T'ai Chi at the V&A museum

I will be teaching an introduction to T'ai Chi in the incredible Raphael galleries at the Victoria and Albert Museum on Saturday 18th November at 9am. Details here. It is suitable for complete beginners and includes a special tour of the collections as well as a hot drink after the class. Come and join me for a great way to start the weekend. If it goes well, this may become more regular, feel free to tell non-T'ai Chi friends, maybe they'll become T'ai Chi folks...

Aberdeenshire workshop pics at last

Wow, that was a mammoth Photoshop session cropping pictures... Here are some of my faves, thanks to all who came along.

demonstrating wabu - very good fun

slap - what happens when I don't move my feet 

uprooting a push using 'the bees' knees'

staff 4 jabs and sword practice

final day group pic, Anneke missing

4 waist turn single pushing hands

wabu

Weapons study in London next week

Tuesday 7th and Thursday 9th. See you there. Regular beginners class continues as usual during session.

Aberdeenshire Thursdays

Here's the rota for the final block of Thursday sessions for this year. As usual we'll be in the Small Hall 7-9pm and Large Hall 9-10pm at Monymusk except where stated. The price is £28 for 8 weeks or £5/week.

26-Oct     Sandy   
02-Nov    Janet   
09-Nov    Davina    8-10 only, Small Hall
16-Nov    Marie   
23-Nov    Paolo     Bar area 7-9pm, Main Hall 9-10pm
30-Nov    Scott   
07-Dec    Sandy      8-10 only, Small Hall
14-Dec    Davina     8-10 only, Small Hall

The suggested date to restart after the winter break is 11th January. Let me know if you'd prefer to start on the 4th.

If you can't make the session that you're due to lead then please contact someone on the list to arrange a swap.

tiny paintings

I have spent the evening sorting pictures for this blog from the workshops of the last week or so both in Aberdeenshire and in Shetland. But it's very late, and some still need cropping so I will continue in the morning. This afternoon a parcel arrived and I was delighted to receive my copies of Dark Mountain 12 'Sanctum', a wonderful book which I have had the honour of illustrating, along with several others. I have made 10 tiny paintings using only natural materials, on deerskin parchment made by Thomas Keyes from creatures accidentally killed on the roads. More about the book, and the Sanctum project as a whole here.

The books are available here.

The incredible cover by Thomas Keyes

Persephone, one of the 10 windows I painted for the texts.

H is for Hawk

Thanks to Mary for recommending this beautiful programme about a woman training a goshawk. (Although "training" implies something very different from the process that unfolds: practising stillness and gradually developing a connection & communication with a non-human being).

It's available here on iplayer for another few weeks. The original book about training her previous hawk whilst living through a period of grief is well worth a read.

very gingerly

'The way I keep in touch with the world is very gingerly, because the world touches too hard.'

Don Van Vliet (Captain Beefheart) in Anton Corbijn's superb short film about him 'Some Yoyo Stuff'.  What an amazing man, artist, musician, human being he was.

I am here in Shetland. A nice small group came for T'ai Chi last night here at The Weaving Shed Gallery, and we will have another session today, storms permitting. But mainly it has been my great pleasure to spend time relaxing in such a wild beautiful place, hanging out with Geoff Jukes, who is a fantastic person, and talk about the Dharma, the Tao and swap stories from life. Also we just watched the great short documentary I have quoted from above. I am slowly getting back to blogging and doing admin, but the phrase resonated with me so, as it is also how I feel about the world. Workshop pics soo I hope... Where ever you are reading this, I hope you are well.

No Turriff class tonight

There's no class tonight. Term restarts 6:30pm Monday 30th October.

The T'ai Chi Centre 13th annual weeklong workshop

In 2018 the workshop will be at the same venue as this year, and the dates are below. The original Petersham scout-hut-in-an-enchanted-field venue still have not rebuilt or refurbished their hut, so it is still a bit small and dark for times when it is raining, and we'd need to be indoors. I am mindful that we had two wonderful years there under the trees, with barely a drop of rain. However, bar winning the lottery and donating half of it to build a new hut, (which I would happily do by the way!), I think we can be happy at Kingston Leander Sea Scouts place again. I will put it on the link soon, but I am still knee deep in T'ai Chi and art admin for the next week or two, as to be honest, I may have neglected this for a month or more...

