Summer Weeks, begins . . .

Day #1 of the best kind of work that exists, surely.

Here we are living with a bunch of other buses and tents. There are three yurts set up and another more higgle-de-piggly-de one making up a kitchen. There are around 30 enthusiastic, great workers, up for anything and collaboratively promising a superior selection of unusual skills that are ready to be shared with a feast of massively excitable children. The only real structure to the day begins with a happy introductory circle that essentially informs children; "this is what's going on today, do what you want with it!", a tasty wholesome collaboratively cooked hot veggie lunch served up around half way through, and another circle marking the closure of the day - checking everyone's fine and happy. The blissful hours that lie within make up a splendid array of informal workshops; storytelling, music, making, painting, playing, games-ing, performing and green woodworking- [which I've been so lucky to be put on for the duration of the week - woohoo!] I couldn't believe it - there were axes and knives and saws and chisels and manual drills - and they were all left out with the trust that children would behave themselves with them - and they did ! "children rise to responsibility" said the incredible man I was working with [Dave C, you're an incredible man]. And he was so right. There is so much focus in the formal system that I have come from, that children can't be trusted with anything remotely hazardous - but they can, they've just got to be treated with a level of respect, [that I worry so much has been so outrageously removed or exchanged for over emphasising health + safety to a point where they're never going to learn the boundaries - possibly?] Anyway - a beautiful set up and surrounding area. My the possibilities.

The sun was still high when we were finished for the day, so we went pedaling to see what the gorgeous country roads had to offer. And when we were finished riding, we went walking into a nature reserve, pulsating with life and energy.