switch off all mobile phones, personal steroes and lap top computers. Failure to do so could result in being escorted off the coach by the Police. Driver subsequently tells us that some British Muslims from Leeds had been arrested on suspicion of terrorism, and that all our baggage would be searched by the police (some of them armed) when we arrived in Leeds. If we did arrive in Leeds that is, assuming there was no bomb on the coach….. Pretty spooky really. I did feel angry that the said terrorist suspects were described as muslims, I really do not see what difference it makes what religious profession terrorist suspects have. Or, more to the point, Al-Qaeda is a perversion of Islam, or as one muslim put it, terrorism has the same relationship to Islam as adultery has to marriage.

Anyway, as my coach was due to arrive in Leeds after the off licence was closed, I had scored a couple of cans of cider. I was going to need it. I was still in an altered state after Crowbar 2. And to be honest I still am! I am having the time of my life! Or rather I would be if I were not having spasms of that undiagnosed physical pain in my right cheek! Aghhh!!!!

So, likesay, prayed that we would arrive safely in Leeds and that our encounter with the Fuzz would be just part of life's rich tapestry. I had some anxiety that National Express terms and conditions re alcohol mite have included stuff in the bottom of the rucksack. Still, anti terroism police are not supposed to be looking for a can of cider or two.

And when we got to Leeds, nothing, no Police, armed or unarmed.

Got home, checked my Republican Mail, shut door to my room, opened cans of strongbow and wrote in my diary "Splashdown". An unforgettable trip if nothing else. More later.

Saving the Planet (Part One of an occasional series?)

“In and through true community lies the SALVATION of the world!”



Does anyone apart from me just feel it to be true?



I am running on empty, in severe pain, and of course am very depressed.

Very excited about attending, or still hoping to attend “Facilitating Ourselves” gathering, community building on the model of M Scott Peck and facilitating of such community. I think so anyway. Hold The Fort!