A Damp Fen Morning

Rain Filled Skies And Tired Eyes


   A grey morning welcomes us on this day of worship, cries from the tall manor tree rookery ring out like those calling bells that fill church towers all over this garden of the east, while men of the land and ladies in fine silk drop coin from gloved hands in stone temples this bead maker once more enjoys a day at his flame.
   No ice does lay over the dark soil just the green young wild rape seed that self set in autumn mildness, rich green they stand with game birds walking their shallow paths and broken wet stubble rotting beneath their young leaves.
   Where is that winter we fear, the snows and freezing winds of the north that wrap these flat lands in white soft coat and form ice on dyke and river through every black night, all that shows this fresh year is the rains from the west, great storms that bully our coast and burst our rivers banks and still cold damp mornings such as this, we wait and watch those great open skies that rush over us, we wait.  

Rain, Winds And Dark Mornings.

How Wet This New Year Of Ours

   While single streams of white smoke lift from the terracotta chimney pots that rest on those low roofed fen cottages where dirt floors had flooded in years past and fen lend has since played with their upright appearance, the rains once more soak the rich garden of the east. Those huge wide skies form deep dark cloaks that sail high above the hard people of the fens while they work the reed beds and farmland, to these folk of the marsh this is just another part of life in their magical world.
   For this bead hermit it's a day of cleaning beads, while the wild winds blow away the remains of the old year, natures fresh start and one I hope will be good for all of us.

New Year Dawns

The Fresh Year Is Upon Us

   With fen winds blowing cold fresh air over the flat world of marsh and drain and the damp rain sodden dark rich soil sticking to the feet of fen tigers, we welcome the new year once more. A new year in which the seasons will again test us and make us smile and cry, a year in which we will turn many corners and favour those days when our spirits are high.
   Once more we will watch those great hunting birds in the wide skies and see fish hover over shingle filled river beds while great Willows bend and kiss the water. Eel traps will sit nestled in reed and sedge while winter plays his harsh game and spring will once more put smiles on weather beaten faces as she always does.
   So much to come while this bead maker plays with his flame and learns more molten magic tricks, another year in which he will watch and learn from natures lesson's, yet again he will live the simple life he enjoys and new faces he will meet, we welcome you 2014.