Safe as Houses

It’s that time of the year again – when the air is full of the flutter of tiny wings as our city’s avian population find ever inventive spaces to raise their little ones in relative peace and quiet alongside their human counterparts. This one on Western rd is my favourite nesting site so far:

Of course if you’re a very posh bird you get your own box made for you, with built in telly to boot. For updates and web cam on Brighton’s very own resident Peregrine falcons at Sussex Heights – click here

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Barkingham Palace

At last – a bank we can all respect. While out wandering around deepest darkest Hove I stumbled upon the world famous Nat Westie Charity Bank. Defying credit crunchers (and town conservation planners as well by the looks of things) this oasis of  West Highland wonderment is home to some rather pampered pooches who are the inspiration behind a charity project that collects for a different animal charity each month through some rather ingenious collection tubes running down from the front of their home.

So if you are ever in the Tisbury Road area make sure you pay a visit to Barkingham Palace and donate your cash to help  some very good causes. To date these amazing canines have collected over £2700 for 32 different  animal charities. There are even some leaflets left outside with added info on how much they’ve collected and for who, if you want to know more. This months charity is the Rabbit Welfare Association Fund in Horsham and next month they will be collecting for the Great Dane Adoption Society. Fantastic.

Easter Path

As lovers of all things Mystic and Otherworldly here at thee Nook we wanted to try something a bit different this Easter, so on Good Friday we went on the Easter Path walk around Brighton. Organised by Beyond, the walk was a contemporary interpretation of the Easter message, loosely based on the Stations of the Cross, using a series of art installations set up in shop and church windows across Brighton.

Our first stop was outside the Brighthelm centre, where a digital photo montage was used to illustrate the betrayal of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. I think most of us can in some small way relate to that ‘lying awake all night completely alone and dreading the next day’ feeling – as the rest of the world sleeps on oblivious. Somewhere during this dark night it is said that Jesus was in such agony his sweat was as great drops of blood falling to the ground. I wonder what that must have felt like?

The photo montage itself started life in Glasgow during anti war demonstrations; Jesus is shown in the garden surrounded by modern images of authority while he considers the cup of suffering that lies before him. He is alone in his awareness of what is to come while Judas is represented as a dark shadow behind him.

‘Jesus is Condemned’ was the title for the next piece at Sydney Street Bikes in the lanes. The image displayed here was of a pair of waxen hands bound in rope and this shop was chosen specifically for the iron railings permanently guarding the shop window.  Our guide, Martin, explained that the image of a God being bound and restrained by human hands is a very powerful one that shows us how cruel the human race can be and how much power we have. This got me thinking about Jesus as someone who had been judged to have broken the law and the way we punish crims in our own society.

We then made our way to Daves comic shop for the display called Jesus receives the Cross. This consisted of a cross made  out of comics from a series called Final Crisis, featuring a force known as the God Killer. I don’t know much about this series myself but the location seemed a good one in as much many good comics feature similar themes involving redemption, death and resurrection.

Framework was the shop used for the next installation, Jesus Falls Three Times; a contrast to the invincibility of comic shop heroes, as we were once again reminded of the frailty of Jesus as he stumbles through tiredness. Still in the lanes we then made our way to Bell, Book and Candle for the next stop, called ‘Jesus meets his mother’. The exhibit in this window was a simple but thought provoking one, highlighting how it must have felt for both sides to meet in this way. I think most of us  close to someone who has been bullied, mistreated or beaten up often feel terrible at what their loved one has endured and here we were left to wonder what his mother must have felt at seeing her son treated like this.

In all there were twelve stations on the walk and at each one we were given time and a chance to reflect on different events leading up to the crucifixion. The walk finished at Fishtail Neon, a wonderful place on the seafront dedicated to all things neon that creates, among other things, light installations from recycled fairground rides and displayed here were some fantastic multicoloured crosses celebrating the resurrection.

I thought this walk was a wonderful opportunity to reflect upon the Easter message and what I liked best about it was the unscripted spontaneous feel that came with trying to ponder on Deep Stuff while surrounded by the hustle and bustle within the sights and sounds of a busy city. Scattered as they were across Brighton, tucked away in shop windows, each one of the displays brought a life of their own to the Easter story in a very open and accessible way.

