In and out with the tide - December 11
Breathing in the sea air
Castles made of sand
Taking a break up in Norfolk, I've had a chance to get down to the sea and enjoy its vibrant energy in the wilder parts of the coast. The tide was going out, leaving a shimmering sand behind. Sometimes I think of Barkis "going out with the tide" in Dickens' David Copperfield, where inhabitants of old Norfolk believed people died when the tide went out, which reminds me of the wonderful quote from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar "There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune". Some of us feel that when the tide's about to turn we get a hint of a quickening of the spirit.
In recent years at low tide off the Norfolk coast the extraordinary ancient site of Seahenge re-emerged. My Dad's painting of it here expresses its intrinsic magic and link to the raw power of the sea. For the ancients this cousin of Stonehenge was dedicated to the wonder of death and rebirth.
Of course at this time of year, Yuletide, there's a sense of out with the old and in with the new. Before you know it, it'll be 2012 with a plethora of New Year resolutions, total world domination once you've recovered from that glut of champagne and having been snowed under with too many mince pies.
When the New Year's in I'll be looking forward to all the shows we'll be doing in Feb along with several projects that I'm equally excited about - to be revealed soon...
New Year greetings everyone, and may all your drums come true!
Seahenge by Steve's Dad, Peter Hackett
