The Sark Folk Festival 2010

I have just spent an incredible weekend on Sark enjoying the amazing SARK FOLK FESTIVAL courtesy of my lovely boyfriend.

We got the boat over to Sark on Friday morning along with lots of other eager and excited Sark Folk Festival attendees. In fact it was so busy that they had to lay on extra boats especially. Needless to say, as generally happens when I go to Sark (which has not been very often to be honest), the whole Island was covered in a damp fog, which is perhaps not ideal when you have chosen to camp in the campsite just above the lighthouse and the fog horn.

But alas there was no need to worry, the fog eventually cleared and so we were not kept awake all night by the fog horn! In fact we weren't kept awake at all as Ewan had chosen to put us up in the more conscientous of the campsites where numbers were limited on account of the lack of facilities. We were fortunate to arrive before many of our fellow campers so had the pick of the field and pitched our tent with views (we later discovered when the fog lifted) of Alderney and France.

Putting up the tent was rather entertaining, Ewan is a stickler for attention to detail and so I have now learnt a lot about how to make sure the different parts of the tent line up properly so that it does not flap in the wind (like other tents in the field, we did a comparison you see), and I must admit I was rather proud of the finished result, there is a lot to be said of being a little retentive at times I guess!

Wnile we waited for the rest of our bags to arrive (the boat were so busy luggage was following separately) we walked out to the festival ground and collected our wrist bands for the weekend ahead. It was an hour before the festival was due to start and people were desperately finishing off the last touches to the arena, we were really impressed, there were two performing tenst and a food tent, plus toilet cabins, it all seemed really civilised and well organised.

On the way back to the campsite we collected our bikes, mine had a basket which rattled as I cycled so at least everyone knew I was approaching! It is honestly the best way to get around on Sark, admittedly it is not the biggest of Islands, but still, means you can see so much more in a shorter time.

Back at the campsite out luggage had arrived so we put the finishing touches to our tent - pumped up the new double bed (small pleasures) and added the duvet and travel pillows, luxury I tell you, I have not slept so well as I did on that bed for ages. We had a camping stove to make cups of tea and a chair for Ewan to sit in, plus a rug for me, we even brought the bat and ball although we only manged one game, the bats came in handy to support our cups and the stove instead.



We shared a birthday bottle of champagne sitting outside our tent, Ewan had been taking antibiotics all week so this was the first opportunity we had had to celebrate together, perfect. From there we headed to the festival, rain threatening over head. Still the fog had lifted and from the festival site, out by the duck pond, you could see Breqhou, Herm and Guernsey in the distance. I had not realised how great the views can be from Sark, it is certainly a special little Island.

The festival was in full swing and I was delighted to see so many familiar faces many of whom I had not seen for ages. It was great to see everyone looking so happy, eco cups of festival cider in their hands, smiles, tapping feet, I just loved every moment of that night. Of course it rained. Lots. But for some reason this did not deter the fun. Ewan and I got a little wet waiting for our vegetarian paella (many thanks to the L'Escalier lot, lovey paella and thanks for the vegetarian option) and walking to the toilets, but aside from that we were always protected by the marquees.

The last band that night were insanely good, so much fun, Ewan and I were dancing our feet off beside the speakers at the front of the stage, the singer and lead woman was such an incredible entertainer and we were all buzzing by the end of the act and no one wanted to go home. Still going home was entertaining in itself. Bikes. Lots of drunk people walking in small groups. No street lights and merely a hand held torch. Ewan stopped to speak to someone so I went off on my own only to consider that maybe I didn't actually know where I was going and I did not have my mobile telephone in case I got lost. Irrational really, this was Sark, no chance of being lost for long.

Needless to say I found him again and we managed to find our way back to the campsite without injury. I managed to lose my bike lock on the way but someone kindly handed this back to the bike people the next day (thank you!) so no big drama - just an opportunity for Ewan to laugh about my ability to lose things so easily. Back at the campsite we sat by the lantern and boiled some water on our little stove for our evening cup of tea to bring us back down to earth so that we could sleep - mind you no problem when it came to it and thank you to the other campers for being quiet too.



The next morning dawned delightfully bright, sunny and hot and we made our morning tea and sat out on the rug sunbathing at 9am. I practised some Yoga with views of Alderney in the distance while Ewan read his book, it doesn't get more relaxed and grounded than this. We then trekked off through the fields along the side of the cliff and down a valley surrounded by greenery, trees overhead, a stream to our left, pretty pink and purple flowers, ferns and brambles and stinging nettles all over the place, all the way down to the bay below.

