“I want to know” and “I learned today”

These two works by Louise Bourgeois are right in tune with my feelings these days.

I learned today, and it made my day

Buster Keaton, Steve McQueen, Nina Simone

 

I listened to a great episode of BBC 6 music’s Sound and Vision with Steve McQueen the film director.

At minute 22 or so, they play a Nina Simone track that was new to me – Wild is the Wind. The piano, the voice, the atmosphere were so strong I felt quite obliterated for a moment.

 (listen to this particular live version, please)

McQueen’s long ago Turner Prize win was mentioned in passing – in a series of photographs, a house is falling on his head, but he is standing just where an empty  window frame will save his life. This desperate trick was originally Buster Keaton’s.

I urge you to spend a minute or two watching Buster Keaton. The sheer beauty of it – and we should all have a bit of beauty in every day, shouldn’t we.

Blending in

Episode 3

This is the life!

No cars. No. Cars. Life is better without cars.

Travelling in style

Smug feelings on my way to and from classes. Yes! This is really what my commute looks like! (It hasn’t rained yet – ask me how smug I feel when it’s snowing sideways.)

Cardboard Boxes

The New Life Episode 2

Son at 07:30 this Monday morning (we moved on Friday, his Dad helped him unpack his clothes on Friday evening, school starts in 40 minutes) : Mum! Where are my underpants?!

Me: go and have your breakfast, I’ll look for them.

Son at 07:52 (still no pants,  school starts in 18 minutes) : I think these are OK, I’ve only worn them 3 days.

Me (in the garage, fruitlessly searching the 3000th cardboard box) : éè%%%**-è’-(è&èè-‘è(è&*ù$^llp!!!!!!!!!!

Son at 07:55 : It’s probably OK to go to school without pants, right?

The New Life

Episode 1

There will be no more apologising for having chosen to live in suburbia.

Last night, just before midnight, cycling along a lane on my way to pick up the oldest from a birthday party, I saw, not one, but two barn owls hunting along the hedges.

They swooped ahead of me, crossing from side to side. I was thrilled to see those ghostly faces.

Hay-making