Wednesday 16 July 2014

Caravan of LOVE - The Housemartins

With my toils completed yesterday and not a lot to show from the traps, I am now looking forward to the party at the Manor this afternoon, but first a revelation concerning the rest of my life!
On the 28 August 1963 American Civil Rights Activist Martin Luther King Jr. announced to the world "I Have A Dream" calling for an end to racism in the United States (and the World). 30 years ago I had one of my own, and while sadly Mr King's dream remains unfulfilled, in its entirety, (racism, sadly, STILL exists) my own has come to fruition this very day. Even that long ago the 'rot' was set in, with regard to our Society, with Politicians stealing our tax-pound (via their expenses) thinking they were safe wrapped in the shield of their private club. Bankers also were sat in high office devising plans to deprive us of our savings by way of massive bonuses which, even after a number of their establishments 'crashed', the practise continues. The Clergy, regardless of denomination, who "suffer little children to come unto them" in the name of God (whoever she is) along with others in the Public Eye, and honoured by us all, have been abusing those same 'little children' while their pay-masters played cover-up or simply cast a 'Blind Eye'.
In my usual inimitable way I'd sum up with the lyrics of a song as I am now
 Huddled in the safety of a Pseudo Silk Kimono
Wearing bracelets of smoke, naked of understanding
Nicotine smears, long, long dried tears, invisible fears
Safe in my own words, learning from my own words
Cruel joke, cruel joke
Huddled in the safety of a Pseudo Silk Kimono
A morning mare rides, in the starless shutters of my eyes
The spirit of a Misplaced Childhood is rising to speak his mind
To this orphan of heartbreak, disillusioned and scarred
a Refugee  -  Refugee.
The Fat Kid with Jim the Medic
Yakushima Island, Japan 2007
While all of this may sound sad, personally I have never been happier having learnt years ago how to side-step ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that gets in the way of happiness and well being.
Pseudo Silk Kimono - Marillion
Coinciding with my 68th birthday I have finally fulfilled the DREAM
moving into my new Chuck Waggon this very day!
A lot of toing and froing to Parley and back, there has been lots
of time to get things exactly as required.
Please note the Magic Carpet ready for take-off!
My first choice of image for the back panel had been one taken
in Venezuela of a Sunbittern with outstretched wings. In the event
I settled for a far more powerful creature seen in
Wakkanai, Northern Japan.
STELLA'S SEA EAGLE
The lyrics best sum up the whole of my life but more particularly
my travels with the Skinny Nipper (above) from Delhi to Amritsar
then on ward through the Himalaya Foothills touching briefly into
the region of the Hindu Kush and Kashmir.
Page and Plant - Unledded - Kashmir
Please, Please click on this LINK for a musical extravaganza.
If it doesn't bring a tear to the eye, the Milky Bars are on Me!
Ever inspired by the words and works of
James (Jimi) Marshal Hendrix
my last home in Weymouth was named 'Slight Return'
which refers to the time when Hendrix and old Airborne Division buddy Billy Cox et al recorded the extraordinary track Voodoo Chile (the American black man's way of pronouncing Child). It took just one 'take' and so excited was Jimi to achieve such a feat he invited his band to a 'Slight Return' to the studio to keep the buzz and do it again. On the EP Record the number is referred to as Voodoo Chile (Slight Return). No reason then not to name the new Chuck Waggon 'Slight II'.
Another reference to Mr Hendrix and certainly my favourite catch phrase.
Purple Haze is all around
don't know if I'm going up or down
acting funny but I don't know why
s'cuse me while I kiss the sky
Having sold most of my possessions prior to all of this,
around me are just those important trinkets which hopefully on day
will go to my Grandchildren!
PS - all of the flags are not yet in place, just 73 which is half
the total number to be displayed.
All 'creature comforts' on tap with my last remaining
KHADAG
(the blue Mongolian scarf)
While the 3 Fat Lads were travelling the Mountain Steppe we stopped at many
 OVOO
which are a type of shamanistic cairn found in Mongolia, usually made from rocks or wood. Ovoos are often found at the top of mountains and in high places, like mountain passes. They serve mainly as religious sites, used in worship of the mountains and the sky as well as in Buddhist ceremonies, but often are also landmarks. When travelling, it is custom to stop and circle an ovoo three times in clockwise direction, in order to have a safer journey. Usually, rocks are picked up from the ground and added to the pile. Also, one may leave offerings in the form of sweets, money, milk, vodka etc and of course a Khadag. If one is in a hurry while travelling and does not have time to stop at an ovoo, honking of the horn while passing by the ovoo will suffice.
 
