Sitting at my desk looking across the valley to the south of Guardia Sanframondi: it is my third week in Italy, and the day is stretching out in front of me, fresh, open, clean.
My partner and I are renovating a large house in the medieval quarter of the citadel; thegarden is large and terraced. We have begun sketching out in 3D the possibilities: forest garden, herb spiral, hedges. Seeds have been planted, and are already sprouting strong.
My work over the past 20 years has been a colourful blend of fine art, philosophy, deep ecology and hands-on intensive work in the field of transformation (health, social, personal). I have come here to share a vision with my partner: the rejuvenation of a semi-abandoned area of a fascinating town on a mountain side... I envisage the methodical drawing on of my extensive networks, and the eventual establishment of a rich hub of ideas exchange, inspiration, healing and personal ecology!
As with all my work and life experience, it is challenging to arrive in a new place... this time I have another new language to attend to, and am possibly embarking on the biggest personal step upwards...
My workspace is slowly coming together, but I will need the big bell tent up, to paint and ruminate in! The house and garden are a little paradise- utterly hidden, and waiting to be uncovered. I am relishing the privacy, the quiet exploration of new landscape and secret corners. It is a completely new world, and yet it is so perfectly my environment: a process of coming home, shedding skins, and stretching toes into the earth like roots; deep and firm foundations for the new work and life to be nourished.