Elders 11 – it’s a wrap – Kinda Elders in the woods

if someone had said to me a couple of years ago, I’d be walking though mud to site in a wood on a December day, I wouldn’t have believed them. But I wouldn’t miss it for the world”
Elder in Kaliwoods December 2023

An exhibition of our Tree art work greeted us on display above the cabin door

We began our last day of 2023 with a shared a feast in the wood. Hot chai, Apple cake, egg sandwhiches, Home made sausage rolls, a choice of mince pies, beautiful long gluten free crackers, many cheeses, including nicky’s quince cheese potato salad, home made humous and carrot sticks, Carrot cake, chocolate cake, olives galore, marvellous muffins, mackerel squares. Ivy enjoyed a cream cheese mustachio.

Chris and Roy completed the main architecture of the loom.

Meg and Jenny got us in the moon with some tongue twisting songs and we struggled to articulate: I rattled my bottle in Rollacks yard.

Spurred by some vague memories from Kally, Leslie, Nicky, Diana, Rachel of the year, we passed around the giant Ash spoon to gather what Elders recalled of the year. An amazing moment was when recalling senses and smell with the example of 4711 perfume, A got some out of her coat pocket and we enjoyed the reminiscent smelling again.

They have long handled spoons in hell that are so long that people cannot feed themselves. They also have long handled spoons in heaven, where they feed each other. Elders is like heaven.
The minute i walk through that gate, I see other people and its just like being in a net or cradle.
Neil and the Dogs vomit – such an education.
I’m thinking how coming here has made me more creative again
The Gong bath changed my life – i learned to meditate
I loved the hedge survey and the visitors
I love hearing all the stories

It was not only a useful reflection but seeds for the future. What we gathered for next year was: