Another few days of rain, sun,

log splitting and charring timber...

     Continuing to meet and speak to a

many wonderful people. Many thanks

for the words of support, it has really

helped keep motivation high on such

a long project.

     Since starting the charring stage

of the sculpture process, I have had

a fascinating reminder in observing

how much most people are drawn to

the fire and how long people will stand

watching the fire, often in silence.

   The other interesting observation

has been the amount of comments

about fire. Ranging from how people

love the smell of the smoke, to

questions about what wood is being

used and how charcoal is made.

    These comments and observations

have reminded me of how important

fire is to people, how there is a certain

cultural memory invoked by a fire.

    A good fire provides people with

a strong sense of community, in the

sharing the warmth, cooking together

and how the shadows and shapes in

the fire provoke our imaginations.

    A good fire gives us a deep satisfying

sense of identity. It is such simple,

basic and effective reminder of what it

is to be human.