Taking off and Landing

It's late August and holiday season. I too have been away and come home again. Now my home and the familiar places that I inhabit have become even more special because of this excursion. Going away and coming home allows us to glimpse a different perspective on our everyday living choices and I think once in a while, that's a good thing. For me it has confirmed all that I appreciate in my little part of the country and also made me re-look at my chosen lifestyle. It has highlighted some wonderful aspects of my everyday life that I had forgotten, that had got buried in the daily, consistent, repetitive and yet much needed domestic routines.

Finding my feet, in a new place.

I think going away can be a holiday from your everyday self, as immersed in the new, unfamiliar and strange, it begins to dawn on you what really matters and what doesn't. This was one of my greatest insights on the trip. That, and the realisation that even though we had travelled many miles to get to this new place, ( Quebec) a lot of it was familiar. That in itself was a comfort as I realised the Northern Hemisphere is my land, and as I looked up as the skies darkened I could still pick out familiar star constellations such as 'The Plough', Cassiopeia and the North Star.

Familiar flowers in a new world. Kamouraska, Quebec, Canada.

I could recognise a lot of the plants, trees and animals in this new place too. But the birds were a constant vocal reminder we were somewhere else. There were many melodies and calls that I heard that were new and totally unfamiliar. We are wont to forget about our everyday sound-scape, so much so that we may not even hear it any more due to its repetitiveness and familiarity. 

The great St. Lawrence river. Just beautiful, it reminded me of home and my love of estuaries.

Since returning home I have visited my local library and started reading a very interesting and lovingly written book about bird song. 'A Sweet, Wild Note', by Richard Smyth which has reinforced some of the beliefs that I have had since a child and has also opened up a whole new world to me.

'Listening to birdsong..is a means of orientation; it's embedded in habitat, landscape and place.'

The Swale estuary at Oare, Faversham, Kent on a walk when I returned.

It has been nearly 2 weeks since we landed and I now feel that I am home. I have walked in many of my favourite places and re-aquainted myself with their details and nuances. I am enjoying the physical sense of feeling grounded and of this place. Added to this, I can compare, contrast and remember the other places and people and their culture. These memories are precious and they will stay with me as long as I can hold them. Last weekend we compiled and edited the hundreds of photographs that we had taken whilst away and this will help me to remember and hopefully keep that valuable new perspective for a bit longer.

View of sunset from our beach hut, Tankerton, Kent, last week.

A new but strangely familiar sunset view from the Gaspe peninsular, Quebec.

I love to teach others and facilitate space for them to create, so I run art and design workshops in my own straw-bale studio throughout the year. These can be either 1:1 or for a small group.

The next ones for the exciting and accessible art of Gelli-printing are on most Wednesdays and Fridays throughout September and October. They run 11-2pm and cost £40 pp including all materials and refreshments. Call or text 07432679164 if you would like to be booked in or email me at clare@people-to-place.co.uk

This is my website, it has more information about what I do and why. www.people-to-place.co.uk