Have a great Summer break. 

Shetland workshops

We have just confirmed the next introductory workshops in Hillswick, Shetland for Saturday 28th October, and another session either the day before or after that. More details in about a week. If any students want to come up and assist, they are welcome to but need to get there under their own steam. There is room outside the venue for camper vans (all but one of the 7 folks so far interested in coming along have vans!) It may also be possible to stay at the venue. I will post more soon. I am flying from home via Edinburgh but in the future may be able to tag Shetland on after teaching in Aberdeenshire.

121s this summer

I am available for 121s at home this summer on various days, which I will list here as they become available. So far confirmed free dates are 5-13 August. Get in touch if you'd like to come over.

Day Seven

What a fantastic week. Well done to all the Short Form folks who did the whole week, and to everyone who travelled far to come - thankyou! Rest well, keep a bit of T'ai Chi going every day to keep the post- workshop blues at bay. I'd also like to say thanks for all the help with food, cleaning and tidying that happened; it makes my job so much easier. I am heading off to hand over keys and pick up last bits shortly, a bit late due to oversleeping. Love and best wishes to all. Have a great summer.

Guest teacher Pax: specialising in perfect comic timing and sensitivity to energy. 

Study groups yesterday: sword, wabu, dragon walk, short form, salutations. 

A room full of folks doing connecting hands. 

Final day of workshop

It's the last day today and we'll be looking at whatever T'ai Chi questions and requests folks have.

Please help us tonight by taking any rubbish or recycling home if you are travelling by car. Also we will all pack some food to take home so there's not too much left to sort tomorrow. 

Clean up is 10.30am-12 noon on Saturday. It won't be hard but any help is always appreciated. The Scouts will be back from camp with wet tents at 1pm, I hear. 

Thanks to all for delicious food and all your help with cleaning and provisions. See you later!

Day Six

We may have been tired, we may have been achey, but we all really went for it!

What a great atmosphere, the most folks we ever had come along on say six. 

My Mum's cake helped. 

Sword form.

Connecting. 

Day Five

Virally spirally. 

Amazing sunset.

Day Four

Lots of uprooting and joining with slipping ward-offs. Another full day with great work by all. 

The last two mornings I have been working on tiny illustrations on parchment for the next Dark Mountain book. I highly recommend a good sleep followed by 3 hours drawing then 6 hours T'ai Chi, as a great way off life. Just need to work out how to get 20 delicious dishes delivered free every day...

Next Plaistow class

Will be 22nd September. Let me know if you'd like to come along.

Cold Mountain by Han-shan

Do you have the poems of Han-shan in your house?

They're better for you than sutra-reading!

Write them out and paste them on a screen

Where you can glance them over from time to time. 

Poem 100 in the Cape Edition translated by Burton Watson. 

After four days' T'ai Chi

Here I sit drinking ginger wine

Reading Han-shan's 'Cold Mountain'.

My boat isn't going anywhere.

The Seven Stars are astern, 

Soon it's time to sleep;

And dreaming me can play

As the rat patrols the gunwales. 

Day Three

A great day with some energetic work. I slept like a log.

Working on The Dance

Connecting hands.

Day Two

Thanks to all who came for a busy and rewarding day. See you today...

Day One

Can't believe it was only day one yesterday! Already figure-of-eighting and 'attracting to emptiness'. Who knows what the week will bring? So many folks and their good energy. Here's a few pucs so far.

Mark demonstrating open/close uproots. 

Short Form

Saying 'chi'. 

See you later today!

Warmed-up

We warmed-up the venue with knocking and talu. So nice to be back. See you shortly.

Greetings

I am passing on love and greetings from Scott in Aberdeenshire and Ean (who is in Bury St Edmonds just now), who both can't be with us at the workshop this year.

Gelato

There's a new cafe called Canbury Secret in the park by the bandstand which is open til 6.30pm most days. They have gelato, snacks and coffees. In thw interest of research I had a gelato on my way here. Very nice! 

Just cleaning and preparing the venue. 

Travel this week

If travelling by public transport to the workshop check each day on tfl.gov.uk as there are planned engineering works. If using trains it'll be worth checking those too.

