In Praise of Postmen and Postwomen

What is it about Posties? They are always cheerful as they buzz from door to door. Always ready with a smile and joke. Is it that they are outside in all weathers and getting plenty of exercise?  Years ago I lived in the Yorkshire Moors and ran a village post office. I had the privilege of working with a postman called Denis.  He was a bluff Yorkshire man, broke all the post office rules, ran errands for outlying elderly residents on the moors and was unfailingly happy. His breezy presence lifted the dourest Yorkshire spirit. He retired on my watch and when he came round the corner from his last round the entire village was waiting to salute him with cards, champagne and tributes. His wife was in on it and was there too. He was moved to tears and believe me it takes something to make a Yorkshire man cry! He was so loved. God bless you Denis and all Posties.

Feeling Blue?

Usually when someone says " I'm feeling blue " it means they are feeling down, depressed even.

What is the origin of this term? For me feeling grey would be more appropriate or feeling black! If I have been feeling down it seems the colour goes out of my life. So the title of this painting is Feeling Blue to signify the sheer joy and delight flowers evoke in me.

 How can you feel down when confronted with the miracle of a field of flowers, wild and untamed. I am not talking about flowers that have been cut and placed in a vase, lovely though they are they are separated from the life force they represent.
The painting is Acrylic Ink and Acrylic on canvas 20" x 16"

The energy in flowers

Sometimes when we look at flowers we see more than the flowers. There is a power, a life force, a certain manifestation of energy. You can call this divine, you can call this God, you can call it what you want but what is undeniable is that there is more than a flower.

Acrylic ink and acrylic paint on a small 20x20cm canvas

Blue Dream

Dust off those dampened dreams
I've brought you Cornflowers
Extending blue
Beyond our tide.

Fragment from a poem by Eileen Carney Hulme


My painting. Acrylic Ink and Acrylic Paint on a small 20cm x 20cm canvas.

I'd rather go for a Walk!

It's hot today and my master doesn't seem to want to leave this shady spot!

This tranquil scene photographed at the end of Rockland dyke. The launch place for our canoe trip onto Rockland Broad. See previous post.

The Past Revisited

 Over 50 years ago as a young boy with my friend Billy Mayhew we used to cycle the eight miles from Norwich to Rockland Broad. We used to hire rowing boats from Archie the old Broadsman who lived in the tumbledown cottage at the end of Rockland dyke. We spent many happy days fishing on this wonderful broad. I always wanted to go out on this water again to see if it had changed. Only accessible by water due to surrounding reedbeds rowboats are no longer hired. So accompanied by Peter Norton we launched our canoes. After more than 50 years Archie's cottage had been gentrified but I was delighted to find the broad had changed little. Indeed there was such a proliferation of wildlife and fish stock it seemed timeless. In a world of relentless change it was truly balm for the soul.

Home on the moor

One day I left this place
It seemed right then
Beyond was calling

Now I talk to the mountain
Listen to the Curlews
Beyond was here not there



This is the third of my small paintings on canvas
20cm x 20cm.

The Essence of Summer

This is the second of my small canvases for an upcoming exhibition. 20cm x 20cm Acrylic ink.


Poppies capture summer, blue skies and heat for me.

Leonard Cohen's last love letter to Marianne

Before he was famous Leonard Cohen met Marianne Ihlen on the Greek island of Hydra. She was the inspiration of songs such as So Long Marianne and Bird on the Wire. They were together for seven years. When he learnt she was dying in Oslo and only had days to live he sent her this letter.
" Well Marianne it's come to this time when we are really so old and our bodies are falling apart and I think I will follow you very soon. Know that I am so close behind you that if you stretch out your hand I think you can reach mine. I just want to wish you a very good journey. Goodbye old friend. Endless love. See you down the road".
According to a friend she was so happy to receive this beautiful letter and died two days later.
I think this is love and lovely. The painting is one of my small ones for a coming exhibition and is of wild flowers. I think their love was wild and unconditional and that this painting is therefore appropriate for my tribute to them both.

