hello again ;)

over a month has passed without me barely noticing. billie holiday has 4 little babies, now almost 2 weeks old. she had been fit to pop and when i put my cheek to her belly i could feel the little things kicking and shifting around. that day she had shadowed my movements around the house, the garden, trying to stay comfortable, drowsing in the sunshine. 2 am i retired to bed and she follwed me to curl up in my wardrobe. the morning after summer solstice. nice. it wasn't until midday after i'd woken up that i poked my head round the magic portal to see that she was ok. her eyes were wildly dilated, her fur plastered to her body with sweat. But I could tell just by looking at the expression on her face, i had never seen her look so serene (and so exhausted!) . . . since then at least 2 hours out of every day i've spent just sitting with them, watching them, listening to billie purr. Twice now i've fallen asleep with my head inside the wardrobe and billie's nestled in my hand... the babies' eyes opened two days ago. the black and white one (that i call ewok) is starting to walk . . .

traces is now over for a while - maybe i will reincarnate it another time, but right now i'm thinking that it is time to move on to something new, another project . . . The BAC was really pleased with the piece and I am surprised at how well it has gone. Everyone has been fantastic, my guides, stage managers, catherine who lent me her flat for the duration of the performance (another beautiful stranger who has now become a beautiful friend :) . . . and the feedback we've got has been quite overwhelming - 'what do you do to them in there?' catherine asked me - 'they all come out smiling and talking and laughing' . . . yes, all with a smile on their faces and a thank you on their lips. it's all good! :) i have to clear the spaces today, erase the memory of us ever having been there. it is kind of sad, but also exciting as i'm now free to step into new projects, and develop other ideas!!

But best of all are the fantastic friendships i have forged through all of this. old and new, long and deep may they grow and prosper :)