It was about 11am at this point and there were a handful of boats moored in the bay but aside from that and one sunbathing tourist on the pebbles, we had the place to ourselves. Lucky us, high tide, stunningly clear blue sea, bright sunshine over head - we dived straight in and were pleased to find that the sea did not feel cold, maybe we have hardened ourselves to it recently, but we managed to stay in for a whole 10 minutes, that is our record so far this summer.

Beautiful as they are, the only trouble with the beaches on the Sark is the fact you have to walk down the cliff to access them, which of course means you have to walk all the way back up afterwards! Still it is all good exercise and before we knew it we were back on the bikes and cycling to the Bel Air to watch local band GU10 on the balcony. The sun was seriously beating down on us by then and we lasted half an hour before we decided to head off to Hugo's bar for a cup of tea in the shade, stopping at the local shop on the way to invest in some of Sark's finest strawberries - strawberries that actually taste of strawberries, quite hard to find these days!



Back at the festival it was busier on Saturday; apparently quite a few people had come over that morning ust for a night or for the day. There were lots of people lying outside on blankets sunbathing and enjoying the sound of the music from afar, the smell of food being freshly cooked - you could order half a fresh lobster on the bbq for £6 (and these were fresh lobsters, sitting alive on the counter so that you could choose the one you wanted to eat before the poor thing was sliced in half and added to the barbie), or 4 freshly caught and enormous scallops with salad for £6 too. This was certainly a festival with a difference!

We pottered around, listening to a little of the music and then joining others sitting outside too, we looked around the stalls, Mark and Lauren had brought over products from the Little Green Island and there were fresh muffins and cupcakes and this wonderful stall selling witch related paintings and tea towels (and no, I couldn't resist investing in some hand painted pictures of witches dancing together with butterflies and puffins and the moon in the distance), it was all very laid-back and relaxed.

We went out on the bikes again and visited the local Methodist chapel and the local Church, both reather sweet, I love looking aroun churches, you can learn a lot about the place from its energy and always a good opportuinity to say a little prayer. We sat on the common at the far end of the Island and just watched the boats out to sea with Herm and Guernsey in the background. By then we had had quite enough of the sunshine so we headed back to the campsite for a cup of tea and a refresh before the evening. There were a few more tents in the campsite but we still had our corner all to ourselves and there was no problem taking a shower.



The evening was buzzing again with beautiful views and a fantastic sunset. Unfortunately I was really tired from all our activities and so much sunshine so struggled to find the energy as I had done on the previous night. Still I finally managed to find my dancing feet and joined Hayley at the front of the stage for the final act of the night, a Welsh band led by a lady with an incredible ability to play the oboe. There was no singing involved in this performance and yet it didn't seem to matter as everyone around me was going equally as wild, lots of jumping around, clapping and general flinging of arms and I even noticed a spot of headbanging! So much fun!

For some reason cycling home was far easier that night, I didn't wobble once and even though there were more people walking they seemed to have more awareness of approaching bikes so there was no stopping and starting as there had been the night before. I saw two shooting stars, pretty amazing, and when we got back to the campsite the moon was this beautiful orange colour rising to the north east of us and shining a beautiful light on the sea below. Talk about nature's own party, there was no need to do anything or be anywhere else right then, just us, the moon, the stars and a cup of tea in hand, lovely.

I had the best night sleep that night than I have had in ages. I guess the combination of swimming in the sea, cycling, being outside with all that fresh air, socialising, so much sunshine, dancing and then sleeping on a mattress on the floor underneath canvas play a huge role in helping one to feel naturally tired and relaxed. I don't think we should ever underestimate the power of being out in nature like this, it is good stuff, healing.

Needless to say the next morning I wasn't feeling in the most energetic of states, I could have done with lying around all morning and catching up on much needed sleep and rest, that is the trouble with stopping like this, no tv, no internet, no distraction, no driving and running around after people, finally the mind lets the body rest. But we had to pack up our stuff and the tent, which was fairly painless despite the wind, tents are pretty impressive these days, and we are all rfeady now for the secret garden party at the end of the month.

We made the most of our bikes and cycled out to Little Sark for morning tea at La Sabblonerie, which has a stunningly well-attended garden, very impressive, they even rake the path and hand pick the weeds. The views from Little Sark are pretty cool too, Guernsey and Herm on one side, ALderney, Jersey and France from the other. Sark has definitely over taken Herm as my favourite other Channel Island now. It is a little gem and would be perfect for a Yoga and Wellbeing retreat...