The Heart Sutra. The perfect antidote to politics

The Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra ( Heart of Perfect Understanding ) is one of, if not the most important, Buddhist Sutra.
If you are fed up with trying to score points over somebody with different political viewpoints? Why not try something higher and more challenging. Try to understand this Sutra which goes as follows:

The Bodhisattva of Compassion, When he meditated deeply, Saw the emptiness of all five skandas and sundered the bonds that caused him suffering,

 Here then, Form is no other than emptiness, Emptiness no other than form, Form is only emptiness, Emptiness only form.

 Feeling thought and choice, Consciousness itself, Are the same as this.

All things are by nature void, They are not born or destroyed, Nor are they stained or pure, Nor do they wax or wane.

So in emptiness, no form, no feeling thought, or choice, Nor is there consciousness. No eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind, No colour, sound, smell, taste touch, Or what the mind takes hold of, Nor even act of sensing.

No ignorance or end of it, Nor all that comes of ignorance, No withering, no death, No end of them.

Nor is there pain, or cause of pain, Or cease in pain, or noble path to lead from pain, Not even wisdom to attain! Attainment too is emptiness.

 So know that the Bodhisattva, Holding to nothing whatever, But dwelling in Prajna wisdom, Is freed of delusive hindrance, Rid of the fear bred by it, And reaches clearest Nirvana.

All Buddhas of past and present, Buddhas of future time, Using this Pranja wisdom, Come to full and perfect vision.

Hear then the great Dharani, The radiant peerless mantra, The Pranjaparamita Whose words allay all pain, Hear and believe it's truth.

Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha. 

Challenged? After years of being a Buddhist I wrestled with understanding this even though I had read explanations of the Sutra. You are probably more intelligent than me and grasp it in one go? However if not, Thich Nhat Hanh has written a commentary published as a book called simply The Heart of Understanding. One read of this brilliant short book and Eureka I understood. How this amazing man whose first language is not English can simplify this text to understandable form just shows his genius as a teacher.

So do read this and take your mind away from greed, hatred and delusion. If dear reader you already have purged these three poisons from your system then please accept my apologies.

Spontaneous Beach Art

I often walk along the beach here in Norfolk, walking from Cart Gap to Happisburgh and then returning via the cliff top.

This growing and changing collection of old net, shoes, bucket, spades and a buoy always provokes a smile. Every time I pass something has been added or taken away and now someone has turned the buoy into a bird with some bits of old iron. Everyone is having some creative fun.

Ben Nevis from Loch Lochy

My recent painting of this iconic mountain.

Many years ago when my children were small I was camping with the family near here. One morning on emerging from our tent we were greeted by this stunning sight. I had climbed the Ben before but never had a view.
We packed up and raced over to Glen Nevis, pitched camp and I climbed the Ben by the north face and was rewarded with stupendous views.

Next day it was still clear and Jo climbed it while I looked after the children.
Next day it was STILL clear so I climbed it with Edward who I think was 9 or 10 at the time, a great achievement for him.
Three clear days on the Ben is not usual so we were very lucky indeed. Wonderful memories. I will probably not sell this painting as it will always bring those memories back.

Morning Walk

Every morning after meditation I walk

Rain overnight leaves puddles 

A Blackbird showers itself with vigour

I stop, enjoying the spectacle

Both taking pleasure

On through the tranquil village

Every house named

A clue to it’s owners dreams

One is called ‘ Mole Meadow ‘

Wind in the Willows perhaps?

I think I would like the occupants 

After the houses the lane narrows

The local bus murmurs towards me

I step on the bank allowing passage

The driver waves acknowledgement

Our eyes meet, we both smile

She has a happy smiling face

Presently I reach the river at the ferry

The ferry is no more, just an old pub

The river is dark, flowing with power

I turn to return, musing on metaphor

Near the small shop is a village pond

Two shy Moorhens in peaceful residence

This winters day sunny and so, so mild

All around life is impatient to spring

My thoughts return to the river

There before me and after me

Buddhists believe in rebirth

Continuity in some form I believe

Possibly the nutrient for a new tree 

On that tree will sit a new Blackbird

I am happy with that thought  

It will be enough

This is it

In the meditation hall there is silence

Forty men silently sitting

Silence

A cough, a rustle of movement

Silence

Outside a bird sings to the dawn

This is it

Nearby a stomach anticipates breakfast

Silence

Outside a little animal scratches and scrabbles

 This is it

Someone moves a cramped limb

Silence

Outside a Dove softly speaks

This is it

Smile

I will only know her for two weeks

My time in this retreat place

I see her each morning on my walk

Falling in love with her smile

She passes me on the narrow lane

Slowly sailing her bus

I step onto the bank and she waves

We both smile making eye contact

There seems a warmth about this transfer

I hope she feels it too.

