Weathering the Storm

I was reluctant to write about storms after seeing some of the pictures of devastation wreaked and hearing stories of havoc caused over the past few days, but now I have the chance to reflect, whilst we are in a much needed lull, I can see that anything that contains that much power and magnitude deserves to at least be recognised, if not revered.

With wind speeds of up to 100 miles per hour recorded and meteorologists stating that this was the worst storm since 1987, the force and the impact on our community cannot be ignored. Roofs were ripped apart, cars destroyed, fences torn down, windows smashed and numerous power lines across the county were pulled down, leaving many without power, some for nearly four days.

But far from focusing on the damage, the one thing that stood out for me was not the complaining or a sense of despair, but a sense of ‘just getting on with it’. Once again the Caithness spirit shone through and the community came together to help those who were without. Hot drinks and warm food stations were established in places like the Assembly Rooms in Wick and neighbours rallied round to take care of others. I know of a family whose roof was stripped bare being taken in by other friends in the area.

Having spoken to a couple who endured days of power cuts they told me how humbling it was to be stripped down to the bare basics; to live without luxuries, but fulfilling too. Each basic task, such as boiling the kettle on the fire or heating food on one single gas burner became a chance to practice simplicity.

By choice, we surround ourselves with our appliances; our tools that we think are essential for living – laptops, televisions, mobile phones, ipads, but in reality they are superfluous. When these are all removed we are left with only the necessities and the required thoughts – Do I have shelter? Do I have food? And am I warm? Once we are stripped back to these basic human needs we all become equal. We are on a level playing field.

Perhaps it is for this reason that there are still people in Caithness who choose to live off-grid. I know of several individuals who choose to live without electricity and all the add-ons that entails, focusing only on the essentials. Some would say that life is hard for them, but they would argue that life is easier. Take away choice, it gives you more head space and remove the need to accumulate and you become content. To live their life any other way would be an indictment to their integrity.

I still may yet choose that way of living! But for now I live in a 200 year old cottage and for me it was, dare I say it, refreshing to wake up in a literally stone cold house, as cold as the day it was built. What a stark reminder for me of how people used to live, especially in my own home. No paraphernalia, no easy comfort, no instant heat, but lived they did and essentially thrived. My house probably breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Finally’, it said, ‘a reminder of how I used to be before you pumped me full of appliances’.

So maybe we could do the same and instead of looking at the damage (which of course we need to do) and just focusing on that we can see a storm as a chance to re-set and re-assess. What is superfluous and unrequired in our lives? What can we throw out?

And as much as I may cower next time I hear the wind picking up, I realise there is not much that I can do about it. If anything I am learning that I must embrace the calm whilst it is here, dig my wall trenches or my fence posts a little deeper, and know that I am planted and rooted in a community that cares.

Thank you for reading my blog 🙂

I hope you had a lovely Christmas and New Year. Doesn’t it feel like a while ago now?! I was busy with commissions, working right up until Christmas Eve. This was one of my commissions – A 1950s fishing boat. It brought tears to the recipient’s eyes as it has sentimental value being his father’s boat. I didn’t have much to go on, just a black and white photo, so a lot of manipulation came into play!

And now I have a whole year to look forward to, with lots of exciting ideas for new paintings and sparkingly good ideas for Haven House Art and how I can take it forwards. Watch this space!

In other news…Have you hopped over to my Gallery, where you can purchase paintings direct? All my flat canvases (standard depth) are now £150 until the end of January!!! Paintings such as these…

Plus I am exhibiting in St Fergus Gallery, Wick, from 17th January – 7th February.

 

Thank you so much for following me and much love xxx