The atmosphere was on wind down back at the Festival, softer music, less people, but still the sun was shining and the smell of cooking lobster permeated the air. We only stayed for a short time before we headed out to Hugo's bar for a civilised lunch (I finally tried some Sark scallops) with Lydia Jane providing the background music, a lovely way to end a fantastic weekend.

The brain child, organisers and volunteers at the Festival should be very proud of themselves today, it was an incredible weekend and all their hard efforts more than paid off to create an uplifting and enjoyable weekend for everyone. Like many others we are already looking forward to the Festival next year...

A huge thank you to Ewan too for making my birthday so special and for providing me with an opportunity to camp again, I loved the back to basics experience and look forward to next time.

Needless to say I am totally energy-less today, but I am sure I am not the only one. Festivals are so much fun but all that fresh air and relaxing and chatting takes its toll, oh well, what is life for if it can't be lived and experienced like this, I can highly recommend others take advantage of the huge number of festivals in the UK and further afield each summer.

xx

What another wonderfully sunny day - 1 July 2010

I awoke with the first light this morning at 5am and could not get back to sleep so made the most of it and went and sat outside on my own by the quarry and was treated to a magical gift from the Universe...the sun rising to one side of me and the moon setting behind me...and safe in the knowledge that most people were still in bed and the air was clean and high in vibration, just me and the birds. Great stuff, I love it, even if it is now going to be a rather long day!




xx

Birthday meal

A huge thank you to my family for a lovely birthday salad eaten outdoors (how cool is that at this time of year!), the new herb garden and other gardening things(so exciting, can't wait to get planting) and book to know how to look after organic veggies (pretty crucial at this stage in the limited ogardening knowledge), plus of course the other girl-related gifts, you have all been super generous. For me it was just special to be able to spend some of my birthday with the whole family, this is the first time for a long time that Ross has been here on the Island at this time of year, so that means a lot, thank you.



Very funny too, Ewan spent thirty minutes putting the tent up in the garden before we went for dinner in preparation for Sark, only to go around to my parents and discover that Ross had put a tent up in their garden in preparation for their trip too...only the cats went and weed on his tent, Ross not impressed, we all found it hilarious! Dad got to enjoy lighting his fire, men love this fire lightning thing, great a stuff though, heating and mesmerising, a meditation no less.

xx

Magical birthday

I am having a magical birthday, thank you angels, friends and family.

We woke early to fog but this did not deter us from our daily swim, high tide at Petit Bot today, Liz and Mandy from Yoga were there too, the 4 of us swimming in the Bay although they lasted a lot longer than we did (well done ladies), the tourists watching were very impressed, the thing is, once you are in it is great. I used to always be a West coast girl, but Ewan has converted me to the South coast, the beach is steeper so you submerge yourself a lot quicker.

I can't tell you how healing it has been to get in the sea each day recently. You read books about clearing your energy and healing yourself and many of them will suggest immersing yourself in cold water every day as it negates any bad energy and it is so true, I can highly recommend. I have even started getting into the shower when it is cold these days and then enjoying the change in temperature. I believe it strengthens both the immune and nervous systems. The sea is the best however, especially if your skin has been out in the sun. We even swim these days rather than just lasting the obligatory minute.

We cycled into town - how much I love cycling again these days, the main thing which stresses me out over here in Guernsey is traffic especially through the St Andrews lane, but with a bike you just get on with it, plus you get to breathe fresh air in the process - and got he Trident over to Herm for lunch. It was midday and the for had lifted to reveal a beautifully sunny day, lucky me I don't remember my birthday always being like this.



We walked from Cambridge steps to the Mermaid for salad and a glass of wine in the sun, got to love it, last year I was in Devon all on my own. We walked up to meet our friend Tracy and her Mum and baby daughter for a cup of tea, they are staying in one of the cottages over there for a week, lucky things, if the weather carries on like this then they will have a particularly amazing time, the views from their cottage at the top of the hill are just insane. We walked around and made the obligatory trip to the shop, they sell crystals at the cheapest price I have ever found them and no trip to Herm is complete without investing in a few of them.

Back on Guernsey the sun was still shining high and we hammered it home on the bikes up the hills from town to St Andrews, I don't know why we did that, it was a mental challenge as much as a physical one, great for me to test my strength, I am feeling so much better, the stamina is returning, although I did have to lie on my bed for a few minutes to slow my heart rate when we made it home.

Tennis time now before a lovely large salad platter with Ewan, my parents, Ross, Star and Adena this evening.