After Meditation I Notice

After meditation I notice new buds as I walk

I notice the old leaf grasped in the lower tangle

I notice that the energy of the earth has turned

The turning from contraction to expansion

I notice I follow without effort into this movement

Always somewhere there is a flower in bloom

 This penetrates me deeply and with wonder

I notice leaves are as moved by the wind as I am

Emotions joyful and tearful arise to surprise me

I notice I am pleased by this affirming surge of life

I notice a handsome Thrush tapping a snail on stone

In the bushes a small bird tests his spring voice

I notice a molehill breaking the long wet grass

It reminds me of childhood walks with my father

I notice tenderness springs up to catch my throat

I feel gratitude for being in this deep miracle

I notice too that I don’t understand it at all

At the Padmaloka retreat 23^rd December 2015

How to survive a fourteen day Buddhist retreat at Padmaloka.

I recently attended a fourteen day  Buddhist Retreat over Christmas and New year. If you are planning such a retreat here are some tips on surviving it. 

First learn to eat fast. There is a spiritual inner man and a spiritual outer man. Feed the latter to connect with the former. The food is excellent but portions are small so there is a race to clear plates in order to obtain seconds which are limited. You could miss out! 

In this retreat there were ten days of complete silence so be selective who you talk to in the preceding two days. Avoid obvious dharma bores and it is wise to avoid any stranger wearing a Kesa ( a sign of an ordained Buddhist ) because although they will be lovely they will have a funny ordained name which you will forget after ten days silence and therefore risk giving offence. These names are confusingly similar, such as Dharmayeti, Dharmadippy, Pranjapringle, pranjameetup and so on. Best stick to those still sporting a normal name like John, Paul, George etc which are easier to recall. Especially avoid anyone wearing a Kesa, a pony tail and bare feet. This is a serious statement and conversation with this individual will probably be about Siddhi powers and he will aspire to emulate Tibetan monks who can dry a wet robe with body heat while meditating in a blizzard. He will probably also have a cold. Bare feet in December!! 

Talking of colds try to spot early who has one, you can then avoid sitting next to them in the shrine room. Also as seating in the dining room is pretty random, identify and avoid a table with those so afflicted. Of course it is important to feel Karuna  ( compassion ) towards them, but at a safe distance. 

Silence is golden but TEN days! To remind yourself how golden, sneak off in your car for half an hour and turn the radio on full blast. This being Christmas you will probably hear Slade’s Merry Christmas and other such oldies. I am sure you will hear these being played at Christmas in your next life time too! Safely reminded rejoin the retreat. 

In serious retreats, each day will end with ritual and chanting. If this is the sevenfold Puja this is bearable and even quite pleasant. However this can sometimes be expanded in which case you may find your Metta  ( loving kindness ) slipping somewhat and you may even lose your Upekkha ( equanimity ) so distract yourself by speculating who won Strictly Come Dancing or how the final episode of The Bridge finished. 

Oh and for a New Years resolution resolve to spend next Christmas with your family! With apologies to my Buddhist friends for this light-hearted take on a retreat. If you didn’t smile you may be missing the point! With Metta to all. 

Love

This is the time of year to reflect.

I send love to all my friends and family.

Scottish Contrast

Landscapes can be like life, a contrast between light and dark.

Here I feel the space between a neglected old boat, probably in it's final resting place and the cottage peeking over the rise. I imagine the cottage full  of warmth and light against the dark sky.

Acrylic on paper.

Black Rock Cottage. Glencoe. Scotland

This is my second painting of Black Rock Cottage. The first one was sold from the Elgin exhibition.

