Raining this week. Watched The Young Ones walk the streets of Clifton. Remember the chaos that followed them? Did they understand what happens here? Was that the point of the show?
I am staying in my flat for Christmas. Proper howls of outrage and sadness from my mother during the phone call. But they understand the safety aspect, even if they do not understand it.
Christmas Day will be busy this year. The night before my trip. I will have a few beers, and take a final walk around Clifton in the daytime. Look at Christmas lights in Georgian windows, and say hello to those on family walks. Say hello to those who may not be there at all. Visity the spots where the Butter Mouse performed. Say goodbye to all those special places.
No doubt sadness will arise. But sadness is an intrinsic and important part of change.
But no time for sadness now! We still have the final extract from the Butter Mouse's book. This piece sits next to the orange back cover. The outline of staples run alongside, thick with a tickle of rust.
At the bottom of the exercise is a photo. Like the summer brochure I found all those months ago, it is a photocopied black and white image, faded and unclear. But the Butter Mouse is there, standing on the grass at Clifton Gorge, juggling balls in mid flight. Something hovers in the air next to him. A fuzzy triangle perhaps.
Hwyl to you! This is goodbye. A huge congratulations if you have completed your tasks for the year!
But wait! Don't put down your paintbrushes and pens! There is one more challenge to complete. One final brick to lay in your creative mansion.
By now I am hoping you have seen results. You should understand your reward. Don't despair if not! One more chance lies below. It should be there by the time you complete this challenge.
And if not, there is always next year! Try again. And again!
Here we go!
Take all of your cards from the year, bar the last four. Shuffle them together for a full sixty minutes. It will feel like you are destroying a masterpiece. Your unique order will be gone forever. But we are saying goodbye to foundations. All the work will remain.
Doodle on your last four cards as usual, if you haven't done so already. Remember, this is your last chance to make a good impression with your drawing! Then arrange your shuffled cards into four piles. The heights and the distances between them are up to you.
Put your remaining cards on top, and let the power of the pillars flow through them. Think about how they relate to the room, the shadows, the way the light hits the hearts. Your story will appear.
And the reward?
The reward is what you require to achieve success with these works. What you need to achieve your creative goals. I've told you all along.
Pwb Luc!
