Your accident of Lumb Bank and all the right and wrong turns that grew from there was one of the best things that could have happened to me at that point in my life. We draw toward us what we need most if we look hard enough with an open heart.
Neil! Honestly what a week it was, we were all meant to be there I think. I was walking down the lane to Lumb Bank this morning thinking of you running up it. I’m staying at Will’s, maybe seeing Tom on Tuesday - all the things that came from that week are so strange. And you’re right. It’s going into things open.
And here was me thinking I was alone in finding something so important that week at Lumb Bank. I would call it indescribable but that has to be the writer’s task, I suppose.
If it is, I’ve failed. It was properly something else, I like when language fails- it shows something’s special when it sits outside it. Walked past the fox and goose and laughed thinking how bizarre that night was.
Also, I wrote a thing about how language defines (i.e. fences in, boundaries, confines) experience and leaves out more than it can include, so that what is perceived but un-sayable or just unrecorded risks getting lost. Then someone pointed out that good poetry leaves the lid off what it says so that the sky is still visible beyond the literal meaning of the words. That made me ponder.
Maybe we should do some kind of Lumb Bank anniversary round up?
How did it change your writers view? What did you produce that you may otherwise not have done? These Q's feel a bit banal but I guess we all got something special from that week?
Maybe we should- that would be fun. Maybe post it on here if you want- round up some people for other courses. So long as their names don’t start with P and have five letters
Synchronicity cannot be planned. The breaking apart as important as the coming together. The echoes of that place and time in our disparate works, reflecting and glancing and banging into things through the world. It makes me shiver. Give my fondest regards to Will (and Tom if you see him) please. His quiet words have stayed with me too.
'banging into things through the world' - can I steal this for tutoring? The readings that Friday - especially Tom's - I was in bits. Maybe the magic was because we were blessed with the presence of a raconteur...
Your accident of Lumb Bank and all the right and wrong turns that grew from there was one of the best things that could have happened to me at that point in my life. We draw toward us what we need most if we look hard enough with an open heart.
Neil! Honestly what a week it was, we were all meant to be there I think. I was walking down the lane to Lumb Bank this morning thinking of you running up it. I’m staying at Will’s, maybe seeing Tom on Tuesday - all the things that came from that week are so strange. And you’re right. It’s going into things open.
Very impressed you spoke to BRJ, one of my heroes.
He’s great, one of my favourite people
And here was me thinking I was alone in finding something so important that week at Lumb Bank. I would call it indescribable but that has to be the writer’s task, I suppose.
If it is, I’ve failed. It was properly something else, I like when language fails- it shows something’s special when it sits outside it. Walked past the fox and goose and laughed thinking how bizarre that night was.
Also, I wrote a thing about how language defines (i.e. fences in, boundaries, confines) experience and leaves out more than it can include, so that what is perceived but un-sayable or just unrecorded risks getting lost. Then someone pointed out that good poetry leaves the lid off what it says so that the sky is still visible beyond the literal meaning of the words. That made me ponder.
I don’t think I have laughed as much since, a situation that I must remedy as it did me good.
Hi Alastair,
Good to hear you.
Maybe we should do some kind of Lumb Bank anniversary round up?
How did it change your writers view? What did you produce that you may otherwise not have done? These Q's feel a bit banal but I guess we all got something special from that week?
Maybe we should- that would be fun. Maybe post it on here if you want- round up some people for other courses. So long as their names don’t start with P and have five letters
Ohh I live in the next town over from Hebden. Definitely want a Lumb Bank retreat. 🥰🫶🏻
do it if you can, it's really special.
When I went on my Arvon retreat, Lumb Bank was being renovated so definitely hope to go to one in future. 🙏🏻🫶🏻🤞🏻
Synchronicity cannot be planned. The breaking apart as important as the coming together. The echoes of that place and time in our disparate works, reflecting and glancing and banging into things through the world. It makes me shiver. Give my fondest regards to Will (and Tom if you see him) please. His quiet words have stayed with me too.
'banging into things through the world' - can I steal this for tutoring? The readings that Friday - especially Tom's - I was in bits. Maybe the magic was because we were blessed with the presence of a raconteur...
You can use any words you like Ali, I dont claim them.