I hope to exhibit this one at a gallery in Cromer. I know it is not a Norfolk scene but it may strike a chord with Scottish exiles living in Norfolk.

Tour de France 2015

2009

 The Gerry Active Tour de France 2015 proved one thing! Our memories are not holding up as well as our cycling abilities. We did not realize we were covering some of the same ground as in the 2009 tour until we came across this giant bottle at Albas! We thought we would reprise the 2009 pose to compare the physical deterioration and wear and tear in the intervening 6 years.

2015

The God in Large Things

The Indian writer Arundhati Roy wrote the acclaimed novel The God of Small Things. As mankind continues to kill in the name of religion, nationalism, sectarianism, tribalism and for no reason I continue to reflect on this old oak tree which I had the honour of painting. It is nearly 1000 years old as I mentioned in a previous post. In that time the killing has never stopped. This tree has killed nothing. On the contrary it is home to insects, birds and animals and each day aids in the purification of our planet. You could even believe it is better qualified to contain God than the Human Race!

A different life style. A nice story.

 Here is a nice story about a family who decided to reevaluate their life by dropping out for a while.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-32974131

Poetry, Life and Beauty

 A. E. Housman's famous poem about the cherry tree and mortality from A Shropshire Lad has always resonated strongly with me. Each year I marvel at the loveliness of the wild flowers and each year I wonder how many more springs I will view this loveliness. There is nothing morbid about this, just a greater and greater appreciation and awe for the perfection of the moment. Here is the poem in which Housman talks about twenty of his expected life expectation of seventy years having gone. By his measure I am minus one! Definitely no complaints from me! My time has run out so I am so lucky to see the miracle of spring again.

Loveliest of trees, the cherry now

Is hung with bloom along the bough,

And stands about the woodland ride

Wearing white for Eastertide.

Now, of my threescore years and ten,

Twenty will not come again,

And take from seventy springs a score,

It only leaves me fifty more.

And since to look at things in bloom

Fifty springs are little room,

About the woodlands I will go

To see the cherry hung with snow.

Pond Life

I love the light and reflections dancing on water and sometimes try to capture the feeling, the essence of it rather than a photographic type of painting.

This pond is a metaphor for life, look more closely and there is more to be seen and experienced, above and below the water. The surface has pond skaters skimming around, plant life and the kiss of wind. Below there are all manner of things. tadpoles, larvae, newts and little fish.

Like life there is so much more than than what is on the surface.

My painting is 60cm X 50cm and is acrylic on canvas. Please contact me for a price if interested.
www.chrisgauntartist.co.uk

The Path

The Path

Who is leading who?

If that is the right expression

What unfolds for the adult

As the child points

Inspired and aflame 

Unfiltered by knowledge

And today's science

So often upturned

Scattered and rearranged

Like autumn leaves

Moved by fickle winds

I do know this

Beauty and truth

Pulse always on this path

Within yet beyond

The artists brush

And every one of our footfalls

____________

Painting by Chris Gaunt. Poem by Julian Gaunt.

Ancient Oak.The Election and Social Media

This Oak is nearly 1000 years old and stands in the grounds of the Fairhaven Trust in South Walsham, Norfolk. It was a sapling at the time of the Battle of Hastings in 1066. It made me reflect on the relative unimportance of the recent general election which has produced such an outpouring of hatred on social media from those who didn't like the result.. My question to those posting these sort of views as my friends, is what do you really want? Are you seriously suggesting as one post did that we have a revolution to overthrow the government?  Do you really think everybody who voted for a party you didn't approve of is a vile Nazi scumbag completely devoid of any human kindness? Because that is the implication of some posts.The British public donate more to charity and disaster relief per head than most other countries and I bet that includes folk of all political persuasions. Now that we have a multi party system some form of proportional representation may be a fairer way BUT according to one P. R. system the result may not have pleased everybody either. It seems the Conservatives and Labour would have fewer seats but still be the two largest parties but UKIP would have had 88 seats! The Liberal Democrats would have more seats than the SNP who would have 25. The Greens also would have more. Winston Churchill said Democracy is a lousy system of government but it is the best we have. I suppose that may be questionable but what else? A dictatorship? All this I was reflecting on as I viewed that magnificent Oak in the tranquility of the countryside. Hopefully this tree will still be alive when all the protagonists in this election and myself, will, after strutting our stuff and rounding our little lives with a sleep, be of no consequence.  So my friends, wait five years and you will probably get the government you like but meanwhile if we prefer Democracy we must accept the will of the ballot box. I leave you with a quote from Martin Luther King, Jr. " I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too greater burden to bear."