Clothes for workshop

Some folks had asked what to wear for the workshop, and for classes in general. Mark no longer insists upon a plain black uniform (it used to be obligatory after finishing the Short Form). However a few guidelines might be useful. When teaching, it's really helpful to be able to see the whole room in a glance and to take in how the students are moving as one. One person in shocking pink and orange can really spoil that (it was me...)

Ideally for class wear loose comfy clothing in plain-ish, not too bright colours, but definitely avoid high contrast patterns, as this can cause some people to get migraine headaches. That would be a cruel way to 'win' at push hands...

Workshop weather

Thank goodness for a spacious light venue with a good roof... the Met Office says warm temperatures with sunshine and showers all week. Seems it'll be just like the last two years.

Coat on... coat off...

Books

I am just prpearing my last things to take to the car for the workshop. I will bring my essential T'ai Chi and Taoist books for students to peruse at the venue during breaks. Since I sold all my non-essentilas last year, what's left are gems.

There are so many books I would still love to have, but it will have to wait until there is a surplus of both cash and shelf space. See you tonight for stepping partnerwork. 

Delicious sourdough from a friend... though the slices have a sad face :(

Cheer up, the workshop starts tomorrow!

Leander Sea Scout entrance

Please come to the entrance from Albany Mews, not from the riverside path / Lower Ham Rd. As in the last two years, we have been asked to only use the Albany Mews entrance.

I am not sure of parking arrangements yet. Please come by public transport if possible. There are a couple of parking spaces at the venue, and Mark will need one daily. 

Next Plaistow date

The next Plaistow date will be in September rather than as planned in August. Watch this space for details later in the month.

Last class of term was last night. Thanks to Mark for a great session. 

Psychoyogi gig

Friday evening

Stepping partnerwork starts at 7pm and I will be at the cenue from 5pm for gose who want to settle in a little earlier. You can come and help me set up, sweep or just drink tea.

Evening sessions from Saturday start at 6.30pm. 

Design better

As someone who has spent a great deal of time working on art or craft projects, finding ways to make something work, fit, feel or look better, it still amazes me how little details can ruin an otherwise great design. These are often not what people would call design issues at all, as they often stem from manufacturing, but looking at an object and its use holistically, I would say that they are failures to see things through to the end. Producers and makers who attend even to the small details gain loyal customers. Sitting waiting for my tea to brew (in a mug) this morning, here are a few bug bears, and - yes - most relate to T'ai Chi gear!

Shoe brands changing their sizes and widths arbitrarily - for instance the new Vivo Barefoot styles are thinner than previously, crazy, as their USP is wider shoes. 

Otherwise great clothes with tickly, scratchy labels that rub against your bare skin and can't be removed without ruining the seam stitching. Most brands fail to attend to this detail and go for embellished itchy labels right against your skin. 

Tea pots which drip from the spout. Hundreds of years of British tea drinking and still most pots drip. Please let me know if you find one that doesn't! The only one I know not to drip is my small handmade one from Findrorn pottery. They drip in Ireland too... but the tea is great. 

Chinese made T'ai Chi weapons of the last decade. Variable quality, randomly interchanged materials and still somewhat floppy when supposedly rigid. They used to be so good! Quality control is sorely lacking, especially with Long Quan gear. They are resting on their laurels...

Womens outdoor gear. Apparently women like to stand out violently against the landscape in bright hues and never need to put anything in big pockets. If I want roomy hard-wearing trousers, well-made garments or a forest friendly colour, it seems I must buy men's gear. 

I expect you could add many more, do let me know. An occasional gripe keeps the doctor away, they say. These are all simple design issues, or caused by shoddiness in sizing, materials or manufacture. Perhaps things will improve. This small blog post is my way of saying to the makers - make things better!

Weather for the workshop

As for the last two years we have a forecast for mostly sunny or overcast warm weather with some showers of rain. There may also be a thunder storm on Sunday morning, we had a huge one here last night. Luckily the venue has good ventilation, a water-tight roof and lots of light. We can get outside if weather allows. So as advice to those travelling: as for most trips in the UK, pack for all types of weather!

I am so looking forward to seeing you all. Do get in touch if you'd like to stay at the venue or need any other help. 

Food rota for Summer Intensive

We'll use our usual system which really seems to work to gather food for our late afternoon meal break each day.

It would be great if everyone coming along on Saturday could bring a little food to share. Bring what you like to eat and share. 

On Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday please bring food if you were born in an even numbered year. 

On Monday, Wednesday and Friday please bring food if you were born on an odd numbered year. 

Occasionaly we may need extra milk, tea or other kitchen essentials too. Keep an eye on supplies if you know you're shopping, it really helps keep things running smoothly. Thanks!

Summer Intensive starts on Saturday

I am really looking forward to greeting all who are coming along.

Details are on this blog. If there's any way I can help, let me know. 

Last class of term in London tomorrow

Tuesday this week is the last day of term. The workshop warms up with stepping partnerwork in Friday night, come if you have done talu or wabu, or even the dance.

I am freshly back from Ireland where we had a heat wave. I'll get a chance to blog more later this week. I was teaching friends and their families to make lots of crafts, and also reconnecting with a dear friend who I last saw 24 years ago. What an amazing week. Ireland really is as green and beautiful as the 'Emerald Isle' brag suggests. It's also the only other place I can go where the cups of tea are strong, delicious and regular. 

Some of the crafts we were making. The kids made impromptu wands from willow and I wrapped the handles in some leather we had left over. They wore capes whilst making them. Made me want to dress up for fun more... 

The view this morning from the hut I was staying in. 

Wear your shadow like a scarf. 

-Martin Shaw. 

No Thursday class next week

The last Thursday class this term will be on 13th July to allow Mark a day off to prepare for the summer intensive.  

The last Tuesday class will be on 18th. 

Mark and I will look at the registers next week and make sure no-one has paid fees for classes they haven't had. 

Summer workshop fees

Just a quick reminder that money, or lack thereof, should never be a reason not to come along. Concessions are available both at classes and the Summer and Autumn workshops to regular students. (This does not apply to Sunday 3 hour workshops as they are extras and often require expensive hall hire.) Reduced rates are not offered regarding reaching a certain age or on receipt of specific state benefits, but instead based on personal requirements. If class or workshops are beyond your means, just let Mark or myself know and we can offer concession rates, very reduced fees and plenty of time to make payments in instalments, etc.

Sword yesterday

Thanks to all who came for a lively outdoor sword session yesterday in the shady wooded glade. We were blessed by butterflies playing above us and landing on us as well as our swords (see photo- look at sword guard for a sitting Red Admiral). I'll write a bit more about that when it's not nearly midlnight. What a great session, thanks to Mark for his teaching.

'Balancing coins' warm up. 

Red Admiral butterfly rests upon sword. (new posture)

Practising Form. 

T'ai Chi Manuals - English translations

A T'ai Chi friend in Shetland put me on to this great resource: https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com
Enjoy.

Homeward bound

At our T'ai Chi intro last night we raised £42 for the Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary, temporary home of this beuatiful rescued baby seal above. Thanks to all those who came along for a busy, lively and lovely evening of sticking, Chi Gung and delicious soup (in that order). Seems like there's a plan to get me back to teach T'ai Chi, so watch this space. Thanks so much to Geoff Jukes, an old student of John Kells' from many years ago, for inviting us to stay and organising the evening. 

Tomorrow I head home and will see you at Sword on Sunday. I hear it's a lot hotter than the 12 deg C I have become accustomed to in Shetland. 

Sword on Sunday

2-5pm at the venue mear Hampton Court. Get in touch for details. Tea provided.

Shetland

Shetland has been a wonderful discovery. I head back to Aberdeen tomorrow then home on Saturday. This evening I taught a taster class in Hillswick for a dozen or so local friends of my host. I plan to be back some time this year and perhaps have something like the study group in Sweden. Anyway, a lovely time was had by all, great sticking and Five Elements chi gung followed by tea, plus soup with bread and cheese. Thanks to Geoff for hosting us. Now off to bed, not quite dark yet at 11.40pm. 

Puffins

Puffins! Shetland is wonderful. 

Thanks

Thanks to all for a wonderful last weekend of the school year up here in Aberdeenshire. Welcome back to old timers too! We had a great day yesterday out in the sunshine at Scott's despite me suffering the worst hayfever I have ever known.

Today saw some excellent partnerwork and applications too. Thanks again for all your hard work and good energy. 

Today's venue

This afternoon's session will be at Scott's place near Inverurie. See you later!