I'm just back from Barcelona were I spent the weekend at a stag party for my eldest son who is getting married in February. The group included his uncle and several of his uncle's friends, all of whom were good friends of mine back in the early 70's. This older group
was quickly labelled as the "Last of the Summer Winers" based on the popular BBC series featuring the comical adventures of four old farts. I thought we fit the bill fairly well. Plus, it was a great excuse for us to end the proceedings at a reasonable hour and leave the younger Turks to their late night (read 'early morning') drinking. I was sorry that my younger two couldn't join their older brothers in the celebration -- but then again I'm not too sure I could have afforded that! But to listen to old stories and laugh so hard that tears ran down my face was priceless time with guys I hadn't seen in more than 30 years.
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The Last of the Summer Winers.
Left to right, Les, Rob and Ed |
That so much time had passed between us, seemingly so quickly, made me very conscious of my own passing years. Not in a depressing sort of way, but in the way you feel when reading a great book and realize that the epilogue is much closer to your right hand than the prologue is to your left. Several people have commented on the speed with which we consummated the purchase of this property, finalized the building design and started construction. The simple truth is that I don't want to spend more time in this process than what is absolutely necessary. We are not chasing the perfect outcome, for what is "perfection" after all? I believe that perfection can only be measured at the exact moment of analysis - our opinions being very likely to change over time as new experiences influence our perceptions. So we weigh our choices, make a decision based on what seems right at the time and then, most importantly, convince ourselves to live with the consequences in the belief that we know what makes us happy.
"The way to find out about happiness is to keep your mind on those moments when you feel most happy, when you are really happy — not excited, not just thrilled, but deeply happy. This requires a little bit of self-analysis. What is it that makes you happy? Stay with it, no matter what people tell you. This is what is called following your bliss.” - Joseph Campbell
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Workshop (right) and Gallery (left) with a driveway,
or what is locally known as a Dog Trot, through the middle |
We are thrilled with the progress that our builder is making. We are even more pleased with the feedback and suggestions we are getting that are helping us with important decisions. Like putting a fixed staircase in the workshop instead of an attic ladder so that we can more easily access the large loft space for storage or perhaps for additional guest space in the future. The wall framing for the barn is almost complete. I was surprised at how big it looks, especially as the east wall is five feet off the ground owing to the structure being built on a slope. It will change the landscape, which embarrasses me a little as I wanted to be low key. But there were no alternatives that would have created any less of a profile. So following our philosophy, we know this is the right place.
Our visits to the property are getting less frequent now that building is underway. We're missing our friends over at Miracle Farm but our absence is temporary. In fact most of our recent visits have been social invites from our ever widening circle friends in the area. This is so exciting. Perhaps in thirty years time I might be sitting with them too, reminiscing over a few beers and some good laughs!