A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step

The huge beach at Holkham

And so does a 36 mile three day walk. I had a very nice walk along the North Norfolk Coast with my son Julian.Walking from Holme on Sea to Burnham Deepdale on the first day. Burnham Deepdale to Wells on Sea on the second and on to Morston for the final day. We were blessed with fine weather and enjoyed two evenings in lovely pubs. The White Horse at Burnham Deepdale and The Crown Hotel in Wells where we analyzed the days walking and put the world to rights.

How did my little son grow to be so big!

Wells Harbour

First time

 We all remember the first time don't we? Last week I took my grandsons on their very first fishing trip. I bought them a rod each and researched the best fishing lake for a good chance of success.
 Well what a first time, both boys caught quite large Carp as well as several smaller fish. They were so excited and the day exceeded my wildest expectations.
The fish were caught on tiny barb less hooks which fall out when the line is slack and were returned carefully and unharmed.

The Kindness of Strangers

A month ago I undertook a solo six day cycle ride around the North York Moors and Wolds.
Leaving my car with my friends Terry and Gill at Driffield and after enjoying a pleasant day ride with Terry I set off on my solo ride. I cycled via Scarbourough, Whitby, Great Ayton and Osmotherley. I stayed with Mike and Naoko in Great Ayton and enjoyed catching up with friends at Osmotherley. Leaving Osmotherley early in the morning I thought I could make the 64 miles to Driffield in one day. Alas 10 miles from York on the busy A19 I got a puncture and couldn't pump up the repair as my pump handle snapped after a couple of strokes! I tried hitching to no avail and was walking towards York when I saw a house on the right with a couple of men working on it. Thinking the house might have a resident cyclist and therefore a pump I stopped. No luck but they said try the offices in the old mill set back from the road. Entering a large office 20 office workers swiveled in their chairs and stared at this bedraggled old fellow confronting them. After explaining my predicament and having established there were no cyclists and therefore no pump I asked if they knew a local taxi firm. They did and arranged a taxi, then after conferring amongst themselves offered me a lift in one of their vans instead. They cancelled the taxi and sat me down with a cup of tea while waiting for the van driver. The van driver was a lovely man who took me to a cycle shop in York. It was closed but ( wait for it ) he then offered to take me to Wilco where indeed I was able to sort the problem and continue my journey. I didn't make Driffield but was left feeling so grateful for the kindness of strangers. With all the terrible things going on in the world we sometimes need reminding most people are kind and generous. If you are wondering what the photo has to do with this story, well it is in my next village where the residents are trying to care for the annual frog migration and is therefore another example of kindness. Let us celebrate it.

Come home to yourself

I like it here
this place of quiet
time alone

Firelight faces dance
to the music in my head
as evening slips by

No need for words
for a week, no need
to offer up any sacrifices


All the open wounds
all the torn pieces
are band aided together

And I can sleep
with the door unlocked
my thoughts light as snowflakes

Poem by Eileen Carney Hulme. Painting of Retreat Cottage by Chris Gaunt

Small girl forms bond with crows

Fed up with bad news? Here is a nice little story.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-31604026

The Sun in Me

Oh we've got to trust
one and other again
in some essentials,

Not the narrow little
bargaining trust
that says: I'm for you
if you'll be for me,-

But a bigger trust,
a trust of the sun
that does not bother
about moth and rust,
and we see it shining
in one another.


Oh don't you trust me,
don't burden me
with your life and affairs; don't
thrust me
into your cares,

But I think you may trust
the sun in me
that glows with just
as much glow as you see
in me, and no more

But if it warms
your heart's quick core
why then trust it, it forms
one faithfulness more.