We are off to Sark this weekend for the Sark Folk Festival, my birthday present from Ewan, I am so excited and so grateful, I love experiential gifts, this will be the first time we have camped together and we are both looking forward to the back to basics experience as well as listening to all the music, seeing friends and enjoying the sun and the Sark ambiance.

So a huge thank you for all my kind birthday messages, the cards, presents and especially all the references to hearts, angels and crystals, I love it!!!!

xx

Normality returns

Well it seems the energy of the full moon and partial lunar eclipse has passed now; I know that Ewan and I weren't the only ones to experience chaos and confusion over the weekend...yet another reminder that one must never underestimate the power of the moon!!!

A lovely Taoist Poem from friend

Close your eyes and you will see clearly
Cease to listen and you will hear truth
Be silent and your heart will sing
Seek no contacts and you will find union
Be still and you will move forward on the tide of the spirit
Be gentle and you will need no strength
Be patient and you will achieve all things
Be humble and you will remain entire

Incredibly healing as it is, Ewan and I have made the most of the high tides and beautiful weather and have managed a couple of swims in the sea in the last 24 hours, got to love living over here at this time of year.

Have a good day.

xx

Kiss joy as it flies

When I was researching the spiritual side to the Lunar eclipse I came across something someone had written about it creating chaos and confusion...no joke!

Two hours before Vicki and Ju were due to visit for a civilised glass of wine in Ewan's beautiful garden prior to my birthday meal, Ewan and I decided that it was time to take him to Accident & Emergency. The poor boy had been suffering with lower abdominal pain for 20 hours and had spent the last 4 hours curled up on the sofa feeling awful.

An hour later I was still sitting in the waiting room quite literally waiting to find out what was happening to Ewan. Thirty minutes later and following various tests, Ewan was admitted to Victoria wing with suspected kidney stones...poor Ewan it is horrible to see someone you love in hospital all wired up and anxious about their condition. A huge thank you to Vic and Tracy for sorting everything out for me, needless to say we cancelled the birthday meal, I didn't want to leave Ewan until he went to sleep.

Which he did just after 10.30pm. I drove down to Vicki's house at Grandes Rocque and was blown away by light at Cobo - despite the time there was still an orange and pink glow to the horizon which reflected beautifully on the glistening high tide. I absolutely love Cobo when it is like this - a balmy night, high tide, glowing sky - I have watched the sun set at many magical places around the world but none of those experiences have blown my mind quite like watching at sun set at Cobo, magnificent.

Crossing the road to Vic's house from the carpark I was fortunate to witness the full moon rising in front of me, but alas no naked running around the garden tonight, Vic, Ju and I sat outside in its glow, finally enjoying a bottle of sparkling wine and putting the world to rights instead...sometimes there are seemingly nonspiritual ways to tap into one's spirituality and it has to be said that sometimes the best way to "let go" on a full moon night (and embrace the femininity of its energy) is to bring the girl's together and have girly chats over a bottle of wine.

As promised I made it to the hospital for 8am this morning to find Ewan a little more comfrotable. It seems he has a kidney infection, which is potentially rather serious (I've learnt quite a bit about the kidney today!) so they are dosing him up on antibiotics and monitoring his progress. Consequently we have spent the whole day sitting together on his single bed in his private room being brought tea, water and juices (how indulged are we with private health care over here) chatting with his family and and watching England's dismal football performance against Germany...

So all in all it has been an interesting weekend. Beautiful, beautiful weather - most unusual for a full moon - morning and evening high tides, fantastic sunsets, stunning full moon, a sense of excitement about a Satursya night out and the England football game, and yet Ewan and I haven't really been able to get out and enjoy any of it, and yet - well now he feels more comfortable - I'd say we are feeling relatively peaceful.

You see there is something incredibly humbling about spending time in a hospital, grounding somehow. A reminder that we are not invincible and that we really should grasp each moment because stuff just happens. And that the allopathic world has its benefits, and that many nurses are real life angels, and that while there is lots of suffering and pain in the world, there is also a lot of kindness and compassion. We have no control, why we waste so much energy and time trying to control our lives I have no idea, stuff just happens. Its kind of liberating. Life is to be lived. Life is short. Just get on, get out there and enjoy it.

A kindred soul sent me this lovely poem by William Blake today, I feel it kind of sums up the weekend in so many ways:-

Eternity

He who binds to himself a joy
Does the winged life destroy
But he who kisses joy as it flies
Lives in eternity's sun rise

Love and thank you to all of you who have helped so much this weekend. xxxx

The Full Moon and a partical Lunar Eclipse

Not only is it a full moon tonight but also a partial Lunar Eclipse adding to he general exciting energy of the Full Moon. A Lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes into the Earth's shadow. This type of eclipse does not occur every year but when it does, it's a wonderful and magical night.

