Lemon Tree

Waiting for flight (MAN to BFS). Queuing to get through secondary security to then queue to go through tertiary security to then board. Love it. 😉

Ooow. Off to Armoy Road Races this weekend; flag marshalling, catching up with friends. Plans have changed (was supposed to be on ferry last night), have found myself happy to be mooching around an airport. I like airports (hospitals too); is it the anonymous, utilitarian, homogenised, space?

The first time Charlie Chaplin used his voice in a film, he wielded it to forcefully condemn the rising forces of fascism around the globe.

Will we listen to his words today?

Strategic Spatial Energy Planning (SSEP) | National Energy System Operatorlogo--facebook The SSEP will assess the best location for electricity generation and the storage and transportation of electricity and hydrogen, speeding up and supporting the country’s move to clean, affordable and...

DEFRA is currently consulting on the Land Use Framework (the consultation's a beast) then next year NESO is to produce a Strategic Spatial Energy Plan www.neso.energy/what-we-do/s...

The NESO have published their (now approved) methodology for the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP).

As a reminder, the SSEP is a strategic blueprint for GB's energy system - an important document planning much of what will be delivered.

Details 👇

Time to get out the all time great;

Steak n Cheese Pie Toastie

(note the spinach, I'm not a heathen).

Picture of Sport drinks bottles, delivered weekly to door by ute. The drink, highly coloured fizzy 'pop' made popular in 80s in New Zealand. My sister and I only allowed it on special occasions - so mandatory order for our birthday dinners - friends were our local hook-up on sunny childhood days. ☀️💕

"Mānawatia a Matariki"

Celebrating Maori New Year, back home in New Zealand. Marking the rising of the Matariki star cluster in the winter sky. While here, in UK, we welcome summer solstice.

End.

Of tie-dyed muslin, and neon pineapple Sport. Cricket commentary echoes from distant TVs. I can smell all this in the still morning; air growing heavy with a day building and the past filling easy spaces.
3/

The thwack of street tennis, sunscreen smudges, book reading under shadey tree. Dad's paint-splattered towelling bucket hat, Mum's maroon Mirage in the drive.
2/

This morning, waking up to a day already well-begun, warm and lazy. Smelling the yellowed grass, still crisp, dew-less. Reminds me of home... and days, gifting such promise: of garden sprinklers whisking the air, sun-bleached beach towels, murmured giggles, ladybird landings... 1/

The bird dance for the ages

Thank you for posting, it's... mesmerising.

The waves crash with timeless rhythm along the rugged coast of Inis Meáin, #Ireland.
Part of the Aran #Islands, Inis Meáin is known for its wild Atlantic beauty, traditional stone walls, and deep connection to #Irish heritage.
[Damien Marshall]

'Typo' is short for "topographical error."

Because it was dark I did not see the clouds on the horizon and at the time when the moon was supposed to appear, nothing happened. Soon, though, there was a glimmer of light growing stronger and stronger, until it turned into what I call the Aardvark Moon. Shot over Lake Ontario.

Just because it is Tuesday I will post a shot of the extremely rare "Aardvark Moon"! What I went out for was an image of a full moon rising with reflections on Lake Ontario. I wasn't expecting this. More details on Alt text #photography #EastCoastKin

With all the chaos that’s going on around us, we needs some baby goats in our lives. Enjoy!

Tweet from @A_B_morgan: My seven-year-old asked for a dictionary this week. We went to the bookshop today to buy one. She walked home hugging it, pausing every so often to look up a word, grinning as though she had been given a book of spells, the key to wonders. Merriam-Webster QT: The kids are alright.

You had us at "a book of spells, the key to wonders."

Then many summers later, one of those brothers and I watching True Romance, settled in under his duvet on the sofa after a midnight walk to the beach.

Thank you Val Kilmer. I am thankful for the memories you helped create. 💕

End

Years earlier another treasured memory, late-night watching Top Secret! (rental VHS) with two bonded brothers who were the very best of our world. A downstairs den. Spontaneous laughter, trying to shhhush each other, only to set ourselves off again collapsing into stifled giggles.

4/

At the same movie my best friend - polar opposite to me - who had watched Lost Boys with me so often, commented "Hey, is this a Doors song?" to People Are Strange and I really did love her in that moment of naive discovery.

3/

Once wonderfully in love with boy who looked like Jim Morrison; his quiet support rescued me as he reciprocated from distance. He had the same poetry in his heart and nomadic soul, like Morrison. We went to The Doors movie as a grp of friends. Remember thinking how very beautiful they both were. 2/

Seeing the sad news of Val Kilmer's death has made me smile, weirdly. At some precious memories.

And so I grieve a little. For moments in time, gifted by his gifts. 💕

1/

Punch

And I wld go again. Because feeling those Feelings, being so close to the journey is important. Knowing this is a true story, and having my own connection to a similar one - that ended very differently - am glad to have it's tendrils still wisping around my heart.
www.youngvic.org/whats-on/punch

It felt a little rushed? uneven? towards the end, for our performance - but how do you box-up All That into one single play?

The outstanding David Shield's Jacob, though. Breath-taking moments of precision. His transition from pill-popping teen to lived-experience new dad, utterly mesmerising.

The play though. Fuck. Is still sitting with me. Days later. Have carried residual Feels away back up north with me. Punch. Punch-me-in-the-guts-and-make-me-cry kind of theatre. More than I had expected, more unpolished in the playing of it. Feeling improvised in it's realness. Not slick, crafted.

Tuesday, down to Londinium for some theeeataah daaaarhling. Young Vic is unique theatre experience for those only used to formal grand victorian spaces. This sml enveloping, casual, 'hip' venue: edgey-buzz be-seen botanics gin-bar outside. Inside a gentle, friendly, safe-space, performance womb.

Had cinema to ourselves; embraced it, singing, applauding - actively fully-emersed, appreciating phenomenal tribute to one of the few voices that instantly rips at my ribcage. Bawled, too. Beautiful. A crafted study; Davies knows her intimately: from voice to finger-picking, head-twists to sarcasm.

First, finally saw A Night with Janis Joplin. And goodness. Missed live performances at Sadlers, so keen to try national screening. Rarely go to movies so extra intrigue. It was awesome... 👇🏼

Was blessed with busy week, after too many false starts this year; missed meetings with friends, sacking off apts that seemed too far or too exposing. Too far from my front door. Required a mirror. Neither of which comes without challenge these days.

Anyhoo! Did stuff this week. And it was good!