 The people wherever we went, even in the most remote corners such as the top of this plateaux in the Gobi Desert, were extremely friendly and shared with us what they had.
Birthday Presents from my 4 Grandchildred, placed in such a way
that I can dream of them!

My first crossing of the Arctic Circle as a 16 years old
Junior Seaman, a crew member of Her Majesties Ship 'KEPPEL'.
(left) first crossing of the equator in 1966 onboard
HMS ESKIMO
there have been many more since then.
(right) After numerous other crossings of the Arctic Circle this one
had exceptional novelty value, as we crossed 'UNDER' it onboard
HM Submarine ALCIDE.

(left) As a civilian the arduous journey across the Arctic Circle was completed 'overland' in 2007.
As far as I know there are no certificates issued for crossing Capricorn and Cancer
 but as if to complete the set (right) crossing the Antarctic Circle also in 2007.

Small trophies or trinkets of extensive travels in the USA
BOW and
Arrows sold to me by a Shoshone Lady, whose name
I don't remember, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Unlike my
MANDALA
 which was acquired from Sarah Passing Cloud
of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in South Dakota.
All part of many visits there to successfully journey through every State.
She also made and gave me a small tortoise broach made
of threaded beads which I managed to loose on the first day of wearing.
The North American Indian Mandala out-dates the Tibetan version and is considered their most prized possession. Being a descendant of the plains Indian Dance Shield and Medicine Wheel, prayers for survival, spiritual blessings, powerful visions, physical protection, and long life go into the making of the traditional mandala as it represents the interwoven threads of creation, and the wonder of diversity in Mother Earth.
Mandala is Sanskrit for circle and introduces us to the great circle that we find in life, as well as the universe. For some this circle is sacred, for others it signifies creation and our journey, for others this great mandala is used for healing. The great mandala is found everywhere on the planet, throughout various cultures, bringing for its people a great sense of peace and understanding. Native American mandalas are no less than any other, found across the country in every tribe. - See more at: http://www.meaningofmandalas.com/native-american-mandalas#sthash.p5qDMWgq.dpuf
Mandala is Sanskrit for circle and introduces us to the great circle that we find in life, as well as the universe. For some this circle is sacred, for others it signifies creation and our journey, for others this great mandala is used for healing. The great mandala is found everywhere on the planet, throughout various cultures, bringing for its people a great sense of peace and understanding. Native American mandalas are no less than any other, found across the country in every tribe.
More ancient than the world renowned Tibetan mandala, one such Native American mandala comes from the Shaman. Within the center of the mandala is the healing power of the circle. Black Elk found the sacred healing within the balance of the four directional points of the circle, referring to the mandala as a sacred hoop. This can be seen, for instance, in the medicine wheel of the Native American cultures.
- See more at: http://www.meaningofmandalas.com/native-american-mandalas#sthash.p5qDMWgq.dpuf
Mandala is Sanskrit for circle and introduces us to the great circle that we find in life, as well as the universe. For some this circle is sacred, for others it signifies creation and our journey, for others this great mandala is used for healing. The great mandala is found everywhere on the planet, throughout various cultures, bringing for its people a great sense of peace and understanding. Native American mandalas are no less than any other, found across the country in every tribe.
More ancient than the world renowned Tibetan mandala, one such Native American mandala comes from the Shaman. Within the center of the mandala is the healing power of the circle. Black Elk found the sacred healing within the balance of the four directional points of the circle, referring to the mandala as a sacred hoop. This can be seen, for instance, in the medicine wheel of the Native American cultures.
- See more at: http://www.meaningofmandalas.com/native-american-mandalas#sthash.de6dNffR.dpuf
