SYMBIOSIS

I have today recieved Louises book! Immediately I was taken back to Croft Castle and started to think of the different things we did and saw there. I particularly remember the small shed full of used books, in which we spend quite some time laughing at some old Blue Peter annuals. The orchard where the children where kicking rotten apples about, the lovely peaceful chapel where we were looking at some fantastic tiles. The walk down hill to the swampy ponds where we were looking for creatures, and not forgetting the constant noise of the ‘small’ boys nattering in the background.

The book is fantastic and I am not yet sure how to respond to it. I just wanted to make a comment here, especially with all the memories that came flooding back. I find it very interesting that the things which has stayed with me in my mind, has been about what we did together as two families, and not about the art exhibition we went there to see.

To me this is becoming a project about staying in touch and how it still is possible to grow together even if it only is by sharing short moments in life.

I think my response to this book should be called ‘A short moment in life’.

Mette

As always the new year is a time for reflection. Thinking about how the project was progressing made me remember a research trip Mette and I took to Croft Castle in November to see the ‘tell it to the trees’ exhibition. On that visit I bought an old used book from the castle, fittingly ‘The Knight of the Burning Pestle’. This book has it’s own history, having been annotated and lent for many years. From it I have created an altered book, to reflect my memories of that shared time, and adding another layer of history. I have chosen not to include images I took on that day but have cut the paper and added thread to form a physical representation of our experience. I hope it will trigger the same memories in Mette, I am sending it to her so she can respond to it.

Louise