And be, oh be
a sun to me,
not a weary, insistent
personality

but a sun that shines
and goes dark, but shines
again and entwines
with the sunshine in me

till we both of us
are more glorious
and more sunny.

Poem by D H Lawrence   Painting by Chris. Bigger than my similar painting and is intended to be sold with Piper at the Gates of Dawn as a pair. Size 20"x 20" on canvas.

Waiting Spirit

Along your journey's road
I have shadowed you,
Unknown, unseen
A deep wishing well

Along your dark pathways
I have watched you stumble,
My open arms at ready
a downy field of light

Along your starlight stepping stones
I have watched you dance unlimited,
free as a spirit wind
In search of unknown galaxies.


Poem by Eileen Carney Hulme  My modified painting 16" X 16" on canvas

Podemos? maybe but can Greece?

What interesting political times we live in. Where will all this end? How is the EU going to resolve the demands of Syriza to cancel half of it's enormous debt pile? The most likely outcome is to spread the repayments over a much longer period at a lower rate of interest.In effect the debt ( unsustainable anyway ) will never be repaid. This enables Alexis Tsipras to claim success and Mrs Merkel to say there has been no debt forgiveness. However can this be sold to both electorates and will it work? What about Spain? Mrs Merkel doesn't want Spanish voters to think Greece has won and therefore encourage support for Podemos! What if Mrs Merkel calls Tsipras's bluff and there really is no debt forgiveness? What happens then?
 I am sure the intelligent Mr Tsipras has thought this through and would then default and return to the Drachma.
Perhaps this is his game plan all along and by pretending to negotiate in a reasonable way he can say to Greek voters ( who apparently want to stay in the Euro and are naturally worried that any money in their bank accounts will suddenly be worth much less ) look I really tried to stay in but Mrs Merkel didn't play ball.
Should Greece default we really are in uncharted waters. How would Mr Tsipras pay for his social programme? It could be a disaster even bigger than the current one OR on the other hand a complete change of fortune for Greece.
It is possible that with a much devalued currency all the money which has flooded out of the country will flood back in. The tourist industry will boom creating jobs. Foreign investment will return along with economic growth. We just don't know, only time would tell.
If it is a success then that surely would be the end of the Euro experiment as Spain almost certainly would follow suit.
One consequence of a Greek devaluation would be that Greeks could no longer afford to holiday outside Greece but given the fact that 25% of Greeks don't have a job and those that do have had massive pay cuts maybe it won't be an issue.
I am sure my view of this crisis is simplistic and could very well be totally wrong as we do live in a complex world. Time will tell but let us hope it does end well.

The Piper at the Gates of Dawn.

Wind in the Willows is one of my favourite books, even as an adult! Chapter seven when Ratty and Mole search for the missing baby otter Portly and find him fast asleep protected by Pan takes children's literature to a mystical level. If you have never read Wind in the Willows then you are denying yourself a treat. This painting is inspired by Pan.
20" x 20" Acrylic Ink on Canvas and is for sale.

Leaving for the Stars

If you ever get caught up in the sense of your own importance then stand outside and look at the stars.
My painting is inspired by this. 24" x 24" on canvas.

Here is a poem I love.

One day I shall leave this place
I will blow through the trees with the rain
And listen as the leaves fall like snow

One day I will talk to the mountains
And they will smile
I will shelter from the beat
of a butterfly's wings
And hear spiders walk

One day when the tears and the fears
And the years have slipped away
I will light a fire on a beach

the smoke will take me to the stars
And I will be free

Temptation according to Mae West

This painting is the result of thinking about Oscar Wilde's quote on temptation. " I can resist anything but temptation "
Mae West said something similar " I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it "
Then of course there is Adam and Eve!
Nothing is new under the sun so the title of this painting is ' The Same Old Story '
Painting size 20" x  20" Acrylic on canvas.

Weakness for Werthers

I can resist anything except temptation. So said Oscar Wilde!

Like my father before me I have a weakness for toffees. Unable to keep to just one I never keep them in the house. However in an effort to sabotage my manly figure my cousin bought me some for Christmas. Here is evidence of the shameful result, a whole bag in one sitting!