Mandala is Sanskrit for circle and introduces us to the great circle that we find in life, as well as the universe. For some this circle is sacred, for others it signifies creation and our journey, for others this great mandala is used for healing. The great mandala is found everywhere on the planet, throughout various cultures, bringing for its people a great sense of peace and understanding. Native American mandalas are no less than any other, found across the country in every tribe.
More ancient than the world renowned Tibetan mandala, one such Native American mandala comes from the Shaman. Within the center of the mandala is the healing power of the circle. Black Elk found the sacred healing within the balance of the four directional points of the circle, referring to the mandala as a sacred hoop. This can be seen, for instance, in the medicine wheel of the Native American cultures.
- See more at: http://www.meaningofmandalas.com/native-american-mandalas#sthash.de6dNffR.dpuf
DREAMCATCHER
A basic one was bought from a Navajo Trading Company in Laural Canyon, California in 1998, since when in true tradition of the Native People I have added my own adornments of birds feathers from all over the world. There are a number of stories relating to the origin of this mighty fine and powerful object including Shamen travelling to the Dream World to cure nightmares. Of these, the one I was told on purchasing mine is my favourite. 
Hundreds of years ago a Grandmother entered the tepee to find a young child about to kill a Spider. Taking the hapless creature from the youngster she explained that Native North Americans only kill for there own survival, such as food, warmth etc, use every part of the prey and very much respect and revere it. The reader will not be surprise to learn that the Spider was of the Magic type and told the woman that for saving its life he would take away all their Bad Dreams. It crawled to the 'smoke hole' in the top of the tent and across the circle (a symbol of strength and unity to all Indians) spun a web but leaving a small hole at the centre. He told the woman that from then on all Bad Dreams would be caught on the gossamer while the hole would allow the Good Dreams to pass through, slide down the feathers and into the child's mind. As I was told, every child is given a Dream Catcher at birth to place close to their bed throughout the rest of their lives and adorn it with whatever they please. On the basic construction Bad Dreams are represented by small bead which may not be seen on the photograph. Some of my feathers (all taken from dead birds or found on the ground) include Helmeted Guineafowl, Madagascan Nightjar, Hoatsin, Scarlet Macaw, Galah, pinion feathers of Woodcock, Golden Eagle and the tail feather of the only Pheasant I have ever shot (and eaten). 
My 2 daughters commissioned this oil painting of Jimi playing his
'Sunburst' Fender Stratocaster at the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival
for my 50th birthday.
A 'Voodoo Doll' was 'given' to both Lisa my youngest daughter
and myself by the Chicken Man in New Orleans.
Having taken a silver coin from each of us, he blessed it then tucked it inside the dress of the doll and said it would protect us and bring good luck. Only 2 days later Lisa lost the expensive camera she had recently bought in Australia. Later that night there was a knock on our Motel door and there stood the taxi driver who had found it in his cab. Bless the Chicken Man (who I know has since passed away) and the Cabbie who got the requested Post Card from England in lieu of a cash reward. He also managed to source John the Conqueror Root for my personal Mojo - "but it just don't work on you"!
The Dragonfly was a casual gift from Bowie and Sheila.
 On the advice of my Wingers and Nomadic friends Paul and Tess
I bought this ingenious (Czech Republic) piece of equipment, a
REMOSKA
The first 'outing' was a Guineafowl which you simply put in the
pot along with all vegetables, replace the lid (from where the heat emanates)
and leave for 90 minutes, then VoilĂ , a full 'roast' dinner.
What Home would be complete without a Moth Trap 
and somewhere to process the Insects????
 A LAD'S PLAY AREA!
There are a number of small but very functional Caravan Sites on
Dorset / Hampshire border, where I feel most of my remaining days might be spent.
However, if you do see 'Slight II' in your local don't be slow in affording me
a FREE pitch, a nice hot dinner and a bottle of fine Claret
Safe in the Sanctuary - Safe!
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