October, and a month when autumn truly began to grip.

 

Still vestiges of Summer…

 

 

But elsewhere in the garden…

 

 

 

A positive Gallery of images in the nearby Forest.

 

 

 

Mushrooms:

 

 

Beautiful symmetry:

 

 

Time to light the fire: we changed the clocks so it is getting dark by 4 now

 

 

Spectacular Sunsets and Skylines:

 

 

 

Food-wise, I am still pursuing the Ayurvedic diet:

 

 

Time for preparations for Christmas as well.

 

 

 

During the month, we have a spectacular ‘Big Moon’:

 

 

New article by me on Bourdieu and Lacan:

 

Bourdieu and Lacan

 

I have been perusing a sumptuous book from my friends at Fulgar Press:

 

 

I have also been reading two biographies of two individuals I am a fan of:

 

 

 

Music, some more Brazilian guitar playing:

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw0EMYl-TPM&start_radio=1

 

And then Doreen Carwithen. As I have written before, I have a penchant for lesser known British composers. Carwithin is curious: wife of the backwards looking William Alwyn, some of her compositions – including many for films – are also retro-romantic. However, sometimes, she seems really inspired and progressive. The piano sonata for example:

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIyfG8dr9k4&list=RDWIyfG8dr9k4&start_radio=1

 

Montaigne

Lighten yourself and your soul of the weight of your burdens, moving about (travel, change of scenery) will only increase their pressure on you, as a ship’s cargo is less troublesome when lashed in place. Not enough to withdraw from the mob; withdraw from the attributes of the mob…we still turn our gaze towards the things we have left behind; our imagination is full of them. It is in our soul that evil grips us: and she cannot escape from herself. So we must bring her back…into our self. That is true solitude. It can be enjoyed in towns and in kings’ courts, but more conveniently apart. Let us gain power over ourselves to live really and truly alone – and of doing so in contentment.

 

 

 

 

 

The late summer and the Forest looks great:

Heather abounds:

 

 

 

 

My garden too!:

 

 

Sad to hear of the passing of the renown actor Terence Stamp. A leading cultural figure in the 1960s – he is reputedly the ‘Terry of ‘Terry and Julie’ in the Kinks Waterloo Sunset – his career more or less came to an end with the decade. He then went off to India for some years before being rediscovered to play a part in Superman. Also Fellini. He worked with Krishnamurti and also appeared in the film of Gurdjieff’s Meeting with Remarkable Men. I met him once, en passant as it were, and was struck by the time and courtesy he afforded me – given his stature compared to mine. Later, he spoke at Watkins at the time of the publication of his last memoir:

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC5noRzj5FY

 

My chums of Musica en Muviemiento produced Volume 1 of our first LP. We recorded this last year.

 

 

https://musicaenmovimiento.bandcamp.com/album/m-sica-en-movimiento-vol-1

 

More photos of our concert in Milan with Robert Fripp earlier this year.

 

 

 

To London for some art at the National Gallery:

 

 

.Millet:

 

 

And some Siennese panels”

 

 

I have begun an Ajurvedic diet:

 

 

My book on Ralph McTell – Parallel Lives –is now available as a PDF from my Blog site:

 

 

This was begun when Ralph came and played for us with Interviews at Trinity College, Dublin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhLLmiqrixA

 

http://www.michaelgrenfell.co.uk/parallel-lives-the-biographies-of-ralph-mctell-michael-grenfell/

 

Down to Cornwall – and beloved home Mousehole of course

 

 

 

 

 

Whilst there I take a trip to St Hilary, to encounter again the wonderful collection of art Bernard Walke and his wife put together there: the cream of early C20 English modernism.  One day, I shall write his story:

 

 

 

 

A rare piece by Pog Yglesius.

 

 

 

I also did some walks around prehistoric sites. For example, the Merry Maidens. 

 

 

And, the beautiful Japanese Garden: a precious place to visit.

 

 

 

50 Years Anniversary of Actes de la Recherche en Sciences Sociales, founded by my friend and mentor Pierre Bourdieu. Of course, there are lots of pieces on this site of my engagement with him and his work. This journal was begun at a most inauspicious time. At times, it was going to cease publishing – but carried on!! Anyway, congratulations that it has survived his passing as well. A good retrospective of the journal and its philosophy.

 

 

 

I don’t usually post personal photos on this site but could not resist in this case. Two Reunions! These always seem a dubious idea to me, but I thoroughly enjoyed both. A joy to catch up with ‘old’ friends and colleagues.

 

Firstly, the school where I taught in London. I had not seen these people for 35 years!!

 

 

And then, care of a friend’s ‘special’ birthday: fellow students from my graduation days: these I had not see for 45 years!!! A lifetime.

 

 

 

As I say, such a joy to catch up with both groups and to hear their life stories..

 

I have been reading elegiac essay: The Tree

 

 

Bit of a Van Morrison renaissance going on in my house. I already had a smattering of his records, but have acquired a few more at cost price over the last month or two. At the very least, these contain some romping Rn’B. But, there are also some real gems as well. All in all, VERY enjoyable listening.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVVkJI_2hog&list=RDPVVkJI_2hog&start_radio=1

 

I also acquired some delightful Delius – a real favourite:

 

 

 

And the very original Talk Talk:

 

 

 

The Equinox came and went so we are now downhill all the way with darkness growing until the winter solstice in December.