Week Thirty
The considerable expanse of sky at Highgreen seems larger than usual; the clouds at the moment are tremendously outsized and dramatic. Something seems to be happening in the heavens above, and it isn’t ash! The other day, half the sky was dark grey and snowing, whilst the other half was bright blue, white clouds and sunshine. I actually thought it was large amounts of blossom floating gently in the breeze, until I stepped outside and realised it was actually really snowflakes. People were genuinely shocked walking outside with brows curiously squeezed with disbelief. 
With this disparage of the skies, comes a confusion of the wardrobe also, its really hot then really cold, thermals on, then thermals off. I have a theory that spring and winter are battling it out upstairs, fighting for supremacy, fighting to govern the forthcoming season…it seems winter does not want to let go of its icy grip and spring is trying to jump in with relish…fight, fight, fight, who will win, let’s hope they don’t form a coalition hey! 
In-between intense periods working in the studio I have a new hobby. My new way of passing the time away is really enjoyable and a rather wonderful, its called watching swallows. There are so many nests here that for the first time I can watch them up close and personal. They fly so close that part of you wants to flinch away expecting them to crash into you, but these miesters swirl past in all their beauty. They are fascinating to watch. 
I keep spotting different nooks and crannies where other birds are nesting, some are quite ingenious, some look really comfy and others have perfect little openings that any owner would be proud of. Everywhere around the outbuildings are the sounds of hungry chicks chirping away. Of course nests dotted around have their own hazards to contend with, I am dodging a lot of bird poo every time I enter my studio and home, I just know one day its going to happen. I once was told it was good look if a bird pooed on you, but I think that may be an urban myth. 
There is only three weeks left until the VARC celebration of ten years of this residency, so it is all action stations in the studio. I am still feeling calm and collected; nevertheless, I am now beginning to wonder if it is the quiet before the storm. This makes me speculate whether I should be more worried???!!! However I have come to the conclusion that it seems pretty ridiculous to worry that I’m not worrying enough. Some days I feel as though I am keeping up with my schedule and others days it seems to go awry. It does appear that ‘things’ often take longer than I expected. I suppose sometimes it’s hard to recognize where the difficulties and problems may lie. Having never done it before, I for one, did not know it would take me a whole day to construct one breast from reindeer skin. It was a real battle with skin, needles and me.
I also didn’t expect a visit from the local vicar at the point of breast warfare. I’m not sure if it was the struggle with breast or the surprise at seeing the clergies white collar flash before my eyes, but in a momentarily lapse of surprise, I held up the breast, and like a six year old announced “look I’m making a breast”. Realising that this may not be the most suitable first sentence with the local minister, I assumed a healthy hue of embarrassment. After her initial ‘gasp’ of surprise, she also managed to compose herself and we then resumed a more formal and normal kind of discourse. 
I was hoping to finish my enamelled tiles commission for a local toddle and parent group by today, but alas I am going to have to lengthen my deadline. I really need this project out the way though so I can concentrate on my final artworks. A series of children’s drawings have been converted to enamel transfers, which I am firing onto steel tiles and adding colours to. I must admit it has been a real struggle getting the enamel transfers to work, however with perseverance and the odd cock ups they are looking rather splendid. 
So it seems I may have the second guest to be ‘ashed’ in at Highgreen. Francis has been here a few days and due to leave tomorrow, but it appears that flights are cancelled. He has had a varied time, walking, sleeping, and helping ‘Shona the shepherdess’ castrate lambs, as well as cutting up pictures for me in the studio. 
As the new government comes into action, maybe a new title should be thought of to reflect the strange turn of events. My favourite so far is ‘Condem’ followed closely by ‘ ‘The Lib Dem con’. Thanks to Steve and Francis for their suggestions. Week thirty…..done!