Workshop dates 2018: 2-9.30pm daily, 21st-27th July, optional session 20th, 7-10pm.

London classes resume this week

See you at class on Tuesday 24th. Thursday 26th will also run. Classes will continue until Winter break, dates TBC.

Here's a lovely picture of Johan doing T'ai Chi on holiday in Spain...
Thanks Johan, see you in December in Gothenburg.

Beginners T'ai Chi in Shetland next weekend

I will be teaching introductory workshops in Shetland on Friday 27th October 7-8pm and Saturday 28th October 3-4pm at The Weaving Shed Gallery, Hillswick, next door to the wildlife sanctuary.
All are welcome, just wear loose comfortable clothes and soft shoes or trainers. Cost £10 per session concessions available. No experience necessary. There will be tea and a chance to chat and ask questions after each session. if there is demand, we may set up regular workshops and a practice group.

Mark's London classes resume next week

Thanks to Mark for a great workshop in Aberdeenshire. There were bees' knees and cats' whiskers as well as the only T'ai Chi dog I know. I will try and get some pictures up here tonight when I get home from work. London classes in Tooting and Streatham resume next week. See you there!

Plaistow class tomorrow

I am teaching at Plaistow 7-9pm tomorrow, all students who have finished Short Form are welcome. Get in touch for address details.

Aberdeenshire workshops 2018 - revised dates

Here are the confirmed dates for next years workshops in Aberdeenshire with Caroline:

12-14 January
9-11 February
9-11 March
13-15 April
11-13 May Cancelled
8-10 June  now 1-3 June
6-8 July
14-16 September
9-11 November
7-9 December

The October workshop with Mark at Fetternear will be 13-15 October with a weapons session on Friday 12th.

No Turriff class tonight

There's no class tonight. Term restarts 6:30pm Monday 30th October.

No Turriff class 16th & 23rd October

There will be no Turriff classes during the school holidays i.e. 16th and 23rd October. The term will restart on Monday 30th October 6:30pm at the Gateway Centre.  It's still possible for new students / total beginners to join the class then.

beyond words

Been almost impossible to write this week since returning from the beautiful country Romania. But I can manage a few lines and pictures before I head north to delve into T'ai Chi with you all at Mark's annual Aberdeenshire workshop.

Camping here at 900m altitude on the final nights

Horse drawn wagons carried our gear as we arrived in the woods.

Black, red and white pigments, all natural, under the trees.

Snow began to fall as we returned from our solo day in the wild.

Ah home now.

Captions when language returns if it ever does, (it did!)

I did 4 hours T'ai Chi with a spruce tree and learned a great deal about posture, correct distance and energy. I also did the warm ups to warm up, see final picture and you'll know why.

Aberdeenshire Autumn Intensive 14-16 October

It's almost time for this year's Autumn Intensive in Aberdeenshire with Master Mark Raudva. 

Sessions are 2-5pm and 6:30-9:30pm Saturday 14th to Monday 16th October at Fetternear Hall.

Come from the Saturday afternoon and stay for as many sessions as you can. The price is £44 per day or £22 per half day session, concession prices are £24 / £12 for those who feel they cannot afford this. We all bring a little food to share in the break.

We'll be warming up the hall with a Weapons session 7-10pm on Friday 13th.  Please bring any spare weapons as we may also have the opportunity to practise in the breaks over the weekend.

 

Great River and T'ai Centre students will be very welcome - a wonderful opportunity to share great teaching in the company of fellow students in a beautiful rural location. 

 

For visitors there may still be accomodation available with local students from £5 per night and there are also good B&Bs and hotels in the area. Please get in touch with me if you need more information, somewhere to stay or any other help with travel, things to do & see in the area, ...

