Tuesday, 17 January 2012

Exploring Brixworth


"On The Right Track" January Photography Walk explored the area around and inside All Saints Church Brixworth, part of Brixworth village and views overlooking the Brampton Valley Way. You can find out more about the Church here

"perhaps the most imposing architectural monument  
of the 7th century yet surviving north of the Alps"  
-- Sir Alfred Clapham

photograph by Lorraine Dziarkowska

It was a cold, crisp Sunday afternoon, there had been a hard frost earlier


photograph by Meriel White

The allotments in December during scoping walk

and the afternoon was suffused with a wonderful light, 
frozen droplets, icy gems, glittered on 
vegetable leaves in the fields and on the allotments. 


Andrew Rushton led a group of photographers from various parts of the county,


photograph by Meriel White
who walked, talked and captured moments.

 
photograph by Sonia Hawes

January Walk in Brixworth

Sun, strong for January, with surprising warmth
though foggy breath from chatting mouths 
hangs in the shadows.
Golden sandstone glows in the yellow light,
berries - left by the birds after the bumper harvest - 
bright against the clear blue sky,
a vapour trail shows white against the blue.
frost edges the grass blades in icy spikes,
but the rape growing in the sun,
shows diamond drops containing rainbows in its leaves.

In the hedgerow a  strange sight comes into view,
the twisted trunk of an ancient hawthorn
grown around the old wooden fence rail so completely 
the rail passes through its centre.
A robin sings, a blackbird bounces across the allotment
a blue shed another jewel in the mass of brown and green.
Another shed with peeling paint and a bundle of long, 
bamboos leant against the mottled wood
nestling in the brown earth and tawny foliage 
could be the subject of a Stanley Spencer painting
Inside the church  a musty smell overlaid with incense,
coloured light spilling through the stained glass 
onto the stone floor and exotic patterned carpets.

Sonia Hawes

photograph by Sonia Hawes

Andrew (ex RAF and a man on a mission) 
made everyone laugh with his comment 
"don't look at that now, you can see it on the way back"!


 There was a great sense of stretch and release.

photograph of Carole & Charlie by Meriel White


Peaceful contemplation and relaxation

photograph by Meriel White

photograph by Lorraine Dziarkowska

There was also coffee and a nip of whisky after our explorations, much conversation, laughter and a clinking of mugs in order to to embrace the new year. Smiling faces looking forward to the walks to come. January Flickr set is taking shape!

Saturday, 7 January 2012

We've Been Shortlisted For an Epic Award!




We are delighted to have been one of seven groups in England to have been shortlisted for an Epic Award. We have been profiled on the website (www.epicawards.co.uk) and you will have until mid-January to vote for us!
 
There will be a People's Choice prize for the English group that receives the most public votes, so make sure all your friends and family give you us the 'thumbs up'! If you follow to the link and look for Back to Books in the shortlisted groups in England you'll find the Like button to press there - the more Likes the better please so spread the word!


Saturday, 31 December 2011

Tea Party Update

We had a wonderful turn out for our final New Vistas Big Draw event, a Tea party with a paper craft workshop by Phiona Richards. 
Phiona showed participants how to create a brooch or a Christmas decoration out of scrap paper from magazines. 
We are delighted that Phiona has  been recommended for the Craft and Design Selected Makers Awards 2012. You can help her by placing your vote here
During the day we were joined by The Mayor of Corby, Gail McDade who was presented with a cake stand made by Cathie Shuttleworth and cushions created by Jennie Helliwell and Ros Stoddart. The presentation was made by Maureen Walvin and her Granddaughter Ellie. The gifts will have pride of place in the Mayor's Chamber.
Participants sitting amongst the Floating Columns

Paper brooch by Ann Leonard
Christmas Decoration by Allan Davies
Sample Boxes and Brooches
Sonia and Shula Hawes
 wearing their creations
There was also the opportunity for people to write their thoughts
wishes & hopes for future events / exhibitions in the Cube
    
Wonderful baked treats were made by Lisa Wilkinson 
and members of Back to Books
Just at the end of the afternoon Phiona taught Carole Miles how to twirl paper roses and Carole later went home to create decorations from old postcards for her Christmas Crackers. Many thanks to J Devereaux and Corby Borough Council for making this workshop possible!


Sunday, 18 December 2011

December Photography Walk


Our December Photography walk explored Brampton Halt, Northampton and Lamport Railway and part of the Brampton Valley Way. Again it was a cold, crisp day, breezy, wonderful light, absence of rain. You can see the photographs from the walk here.

As it is chilly December you may like to read The Signalman by Charles Dickens you can also watch Andrew Davies 1976 adaptation for the BBC Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

Wednesday, 7 December 2011

A Tales on the Rails

Our first On the Right Track Story Telling event took place early in December at Northampton and Lamport Railway Station with a party of children from Priory Lower School in Bedford. Carole has worked with the school for seven years and was keen to bring the children out to explore the Northamptonshire countryside. Some of the children were wearing their very first pair of wellies and were soon to discover the delight of puddle jumping.
The first task of the day was to take a brisk walk, there had been rain earlier but barring the odd grey cloud the day way fine and the countryside still looked autumnal rather than wintery
A party of NLRS volunteers were working on the line
Someone found a ladybird hotel and the children decided to take it back to their Bug House at school
Here are some of the things the children asked Carole to photograph




After the walk we headed back to our toasty warm railway carriage
Where Allan began a tale that had everyone in the 
carriage joining in with sound effects and laughter.
Philippa checking her notebook
and playing with sock caterpillars 
Gordon Titmuss - our Station Master for the day
and a man of many keys!
Just before lunch Carole produced socks and stuffing, pipe cleaners and fluffy pompoms
and everyone made their own caterpillar.
After a bit of a tidying up everyone put on their hats, scarves, gloves and coats the brave the chilly station platform. Before leaving, Philippa told us a fantastic story and many of the children were roped in to help.
Thank you to everyone who helped to make it such a special day!

You can find out more about A Word in Edgeways here