Tag Archives: retreat

Getting there

Me at CillRialaig in August 2020
Cottage 5 CillRiallaig studio area
Picnic bench overlooking the sea

I’m booked into the wonderful artist retreat (cottage 5 again woohoo) at CillRialaig in County Kerry for 8th January for two weeks. It will take me two days getting there on public transport, and I need to ship most of my materials in advance. I wish I found the planning stage easier, but once I’m there I’ll be there

Getting there

does the swallow

prepare for

her long flight

the night before

is the bear

aware of tomorrow

as she wakes

my brain leaps

in consternation

with calculations

of timetables

connections

arrivals departures

online booking apps

websites for overnights

advance preparations

ephemera

of getting there

from here

but once there

I’ll be there

with all of me

being simply

human

I can only

hope so

Books

thrum of dishwasher

lunch of leftovers

many too many

biscuits

and cups of tea

but in between

there are lazy hours

and books

expansive inner world

of memories

triggered by the writer’s

stories

perception jumping

from page to herstory

my story. black and white

to colour

Tree

Undressed tree

I am quite tempted to leave this year’s tree in its ‘naked’ state, a symbol of Winter’s rest and retreat rather than an allusion to all that glitter and gluttony of our often over-done festival time

But I expect in a few hours I will relent and look for the tangle of wires and bulbs and the dusty box of baubles in the store room

A more indulgent bigger glittery one our first Christmas in this house – probably 10 years ago!