The Secret Books

I am heading out to a bookshop today to buy my classmate Marcel Theroux's new book 'The Secret Books'. Here's a great short interview with him about it, available for the next 6 days.

His last two books 'Strange Bodies' and the superb 'Far North' are two of my favourite novels of the millennium so far. Christmas gifts sorted: buy all three and get them signed at class...

Marcel's most recent 'Unreported World' aired this week on Channel 4 and is available on catch up.

121s with Mark in Aberdeenshire

There are 2 121 slots available between 17-19 October in Aberdeenshire, when Mark is up there on his annual teaching trip. Please get in touch if you would like one.

Late night on National Poetry Day

Just back from a long day working, wondering which poems to put here. There are so many possible choices since I put aside my childish aversion to poetry ( I always favoured prose, or lyrics serving music). Now, some of my best friends are poets :) I arrived late to the poetry party, and Rumi, (in translated versions by Coleman Barks) was a gateway drug. So here's a couple of favourites,

We don't need wine to get drunk,
or instruments and singing to feel ecstatic.
No poets, no leaders, no songs,
yet we jump around totally wild.

No better love than love with no object,
no more satisfying work than work with no purpose.
If you could give up tricks and cleverness,
that would be the cleverest trick!

Roger McGough's 'First Day At School' was probably the first poem I ever memorised, and 'The Lesson' by Michael Rosen probably the second, when I was about 8 years old. We learned many psalms at Sunday School, (and goodness knows how many hundreds of Victorian hymn lyrics still clutter my skull, along with descant parts for most carols.) More recently, I have come across much excellent poetry in the Dark Mountain books, and have discovered some wonderful writers, but I am still a novice. So if you have a particular favourite, please share it with me.

She's got gall

Yeah I have, actually,

Last week I found these on a young oak tree near here, two kinds of oak gall, perfect for making oak gall ink. I will go back and harvest more this weekend, as once the larvae have hatched no animal is hurt to gather them, and it doesn't damage the tree either. If you see any on your travels, please do pick them for me. 

Next week I'll be in  the wilds of Romania teaching some ancient art techniques and an introduction to the alchemical colours of black, white and red, here. That means I won't be at class to help with weapons next week, so please help out if need be, and bear with Mark if the register suffers... I also have to work the following week, 10th October, when new term fees are due, so feel free to wait until we are all back on 24th October. Thanks for your understanding. Wish me luck with the wolves and the bears.

No London classes during Aberdeenshire workshop week

There will be no Tuesday or Thursday class in London on 17th and 19th October. Classes will resume as normal the following week.

suppliers

Here are all the links and suppliers for the updated website, now on the blog too for ease of access.
Suppliers:
Good Bokken and tsuba (guard) supplier Nine Circles.
Very fine authentic bokkens from Japan, formerly called Bokken Shop.
Good wooden Swords from Nine Circles
Fine swords like Marli, David and Damien's are available from The Knight Shop.

Cloth, rubber or plastic soled traditional T'ai Chi slippers are best bought from various stores in China Town, London, now that Shaolin Way has closed down. Many of the small shops sell them cheaply and you can try them on first, as sizes can vary.

Feiyue shoes, collapsible swords and other great T'ai Chi supplies can be found at http://www.taichifinder.co.uk/products

I wear and recommend Vivo Barefoot shoes for T'ai Chi as they have thin waterproof soles, allow your feet to spread and last really well. Several other students also wear them and we all find them really comfortable and stable. They are not cheap, but as they sorted out my previously sore feet, I am inclined towards spending money on a good product.

We recently found these rubber soled T'ai Chi shoes on amazon, which are sturdier than normal and nicely broad at the toes.

We do not currently have a regular or reliable supplier of rattan or wooden staffs, metal or wooden swords or metal sabres. Please let me know if you find good suppliers so we can list them here. I can make cloth bags for all weapons and bespoke Sword tassels are available from several of the more crafty T'ai Chi students in Aberdeenshire, get in touch for details. Playwell.co.uk and blitzsport.com both supply staffs, swords and other equipment, and although both companies are fast and friendly, the staffs have been rather lightweight the last few years. Both have showrooms, so perhaps a visit would allow you to chose a staff that suits by hand from a big selection.