For those unable to make the walk, all the exhibits from the Easter Path plus a few extras are being brought together to be exhibited at the Old Market on April 26^th from 7pm, with bar open from 6.30pm. There will also be a visit from Siku, the artist who created The Manga Bible and he will be talking about his work.

For more information: www.beyondchurch.co.uk

Noticed

Within my gaze are things I’ve never found

upon the ground, often with no sound

across the road that lies within my touch

there isn’t much, that doesn’t seem as such,

by the water across a sandy shore

what’s been before, what won’t happen any more,

fields of golden brown the bakers’ favourite wheat

under my feet, it feels a hidden treat,

laughter amongst family and closest friends

the wounds it mends, the gloom that it transcends,

by day a path and night a mystery

as what we see and what it means to me.

By Dominic

 

Canine

Woken by the ringing bell

the canine barks and haunts the door

upon realising it’s not for him

he falls asleep upon the floor.

by Dominic.

Bench

Lining paths across our commons

facing out to sea,

offering the fatigued mass a

place at once to be.

To all a seat of comfort

but it can be more,

loved ones gone but not forgotten

by the sandy shore,

on top of hill tops in the downs

in parks and cemeteries,

around town squares, in beer gardens

beneath wheezing trees.

For me a chance to glance surroundings

whilst others share discourse,

sweet nothings shared amongst laughter

before the strained divorce.

By Dominic

George

 

George was different

to others, like the way he

walked and strangely

stroked his hair,

he muttered in muffled tones

whilst avoiding other’s

glare, bless our George. This

made others wonder why

he seemed so distant what

did he ponder, on and on

this went and then at school

the others thought who’s

the fool, what’s the

story with George?

So they poked him, laughed

and pulled his hair and hid

his scarfe, he’d look upset

they didn’t care. Then

came the punches the

kicks and slaps during

lunches, no mercy shown

the barrage rained on!

In fear George fled

but the others came and

battered him till he bled,

till nothing more was said

by poor old George.

 

by Dominic.

 

 

Work

When at work I pray all day,

It helps to take the pain away,

Soon the hope of day has passed,

I’m left in this abysmal farce,

I want the warmth of glories glow,

But sense this will never show,

Racked with angst and godless fear,

As my bestowed demise begins to lear,

The answer is there if only I wait,

But patience could mean it will all be too late,

Call me to arms and face down the dull,

In hindsight this will just be a lull,

Around the corner the answer is there,

The heat of the sun and warmth of the air,

Up and away and on we will fight,

Then out on the town long in to the night!

‘Till comes the dawn, is seems so soon,

Accompanied by a familiar tune,

And there in my face is the same,

Old routines that have no one to blame,

Just myself at my desk,

Doing my time just like the rest,

Dreaming again of a different time,

Just for the hope to be mine.

by Dominic.

 

 

 

The Day

Upon a Sunday in June just gone,

  

Such good fortune came along,

 

Abundant pleasures filled my day,

 

Before I had a thing to say,

 

I walked a busy river bank,

 

Feeding birds who offered thanks,

 

I drunk ale in ancient inns,

 

With old soaks and wooden beams,

 

I took in Georgian squares and lanes,

 

And decommissioned old steam trains,

 

I had tea and walnut cake,

 

And frolicked on a boating lake,

 

I ate rare beef and crispy spuds,

 

Then washed roasting tins in suds,

 

Before laying down upon my bed,

 

And asking myself:

  

What have I achieved? 

by Dominic.

 

 

 

 

If

Here’s another great poem from our resident scribe, Dominic. This is our favourite so far.

If:

If I had a lover in my life,

I wouldn’t feel like this,

Instead wrapped by amorous bliss,

Despite the trouble and strife,

If I knew what I wanted,

I’d grab it with both hands,

And issue my demands,

By which I’m haunted,

If I had the guts,

I could tell them all to hang,

And feel more of a man,

No ifs or bloody buts,

And if I had all these,

I needn’t write this out,

I’d never have a doubt,

Life would be a breeze.