The Apple spirit

I was summoned to a photo call this morning for the local papers. The Town Council had agreed to buy an old converted chapel in the town centre, which has been run as an arts space for many years, called The Space. But without our intervention the centre would have collapsed financially, and possibly physically, and Stroud would have lost a vital meeting place and venue for our community; in effect a parish hall for the town. So all us councillors are pleased and next Tuesday the town will own the building and will hand it back to The Space for them to continue running it.

I brought my camera along, thinking I might get an interesting shot of all the photographers (three, actually) from the reverse position of their subjects. But in my haste, and the general melee, I didn't get a worthwhile image. I went off to the Shambles Market, bumped into David Felce, our wonderful fishmonger, who has become a friend, and as a 5D owner too, told him about Blipfoto.

Then I met Felicity, who was selling her own Quince jelly, amongst several other extremely yummy looking jars of delights, from her table in the marketplace. We chatted about jams and jelly, and I bought a beautifully translucent bottle of her Quince essence. Soon her nine-year old son, sitting dutifully beside her, was telling me about playing frisbee at his school. Music to my ears, as you might already know, and I will now contact his teacher about their joining in my project to set up a local frisbee network involving schools.

On to Stroud Bookshop on the High Street, where Helena used to work many years ago. Her friend Rebecca, who is still employed there, said I could take a picture of their newly changed window. It was particularly special today, because each year Dennis Gould, who I Blipped recently (see my Journal for 9th October), decorates their shop window for Apple Day. Dennis has his stall on Fridays and Saturdays opposite the bookshop selling his second-hand books, self-printed posters, fliers and cards, or in fact anything he thinks is interesting. I got a great shot of their window, showing all the apples (and a rogue quince, I gather), books, toys, artwork and Apple Day posters from yesteryear.

Then Dennis appeared fleetingly, coming out of the shop, so I snapped him, but didn't get a sharp image of him. He asked me to take some photos of and for him, which I was delighted to do, so he posed in front of the shop window. Sadly, when put under this pressure to deliver rather than to just play with the camera, none of the shots are any good. So I will go back tomorrow, take some more of Dennis and also get a good picture of the window which I can Blip to show you what a wonderful job he did.

That means I can and will use this rubbishy snap, here and now, of Dennis today, because it captures his spirit and I might never manage that again. Spirit and vitality rather than perfection. I might even go to the Apple Day gig he has organised for tomorrow night at Star Anise cafe, with jazz and readings and food and fun. Come along.

ps
That last Egremont Russet did disappear yesterday, shared by Helena and I. I bought some more first thing this morning, before I realised it was the Apple Day time-zone.

pps
Got published today with one of the earlier council pictures !!!!
http://www.stroudtown.gov.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=302&Itemid=41