Our fine jasmine teas as served at class are all from Macbeans in Aberdeen, who do swift mail order too.

Why study T'ai Chi?

Why we start T'ai Chi often has little in common with why we continue.
Here's a few reasons that I have heard from real folks over the years, as to why they started T'ai Chi:
Their doctor suggested it as good for arthritis / heart conditions / blood pressure.
It was trendy at the time.
They saw it in 'Calendar Girls'.
They saw it whilst visiting the parks in Hong Kong.
They want to be an invincible boxer.
They were trying to impress a boy. (yup, that's my one folks)
They had read about the Tao.
They used to do Karate / Kick Boxing / Tae Kwan Do and now their joints won't take it any more.
They were bored and free on that evening.
They needed something to help feel less stressed.
They were passing by and saw the poster.

Why we continue- again, a few reasons from actual people:
They are not sure but it feels right.
It's the only thing they never got to the bottom of.
It's relaxing.
It's a habit, easier to continue than stop.
They feel so much better when they do it.
They like the people who come along.
They are learning something really challenging.
They can't imagine life without it.
They fancy someone else who goes along.
It's time out of busy life.
It helps them stay sane / fit / calm.
They still want to become a peerless boxer.

John Kells' instructions for T'ai Chi were simply these:
1: Start T'ai Chi
2: Continue T'ai Chi.

Everyone bangs on about intention these days, as if meaning well were an end in itself. Attention to intention is useful, but 'the road to hell is paved...' etc. I am more interested in principles and in actions in the world. Much 'good' has been the inadvertent result of some terrible deeds. Much disaster has been caused by well-meaning intentions. All actions have unintended consequences, that's the nature of the complex web of life on this planet. Wu wei, or 'uncontrived action' can help lessen the unintended effects, and our art is a rich embodiment of this. Feel free to start T'ai Chi to polish your ego or get better than everyone else at something. If it's good T'ai Chi you get involved in, one thing's for sure, that won't be the end result of your studies. You may even inadvertently learn to yield to your own conditioning. Hell, you may even 'become one with the Tao'. You'll certainly be more stable on your feet, more nimble, relaxed, and have better posture, they are our famous side effects.

Panta rhei

'everything flows'

-Heraclitus

Plaistow Class

Thanks to all who came last night, next class is on 20th October.
Quite a contrast coming home on the tube with many entitled, intrusive drunken city workers... Seems my crochet and straight face ruse didn't work this once.

Mabon

It's Autumn Equinox  Friday night. I'll be out at work but will come home and light a fire. Hope the season's changes bring you subtle joys like this mossy forest floor.

A new Bayeux?

I love tapestry and I will admit I love Game of Thrones.
Put the two together and voila...

Proposed Great River and T'ai Chi Centre dates for 2018 - revised

Revised dates below.
Please let me know if you'd like something rearranging. Aberdeenshire dates are subject to confirmation from hall.

Summer Intensive Kingston: 21-27 July (20th optional evening session)
October Workshop Fetternear 13-15 October (12th evening weapons) 121s 16-18th.

Caro in Aberdeenshire weekends (Saturday date given for Friday eve - Sunday eve workshops):
13th Jan, 10th Feb, 10th Mar, 14th Apr, 12th May, 9th Jun, 7th Jul, 15th Sep, 10th Nov, 8th Dec.

Scottish Taoism

The Way up north

Is alive and well

The method is made clear:

'Dinna fash yersel'.

London classes this week

Tuesday class continues as normal tonight from 6.30pm.

Thursday class in Streatham from 6.30pm. 

Friday monthly session in Plaistow 7-9pm for all who have completed Short Form. Get in touch for details. 

Classes will run all term until Christmas break, perhaps with a week off while Mark teaches the October workshop TBC. 

October workshop fast approaching

All my and Mark's students are welcome to The T'ai Chi Centre 12th annual October workshop to be held at Fetternear Hall 14-16 October. It's easy to get to Aberdeen by plane, train, coach or car, and onward to Inverurie. Lifts and accommodation may be available with local students, do get in touch.

