St Georges Cabin Raft Island
06.19
St. George’s Cabin, Raft Island.
Yow! El nipperoo! Any fool can change the world, but it takes a hero to change the world without reliable central heating.
Rather than use the provided sleeping bag as duvet, I opted to leave it as and climb inside. This was not enough. Coat, then thermal waistcoat, and finally a bath towel wrapped around neck & lower head, added some protection where St. George signally failed to protect his charge in the warmth department. The chill in the air reminded me of Sherborne House. Awake around 05.37, it was the first time this night that the bag was warm inside; and time to get up.
08.43 Morning Sitting at 07.15. A morning exercise introduced for those relatively new to GC & which will feature in various ways during the rest of the Course.
Breakfast at 08.00. Comments & question on the origins of exercises.
10.32 Meeting with the SSG immediately after breakfast, covering a range of topics.
House Meeting to address work in the Kitchen at 09.30. While half of the Team was being given the first tour of the kitchen, the other half addressed a rhythm exercise involving the attention.
It’s grey & cold at St. George’s & down the hill I…
II...
III...
12.40 Guitar in the Chapel with 33 guitars in one large Circle.
Circulating around the room, with attention moving through 60 points.
Instructions:
When ready, rhythm!
When ready, please move from slow to fast & back again.
When ready – solo! Michael H.
When ready, Eye Of The Needle, Jaxie’s count.
When ready, from low to high.
Two & three groups in 5, 7 & 6. Measuring this on a scale of one to dismal, the top blew off the meter.
Two groups alternating The Whizz, adding Full Circle Whizz, with attention moving between the fingers.
Then, Whizzing with attention moving through 60 points in the body.
Three members of the Circle were new to The Whizz.
This meeting: 90 minutes.
Lunch at 13.00.
14.03 Good comments & questions at lunch addressing details of the morning’s exercises.
Sandra Alexandrian is meeting with the TTA players of the Seattle Circle & the High Flyers. What to do with those who are not quite flying very high, perhaps because they can’t count & their time sucks? And what to call them? Working appellation: The Gnarlies. The Gnarlies are meeting in the Chapel with Mr. Gnarly at 15.00.
Just about everyone is involved in the practical matters of the course: cooking, washing up, Level T.
15.56 Looking in on The Gnarlies & Alexander with TTA.
Tea at 16.00.
17.46 Meeting with the members of the GC AAD project who are attending the course, in the Chapel at 16.45. Comments & observations presented on the theme of emotions. Some very good comments & insights.
Grey, cold, damp.
18.43 Two thick blankets have been delivered. Hooray!
Dinner at 19.00
21.03 Raining on the way to the dining room.
A performance at dinner by TTA of Brazil, with some singalong by the audience, followed by discussion of what other standards might provide a good fit for this area of repertoire.
The Gnarlies reported on their work together. Then the TTA / High Flyers with Sandra on their stages towards up: this was a very useful & informative description of their work together.
Washing up detail afterwards. Everyone is hands-on in the kitchen, in various ways.
House of Guitars at 21.15, a request from the Guitar Craft Office of Europe.
22.26 One large Circle of 37 guitars.
When ready, please begin.
A late arrival caused significant disruption as their joining of the Circle caused its entire re-formation, now of 38 guitars.
When ready, please begin, again.
A third extemporization took place spontaneously.
Three solo pieces were called.
A demonstration of the Hold, with a few words on its value & importance.
Then, a whizz, the players standing, looking outwards.
A few words on putting well-earned pay in the bank, followed by free dispersal from the Circle. Leaving the Chapel in light rain.
