Animal Farm

Just returned from a week at Film Farm where the population has doubled within the last month, the new arrivals being Zutty, a very laid back purr-box named after Zutty Singleton (1898-1971), jazz drummer who worked with Fats Waller et al - and two Lincolnshire/Sussex cross hens named Gin and Tonic (Gin, who is a tad larger than Tonic was too busy laying to be photographed). Pepper (the existing feline) has not taken kindly to her new companion and they regularly eat each other's food, and poor Dot (the existing hen - keep up!) seems to have been unceremoniously shoved into bottom place in the pecking order, with the result that her feet have been severely pecked by her raucous new companions. Hopefully things will have calmed down by the time I make my next visit. Anyway, I didn't really go to inspect the new menagerie - but to WORK! Those of you who recall (and who wouldn't) the blog dated 29 April 2008 will understand my apprehension about a second attempt to put together the Northampton film. However, I've learnt a lot in the last year and it transpired that my preparations were sufficient unto the day and (apart from a tiddly section where I need some of Peter Cormack's valuable input) that particular film section is bagged - and not only that, the wondrous filmmaker pronounced it 'jolly good' (considering!) So I feel vastly heartened and ready to tackle the next episode.

So we celebrated by making a batch of marmalade on Friday - named Prohibition Marmalade in honour of the date - and possibly ironically since we always seal the amber with a slurp of whisky! See label below:

I DO NOT BELIEVE IT!

All the positive thoughts about leaping back into FBSG have already been scuttled, and we're only 6 days into the year! Gareth rang last night, his water supply has been broken since New Year and he can't get any work done until the broken pipe is mended and the Council appear to be saying it's nothing to do with me mate. So we've had to cancel the projected trip the end of January and are hoping to re-schedule for the end of February. Since this whole project is self-funded I just hope the hotel doesn't charge a penalty or it'll be bread and dripping for my esteemed filmmaker colleague and a lettuce leaf for me.
Watch this space.
A heartfelt AAAAARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009

Looking back at my 2008 entry - what has changed? Much the same story, achieved a lot but not necessarily what I'd intended.

I did complete Christ's Hospital Murals and rather good it looks too (though I say so as shouldn't) with it's hand made and hand bound Lokta paper cover, a limited edition of 250, specially designed illuminated letters one of which is hand tinted, and a letterpress sheet. A bibliophile's dream. And I published the history of the William Morris Gallery (see below), wrote the article about Stations of the Cross, did quite a lot of work for the Brangwyn exhibition to be held in Tokyo 2010, started the libbyhorner.com website, tried my hand at podcasting (great fun), learnt the rudiments of letterpress printing (I'm hooked), delivered my first Gourmet Art lecture and taught myself how to use Power Point.

The main thrust of the year though was the commission to make a film about John Piper with Charles Mapleston. We decided to concentrate on his architectural and topographical work and to this end realised that to 'bag' all the sites we wanted we'd have to be out and about filming virtually every other week during the so-called summer months when the light was good. Exhausting stuff which didn't leave much time for other projects.

And FBSG - well that got sidelined by Piper and other issues beyond my control. BUT this year I am even MORE determined to get the DVD finished and we look to be off to a good start with an editing session mid January and a 2nd visit to Gareth to film the glass making at the end of January.

So 2009 - complete FBSG, complete Piper, write a couple of chapters for the Japanese book, teach myself Dreamweaver and bring my Brangwyn website into the 21st century, get more variety to my exercise by adding cycles and swims, carry on cooking, try to get the most out of life, be positive despite the gloomy outlook. Cheers all and Happy New Year!