The day runs similarly to the summer intensive, with food to share at break time. The mornings are free to rest or go for walks in the stunning local countryside. Friday night before the workshop has an optional T'ai Chi weapons session. 

More pictures and details soon. 

Crones not drones!

Fungi foray

Feeling very chilled after a bit of forest-bathing: misty light and chanterelles as far as the eye could see. Possibly the most I have ever seen in one place in 24 years of picking. What a treat. 

A typical scene this morning. 

Orange birch boletes too. 

Thanks

Thanks to all who came for a great weekend. Lots of deep work as well as plenty of fun. Next month is Mark's annual October workshop, all students north and south are welcome! 

No Turriff class 18th September

There is no class at Turriff this Monday, 18th September. We'll be back at the Gateway Centre from 6:30pm on Monday 25th.

Tonight

I am on the train to Aberdeenshire and looking forward to the weapons session tonight. Lots to share!

See you later. 

Last night's class

Thanks to all who came to a great first class of the school year in London. Mark taught Sabre and Sword, next session for weapons will be on 3rd October.

Two great quotes from class:

Back Heart Salutations: from origin to destination
Front Heart Salutations: from the inside to the outside and back

The best way to protect yourself is to go beyond your skin, not to make your skin thicker.

Staff workshop in London postponed

The planned staff workshop on Sunday 24th September has been postponed as Mark now has to go away that weekend. As soon as we have a new date I will post it here.

See you at class tonight!

Annual Great River Fungi Foray

All students are welcome to join us for our annual mushroom walks on Monday after the weekend's classes. No experience necessary. Wear boots and bring a basket if you have one.

There are also T'ai Chi 121 spaces available on Saturday and Monday mornings. 

Where the sea is 

The mind isn't. 

September Workshops in Aberdeenshire

This months workshops with Caroline are this weekend 15-17th September.

The Weapons session is at Fetternear Hall at the earlier start time of 6:30pm, all other workshops are at Balvack. Great River students of any level are particularly welcome to the Saturday sessions.

Friday 6:30-9:30pm: Weapons, including Sabre for beginners 6:30-7:30  (£5).
Saturday 1-4pm: Short Form, and related study
Saturday 5.30-8.30pm: Partnerwork
Sunday 1-4pm: Long Form
Sunday 5.30-8.30pm: Advanced Studies and Dance

The price is £16 (concs available) per 3 hr session. Please bring food to share on Saturday and Sunday. Get in touch with your instructor if you need travel directions or feel free to contact me with any other questions.

Also, weather permitting, there will be a mushroom foraging day on Monday 18th September. Let Caroline or me know if you'd like to come along.

The final workshops of 2017 with Caroline are 10-12 November and 8-10 December. The Autumn Intensive at Fetternear Hall with Mark is 14-16th October. All the details are here.

Classes resume tomorrow in London

12th September in Tooting (with monthly weapons session as usual). Streatham on 14th.

Turriff class restarts this Monday

The Turriff class will restart this Monday, 4th September at 6:30pm. New beginners as well as returners will be welcome. All the details are available here.

Autumn approaches

At home for a brief period before a mini retreat and celebration with friends. Painting all day for the next Dark Mountain book, which will be on the theme of 'The Sacred'. Here's my work table just before the sun went down...

Autumn's approach always makes me feel a little excited and creative. I have been lolling about in the sunshine until yesterday so the damp rainy chill of this morning was a good kick up the behind for me. See you at class in a week or two. 

Mark's classes resume on 12th September

London classes start on Tuesday 12th in Tooting. Sword and Sabre will be covered. See you then.

Kestrel

Pair of kestrels gracing the cliffs all last week. Tiny dot in this photo...

Cheap(er) trains to Autumn Intensive

If anyone is intending taking the train up to the Autumn Intensive in Aberdeenshire, there's currently a sale (up to 50% off) on Virgin Trains East Coast until midnight 28th August. There is a limited number of tickets still available - current cheapest deal is about £45 for standard-class travel to Aberdeen on Thursday 12th October, returning to London on Tuesday 17th.  Click here to go to the website.

