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Reading Roger Deakin’s immersing book “Wildwood, a Journey through trees” reminded me of hearing the poet Bejamin Zephaniah describe living and working in a cabin in the woods near Kärsu in Estonia. [I think I heard him talk about it on the radio but I cannot find a trace of it now.] He described the peace of working in a Walden-like cabin in the woods, disturbed only by a daily visiting bear.
Quote from an interview fragment in the Guardian
“I love to work in a tiny village called Kärsu in Estonia. I hire a cottage in the middle of a forest. There is nothing for miles around. No telephone or anything. I get up in the morning and go for a run or do some kung-fu in the woods, then jump in the sauna before settling down to write. Estonia seems very relaxed - not many people and lots of space. It has an almost Caribbean feel to it.
The only interruption occurs every lunchtime when a big black bear walks up to the house wanting to be fed. Sometimes he turns up with his woman, which can be dangerous if she’s got cubs. I give them some bread and jam and they disappear back into the trees.”
St Pancras Lock, London
Tuesday 1.30 pm
water in weir, narrowboat engine, fishing line landing on water, birds, conversation, trains
Tuesday 27 April 2010
Right next to St Pancras international station - the trains pass overhead. Not silent but can be unexpectedly quiet
St Pancras Cruising Club: http://www.stpancrascc.co.uk/
Mary Wollstonecraft’s memorial, St Pancras Old Church, London
Tuesday 1.30 pm
birds, traffic
Tuesday 27 April 2010
St Pancras Old Church is believed to have existed since 313 C.E. making it one of the oldest sites of Christian worship in England. The river Fleet runs under the churchyard.
Memorial tomb for philosophers and writers Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin (their remains are now in Bournemouth). This day was Mary’s birthday and a red tulip had been laid on the top.
There were many more people here today than when I first came in the 1980s
Old St Pancras Team: http://oldstpancrasteam.wordpress.com/old-st-pancras/
Regents Canal (by Islington tunnel), London
Wednesday 1 pm
moorhens, traffic
27 April 2010
Horses are recorded being used to pull canal boats up to 1956.
Bats are common on the canal but are affected by the lighting from new developments
Fulham Palace
Tuesday 10.30 am
birds, insects, helicopter, plane
27 April 2010
Fulham Palace was owned by the Bishops of London for over 1300 years from the 8th century until 1975. The gardens muffle the sound of traffic.
Peter Logan’s series of sculptures Drawing on the Wind use tree stumps which were victims of the 1987 hurricane.
The Solar Ring is a mobile sculpture derives its energy from sunlight to dance with the wind from sunrise to sunset. It has a solar panel at the top.
Fulham Palace: http://www.fulhampalace.org/
Peter Logan: http://www.peterlogan.co.uk/
Beverley Brook from Bishops Park
Tuesday 10 am
water lapping, oar in water, birds, traffic (quiet)
27 April 2010
Beverley Brook is a stream that runs from Richmond Park before entering the River Thames near Putney Bridge. The name may come from Beaver’s Ley, a place where beavers live.
Bishops Park, London
Tuesday 10 am
many birds, water lapping, oar in water, feet on asphalt, lawn mower, helicopters, planes, traffic (quiet)
27 April 2010