Bringing in the May

Today is Beltane, the first day of the Celtic summer and a celebration longer, sunnier days and the fertility of Mother earth. It has been celebrated in villages for centuries by the 'Bringing in of the May' which meant not only the month but also the beautiful white hawthorn or May blossoms.

I’m looking forward to see the Morris dancers and dancing around the Maypole in the city-centre tomorrow. That should be fun.

In many countries, May Day is synonymous with International Workers' Day, or Labour Day, which celebrates the social and economic achievements of the labour movement.

But instead of celebrating, clashes have broken out in a number of countries as unions used traditional May Day marches to protest against the handling of the global economic crisis.

I checked to see how my lovely swan is doing. She was asleep when I arrived, her graceful long neck tucked under her wings. I guess, summer hasn’t officially arrived to Coventry. According to this, the arrival of the first cygnet of the year meant the first day of summer had come. I couldn’t wait for the first glimpse of the fluffy babies.

I was also looking forward to see the bluebells blooming in Tocil Woods. And the beautiful sea of blue  didn’t let me down. A carpet of bluebells and just as important, the trees growing up between them. This is a truly picturesque bluebell woods.

A mass public health campaign has begun with TV, print and radio adverts warning people about swine flu with the simple message: CATCH IT. BIN IT. KILL IT.

Watch the video HERE.

It's the basic old common-sense really. Hopefully the message will get through especially to those who haven’t practised good hygiene. People forget that coughs and sneezes spread the germs far and wide, and that the germs can live on surfaces for several hours.

Seven times champion Stephan Hendry hit a maximum 147 break in his world championship quarter-finals clash with Shaun Murphy at the Crucible. A pity he lost 13:11. I was listening (?) to the game at work. But I’d to watch it live when I heard that he’s going for the maximum. It was worth it. :-)

I checked out the Afterwards exhibition at the Mead Gallery. Curated by the artist and writer Sharon Kivland, this exhibition explores the concept of ‘Nachtraglichkeit’, the term employed by Sigmund Freud to describe the phenomena of ‘deferred action’ where impressions, experiences or memory traces gain significance as a result of re-experiencing the events, phew. All I can say, is you got to see it to experience it.

Kivland’s articulates this in the arrangement of a number of works of art and objects. Pivotal to the exhibition is the painting by the “Wolfman”, Sergei Pankejeff, one of Freud’s patients.

I browsed through the works where ordinary objects are recast, capturing a distinction between object and representation. Among them, an island disappear in a fog; a tour of a city that no longer exists; Freud’s dream book is endless rewritten; the sound of a train rumbling through and an illusion of Venice. I was soo lost in the art.

Get well wishes for my sister-in-law, Fran, who is now resting after an operation. Take care and we will call you soon.

Have a lovely bank holiday weekend and fingers crossed, the sun will come out and play. I’m hoping to finish my gardening, having barbecues everyday, long walks and lots of reading.