Apparently the eclipse will begin 1017 GMT when the Moon enters the shadow of Earth but because of the timing, it will not be visible from the UK or Europe. However in many parts of the US and Canada (you lucky things), the eclipse will appear larger because it occurs while the Moon is so close to the horizon. According to Nasa, low-hanging Moons look "unnaturally large when they beam through trees, buildings and other foreground objects". The reason for this is not understood.

I am really excited. I am celebrating my forthcoming birthday tonight with a few female kindred spirits and so I hope that we can spend some time honouring the Goddess together. Failing that I am sure Ewan and I will have our own little ritual, mad though it sounds I really did run around the garden naked last time around and keep threatening to do this at the fairy ring one night...

...okay so he thought I was slightly mad, as you may well do too - but isn't this what the full moon is all about, encourage the energy of lunacy and creative expression, let the hair down, let go, let go, let go - it was an incredibly liberating experience actually, and I can highly recommend. Admittedly I was "wired" for days afterwards but it certainly helped to encourage a transformation in my thought process and new opportunities presented themselves for grounding the energy - France then came about.

Never underestimate the power of the Moon. Nor the power of the Full Moon especially. Honestly, it is truly exciting stuff. Put your crystals outside in its light to clear and energise them, you'll be amazed how much they sparkle tomorrow, especially Moonstone.

Do your own "letting go" ceremony. Write down all the aspects of your life that no longer serve you, behaviour patters, vices, energy vampires etc...and then call on the Goddess to help you to let go and then burn the paper and think no more of it, simple as that!

Or stand outside, call on the Goddess, honour her, give thanks, say a prayer, ask for her help, or simply thank her for being there.

Maybe you think I am mad but seriously, give it a go, at least stand outside and stare at the full moon, just feel the energy, open your arms, let it enter your heart.

So who knows maybe one day we can all go running naked around the fairy ring at Full Moon. Now that would be something to tell the grandchildren.

Happy Full Moon.

xx

Summer solstice in London

No watching the early sunrise this Summer solstice for me, not that you would know it was the middle of the summer based on the still-cold temperatures in Paris. Imagine my delight therefore to pop up from under the English channel into the Kent countryside and find the warm sun shining through the windows of the Eurostar. Good old Britain, may not be so reliable with the football, but has certainly provided sunshine for the early morning Pagan sunrise watchers these last few years.

Ewan met us off the train (and what a great invention that was, one minute flying through the French countryside, the next popping out into the English countryside, fantastic) and the two of us walked to Camden for lunch. I have got to be in the right mood for Camden, Sundays are terrible, too busy, too many people stopping and starting to take photographs seemingly oblivious to anyone but themselves, but today, Monday, was fine, not too busy, available seats at Lock 17, and still the sun was shining.

We watched a guy (river gypsy Ewan calls them) work his way through the lock, his little black dog with spiky fur jumping on and off the boat. I guess the guy is used to doing this, this lock thing, and in front of an audience too, I find it rather interesting, in fact the whole barge thing looks rather fascinating, the freedom of moving your home up and down the river like that. Mum and Dad have just spent a week on a barge holiday in France and completely loved the experience - I haven't seen my Dad so rested for ages.



That evening we continued the birthday celebrations with a meal at the wonderful Blue Elephant Thai restaurant in Fulham Broadway. This time Mum, Dad, Ewan and I were joined by my one of my best friend' Hannah and her Mum, Anita, who happens to be my Mum's best friend from University (and hence how I got to meet Hannah and after spending a summer working on a soccer camp in Boston together run by another University friend of our mothers we became firm friends) and Shane, one of my Dad's best friends.

We had such a fun night, it is always so uplifting to be in the company of best friends, especially when you are spoilt with wonderfully tasty and fresh Thai food...the simple pleasures in life...a lovely way to end this "healing" trip away.



And it is true, it has been healing, all of the experiences, to rest in France and live with a French family, to spend time with the family in Paris and now with friends in London. I do feel blessed, I do feel more refreshed and energised and I do feel very inspired by all the kundalini Yoga I have been practising, the meditation techniques and the breathing exercises....long may it continue....and long may the sun continue to shine. So a huge thank you to my Mum and Dad again for yet more generosity and good times.

Happy summer solstice.

xx