“In a society that profits from your self doubt, liking yourself is a rebellious act” – unknown.

Thanks to my friend Jack for that. Late summer good wishes to all. This week, I am mainly staring at the sea and cleaning a sacred well. 

Turriff class restarts 4th September

The new term at Turriff will start on Monday 4th September at the Gateway Centre. The class will be open to total beginners, and returners will also be very welcome.
The Short Form class will run from 6:30-8pm. The price is £10/week or £50 if you pay in advance for a 6 week block. Concession prices are also available.
For Long Form students, the class will continue until 8:30pm. The standard price is £12 (£60 for 6 weeks).

The term will continue until 18th December but there will be no classes on 18th September or 16th & 23rd October.

Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions or need any further information.

Aberdeenshire Thursday sessions

Here's the rota for the next block of Thursday sessions. As usual we'll be in the Small Hall 7-9pm and Large Hall 9-10pm at Monymusk except where stated. The price is £35 for 10 weeks or £5/week.

17-Aug    Paolo
24-Aug    Scott
31-Aug    Sandy
7-Sep       Davina
14-Sep     Janet
21-Sep     Marie
28-Sep     Paolo
5-Oct       Scott
12-Oct     Sandy
19-Oct     Davina

If you can't make the session that you're due to lead then please contact someone on the list to arrange a swap.

The most fragrant rose I ever smelled - yesterday in the rose garden at Hampton Court Palace. 

I will not be receiving emails, calls or texts  over the next week. I'll be spending skme quality time with nature. Hope you get to have a break too!

Thursdays at Monymusk

We'll be restarting our weekly sessions at Monymusk next Thursday 17th August. 7-9pm in the small room then 9-10pm in the main hall as usual. £35 for a 10 week block or £5/week. Anyone who has been to an intensive or is studying Long Form will be welcome.

Slogans

Some more for the fantasy T'ai Chi T-shirt catalogue.

Don't be so full of yourself.
Traditional Scottish saying.

T'ai Chi: give as good as you get.

Damsons: help with the yield

This year, for the third year running, my local damson trees are groaning with delicious fruit. My tiny freezer is full to bursting with bags of the little purple gems, yet still I feel compelled to gather, wash and freeze what falls each day. Every day I can get a basket or two like the one pictured, as only one other person cooks with them. Here's my request: I am around for the next week. If you would like to pop by for a cuppa, a short form, and a bag of damsons (or gather them yourself), please get in touch. I will also bring a large bag to Aberdeenshire in September. They make great compote, jam, chutney, liqueurs, wine, juice or desserts. They have large pips which I remove, a lengthy but delightfully meditative job. 

If you liked this then you may also...

These days it seems obligatory to provide online recommendations for further reading, listening or purchases of any kind. Personally I prefer word-of-mouth to software algorithms ;-)

So if you enjoyed the summer Intensive, or couldn't make it to Kingston last month, then you may be interested in coming to the Aberdeenshire Intensive from Saturday 14th to Monday 16th October. There will also be a Weapons workshop 7-10pm on Friday 13th.

The venue is Fetternear Hall (map available here). Note the hall is in a quiet rural location 2 miles from the nearest town / bus-stop (Kemnay), 6 miles from the closest train station (lnverurie) and about 13 miles from Aberdeen Airport.

More details will be posted here in due course. In the meantime if any visiting students need any help with travel or accommodation, including transport to/from the venue please get in touch with me. There will be some rooms available with local students and I can provide info on local B&Bs and hotels. It may be possible to stay at the venue but please note there are limited facilities (i.e. no showers).

If any of the Aberdeenshire students have spaces still available, please let me know so I can help match you with the visitors.

Aberdeenshire Thursdays

Thursday sessions will restart at Monymusk Hall on 17th August. In the meantime if anyone fancies some practice to revise / share what we studied at the intensive you'd be welcome to come round to Balvack on Thursday evenings or Sunday afternoons.

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.