the way of the bow

Kyudo, which literally means The Way of the Bow, is considered by many to be the purest of all the martial ways. A true shot in kyudo is not just one that hits the center of the target, but one where the arrow can be said to exist in the target before its release.

http://www.kyudo.com/kyudo.html

I had a bow as a kid and frequently got into bother with my dad over the home made hunting points, for my arrow making, forged in the metal work room at Leamington College for Boys. This was the first time I had touched a bow since then. The rain poured down in sheets as I fired my arrows but there was some thing very calming and focusing about the process. This is some thing I will definitely do again.  My aim improved with each arrow and my breathing found a place in it. I have been practising various forms of breath control towards mastering circular breathing for chanting.

 little hoveton broad

The first week of my trip out and about was spent near water but the weather prevented any serious fishing adventures. The second week was on the waters of the Norfolk Broads and one of my favourite places.

I spent some days off the water after a week on it and on consecutive days I wrote two songs. This is something of a record for me. My current rate lately has been more along the lines of one every two months. Here are the lyrics to one of them.

castles come

towers fall

and kings who

lose their heads

our will be done

the time has come

no laying safe

in beds

this england now

is in decline

as bad has she has seen

save our souls

the cry goes out

now we must intervene

i'd do any thing - any thing with love

i'd do any thing - any thing with love

hear me now

i shout it out

some one has fallen through

and gone down to that darkest place

no dignity nor truth

it breaks my heart

to see the poorest

get poorer by the day

the time has come

for justice now

and we must have our say

i'd do any thing - any thing - with love

i'd do any thing - anything - with love

home for a week

headed north up the river ant

On the last evening of my away days I caught a little pike on the Stour to a small silvery artificial lure. The fish was very small compared to most of my pike but it was the only lure caught fish of my trip. I put him back with thanks and I hope he grows to a big ‘un if his momma doesn’t eat him.

my kind of driving

This afternboon I have been playing through some of the recordings of my performances this year and I can tell you there is an album in the can. I plan to start work on mastering the material in November for a 2012 release along with post cards and a new T-Shirt or two.

So I’m off to Birmingham for another Fair days pay gig on Friday. I have to change my guitar strings and do a little rehearsing. I hope too include the new songs if I can memorise them in time. My head is still on the water out in the wilds but I can hear the sound of the city in the a back ground as I write this. There really is some thing to be said for dipping in and out of the urban and rural extremes of this country. I love the contrast.

As you will know I am playing a fund raiser for Mad Pride in London on the 7th of October. This is exactly the kind of contribution to community I want to make as an artist. If any of you are involved in any fund raising, for a worthy cause, and you would like to me to appear at your event, please let me know. I require no payment only minimum expenses if any at all. I hope some of you will come to my London gig. If the rest of the bill is any thing to go by it shows all the promise of a great night out and it is all for a very worth while cause.




peace