Letters to garden makers

Dear Monty, This being the time between times, I have been on a short journey around my garden and the land above it in order to see it in its context. It has been such a bright day. I have been walking with Toff the whippet on the coal tip above our garden. Frosted The hill and its gouged tracks looked like a 21st century Bruegel. The wooded hill down to the post industrial town The smoking stacks The brightness of ice The toned down colours The posts and wires This industrial scene on the edge of the Brecon Beacons is where I am trying to carve out a small sanctuary. This has been a day of bright joy. Paul

Dear Monty, 14/12/14 There are owls over this coal tip garden - tawny owls that hoot and screech. 15/12/14 The dilemma of how not to be self promoting. How do I reconcile those Christians who say certain religions are evil and wicked from the fact that Christ himself said that any religion that becomes hypocritical is evil - this surely includes 'Christianity'. We do not need swords - forgiveness and peace are our weapons based upon a secured inner peace. I wish we could stop fighting with our tongues and get on with a life of faith. 23/12/14 Solstice passed - days will slowly become longer - buds fatten. If we haven't succumbed to winter and death  - we look forward to a spring. Christmas was invented to turn us away from the worship of nature's gods. Christ's birth wasn't celebrated by the first Christians. They celebrated life in Messiah - the consolation of Israel. Our constructed mid-winter festival is a mix of wassail and church tradition....

Dear Monty, After a frosty start looking at the coal tip garden, I went to meet up with friend, social worker, photographer, blogger and associate garden maker to veddw.com   charleshawes.veddw.com  to walk the Sugar Loaf mountain above Abergavenny. Being principally spiritual, arty, romantic ? I look at the world from that perspective - this may be perceived by others as deluded - hence the title of this blog. I have wondered for some time who has the right to title themselves as an artist - or in Charles's case photographer - is it success in financial terms rather than whether the work inspires or communicates beyond words ? The inventors of art nouveau said that art is for everybody - there is no high or low art - that dream did not last like most dreams. Charles and I always have good conversations when we walk which I value very much, they make me re - examine myself  and my beliefs and help me to refine what makes me tick, so as a thank you to Charles...

Just pictures Monty. Paul

Dear Monty, Anselm Kiefer www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/anselm-kiefer?  wanted to be Jesus - this was his ambition as a Catholic boy growing up in the bombed out streets of post war Germany. Later he realised that he couldn't be Jesus - none of us can. He struggled with his and our inconsistencies - he saw the two sides of ourselves. The burning burns into my head  A sickening blackness Sometimes a bright furious flame Flames of passion Or a dull smouldering Ash that fills nostrils and mouth Smothering And dulling thoughts to a numb sleep. Creativity bursts out God speaks A voice from inside  One that I hardly recognise The start was explosive The void occupied with matter That cooled and cools still 'The wise understand the destruction' 'The power of the holy people will be broken' The cooling of the core The turning of years The degradation of life Wars are inevitable We struggle to maintain boundar...